Issue 40 - Black Business Initiative

The Periodical of the Black Business Initiative
Also in this Issue
• Renewing Old
Trade Links
• Harriet R. Michel
• Recognizing the
Rocks
Summer 2008 u Number 40
“A dynamic and vibrant Black presence within
the Nova Scotia Business Community.”
Black to Business
Message from the Board of Directors
In this Issue
Cassandra Dorrington, Chair, Black Business Initiative
1
Message from the
Chief Executive Officer
2
Harriet R. Michel
3
Kelly Carrington
Massage Therapy On the Go
5
Trailblazers
7
cessful. This includes the BBI staff,
board members, volunteers, in
addition to our key partners and
contractors. For your guidance and
help in selecting the theme, identifying the keynote speakers, designing
the workshops and working through
the conference logistics my special
thanks to each one of you for a job
well done. There were many details
and you managed to skillfully and
artfully connect the dots to ensure a
highly successful and entertaining
business summit.
Paul Adams
Message from the Board
Encouraging Responsibility
Glasgow Educational Consultants 9
YOUTH ON THE MOVE -Eli Goree
Acting his way to Da Kink
11
Renewing Old Trade Links
12
2008 Summer
Youth Coordinators
13
FEATURE STORY
A SUMMIT TO REMEMBER!
15
The Real Chris Gardner
21
ASK THE BBI
22
CULTURE BEAT - Up Home
Shauntay Grant & Susan Tooke
23
BBI STATISTICS 2007-08
24
PEOPLE & BUSINESS on the Move 25
BBI 2008 Training Schedule
27
Ruff Endz Clothing
Tyson Tolliver & Rainie Williams
28
Recognizing the Rocks,
the Foundation of the BBI
29
Business & Community Events
30
Regional Reports
Southern
6
Business Development
10
Central
10
Northern
27
Mailed under Canada Post Publications Mail
Sales Agreement no. 0040026687
Summer 2008
1
Chart the Course, Steer the
Course, Stay the Course
I
n June, the Black Business
Initiative (BBI) hosted its
sixth biannual Business
Summit. With such internationally renowned speakers
as Chris Gardner, author of
The Pursuit of Happyness,
and Ephren Taylor, the youngest African-American CEO of
a publicly traded company,
the 2008 BBI Business Summit was considered our best
to date. I say this because we
have managed to build on
past successes and learned
from our past mistakes so that
each year, the event becomes
tighter, larger and more reflective of our mandate.
I would be remiss not to mention
the exceptional people who worked
together to make that event suc-
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
In all of our years of operation the
BBI has remained clear and focused
on the vision, “To create a vibrant
and dynamic Black presence within
the business community of Nova
Scotia”. Akin to our summit speakers, BBI has been focused on charting the course, steering the course
and staying the course.
I cannot stress enough
that while the Black
community is small
in numbers, it is very
rich with talent.
While our methodology of staying
the course is simple, it has been
reinforced from the stories of many
successful people. For example, we
have learned from people like Chris
Gardner. For those of you who have
read his book or watched the movie,
Chris Gardner was very clear on his
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: [email protected] 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: Peter Marsman
Black to Business
2
Summer 2008
Message From the Chief Executive Officer
Peter Marsman
S. I. Rustum Southwell
business person realizes that “Don’t
think and go under” is the other side of
that coin. Business failure is the reality
awaiting those who choose not to plan,
whereas exponential growth rewards
detailed growth strategies.
The Black Business Initiative (BBI) presented two such businesses in the Nova
Scotia Black community with awards
at its 6th Black Business Summit Gala,
Friday, June 20.
W
hen I was a young
boy, my father, who
played several musical instruments, always told
me that if you spend the time
to design and develop anything
well, it will endure forever. He
referenced the complete works
of Shakespeare and the music
of Beethoven lasting hundreds
of years, as compared to the
Beatles, a Sixties fad. I realize it is only 40 years or so for
the Beatles, but it looks likely
that every era will have its own
heroes. Essentially, one generation’s Beethoven is another
generation’s Beatles; one generation’s Rockefeller is another
generation’s Bill Gates. In
math and science Archimedes
came before Pascal, who came
before Einstein and so on.
Our world unfurls in a way where
nothing happens before it is time. The
donkey cart and chariots came before
the automobile and the airplane were
invented. We crawl before we can
stand and stand before we walk or
run.
Businesses operate essentially on these
same principles; all companies grow
in stages and planned growth. “Think
big or go home” works only when the
The Hector Jacques Award of
Excellence, now in its fifth year, recognizes companies that demonstrate
exceptionally strong business acumen and manage their businesses
well, with strategic intelligence. This
year’s recipient is Dr. Abdullah
Kirumira (BioMedica). Dr. Kirumira is
a Ugandan-born scientist and entrepreneur, who developed one of the
world’s first rapid HIV diagnostic tests,
founded two of Atlantic Canada’s bestknown biotechnology companies and,
most recently, developed an affordable
way for cash-strapped hospitals in his
native continent of Africa to access
vital diagnostic equipment.
Each year, we think the field of finalists
can’t get much more impressive. And
yet, each year they do. Dr. Kirumira
embodies what the Hector Jacques
Award is really about – finding ways
to succeed despite obstacles and challenges.
Celebrating with Dr. Kirumira was
Pauline Patten, owner of Pauline’s
Beauty Care, who earned this year’s
BBI Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
This award highlights the very best in
our Black entrepreneurial community,
an entrepreneur with a successful and
growing business who has demonstrated leadership, strong financial
performance, and innovative and marketable products or services. Ms Patten
owns Pauline’s Beauty Care, providing
a full range of beauty care including
hair and esthetic services with a special
emphasis on super-curly hair.
On Wednesday evening, with several
dignitaries among the audience,
BBI and Summit Chair Cassandra
Dorrington invited Premier Rodney
MacDonald to declare the conference open. After the official messages
from Minister Peter MacKay via video
conference on behalf of our federal
partners and the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency (ACOA),
Nova Scotia Economic Development
Minister Angus MacIsaac and City
Councillor Dawn Sloane, the conference got down to business.
We once again had great keynote
presentations by Chris Gardner
(author of The Pursuit of Happyness),
Ephren Taylor (the youngest Black
CEO of a publicly traded company
in the USA), and Harriet Michel
definitely in the Top-50 most influential Black women in the USA. Each
summit has a special touch with the
youth delegates and the business
panelists. Summit 6 was up to the
usual standard and a more detailed
report is in this issue. The Summit
Gala was the final act of business
after an informative and fun-filled
three days.
Summit years are always our busiest
times from March until July, with the
year-end duties and annual reporting
over and above normal work. Our
staff team did a tremendous job in
pulling all of this together.
Finalizing the balance scorecard for
the operation is the tool that will give
us the discipline to maintain order,
direction and deliver on our vision
for the future. Cheyanne GormanTolliver and Idy Fashoranti are the
backbone of this process and we are
engaging Bernard Elwin, Gordon
Doe, Evan Williams, and Gregory
Nazaire to manage the results of
using the scorecard tool.
The 38th Annual Meeting of the
Board of Governors of the Caribbean
Development Bank (CDB), hosted
by the Government of Canada, was
held at the Halifax World Trade
continued on page 10>
Black to Business
3
Summer 2008
Harriet R. Michel
President of the National Minority Supplier
Development Council (NMSDC)
Harriet R. Michel
is the President of the
National Minority Supplier
Development Council
(NMSDC), a private non-profit
organization that expands
business opportunities for
minority-owned companies of
all sizes. NMSDC encourages
mutually beneficial economic
links between minority suppliers and the public and private sectors, and helps build a
stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority business development.
The NMSDC Network, which
includes 39 affiliated regional councils, matches more than 15,000
certified minority businesses (Asian,
by: Chad Lucas
photos: Peter Marsman
Black, Hispanic and Native
American) with its more
than 3,500 corporate
members that want to
purchase their goods and
services. In 2004, NMSDC
member corporations’ purchases from minority-owned
businesses reached $84 billion.
Ms. Michel is a noted administrator and public policy expert on
minority issues. She has worked
for over 30 years in the public sector developing and managing programs that address major social
concerns.
Before joining NMSDC in September
1988, Ms. Michel was a resident
fellow at the Institute of Politics,
Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University, where she
taught a course on politics and
public policy issues and wrote about
Black leadership.
From 1983 to February 1988, Ms.
Michel was president and chief
executive officer of the New York
Urban League. As chief administrator, she was responsible for services provided to over 70,000 New
Yorkers annually through more
than 20 programs in education,
employment, health/social services
and housing.
Cassandra Dorrington, BBI Chair
with Harriet Michel
Ms. Michel has been the recipient
of many awards throughout her
career. In recent years these awards
and citations have included making Black Enterprise Magazine’s
list of the 50 Most Powerful Black
Women in Business, as featured
in the February 2006 issue, the
2005 Inaugural Inductee to the
Minority Business Hall of Fame and
Museum; 2005 Compass Award;
The Women’s Leadership Exchange;
the 2004 National Inner City
Leadership Award from the Initiative
for a Competitive Inner City; 2004
Lifetime Service Achievement Award
during Asian Enterprise’s 10th anniversary gala; 2004 Hall of Fame
award from Enterprising Women
magazine; the inaugural Champion
Award during the 2003 Black
Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference;
2003 Alvaro Martins Heritage Award
from the Executive Leadership
Council; 2003 Ronald H. Brown
Leadership Award from the U.S.
Department of Commerce, Minority
Business Development Agency;
2002 Building Bridges Award from
the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and
the Pioneer Award from Minority
Business News USA/ Billion Dollar
Roundtable.
Ms. Michel has been a member of
three U.S. Agencies for International
Development missions to South
Africa to discuss the governments’
role in, as well as successful corporate models of, small/minority
business development. She was also
appointed to the U.S.-Haiti Business
Development Committee.
Black to Business
4
My Time with
Harriet Michel
Having heard a lot
about Harriet Michel, who was
named one of the 50 most powerful
Black women in the United States,
I couldn’t wait to meet her here in
Halifax. Moreover, it emerged as an
opportunity to talk about my homeland Haiti – a place that she later
showed to know maybe even better
than I do – since her husband of 30
years is of Haitian origin.
We drove to the airport; the limo
service was on time as was Mrs.
Michel’s flight. After a couple of
minutes spent to get cleared through
Canada Customs, she came out and
said to me with a smile, “You look
like you’re waiting for somebody.”
The Black Business Initiative (BBI)
invited her to participate in a panel
and to deliver an opening speech
at the 2008 Black Business Summit.
While walking to the limo she suddenly stopped and asked if I was
Haitian, and when I confirmed my
Haitian background she cheered me
with a tap on the back.
On our way to the hotel we spent
our time talking about Haiti, but
also about living in the Maritimes
in general and Halifax in particular. She was eager to know more
about the Black community in Nova
Scotia and the cohabitation with
other communities. While driving through some of the neighborhoods in Dartmouth, she told me
that it brought back some good
memories about her childhood in
Pennsylvania.
We arrived 30 minutes later at the
hotel and then I went back to work.
