Manitoulin Island woman receives lifetime award

A Manitoulin Island woman who has been a strong advocate for Aboriginal business throughout her career has received a lifetime achievement award.
The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business presented Dawn Madahbee Leach of Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation with 2023 Business Lifetime Achievement Award last week.
Officials say Leach has been General Manager of the Waubetek Business Development Corporation that has invested more than $100 million in 3,500 Aboriginal businesses under her guidance since 1988.
They add Madahbee Leach has also received the 2020 INDSPIRE Award in the Business and Commerce Category, is a recipient of the Anishnawbek Nation’s Lifetime Achievement Award and was celebrated as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2018.
She also received the Meritorious Service Cross (Civilian Division) from the Governor General of Canada in 2019 and has addressed international forums including the United Nations on Indigenous economic development.
Madahbee Leach was proud to accept the award with her husband, Reggie Leach and daughter, Crystal also in attendance for the auspicious presentation.