President & CEO, Aboriginal Human Resource Council

A social entrepreneur who is internationally recognized as one of Canada’s foremost innovators of Aboriginal diversity. His career has been a series of catalytic flashpoints demonstrating that with effective networks, corporate and community goals can translate smoothly into advancing educational, employment, and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people. The council bridges both the corporate and indigenous worlds helping employers develop relationships and build partnerships to generate real social and economic outcomes for companies and aboriginal people. The council emerged from recommendations in the 1996 Report on the Royal Commission for Aboriginal People. Today it is an independent public-private social enterprise with ISO designation and a strong track record for creating and executing innovations in social and economic inclusion.

Lendsay became the first director of the new Aboriginal Business Education program at the College of Commerce in 1995 – a first in Canada. There he helped initiate and nurture several Aboriginal business education programs, including Canada’s first MBA with a specialization in Indigenous management. As a professor and program director, he helped mentor students and redefine the future role Canadian universities may play in developing an Indigenous economy. In 1998 he became the first President of the Aboriginal Human Resource Council and has helped grow the enterprise into Canada’s most recognized leading innovators in organizational inclusion performance. The council works with employers to advance social and economic inclusion efforts in Canada and abroad.

Lendsay’s consulting study, The Impact of the Changing Aboriginal Population on the Saskatchewan Economy: 1995-2045, is one of the most widely cited sources on the implications of Aboriginal demographics and the economy. His vigorous speaking, writing and workshops are widely acclaimed as powerful announcements of the challenges and prospects of full Aboriginal participation in the Canadian economy.

His community involvement is extenstive:

National Director, Communications and Charitable Development

Peggy Berndt serves as the council’s core communications strategist and the manager of charitable development for the council’s Kocihta Charity.

Peggy has been a strong player in communications since 1987 – managing regional and national campaigns that have reshaped the perceptions of Canadians on issues such as emergency preparedness, traffic safety and health care. She has also been responsible for many national program upstart initiatives with the council; including a national forum series (Workforce Connex), Canada’s largest Indigenous inclusion event and recruitment fair (Inclusion Works), the first Indigenous virtual recruitment fair, and our newly founded, Kocihta Charity.

Her years of experience with the council (since 2006) have provided her with in-depth knowledge about the Indigenous community and building partnership alliances that advance Indigenous employment and economic development. This combined with her communications/marketing background, and her understanding about the Indigenous employment gap and what First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth need to succeed in school and work, position her well to direct our charitable activities.

Peggy has an unwavering passion to leave this world a better place for Indigenous people in Canada and to do her part to help right the wrong that was done to our First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. Peggy’s hope for an inclusive world where everyone is equal might not come in her lifetime, but she certainly wants to help spread the word about the potential of Indigenous people, and their amazing contribution in the workforce.

Peggy is an ‘Alberta girl’ who really enjoys her life on BC’s Lower Mainland. She has one awesome son who has given her an amazing daughter-in-law (British style).

• Set up your profile on the Inclusion Network (Canada’s national Aboriginal online job site) to find a part-time job or your career-of-choice.  Canadian employers who are committed to Indigenous inclusion post and visit this site to find Aboriginal job candidates.  

• Subscribe to the council’s quarterly newsletter - read Indigenous career success stories, learn how employers are adapting their workplaces to help you succeed, and find out about opportunities that will help you advance your career.

• Follow the Aboriginal Human Resource Council (InclusionWorks) on Twitter.

• "Like” and engage with us on Facebook – stay well informed about issues that matter to you as an Indigenous person and a professional.

• Join our Young Indigenous Professionals group on Facebook and LinkedIn - a great way to get connected to mentors, jobs, professional development, opportunities and meet Indigenous professionals from across Canada and beyond that share common interests, career challenges and triumphs!

• Check with your school to see if they have a career development practitioner trained in the delivery of our Guiding Circles career development program. The program and its workbooks will help you discover your talents and passions and build a unique career path toward the dream job of your choice.