About Us & Our Services

Click the tabs below for more information about the Métis Voyageur Development Fund.

How We Can Help

We are here to serve the needs of Métis businesses and entrepreneurs.
  • MVDF can provide you with preferential financing and with business development support that together can help you build your Ontario Métis owned and controlled business.
  • Our mandate and structure allows us to provide more financing, at lower interest rates and with fewer restrictions than commercial lenders such as banks and credit unions.
  • As your project partner we can offer on-going support for developing business plans and accessing professional assistance and on-going training and skills.

Who We Are

We are different from traditional financers and lending institutions.

MVDF is a Métis owned and controlled economic development agency, operating independently, whose sole mandate is to provide funding and support to Ontario Métis businesses.

  • We are here to support Métis entrepreneurs.
  • Businesses where at least one of the owners are Métis and holds 50% or more of the business can access support through MVDF.
  • MVDF seeks to maintain its loan capital base in order to strengthen the Métis economy through Métis owned and controlled business.

Financing Solutions

We have unique financing options tailored to the needs of Métis businesses.

Tell us what you need and we may be able to help.

  • MVDF offers better rates than commercial lenders.
  • Financing to $1,500,000 that is flexible and adaptable to you.
  • Fewer restrictions, and access to financing where commercial lenders may not.
  • More financing support for a larger start-up or bigger expansion.

Work with people that understand your culture and your culture of doing business.

Business Support

We offer support for entrepreneurs that goes beyond traditional financing services.

When applying for a MVDF loan how you will manage your investment successfully is a crucial part of the business process. MVDF can provide support and guidance along the way.

  • Professional assistance and non-repayable financial support for a business plan as part of your loan application.
  • Flexible support for business and financial management training, and skills development.

MVDF Board of Directors

We are thankful for the experience and guidance of our talented board of directors.

Paul DeVillers

Chair

Art Bennett

Vice Chair

Joelle Gott

Secretary

Kelly Warwick

Treasurer

Sara Dolbeck

Director

Stephen Scott

Director

Brian St. Amant

Director
How We Can Help

How We Can Help

We are here to serve the needs of Métis businesses and entrepreneurs.
  • MVDF can provide you with preferential financing and with business development support that together can help you build your Ontario Métis owned and controlled business.
  • Our mandate and structure allows us to provide more financing, at lower interest rates and with fewer restrictions than commercial lenders such as banks and credit unions.
  • As your project partner we can offer on-going support for developing business plans and accessing professional assistance and on-going training and skills.
Who We Are

Who We Are

We are different from traditional financers and lending institutions.

MVDF is a Métis owned and controlled economic development agency, operating independently, whose sole mandate is to provide funding and support to Ontario Métis businesses.

  • We are here to support Métis entrepreneurs.
  • Businesses where at least one of the owners are Métis and holds 50% or more of the business can access support through MVDF.
  • MVDF seeks to maintain its loan capital base in order to strengthen the Métis economy through Métis owned and controlled business.
Financing Solutions

Financing Solutions

We have unique financing options tailored to the needs of Métis businesses.

Tell us what you need and we may be able to help.

  • MVDF offers better rates than commercial lenders.
  • Financing to $1,500,000 that is flexible and adaptable to you.
  • Fewer restrictions, and access to financing where commercial lenders may not.
  • More financing support for a larger start-up or bigger expansion.

Work with people that understand your culture and your culture of doing business.

Business Support

Business Support

We offer support for entrepreneurs that goes beyond traditional financing services.

When applying for a MVDF loan how you will manage your investment successfully is a crucial part of the business process. MVDF can provide support and guidance along the way.

  • Professional assistance and non-repayable financial support for a business plan as part of your loan application.
  • Flexible support for business and financial management training, and skills development.
Board Members

MVDF Board of Directors

We are thankful for the experience and guidance of our talented board of directors.

Paul DeVillers

Chair

Art Bennett

Vice Chair

Joelle Gott

Secretary

Kelly Warwick

Treasurer

Sara Dolbeck

Director

Stephen Scott

Director

Brian St. Amant

Director

The MVDF Team

Contact information for the Métis Voyageur Development Fund team members.

Steven Morse

Chief Executive Officer

Jordon Lamontagne

Director of Business Development

Caroline Bertrand

Director of Portfolio & Admin

Monique Richard

Senior Administrator

Tanner Ross

Senior Business Analyst

Gabriel Tavares

Finance

Margaret Connolly-Knarr

Business Support Officer

MVDF Office Information

315 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON

Success Stories

These are some of our successful clients, read more about their story and our partnership.

