Celebrating Black Excellence, Leadership and Legacy
On February 5, Sabine Soumare, executive director of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), attended the Government of Canada’s 2025 Black History Month Official Celebration which brought together leaders, policymakers and advocates committed to celebrating Black History Month and advancing Black excellence and economic opportunity in Canada.
Reflecting on the event, Soumare emphasized the importance of sustained efforts: “Progress requires ongoing commitment and investments crucial for closing economic gaps and supporting Black-owned businesses.”
A night of celebration, recognition and commitment
Distinguished guests included Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth; the Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities and Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament for London West, Ontario.
The event honoured organizations driving change in Black entrepreneurship, youth empowerment and cultural preservation. Among them were Groupe 3737 (QC), Audace au Féminin (QC), Generation Chosen (ON), Black Canadian Women in Action (AB) and The Black Cultural Centre (N.S) as well as the trailblazing legacy of Dr. Jean Augustine, the first African-Canadian woman elected to Canada’s House of Commons. Her leadership was instrumental in securing unanimous legislative support to officially designate February as Black History Month in Canada—a historic achievement that continues to inspire generations.
The evening also paid tribute to influential figures who paved the way for Black Canadians such as Dr. Dominique François Gaspard, one of Canada’s first Black physicians; Lincoln Alexander, Canada’s first Black Member of Parliament and former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario; and Viola Desmond, a civil rights pioneer who challenged racial segregation in Canada.
Looking ahead: A call to action
WEKH’s activities with its partners throughout the month serve as a reminder that the fight for equity, representation and economic empowerment of Black women entrepreneurs must extend beyond February.
At WEKH, we remain committed to championing Black women entrepreneurs, supporting inclusive business ecosystems and advocating for evidence-based policies that create lasting impact.
The State of Women’s Entrepreneurship (SOWE 2024) underscores the importance of research in advancing equity, revealing that data-driven insights are essential for shaping policies and programs that support Black women entrepreneurs and drive systemic change. The report highlights that Black entrepreneurs represented 2.1% of all business owners in Canada in 2018, with 29.6% of them being women. More than half (53.5%) of Black women entrepreneurs immigrated to Canada, with a significant portion (18.1%) coming from Nigeria. Despite their entrepreneurial ambitions, Black women business owners face unique challenges, including access to financing, networks and procurement opportunities. The data shows that women founders receive only 4% of venture capital (VC) funding in Canada, with even fewer funding rounds and smaller amounts per round compared to their men counterparts.
Advancing Black Entrepreneurship: Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub Capstone Conference
Left to right: Gerald Grant, co-lead and principal investigator for the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, Mohamed Elmi, professor and executive director of the Diversity Institute and Wisdom Tettey, president of Carleton University.
On February 6 and 7, the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH) Capstone Conference brought together leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers for two days of discussions on advancing Black entrepreneurship in Canada including the Diversity Institute’s executive director, Mohamed Elmi.
Centred around the theme “Leveraging the Collective: Mobilizing Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge to Drive Policy, Practice and Progress,” the conference served as a platform to translate research into action, fostering a more inclusive business environment.
Knowledge sharing across the entrepreneurship ecosystem
“I was happy to participate in the BEKH Capstone Conference because of the importance of knowledge sharing and collaboration across the entrepreneurship ecosystem.”
— Dr. Mohamed Elmi
The event underscored the importance of data-driven insights in shaping policies that promote a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem for Black Canadians.
A collaborative approach to driving change
Hosted by BEKH in partnership with six regional hubs, challenges facing Black entrepreneurs were discussed and highlights the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map (BEEM). Entrepreneurs, academics, policymakers and private sector leaders came together,to share ideas around how to better support the economic and social potential of Black-owned businesses across Canada. Insights will help shape future policies and investments drive business growth for Black people.
Ensuring research informs practice is also central to the work of the Diversity Institute (DI) and the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, driving equity and meaningful change. As Canada works to remove barriers to entrepreneurship, DI remains committed to research-driven solutions like ADaPT for Black Youth, which develops skills Black youth need for securing pathways to education and work opportunities.
Fourth Annual National Black Canadians Summit by Michaëlle Jean Foundation
Attendees of the National Black Canadians Summit 2025. pose together on stage. Photo credit: https://www.lamarphotographer.com/
From January 31 to February 2, in Montreal, Tamara Thermitus, senior fellow in law at McGill University and renowned human rights lawyer, took part in the 4th National Black Canadians Summit, organized by the Michaëlle Jean Foundation at the Palais des congrès. This national gathering builds on past mobilization efforts, starting in Toronto in 2017, followed by Ottawa in 2019, a series of six virtual conferences in 2020-2021 and the third summit in Halifax in 2022.
This edition unfolded at a pivotal moment—on the eve of the launch of the Second United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2035) under the theme “Recognition, Justice, Development.” In this context, the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, alongside influential leaders, reinforced its commitment to combating systemic racism, amplifying Black voices and fostering inclusive and representative leadership.
Black women, leadership and power: A defining conversation
A standout moment of the summit was the “Black Women: Leadership and Power” panel, moderated by Tamara Thermitus. The discussion highlighted the realities, triumphs and challenges of Black women in leadership roles including Black women business owners.
Tamara Thermitus, also consultant and speaker on discrimination, racism, governance, and Human Rights, engaged in thought-provoking dialogue with a distinguished panel that included Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, 27th Governor General of Canada; Cassandra Dorrington, president and CEO of the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council; Rhonda McEwen, president of Victoria University at the University of Toronto; and Ellen Gabriel, Mohawk activist and artist from Kanehsatà:ke, Turtle Clan.
Together, they shared compelling personal and professional journeys, highlighting the structural barriers that persist, particularly the intersecting forces of systemic racism and sexism.
Confronting systemic sexism and racism
A key takeaway from the panel was the double burden of discrimination Black women face. Despite their credentials and expertise, their credibility and leadership are frequently challenged.
The panellists addressed several systemic barriers, including the glass cliff, where Black women are elevated to leadership roles during times of crisis, placing them in precarious positions with heightened risks of failure; tokenism, where their presence is leveraged for the appearance of diversity, yet they remain excluded from real decision-making power; mobbing and social death, or organizational harassment and exclusion, which stifle career progression and erode overall well-being.
These systemic barriers hinder the ability of Black women to lead in transformative and emancipatory ways, ultimately impacting their health, career longevity and community engagement.
The 4th National Black Canadians Summit reaffirmed that the fight for equity and justice is far from over. As Black women continue to break barriers,whether through entrepreneurship, in the non-profit sector, in the corporate or political arenas, it is imperative to move beyond symbolic inclusion and implement concrete, systemic changes that foster their full participation in leadership and decision-making spaces.
A key included adopting an intersectional approach that recognizes and addresses the compounded effects of racism, sexism and other systemic barriers. Strengthening mentorship networks is essential to supporting Black women in their entrepreneurial and leadership journeys. Additionally, ensuring genuine representation requires advocating for Black women’s presence in key decision-making roles.