West Moberly Corporate Alliance announces third partnership in a month

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The economic division of West Moberly First Nations (WMFN) has continued to strengthen its economic portfolio as November has drawn to a close.

West Moberly Corporate Alliance (WMCA) has announced a partnership with GeoVerra, a global geomatics company.

Headquartered in Edmonton, GeoVerra provides land surveying, mapping, forestry, environmental and geospatial services across the country with roots tracing back a century, according to its website.

The company also has offices in Fort St. John at 10716 100th Avenue.

Rob Diaz is the senior business specialist with WMCA and spoke to Energeticcity.ca about the new partnership, which is done under WMFN’s new partnership screening and onboard process.

The process involves a screening questionnaire and a data matrix, where the partnerships are determined, and according to Diaz, “is based on data, not emotion and thoughts.”

The screening process is approved and supported by Chief Roland Willson and council. 

“If any potential suitors would like to partner with West Moberly Corporate Alliance, they have to first fill out a screening application,” said Diaz. “[To answer questions such as] ‘Who are your clients? Do you have an Indigenous engagement process and policy? Do you have a sustainability or environmental, societal and governance program?’ There are many questions.”

“That then allows us to better understand the company. In some instances, we have been working informally with many of these companies. I would say that that’s the case with GeoVerra and The Crossing Group.”

A post on WMCA’s LinkedIn page says the two parties’ relationship goes back to the Coastal GasLink project. 

The 670-kilometre pipeline stretches from Dawson Creek to Kitimat, transporting natural gas to LNG Canada’s facility on the coast.

 “We had a relationship with them, but it wasn’t a robust, formal partnership,” said Diaz. “We were working together on a project-by-project basis.

“Those project-by-project relationships are essentially getting to know each other. If it’s working for both parties, we discuss the possibility of enhancing that relationship.”

This is the third partnership announced this month by WMCA, after announcements for Alberta-based companies The Crossing Group and Nakoda Energy earlier in November.

Diaz says the companies are something not provided by other First Nations economic arms, giving WMFN – and WMCA – diversification within its portfolio.

“It is an interesting space for us because there is opportunity to participate in these projects in a way WMFN previously had not. There is also an opportunity in those industries to attract interest from [WMFN] members and non-members who are in the local community, because they’re labour intensive, and there’s opportunities for training and jobs.”

Further information about WMCA is available on the company’s website.