Issue 41 - Black Business Initiative

The Periodical of the Black Business Initiative
Paul
Adams
Also in this Issue
• The American
Election
• Palooka’s Boxing Club
• Sowing a few good seeds
Winter 2009 u Number 41
“A dynamic and vibrant Black presence within
the Nova Scotia Business Community.”
Black to Business
1
Message from the Board of Directors
Message from the Board
1
Message from the
Chief Executive Officer
2
COVER STORY
Adams Photography Services
3
Palooka’s Boxing Club
5
Trailblazers
Young Athletes
7
Partnership To Develop
Michelin’s African Nova Scotian
Workforce 8
2 Colored Guys
Fashions and Silk Screening
9
Cassandra Dorrington, Chair, Black Business Initiative
Paul Adams
In this Issue
Our Future is Now
Caribbean Development Bank
Youth in Business
11
Nova Scotia Black Cultural Project
12
The American Election
African-Nova Scotians Weigh In
13
Obama’s victory has great impact
on Black Canadians
16
BBI Directory Launch
and Christmas Social
17
ASK THE BBI
19
Sowing a few good seeds
Halifax kids earn kudos for work
on community garden project
20
PEOPLE & BUSINESS on the Move 21
BBI 2009 Training Schedule
23
J. Marsman
Safety Service
24
BBI STATISTICS 2007-08
25
Business & Community Events
26
Regional Reports
Southern
Business Development
10
6
Central
12
Northern
23
Regional Business Development Manager
Regional Visit Schedule
25
Mailed under Canada Post Publications Mail
Sales Agreement no. 0040026687
Winter 2009
R
ecently the United States
and the world underwent
an historic happening.
The United States elected its first
African-American president. While
we continue to talk about this event
and celebrate its impact on the
American people, Canada and the
rest of the world, we also marvel
that 40 years after the civil rights
movement, the African-American
people are able to see one of their
own aspire and achieve the highest
office of the land, that of President.
This monumental event will have an
impact on Canadians and in particular will affect us as persons of African
descent living in Canada. While
Canada has always enjoyed good
relations with its neighbour to the
south, with each new president there
is a time of renewal, and in some
cases establishing new relationships.
Black to Business is the official periodical of
The Black Business Initiative and is published quarterly spring, summer, fall, and winter. Its goal is to support the
BBI as it fosters a dynamic and vibrant Black presence
within the Nova Scotia Business Community.
For Advertising Information, Rates, Submitting
Stories, Notices or Community Events,
or for More Information,
call: 902-426-2224
The U.S. has experienced a number
of severe setbacks in recent years
that span the worst financial downturn the country has seen since the
Thirties, the collapse of the North
American automotive industry and
the country’s involvement in two
major wars. As in most situations,
while times look bad, in the current
situation, there are winners and
losers. While Corporate America
has taken a hit, there is potential
for the non-mainstream society to
make some inroads in key areas. We
see similar conditions in Canada.
While Corporate Canada has suffered a few hits as a result of its
alignment with the U.S., the small
entrepreneur while having fewer
resources to invest has taken far less
of a hit. As a marginalized group of
people, we are more accustomed to
risk and tend to thrive in uncertain
times. This is particularly evident
to me, having recently attended the
NMSDC (National Minority Supplier
Development Council) awards in
Las Vegas. The award winners while
excelling at the technical aspect of
running their business also contributed substantially to the economy,
with revenue figures running from
$250,000 to billions of dollars. And
remember these results were accomplished in a year when the U.S. was
entering its downturn in the market.
I am optimistic that the Black
Business Initiative (BBI) and its clients are in an optimum position to
weather the storm. We have been
judicious in ensuring ongoing fiscal
responsibility across the organization.
continued on page 6>
The Black Business Initiative
1575 Brunswick Street,
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2G1
Phone: 902-426-2224 Fax: 902-426-6530
Toll Free: 1-800-668-1010
E-Mail: bbi@bbi.ns.ca Web Site: www.bbi.ns.ca
Published by: the Black Business Initiative
Editor in Chief: Rustum Southwell
Design & Layout: Design North
Production by: Mirabliss Media Productions
Cover Photograph: Paul Adams Jr.
Black to Business
2
Winter 2009
Message From the Chief Executive Officer
Peter Marsman
S. I. Rustum Southwell
A
fter CEO of Capital City
Ephren Taylor’s keynote
presentation at the Business Summit this past June, I came
across Dr. Rudolf Ffrench. Our
paths crossed when the power of
the speech was still fresh in our
minds and we were reflecting on
the message. Rudy, as he is affectionately known to us at the BBI,
is a lifetime Board member and the
current chair of the Board of Black
Business Consulting, the revenue
generating arm of the Black Business Initiative (BBI) brand. As I
approached him, he looked at me
and said, “You know, Rustum, we
did not think big enough.”
That moment of awakening is, in
essence, the soul of the dichotomy
of the BBI. A dozen years ago we
were asked to devise a strategy to
address the social economy and
simultaneously grow wealth and
job creation within the Nova Scotian
Black community. A distinguished
group of dedicated and bright Nova
Scotians, entrepreneurial enough not
to know any better, said yes
and assembled to address the challenge of a lifetime. Although we
have gotten noticed and made significant inroads, we still have a long
way to go.
BBI is at the helm of a cultural shift
in the business environment for Black
entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia. It means
addressing the needs of entry level and
mini-micro businesses up to multi-million dollar companies on a growth and
survival track in an extremely competitive environment. It is a tall order in a
quickly changing business world.
If you recall, at the time of the Summit
in June, the cost of a barrel of oil was
$150, now it is below $50. The Toronto
Stock Exchange composite index (TSX),
which was near to 2000 points, has
since lost half of its value. And a young
African-American was in the fight of
his life with the Clintons to become
the first Black candidate from a major
party for president of the United States
of America.
Despite the gloom in the stock markets
November 4, 2008 election victory of
Barack Obama as President –elect of
the USA, brought a new hope to the
world, a bounce in our strides and a
renewed confidence to make the impossible possible.
At the time of the election I was
attending the annual National and
Minority Supplier Development Council
(NMSDC) conference in Nevada. When
we see plenary panelists like Terry J.
Lungren, Chairman, President and
CEO of Macy’s Inc. or Jeffrey Shaw CEO
of Southwest Gas Corporation, presenting to, and creating partnerships with,
companies owned by racially visible
business people, the inevitable comparison with where we are in Canada
becomes obvious.
“Describing itself ‘as a business, investing and wealth-building resource for
African Americans,’ Black Enterprise
meets and exceeds the three services
offered by Black Canadian resources. It
tracks the largest U.S. black-owned businesses in its annual Top 100s report,
and has a list ranking the best companies to work for African Americans as
well as the best colleges to attend.
“Like the Nova Scotia BBI, Black
Enterprise has a Black Wealth Initiative
(BWI), but the two differ in approach.
BBI states positively influencing provincial business culture as its mission, while
the BWI is committed to helping African
Americans to amass wealth. From the
description of BWI on the website, it
does not seem as concerned with the
cultural implications of its wealth-building campaign, just the financial ones.
The BBI stresses the need of the black
community to acquire business knowhow and to integrate with the larger
business community, while BWI seems
to address a more advanced professional
audience. It does not dwell on how to
get into the business world, but how to
make enough money to get on top of the
business world.
“Naturally, because of the differences
between the American and Canadian
black communities, these variances
between business approaches are to be
expected.”
There is some movement in Nova
Scotia with the recent signing of
the partnership agreement between
Michelin, the tire manufacturer, the
African Nova Scotian Employment
Partnership Committee and the
An online article by Ayesha Foxworth
province. With the current turmoil
compares us this way: “Black Canadian and downturn in the economy, it is
businesspeople who want to network
refreshing to have a multi-national
have a handful of resources at their
corporation put its support behind
disposal: the Black Business Initiative
proactive recruiting of Black employ(BBI) is one of them. But in comparison ees and Black-owned companies into
to the resources available to blacks in
the supply chain.
the United States, like Black Enterprise
Magazine (www.blackenterprise.com),
We have seen some downturns in
Canada still has a long way to go.
the tourism sector in the region. It
continued on page 6 >
Black to Business
3
Winter 2009
Shauntay Grant
“We’re both walking up
the aisle, half-crying.”
Photographer Paul Adams laughs
gently, remembering his daughter
LaTonya’s wedding ceremony. “We get
to the end of the aisle (and the) pastor
says, ‘Who gives this woman…’ I said,
‘I do’. Then I took two steps back, sat
down for a second, grabbed the camera, and went to work!”
The thought of Adams moving busily
about a crowded church as his daughter recites her wedding vows may
seem startling to some. But his heart
was set on honouring LaTonya’s wish
of seeing her wedding day through her
dad’s eyes (or rather, lens). Besides,
it’s not everyday the father of the bride
is the owner and operator of a thriving
photography company.
“I would have never thought that a
hobby would have turned into a fulltime business,” says Adams, who has
been operating Adams Photography
since 1998. “Ever since I was a little
child I was always the guy in the group
that had the camera. And I loved to
take photos. But then my daughter
was born in 1978 and wanting to be a
responsible father and take care of her,
I had to get a job. So I decided to get
a job at the Halifax Infirmary Hospital,
and then moved on to Canada Post.”
Adams worked at Canada Post from
1982 until 2004. But in 1997 he took
on a new position, freeing up some of
his time. So he started taking photos
on a part-time basis. Weddings, special
events, family portraits, schools… His
popularity grew with each new project.
“From 1997 to 2002 I was working two jobs,” remembers Adams. “I
was driving in the postal van taking
Paul Adams, Owner
calls for Adams Photography. I felt like
Superman, changing clothes to do interviews, then going back and delivering
the mail.”
In addition, Adams took a leave without pay for three months each year
between 1999 and 2002 to run the
school-photo segment of the business.
And in 2003 and 2004 he took full-time
leave-without-pay to further his education, eventually earning a diploma from
the Nova Scotia Community College in
Photography and Digital Imaging.
But Adams had to make a choice if he
wanted to follow his dream. “I knew I
had to leave (the post office) if I wanted
to follow my passion,” says Adams.
