Dave Tuccaro

The art of business attracted Dave Tuccaro in grade six. A little boy in Fort Chipewyan - his teacher would ask the class to buy marbles from her on Monday, and sell them back to her on Friday.

"I would earn them from the other boys during the week going from 50 to 500 marbles, buying them for 50 cents, and selling them to her for five dollars. That was pretty good return on investment. I knew I was a business man," recalls Tuccaro, 61.

Indeed, he started small, but quickly gained ground. A member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation from Fort Chipewyan, Dave joined Neegan Development Corporation as General Manager in 1991. He became the group's leader in 1993.

In 1998, he started two more successful service companies – Tuc's Contracting (a trucking company) and Neegan Technical Services (laboratory and geotechnical services company). Additional companies have since followed - including WPS, Re-stock and TPS. Today, with eight companies and 30 years of success in the community – Tuccaro Group remains hundred per cent Aboriginal owned. Neegan – his first company's name is a Cree word, which means "first or ahead."

Dave did not keep this desire to be first and ahead to himself despite being dubbed the richest Aboriginal man in Canada at one time. He wanted the local Indigenous community to grow with him funding education and employment opportunities in the region. He did just that 26 years ago this led him to spearheading the creation of Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association (NAABA). The group started with eight local Aboriginal companies only, now there are over 130 Aboriginal businesses in town. NAABA is well-known as a connector between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal businesses.

Leanne Hawco, Executive Director, NAABA appreciates all that Dave has done for the group.

"Dave is one of the original trail blazers advancing Aboriginal businesses in this region and across Canada. Without even trying, he has been a voice and inspiration for hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs. Along with other innovative Aboriginal business leaders, Dave co-founded NAABA 26 years ago. To this day, there are not very many business associations like NAABA."

"The association, along with Dave Tuccaro's influence has resulted in one of, if not the strongest Aboriginal business communities in Canada. After decades with NAABA, Dave still calls it (the association) his baby and cares deeply for its success and the success of the entrepreneurs who make it strong. Just by having a conversation with Dave you know he is passionate to give, inspire and influence and this is why he is a true pillar of our community," Hawco emphasizes.

For Dave, NAABA is a source of Aboriginal businesses helping each other out as well. He remembers not having this resource when he needed it the most.

"When I started out, there weren't many people to ask for help. Once NAABA was launched, the big companies started taking us seriously too. And, by using NAABA's companies they know for sure they are partnering with Aboriginal businesses. It is great to see these companies providing goods/serves to the oil sands, and to their own people. They may be my competitors now, but that's good. It is healthy competition, and it keeps you on your game," Dave shares.

Dave's championing of Fort McMurray is not limited to the Aboriginal communities. He was a Director on the very first Northern Lights Health Foundation (NLHF) Board and remains an Honorary Member today. Last year Tuccaro Group donated $250,000 to the NLHF's Gratitude Campaign. His companies support minor hockey, Keyano College – Dave sat on the Board of Governors for a term in the late 1990s, and helped start the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship program there. He co-chaired the 2004 Arctic Winter Games. He supports the local H.E.R.O: the Helicopter Emergency Response Organization, and chairs the Indspire Foundation, which is a "national Indigenous registered charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people." Dave has contributed to Indspire by starting scholarships and bursaries. The list can go on.

Canada noticed his business and philanthropic successes soon. In 1994 he was honoured by his hometown of Fort Chipewyan as "Outstanding Business Person;" in 1995 he was awarded the Regional Aboriginal Recognition Award. In April 1998, Dave was named to Financial Post Magazine's impressive "Top 40 under 40" list, an honour highlighting Canada's most notable leaders. March 1999 saw him receive the sought-after National Aboriginal Achievement Award for his contributions to the world of business as well as commerce – it is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a member of the Aboriginal community. Additionally, he has been inducted into the 2012 Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame.

Success for Dave is "what you work towards."

"You look after your employees, and you give back to the community. My focus has always been youth, who are starting out, and Elders, who have already given us so much – everyone else should either go to school, or should be working."

Amid the massive success, and the litany of honours – Fort McMurray remains the one constant for Dave.

"We've had our ups and downs. What impresses me is we always fight back as a community. There are so many opportunities here. The oil sands are here for the next 150 years – I want people to think of this as a long-term home, not a money-making short-term town."