Spotlight On Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Economic Development Corporation

Born and raised in Prince Rupert, Blair graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 2011 with a degree in international development. Upon returning home he began his career as a grant writer for the City of Prince Rupert. Then in 2013, following one of Blair’s free grant writing seminars he hosted at City Hall the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society chief executive Greg Grayson approached Blair to become an economic development officer. The organization’s businesses grew under their direction, and when Grayson left in 2016, the board quickly found a ready replacement – Blair Mirau.

Blair became the visionary behind the development of the Economic Development Corporation and was tasked with the society’s goal to achieve economic self-sufficiency over the next 10-15 years, a $1M price tag. With the freedom and flexibility to do whatever it took to get to business and start making money to be able to fund their own programs and services, Blair took a risk purchasing a small local garden centre and lawn care business.  At the time with only two lawn cutters and a rusted Ford F150 Blair saw so much potential and it has “really paid itself off in spades.”

View the full interview.
Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society