“That day (back in December of 2004),
I knew I was retiring. And some of the
fellas saw me and said, ‘Oh, you’re
back (from leave)’. And I said, “Yeah I’m
back for a minute, but I’m outta here.
You fellas are the prisoners. The supervisors are the wardens. And this is the
penitentiary. And I just got full parole,”
smiles Adams.
“That’s the way I felt when I left
Canada Post. I just felt like I wasn’t
going to be locked up anymore,
because now I’m walking in my
dream.”
Walking in his dream means turning
his family room into a studio. “Usually
it’s a studio, where I shoot at different
times of the year,” says Adams from
his Dartmouth home in late October.
“But now I call it the factory.”
Stacks of school photos and order
forms line the walls of Adams’ workspace. “We do school pictures; twentytwo schools, which is about 7,000
students. And you do it all between
September and November.” (His busiest time of the year.)
The rest of the year he’s contracted by
the Nova Scotia Government, and has
corporate clients such as the Black
Business Initiative, Steele Group,
Sobeys, Century 21, Acura, Exit Realty
and Remax Atlantic Canada, to name
a few.
Adams also credits his son Paul Jr. with
helping him manage his school projects.
“He goes to the schools to do retakes.
He also went to NSCC and took the
same course that I took. And he’s been
a great help to me, especially with the
weddings – he does all of my postproduction.”
Adams also remembers his daughter,
Amber, being very displeased when
the business first started as it took
up a lot of the family’s finances.
“I thank God that before she
died she got to see the business begin to prosper.”
Adams prides himself
on quality service.
“I believe the customer
is always right. So
I’ll do my utmost
to make sure
that when they
leave they’re
happy.
“I have freedom now.
My time is flexible.
I get to meet so
many people of
all ages and
from all
walks of
life that
“I just get excited when someone calls
for pictures. I give all glory to my Lord
and Saviour for giving me the faith to
follow my dream.”
s
“Some of the feedback I have received
from the schools is that they love my
interaction with the students. But I
love people, especially children
so that just comes naturally.
Adams counts Stedman Graham and
T.D. Jakes among the celebrities he’s
had the opportunity to photograph. But
at the end of the day, he says it doesn’t
matter who the subject is.
am
Adams credits the East Preston
Daycare Centre with giving him his
first opportunity for class photos. “I still
remember going to (my first schools),
Nelson Whynder and Joseph Howe
(Elementary Schools) – we had two
coat racks and two-by-fours, and I hung
the backdrop over that… and one camera. And that’s what I started with.”
His competition in the school arena is
national multi-million dollar companies.
But Adams says the fact that he is a
smaller company in comparison works
to his advantage. “What (schools) like
is that if they call me with an issue, I’m
right there, whereas the bigger companies may not be as accessible. So I
provide them with really good service.
It runs you off your feet for three or four
months, but to me it’s all worth it.
I would otherwise have never got to
meet.”
Ad
“My family is very supportive,” says
Adams. “(My wife), Star, a.k.a., Wonder
Woman, holds a full time job with the
Department of Education and is also a
major player in the running of Adams
Photography Services. She now works
two jobs, where I worked two jobs when
we first started out. But we got it down
– we’ve been doing it for 10 years.”
And you gotta make sure they’re happy,
especially in the school industry. You’re
trying to please 7,000 parents.”
ul
Paul Adams Jr.
In the spring and summer he’s busy
with family portraits and weddings.
He has photographed weddings from
across Canada and as far away as
Jamaica.
Winter 2009
4
Pa
Black to Business
Black to Business
5
Palooka’s Boxing Club
Winter 2009
Chad Lucas
Peter Marsman
Amateur Boxing Association.
But Jones admits it’s been a bit of an
uphill struggle to draw in youth. He
believes it’s partly the stigma of boxing, which people sometimes dismiss
as too violent.
“You could say that hockey is a violent sport, football is a violent sport
– any sport where there’s contact,”
Jones says. “But if you look at it as
competition, discipline, development
of body and mind, then you’re looking at it for different reasons. A lot
of people say, ‘Oh, I never thought
of it that way.’”
Vince Jones , General Manager
S
ay the words “boxing club”
and a stereotypical image
out of a 1970s film springs
to many people’s minds – a steamy
little room crowded with swaggering fighters, the stale air dripping
with testosterone and smelling like
the inside of a wet gym bag.
General Manager Vince Jones
wants you to know that’s not what
Palooka’s Boxing Club is about. And
if you poke your head inside, you’ll
find out for yourself.
“I’ve had a lot of people say to me
that they’ve walked past 50 or 60
times and wondered what it was
like,” Jones says. “And I say, ‘Well,
how will you know if you don’t
come in?’”
After all, Jones himself was skeptical at first. A student support worker
in the Halifax school system for 20
years, he was looking for a change
and thought at first he was applying to manage a fitness club, he
says with a laugh. Yet though he
has little experience with boxing,
he was drawn in by owner Mickey
MacDonald’s vision for the club to
become a place of refuge for at-risk
youth in the community.
After 20 years of working with atrisk youth in schools, Jones says he’s
in favour of anything that helps
kids find a way out – and he thinks
Palooka’s could offer that to many.
“Mickey’s intent is to help kids find
their way through this program,”
Jones says. “It’s not so much to
develop boxers, it’s to help kids
develop self-confidence, to (be) a
place where they can get away from
the pressures of everyday life, peer
pressure, if they want to clear their
minds and think about a way out.”
“If a person can just come in here
and be in a better space for an hourand-a-half or two hours, then we’ve
already accomplished something,”
he says. “We can offer an opportunity for respect and understanding,
and that’s a good thing. It’s never a
bad thing.”
Located at the south end of
Gottingen Street, the club’s interior
is a mix of exposed brick and new
equipment. Palooka’s also offers
much more than boxing. Members
can take lessons in mixed martial
arts, kick-boxing, boxercise aerobics
and non-competitive boxing, or
enter a competitive amateur program.
The desire to reach youth extends
outside the ring as well. The club
offered an entrepreneurial program
in the summer, and has brought in
speakers such as former boxer Rubin
“Hurricane” Carter.
The club also offers low rates for
youth: just $2 a session, after a $35
registration fee with the Canadian
Palooka’s
Boxing
Club
2110 Gottingen St.,
Halifax, Nova Scotia
902-423-9329
www.palookasboxingclub.ca
Black to Business
REGIONAL
REPORT
Southern
Greg
Nazaire
Fall started with preparation for the Small
Business Week event. The BBI was invited
to participate in both the Blue Water and
Yarmouth events. Chuck Smith, our new
Board member and retired civil servant in
the southern region represented the BBI in
Yarmouth. I attended the Blue Water event
at Fisherman Cove where the Honourable
Bill Dooks, Minister of Tourism, Culture
and Heritage was the keynote speaker.
The BBI in partnership with Canadian
Business Development Centres (CBDCs) will
be launching a series of workshops across
the southern region. These workshops will
address problems faced by small business
owners and people who want to start a
business. The first workshop will be held
in Yarmouth on November 20 at the Rodd
Colony Harbour Inn.
Last month we were pleased to sponsor
Darlene Lawrence, the Director of the
Digby County Family Resource Centre
in the organization of the African Nova
Scotian Parent Conference & Youth Forum
that was held on September 26th, 2008.
The conference was in response to the
racial incident that occurred in Digby last
June.
In the last quarter the Training Centre
hosted more than 22 microfinance
practitioners, primarily from South Asia and
Africa. They were treated to a presentation
of the BBI business model. I would like to
thank my colleagues, particularly Dorothy
Fletcher, for their dedication in organizing
this event.
Finally, I would also like to congratulate
Louise Delisle on the development of
her business Good Life Home Care, a
premier senior home care provider in the
Southern region, notably in the Shelburne
and Barrington areas. If you live in these
areas, feel free to give Mrs. Delisle a call at
(902)875-3734.
For any further information or to
book a regional visit, please contact
me at: (902)426-1625
or 1(800)668-1010.
Winter 2009
6
Message from the
Board of Directors
Message from
the CEO
continued from page 1
continued from page 2
We have spent considerable time with
our client base facilitating them in their
ability to manage both the business
and risk effectively. The sustainability
model which was rolled out in the last
few years was designed for circumstances akin to now.
Most importantly, we have worked
closely with our funding partners to
ensure they are an integral part of the
solution and of our future. While we
have attempted to manage our risk,
we leave nothing to chance. We are
currently in the throes of laying the
foundation of renewing our multiyear financial commitment from our
partners. While this initiative takes
considerable effort (e.g. BBI program
evaluation, strategic planning, ongoing
Balanced Scorecard reporting, etc…), it
is an essential part of doing business at
BBI.
All this effort does not come without
a cost. I have said it in the past and
I continue to commend our CEO,
Rustum Southwell, and his dedicated
and knowledgeable staff. BBI has been
blessed in its ability to attract and
retain a strong and talented group of
dedicated professionals in the organization and to each of them we owe our
thanks for continuing to contribute
unconditionally to BBI’s vision.
Each year, we experience some changeover and this year is no exception.
To those who have been with us and
shared their skills and knowledge
before moving to another step along
the path of your life, thank you for your
dedication and service. And to the new
group who are enthusiastic and eager
to contribute, we welcome you and look
forward to working with you.
As you can tell it will be an exciting
and a busy year. Are we up to the
challenge, and can we do it? As heard
in the words of Barack Obama on
November 4th, “Yes we can.”
Cassandra Dorrington, Chair
is to be expected after the recent
decreased value of the Canadian
dollar, the drop in oil pricing, and
the downturn in manufacturing.
Given the unfolding financial market turmoil, credit will be difficult to
come by. Companies will have to be
exceptionally loyal to their core customer base just to survive.
Economic eras do not last forever;
however, our workforce and businesses are at the lowest end of the
income disparity. In this rough
business climate, we will have to
choose the right strategic path and
the most cost-effective way to ensure
maximum value to our customers
and companies. We will continue
to offer support and advice to small
and large companies.
The last quarter of the year is
always busy with the preparation
for the Small Business Week and
the Christmas retail season networking. This year is no different.
Bernard Elwin said farewell to the
BBI to study the construction industry at NSCC. Chuck Smith, a very
well-known retired civil servant in
the southern region, and Eleanor
Beaton, a business woman from
the central region, joined the Black
Business Initiative board of directors
in September.
