What We Heard at our #BHM2024 Elevate & Celebrate Black Excellence Event

To commemorate Black History Month, we convened a special event, “Elevate & Celebrate Black Excellence: Charting the Future for Black Entrepreneurs in Canada,” on February 7. This in-person gathering, held at the Sir John A. MacDonald Building in Ottawa, brought together attendees from across the country to engage in pivotal conversations about the future of Black entrepreneurship and to explore the nuanced landscape of inclusive entrepreneurship in Canada.

We were honoured to welcome an array of distinguished speakers, including influential figures such as Member of Parliament Arielle Kayabaga, Chair of the Liberal Black Caucus; Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera; and Minister of Small Business Rechie Valdez, who shared their invaluable perspectives and insights on the federal government’s efforts to support Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses in Canada.

Our panellists, consisting of successful entrepreneurs and representatives from prominent Black business associations, offered profound insights into their journeys, challenges and triumphs. Through their narratives, we gained a deeper understanding of the systemic barriers and gaps in supports faced by Black entrepreneurs. Panellists also highlighted the urgent need for collective action to protect the investments already made and continue driving positive change.

The first panel discussion, moderated by Catherine Leteinturier-Guissé, Business Centre Manager at BDC, included the following entrepreneurs:

• Alfred Burgesson, Founder & CEO, Tribe Network
• Cynthia Dorrington, President & CEO, Vale & Associates Human Resource Management and Consulting Inc.
• Muna Mohammed, Founder, Eight50 Coffee

The second panel discussion, moderated by Diana Palmerin-Velasco, Senior Director, Future of Work at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, featured representatives from prominent Black business associations:

• Tiffany Callender, Co-founder & CEO, FACE
• Matthew Martel, CEO, Black Business Initiative
• Liban Abokor, Founder and Managing Director of Reimagine LABS & Co-Founder of Foundation for Black Communities
• Louis-Edgar Jean-François, Chairman & CEO, Groupe 3737

As we reflect on the discussions and insights gleaned from our event, it’s clear that the road ahead is paved with both challenges and opportunities. Yet, amidst the complexities of our entrepreneurial landscape, one thing remains steadfast: our unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable ecosystem in which every entrepreneur, regardless of background, can thrive.

Resources

• Black Start-Up Project
• Tribe Impact Report 2020-2023: From Startup to Breakthrough
• FACE
• Black Business Initiative
• Reimagine LABS
• Foundation for Black Communities
• Black Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Black Business and Professional Association
• Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub
• Black Entrepreneurship Program
• Statistics Canada’s Black History Month 2024 By The Numbers
• StatsCAN Plus article Black History Month: Celebrating heritage and diversity
• Statistics Canada’s Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub
• Government of Canada’s Black History Month webpage

We extend our sincere appreciation to all attendees, speakers and to our sponsors RBC and BDC for their support and commitment to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Canada.