“What we’re building here is Indigenous wealth,” says Thomas Benjoe, CEO of FHQ Developments. “When we talk about impact, it’s not just about the bottom line. It goes much deeper. If you build Indigenous wealth, you build community wealth, which benefits all citizens of Saskatchewan in the long run. This is investment that makes good economic sense.”

In 2019, the Saskatchewan Industrial & Mining Suppliers Association engaged PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP to study the economic impact of local resource suppliers in Saskatchewan . Unsurprisingly, regional purchases generated substantially higher economic returns to the province, with one dollar spent on local suppliers reflecting $1.51 in total economic output versus $0.39 for a dollar spent on suppliers from outside the province. While FHQ Developments knew that the economic footprint of Indigenous business would be greater, their own studies have revealed findings that were much higher than anticipated. They found that for one dollar spent on an Indigenous supplier, the total economic output was $2.50-4.00.

Since 2010, FHQ Developments has built a diverse portfolio of eleven successful businesses, earning a reputation for its successful approach to partnership, sustainable development, strong management, and leading performance. The company is actively exploring multiple opportunities. FHQ Developments’ approach to investing and growing Indigenous business relies on its ability to support its partners, ensure they reach employment goals, deliver on quality, and are well-positioned to help Indigenous businesses remove barriers to success. Commitment to governance, capacity development, and community investment provides the foundation for all FHQ partnerships.

“When we evaluate businesses and partners, we look for organizations whose values align with ours,” says Benjoe. “Our partners understand that we are actively involved in all of our businesses with roles in governance, processes, and policy. The desired outcomes are clear from the onset, and we hold all parties accountable.”

With returns of up to 60% from multiple investments, their business model is proving immensely successful.

“One of our construction companies is up to 130 staff and $8 million in revenues at just two years of operation,” says Benjoe. “Many of our start-ups are meeting three-year projections within their first year of operation. The resource sector and provincial government are starting to understand how we do business and looking to us for policy and procurement direction. This means we can negotiate better terms that reflect our contribution.”

With community investment built into its operational model, FHQ Developments strives for meaningful growth and ongoing collaboration to build capacity within FHQTC’s membership, implement sustainable business practices, and gauge overall impact. The company invests heavily in entrepreneurship training, Women in Trades, STEM training for youth, and other areas reflecting capacity gaps, and expects their partners to do the same.

This philosophy is practiced by all levels of the company to ensure the greatest possible economic and social impact within partnering communities through supports and resources that ensure success for all shareholders. FHQ Developments’ executive team stays engaged in strategic decision making and operations, dedicated to enhancing standards of governance. In doing so, the company has developed a suite of best practices and resources for Indigenous development and partnership.

One of Western Canada’s most successful contracting firms, Great Plains is a joint venture between FHQ Developments; Points Athabasca, a recognized Indigenous contractor with a long history of success in Saskatchewan; and Graham Construction, one of the top, fully integrated construction companies in North America. Great Plains provides high-quality general construction services and is known for going above and beyond in meeting client expectations.

This partnership with Ensign Energy Services Inc. (formally Trinidad Drilling Ltd.) was launched to enhance Indigenous capacity in the oil and gas industry in Saskatchewan. The venture includes an equity share of a 3,600 metre, double telescoping, mobile drilling rig, currently deployed in southeastern Saskatchewan in partnership with Crescent Point Drilling.

A partnership with d3h Hotels, a hotel management company that owns and operates multiple hotels across Western Canada. FHQ Developments is invested in the Swift Current location, with a prime position across from Living Sky Casino.

A joint venture between FHQ Developments and Noble Construction, Topa Contracting focuses on project-based general contracting in a number of areas. Combining FHQ Dev strengths and resources with Noble’s knowledge and expertise, Topa delivers quality work while growing an inclusive workforce.

Badger Daylighting builds custom and purpose-built hydro-vac trucks – ‘Badgers’ or ‘Badger Hydrovacs’ as they are popularly referred to. These vacuum trucks use integrated high-pressure water and vacuum systems mounted on a truck chassis to expose buried infrastructure or prepare an area for future work. The company has extensive coverage throughout Canada and the USA.

A partnership between FHQ Developments and PQA Testing, a national software testing services provider, Plato provides a full range software testing across Saskatchewan while also training and developing Indigenous software testers for long-term technology careers.

A partnership between FHQ Developments and Northstar Capital, Pathway Supplies is one of Saskatchewan’s only Indigenous supply companies. Pathway provides a range of products (incl. PPE, consumables, tooling, janitorial supplies, and more) to clients in multiple sectors across the province.

Stone & Arrow Consulting is a joint venture between FHQ Developments and Stantec Consulting Ltd., one of Canada’s top consulting engineering firms. The partnership focuses on Indigenous inclusion in engineering and design through an approach centred around engagement, collaboration, predictability, and safety.

Wholly owned by FHQ Developments, NuWind Energy Corporation explores wind turbine energy projects in partnership with BluEarth Renewables Inc., a renewable energy developer with 17 facilities currently in operation in Canada, four facilities under construction, and seven projects under development.