Cassandra Dorrington, in her role as
Chair of BBI, continues to move the
organization forward with its master
plan. The annual board retreat in
September and an external evaluation currently being undertaken by
Gardner Pinfold will assist us with
future strategies.
Our promise is to be at your side
during the current economic storm,
because we are stronger together.
S.I. Rustum Southwell, CEO
Black to Business
Winter 2009
7
Young Athletes
Nkem Ezurike
Chioke Esono-Thornhill
Fencing
Peter Marsman
Courtesy CanadaSoccer.com
Soccer
Nkem Ezurike has spent a good portion of the fall living out of a suitcase, thanks to her talents on the soccer
pitch.
The 16-year-old from Lower Sackville has been in high
demand as one of Canada’s top young soccer talents.
First, she was off to St. John’s, NL, with her club team,
Halifax City Salty’s, for the national championships on
Thanksgiving weekend.
Ezurike was one of the youngest players on the field
in the senior women’s tournament, but she scored two
goals in the championship game to help Halifax win
3-2 and claim the Jubilee Trophy.
“Every time I’d been to nationals I’d never won a
medal, so that was great,” Ezurike said.
She got to spend all of a half-day at home before flying
to Toronto to train with the Canadian under-17 women’s team. Then it was off to New Zealand for the first
ever FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
“It’s amazing – it’s going to be a really good experience,” Ezurike said from the airport, just before flying to
New Zealand. “(Playing with the national team) is more
competitive and intense.”
Chioke EsonoThornhill first picked
up a foil at the age
of eight when he was
living in Montreal,
and he’s been fencing ever since.
“I was looking for
an after-school sport
and my mother
wanted me to do
something other
than the usual soccer
or hockey,” he said.
“I like individual
sports more than
team sports, and
fencing was the one
that really kept my
attention.”
The fact he’s good at it didn’t hurt, either. After moving
to Halifax, Chioke was the youngest member of Nova
Scotia’s Canada Games team in 1999 – and the only
African-Canadian – and he came home with a bronze
medal. Now 23, Esoko-Thornhill won the Nova Scotia
provincial championship in May and the Moncton Open
in October. He finished in the top 16 on the Canadian
Selection Circuit.
“They’re the best in Canada, so I was pretty pleased with
that,” he said.
He’s taking some time off from his studies in psychology
and French at Dalhousie to pursue his fencing career,
which often requires travelling to other provinces to compete.
Ezurike, whose parents were born in Nigeria, fell in love
with soccer early.
“The fencing scene in Halifax isn’t terribly strong compared to other places such as Quebec or Ontario, but it’s
a growing sport,” he said. “I think in the long term it’s
getting larger.”
Esono-Thornhill said he’d ultimately love to compete
internationally.
“I started when I was young and I just always loved
playing it,” she said. “I just want to play as long as I
can. I’d love to play professionally if I can, or just play
at the national level as a senior.”
“I would love to be able to represent my country at the
Olympics,” he said. “But if I can’t do that, then I’d like to
go to a few World Cup events and compete on the world
circuit.”
Black to Business
Winter 2009
8
Partnership To Develop
Michelin’s African Nova Scotian Workforce
Justine Colley
Basketball
Peter Marsman
Angela Johnson
contributed
Chad Lucas
Justine Colley
has been wowing people on
the basketball
court from a
young age.
Now 17 and in
grade 12, the
East Preston
native has
back-to-back
metro high
school MVP
awards to her
credit, and she
was one of two
Nova Scotians
to play on the
Canadian team
at the FIBA
Americas U-18 Championship for Women this
summer in Argentina.
Colley played a key role in helping Canada finish
second and qualify for the world championship
next summer in Thailand, but she said the international tournament was a humbling experience.
“It was really overwhelming, just the level of competition,” Colley said. “It made me realize that
there’s a lot more I need to work on to improve my
game.”
Colley is a standout in soccer and track-and-field
as well, but she says basketball is her first love.
“I just always had a love for the game,” she says.
“I like the competitive nature of it.”
She’ll try to win a second provincial championship
with her Halifax Grammar School Gryphons this
year, then she’ll have plenty of interested universities to choose from next year. Colley says she’s not
sure where she wants to go yet, but her ultimate
goal is clear – playing for Canada at an Olympic
Games.
“But right now I’m just looking to go to university,”
she said. “I’m just keeping my options open at the
moment.”
l to r: Janet Kennedy, Michelin; Cassandra Dorrington, BBI; Barry Barnet, ANSA
Minister; Karen Casey; Education Minister, Alma Johnston, AUBA; Joe Parris, ANSEPCs
Michelin has pledged to work with the African Nova Scotian community to promote employment and career development opportunities for African Nova Scotians at its three plants in the province.
A partnership agreement was signed on Tuesday, November 25,
by Michelin North America (Canada) Inc., the African Nova Scotian
Employment Partnership Committee’s Collaborative Partnership
Network, and the province of Nova Scotia.
“This is the first time this type of partnership has been undertaken
with the African Nova Scotian community,” said Barry Barnet,
Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs. “It’s an international company working with the community to develop skills and career
opportunities in this industry. At the same time, it will assist
Michelin in its desire to expand its diverse workforce.”
The partnership includes the African Nova Scotian Employment
Partnership Committee’s Collaborative Partnership Network, the
Office of African Nova Scotia Affairs, the African Canadian services division of the Department of Education, the Public Services
Commission’s strategic support services, the Black Business
Initiative, and Michelin North America (Canada) Inc.
After the signing of the agreement, the parties will continue to
meet to address short- and long-term action plans. These include
setting goals and aligning values to ensure a strong partnership
with measurable results.
“Michelin is committed to diversity in its workforce and to recruiting top talent. Partnerships like this are critical, as Michelin looks
to tap into that talent and open doors for increased diversity,”
said Janet Kennedy, director, personnel, Michelin North America
(Canada) Inc.
Details on the Michelin hiring process will be shared with African
Nova Scotian career centres across the province and job opportunities will be posted. Procurement opportunities will be reviewed to
determine if there are potential suppliers from the African Nova
Scotian community.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Barnet; Karen Casey, Minister of
Education; Joe Parris, chair of the African Nova Scotia Employment
Partnership Committee’s Collaborative Partnership Network; Janet
Kennedy, director, personnel, Michelin North America (Canada)
Inc.; and Cassandra Dorrington, chair, Black Business Initiative.
Courtesy of the Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs
Black to Business
Winter 2009
9
2 Colored Guys
Fashions and Silk Screening
Carol Dobson
Paul Adams
Right now he’s at a crossroads in his
business life. An accident two years
ago left him with an L-2 fracture
in his lower back so standing has
become problematic. So, he’s weighing his options – take on a partner
or start a new enterprise altogether.
He’s keeping his cards close to his
chest for now, waiting to see how
things unfold.
“I am thinking of maybe putting an
ad in the paper for a partner, someone who wants to come in as part of
an already established business, but
I’m going to keep on going with the
work I have ahead of me.”
Donald Brown, Owner, 2 Colored Guys Fashions and Silk Screening
P
ride in being a Canadian
helped lead Donald Brown, of
2 Colored Guys Fashions and
Silk Screening to open his business.
“I kept asking myself, why are
Canadians following American fashion?” he says. “We should be wearing our own clothing so I decided to
do my part with t-shirts and sweatshirts.”
His business has been in operation
for many years – it was officially registered in 1995 – and prints t-shirts
for teams and businesses, and for
other promotional purposes. He also
has two clothing lines.
Brown’s start came when a friend
had some older silk screening equipment for sale.
“They had been kept in a garage that
was about to be demolished. The
roof had been leaking and some of
the machinery was rusted so he gave
me a real good price. I read up on
silk screening and taught myself how
to do it. Then, a friend of mine was
opening a business, Inside Outside
Car Wash and he had a bay that
was available.”
He says he’s a bit of a “jack of all
trades” so he made the decision to
take his friend’s offer of that space
and, using his electrical, carpentry
and plumbing skills, transformed the
space into his business.
“I kept asking myself, why
are Canadians following
American fashion?” he says.
“We should be wearing
our own clothing so I
decided to do my part with
t-shirts and sweatshirts.”
The first order of 40 t-shirts turned
into a learning experience ... not
to mention a money loser, but he
chalked it up and kept on going,
learning more and more about the
techniques as he went along. Like
many entrepreneurs, he’s struggled
through the years to get financing
but has kept forging ahead.
Entrepreneurship is in his blood. He
had a previous business, Busy Bee
Boot Accessories, which sold accessories for cowboy boots before he and a
partner started 2 Colored Guys.
His partner is no longer in the picture
but the name lives on. It was actually suggested by the partner, playing
on the fact that he was white while
Brown was Black.
“We wanted to be something for all
faces, all races and it was a good selling point,” Brown admits.
2 Colored
Guys
Fashions &
Silk Screening
•
Donald Brown
5663 Cornwallis
Street, Halifax
420-9553
Black to Business
Winter 2009
10
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
REPORT
Gordon Doe
Construction
Our ongoing construction sector roundtables
are bearing good fruit. Over the past months
we have supported five different companies to
undertake construction projects of different sizes
and have also assisted five construction workers
to obtain their first aid training. These ongoing
monthly roundtables are an opportunity for Black
contractors to network with each other and
generate business. The meetings allow the Black
Business Initiative (BBI) to know some of the
challenges in the industry and to provide business
support for our clients.
We are preparing a construction training and
job readiness proposal for submission to the
Apprenticeship Training and Skill Development
Division of the Department of Education. We
believe this project will increase the participation
rate of Black tradespeople in Nova Scotia’s
mainstream economy.
Invest in Nova Scotia
This year, we will be launching our sixth offering
of our Community Economic Development
Investment Fund (CEDIF), and we encourage
you to participate in this. Our goal is to take our
$441,000 portfolio beyond the half-million mark.
Recent events in the global financial markets have
proved that even the most diversified of portfolios
are not entirely immune to risk. However, investors
in most local CEDIFs such as the Black Business
Investment Fund have been spared major declines
in their asset values. The BBCIFL’s portfolio is stable
and has escaped the havoc caused by the ongoing
global financial market meltdown.
