Highlights from ICC’s 2026 Launching Success Luncheon

On Tuesday, March 24, the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (ICC) hosted its annual Launching Success Luncheon at the Delta Hotel in downtown Winnipeg. The event featured remarks from interim ICC CEO Christopher Henry who spoke about the current climate regarding Indigenous entrepreneurs. "There has never been a better time to be an entrepreneur than right now," Henry said, further adding that "there are resources that did not exist before, but most importantly, there is a network of like-minded businesses." 

Keynote Spotlight: Why Indigenous Entrepreneurship Is Different 

Following Henry's remarks was keynote speaker Michelle Cameron of Dreamcatcher Promotions. Cameron spoke about why Indigenous entrepreneurship is different than most other forms of entrepreneurship. "When you support an Indigenous business, you are not only supporting that one project, but instead an entire community," she remarked. 

The afternoon lunch period featured speakers such as Darion Ducharme, from last year's luncheon. Ducharme mentioned that last year's luncheon contributed to the expansion of his business Teqare, which enabled them to visit 46 separate First Nations communities across the country to deliver workshops on cybersafety.  

The Next Generation 

The event concluded with our three young Indigenous entrepreneurs — Shyla Niemi, Alexander Hupé, and Matthew Sabourin — in a panel session moderated by Futurpreneur's Noah Wilson. The panellists each spoke about their origins and the transition from ordinary life to that of entrepreneurship. They each spoke about the uncertainty regarding entrepreneurship: "I never saw myself as an entrepreneur," said Sabourin, "but one thing led to another, and now I'm here." 

The ICC thanks all of its guests, panellists, speakers, and sponsors for their continued support. It is because of you that these events are possible.