Joint Economic Development Initiative

In honour of Truth and Reconciliation Day, the JEDI team wore our orange Every Child Matters shirts in remembrance and solidarity. This day is an opportunity to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as the survivors, their families, and their communities.
We encourage everyone to take time today to reflect, learn, and deepen their understanding of this history and its lasting impacts. Through education, reflection, and meaningful action, we can all contribute to the ongoing journey toward truth, healing, and reconciliation.

Office Closure Notice: September 30 & October 2

Please be advised that the JEDI office will be closed on September 30 and October 2 in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Mi'kmaq Treaty Day.

We encourage everyone to take time to reflect, learn, and participate in local community events that honour and recognize the significance of these important days.

Thank you for your understanding.

JEDI welcomed its newest AIICT cohort for Orientation Week! The students met with the instructors, and CCNB - Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick to kick off their programming. The students had guest speakers from TD to learn about financial literacy, and JEDI’s Tricia Chase came to teach resume writing.

During the week, the students were invited to take a tour of Thales before joining Traditionalist Chris Brooks at his home where he spoke to the students about the ceremony. The students closed out the week with a lesson on Flinting from Brian Blaze Palmater from Wabanaki Stone Tools.

Thank you to knowledge carrier Angee Acquin for opening and Traditionalist Chris Brooks for closing the week with the students, sharing their teachings and ceremony with our students.

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Registration for the WBNB Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs Summit & Pop-Up Shop is NOW OPEN! 🎉

Join us November 20 and 21 in Fredericton for a two-day celebration of Indigenous women entrepreneurs. Hear inspiring voices, build meaningful connections, explore learning opportunities, and discover a vibrant showcase of Indigenous-owned businesses from across New Brunswick.

We can't wait to see you there!

Get more information, register for the Summit, the Pop-Up Shop, or both: https://bit.ly/4xafxQm

Les inscriptions au Sommet des femmes entrepreneures autochtones et la boutique éphémère FANB sont MAINTENANT OUVERTES! 🎉

Joignez-vous à nous les 20 et 21 novembre à Fredericton pour deux journées consacrées aux femmes entrepreneures autochtones. Écoutez des voix inspirantes, créez des liens enrichissants, explorez des occasions d’apprentissage et découvrez une belle vitrine mettant en vedette des entreprises appartenant à des femmes autochtones de partout au Nouveau-Brunswick.

On a hâte de vous y voir!

Pour en savoir plus et vous inscrire au Sommet, à la boutique éphémère ou aux deux : https://bit.ly/4iQrCqe

Are you an Indigenous creative? Join Monster House and for Networking 101, an interactive workshop designed to help you build business connections in a way that feels authentic, intentional, and sustainable, as part of ARTrepreneurship on the Wolastoq: Indigenous Art & Business Symposium.

Led by , this hands-on session dives deep into business networking with practical tools and insights you can apply right away.

📆 Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 9:30 am-10:30 am
📍Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook Hotel
📣Participants must be registered for the symposium to attend. Open to any Indigenous creative, whether you are a traditional craft maker, beader, performer, traditional dancer/singer, musician, digital artist, painter, or any other creative. Registration is now free!

Register here or through the link in our bio: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/s9HiYXF5gX
Travel support is available! Contact [email protected] for more travel information.

INTERESTED IN THE CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN PROGRAM?

This program is for Indigenous participants from First Nation communities in New Brunswick, if you’re interested in signing up for the Civil Engineering Technician (CET) Certificate Program, please complete JEDI’s Intake Form by this Friday, September 25!

🏗️ Fully funded program
📍 Bilijk First Nation
🗓️ Starting October 26, 2026
👥 Limited to 12 participants

The program will provide hands-on training in surveying, drone technology, computer-aided drafting, site layout, and more.

📋 Complete the Intake Form by September 25: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ci4sU9fP7EqjOb6_yfTxRv4_qc8UQs9Br2lV5AuIBDVUNk05RVJFWkhLSVhLNUUxTUxCWDQ1TzVGTi4u&route=shorturl

📧 Questions? Contact Nisa Kennedy at [email protected] or Megan Ginnish at [email protected].

JEDI’s Indigenous Internship Program (IIP) partners with organizations across New Brunswick to provide recent Indigenous post-secondary graduates with meaningful, hands-on work experience in their field of study.

By becoming a host organization, you can help develop emerging Indigenous talent, provide valuable on-the-job experience, and support pathways to long-term employment while bringing new skills and perspectives into your workplace.

If your organization is interested in participating in the program and hosting an intern, we’d love to connect!

📩 Contact Gage Perley: [email protected]
🌐 Learn more: www.jedinb.ca/indigenous-internship-program-iip

🎉 JOIN. REFER. WIN. 🎉

Calling all Indigenous-owned businesses in New Brunswick!

Starting June 15, we're celebrating Indigenous entrepreneurship with our Indigenous Business Directory Contest. Whether you're joining JEDI's Indigenous Business Directory for the first time or referring another Indigenous business to sign up, you could win!

🏆 Grand Prize: $1,000 in professional services
🤝 Referral Prize: $500 in professional services

✅ Not on the directory yet? Sign up and you'll be entered to win.
✅ Already on the directory? Refer other Indigenous businesses and earn an entry for every successful referral.

Professional service dollars can be used for things like website development, marketing, accounting, legal services, business planning, and more to help your business grow.

📅 Contest runs from June 15 to October 26.
📍 Open to Indigenous-owned businesses (minimum 51% Indigenous ownership) located in New Brunswick.

Together, let's showcase and strengthen Indigenous businesses across New Brunswick!

Learn more and sign up today: https://jedinb.ca/business-directory-application

Registration for the ARTrepreneurship on the Wolastoq: Indigenous Art & Business Symposium is still open for November 18–19, 2026.

This event is open to any indigenous creative, whether you are a traditional craft maker, beader, performer, traditional dancer/singer, musician, digital artist, painter, or any other creative profession that are seeking new tools, skills, & network to help strengthen & support self-sustainable businesses.

You can register here:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/s9HiYXF5gX

Tickets are FREE, and travel support is available. Contact: [email protected] for more information on travel.

We look forward to welcoming you in November!

📅 Dates: November 18–19, 2026

📍Location: Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook, Fredericton, NB

⏰Time: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

🏨Book your hotel room with our rate at the Holiday Inn Express:

https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/find-hotels/select-roomrate?fromRedirect=true&qSrt=sBR&qIta=99801505&icdv=99801505&qSlH=YFCES&qCiD=17&qCiMy=102026&qCoD=19&qCoMy=102026&qGrpCd=JED&setPMCookies=true&qSHBrC=EX&qDest=665%20Prospect%20Street%2C%20Fredericton%2C%20NB%2C%20CA&showApp=true&adjustMonth=false&srb_u=1

If you have already registered on JEDI'S website, you will need to register again with the link. We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause and appreciate your understanding.