Funding Partners

These are some of the partners that we work with to leverage funding solutions for Métis entrepreneurs.
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    Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

    The Ministry works to ensure a better future for Métis, First Nations, and Inuit people.

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    Ontario’s Aboriginal Economic Development Fund (AEDF)

    The Aboriginal Economic Development Fund (AEDF) is a program that helps Ontario compete to attract new business and form partnerships to secure investments that focus on job creating innovation, productivity and going global.

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    Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO)

    The Métis Nation of Ontario is an aboriginal government for the Métis population in Ontario.

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    National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Associations (NACCA)

    NACCA, the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association, is a network of Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) dedicated to stimulating economic growth for Aboriginal people in Canada.

Financing Partners

These are some of the partners that we work with to leverage financing solutions for Métis entrepreneurs.
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    Two Rivers Community Development Centre

    Two Rivers Community Development Centre is a non-profit Aboriginal Financial Institution providing business financing and support services to Aboriginal Entrepreneurs and businesses in Southern Ontario.

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    Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario

    IAPO is a non profit corporation is a non-profit Aboriginal Financial Institution providing business financing and support services to Aboriginal Entrepreneurs and businesses in Southern Ontario, with a particular expertise in Agriculture.

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    Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF)

    NADF is a non-profit Aboriginal Financial Institution providing business financing and support services to Aboriginal Entrepreneurs and businesses in Northern Ontario.

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    Waubetek Business Development Corporation

    Waubetek is a non-profit Aboriginal Financial Institution providing business financing and support services to Aboriginal Entrepreneurs and businesses in North Eastern Ontario.

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    BDC Aboriginal Banking Ontario

    The Aboriginal Banking Department offers customized, long-term and flexible solutions specially designed for Aboriginal entrepreneurs.

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    Métis Infinity Investments (MII)

    MII holds all of the Métis Nation of Ontario’s investments and actively seeks to create joint ventures with Metis and non-indigenous businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding our services.

We support all industries and sectors.

MVDF can provide up to $1,500,000 in financing to a business or set of related businesses.

You can reapply to MVDF as many times as you want, however we cannot provide more than $1,500,000 in outstanding financing at any one time.

MVDF only supports Métis owned and controlled businesses, those where 50% of the beneficial ownership of an enterprise is held by Métis entrepreneurs. Where ownership and or control of a business is not solely held by Métis entrepreneurs each project will be considered on a case by case basis to ensure that the Métis owner will stand to gain from the funding provided by MVDF.

MVDF will look to provide you with maximum flexibility and will be an industry leader in matching your funds. Our Business Development Team will work with you to devise a custom package.

We will recognise balance sheet equity for existing businesses and may recognise contributed assets for start-ups.

Yes, MVDF does require personal guarantees. Funding to partnerships and proprietorships are supported by an accepted letter of offer signed by all the owners of the business so they are personally obligated. In the case of a limited company, MVDF makes the contribution to the shareholders and the company jointly so the owners are personally obligated.

MVDF provides non-repayable business plan and aftercare support over the life of our participation. The intent is to continue a relationship with our clients well after the project is funded, providing support and guidance along the way.

Technical skills such as truck driver training, equipment operator training, etc. will not be funded. The intent is to help clients acquire the skills necessary to manage their business and the program is quite flexible in this regard.

No. We are solely focused on supporting Métis entrepreneurs in the for-profit sector.

The MNO appoints the Board of Directors of the MVDF but the MVDF Board of Directors is independent of the MNO.

MVDF does not seek a profit but only seeks to maintain its loan capital base. Its goal is not profit, but to positively impact the Métis economy by supporting Métis owned and controlled businesses.

For purposes of our programs, we recognize Métis who are Citizens of the Métis Nation of Ontario or registered members of other Métis organizations recognized by the Métis National Council including:

  • Manitoba Métis Federation
  • Métis Nation of Saskatchewan
  • Métis Nation of Alberta
  • Métis Nation of British Columbia
  • Métis Settlements General Council
  • Métis Nation of the Northwest Territory

Contact Us

Please submit the form below to contact our team. Alternately, you can reach us via phone: (613) 798-0133 or direct e-mail: info@mvdf.ca.