Golder forms new company with Gwich’in aboriginal communities

Golder Associates, a large employee-owned Canadian engineering company, has formed a collaboration with the Gwich’in aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories. The Gwich’in will be the majority owners in the new company named West Delta Golder Corporation, to be known as “West Delta.” It is based in Fort McPherson.
The company will provide integrated environmental and engineering services initially focused on the Gwich’in Settlement area and adjacent regions of the Northwest Territories and Yukon. The company’s stated objectives are: increasing local employment, training and education, protecting traditional lands, and increasing revenues.
“It is part of Golder Associates commitment to partner with aboriginal people and help with capacity building,” said Derek Melton, Golder’s northern specialist and a director of the West Delta company. “By doing so, we’re able to help individuals build a viable career path centred on activities to do with the land.” He suggested that the new company compliments the services provided by another northern company, IMG-Golder, which is an Invialuit consulting company that has operated for two years.
Golder was founded in 1960 and has more than 3,000 employees in over 80 offices in 140 countries.