UM Today | Asper School of Business
November 17, 2025 —
Before the Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence (VIBE) awards reception began at the Fort Garry hotel, Gabe Perrie gave an impactful speech to a private VIP group of supporters.
As a student with the Asper School of Business’ Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP) and the president of the University of Manitoba Indigenous Commerce Students Association, he was admittedly a bit lost before discovering the program.
Perrie knew he wanted to be in business. After finishing high school, though, he avoided business school, joking that he thought it was “a scam.”
But as he started to come around to the idea, he discovered the IBEP program at the Asper School of Business, and let his guard down knowing he would have a supportive community of peers with him every step of the way.
“Without the IBEP program, I probably wouldn’t be here right now,” he said. “It isn’t just a program that provides students with a lounge and tuition assistance, it’s the reason a lot of us Indigenous students show up everyday because we know we’ll be supported and that we have a community cheering us on.”
The community really came together at VIBE. The 19th annual celebration was the biggest VIBE yet, with a fundraising record and 305 in attendance to celebrate Indigenous business owners and the next generation of students currently at the Asper School of Business.
Award Recipients
E. Oliver Owen and Cody Gonsalves [BComm(Hons.)/15] were presented with beautiful, elaborate and custom awards handmade by the Winnipeg-based Indigenous carver Fredrick Spence. Owen’s featured a plane with a spinning propellor, representing his business Amik Aviation; Gonsalves’ was a kettlebell with a handle of antlers for his personal training business, Purposeful Movements.
Owen’s speech tracked his journey from young dreamer to an accomplished pilot and business owner.
Originally from Paunigassi, he arrived at the St. Andrews airport in March 1978 to obtain a pilot’s license with $1300 to his name.
“I asked how much for a license, and the guy, the owner, said $1300. I went, ‘how do you know I have $1300?’” he said to a big laugh at the reception.
Despite money trouble when he was training for his license, and dealing with systemic racism as he attempted to start Amik Aviation, Oliver still has his humor and some impressive statistics to his name. He has logged 25,000 flying hours over 43 years, and Amik Aviation, which started with Owen and a single plane, now has nine planes and 42 employees.
Gonsalves, himself a former IBEP student at the Asper School, shared how he transformed himself through exercise, and found a calling in how he could guide people to do the same.
“There’s so much noise about the way you’re supposed to live your life and our whole focus is to help people understand how you can [live healthy] long term and sustainably.” He said.
Purposeful Movements has grown impressively since 2020, transforming from one-on-one personal training to a multifaceted business offering group classes, nutrition coaching and more.
Beyond physical exercise, Gonsalves also encourages his participants to be mindful and mentally strong. To cap off his speech, Gonsalves led the room in a breathing exercise, encouraging attendees to find peace between four second inhales and exhales.
Cody Gonsalves and E. Oliver Owen
Giving Back to the Community
100% of proceeds from the VIBE awards go to IBEP students through scholarships, bursaries, academic supports, and more.
Under the leadership of IBEP Director Riley Proulx [BComm(Hons)/19], there are currently 76 students enrolled with IBEP, the most there’s ever been at any one time.
“It’s clear that the Manitoba business community wants to see me succeed,” Gabe Perrie said about VIBE’s record-breaking attendance. “The VIBE awards give Indigenous students more opportunities and avenues to succeed as they complete their BComm degree.”
Perrie came away from VIBE feeling inspired and ready for what comes next: “I’m excited to make my impact and leave a legacy like they have.”
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For 31 years, Indigenous Business Education Partners at the Asper School of Business has offered a welcoming community to First Nations, Metis and Inuit students exploring leadership potential in the world of business. IBEP members can receive tutoring, mentoring, financial aid and more. Learn more.
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