FAIR FINANCING
• SELF EMPLOYED
• PENSIONER
• PERMANENT DISABILITY
• DIVORCED
• BANKRUPTCY
• REPOSESSIONS
• SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS
7.9% to 16.9%
7.9% to 16.9%
7.9% to 16.9%
7.9% to 16.9%
7.9% to 16.9%
7.9% to 16.9%
7.9% to 16.9%
• BAD CREDIT
• NEW IMMIIGRANTS
7.9% to 16.9%
7.9% to 16.9%
(IE. WAITRESSES, BARTENDERS, ETC.)
www.collishawauto.com
Deep Panuke
gas project
business and career
opportunities.
Adding CEDIF shares to your portfolio should be a
good source of diversification or risk minimization.
In finance, the concept of diversification is akin
to the saying “don’t put all your eggs in one
basket”.
Investors can diversify along asset classes and
across geographic boundaries. In asset classes,
we are told that your portfolio should contain a
mix of stocks, bonds and currencies. And along
geographic boundaries, emphasis is placed on
investing in different markets – U.S., Japan, Europe
and Asia. However, irrespective of the extent and
type of your diversification, chances are your
investment portfolio has been affected by the
recent global meltdown. However, CEDIFs are
slow and steady local investment funds and for the
most part should be spared major declines in their
asset values. This is because the small businesses
that CEDIFs generally invest in are not impacted
to the same degree as big exchange-traded
companies are by global crises.
Your investment in the Black Business Investment
Fund will position the fund to make a greater
impact on the Nova Scotia economy as we
continue to invest in small businesses.
As always, please feel free to call
me at 902-426-6985 if you have
any questions.
For information on business opportunities with
EnCana’s Deep Panuke natural gas development in
Nova Scotia’s offshore, visit the Deep Panuke pages
on the EnCana web site at www.encana.com/
operations/canada/deeppanuke/
businessopportunities/index.htm
For information on employment opportunities
at Deep Panuke, visit the Career Centre on
EnCana’s web site at www.encana.com or
the Career Beacon web site
at www.careerbeacon.com
www.encana.com
ECOR-7124 Deep Panuke_Generic ad_R2.indd 1
9/17/08 8:38:18 AM
Black to Business
Winter 2009
11
Caribbean Development Bank
Youth in Business
I
t may be a stretch to find a link
among such things as purses,
video editing, baking, craft,
and the circus. However, at CDB’s
Youth In Business Forum, it was
discovered that these were some of
the ideas and avenues that a selected
group of young entrepreneurs had
chosen to start their businesses.
The forum which had as its theme,
“Cultivating the Next Generation”,
brought together business executives
and young entrepreneurs from both
Canada and the Caribbean. It was
held in Halifax to coincide with the
Bank’s Annual Meeting. The executives, who gave insights and advice,
were Bill Martin, Director, Atlantic
Canada of the Canadian Youth
Business Foundation; Rustum S. I.
Southwell, Chief Executive Officer,
Black Business Initiative; Marcia
Brandon, Director, Barbados Youth
Business Trust; and Brian Louisy,
President of the St. Lucia Chamber of
Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.
The young business people then
shared their experiences of setting
up and running enterprises. Franky
Phillips of Dominica has his own craft
factory selling wholesale and retail;
Errol Singh of Trinidad and Tobago
has a production company that produces two top-rated television shows;
Anaïs Guimond of Nova Scotia runs a
school for circus performers; and Jason
Jackson, a Jamaican who now lives
in Nova Scotia, runs a purse business
with his wife Arisa.
young people need
to become productive
and to boost, nurture
and hone their creativity.
The young entrepreneurs, two of
whom had not travelled outside of the
region before, were
very impressed and
honoured with their
inclusion in such a
(l-r) Jason Jackson, Anaïs Guimond, Errol Singh,
prestigious affair.
and Franky Phillips.
They were also
pleased to have been
given the opportunity to share their
experiences with other young entreThe forum which had as
preneurs, potential young entrepreneurs, Bank officials and other
its theme, “Cultivating
guests. The opportunity to experience another culture has enhanced
the Next Generation”,
their creativity and widened their
world.
brought together
business executives and
young entrepreneurs
from both Canada
and the Caribbean.
Among the aims of the forum were the
provision of networking opportunities,
and the expectation that the young
business people would gain insights
and information on best practices in
the Region and internationally. Ms.
Brandon, who was pleased with the
outcome, noted that
“the forum was a
successful and productive one, which
highlighted the work
that many young
people are doing in
entrepreneurship
and the potential
that is present.
Opportunities and
guidance are what
Ms. Marcia Brandon, Director,
Barbados Youth Business Trust
The Region’s young entrepreneurs
are the leaders of tomorrow. It is
very important that we treat them
with respect and help to build
their self-confidence and esteem.
Self-worth is a strong motivator in
working towards achieving one’s
dream.”
Taken from CDB newsletter: Volume 26 No. 2
April - June, 2008. Used by permission
Black to Business
Winter 2009
12
Nova Scotia Black
Cultural Project
Evan Williams
In July 2008, the Black Business Initiative
(BBI) completed the first stage of the Nova
Scotia Black Cultural Tourism Project, to
promote tourism in Nova Scotia, economic
development and foreign investment in
the Black community. The Nova Scotia
Black Cultural Tourism Project aims to
enhance the exposure of and attendance
to Black historic and cultural destinations
in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia is not known by the majority
of the public both inside and outside of the
province. This study has created the venue
and the formula for capacity building and
will provide the ability to coordinate extensive promotion and marketing of the product. As the awareness of this new niche
emerges, there will need to be a strong
marketing and business plan in place to
manage the delivery of the product.
The project began with a market readiness and tourism potential analysis. This
is aimed at developing and marketing
the tourism potential of Black history and
culture in Nova Scotia. Black culture is a
large part of the history of Nova Scotia
and of Canada. There are many historical Black sites throughout the province.
Unfortunately, the economic potential
of these sites is not being exploited. As a
result, many tourists come to Nova Scotia
and visit the Citadel, Pier 21, Maritime
Museum of the Atlantic and similar venues but fail to realize the amount of culture and the influence of Blacks in Nova
Scotia.
The project looked at comparable cultural
initiatives in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Britsh
Columbia, Washington DC and Virginia.
This is the first market readiness and tourism potential analysis specific to the Black
community in Nova Scotia. All of these
comparable initiatives have had many
challenges and many successes. Research
found that there has been an increase in
global tourism and also growth in cultural
tourism. Contrastingly, there has also been
a substantial increase in competition for
the tourist dollar. The research also peaked
the interest of many tourism operators in
the United States. All of the operators that
were spoken to were unware that there was
400 years of Black culture in our province.
They were all seacrhing for a new niche
market and were very excited at having
the oppurtunity to offer Nova Scotia to
their clients.
By partnering financially with Foreign
Affairs and International Trade Canada,
we were able to hire a cultural consultant
team to prepare a comprehensive feasibility and market assessment study of the
potential of the identified Black historical
and cultural sites in Nova Scotia. With
the guidance of the project steering committee – which included BBI, the Office
of African Nova Scotian Affairs, Nova
Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture
and Heritage, Parks Canada, and Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
– the consultant team was led by A.L.
Arbic Consulting with team members
Genesis Consulting, Tourism Solutions
and Carmelita Robertson. The feasibility
study explored the viability of the proposed product and the market assessment
focused on organizing the attarctions and
positioning them in the tourism marketplace. This entire process required building
strategic partnerships between communities, government and the private sector.
Alliances were formed locally, nationally
and internationally.
The value of this project to the Black community and the overall tourism market in
Nova Scotia is substantial. The significance,
history and beauty behind Black culture in
In the end, this study provides an independent assessment of the state and market
readiness of the Black toursim product in
Nova Scotia. The final phase of the project
will be to implement a marketing plan to
promote and sell this tourism package.
The next step for the project is to work
with the members of the steering committee and existing attractions to help them
improve and become more competitive.
Based on comparable market and contextual data, it is estimated that 15,000 to
20,000 out-of-province visits could be generated if the study’s recommedations are
implemented. This level of tourism would
translate into an annual combined direct
and spin-off economic impact amounting
to at the very least $11 million to as much
as $ 25 million over five years.
To view the market readiness and
tourism potential analysis highlights
please visit www.bbi.ca. If you have
questions about the project, please
contact me at 902-426-8688.
REGIONAL
REPORT
Central
Evan
Williams
The last few months have been steady
with new business developments and
expansions.
I have been working with many clients
in Metro and the Central region to assist
them in achieving their goal of starting a
business.
I want to congratulate Al Gero of the
“Little Downtown Diner” in Amherst. The
Little Downtown Diner was featured in
BBI’s last sequence of advertisements on
Global Television. This ad campaign has
given Al and his business great exposure.
I want to congratulate Joel Marsman of J
Marsman Safety Services. They are entering
their third year of business. JMSS specializes
in certified registered safety training, safety
policy program development, joint health
and safety evaluations, WHMIS, incident
investigation training, due diligence hazard
identification/risk assessment, and many
other services. A profile on J Marsman
Safety Services is featured in this issue of
Black to Business.
I will be changing roles within the BBI and
moving to BBI’s Training Centre as Acting
Director of Client Development. This will
be my last Central region report. All Central
region requests and clients will be referred
to Njabulo Nkala, the new Regional Business
Development Manager for the area. He can
be reached at 902-426-4281. I wish Njabulo
luck; my clients will enjoy having him as their
new RBDM. I want to thank everyone in the
Central region for your support, guidance
and cooperation.
If you are interested in any of BBI’s
training courses outside of Metro,
please contact me at 902-426-8688
or speak to the RBDM for your
area. I encourage everyone to take
advantage of the various top qualitytraining programs the BBI has to
offer.
Black to Business
13
Winter 2009
The American Election
African-Nova Scotians Weigh In
Carol Dobson
Photos: on file
By the time this edition of Black to Business hits the streets,
the outcome of one of the most important elections in this
century’s young history will be known. No matter which of
the two men wins the American election on November 4,
history has been made. As this story is being written, the
election is seven days away and the smart money is lining up
behind Barack Obama.
Black to Business
“I think this is extremely historic because
only two centuries ago African people
were enslaved,” Yvonne Atwell says.