Two hours later, I came back to
pick her up for the Summit. When
we got there, I immediately realized that she was very popular and
many people have heard her name.
It looked like it was a homecoming
for her.
She opened the first workshop with
a very eloquent, insightful and
humorous speech. She talked a little
bit about her life, her success and
especially about the price and the
benefits of loyalty within the corporate world. Originally from a small
town in Pennsylvania, she fought
her way to great successes as a business woman and a powerful bridgebuilder among business people.
Summer 2008
by: Greg Nazaire, RBDM
At the Q&A session she commented
about how big businesses and federal, provincial and local government agencies can create wealth
and strengthen the middle class by
encouraging and partnering with
minority businesses. Her style is a
blend of great leadership, openness and humour. Everybody was
more than delighted about her
speech and the personality that
goes with it. The audience included
the Premier of Nova Scotia and
the United States Embassy General
Counsel.
After the workshop we had planned
to drive Mrs. Michel for a city tour
and a visit to some historical sites
such as the Black Cultural Centre,
the Citadel, Africville, and some historic properties in downtown so she
could discover the rich culture that
embodies the city of Halifax. But
Harriet Michel being Harriet Michel,
very outgoing, was already on her
way for a visit to the Black Cultural
Centre with Dr. Henry Bishop, so I
left her in good company.
The next day everybody was getting
ready for the main event, the lunch
with Chris Gardner and Mrs. Michel
was scheduled to introduce him as
the keynote speaker. And he was, of
course, very well introduced.
Then later in the afternoon I walked
her back to the hotel for a couple
of hours of rest before heading out
for the BBI boat cruise that night.
During the tour, Mrs. Michel never
missed a chance to engage in a very
casual and sometime humorous
chat with anybody she came across.
Openness and energy seem to
define her character. She can relate
very well to people, which is good
evidence of somebody’s greatness.
The journey could have been longer
and interesting but, because of her
very busy schedule, she couldn’t
stay another day. The next morning, very early, she flew back to
New York.
Black to Business
5
Summer 2008
Kelly Carrington
Paul Adams
Massage Therapy On the Go
Shauntay Grant
a therapeutic massage right in their
own environment.
“A lot of my clients
were rushing from
work on their lunch
break to get their
massage,” remembers
Carrington. “They
had to pay for parking, deal with traffic… They get there
and spend the first
20 minutes recovering from their travels,
and the next 20 minutes thinking about
Kelly Carrington, Evolution Massage Therapy
going back to work.”
Evolution Massage Therapy has
t’s a warm summer afterproven to be a great alternative for
Carrington’s 40 or so regular customnoon in downtown Halifax.
Registered Massage Therapist ers, many of whom he’s been treating
since he first got into the business
(RMT) Kelly Carrington is in the seven years ago.
I
far corner of a busy coffee shop,
sharing an apple juice with his
“boss”.
“Are you the boss?” Carrington asks his
two-year-old son Jonah.
“Yes!” smiles Jonah, beaming up at his
father with bright eyes. It’s easy to see
why Carrington would forgo a busy
career at a flourishing downtown spa
to start his own private practice.
“It’s very busy,” says Carrington. “A
lot of my clients have followed me,
which is good. I haven’t advertised at
all – it’s all word of mouth.”
A graduate of ICT Northumberland
College, Carrington is certified in
LaStone Therapy, Craniosacral
Therapy, and Myofascial Release.
Using a variety of techniques he provides stress and pain reduction, injury
prevention, pre- and post-natal care,
deep tissue massage, and relaxation
massage.
“I’m all about balance,” says
Carrington. “And with the needs of my
family, I just decided that it was time
to do something on my own. Being
“I am a full-time mobile clinic. So
able to spend my days with [Jonah]
anything that you need for a masand still run a business, and be a hussage is in my truck. I have a regular
band… that’s the whole reason I did
massage table, a pregnancy massage
that. ‘Cause I don’t get this time back.
table, and I also have a massage
So if I can run a business and still
chair.”
fulfill the needs of my clients and my
family, life is good.”
“I’m really trying to create the kind
of an environment where people can
Carrington is seven years into a sucrealize they don’t have to go go go
cessful career as an RMT. In June he
all the time,” adds Carrington. “I
started his own company. Evolution
really think that people need to slow
Massage Therapy is a mobile service
down and relax. And I think that this
that allows his clients to be treated to
is the way to get that message across.”
Carrington says his success would not
have been possible without tremendous support from some very special
and driven people at the BBI and of
course, his family. “This business is a
family affair because without them
the drive wouldn’t be as strong.”
And though Carrington is very enthusiastic about his work, a career as a
massage therapist wasn’t always in
his sights.
“After high school I entered the labour
work force for two years, and then
decided that it was time to learn
something new and try to find my
passion. I remembered when I was
young and my mother used to pay
me a little extra allowance to give her
a foot rub. I investigated the training for massage therapy and went to
a couple of information sessions and
applied.”
Carrington says the training was
challenging, but he wouldn’t trade it
for anything. “I became very driven
by my knowledge to create a career
that I would be proud of. And I love
it. I love interacting with people and
love to do massage. And I’m really
not going to do anything else. This is
it. As long as I can get up every day
and be a good dad, a good husband,
and a good massage therapist, my life
is balanced and I feel very fulfilled
and complete.”
Mobile Massage Clinic
Mr. Kelly Carrington, RMT
(902) 449-5622
[email protected]
www.evolutionmassage.ca
Black to Business
REGIONAL
REPORT
Southern
Greg
Nazaire
Things seemed to have picked up in the
Valley this past summer. It was busier than
usual as several projects were undertaken
and some major store chains, such as Home
Depot, planned to open new outlets in the
region.
On the same note, the Black Business Initiative
(BBI) in partnership with Wendy Aird from
West-Hants Development Agency and
Michael Campbell in Windsor, is planning
a series of workshops and speeches to be
delivered in the area.
Congratulations to Robert Ffrench, the
Executive Director of Valley African Nova
Scotian Development Association (VANSDA),
for the historical Mathieu Da Costa Trail that
the Association magnificently erected and
officially launched on July 19. Mathieu Da
Costa was a navigator and interpreter of
African descent, who travelled extensively
throughout the Atlantic in the late 1500s and
early 1600s and served as an interpreter for
the French and the Dutch to help in their
trade with Aboriginal people.
I had the privilege of representing the BBI at
the VANSDA 2008 Annual General Meeting,
where I learned a great deal from several
activities planned by the different agencies
and cultural organizations in the Valley about
the economic growth in the region. We were
also treated to a short film about segregation
in Nova Scotia classrooms, particularly in the
Inglewood community, by filmmaker Sylvia
Hamilton from Maroon Films Inc.
This past June, I was able to attend the
International Council of Small Business (ICSB),
which held its 2008 world conference in
Halifax. The quality of the papers presented
was outstanding and the environment was
more than welcoming. The conference
presented the very latest research from
industry experts and scholars on small
business. Since the BBI’s main focus is on
micro and small businesses I feel like it was
well worth it.
On a final note, I would like to congratulate
Glynis Simms, whose business is growing to
become a premier child care service provider
in Kingston, and Saundra Vernon of Ruby’s
Sugar Shack in Old Town Lunenburg, who
has become the reference in the region when
it comes to candies and hard-to-find treats.
Should you require any information or
to book a regional visit, please contact
me at (902) 426-1625 or the toll free
number 1-800-668-1010.
6
Summer 2008
Message from the
Board of Directors
continued from page 1
realization of a way out for himself
and his family. He was determined
to make it as a broker amid the
many hardships he encountered
along the way. No matter what he
had to endure, he soldiered on; for
him, staying the course was the goal
to his achievement. With BBI, we
had received a considerable leg up
in our transition from a task force to
a formal organization. In addition to
the receipt of funding and other key
components, BBI developed its strategic plan and made use of its talented board and resource members
to implement this plan.
I cannot stress enough that while
the Black community is small in
numbers, it is very rich with talent.
Whether we are discussing the board
members or the staff members, the
organization has benefited from our
rich community talent in the ability to chart the course and stay the
course. In our expansive organizational structure, we continue to look
for skilled and talented businesses
and community members for current
and future board positions.
Whilst the initial BBI model facilitated the vision, it became apparent
that to stay the course, we needed
to adjust our model to address the
many evolutions required to adapt
to the ever changing needs of our client base. Another keynote speaker
from the 2008 BBI Summit, Ephren
Taylor, also spoke about the need to
change and evolve in line with the
changing conditions. He has grown
and evolved his business interests
from the creation of 3D video games
at age 12 to his current work in
the development and promotion
of economic empowerment, affordable housing and entrepreneurship
in urban communities. That was a
huge transition but a very necessary one for his business vision.
Much like Ephren’s evolution to
stay the course, BBI ‘s evolution to
the Composite Model will work to
facilitate the vision by ensuring BBI’s
economic viability and continuity in our support of a vibrant and
dynamic Black presence in the Nova
Scotian business community.
I am pleased to say that BBI’s organizational changes, despite our
many growing pains, have been and
continue to be the lynchpin in the
BBI’s transition throughout the evolutionary process. In fact, given my
regular business travels throughout
the Caribbean, and the U.K., I have
been looking for alternate business
models from which we can learn.
In all my travels and discussions
with numerous business leaders, I
am confident in saying that the BBI
has developed a unique business
model that is clearly demonstrating its success and effectiveness in
the business environment. This is
further reinforced by the interest we
have received from potential clients
throughout other parts of Canada,
the Caribbean and selected countries
in Africa.
In conclusion, let me reiterate that
having charted the course, and
through the process making some
modifications to steer the course,
BBI has a clear focus on staying the
course. Our clients have enjoyed
some measure of success, but there is
still lots to do on our journey towards
the creation of the vibrant and
dynamic Black presence within the
business community of Nova Scotia.
As always we look forward to your
active participation and continued support as we stay the course
towards: One Brand. One Vision.
One Organization.
Cassandra Dorrington, Chair
Black to Business
Summer 2008
7
Chad Lucas
Peter Marsman
A quick wit, the gift of gab and a knack for gauging a crowd: whether you’re running an
awards show or hosting a business lunch, it takes a special set of skills to be a successful
emcee. This month’s trailblazers have been keeping audiences entertained for years, and they
all showed off their skills during June’s Black Business Summit 2008.
Cecil Wright
Charla Williams
If you’re a sports or music fan at all in Nova Scotia,
Cecil Wright’s voice is probably a familiar sound.
Wright has emceed everything from the ANSMA Awards
to the Black Vibes showcase during the East Coast Music
Awards, and he’s a regular presence on EastLink university basketball broadcasts and the weekly cable show
Harv’s Sportsland.
Charla remembers her first emceeing gig was a talent
show at Dalhousie’s Grawood Lounge back in the 1970s.
It was a role others were reluctant to fill, but she jumped
at the chance – so she wouldn’t actually have to perform
in the show.
Summit Boat Cruise Host
The outspoken Wright, also the baseball coach of the
Halifax Pelham Canadians, is rarely at a loss for words
– a handy talent for an MC. “Basically you’re just
somebody that helps kill time,” he says. “I try to enjoy
myself, have some fun with the people.”
