I-CEDAR

Fully Funded - Online Tourism and Hospitality Entrepreneurship Program

Company

Our Story

Our Story The I-ACE Program began as a vision of Frank Parnell's, CEO of Tribal Resources Investment Corporation (TRICORP) (left). Frank invited Dr. Brent Mainprize from the Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria (right) to co-design the ACE Program. In 2013, TRICORP invited the Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria to be the key education delivery partner for the ACE Programs. Also in 2013, the first Northwest ACE (NW-ACE) cohort was launched and completed in Prince Rupert. 2014 was marked by the second program of ACE to begin in Haida Gwaii.

Two years later, the ACE Program continued to create new programs while simultaneously receiving international recognition. The partnership between TRICORP, the Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria, Indigenous communities, and governments remains strong as the program continues to grow. This growth was most prevalent in 2018 when the ACE Program received $1 million in funding from BMO. 2019 continued along the path of growth as three new locations began their first cohorts of ACE programs.

This trend continued into 2020 as the ACE Program entered the new decade by re-branding as Indigenous Advancement of Cultural Entrepreneurship. While maintaining the same award-winning program, Indigenous ACE evolved with a new logo, name, and online learning platform.

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The I-CEDAR Program

The Indigenous Community Entrepreneurship Development and Action Recovery (I-CEDAR) Program began as a response to the disproportionate negative effects on Indigenous communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Indigenous cultural tourism and hospitality experiences are increasing in demand but the number of Indigenous entrepreneurs providing that supply of services is unable to match. To rebuild and stimulate economic growth within the tourism and hospitality sector the I-CEDAR program offers a balance of cutting-edge business concepts with practical learning and acknowledge to traditional values using one-to-one mentorships and hands-on training. The I-CEDAR is a version of the award-winning Indigenous Advancement of Cultural Entrepreneurship (I-ACE) Program but is focused on very specific economic recovery for Indigenous artists, cultural adventure, tourism, accommodation, culinary experiences that Indigenous people are creating.

Through the support of the federal government, the University of Victoria and the National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development will be able to offer the new I-CEDAR programs in the Fall 2022.

Richard Shorty

In working with Richard for many years, including on the creation of our logo, we were graciously given license to use his painting of the Frog seen in all of the images above. Richard's art perfectly embodies the program's 8 Ring components as participants create or re-structure their business to transition to the emerging domestic Indigenous tourism and hospitality sector.

Richard was born in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory in 1959 and belongs to Northern Tuchone Tribe. Richard is a self-taught artist. He originally started painting wildlife at an early age along with painting his favourite rock star or sports idol. In 1978, Richard

moved to Vancouver.

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I-CEDAR

Fully Funded - Online Tourism and Hospitality Entrepreneurship Program

About Us

Vision Statement

Values

Equity, diversity, and inclusion

Ethical and intellectual integrity

Freedom of inquiry and freedom of speech

Excellence and Passion in our endeveours

Company

Our Story

The I-CEDAR Program

Richard Shorty

I-CEDAR

Fully Funded - Online Tourism and Hospitality Entrepreneurship Program

About Us

Vision Statement

Values

Equity, diversity, and inclusion

Ethical and intellectual integrity

Freedom of inquiry and freedom of speech

Excellence and Passion in our endeveours

Company

Our Story

The I-CEDAR Program

Richard Shorty

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