On a quest: first nation caterer lands mine camp contract.

• Author: Ross, Ian

A First Nation caterer has struck gold after teaming up with an international food and beverage provider. Tina Gagnon, owner of Cree Quest, a catering and event planning company, has landed a contract to handle catering for the workforce at AuRico Gold's Young-Davidson Mine in northeastern Ontario.

This success for Gagnon comes as a result of signing a partnership agreement last November with Aramark Remote Workplace Services, a division of one of North America's largest outsourced food and beverage company.

The AuRico contract, which started Jan. 24, is for six months with an option for renewal.

Landing this camp gig means hiring two support staff and at least four full-timers as line cooks, housekeepers and janitorial staff at the mine site. "To. me, this is just the beginning," said Gagnon, a resident of the Taykwa Tagamou First Nation near Cochrane, who started her catering business in 2010.

It was as a band councillor that Gagnon first encountered representatives with Aramark, an Alberta-based company which has achieved silver status in the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business' Progressive Aboriginal Relations program.

Gagnon began handling small events in her community like weddings. birthday parties, anniversaries and industry consultation meetings.

Landing the catering job for a large chiefs' assembly meeting in 2012--and the compliments she received afterward for her traditional Aboriginal dishes--gave her the confidence to pursue bigger things.

As a full proprietor for Cree Quest, Gagnon hires band members for events.

"A lot of them didn't have the work experience, but they knew how to cook...