Wright co-hosted the BBI boat cruise with Charla
Williams. “That was a lot of fun,” he says.
Wright says he tends to improvise when he emcees,
rarely working from prepared notes. “I used to try to
write things down, little phrases that would trigger
a story, but I find I don’t do that anymore,” he says.
“Anytime you plan on that you never use it, or something comes up and you forget to use it.”
He’s learned to shake it off if he finds himself in a room
that’s less than receptive, though it’s rarely happened to
him. “If I was younger, I probably would (think about
it),” he says. “But at this stage I think I’m a little older
and wiser. You’re going to go to bed in a couple of hours
anyway, whether you’re successful or you stink.”
Summit Boat Cruise Host
“I figured I could just do my bit and go home,” she says
with a laugh. “But I found it to be something I was relatively good at without a lot of effort.”
Williams, an instructor at the Nova Scotia Community
College and Dalhousie’s College of Continuing Education,
has been in high demand ever since. She’s hosted everything from gospel concerts, CD release parties and public speaking contests to the African Nova Scotian Music
Awards (ANSMA) and the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured
Children’s annual broadcast telethon. She has also done
several BBI summit events.
“Laughter is a major part of my approach, because if
you’re laughing, you’re having a good time,” she says.
She says good MCs keep the mood light and keep the
show moving, but they remember they’re not the main
event.
“My role is just to introduce what’s going on on the stage,
and fill any gaps,” she says. “(The audience) isn’t there to
see me. You try to give them some humorous memories,
but you don’t want to steal the show.”
Peter Marsman
Black to Business
Summer 2008
8
Robert Upshaw
Summit Wrap Up - Biz Show Host
As a vice-principal, a teacher and a former executive director of the Black
Educators Association, Robert Upshaw is used to talking in front of people.
But he enjoys letting his funny bone show a little more in his role as an MC.
“I was able to take the skills I learned from presenting, speaking and combined them with a sense of humour,” says Upshaw. “I don’t really advertise
myself as an emcee, but it’s been more of an opportunity where people have
asked me to do certain events.”
Upshaw, who’s been a regular emcee of the BBI Summit’s Biz Show, said he
considers his role as a performance of sorts.
“You become a character in it,” he says. “Performing is making people laugh
and keeping the whole thing interesting. I bring as much humour to the event
as I can, unless it’s a more serious event. And even then, if I’m involved, it
might be questionable,” he says with a laugh.
He admits he’s put his foot in his mouth a couple of times – the most awkward
is always mispronouncing someone’s name, he says. But he learned from his
days doing radio in Cape Breton that the best solution is just to keep talking.
“As you gain more experience, you learn how to cover (mistakes),” he says.
“You think everybody heard you make that mistake, but usually you’re the
only one who notices unless you make a big deal of it and leave a bunch of
dead air. So you quickly bounce back.”
Deep Panuke
gas project
business and career
opportunities.
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
Summer 2008
9
Encouraging Responsibility
Paul Adams
Glasgow Educational Consultants
Glasgow’s business is a
two-part operation. On
the one hand, she offers
consulting services
geared towards making
people aware of educational scholarships, programs and services.
Shauntay Grant
“I see it as a long-term commitment
to improving the level of students in
our community,” says Glasgow. “My
model is ‘discipline by example, and
encouraging responsibility’. And that
starts at home.”
Building on the foundation her
mother instilled in her at a young age,
Glasgow raised both her children to
study hard.
“That I offer for free,”
says Glasgow. “What
I offer as a paid service is tutoring to stu“When my kids were little, five days a
dents and adults who
week through the summer they would
want to upgrade to
have ‘school’ – if you do the reading,
get their GED, or even
then you can go outside and play for
people who just want
the rest of the day. And every night
to improve their litwhen they do homework, the TV is off
eracy and mathematical and you don’t answer the phone. And
skills.”
by the time they got to high school it
was a routine.”
Glasgow Educational
Consultants also helps
Both of Glasgow’s children are universiuniversity students with
ty graduates, teachers, and tutors with
Susan Glasgow, Glasgow Educational Consultants term papers and essays.
Glasgow Educational Consultants. And
But the company’s prialthough the company’s main clienmary clientele are elementary and
ith little education
tele are African Nova Scotian learners,
junior high school students.
Glasgow says she does not necessarily
themselves, Susan
subscribe to an afrocentric model.
Glasgow’s parents
“Students who don’t do well in junior
raised five university graduand high school (usually) lack the
“I believe our students need to live in
ates.
basic elementary school skills, and
a global world,” says Glasgow. “In
self-esteem,” says Glasgow. “Many of order to do that they need to have
“My mother only had a grade five
our students have low literacy rates.
self-esteem. Everything in our society
education,” says the owner of
It’s not because they can’t learn –
breaks down that self-esteem in our
Glasgow Educational Consultants.
they just need a little extra help.
youth – the education system, the
“But when I was a kid, every night
And I don’t think the school system
media, the whole world they live in.
we had school (in our home). When
offers something that really bolsters
And even though I use some of the
I went to school in the late 50s and
the self-esteem of our students, parprinciples (of an afrocentric model),
early 60s all of my teachers were
ticularly African Nova Scotian stuthe main thing is building self esteem,
black and they told me everyday
dents.”
(encouraging) pride in yourself, and
that I was smart, intelligent, and if
believing that you can do it.”
I didn’t make something of myself
Though her
it was my own fault. So I attribute
services are not
my success to my mother and
restricted to
those black women teachers in East
African Nova
Preston.”
Scotian learners,
Glasgow’s busiGlasgow has 31 years of teaching
ness was born
experience to her credit. Though she
Susan M. Glasgow
out of a desire to
retired in 2006, she’s been operating
see youth from
Glasgow Educational Consultants
Phone: (902) 435-6218
her community
49 Taranaki Drive
since 2004, offering tutoring services
succeed academE-mail:[email protected]
Dartmouth, NS
for youth and adults.
ically.
W
Black to Business
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
REPORT
Gordon Doe
Construction Roundtables
Success is the result of doing something very well. And
in business, as long as the entrepreneur commits to
consistently offer excellent service and quality product,
it is just a matter of time before a brand is created and
profit is realized. At Black Business Initiative (BBI), we
strongly believe that the construction sector presents
a big opportunity for our businesses to succeed, hence
our unwavering commitment to the sector.
Construction expertise abounds in the Black
community. What is lacking is the commitment to
leverage each other’s skills to undertake sizable projects
with good margins. That is why last year the BBI
supported the creation of ADEPA Management Inc. to
provide construction management services.
In the last two months, we started a very interesting
conversation among construction stakeholders at the
East Preston Mall. Participation has been encouraging,
but more important are the issues we discuss. The two
top issues we have focused on are first, supporting
each other in project implementation and second,
reaching out to the youth in our community to
introduce them to the different opportunities in the
construction sector. The first promises to generate
more business through referrals and the second
promises to create direct apprenticeship opportunities
for the youth.
It is obvious that the way to achieve both objectives
is through active engagement of stakeholders. So
these roundtable discussions will continue once a
month at the East Preston Mall. We welcome industry
players to our meetings. At our last meeting on
Tuesday, August 26, we focused on our youth and
explored opportunities for youth in the construction
industry. Call Gordon Doe at 426-6985 if you have
any questions.
CEDIF
On Thursday, June 5, the Black Business Community
Investment Fund (BBCIFL) held its 5th Annual General
Meeting at the Delta Barrington hotel, Halifax. As
usual, a number of reports were presented at the
meeting and shareholders had the opportunity to
interact with each other and discuss issues with the
board.
Also, over the past three months, we have had the
opportunity to present the CEDIF – Community
Economic Development Investment Fund – concept
to three community groups, who are exploring the
feasibility of setting up a CEDIF.
CDB Report
This past May, the BBI had the opportunity to support
the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to organize a
Youth Forum here in Halifax. The Forum was a part of
the Bank’s week-long Annual General Meeting activities
hosted here in Halifax. The BBI, in partnership with six
other youth-focused initiatives, coordinated logistics
for the event. It was very exciting to listen to youth
entrepreneurs from both the Caribbean and Nova
Scotia share their stories. The BBI also met with the
Barbados Youth Business Trust to explore opportunities
for collaboration on youth programming.
10
Message from the CEO
continued from page 2
and Convention Centre on Wednesday,
May 28 and Thursday, May 29,
2008. Roselyne Orengo, the Executive
Assistant to the BBI Board and the CEO,
took a leadership role with our involvement in the Youth Forum, recently held
as part of the CDB meeting. Wendy
Sealy of CDB was the champion of this
forum and we were pleased that she
included us as part of her program.
Yes, there are many more priority items
ongoing. The Tourism Market Readiness
project and the Business is Jammin’
summer youth coordinators are two of
them. We continue to participate and
attend conferences like “Face to Face”
and the International Council of Small
Business (ICSB) to benefit from potential
networks, to keep current and to learn.
Summer 2008
REGIONAL
REPORT
Central
Evan
Williams
That last quarter was a very busy one, with
several new businesses and community
development and, of course, our Black
Business Summit.
This summer, I was able to facilitate
entrepreneurship workshops in Wolfville
at Acadia University for Kamp Kujichagulia
(koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) participants
and I also had the privilege of facilitating
entrepreneurship workshops in Amherst
for the Journaling is Fun-Read Everyday
program.
However, to overcome the limitations
inherent to organizations with limited
resources, our number one priority
during fiscal year 2007-2008 was the
implementation of the new composite
structure.
I want to congratulate Donna Gaskin
and Jeannie Jones of Juice Eh! for being
finalists for BBI’s Entrepreneur of the
Year Award. This shows that their
business model is a good one and a
great opportunity for someone looking
to franchise. Visit www.juiceeh.com for
more information.
Delivering on the economic promise
meant we had to treat economic development like a business proposition. It
meant we had to research and study
trends and network to make sure that
what we were designing was robust
and could withstand economic shifts. It
meant that we were compelled to look
at ways to diversify our revenue streams
and create multiple lines of income just
to retain and grow our assets.
In addition, I want to congratulate Steve
Oliver of the Lower Sackville Wellness
Centre. Steve opened his doors in
September offering services such as
Traditional Chinese and Swedish massage
and offering classes in Yoga, Tai Chi and
meditation. The Centre will also provide
“feel good” services normally found in
a spa environment such as facials, hand
and foot massages. For more information,
contact The Lower Sackville Wellness
Centre at 209-5600.
Because we are more comfortable about
moving forward than standing still and
losing ground, we undertook to redesign
our operating engine.
I must also congratulate Steve Lawrence
of JMS Driving Academy. J.M.S. Driving
Academy provides high quality, convenient
and comprehensive driver education
courses at the low cost and a wide range
of certified courses and services. You can
reach them at 209- 8081.
The investment fund, the consulting
arm (having signed its first international contract) and ADEPA construction
management are already functional
and performing very well. So too is the
Business is Jammin’ charity.
One Brand. One Vision. One
Organization.
S.I. Rustum Southwell, CEO
Finally, I want to commend the Health
Association of African Canadians (HAAC)
for being committed to taking the lead in
advancing the health and well-being of
African Canadians. For more information
about the HAAC, visit www.haac.ca .
