GCT Global Container Terminals demonstrates ongoing commitment to reconciliation and renewal

To advance truth and reconciliation, efforts include facilitating dialogue, prioritizing sustainability and collaborating respectfully with Indigenous Peoples.

As a generation of Indigenous entrepreneurs and leaders demand action on economic reconciliation, corporate leads across Canada are stepping up to partner in a movement of collaboration, hope and economic renewal.

For GCT Global Container Terminals Inc. (GCT), this commitment includes providing a space for critical conversations about economic reconciliation and Indigenous prosperity. Through its continued patron sponsorship of the Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase (IPSS), GCT directly supports the sharing of ideas and initiatives which Indigenous thought leaders will bring to the IPSS stage in Vancouver and online this coming May.

Returning for a third consecutive year, the IPSS is a response to the growing demand for practical guidance on how First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities can work together with their enterprise partners toward a common goal of shared success.

This ongoing sponsorship demonstrates GCT's willingness to listen, learn and support vital conversations. In anticipation of the upcoming showcase, GCT is "looking forward to gathering together, sharing experiences and ideas and recreating the connection and commitment" of previous years, says Marko Dekovic, Vice President of Public Affairs at GCT.

Through its Global Commitment Program, GCT is committed to protecting the environment and forming meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples. The program reflects an ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainable practices and conscientious business development.

Partnership with the IPSS was evidently a natural fit for GCT. According to Dekovic, both organizations support economic and environmental prosperity through meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

In 2021, GCT Canada created an Indigenous Relations policy to solidify its ongoing commitment to reconciliation. The policy is part of the organization's commitment to respond to Call to Action #92 of the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report. Consequently, GCT works toward respectful and sustainable relationships with Indigenous Peoples that are mutually beneficial for everyone involved.

“We proactively seek out Indigenous partnerships, incorporate Indigenous knowledge in our work and build new pathways for shared prosperity," states Dekovic.

As a Vancouver-based terminal operator with majority Canadian ownership, GCT is driven by values that align with the communities in which it operates. The company is uniquely situated to make waves and lead development of the marine sector in British Columbia, a sector which is reducing its environmental impact and increasing competitiveness while also recognizing that true economic, social and environmental sustainability must occur in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples. This understanding influences how GCT engages with its Indigenous neighbours and how the company moves forward with projects.

For example, a thoroughly collaborative impact assessment process has been central to the Deltaport Berth 4 Expansion Project since the beginning. GCT conversed with more than 36 Indigenous communities to ensure an assessment process reflective of meaningful reconciliation. The company is "committed to building back better and more inclusively with this project and incorporating the principles" outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, explains Dekovic.

This commitment to going beyond standard industry regulations is also present in GCT's efforts to reduce its environmental environmental footprint through green initiatives and certification programs. In 2014, GCT joined Green Marine, a voluntary and transparent environmental certification program for marine transportation businesses. Four years later, GCT Canada became a Radicle Climate Smart certified business. GCT USA followed suit in 2021. These milestones reflect the Global Commitment Program, inspiring and guiding GCT's growth.

Leading by example, GCT encourages other business leaders to reflect on their social and environmental responsibilities. Only through listening and meaningful collaboration can companies genuinely engage in renewal and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.

Readers can also find out more about the Indigenous Partnership Success Showcase, coming May 26th and 27th, 2022, in Vancouver and online by visiting www.Indigenoussucess.ca.