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EEL RIVER BAR - Mae Labillois of the Eel River Bar First Nation was named the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at the fourth annual Atlantic Aboriginal Entrepreneur Awards held in Charlottetown Sept. 17.

Labillois won the award for her business, Labillois Lobster Retail Fisheries. She was elsewhere in the province last week, but when reached on her cellular telephone, she said that she had been in business for 20 years. At first, there was a single fisher supplying lobster; that has grown to seven. They also deal in clams and have tried mussels and scallops. She said that people didn't come looking for scallops because their reputation was only for lobster. After they stopped handling them, people wanted them.

Labillois said that when she was contacted, those handling the awards wanted to know about much more than the business, They asked about giving back to the community. She said that she has been driving a school bus for the past 15 years and was the cultural director for the First Nation for 25 years. She's been involved in sports, particularly hockey. That includes work with the girls' hockey team, which has put members on provincial teams. The business has sponsored some of the girls.

She said that they are often asked for gift certificates to be used in community fund raising events and even for some from other communities.

Ed Doherty, the New Brunswick minister responsible for the Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat, made the presentation. He said that "it is impressive to see these individuals and their companies recognized for being innovative and becoming leaders in the business world. It is this type of spirit of entrepreneurship that our government is striving for as we continue to move forward on our path to self-sufficiency."

Doherty added that "these aboriginal business owners are not only role models for their peers, but also for their communities. Their drive and commitment to see their businesses succeed allows them to be independent, be inventive and be in control of their own destinies."