“Two centuries ago African people were
human cargo. Now, 200 years later,
those laws that disallowed his ancestors
to participate in the democratic process
have been overturned. In the scheme of
things, two centuries is not a long period
of time.”
Yvonne Atwell
She sees him as a role model for all people, not just those of African descent, for
a number of reasons – his background,
his education, his caring family...
But, she also points out that, in a global
context, the United States is playing
catch up. People of colour have been
running governments in the Caribbean,
South America, Asia and Africa for a
long, long time, something that North
Americans and Europeans often forget.
Senator Obama has an enthusiastic supporter in Nova Scotia’s first Black cabinet
minister.
Wayne Adams
Barbara Miller Manning
Senator Donald Oliver
Winter 2009
14
“I’ve been following him for the last five
years,” Wayne Adams admits. “I’ve
been reading about him in international
magazines, and following his career as a
leader in the Senate long before people
were starting to ask who is this guy and
is he going to make a bid. People would
call me up and I’d say, ‘Can’t talk now,
I’m watching Obama.’ They’d ask ‘Who?’
and I’d say ‘Keep your eyes on him.’
“He’s so inspiring and he’s going to be
an inspiration for the underdogs, for
the people who haven’t had a chance
because of their disabilities, their sex,
their colour... All of a sudden, they’ll
be looking at him and saying ‘Yes
I Can!’ He’s transcended race!”
The Obama candidacy has created an
energy that hasn’t been seen in the
U.S. for a couple of elections. One
long-term Democrat summed it up
by saying she’d not been this excited
about a campaign since the days of
the Kennedys and she was going to do
whatever she could to make sure he got
in.
That was one of the sentiments shared
by American tourists visiting this summer. This year was a banner year
for cruise ships, based primarily out
of Boston and New York, visiting the
ports of Halifax and Sydney, with the
bulk of the ships’ visits coinciding with
the Canadian and American elections.
Those working in the shore excursion industry, like Aberdeen Tours’
Jonathan Duru, found themselves
chatting with visitors and comparing
the two systems.
“He’s so inspiring and
he’s going to be an
inspiration for the
underdogs, for the
people who haven’t
had a chance because
of their disabilities,
their sex, their colour...
–Wayne Adams
One of the qualities that Adams sees in
Obama is his ability to maintain balance
in his life.
One of the things that intrigued
Americans was the relatively short duration of the Canadian election and many
envied our 37-day writ period. But,
where Canadians were opting, more
or less, for the status quo this time
round, the possibility of change ... and
hope ... were prevalent themes among
Americans.
“His whole approach smacks of realism,”
Adams says. “He broke off the campaign
because he was afraid he might not
see his grandmother alive again. That
shows he’s got balance, he’s not just a
political being. For him, family is number one.”
“I was hearing lots of positive things
about Obama,” Duru says. “People are
looking for a change. Many of my customers are elderly and they were talking
about things like Colin Powell’s support
and the fact that Obama is going to
pull the troops away from Iraq.”
continued on page 15>
Black to Business
Barbara Miller Manning has the
opposite view on the length of the
electoral process that will culminate on
November 4.
“People have a chance to really get a
look at the candidates and get to know
them,” she says.
She’s already made her choice.
“I’ve been following this election closely,” Manning admits. “With the right
leader, the results of the election will
be world changing. I’ve been a huge
Obama supporter and I’ve been glued
to the television when people like Colin
Powell, who are strong, respected and
well liked among the Republicans, have
made the move to Obama. If people
make the right choice on election day,
it’s going to have an impact on the
world’s economic situation.”
That’s important for Manning because
her client base is primarily in the U.S.
and Europe and her business is measured by the American economy. As a
result, the economic direction President
Obama may take has a direct impact on
her bottom line.
But she’s not only looking at the election from a business perspective, she’s
looking at it from a personal one, as her
husband is from the Chicago area, her
daughter is an American citizen, and
there are family ties to the U.S.
“My husband’s sister is the only one still
in the Chicago area and she’s involved
in the campaign,” Manning says. “But
I’ve signed up on the Obama website so
I get daily emails about the campaign.”
There is also the aspect of the teamwork exhibited by Obama and his wife
Michelle. That clearly came to the fore
when he stepped back to make that visit
to Hawaii, less than two weeks before
the end of the campaign, and she seamlessly took over the campaigning for
those two days.
“She’s strong, even-keeled, a good
listener and you can see how much
he looks to her for her strength and
resolve,” Manning says.
15
What will be the impact of an Obama
presidency on its northern neighbour?
Adams thinks that relations may be
strained due to the difference in personalities between Obama and Prime
Minister Stephen Harper.
However, Nova Scotian Senator Donald
Oliver thinks Obama will quickly learn
how valuable the Canadian-U.S. relationship is. He says that statements early
on in the campaign about the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
were directed more towards Mexico than
Canada, a common occurrence because
Americans tend to think more about
southern trade rather than trade with the
country’s largest trading partner.
“When you consider that 20 percent
of American oil and gas comes from
Canada, that $1.4 billion in goods crosses the border daily, I don’t think he’s
going to do anything to take our agreement apart,” Oliver says.
Trade issues aside, he’s thinking there will
be a spillover effect here in Canada.
“It’s going to move the Canadian diversity agenda forward. For the first time
in history, a Black man is going to be
the most powerful person in the world.
That will be inspiring to the six million
people who are visible minorities here
in Canada. I am hoping it will encourage our Black population to get more
involved in the political process and I
am also hoping that it will challenge
Canadians to ask ‘Where are our Black
Canadians?’ I see this as a marvellous
opportunity for visible minorities to break
through the glass ceiling and get themselves up off the sticky floor.”
Many people of a certain age, can’t help
but draw parallels with another event,
not so long ago, when another young
man, also in his mid-forties, with a striking, intelligent wife, and two charming
children broke another barrier in the
U.S., that of religion. And, with the
forty-fifth anniversary of November 22
not that far away, thinking people, like
Yvonne Atwell, are watching the horizon
to see what other parallels are there.
Unfortunately, they have not had to
look hard, with front-page stories in late
Winter 2009
October papers about death threats and
neo-Nazi plots.
“There is still so much racism and
oppression still prevalent in the United
States that there are times when I fear
for his life,” she says.
Having said that, Atwell admits, “These
are interesting times and I do think the
time is right. He has the smarts to do it
and he’s been using technology unlike
it’s never been used before to reach people who have previously been unreachable. Plus, the ‘stuff’ that’s been spread
hasn’t stuck. I think this man is going
to do what he’s destined to and I wish I
could go down and campaign for him.”
“If Senator Obama becomes the next
president of the United States of
America, it will be a major milestone
for equal rights,” Oliver says. “It will
empower the international community
by reminding us all that systemic racism
will not limit Blacks from reaching their
full potential. I cannot wait for his first
presidential visit to Canada.”
Editor’s Note: Barack Obama made
history on November 4, 2008, when he was
elected the first African American President
of the United States. His inauguration
is in January 2009. He campaigned on
a platform of hope and change that
had record numbers of citizens voting
particularly the youth and residents who
had never voted.
Black to Business
Winter 2009
16
Obama’s victory has great impact
contributed
on Black Canadians
L
ike countless other Blacks across
the US, Canada and indeed
around the world, my eyes
welled up with tears of jubilation
in the late hours of November 4th
when Barack Obama was declared the
44th President of the United States.
Against all the odds in a long and
contentious struggle, he had broken
through the great divide with dignity,
intelligence and determination. And
because of what he - what the people
did - “on this date in this election
at this defining moment, change has
come to America.”
This change has been a long time coming - and not just in the United States
with its sad legacy of slavery, segregation and overt discrimination. Racism
remains an original sin in most societies
across the globe, including Canada. And
unless you have felt its sting, you cannot
truly appreciate its impact or import.
This is why many Black people who
never voted before in an US election
stood in line for hours to vote. It’s why
ten of thousands of people gathered in
Chicago, Washington and other cities to
celebrate this victory. It’s why many foreigners and expats travelled to the US to
Senator Donald H. Oliver
witness history in the making. It’s why
they got together in Kenya to honour a
descendant.
And it’s why African Canadians are
so elated. Within hours of Obama’s
victory, my inbox was filled with messages about his victory. “What a great
day!” my friend Fil Fraser of Edmonton
declared in his message. He was in
New York with his wife to celebrate
their 25th wedding anniversary. “I
can’t tell you how thrilling it is to be
here as this magnificent political transformation unfolds.” Then he outlined
how astounded his parents and his late
brother would have been to witness
this moment, including that “the searing realization that Black people have
always been at the bottom of the racial
totem pole is a reality that is always
part of your life, riding just under the
surface...”
Canadians take great pride in being a
tolerant society, but take it from me,
my Black colleagues, and members of
my family, our struggle for equality has
been long, hard fought and it’s not over
yet. For example, few Canadians know
that slavery thrived in Canada for almost
200 years in tandem with its dramatic
rise south of the border. This is largely
because very few Canadian history textbooks ever mention this dark chapter.
Most Canadians also don’t know that segregation remained the order of the day
for Blacks in Canada during much of the
20th century. During the First World War,
Black men were denied the opportunity of
serving their country in the regular army.
They were instead relegated to a special
construction battalion. Black women
were not allowed to train as nurses
alongside white women until the Toronto
Negro Veterans Association and the Nova
Scotia Association for the Advancement
of Coloured People put pressure on nursing schools in the late 1940s. In Ontario,
the last segregated school only closed its
doors in 1965. And as late as 1968, Black
people were denied the right of burial in
some Nova Scotia cemeteries.
The fight for Black equality and acceptance was the legacy I inherited as a
Black Canadian. My grandfather, William
White, devoted his life to combating racism as a Baptist minister and social activist. It was he, for instance, who made it
possible for Blacks to sit down downstairs
in movie theatres. Before that, Blacks
in Nova Scotia were only allowed in the
theatre balcony - or “niggers’ heaven”,
as it was known then.
This change has been
a long time coming
- and not just in the
United States with its
sad legacy of slavery,
segregation and overt
discrimination. Racism
remains an original sin in
most societies across the
globe, including Canada.