For more information or to book a
regional visit please contact me at
(902) 426-6692 or 1-800-668-1010 or
by email, [email protected].
Black to Business
11
Eli Goree
Summer 2008
Taryn Della
contributed
Acting his way to Da Kink
shows like Street Cents, Canada Now,
and North/South, Goree says he was
always setting new goals for himself.
much like the character as I could. I
went back six times for this character
with another guy,” remembers Goree.
“I did everything I could to get my
foot in the door and to get noticed,” he
says. “And now it looks like that diligence may be just starting to pay off.”
“Finally, I had to read with other
characters in the cast and that was
nerve-wrecking with Trey Anthony
there (show creator), and the producers and writers. I think they liked that
I was able to improvise and add to the
script,” he says.
Indeed. Just two years after leaving
Halifax for Toronto to join the world
of auditions and callbacks, Goree has
landed what he calls “an incredible
breakthrough role.”
This fall, he will join the cast of Da
Kink In My Hair, Global’s hit television sitcom, which follows the lives of
women in a Toronto hair salon.
His niche, and lifelong
Eli Goree, Actor
F
or aspiring actor and
Halifax native, Eli Goree,
life lessons from his
mother, and motherland, are
paying off in a big way.
“Mom was a single mother who
accomplished a lot,” says the Torontobased actor. “She taught me to stay
focused and to go for what you want
with everything you have. Of course it
helps if you find your niche,” he adds
with a smile.
His niche, and lifelong dream, to
become a professional actor and writer
began when he was five. “Mom’s
friend put me on Sesame Street a few
times and my love for acting blossomed from there,” remembers the
Prince Andrew High graduate.
dream, to become a
professional actor
and writer began
when he was five.
“I play the part of Malik, Letty’s
18-year-old-nephew,” explains Goree.
“I work the reception desk at the shop,
so it’s a pretty significant role. I’m
beyond excited.”
Goree says that Malik’s character was
nothing like him, (“He’s more introverted than I am”), so to prepare for
the audition, he locked himself in his
apartment for a week.
“As I grew older, I was always seeking
opportunities to create,” he says.
“My acting coach and I broke down
the script into incredible detail and figured out what I would do in the audition,” says Goree. “I wanted to bring
out as much comedy as we could.”
At the audition, they really liked me,
but already had another actor in mind
for it, so they called me back,” he says.
From producing and hosting the “Big
Black Rap Show” on CKDU Radio to
producing short films to working on
“And I did the same thing again locked myself in my room and went
deeper into it, trying to become as
“When I did that, I guess they felt I
fit the character and changed their
minds, and they gave me this great
opportunity and I’m glad they did.”
Goree says there was one special thing
that helped him meet the challenge.
“I had just returned from Africa six
months before the audition,” he says.
“I visited slave castles along the coast
of Ghana that were directly involved
in the Atlantic Slave trade and slept in
the officers’ quarters which were now
hotels,” says Goree.
“When I looked up and realized that
those people had suffered and fought
and how they had gone from Africa, up
through Nova Scotia and now all the
way back to Africa through me, and I
was sleeping where their oppressors had
slept, it was a real moment,” he says
quietly. “It touched me.”
Goree says he landed back in Ontario a
changed man and ready for challenges.
“It completely showed me what was
important. Any and all nervousness
that I had, even personal troubles,
all melted away. It’s so insignificant
once you found your foundation and
you realize that you are a part of
something bigger.”
“Whatever we put our minds to we
can achieve it, because we have the
ability to manifest destiny.”
“I feel like these are lessons learned
from my motherland, and the motherland is the most powerful voice
there is.”
Black to Business
Summer 2008
12
Renewing Old Trade Links
Juanita Peters
S
ome will remember with fondness the days of ol’
when salt fish travelled to the islands and in return
molasses and rum came to the Maritimes. The
crop has changed but the intent remains the same.
These days Rustum Southwell, Chief
Executive Officer of the Black Business
Initiative (BBI), says the Caribbean
Development Bank (CDB) can make it
possible for Nova Scotian companies
like Hector Jacques’ Jacques Whitford
to do business in Trinidad. Larry
Gibson has taken his flooring company into Bermuda and Cassandra
Dorrington’s consulting firm is doing
work in Trinidad, Tobago and St.
Lucia. The Bank has proven to be a
good contact for companies already
operating in the area. Everything
from consulting to engineering, technology and services is on the menu.
MacKay, Minister of
National Defence and
Minister of Atlantic
Canada Opportunities
Agency .The CDB is an
international finance
institution and Canada
is one of the funding
nations.
Dr. Marshall Hall and Dr. Compton Bourne with
their wives
Southwell says the
Caribbean is a fairly aggressive area.
“When people talk about near shore
and far shore, they are near shore.
They have every language, so communication is easy, and these days
they are using a lot of
Canadian companies
to build. Historically
we have had a long
relationship between
Canada and the islands.
So much so that many
of our now potential
partners may have been
educated in Nova Scotia
at Dalhousie University
or Saint Mary’s. There
used to be a time when
CIDA provided aid in
Audience at the Ninth William G. Demas Memorial
the way of scholarships
Lecture during CDB’s Annual Meeting
for students from the
islands. As a result Canada and Nova
Scotia in particular has been known
“Recently, a contract was negotiated
as a good place to go.
with the St. Kitts/Nevis Ministry of
National Security using Cassandra
“After returning home, they are also
Dorrington’s company to deliver some
favourable about the possibility of
change management. It was funded
doing business with Nova Scotiaoverall by CIDA (the Canadian
based companies. Today large comInternational Development Agency).
panies like McCain Foods, the Royal
It’s great to see that connection back
Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia
to Canada and to see a Nova Scotia
are in the Caribbean.”
Black-owned company on the consultant list,” says Southwell.
He says one of the things the
Caribbean Development Bank has
The Caribbean Development Bank
helped African Nova Scotians to do
hosted its 38th annual meeting of the
is link to potential new opportuniboard in Halifax in May. Southwell
ties using this gateway. It has helped
says this was made possible by a
create direct contact with important
request from the Honourable Peter
delegates from the area and a highly
educated work force.
He says in the future, the BBI plans to
do some work with youth in Barbados,
to open up opportunities and transfer knowledge and skills. He says it
is something similar to the Business
Is Jammin’ model, which has been
running for 10 years and works with
youth ranging in age from six to 30.
The goal of this program is to encourage Black youth to stay in school,
while exposing them to business.
“In the short term we would like
to restore the historic ties,” says
Southwell.
Next issue the youth connection.
Permanent Secretary Ministry
of National Security St. Kitts &
Nevis, Astona Browne and Rustum
Southwell signing contract
Black to Business
13
2008 Summer
Youth Coordinators
Summer 2008
Angela Johnson, Ed
many different ways, which is one of
the reasons why she is so enthusiastic
about working with the Black Business
Initiative. Keisha says her position as a
Summer Youth Coordinator will allow
her to give back all the advice and
guidance she has received, as well as
share her experiences with the youth.
Martha Mutale is currently
enrolled in Dalhousie University’s
Bachelor of Arts program. She was
born in Lusaka, Zambia, which is
in South Central Africa. Her parents
moved to Canada so their family
could have better opportunities for the
future.
Jason Smith has been a Summer
Youth Coordinator for the Black
Business Initiative’s Business is
Jammin’ program for four years, working both in Yarmouth and Shelburne.
Jason will be going into his fourth
year of university/college. He started
his post-secondary education at
the University of New Brunswick in
Fredericton, but after two years and
much thought he decided to change
to the Human Services Program at the
Burridge Campus of the Nova Scotia
Community College in Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia. Jason says he’s found joy
working with youth and is currently in
his second year concentrating on child
and youth issues.
Jason started working at a group home
in Yarmouth during the first year of
the Human Services program. He now
does one-on-one work with youth who
are looking for a role model. He says
his goal is to graduate this year and
start a career working in youth correctional facilities or group homes.
In his spare time, Jason plays basket-
ball, football, tennis and many other
sports. He also enjoys movies, computers and hanging out with friends.
Keisha Jefferies is the oldest of
three children and was born and
raised in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.
She now lives in Halifax.
In 2005, Keisha graduated,
with honours, from the
North Nova Education
Center and then enrolled
in the science program
at Mount Saint Vincent
University. In fall, 2008,
Keisha will enter her
fourth year as Biology
major.
Some of Keisha’s
interests include
reading, playing
basketball and
running.
The Black community in New Glasgow
has supported and helped Keisha in
Martha has held several jobs working
with children. For two years she was
employed with the Black Educators
Association as a Peer Tutor and Adult
Tutor. She provided academic support to students from primary to high
school. She also held positions as a
Summer Youth Day Camp Supervisor
and Summer Youth Outreach
Coordinator.
Martha’s family is strong in ministry
so she has assisted in putting together
a praise and worship team and was
a member of a junior choir. She has
been busy in many different organizations such as the Provincial Baptist
Youth Fellowship, ADAM (African
Black to Business
14
Lieutenant Governor of
Nova Scotia, the
Honourable
Mayann E
Francis a
number
of times
for her outstanding contributions to her community and phenomenal
artwork.
Diaspora for the
Maritimes), volunteering with DASA (Dalhousie African
Students Association) and has performed as a spoken word artist with
Word Iz Bond.
Martha says she’s realized her passion
is kids and youth. She states that being
able to support and help young people
reach their potential, either in school
or through business camps with the
Black Business Initiative’s Business is
Jammin’ program, has given her more
than enough reason to want to continue a career that involves children.
“I love to see the smiles on their faces,
and to make them laugh, and letting
them know they can do anything,” she
says.
Robyn Martelly is a resident of
Whitney Pier. She enjoys volunteering at St. Phillips African Orthodox
Church and working with youth in her
community whenever she can.
Robyn is an artist
and has a strong
passion for painting
and writing poetry.
She has been published many times in
different magazines,
newspapers, and
community newsletters. In the future she
says she would like
to publish a children’s
book of poetry. She’s
been recognized by the
This is Robyn’s first
year as a Summer
Youth Coordinator
and third year attending the Black Business Summit. She
says, “By working for Black Business
Initiative, I’ve had the opportunity of
meeting amazing people, who have
made a lasting impression on me.”
Robyn plans on taking graphic
design this fall at the Nova Scotia
Community College, and later on
down the road, pursuing a law degree
to become a Civil Rights Attorney.
Sara Hartley was born in
Cornwallis Nova Scotia but now lives
in Greenwood. She recently graduated
from the full French school of Ecole
Rose-des-Vents in Greenwood. She will
continue her studies this fall at Nova
Scotia Community College, Kingstec
campus in Kentville, studying Early
Childhood Education.
Sara loves working with kids, which is
why she says she has enrolled in her
present program of learning and also
Summer 2008
why she has joined the Black Business
Initiative’s Business Is Jammin’ program. She says, this is another step
in helping to influence young minds
around her in a positive direction.
Sara recently completed a six year
term with the Air Cadets. Her other
interests include creative arts and
music.
