On November 5, 2024, BCLC’s headquarters was buzzing with activity as it hosted more than 100 attendees for an Indigenous Vendors Showcase. Held in collaboration with Sc.wén̓wen Economic Development Corporation, the City of Kamloops and Thompson Rivers University (TRU), the goal of the event was to connect Indigenous-owned businesses with purchasers from within the region.
“The showcase helps us to continue to create long-term opportunities with Indigenous vendors and demonstrate our commitment to truth and reconciliation through economic opportunities,” said Jenny Miles, Manager of Social and Sustainable Procurement at BCLC.
Indigenous-owned businesses from the region were invited to set up tables in BCLC’s café and C7ístkten̓ meeting room. Participating vendors shared information about their goods and services including local musician and Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc band member Jeremy Kneeshaw who performed on his acoustic guitar – adding to the afternoon’s ambiance.
“I had no idea there would be so many people,” said Jennifer Hahn, Manager of Strategic Sourcing at BCLC. “We had approximately 50 more people than we anticipated. It was a great opportunity to meet people and start building those relationships.”
For June Anthony-Reeves, CEO and Founder of Up the Hill at Loakin Botanicals, the event was a great opportunity to meet new buyers.
“We love being a member of BCLC’s sustainable purchasing process. We’re really happy to showcase our products,” she said.
This event also supports BCLC’s goal to exceed industry benchmarks for sustainable procurement and to help eliminate barriers experienced by small business owners during the Request for Proposal (RFP) process at larger organizations.
“I think the RFP process for large organizations can be cumbersome and difficult to navigate for any small business,” said Shane Vincenzi, Senior Manager of Indigenous Relations at BCLC. “But I also think there is a lot of opportunity that exists through direct procurement, outside of the RFP process. Employees have the ability to spend a certain amount of money directly with vendors and we just need to connect them with those vendors.”
Vincenzi believes that, ultimately, it comes down to the power of knowledge.
“A lot of our employees, given the opportunity, would purchase things from Indigenous vendors if they knew who they were. The Indigenous Vendors Showcase is an opportunity to connect those buyers and those sellers.”