My half brother, Reverend Dr. William
Oliver, took over my grandfather’s responsibilities at the Cornwallis Street Baptist
Church, where he served for 25 years. An
inspirational leader, he was instrumental
in establishing scholarships for Black students seeking higher education. I also
had the honour of working with him on
several of his adult education and Black
culture initiatives. We both became deeply involved in the Nova Scotia Association
for the Advancement of Coloured People
(NSAACP). We fought constantly to bring
anti-discrimination legislation to this province. We won that battle.
Members of my family have devoted their
lives over more than three generations
to the betterment of humankind. Their
influence moved me to teach, to explore
business, and to take a deep interest in
political reform. And I know that these
efforts led to my appointment in the
Senate, whereupon I was able to help
advance important social changes.
continued on page 26>
Black to Business
17
BBI Directory Launch
and Christmas Social
T
here weren’t any
paparazzi swarming
around the Waterfront
Warehouse on December
4th, but this year’s directory
launch and Christmas social
was delivered in world-class
fashion. Many of the “Who’s
Who” of the African Nova
Scotian business sector and
community leaders turned
out in large numbers. This
event had added significance
because it happened a month
after the election of the United
States’ first Black president.
Winter 2009
Greg Nazaire
photos: Paul Adams
Rustum Southwell, CEO of the Black
Business Initiative welcomed attendees
and acknowledged the relationship
and support the BBI has enjoyed
with its partners and stakeholders.
He was followed by Debbie Windsor,
Vice President of the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency (ACOA) who
stressed the fact that despite the
current economic situation we were
able to overcome numerous challenges
in the province. Brian Watson, OED,
and Rose Davidson with Service
Canada also greeted guests.
Corporation-Yarmouth were also
present. Musical entertainment
was provided by Maureen Smith
and Bernadette Reid exhibited her
africentric crafts and stationary
items.
Representatives from Nova Scotia’s
Office of Economic Development,
Canada Business, the Office of
African Nova Scotian Affairs, and the
Community Business Development
Guests were treated to door prizes,
networking, great food and great
entertainment - Another successful
BBI Directory Launch and Christmas
Social.
Cassandra Dorrington, Chair of
the BBI concluded the greetings
/ remarks portion of the evening
by thanking the crowd for their
attendance, congratulating BBI staff
on organizing the event and wishing
everyone a Happy Holiday.
Black to Business
18
Winter 2009
2009 Directories are available at:
The Black Business Initiative Office
1575 Brunswick Street,
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2G1
Phone: 902-426-2224 Toll Free: 1-800-668-1010
Black to Business
19
Ask the BBI
L
Featured Expert:
Cheyanne Gorman-Tolliver,
Regional Business
Development Manager
business ready to expand, the process is very similar and it all comes
down to time management and
communication.
QUESTION
How much time does it
take to get approval for
a BBI loan?
YOU MADE IT! You chose to
follow your dream and become
an entrepreneur! Congratulations,
now among other things, you are
going to need financial support
so you seek out the Black Business
Initiative (BBI) for assistance in your
business venture.
After some simple initial processing steps you will be assigned a
Regional Business Development
Manager, who will guide you
through the whole journey. During
a meeting with your manager she/
he will ask you to elaborate on your
information, among other things,
but you know there is one thing
that is very important to your plan
and is at the forefront of your mind;
“When can I get the money?”
In short: it is a case by case decision that has several factors.
However, if you are willing to put
in the time and the work and the
managers have had the proper time
to work with you, things should run
fairly smooth. Whether you are a
new business start-up or an existing
Usually at the first meeting with
your manager she/he will ask you
about your business plan. What
stage your plan is in determines
what the next step will be. If you
have no business plan at all the
manager will take you through the
steps to creating one. As long as we
receive the information and you submit documents as requested things
will keep progressing. If you do have
a business plan, it can make the process a lot faster as it may just be in
need of some “tweaking”. This may
take some time and work but it is all
a part of the process of becoming an
entrepreneur. For existing businesses
the process is similar but should flow
more easily if you have been keeping updated financials and your
business plan is current.
Once all your documents are in
order, your manager will prepare
an application for financial assistance to the BBI Loan Committee.
After some discussion, the committee will vote to approve or decline
your application. Whatever the
outcome, your manager will let you
know informally that day. If it is
approved, within the week with the
signing of some loan documents,
you will be that much closer. Here is
where the importance of time comes
in to play: the committee meets the
first Friday of each month (except
for August) and it is then that your
manager will present your case.
Winter 2009
All applications for financial assistance must be submitted by managers two weeks prior to the committee
meeting. A package goes out to the
committee members to review the
information ahead of time and thus
the submission date remains a strict
deadline. If your documents are not
in order the manager cannot submit
your application by the deadline
and you will have to wait until the
following month.
There is no precise answer to the
exact time it takes to receive a loan
approval from BBI. What we can
guarantee is that the manager will
commit to submit the best application at the appropriate Loan
Committee meeting. That being
said, some things to keep in mind:
1) always be open and listen to your
manager, they have your best interest in mind and have been down the
road before; 2) work on your plan
and other documents as directed by
your manager – we know you have
other commitments but to realize
your dream you must be committed; 3) finally and most importantly,
communication is key – if you are
having a problem or you have a
question contact your manager; we
are the experts, if we do not know
the answer we will point you in the
right direction.
Good Luck in your future business
adventure!
For more on the BBI’s
services, register for our
Intake Session, held every
Thursday at
Training Centre,
2101 Gottingen Street,
Halifax.
For more information
please call
(902) 426-8683.
Black to Business
Winter 2009
20
Sowing a few good seeds
Dan Arsenault
The Chronicle Herald
Tim Krochak / The Chronicle Herald
Halifax kids earn kudos for work on community garden project
Calvin agreed and said he
went to the garden about
five times to weed or plant
lettuce and flowers.
“You can learn how to plant
stuff,” he said.
The garden is the idea of
Jessie Jollymore, a dietitian
at North End Community
Health Centre who wanted to
show the kids that gardening
is fun. She received lots of
support from local business
and government agencies
and expanded the plan to
include making salsa, which
the kids can sell.
Halifax Police Chief Frank Beazley is handcuffed
by Latrayah Sweetlyn-Davis, 7, and Dane-Nisha
Mercer, 8, after the force presented 70 backpacks
to children from Uniacke Square in Halifax on
Tuesday in recognition of their work in the North
End Community Garden project.
E
ight-year-old Zachery Moncion
and Calvin Royal, 13, think gardening is better than school.
The boys were among dozens of
Halifax kids gathered Tuesday morning in the North End Community
Garden in Warrington Park, off
Brunswick Street, where local police
gave them backpacks for showing
community spirit.
The boys worked in the garden and
received the knapsacks, a gift from
the RCMP Veterans Association and
Halifax Regional Police, plus some
other school supplies.
Zachery said he liked growing flowers
best, but he’s also looking forward to
the salsa all the young gardeners will
make out of their tomatoes, onions,
hot peppers and cilantro. Asked what
he liked about gardening, he said:
“It’s not as boring as school.”
“Everybody was very interested in making something happen,” she said,
referring to help from the
Black Business Initiative,
YMCA, Halifax Regional
Municipality, police, the
George Dixon Centre and
others.
Ms. Jollymore was told that their
small garden, which is surrounded
by chicken wire, would be vandalized or destroyed like some previously planted on the spot. She
believed that wouldn’t happen,
however, because this garden is
community-owned, and everything
is grown by local children.
In all, they signed up 42 children,
many of whom approached organizers when they saw the early
work going on.
Ms. Jollymore said the children are
really interested in trying their salsa
and selling it.
“There’s so much wealth here, and
kids are kids no matter where you
go.”
Halifax Police Chief Frank Beazley
and RCMP Insp. Darrell Beaton
handed out some of the backpacks.
Police horse Sarge watched the proceedings and got his share of attention, too.
Chief Beazley said he’s already in line
for some mild salsa. “My stomach
doesn’t take the spices well,” he said.
He praised the children and the garden planners for what they’re doing
and said the benefits will pay off.
“The investment in young people,
you’ll harvest that for years.”
The children haven’t decided what
they’ll call their salsa yet, but some
think Salsamania sounds good.
The salsa sales begin Sept. 7 during the North End Community Fair.
Afterward, some of the salsa will be
available at Bob and Lori’s and some
other local shops.
“The ground was totally covered in
weeds so we had to dig everything
up three times,” she said.
“We just had kids flocking over,
asking what’s going on.”
The kids are taking business lessons to learn how to best sell their
salsa and toured the kitchen at Bob
and Lori’s Food Emporium after
getting their backpacks.
Copyright © 2008 The Halifax Herald Limited
Used by permission
Black to Business
21
Winter 2009
People & Businesses on the Move
Congratulations to the Women’s Group
at the Halifax North Library. This year
marks the 20th year “The Ladies” have
held meetings every Wednesday morning
at the library and the good works they
have undertaken to make a difference in
Halifax’s North End.
Thanks to the efforts of students in
Dalhousie professor Kim Thompson’s ‘Free
Lab’, familiar sites in Africville have been
identified in a series of signs. Landmarks
identified include Skinner’s Well, the
Africville School, the Seaview African Baptist
Church, Tibby’s Pond, and Kildare’s Field.
Lindell Smith was awarded the first
Burchells Summer Internship and
Scholarship, a scholarship the Halifax
law firm has instituted to give Black
and First Nations students paid summer
employment and a $3500 scholarship for
post secondary studies.
The East Preston United Baptist Church
celebrated its 166th anniversary on
September 14. Rev. Matthew Lucas and
the East Preston United Baptist Church
Mass Choir participated in the service, while
the birthday cake was cut by Elder James
Colley.
Joyce Ross and Wanda Thomas Bernard
were among 40 Metro area community
leaders given “Community Mentoring
Awards” as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Greater Halifax’s 40th anniversary. The
awards were presented at a gala at the
Cunard Centre on October 15.
K-Lee Fraser and Gabrielle Grant of
Preston, members of the Boys and Girls
Club, are among 56 recipients across
Canada of Future Leaders Scholarships
sponsored by Future Shop.
“Hannah’s Story”, a film by Juanita Peters
won the ‘Best Short Award’ at the recent
5th annual Bermuda International Film
Festival’s Kids Film Festival. This film has
also been honoured at the 2008 Reel to
Reel International Film Festival for Youth
and Families in Vancouver.