Reaghan Silvea is from Amherst
Nova Scotia. She graduated from
Amherst Regional High school and
will be continuing her studies in Early
Childhood Care and Education at
Holland College.
Her interests Include sailing and
cadets, which she has attended for
seven years and will continue in PEI.
Reaghan loves to write music and also
plays many instruments. She was an
active member of the Cumberland
County Black Artisans and is currently
on its Board of Directors.
As a Summer Youth Coordinator for
Business is Jammin’, Reaghan says she
feels she has strengthened her skills as
a leader and role model and looks forward to helping community youth.
One of Reaghan’s favourite
quotes is:
Watch your thoughts,
they become words
watch your words,
they become actions
watch your actions,
they become habits
watch your habits,
they become your character
watch your character,
it becomes your destiny
– Frank Outlaw
photos: Peter Marsman
OPENING NIGHT
If you had been to opening night,
you would know that this year’s
Summit opened with lots of fun and
entertainment.
Cassandra Dorrington, BBI Chair
Maureen (Reenie) Smith
Premier Rodney MacDonald
Cassandra Dorrington, summit host
and Black Business Initiative (BBI)
chair gave a gracious and informative
welcoming to the crowd. Seventeenyear-old Maureen (Reenie) Smith sang
both the Canadian national anthem
and the African national anthem in
a way that I’m sure you have never
heard before. Her style and passionate
singing moved the crowd to a standing
ovation. Ms. Smith has most recently
been cast in a new Vision TV series
called Mahalia and will appear in at
least six episodes as a choir member.
The opening ceremonies also featured
the Scotia Royalty Dancers, a group
of young performers who create a
delightful mix of dance styles into a
presentation that keeps you guessing
about what they’ll do next. Their
rhythms had the audience toe-tapping
and knee-slapping.
Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald
spoke of the province’s need to
support minority businesses and
diversity in the business sector. Before
officially declaring the Summit open, he
commented that he’d had a preview
of the evening’s entertainment and
jokingly asked whether the Carson
Downey Band may be in need of a
fiddle player.
The night ended with the music of the
Carson Downey Band. Some told of
the great music, others talked of very
tired but happy feet at meetings the
following day. The Carson Downey
Band has a new CD arriving in time for
Christmas.
SUMMIT WORKSHOPS
If you attended any of the workshops during the Summit, you most likely came out feeling motivated and energized.
The first workshop – Sustaining Business Excellence – proved to be inspiring and enlightening. BBI board member
and lawyer with Waterbury Newton, Paul Walter stepped into the role of facilitator with ease following a last-minute
cancellation by Senator Donald Oliver.
The guests included Dr. Joyce Ross,
Dan MacDonald and Harriet R. Michel.
Dr. Joyce Ross is probably best known
for her work in prison ministry and
also her huge success with the East
Preston Day Care. She spoke of what
success means to her. “Success is when
you respect people and they respect
you. It’s about meeting the needs of
your clientele.” She talked about the
importance of setting your goals, working
as a team and having a firm foundation
from which to begin your work. She also
strongly emphasized the importance of
never letting anyone tell you that “you
can’t” do something. After more than
22 years of prison ministry and over 30
years of commitment to the East Preston
Day Care Centre, her success is a clear
and visible example of what a person
with strong determination can do.
Dr. Harvey Millar,
Saint Mary’s University
In 2002 Dr. Ross received the Order of
Canada. She has also been awarded an
Honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie
University and the Queen’s Golden
Jubilee medal. Dr. Ross was appointed to
Acadia University’s Board of Governors
in October 2003 and is on the Board of
Trustees of the Acadia Divinity College.
Dan MacDonald, president and CEO of
InNOVAcorp, helps high-potential, earlystage companies commercialize their
technologies to succeed in the global
marketplace. He talked about how to
continue your business success. “Be
prepared to work hard. Set your goal
on a north star and follow it. A good
business plan is built on 10 percent vision
and 90 percent execution.”
Dan MacDonald,
President & CEO of InNOVAcorp
He spoke of the importance of knowing
what you have and valuing it, of paying
staff well and having rewards for work
done well. He said business excellence
is about performance. “It is a decision
that is made by your clients, staff and
shareholders when you do or do not
deliver what you promised. People told
me I couldn’t do it, that I was crazy.” He
says he just continued to raise the bar
and stayed focused on his goal. Today he
works locally, regionally, nationally and
globally.
MacDonald talked about the need for
passion about your work. That once you
have passion, work is something you
can’t wait to do.
Harriet R. Michel, recognized as one
of the 50 most powerful women in
business today, is president of the
National Minority Supplier Development
Council and offered much in the way
of encouragement to minority-owned
companies. She was director of the
U.S. Department of Labor’s Office
of Community Youth Employment
Programs/CETA in Washington, D.C.,
where she supervised the allocation of
$2 billion for employment and training
programs from 1977 to 1979. From 1972
to 1977 she was the first black woman
to head a major foundation. She was
executive director of the New York
Foundation. Today, she overseas the
expansion and opportunities of minorityrun companies by linking them with
private and publicly owned companies.
She talked of the importance of
dispelling myths about minority-owned
companies. “Maybe the workers aren’t
as good, as educated, as motivated.
Are the workers poorly trained?”
She says these are the types of
misconceptions that can get in the way
of minority-owned companies.
“But you know what? It’s up to you to
do your research on your company.
Know your client and your clients’
needs well. Think about all the ways
that you can best serve that client. What
is your product and market? Who are
your competitors?” She says we have
to take a laser-like focus and look at
each situation under the microscope.
She talked about the need to hire staff
smarter than you. “Experts in their
fields can bring a whole new level
of competence and security to your
business. And allow your staff to be
entrepreneurial.”
She talked about the need to support
each other. “We need to buy from each
other. We need to have good judgment,
and be consistent.”
LUNCH WITH CHRIS GARDNER,
Owner and CEO of Christopher Gardner International Holdings
Chris Gardner delivered a compelling and highly motivational speech
to a sold-out audience at the Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax on
Thursday, June 19.
He told the crowd that the movie,
The Pursuit of Happyness, was a
fairly accurate representation of
his life, except that his son was 14
months old when they used to sleep
anywhere they could, even in bus
stations. Gardner talked about how
he went broke and had no support
while pursuing his dream of becoming
a successful stockbroker – a dream
he had been nurturing since he met a
successful man driving a Ferrari, who
identified himself as a stockbroker
when asked about what he was doing
for a living.
A group of youths enjoying the lunchion
with Chris Gardner
Gordon Doe, BBI with Chris Gardner
Harriet Michel greeting Chris Gardner
Gardner stressed the importance of
being focused and persistent and he
emphasized that education is important
but, as one of his mentors told him,
it’s not people with MBAs who build
great companies, it’s the PSDs “That’s
poor, smart and with a deep desire to
be wealthy.” Gardner also joked about
owning just two suits while working for
Dean Witter Reynolds, one grey and
one black. “People would say, Chris
Gardner is re-enacting the Civil
War.” he told a laughing crowd.
During his tenure at Dean
Witter, he recounted how
he grabbed the attention of
a gentleman who used to
come regularly to pick up
his girlfriend. That man, who
happened to be a senior
officer at Bear Stearns
(one of the top firms in Wall
Street at that time), was
impressed by Gardner’s
strong work ethic. Gadrner
said, “He whispered to
me ‘You don’t belong
here. Why don’t come and
work for me?’ ” A couple
of weeks later, Gardner
left Dean Witter to work for
Bear Stearns, where he
became a top earner.
When asked by an attendee about some
temptation to forgo his relation with God
because of all of the hardship he had to
endure with his son, Gardner responded
swiftly by saying he, at times, had lost
faith in himself but never with God.
During his career at Bear Stearns,
Gardner also had to deal with what is
common for most African-Americans
– racism – although he prefers to call
it “placism”. He believes that if you
do not have anything to give in return
to society, such as education, money,
influence, no one will want to do
business with you and therefore that
issue is colourless.
Finally, Gardner stressed that his
biggest accomplishment was not
the fortune he made himself, but the
fact that he was always there for his
children.
LUNCH WITH EPHREN TAYLOR,
“Creating and Sustaining Business Success”
On Friday, June 20, delegates were
able to enjoy Lunch with Ephren Taylor,
the youngest African American CEO
of a publicly traded company ever –
City Capital Corporation. Described
as “walking history” by a popular
radio show host, Taylor started his
first business venture at age 12, when
he began making video games. By
age 17, he built a multi-million dollar
technology company; GoFerretGo.Com.
Sylvia, Vivian, Denise and
Angela enjoy a day at the Summit
Dwight Dorey of EnCana presents
thank you gift to Ephren Taylor
Ephren Taylor’s address on the
subject “Creating and Sustaining
Business Excellence” was a powerful
and inspirational presentation that
resonated with everyone in the
audience. It was a balance between his
personal/family life and his corporate
experiences, with many humorous
touches.
Taylor shared with the crowd his very
humble childhood experience during
which his parents could not afford
much for him and his two brothers.
Even as a little boy, he remembers
being very curious, believing he could
do anything. His interest in creating
video games was sparked after he
and his brothers finally succeeded
in getting their parents to buy them
a video game. He was hooked and
wanted more so his mother told him
to “create your own games”. He took
on the challenge, and that was the
beginning of his entrepreneurial career
at the tender age of 12.
Success for Taylor came after
numerous setbacks and challenges. He
had to learn how to program computer
codes for his games by teaching
himself from books he borrowed from
the library and those his parents bought
him. This meant he sacrificed lots of fun
childhood activities in order to study.
Another learning
experience was
when he realized
that a website he
had designed
for a few
thousand
dollars
was
retailed
by his
customer
for
hundreds of thousands. He quickly
realized that the world of business was
tough, and that to be successful one
had to not only be skillful at their trade
but be persistent.
Taylor challenged the audience and
entrepreneurs in particular, to dream
big. He said it was better to own the
pond that contains the fish than to be
skillful only at fishing. In addition to
skill, Taylor emphasized the need and
importance of mentors.
Taylor is a big believer in the
acquisition of experience. To that end,
he completed a specialized curriculum
for high school-age, aspiring
entrepreneurs at Cheney University,
America’s oldest, historically black
college and university. The Ephren
Taylor Entrepreneur Academy opened
in July 2007.
Taylor participated in all the Summit
events with the exception of golf. He
expressed great interest in exploring
further business opportunities with the
BBI.
Youth Summit
The Youth Summit 2008 had yet
another successful and exciting year.
Business is Jammin’ sponsored 12
Black youth from across the province
to attend the Black Business Summit
2008.
They attended the opening
ceremonies on Wednesday
evening, followed by a
pizza party and basketball.
Thursday morning,
they were inspired by
presentations on two
important aspects of
business. The first, on Sustaining
Business Excellence, was delivered
by Dan MacDonald, Harriet R. Michel
and Joyce Ross. Dr. Harvey Millar
and Sharon McNamara delivered the
second workshop, Creating the Right
Foundation.
Lunch with Chris Gardener, also on
Thursday, gave the youth a good look
at how, no matter what obstacles may
come your way, you can overcome
and conquer them. Mr. Gardner was
able to make a connection with all the
youth in attendance.
