Infrastructure Growth in Esgenoopetitj First Nation, New Brunswick

My name is Chief Alvery Paul. I’ve been Chief in my community since 2012 We are a Mi’kmaw First Nation, unceded, unsurrendered territory on the eastern side of New Brunswick on the shore of Miramichi Bay. Historically speaking, our community faces many challenges in our infrastructure, housing, and other issues that we have. About 2012, when I came as a Chief, I was looking for places for partnership with other banks to get loans or get something going for our community. I met Stephen Fay and I met Mark Shadeed and they helped me out with a program of housing loans from them. BMO has been tremendous help to us. We have built over 110 homes and renovated over 140 properties. Almost every single road is paved in our community. We had an issue on shore erosion, and BMO helped us build a retaining wall. The band income comes in from our fisheries in our snow crab plant in Caraquet. We have over 100 people working there, 60% from off reserve, and we have been expanding so we can process more seafood in our plant. We have become an economic driver of the region. We have a vision to build our own wharf – it makes us more self reliant. BMO has helped us build today for our future.