Dr. Calvin Mackie was one of the key
speakers at the two-day Africentric
Leadership Institute held in late October.
While in Halifax he addressed students at
St. Pat’s-Alexandra School.
Dr. Sylvia Hamilton was the subject of
the cover story in the fall 2008 edition of
the “Dalhousie Magazine”.
Congratulations to IT Interactive Services
Inc. The company, owned by Barbara
and John Manning was named as one of
the top 250 IT companies in Canada by
Backbone magazine.
Between September 2008 and February
2009, the MLK Project Association will be
travelling around the province speaking
with Black Nova Scotians between 18-30
on the theme “Democracy and Why Black
Youth Don’t Vote”. A session was held
on September 14 at the North Preston
Community Centre and featured guest
speakers MLA Percy Paris, former cabinet
minister Wayne Adams, municipal
candidate Jerome Downey, and spoken
word artist Izrael Jones.
On the same theme, congratulations to the
community members who put their names
forward as candidates across the province
for the school board, municipal, and federal
elections and to those who worked on their
campaigns.
In February 2008, Shawna (Paris) Hoyte,
(an African Nova Scotian Lawyer and
Social Worker) was the lead counsel for
the appellant in R.v. L.T.H., arguing for the
rights of youth in Canada with learning
disabilities under the Youth Criminal
Justice Act, before the Supreme Court of
Canada (SCC) in Ottawa. On September
11, 2008, the Supreme Court of Canada
decided the case and rendered a decision
in favour of Ms. Hoyte. The decision
as written by Justice Morris Fish will
be a guide to all police services across
Canada in that police must henceforth
take “reasonable steps” to ensure that
youths understand the police cautions
they are being given – including finding
out whether they suffer from learning
disabilities… : the explanation must be
provided to the particular young person’s
age and understanding …and persons in
authority must, in addition, acquire some
insight into the level of comprehension of
the young person …The SCC decision can
be found on line at SCC Judgments,
September 11, 2008. A study conducted
by Dalhousie University and published
in the Canadian Medical Association
Journal indicates that the community of
Preston has higher rates of heart disease,
strokes, diabetes, and mental illness than
surrounding communities. After the report
was released, the Capital Health District
issued a release commending the report
and saying “it would allow Capital Health
to target resources where they are needed”.
Anthropology students at Saint Mary’s
University spent the summer investigating
two rock mounds at Birchtown.
Originally, archaeologist Laird Niven
thought they might have been grave
mounds but members of the community
believe they had a spiritual purpose.
A news conference was held at the George
Dixon Centre to announce a contest
to encourage teens to be physically
active and to win a chance to be part
of the Olympic torch relay for the 2010
Black to Business
Olympics. Twenty of these spots will go
to teens affiliated with Active Halifax
Communities. Two of the participants in the
announcement were 10-year old Jonathan
Hiles, who carried a torch from the 1998
Calgary Games and 11 year-old Trayvonne
Clayton, who carried a torch from this
summer’s Beijing Olympics.
Njacko Backo held a day-long workshop at
the Birchtown Community Centre featuring
African drums, Kalimba, storytelling, and
songs in late October.
Steve Oliver has opened the Lower Sackville
Wellness Centre, at 546 Sackville Drive. The
centre offers a number of treatments and
programs including massage, reiki, Tai Chi,
yoga, and meditation.
The African Canadian Youth Diabetes
Prevention Project held a contest during
the month of October encouraging young
people to participate through spoken word,
drama, and music, to promote physical
activity, healthy living, good nutrition,
and cultural awareness. There was a
presentation at the Black Cultural Centre on
November 22 of the participants’ creations.
The Rites of Passage Program, a new
program in East Preston, designed to
empowers youth with African/Black Nova
Scotian history began in September. The
Community Youth Enhancement Program
Coordinators Raytia David & Kofi Davis
will be ‘providing support towards positive
self-esteem & cultural awareness through
programming such as creative interactive
games, music and field trips and so much
more’.
The annual general meeting of the Black
Cultural Society of Nova Scotia was held
on Saturday, September 20. As part of the
Centre’s 25th anniversary, the Centre held a
special concert entitled “Celebrate Community
with Music & Song”, in association with the
African Nova Scotian Music Association
that featured James Ogden, of Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia and the Halifax based group:
Rhythm & Good News.
22
Norma Ruddick shared her memories
of the 1958 Springhill Mine Disaster
in the Chronicle Herald on October
20 as the town prepared to mark the
50th anniversary with a memorial
service and concert. Her late husband,
Maurice, was one of the survivors found
many days later and was known for his
calm presence and leadership during
the time he was trapped underground.
Her Honour, Mayann Francis,
travelled to Cumberland County on
August 25 to host a garden party on
the lawn of the Cumberland County
Museum and Archives.
Jordan Croucher continued his work
as one of the D250 Youth Ambassadors,
including a performance at the Rockin’
the Free World concert on Sept. 27.
Taryn Della performed her one-woman
piece “Don’t Wanna Make My Brown Eyes
Blue” at the Bus Stop Theatre during
this year’s Atlantic Fringe Festival in
September.
The six-part Vision TV series ‘Mahalia’
was shot in the Halifax area in
September and early October.
On August 21, the Black Cultural Centre
hosted ”The Hot Summer Gospel Showcase
Concert” which featured Maureen
Smith, Esther and Sheldon Smith,
Cory Adams, Perry Williams, Kenya
Smith and the Nova Gospel Ensemble.
The 3rd Annual Dikita International
Women’s Festival, presented by the
Maritime Centre for African Dance
(MCAD), was held in late August. This
year’s festival featured Egyptian Dance,
Cote D’Ivore modern Dance, Poi, and
Stomp. The MCAD has also “launched
its first new comprehensive DVD with
reading material for schools, called the
Afro Dance DVD. This DVD showcases
basic African Dance moves from across
the continent, North, East, South, East
and West.
Winter 2009
The Buffalo Soldiers of Nova
Scotia held the first Memorial Ride
in memory of Larry ‘Road Dogg’
Patterson on October 11 at the East
Preston Recreation Centre. During the
barbecue, a presentation was made to
Karl “Pops” Carvery.
The 100th birthday of noted peace
activist Muriel Duckworth was
marked with a concert at the Rebecca
Cohn. The artists performing included
Aeolian Singers, Carolyn McDade
with the Gaia Singers, Cathy Martin
with Wekoqmaqewiskwa, Clearing
by Noon, Cheryl Gaudet, Four the
Moment, Raging Grannies, Truro
Youth Choir, and other special guests.
Craig Smith has penned a new book,
“The Ultimate African Heritage Quiz Book
– Maritime Edition”.
Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard was
the keynote speaker at a three-day
Fatherhood Involvement Research
Conference held in Toronto in late
October. The topic of her speech was
“Shaking up the image we have of
Black men as fathers”.
On November 3rd, Lorne Green was
elected Chair of the Cape BretonVictoria Regional School and on the
5th, Irvine Carvery was declared Chair
of the Halifax Regional School Board.
Both are the first African Nova Scotians
to hold these positions in the province.
Congratulations to Tracey Thomas
who completed her Masters
of Education, with a focus on
Africentricity, from Mount Saint Vincent
University on October 16, 2008. The
program was sponsored by the Council
on African Canadian Education’s,
Africentric Learning Institute.
Tracey is a former BBI employee and
currently sits on the Business is Jammin’
Board.
Black to Business
Winter 2009
23
Black Business Initiative
2009 Training Schedule for Metro
Courses:
Day
Date
Time
Computer Basics
Tuesday
Jan 5, 12
6-9pm
Creating a Winning Business Plan
Tuesday
Jan 6, 13,
20, 27
6-9pm
Microsoft Word I, II, & III
Thursday
Jan 8, 15,
22
6-9pm
Marketing Your Business
Tuesday
Feb 3, 10,
17, 24
6-9pm
Excel I, II, & III
Wednesday
Feb 4, 11,
18
6-9pm
Simply Accounting
Thursday
Feb 5, 12,
19, 26
6-9pm
Website Design for Your Business
Monday
Mar 2, 9,
16, 23
6-9pm
Creating A Winning Business Plan
Tuesday
Apr 7, 14,
21, 28
6-9pm
Bookkeeping I
Tuesday
May 5, 12,
19, 26
6-9pm
Workshops:
Day
Date
Time
Simple Steps to Computer Security
Monday
Jan 19
6-8pm
Entrepreneurship 101
Wednesday
Mar 4
6-8pm
Tuesday
Mar 10
6-9pm
Wednesday
Mar 18
6-9pm
Franchising
Tuesday
Mar 24
6-9pm
The Art of Negotiations
Wednesday
Apr 15
6-9pm
Submitting to Revenue Canada
Wednesday
Apr 22
6-9pm
Intellectual Properties: Is your
Business protected
Wednesday
May 13
6-9pm
The Ins and Outs of Import/Export
Wednesday
May 20
6-9pm
Understanding, Keeping &
Retaining Credit
Making Exceptional Customer
Service Your Finest Asset
Entrepreneurship 101
(Outside of HRM)
Available on request
Course Fee: Clients - $20.00, Non Clients : $40.00
Workshop Fee: Clients and Non Clients : $5.00
Registration is open to everyone.
To register for any session, please call 426-8683
Note: Course and Workshop delivery times are subject to change.
REGIONAL
REPORT
Northern
Cheyanne Gorman-
Tolliver
The region has seen little to no activity in the
last quarters regarding new business starts.
However I am hoping to implement a new
strategy to encourage more entrepreneurial
activity in the near future.
In an attempt to improve on the delivery
of BBI’s services I have recently relocated to
BBI’s Training Centre on Gottingen Street.
I along with the Centre’s staff will be
re-evaluating the resources of the office
in an attempt to serve our clients better.
I will be also working on the Business
Is Jammin’ component so look forward
to some exciting new programs for our
entrepreneurial youth.
To our potential clients in Metro please
be reminded that the BBI offers In-Take
sessions every Thursday from 2-3pm at
2101 Gottingen St. These sessions will take
you through BBI’s programs and services
and is the first step for your new or existing
business venture. For regional clients I am
always available to give presentations to
community members; just call and make
an appointment to have me visit with you
or your group.
