about us

Stó:lō Community Futures (SCF) is a non-profit organization with core funding provided by Western Economic Diversification. There are 34 active Community Futures offices in BC, and SCF is 1 of 4 Indigenous specific offices in BC in the Southwest Region.

The Board is comprised of a volunteer group of local business professionals and community leaders who are both Indigenous and non-Indigenous support for the local business and economic development in S’ólh Téméxw, the Stó:lō Traditional Territory.  

Eligible applicants within the service area are individuals of Canadian Indigenous ancestry – First Nation, Métis or Inuit. Indigenous Communities and their economic development corporations, and their community owned businesses are also eligible for support.  Businesses and organizations must be majority Indigenous-owned and controlled with a minimum of 51% Indigenous ownership.

SCF has been around since 1990’s providing services to all 24 Stó:lō Communities and all Indigenous peoples located between Fort Langley to Yale on both sides of the Fraser River. We offer business support ranging from financing to training programs to small and medium-sized business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs access to services tailored to individual needs.

Most of all, SCF embraces and celebrates Stó:lō cultural values and believes in creating and supporting the entrepreneurial spirit in our communities.

Our Vision
The Vision of Stó:lō Community Futures is to facilitate and provide ongoing support to Indigenous businesses and to foster entrepreneurial growth in S’ólh Téméxw, Stó:lō Traditional Territory. 

Our Mission
Stó:lō Community Futures’ ongoing Mission is to provide Indigenous entrepreneurs and Stó:lō First Nation communities within S’ólh Téméxw, the Stó:lō Traditional Territory, with a wide range of business and economic development programs and services. 

Our Mandate

1. Provide business counselling
2. Provide lending programs to Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses, both existing and new;
3. Provide entrepreneurial training programs and assistance; and
4. Assist and facilitate Stó:lō Communities with their community based economic development. 

 

financial statements

Click below to review our Financial Statements:

Financial Statements for Year Ending March 31, 2021

Financial Statements for Year Ending March 31, 2020

Financial Statements for Year Ending March 31, 2019

 

annual report

Please click on the links below to view Stó:lō Community Futures' Annual Reports to Western Economic Diversification:

SCF Annual Performance Report - 2020 - 2021

SCF Annual Performance Report - 2019-2020

 

strategic plan

Stó:lō Community Futures operates within S’ólh Téméxw, the Stó:lō Traditional Territory and is working on completing its next Five (5) Year Strategic Plan. Please visit soon to learn more. 

 

Board of directors

The Board is comprised of a volunteer group of local business professionals and community leaders who are both Indigenous and non-Indigenous support for the local business and economic development in S’ólh Téméxw.  

The current volunteer Board of Directors are: ​

Jason campbell, chair

Jason Campbell, a member of Seabird Island Band and has family lineage to the Peters family, is the Executive Director for the Seabird Island Band. He has extensive work experience politically and in the public sector.  He was a Seabird Island Band Council Member for two terms, and has served as a Director of the Lands Advisory Board for five years. Jason sits on the Land Code Committee for Seabird Island Band, is a member on the BC RCMP Indigenous Cultural Advisory Committee, and is a Member of the Seabird Island Business Development Board. He previously worked as a Programs Facilitator and Community Programs Officer for Aboriginal initiatives for the Correctional Services of Canada. 

​Jason is dedicated to helping people become self-sufficient, and become the economic force that will enable the Stó:lō Communities to be involved with the global economy. As a former football player, Jason brings his leadership skills as a Coach for the Valley Huskers. He is also currently completing his MBA in Executive Management of Business Administration for Indigenous Business and Leadership, and has an educational background in criminology, kinesiology and Aboriginal studies.

valerie sam, vice chair

Val Sam, a Lytton First Nation Member, joined the SCF Board in March, 2015. As the Lands Advisor and Manager of the Fraser Valley for the First Nation Lands Management Resource Centre, Val has been instrumental in working with Communities on their Land Code. She has also served as a Lands Manager for Tzeachten First Nation, and for Stó:lō Nation. 
 