To end the day, the group visited the
tradeshow booths, where they were
able to interact and gather valuable
information from a variety of different
businesses. Finally, on Thursday
evening there was a trip to the mall
and another basketball game.
On Friday, additional workshops
were delivered. My Take on Business
Excellence was the first, for which
Marven Nelligan, Jessica Bowden
and Garnet Wright were the featured
speakers. The group was then split
up and some attended the second
workshop, Moving it Forward…
Maintaining Momentum with featured
speakers Dr. Abdullah Kirumira,
Cynthia Dorrington and Mike Wyse.
The rest went to a workshop where
Ed Matwawana spoke about Critical
Thinking and Thinking Outside of the
Box.
The action didn’t stop there. During
lunch on Friday, Ephren Taylor
delivered a very motivational speech
on Creating and Sustaining Business
Success Taylor’s high energy and
inspiring speech encouraged the youth
to pursue and stick with their dreams.
Wrapping up the Summit was the
ever popular Biz Show, where there
was plenty of interaction between the
audience and the host Robert Upshaw.
The AGM Gala Dinner and Dance kept
the youth on the move, where they
danced all night to music played by
Tony Smith’s Soul Finesse and DJ Mo
Bounce -Ivan Skeete.
Overall, the youth found the Black
Business Summit 2008 to be a very
informative, motivational and enjoyable.
The participants send out a big thank
you to the board and staff of BBI and
BIJ.
BIZ SHOW
Robert Upshaw and Vivian Thomas were back as Biz Show hosts to wrap up the
Summit as only they can do. The show began with a recap of the workshops,
keynote speakers, and boat cruise.
This year’s show featured a game show called “What’s the Deal”. The purpose was
to have people perform a series of tasks in order to receive a prize.
In addition to the game-show fun, CEO Rustum Southwell shared his thoughts on
this year’s Summit; and BBI Chair and Conference Chair Cassandra Dorrington
explained what business excellence meant to her.
Keynote Speaker Ephren Taylor, along with other out-of-province participants,
commented on the unrivaled hospitality of Nova Scotians.
AGM GALA DINNER & DANCE
It’s never easy to leave an event that
is full of so much encouragement and
inspiration, but this years closing was
full of praise for those who are in the
trenches of business in Nova Scotia.
Hon. Barry Barnet,
Min. of African Nova Scotian Affairs
Dr. Abdullah Kirumira receives
the Hector Jacques Award from
Cassandra Dorrington
Pauline Patten receives The
BBI Entrepreneur of the Year
Award from Ephren Taylor
Rustum Southwell Chief Executive
Officer of the Black Business Initiative
thanked all those who have played a
key role in helping the organization
achieve its goals over the years, from
dedicated board members to tireless
working staff who have remained
on point and helped grow the BBI
into a multi-faceted resource for
entrepreneurs.
It was not all business. Cassandra
Dorrington led the crowd into a factbased game of knowledge about the
history of the BBI and those who
have played roles in the progress
over the years. With a wonderful slide
presentation and a wireless remote
type gadget to vote with, the night was
anything but boring.
The Hector Jacques Award for
Business Excellence was given to Dr.
Abdullah Kirumira of the Windsor based
company BioMedica Diagnostics Inc.
He was recognized for his outstanding
research and for developing several
diagnostic tests including a rapid-acting
HIV test. Dr. Kirumira’s acceptance
speech was very eloquent. He thanked
Nova Scotia and the Black Business
Initiative for supporting him.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award
was given to Pauline Patten, owner
of Pauline’s Beauty Care in Halifax.
Patten has been in the beauty industry
for more then 25 years. Her motto is
advancement and education and she’s
a testament to these tenets. Patten is a
mentor for those who work in her salon
and recently she launched her own
line of hair care products. In addition,
her own personal continued education
included pursuing a Doctorate of the
Arts in Beauty.
After a great dinner, the night ended
with the music of Tony Smith.
The next year begins with much hope
and enthusiasm.
(l to r) Senator Donald Oliver
with Ephren Taylor
Black to Business
21
Summer 2008
The Real Chris Gardner
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Peter Marsman
His journey from homelessness to Wall Street made the big screen. But this
CEO says his greatest accomplishment is being the dad he never had himself.
CHRIS GARDNER made it big
on Wall Street but says his greatest
accomplishment was being a stayat-home parent, even when he was
homeless.
“This is the story of every father
who ever had to be a mother, every
mother who ever had to be a father
and everybody who ever had a
dream and would not quit,” said the
successful stockbroker and bestselling author of the autobiography The
Pursuit of Happyness, which became
a smash 2006 film starring Will
Smith.
Mr. Gardner, who was repeating
comments made to him about his
life story by the poet Maya Angelou,
was the keynote speaker Thursday
(June 19, 2008) at the Black Business
Initiative’s 2008 Black Business
Summit luncheon at Casino Nova
Scotia in Halifax.
Gardner, who worked for very little
pay while training to be a broker,
often couldn’t afford to pay for a
roof over their heads.
“I was one of those little boys who
grew up without a father,” he said.
“I promised myself at five years old:
‘When I grow up, become a man
and have children, my children are
going to know who their father is.’ “
Mr. Gardner was born in Milwaukee
in 1954. According to his website,
his childhood was marked by poverty, domestic violence, alcoholism,
sexual abuse and family illiteracy.
Inspired by his mother, he joined
the navy after high school and later
worked in San Francisco as a medical research associate and for a medical supply distributor.
The tall, goateed businessman
entertained and moved a full
house, including Premier Rodney
MacDonald, with the story of his
struggle to make it in the highly
competitive world of finance while
raising his young son by himself.
In 1981, as a new father, he decided
to pursue a career in finance, despite
having no related education or
experience, and applied for training
programs at different brokerages. He
eventually earned a spot in the Dean
Witter Reynolds training program,
but the effort cost him his marriage
and led to periods of homelessness
when he couldn’t make ends meet.
That struggle included nights when
they were forced to sleep in train
stations and shelters because Mr.
Mr. Gardner subsequently became
a top earner at Bear Stearns & Co.
Today, he is the owner and CEO of
Christopher Gardner International
Holdings, a brokerage firm with
offices in New York, Chicago and
San Francisco that makes debt,
equity and derivative products
transactions for some of the largest
institutions, public pension plans
and unions in the United States. The
company also operates internationally.
The Pursuit of Happyness became
a New York Times and Washington
Post bestseller and the film, which
received Academy Award, Golden
Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations, has grossed more than $300
million worldwide.
But despite the many accolades and
awards he has received for his story
and for his extensive community
work, Mr. Gardner, who also has a
daughter, said his most significant
achievement was always being there
for his children.
“The most important thing I’ve ever
done in my life is to have broken the
cycle of men who were not there for
their children,” he said to thunderous applause.
Copyright © 2008 The Halifax
Herald Limited
Reprinted with permission from The
Halifax Herald Limited
Black to Business
Summer 2008
22
Ask the BBI
L
Featured Expert:
Greg Nazaire,
Regional Business
Development Manager
QUESTION
How can I find out about
businesses that interest
me?
First of all, congratulations!
If you are asking this question,
chances are you’re seriously thinking
about starting your own business or
expanding an existing one or, at least,
that you are nurturing this idea.
You should know that several tools
are available for assisting you in your
endeavour. A tremendous amount of
information can be gathered on the
Web or from some government agencies or not-for-profit organizations.
It is a process that requires a great
deal of preparation and your objective (what you are looking for) and
timelines must be clearly defined.
Whether you want to start a business or to expand one, the first place
to visit, I would suggest, is Canada
Business where there is a large variety
of free and comprehensive information on starting a business, taxes,
trade regulations, writing a business
plan, understanding government
contracts, different statistics, and so
on. If you feel a little overwhelmed
at the beginning and not certain
about where to start, you can rest
assured that specific information is
provided about starting a business in
Nova Scotia, whether it is about the
kind of business you can develop, the
business structure that would work
for you, the getting ready for the dayto-day business, the business plan,
or any business question you might
have. You can also reach one of their
knowledgeable Business Information
Officers and access an extensive collection of business-related directories and
electronic databases on-site. Or, if you
prefer you can still get a significant
amount of information by visiting
their website, where you can also find
some contacts and useful links. If you
live in the Halifax metro area, you’ll
find the Canada Business building to
be very conveniently situated since
it is co-located with several branches
of other public or publicly funded
organizations, such as the Black
Business Initiative, the Entrepreneurs
with Disability Network, Student
Connections, NSARDA (Nova Scotia
Association of Regional Development
Authorities) and the Canadian
Intellectual Property Office. Canada
Business has resource centres located
throughout the province as well.
The Canadian Bankers Association
also developed an information booklet
that might assist you in the planning
process. Government agencies like
Statistics Canada or Industry Canada
are worth mentioning, if you need to
have some more detailed or technical information about the industry
for that particular item or service you
intend to provide.
Also, do not underestimate the value
of informal sources of knowledge such
as networking and social gatherings
with other entrepreneurs, who can
give you some tips or provide some
guidelines.
During the research process one particular question will often appear to
be a very critical one: where am I
going to get the money? The good
news is that not only can you tap
some government agencies for valuable information about your financing options – such as the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency
(ACOA), the Business Development
Bank of Canada (BDC), Nova Scotia
Business Inc. or the SME Financing
Data Initiative – you can also dig into
the private sector resources, such as
chartered banks and other financial
institutions like venture capital firms.
As you may realize during this
research process, translating an idea
into a business will involve hard work
and discipline. While several options
are available, do not hesitate to contact us should you require any assistance. It will be a pleasure to help
you.
Good luck.
Some useful links:
Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency:
www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Business Development
Bank of Canada:
www.bdc.ca
Canadian Bankers Association:
www.cba.ca
Canada Business:
www.canadabusiness.ca/
Halifax Public Libraries
- Small Business Startup Service:
www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/
Industry Canada:
www.ic.gc.ca
Statistics Canada:
www.statcan.ca
Women in Business Initiative:
www.msvu.ca/cwb/index.asp
Black to Business
23
Summer 2008
Up Home
Shauntay Grant & Susan Tooke
S
hauntay Grant didn’t
have to go looking for
inspiration for her new
children’s book, Up Home. The
poem is part of her very soul.
Shauntay Grant at the book launch
People, places and events from
Grant’s childhood are lovingly
remembered in Up Home, a lyrical
and moving ode to the place closet
to Grant’s heart: North Preston.
Up Home is presented as a stream of
consciousness as Grant looks back
into her past and remembers the
simple pleasures of growing up and
being surrounded by her family’s
support and love.
house ... Again, more food, lots of
singing and storytelling around the
kitchen table.’’
Grant, a spoken word performer,
presented the poem at the Writers’
Federation annual gala where it
caught the attention of Nimbus’
then-publisher Sandra McIntyre.
“She later approached me, asking if I would like to turn it into
a children’s book.’’
