Benzinga | Apr 7, 2021 09:03AM EDT

CreeQuest And Aramark Canada Renew Partnership To serve Kirkland Lake Gold; Financial Details Not Disclosed

CreeQuest Corporation and Aramark Canada today announced the renewal of their eight-year-long partnership agreement--that has fostered CreeQuest's growth to a regional Indigenous business from sole proprietorship--to provide Detour

CreeQuest Corporation and Aramark Canada today announced the renewal of their eight-year-long partnership agreement--that has fostered CreeQuest's growth to a regional Indigenous business from sole proprietorship--to provide Detour Lake Mine with catering and janitorial services.

CreeQuest Corp. and Aramark Canada renew agreement to provide Detour Lake Mine with catering and janitorial services.

Aramark Canada President Andy Siklos said the renewal reinforces Aramark's commitment to providing services to the mine and keeping its employees safe.

"I am very proud that Aramark Canada can keep helping Kirkland Lake Gold meet its commitment to building Indigenous communities through our longstanding business partnership with CreeQuest. Our partnership has kept the mine safe and clean especially during the COVID crisis," said Siklos.

Since founding CreeQuest in 2010, Tina Sheridan, a Taykwa Tagamou First Nation member, said she has sought to leverage the corporation's successes to benefit Indigenous communities through economic reconciliation.

"Economic reconciliation is a corporate recognition that Indigenous communities--to be healthy--must have economic opportunities. I have looked to grow our business for our employees and community," said Sheridan, who is president/director of CreeQuest Corp.

"Through our partnership with Aramark Canada, CreeQuest is proud to be one of the largest employers of women at the Detour Lake Mine, and one of the contractors with the largest percentage of Indigenous employees as well. Through our partnerships with companies like Aramark Canada, we can continue that success."

Said Greg Sutherland, CreeQuest director and Moose Cree First Nation member: "CreeQuest's goal is to build a sustainable business with partners like Aramark Canada that acknowledge the importance of hiring and promoting Indigenous people."

Virginia Forsythe, CreeQuest director and Wahgoshig First Nation member, added that: "Our business success lets us contribute back to our communities through programs, and, in the case of Wahgoshig, the building of a community basketball

Lake Mine with catering and janitorial services.