Val has received Achievement Awards from the National Lands Managers Association for Excellence in Land Management by a Tribal Council in 2003, Preservation and Protection of Aboriginal Lands in 2002, and the Deputy Minister’s Award from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) for Outstanding Achievement in 2000-2001.

Val is currently the Vice Chair for the SCF Board of Directors.

jessie ramsey, treasurer/​SECRETARY

Jessie Ramsay, a Métis woman, is a Partner with Baker Newby, and joined the SCF Board in August, 2015.  Jessie brings with her great enthusiasm and strong commitment to helping others. Jessie was raised in Chilliwack, and attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in 2011, majoring in psychology and minoring in First Nations studies. While attending UBC, Jessie was Vice President of the Indigenous Law Students’ Society (ILSA), involved in the UBC Indigenous Community Legal Clinic, and was active in bringing awareness to Aboriginal issues to the UBC student body. As part of the SCF Board, Jessie hopes to inspire other individuals, in particular, young Aboriginal people, and use her skills and knowledge to help SCF encourage and support Indigenous entrepreneurs. 

chief brenda wallace, Board member 

Chief Brenda Wallace is the current Chief and Band Manager for Soowahlie (Th’ewá:li) First Nation, and has been an SCF Board Member since November, 2013. Chief Wallace has strong financial and supervisory/management skills, and has also acted as a liaison and public relations officer. During her time as Band Manager, and now as Chief, she has been able to offer a variety of programs and services to her Community, and strives for financial stability and success.  Chief Wallace has been active with the First Nations Land Management Act (Land Code), and is a member of AFOA Canada.

nancy murphy, board member

Nancy Murphy is a Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer (PAED), and in November, 2002, received the Aboriginal Financial Officer Association (AFOA) of Canada designation as a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM). Ms. Murphy has focused on improving the quality of life for First Nations people by providing advisory services to First Nation administration on education, health, human resources, housing, policy, financial management, capacity development, community planning, project management, economic development, land management and governance.

Nancy is a Member of the Seabird Island Band and currently resides in Chilliwack, BC. Nancy has been an SCF Board Member since February, 2013, serves as a Director for the Sqéwqel Development Corporation and is a Board Member of the First Nations Financial Management Board (FNFMB). 
​She is also the ​Housing Administrator/Advisor for Soowahlie (Th’ewá:li ) First Nation.

louis de jaeger, board member

Business entrepreneur, social activist, community advocate and President of the Chilliwack Métis Association, Louis currently teaches Indigenous Studies as a Sessional Instructor at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in Chilliwack. Louis also serves on several boards including the UFV Senate Committee on Indigenization, and Chilliwack Healthier Community. Past Board positions include Chilliwack Business Improvement Association and co-founder/past-President of the Stó:lō Business Association.

​With a hospitality career that spans 35 years, the former Restaurant Owner (Bravo Restaurant & Lounge) and 2015 Federal candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada completed his Master’s in Business and Aboriginal Leadership EMBA at Simon Fraser University with a certification in Aboriginal Governance from the University of Arizona. Louis is a recipient of the RBC Entrepreneur Scholarship Award for business and also holds a certification in Indigenous Historical Impact from the Stó:lō Service Agency and Expanding Skills in Economic Development from the BC Economic Development Association.

Louis ancestral families are Sinclair and Norquay, with many Metis family ties to the Hudson’s Bay Fur Trade. His great-great-great Uncle was John Norquay, Manitoba’s first Metis Premier.

Accolades include: 2016 Al McCacken award for Business Volunteer of the Year for BC (Community Futures), 2015 Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce Aboriginal Business of the Year, 2012 Outstanding Achievement for Aboriginal Business in BC, and 3-time winner Dining Excellence Award ~ Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce.