Up Home is one woman’s remembrance of a childhood filled with
family, friends, celebrations and
every day events. It has a gentle flow
that floats like wispy clouds across a
summer sky:
“I remember
long hot days of summer
layin’ on grass
suckin’ on freezies
playin’ with cousins
friends
and soakin’ up sun’’
“A typical Sunday, for example,
would mean going to church, then
going to my grandparents’ house for
food, then visiting more relatives ...
and then by about 6 or 7 p.m. we’d
end up at my great-aunt and uncle’s
where she still loves, but spent a lot
of time in North Preston as a child
and was influenced by the community and by her family.
“My family has given me lots of
love,’’ says Grant. “This love comes
through the songs and stories, and I
am so grateful for that.’’
Grant says she became convinced
Susan Tooke was the perfect artist to
illustrate the book from the moment
she visited her Halifax studio. “Her
work is so special,’’ says Grant. “And
her vision for this book is wonderful. The way she has the community
laid out like a quilt on the cover,
with all the bright and vibrant colors jumping out, just beautiful.’’
Grant helped Tooke find the right
models for the book, including
Grant’s five-year-old cousin, Adina
Fraser.
“My grandmother is a poet, storyteller, songwriter, a (former) choir
director,’’ said Grant during a recent
email exchange. “When I was
young she’d make up songs for me
and tell me stories... my whole family did that really.’’
It was the memories of those good
times that Grant, 28, turned into a
poem several years ago. “It wouldn’t
be a regular visit up home if there
wasn’t family, food, stories, and
music,’’ says Grant.
Deborah Wiles
The poem touches on traditions,
such as Sunday church services and
picking blueberries, that form the
very fabric of a child’s sense of self.
Those memories have made Grant
the women she is today.
A writer and radio host, Grant is also
working on a play and a commission for Diaspora Dialogues. Email is
the best way to catch up to this ball
of energy. Grant grew up in Halifax,
“When I asked (her) if she would
like to be in the book, she looked at
me ... puzzled ... stretched her arms
wide and said ‘But I’m too big to be
in a book!’ She did a great job modeling for the book though, once she
realized what was really being asked
of her.’’
The book truly was a community
effort, with the women spending
countless hours in North Preston
with the choir, school kids, family.
That investment of time and emotion meant that the launch had to
be extra-special. And it was.
continued on page 29>
Black to Business
Summer 2008
24
BBI Statistics 2007-08
Loan Distribution by Sector 1996-2008 (as of
Industry
Number of
Businesses
Approved
Number of
% Loans
Loans Approved Approved
March 31, 2008)
Percentage
of Businesses
Approved
Percentage
of Businesses
Operating
Automotive
10
5%
6
4%
50%
Barbershop/Hair Salon
14
7%
9
6%
56%
Construction/Contracting
21
10%
19
12%
74%
Convenience Store
6
3%
5
3%
20%
Courier
3
2%
3
2%
33%
Entertainment
11
5%
9
6%
44%
Environmental/Recycling
12
6%
7
5%
72%
Event Planning
1
1%
1
1%
100%
Exports
5
2%
3
2%
0%
Fashion Consultant
2
1%
1
1%
100%
Film/Photography
5
2%
3
2%
100%
Fitness Sports/Dance
7
3%
4
3%
75%
Manufacturing
6
3%
5
3%
40%
15
7%
13
8%
62%
1
1%
1
1%
100%
Restaurant/Food
25
12%
18
12%
28%
Retail/Bookstore
2
1%
1
1%
0%
14
7%
11
7%
18%
Tailoring
8
4%
3
2%
33%
Tourism
3
2%
3
2%
66%
Transportation
7
3%
7
5%
71%
Wholesale
8
4%
5
3%
20%
22
11%
19
12%
79%
208
100%
156
100%
54%
Professional Services
Publishing
Retail/Clothing
Other
Total/Average
Black to Business
25
Summer 2008
People & Businesses on the Move
The Black Business Initiative’s Board
Chair Cassandra Dorrington, her
sister Cynthia Dorrington, and
Bedford teacher Foster Lyne were
profiled in the July issue of Progress
Magazine under the title “20 People
We Love”. The Dorringtons were
saluted for their work as role models
in the province and their contributions
to the numerous boards on which
they serve while Lyne was lauded for
passing his love of math on to Nova
Scotian students.
George Elliot Clarke’s name was
included in the list of Order of Canada
honourees released by the Governor
General’s office on Canada Day.
Clarke is now an Officer of the Order,
its second highest rank.
This year marked the 25th anniversary
of the Africville Reunion. This year’s
celebration was held from July 18-27
and included a number of special
activities including a performance
of the “Africville Suite” by Joe Sealy.
One of the highlights was the visit of
African royalty from Ghana. Barima
Kwame Nkyi XII, an Omanhene or
paramount chief -- the highest level
traditional chief -- from the West
African country’s Assin Apimanim
region visited Nova Scotia. He was
accompanied by a delegation that
included his tribe’s queen mother and
a prince, who acted as his translator.
During his visit, he attended the
Africville Reunion, was interviewed
by local media, and attended the
gala banquet that was one of the
culminating events for the Reunion, on
Friday, July 25.
The Freedom Schooner Amistad made
a return trip to Nova Scotia beginning on
July 24. During its stay in the province,
the schooner was docked on the Halifax
waterfront before heading to Shelburne
to participate in the 225th anniversary of
the landing of the Loyalists.
Donna Johnson received an Exceptional
Service Award from the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police for her work with the
Canadian Police Information Centre and
as a community leader in Preston. One
of her achievements is the development
of a majorette and drum line in the
community, in memory of her son,
Troyaka Johnson who passed away in
2006.
Congratulations to Eleanor Beaton, the
Nova Scotia correspondent for Atlantic
Business Magazine, on winning an
Atlantic Journalism Award. Her profile of
Mickey MacDonald took home the gold
at the AJA’s annual awards banquet, held
in Halifax in early May.
Two significant events in the province’s
history were marked in July. One was the
250th anniversary of the second siege of
Louisbourg and the second was the 225th
anniversary of the arrival of the Loyalists.
The Black Loyalist Heritage Society
organized several events in June and
July to commemorate the anniversary,
concluding with the departure of the
Freedom Schooner Amistad on August
11.
Merlita Williams and the Hallelujah
Praise Choir were among the stars at
the Jazz Festival held in Charlottetown in
early July.
Parks Canada historian David States
spoke about the approximately 4200
freed and enslaved Blacks who were part
of the contingent of Loyalists arriving in
this province in 1783 as part of Digby’s
Gathering of Loyalists.
A performance by Nova Scotia’s DRUM
ensemble was one of the highlights of
the official Canada Day celebration on
the grounds of Parliament Hill. The
celebration, which included remarks
from Her Excellency, Michaelle Jean
and the Right Honourable Stephen
Harper, was broadcast nationwide.
A few steps away from the site of
Charlottetown’s Jazz Festival, Nova
Scotian born Derek Weins has been
taking to the stage in “Anne of Green
Gables” in the role of ‘Cecil’, the
farmer, and is also performing in
the Charlottetown Festival’s second
production, “America Strikes Back!”
The story of the Vaughan Furriers 1962
baseball team has been told in the new
book, “The Boys of ’62 – Transcending
the Racial Divide” by Francis G.
Mitchell. CTV’s News at Six presented a
profile of the team and the story behind
the book in a documentary piece on July
21. It was also the subject of a You Tube
video (www.youtube.com/user/blaknbru)
An interpretive panel about Rose
Fortune, located adjacent to Fort Anne
in Annapolis Royal was unveiled at the
Petit Park. It is one of a series of eight
panels that make up the Mathieu
da Costa Trail, commemorating
African Nova Scotians along Highway
#1. The Valley African Nova Scotian
Black to Business
Development Association, Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency,
the Black Business Initiative, the
Municipality of Kings, the Town
of Annapolis Royal and the Office
of African Nova Scotian Affairs
contributed to the project.
The Black Artists Network and the Art
Gallery of Nova Scotia offered a six-day
Africentric workshop for young artists
in early August at the new Dartmouth
Nova Scotia Community College
campus.
Walter Borden received an honourary
doctor of letters degree during this year’s
convocation at Acadia University.
Troy Adams played the title role in
Shakespeare by the Sea’s ‘Othello’ this
summer, This is the first time ‘Othello’
has been mounted by the company
and this year also marks Adams’ return
to its stage since the 1990s.
Kyle MacNeil, of Lockview High
School received a $500 award for his
profile of the late Dr. Lorne White.
His work, along with the work of 14
other Nova Scotians was included in
the Times of African Nova Scotians,
a publication which is distributed to
schools across the province. Other
stories in the publication highlighted
the achievements of a number of Nova
Scotians including Gloria Ann Wesley,
the late Dr. Ruth Johnson, Maxine
Tynes, Michael Duck, Yvonne Atwell,
and the late Deacon Aubrey T. Whiley.
Her Honour Mayann Francis hosted
her annual garden party at Royal
Artillery Park in Halifax on June 18.
The Black Cultural Centre is
celebrating its 25th anniversary this
year. Dr. Sylvia Hamilton was the
guest speaker at the gala dinner, held at
the Ramada in Dartmouth on June 14.
Summer 2008
26
Congratulations to Justine Colley, who
was one of three Nova Scotians selected
to try for a spot on the Canadian
Under-18 Basketball team. Colley,
from East Preston and Abbey Duinker,
from Cambridge Station, are part of a
12-member squad that competed in
Buenos Aires from July 23-27. During the
July 26 game, Colley scored seven points
to help Canada defeat Puerto Rico 78-65.
The annual commemorative ceremony
honouring the # 2 Construction
Battalion C.E.F. (1916-1920) took place
on Saturday, July 5 in Pictou at the
DeCoste Centre. RSM Kevin Junor, who
was just back from a military tour in
Africa, was this year’s keynote speaker.
The featured guest entertainment was
the Toronto Youth Choir (TC3) led by
Rev. Denise Gilgard. The choir was on
a tour of the province that also included
a concert in Halifax’s St. Andrew’s United
Church.
The annual Kamp Kujichagulia was
held from July 6 - 11, 2008 at Acadia
University. The camp features a wide
range of activities from drumming to
spoken word to basketball to math
Olympics for learners aged 14-18.
A Stepping Stone to a Brighter Future
Bursary is a new bursary to be awarded
annually to two African Nova Scotian
students graduating from Nova Scotia
high schools. This year is the first year for
these bursaries to be awarded and the
winners are Kyla Rose Marie Davidson
(Avon View High School) and Janice
Lorraine Borden (Akerley Academic
High School). Kyla is enrolled in the
Early Childhood Education program
at the Kingstec Campus while Janice is
enrolled in the Information Technology
program at the Institute of Technology
Campus. This bursary covers the total
cost of tuition for two students enrolled in
a two-year full-time program at a Nova
Scotia Community College.
Lawrence Hill, the author of the “Book
of Negroes”, and the writer-in-residence
recently at the University of Prince Edward
Island, had an audience with Her Majesty
the Queen in July, part of the prize
package for winning the Commonwealth
Writer’s Prize for his book. A report of
his audience was printed in the ‘Court
Circular’ column of The Times of London.