Also, BBI offers and partners with
organizations to deliver the most current
business related training courses and
workshops. These are not limited to HRM
residents. If you are a regional community
group, organization, or entrepreneur
interested in business skills development,
BBI can arrange these activities in your
region.
For more information or to arrange
a regional visit please contact me at
426-8685, toll free 1-800-668-1010 or
by email at
gorman-tolliver.cheyanne@bbi.ns.ca
Black to Business
24
Winter 2009
J. Marsman
Safety Service
Shauntay Grant
Paul Adams
for me it’s just a fun time of life right
now, being retired. The kids are all
grown up, so I have time to focus on
building a business that I like.”
Joel Marsman, Owner
B
ad things can happen on the
job,” says Joel Marsman.
“People get injured, even
killed. And there are a lot of costs
involved – not just the human cost,
but financial costs as well – with
each serious incident. (Employers)
want to avoid that,” says the health
and safety consultant.
Marsman has dedicated the past 30
years of his life to helping employers and their employees avoid workrelated accidents. Marsman is a
former health and safety manager
for the Nova Scotia Department of
Transportation and Infrastructure
Renewal. He’s worked for Halifax
Regional Municipality as a safety
coordinator, and he was a senior
safety consultant for the Nova Scotia
Public Service Commission before
retiring in June 2007.
Well… he hasn’t really retired.
“I just felt it was a natural progression for me, when I retire, to do something that I like, working for myself
as a consultant,” says the owner of J.
Marsman Safety Services. “So I guess
As a veteran health and safety professional, Marsman offers a range
of services to his clients. “There are
laws and regulations for employers
to follow in terms of taking care of
their employees’ health and safety.
And there are penalties for violation of those laws. So I work with
employers to make sure that they’re
in compliance with these laws. It can
be anything from helping them to
put together a health and safety program, helping them develop a policy,
investigate incidents, do inspections,
provide training, helping them to
do a review of the program to see if
they’re meeting the standards…”
“Right now I’ve got a lot more
work than I can deal with,” laughs
Marsman. “But I’m used to multitasking. And it doesn’t seem like
work when you enjoy it.”
On top of his work-related tasks,
Marsman is a member of the
Nova Scotia Advisory Council to
the Ministry of Environment and
Labour. He’s the chair of Stakeholder
Working Group reviewing the Nova
Scotia Temporary Workplace Traffic
Control Manual. He is also a contract trainer with the Nova Scotia
Construction Safety Association.
And as far as his business goes,
he’s busier than he ever thought he
would be.
“I thought it would take me longer to
get established. But I think because
I’ve been in the business so long
there are a lot of people that I know,
so I picked up more work.”
Marsman’s wife is very supportive of
his new venture, helping him schedule appointments and looking after
the books.
“I think my wife didn’t expect that I
would really retire,” laughs Marsman.
“Though we did take some time when
I retired last year – we did a twomonth cross-Canada trip from Nova
Scotia to British Columbia in our
camper. But when we got back from
that I got a call from my previous
employer to do a project for them. So I
took that on part-time, and it just kind
of went from there.”
He keeps very busy, but Marsman
says he enjoys “being able to pick and
choose who I work with, and when I
work. I prefer to work with clients who
are serious about improving health
and safety in their workplace.
“I like to play golf in the summer,” he
adds, smiling. “So I work mostly in the
off season.”
But Marsman says his greatest reward
is helping employers raise their health
and safety standards.
“(Employers) want to be able to show
that they are diligent. They want to
avoid penalties and lost time due to
injury. There’re some big fines (for
being in violation of the law), and
they want to avoid that.”
“I want to help them avoid that,” adds
Marsman. “And at the end of the day,
none of us want people to get hurt.”
J. Marsman
Safety
Service
—•—
Sackville
Joel Marsman
864 0936
Black to Business
Winter 2009
25
BBI Statistics 2007-08
Distribution of Loans in Metro Area 1996-2008
5
21
8
2
67
13
34
Halifax
Dartmouth
Cherrybrook
Beechville
Hammonds Plains/
Lucasville
Preston
Sackville
Economic Impact 2007-2008
Number of New Businesses Funded
2
Number of existing businesses funded
2
Number of jobs created FT
2
Number of jobs created PT
4
Number of jobs maintained FT
8
Number of jobs maintained PT
3
Total number of jobs created & maintained
17
The following is a cumulative total from 1996-2008
Number of Contacts 2007-2008
72
Number of new businesses funded
107
Number of existing businesses funded
75
Total number of jobs created & maintained
547
Table 5
Distribution of Jobs by Geographic Region 1996-2008
Client
General Public
375
Type of Contact 2007-2008
30
15
62
235
105
Phone
Email/Fax
Walk-Ins/Meetings
Site Visits
Other
Type of Service Provided 2007-2008
46
21
4
103
0
273
General
Business Advice/
Mentoring
Publications
Technical Assistance
Training
Other
Metro
North
South
Central
Total
Created FT
134
28
14
20
196
Created PT
106
9
17
12
144
Maintained FT
94
5
5
4
108
Maintained PT
68
-
8
3
79
Contract Created
16
-
-
-
16
Contract Maintained
4
-
-
-
4
Totals
422
42
44
39
547
Regional Business Development Manager
Regional Visit Schedule
Black to Business
Business & Community Events
January 27, 2009
African Heritage Month Provincial Launch
Province of NS
Red Chamber, Province House
Granville St., Halifax
Unveiling of poster,
reading of proclamation,
refreshments 11am - 12pm
For info: 424-5555
January 29, 2009
Valley Regional AHM Launch
Reading of proclamations,
1st Annual Quiz Bowl
1:00pm-2.30pm
Fountain Common, Acadia University,
Wolfville
For info: 902.678.7410;
www.vansda.ca
January 29, 2009
Halifax Business
Awards Gala
5:30 PM
World Trade & Convention Centre,
Halifax
For info: 468-7111 or info@
halifaxchamber.com
January 30, 2009
Cape Breton Regional
AHM Launch
Reading of Proclamation 12pm
Cape Breton Regional Municipality
320 Esplanade, Sydney
For info: 902 563 3735
January 31, 2009
The Office of African Nova
Scotian Affairs (ANSA)
2nd Annual Celebration Gala
Dinner/Dance
Membertou Trade & Convention Centre
Glace Bay U.N.I.A,
African Nova Scotian Affairs
Membertou Trade & Convention Centre,
Sydney, NS
7pm - 2am
Cost: $25/person
Asia & Nu Gruv
For tickets/info: 902 563 3735,
902 842 5389;
uniaculturalmuseum@hotmail.com
Winter 2009
26
February 1, 2009
African Children’s Choir Concert
CANSA, Canadian Heritage
Department, Municipality of
Cumberland County
2:00 pm
Dr. Carson & Marion Community
Centre, Springhill NS
Cost: $5 Adv./ $7 Door
6:30 pm
Highland AME Church Amherst
Cost: Free Will Offering
For info: 902 661 1509;
cansa@eastlink.ca
February 2, 2009
Reflections -10th Anniversary
Book launch
Various sponsors
Cumberland African Nova Scotian
Association – Boardroom
24 Crescent Ave., Amherst, NS
2 to 4pm
For info: 902 661 2084;
strongsdevelop@hotmail.com
February 2, 2009
Cumberland Co. Regional
AHM Launch
Proclamation –
25th Anniversary –
African Heritage Month
Unveiling of African Heritage
Month Poster
Town of Amherst,
County of Cumberland,
Town of Oxford, Town of Parrsboro,
and Town of Springhill
Municipality of Cumberland
County Office
Upper Nappan, NS
11am to 12:30 pm
For info: 902 661 1509;
902 667 7397;
cansa@eastlink.ca
Obama’s victory...
continued from page 16
I continue to actively push for social justice through my work in the Senate and
other forums. For example, I spearheaded a major study at the Conference Board
of Canada, proving the tangible benefits
of building ethnically diverse organizations and societies. Yet, this study also
found that, even today, visible minorities
are often paid less, experience discrimination on the job and face unfair treatment
in their quest for career advancement.
As a result, many do not vote in elections. Many are less satisfied in their lives
and less trusting of others. Equally troubling, many do not identify themselves as
Canadians.
All Canadians must accept a responsibility as individuals for the racism and
discrimination that continues to afflict
our country. And I believe that obligation
belongs first and foremost to our leaders.
To effect enduing change, strong, committed leadership is essential. The simple
fact is that leadership is sorely lacking.
Today, in 2008, how many Black directors are there of major corporations in
this country? How many Black university
presidents? How many Black commanders in the Armed Forces? How many
Black politicians?
In expounding on the “race factor’s symbolic power”, the Globe and Mail wisely
noted that “Barack Obama’s election as
the first black president in the United
States will not rescue black children from
poverty, or sound the death knell for racism or inequality. Yet it is a profound
and moving achievement.” My personal
hope is that this achievement moves
Canadians to acknowledge their own
prejudices and to become more openly
receptive to the power of Black leadership.
Most importantly, I hope it inspires more
young Black people in Canada to take up
the cause of equality. As Mr. Obama so
eloquently put it in his acceptance speech,
“This victory alone is not the change we
seek - it is only the chance for us to make
that change. And that cannot happen if
we go back to the way things were. It
cannot happen without you.”
Bin Doctor
“Your investment in our business helped us open our new
recycling storefront and create composting solutions for offices
and businesses. We’re now expanding into the Toronto market.
Thank you, for helping us grow.”
www.bindoctor.com
Thank you for investing in us.
For information on how the Fund works and
to become an investor, call
Gordon Doe at (902) 426-6985
C.A. Wilkins Construction Ltd
“As an electrical contractor, my greatest need is cash flow in
order to profitably execute projects. The BBCIFL was willing to
invest in me. My business is now beginning to flourish.”
www.cawilkins.com
Caution to Investor – This advertisement is not to be construed as an exempt
offering to the public in Nova Scotia unless a simplified offering document
relating thereto has been filed with and its use has not been objected to by the
Nova Scotia Securities Commission. The offering is made by the simplified
offering document only and copies thereof may be obtained from such sales
agents and promoters as may lawfully offer these securities in Nova Scotia.
If undeliverable return to:
The Black Business Initiative
1575 Brunswick Street,
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2G1
Publications Mail
Agreement No.
Poste-publications
numéro de convention
0040026687 0040026687