Louis speaks about creating an economic eco-system that drives community partnerships, supports entrepreneurial growth, and examines business based on one’s ‘worldview’ – profit vs prosperity in a changing business world.

al stobbart, board member

Al Stobbart is a Director for Area G of the Fraser Valley Regional District, a former Board Member on the Aboriginal Tourism BC Board, a current Board Member on the Sts’ailes Development Corporation and co-operator of the Sasquatch Crossing Eco-Lodge, with his wife, Denny Stobbart, a Sts’ailes Member.

willy hall, board member

Willy Hall is from Skowkale (Sq’ewqéyl) First Nation. He graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1986 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Willy’s first job out of university was as a Band Manager for Skowkale First Nation from 1989 to 1991. In 1991 Willy started as the Finance Manager of Stó:lō Nation Canada. In 1994 he became the Executive Director of Stó:lō Nation and has held this position since then. Over these years Willy has actively taken part in numerous other boards related to Stó:lō Nation, holding various positions under these boards.

He is the owner/operator of two businesses; a propane delivery company and Aboriginal Financial Consulting Firm specializing in property taxation.

Willy married Lisa in 1998 and is the father of three children. Willy is actively involved in all of his children’s interests, attending soccer games, driving to art class, and has also been volunteering his time with the Fraser Valley Rep Rugby team. When he finds time he keeps active either hiking, playing squash or baseball and also enjoys playing chess and poker.

Willy looks forward to his position with the Board of Directors of Stó:lō Community Futures.

chris monkman, board member

Chris Monkman, is a Kinonjeoshtegon First Nations Member living in Chilliwack BC. Chris is the Chef Instructor with UFV and previously the Chef instructor and Program Coordinator for Stó:lō Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training (SASET).

​With 27 years in the food and beverage industry and 12 of those years being spent serving community, Chris not only has a passion for food but the want to see people succeed. Chris has a true dedication to sharing his knowledge and devotion to assist the Stó:lō people where ever he can.

allison colthrop, board member

Allison Colthorp is an accomplished Business Strategist & Marketing Manager with over 24 years' experience working within the tourism sector. She has a proven track record of surpassing expectations in strategizing and marketing of tourism projects and is skilled at forming partnerships with all levels of government, stakeholders and staff to create a positive and collaborative working relationship to meet challenges.

For the past 8 years, Allison has been the Executive Director for Tourism Chilliwack. In this role, she has led Tourism Chilliwack through rebranding that pays recognition to local First Nations, was the project manager for the Stó:lō Welcome Figures at the Visitor Centre, developed the Hockey Canada – Cdn Jr A Championships Organizing Committee in partnership with the City, Tourism and Ts'elxwéyeqw Tribe, is an active member of the Fraser Valley Destination Development Council, and supports Indigenous tourism experience development projects.  She also is on the Sí:yá:ya Yóyes Friends Working (Together) Committee that is currently being developed to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In her spare time, she routinely plays tour guide to family and friends showing off all the great things that Chilliwack has to offer. You can regularly find her in her backyard BBQing all year round! She also has a deep passion for animals, and to date she has rescued 1 seagull, 16 ducks, 5 dogs, 2 raccoons, 1 deer, 2 quails and numerous ants.

Allison is a passionate advocate of giving back to the community. She is convinced that the Stó:lō Community Futures is a great way to do that. 

rocio zielinski, board member (non-voting)

Rocio Zielinski has been part of the Stó:lō Community Futures (SCF) Team since 2005, and became the SCF General Manager on April 1st, 2019. Rocio manages the many business lending and services, such as the SCF/Bank of Montreal Micro Loans Program, the Stó:lō/Vancity Indigenous Impact Lending Program in partnership with Vancity Credit Union, as well as seeking/facilitating training and educational programs, to support Indigenous entrepreneurs in Sólh Téméxw (Stó:lō Traditional Territory). 

​Rocio works directly with Indigenous clients who want to start, or expand a business, reviewing and evaluating business plans and strategies, and provides continuous support services. Rocio has expanded SCF’s services into the local Stó:lō Communities by opening Satellite Offices in various Stó:lō Communities, which allows Community Members the benefit of having the lending services and assistance within their reach.

Rocio was extensively involved in the development of the bold business initiative STÓ:LŌ MEANS BUSINESS with the SCF Board of Directors, that was launched in April, 2014. In addition, Rocio provides office management in her day-to-day activities.

Rocio is originally from Los Angeles, California and her Indigenous  ancestry is from Mexico. Rocio has extensive legal assistance experience and certifications, and also speaks fluent Spanish.