A local First Nation business, that is already on the road to success, is also appearing on television next month on the Bears’ Lair, on the Aboriginal People’s Television Network.
Steven Stark, with Tsawwassen First Nation, will be on the second episode of the second season of the show in the first week of June, proposing his new business, Glen-TSI Projects towing.
Bears’ Lair, on APTN, is similar to CBC’s Dragon’s Den, where would-be entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas, but instead of having business pros invest with a return expected, cash awards are given outright, with episode winners eligible to win $10,000, while the contestants on the season’s finale are eligible to win $100,000. Mentoring is also provided to all participants.
However, Stark’s business is already on the road.
His company, Tsawwassen Shuttles Inc. was already providing street-sweeping services to Mainroad Lower Mainland Contracting, when Mainroad suggested he branch into towing.
He started the tow truck business about five months ago, under an agreement with Mainroad, providing stand-by towing service to just two bridges.
Then he added four bridges on April 1.
Glen TSI now has six trucks and seven drivers to cover accidents and breakdowns that take place on the Queensborough, Alex Fraser, Knight Street, Port Mann, Pitt River and Pattulo bridges.
“So I’ll be the first indigenous business (in towing) … working with MOTI (Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure) obviously, working with Mainroad, and public safety.”
If something happens on one of the bridges, “We’re already there so we just need to help flow the traffic and move them out of the way. We’re there to help alleviate your pains. We’re not perfect but we’re there. We’re attentive, he said.
“Honestly, it was a real good move,” said Stark, who has other ideas in the works as well.
“It’s been a heck of a ride,” he said.
He’s also trying to expand to serve additional bridges.
“TSI has grown rapidly,” he said.
Stark is CEO with Tsawwassen Shuttles Inc. a company that provides shuttle bus, street sweeping, watering, and marine services.
Tsawwassen Shuttles Inc. already received the Indigenous Business of the Year Award from the B.C. Achievement Foundation in 2021.
