selected item
Article
Imperial Indigenous supplier builds roads, and bridges cultures
- A Canadian Indigenous-owned business received the 2024 Diverse Supplier Award from ExxonMobil.
- Bouchier, a civil contracting and facility services vendor for Imperial, was singled out among thousands of global ExxonMobil suppliers.
- About 40% of Bouchier’s workforce self-identifies as Indigenous; and 14% are women – many in trade and leadership roles.
Article
For the past decade, Bouchier has been a key supplier at Imperial’s Kearl operations in northern Alberta.
But this story is less about what they do – keeping the roads in and around the site safe, functional, and well-maintained – and more about who they are.
“It's the values that Bouchier brings that are most impressive,” says Jordan Nail, senior Indigenous business development advisor at Imperial. “They believe in creating opportunity for Indigenous people and giving back to their communities.”
Bouchier is the largest single employer of Indigenous people at Kearl. More than 40 percent of their workforce is Indigenous. And approximately 14 percent of the 1,200 people they employ are women including many in trade and leadership roles.
“Bouchier’s annual contributions to local non-profits and community causes far exceed many companies their size,” adds Jordan. “It’s really quite remarkable.”
Bouchier has been demonstrating this commitment to community and diversity since the company was founded more than 25 years ago by Nicole Bourque-Bouchier and David Bouchier in Fort McKay, the heart of Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands region.
Celebrating diversity
For those reasons and more, Bouchier earned the 2024 ExxonMobil Diverse Supplier Award. Companies are evaluated on key criteria such as service quality, innovation, and alignment with ExxonMobil’s and Imperial’s values.
Bouchier received the award on December 12, 2024, at ExxonMobil’s Houston campus — a proud moment for Indigenous-led companies and a powerful example of diversity and equity in Canada’s industrial sector.
“This award is a testament to the impact the Bouchier team makes every day,” says Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, CEO and co-owner. “As an Indigenous woman leading the company, my goal has always been to grow the business while creating pathways for shared prosperity and meaningful change for future generations. To be recognized by ExxonMobil for our work is rewarding and reinforces the value of the services we provide.”