view . summer 2011
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Steven Bolduc BA ’96 is the founder and owner of Aboriginal
Printing Corp. a printing franchise in Toronto and Ottawa.
Once, a long time ago, however, he worked in a cubicle. It
wasn’t enough.
“I saved for five years, waiting to open
up my own business,” says Bolduc. “I knew
exactly what location I wanted and waited
for that. I talked to people who had
succeeded and some who had failed and
learned from that. I did my homework.
I made it happen.”
Electronic graphic design and
publishing, the surging prevalence of on-line books and
publications, and the rising cost of paper have turned the print world
on its ear over the past decade. Bolduc, however, is undaunted. “It’s
always a challenge but it’s great for someone who wants every day
to be different. I don’t want to be complacent.”
That’s something no one could accuse Bolduc of being. From the
time he was a child, Bolduc yearned for something different than life
on the Fort William First Nation reserve near Thunder Bay. He grew
up on and off the reserve, and spent some time in Hamilton.
“The percentage of kids who graduate from high school is low,
and many people are unemployed,” he says of the reservation.
Determined to be the exception, he enrolled in the University of
Windsor’s sociology program.
“I always knew I wanted to go into business. But I chose sociology
with a sprinkling of psychology and criminology,” he explains. “Before
I could become successful, I had to understand my own situation. I
wanted to find out how we (the Aboriginal community) are separate
and the impact of that. Why do we feel so isolated?”
After earning a degree from UWindsor and a business degree from
Brock University, he worked as a procurement officer for Fortune 500
companies before purchasing a Print Three franchise in Toronto in
2008. He re-christened it the Aboriginal Printing Corp. Bolduc also
co-owns an off-set printing company.
“To be successful, you have to be passionate about your business
and just own your niche.”
He marketed the company as the best solution for providing
overnight printing. “You have to know your customers and what
solutions you can provide. Our core market is corporations and
educational institutions that have to disseminate a large amount of
information very quickly.”
Aboriginal Printing Corp. has 60 strategic partners across Canada
and more than 250 across the U.S. and around the globe to allow
national accounts to have same-day, local
service across Canada and abroad.
The company has earned several
certifications: Canadian Aboriginal and
Minority Supplier Council of Canada
as a supporter of Aboriginal economic
development efforts and employment;
the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal
Businesses, which means the federal government recognizes it as an
Aboriginal business and Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable
Forestry Initiative.
In 2010, the Toronto Aboriginal Business Association named
Bolduc Aboriginal Businessman of the Year. “It was fantastic. Being
recognized by your peers within your own community – that says
that you are really doing something.”
Today, the Aboriginal Printing Corp. is the largest, 100-percent-
owned and certified Aboriginal printer in Canada. Bolduc, however,
wasn’t simply satisfied with success; he wanted to give something
back. He spends time mentoring budding Aboriginal entrepreneurs,
teaching best practices from his own experience.
“I am following the example of encouragement that was shown
to me.”
The company has pledged to give back by absorbing the soft costs
on certain Aboriginal organizations’ projects, such as graphic design,
set-up, and document proofing. “Sometimes, we even absorb paper
costs. We try to do the best we can.”
Bolduc hopes to expand his business further and eventually build
a facility on the Six Nations reserve outside of Brantford.
Both he and his wife Merav are UWindsor grads – she earned an
MBA in 1999. He says he thoroughly enjoyed his own experience.
“I loved the University of Windsor. I learned how to study there. The
disparity between high school and university is major for any student.
Coming from a reserve, it was even a bigger change. The professors
were there for me.
“I loved the city too. It’s filled with intellectuals and hardworking
people. Windsor has a lot to be proud of.”
n
v
“I WANT TO CONTROL
MY OWN DESTINY.”
STEVE BOLDUC
A PASSIONATE
PRINTER
Steven Bolduc BA ’96
At left: Alumnus Steven Bolduc BA ’96 mixes his passion for printing with his concern for the environment.
BY JENNIFER BARONE