Pauline Patten, who was one of 13
women from across Canada to star in
Dove’s original play, “Body & Soul”,
is featured in the September issue of
Canadian Living magazine.
Dr. Calvin Mackie was the guest speaker
at the opening of this year’s Africentric
Leadership and Management Institute,
which took place in July in North Preston.
New Glasgow’s Joe Borden has developed
a fitness program for youth called Jo
Bo, which he is delivering to youth in
Summerside P.E.I. The program is offered
free to youth during the summer months,
from March to September in the field at
Summerside’s Athena School.
In Memoriam
On July 25, one of the most respected
leaders of the Black community,
Dr. Pearlean Oliver, passed away.
Dr. Oliver was a religious leader, author,
and civil rights crusader who led the fight
to allow Black women into education al
programs throughout the province. The
sympathy of the Black Business Initiative
is extended to the Oliver family.
The sympathy of the Black Business
Initiative is extended to the family of
Robert ‘Bob’ Robinson, of Digby, who
passed away on May 4.
World War II veteran and former city
councilor, Arnold Johnson Sr. passed
away on August 14th. He was 83. Our
sympathies go out to his family and
friends.
Black to Business
Summer 2008
27
Black Business Initiative
2008 Training Schedule for Metro
Courses:
Day
Microsoft PowerPoint I, II
Computer Basics I, II, III
Workshops:
Date
Time
Tuesday
Nov 18, 25 6-9pm
Tuesday
Dec 2, 9,
16
Day
Date
6-9pm
Time
Market Yourself: aspiring
musicians, artists
Wednesday
Oct 15
6-9pm
Advanced Searching & Internet
Tools
Wednesday
Oct 29
6-9pm
Personal Financial Management
Wednesday
Nov 12
6-9pm
Email & Instant Messaging
Wednesday
Nov 26
6-9pm
Franchising
Wednesday
Dec 03
6-9pm
Understanding Outlook
Wednesday
Dec 10
6-9pm
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 summer season is winding down and
as the youth return to school have you
thought about what you want to do? Is
entrepreneurship on your list?
I encourage all potential entrepreneurs to
make BBI the first stop on your business
venture. For those of you in the region,
please check the RBDM Travel Schedule
in this issue to find out the next time
I’m in your area and call and set up an
appointment today!
The last quarter has been spent catching up
with new and familiar clients and hosting
the BBI Summit. However, I’ve managed
to fit in a regional visit to Sydney to
conduct interviews for the BIJ Summer
Coordinator position. I am happy to report
that Robyn Martelly was the successful
candidate. Robyn held various information
sessions in the community on the Business
is Jammin’ program and she also organized
entrepreneurship camps for youth in the
Sydney and Glace Bay areas.
Community events were widespread over
the summer. Guysborough hosted their
annual Come Home Week, July 18 to 27
and the annual Action Week Celebration
took place in Sydney from August 4 to 13
with various cultural events in Whitney Pier.
Congratulations to the Glace Bay U.N.I.A.
Cultural Museum/Hall on the opening of
the Marcus Garvey Library during Marcus
Garvey Days held August 14 to 17.
If you have suggestions on how best
to serve your region, please contact
me at (902) 426-8685
or 1-800-668-1010 or by email at
[email protected].
Black to Business
Summer 2008
28
Ruff Endz Clothing
Paul Adams
Tyson Tolliver & Rainie Williams
Tyson Tolliver & Rainie Williams, Ruff Endz Clothing
G
rowing up together in
East Preston, cousins
Tyson Tolliver and Rainie
Williams always shared a taste
for fine clothing and a dream
of going into business together.
So when a mutual friend, who
worked with a distributor, gave
them an opportunity to start
selling clothes, they jumped on it
right away.
“We just started out of the trunk of
a car, gaining business by word of
mouth,” says Tolliver. “Word started
spreading because we had a good product. We know what it’s like trying to
find good clothes around here, and for
a good price.”
“Good clothes for a good price” is
something akin to a slogan for the
29-year-old cousins; it comes up frequently as they talk about Ruff Endz
Clothing. They carry popular high-end
lines such as Roca Wear, Sean John
and Akademiks, as well as up-andcoming brands like GodBody and
Kanji. But they also aim to sell at a
price people can afford.
“We’ve had an opportunity to make
some really good connections in the
industry to get something in from the
Chad Lucas
States or overseas, something
that usually
takes a year or
even two years
before it gets
into this area,”
Tolliver says.
“It’s exciting, but
it’s even more
exciting to see
people walking
away happy,
thinking ‘I got
a good product
for a good price.’
It makes us feel
good to make
other people feel
good.”
Ruff Endz got its first big exposure on
Canada Day 2004, when the cousins
set up a table at the celebrations at
the East Preston Recreation Centre. A
few months later, they clothed some
of the models involved in a bachelor auction on Breakfast Television
to raise money for Big Brothers/Big
Sisters.
“We were able to make a lot of connections and put our names out there
more,” Tolliver says.
from experience that marketing on
the web is not as simple as it may
first appear.
“When we first had a site, we
thought, we’ll just put a site up and
everybody will find it,” Williams says.
“But it’s not like that. We’ve done a
lot of research, stayed up a lot of late
nights trying to figure out how to get
our name out there. It’s been a good
journey.”
The cousins plan to make the website
their main storefront, and Tolliver
compares it to a physical location
– “You wouldn’t want to shop at a
place where half the windows are
boarded up, would you?” he says.
“We’re taking the approach that we’re
going to take our time and cover as
many bases as we possibly can.”
Williams and Tolliver hope to have
their new website operational by
the fall. The cousins admit it hasn’t
always been smooth sailing, but they
have a second motto: “Never give up.”
“We’ve learned that we’ve got to
believe in ourselves and everything
else will just fall in,” Tolliver says.
“Our dreams don’t die until we do.”
But they’ve also learned that doing
something well takes time. They’ve
deliberately grown their company
slowly, being sure to learn as much
as possible along the way. Both hold
separate jobs and Williams also goes
to school, and they often hold their
“business meetings” in the gym while
they work out.
Williams says they’ve been taking
every BBI business course they can
find, from bookkeeping and intellectual properties to marketing and
web design. “We take advantage of
whatever we can,” he says. “Whatever
resources are around us, we try to
jump on them.”
They’re taking the same slow-andsteady approach with their next big
move – launching a website, www.
ruffendzclothing.com. They’ve learned
Tyson Tolliver &
Rainie Williams
461-9515/452-6695
Black to Business
Recognizing the Rocks,
the Foundation of the BBI
Starr Francis, our first Executive
Assistant, left for a position with the
federal Department of Justice. She
was an invaluable team member
and made my job a whole lot easier.
During 2007 Starr Francis and
Shawn Smith – a former Regional
Business Development Manager
(RBDM) – helped us move closer
to our vision. We thank these two
young people for their support as we
realize a bright future awaits them.
It was timely to welcome Cheyanne
Gorman-Tolliver back from maternity leave. Her new role is Regional
Business Development Manager
and I believe she will thrive in this
position. Roselyne Orengo is also
welcomed as the new Executive
Assistant.
Up Home
continued from page 23
S.I. Rustum Southwell
Whether it is the trio of impressive and professional ladies – Idy
Fashoranti, Tracey Thomas and
Funmi Joseph or, as they were affectionately called, the “BBI’s Angels”
– or the more recent team of Starr
Francis, Gordon Doe and Cheyanne
Gorman-Tolliver, all BBI staff continue to keep up a hectic pace as we
advance our strategy and realize our
goals.
Over the years, we have managed
to bring many good people on the
Black Business Initiative (BBI) bus
and most, I can say, are motivated
first and always by the greatness of
our work. What we hope BBI does
for our staff is bring them closer to
their own personal greatness.
Summer 2008
29
The BBI places particular importance
on the necessity to be seen. Despite
all the technological inventions
business is still done, face-to-face,
person-to-person and ultimately with
like-minded people. People like Evan
Williams (RBDM), Bernard Elwin
(Director of Client Development)
Dorothy Fletcher, Beverley Parker
(Administrative Staff) and Gregory
Adolphe-Nazaire (RBDM), realize the
utmost importance of networking.
And they deliver on that front in
very important ways.
“It was really emotional for me reading the poem at the launch,’’ said
Grant. “Especially because some of
the people I mention in the poem
(like my great-grandmother and
great-uncle) are no longer with us,
so I was thinking about them as I
was reading.
“So many things were running
through my mind. But mostly, I just
felt really thankful. Thankful to my
family and to the community for
giving me this story.’’
So thankful, in fact, that Grant
is donating her writers’ royalties
from Up Home to buy books for the
Nelson Whynder Elementary School
library.
Grant hopes that Up Home will give
children the inspiration they need to
become writers.
I believe and take pride in the fact
that our brilliant staff, volunteer
board, community stakeholders and
public and private sector partners
have a lot to do with that. And perhaps most importantly, we have a
staff that has gotten on the BBI bus
to help us achieve greatness.
At the AGM
gala this year,
the BBI recognized three staff
members. Idy
Fashoranti was
presented a special medal as the
first staff member to reach 10
years of service.
And Cheyanne
Gorman-Tolliver
(five years) and
Gordon Doe
(seven years)
received plaques for their five-year
terms.
“All I did here was write down my
childhood memories, and we all
have these stories really – that’s
what I told the youth at the book
launch,’’ says Grant. “I wanted them
to know that this is something they
could do in a heartbeat ... They’ve
already got the stories, it’s just a
matter of writing them down.’’
To purchase a copy of Ms. Grant’s
book visit http://www.nimbus.ns.ca/ .
Deborah Wiles is a Halifax freelance
writer. This story originally appeared in
The Chronicle Herald on June 15, 2008.
Black to Business
Summer 2008
30
Business and Community Events
Boxing Lessons
Cumberland African
Nova Scotian Association
Monday and Wednesday
6 p.m.
CANSA Office
24 Crescent St.,
Phone: 661-1509,
E-mail: [email protected]
African Heritage Month
25th Anniversary
Celebration
Call for Volunteers
2009 marks the 25th Anniversary
If you want to get involved,
call 425-1866
E-mail: [email protected]
Saint Mary’s University
African Canadian Bursary
For qualified African Canadian students
entering Saint Mary’s for the first time.
Open to high school and mature
African Canadian students.
Nomination Deadline: March 15, 2009
October 15
Small Business Week
Pancake Breakfast
Kick-off
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
7:30-9:30am
October 17
Networking for Success
Fairwinds Training and
Development
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
2:30-4:30pm
October 17
Commerce Connections
5-7pm
Jack Astor’s, Dartmouth Crossing
107 Shubie Drive, Dartmouth
October 18
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
2008 Business to
Business Expo
10am -5pm
World Trade Convention Centre,
1800 Argyle Street, Halifax, NS
Cost: Free
For info: Rachael McBay, 481-1234
E-mail: [email protected]
October 19-25
Small Business Week –
“ A World Without
Boundaries ”
For a listing of events across the
province: www.bdc.ca
October 19
Happy Hour
Small Business Week Finale
5-7pm
Halifax Club,
1682 Hollis Street
For info: www.halifax.chamber.com
October 30
11th Annual Nova Scotia
Nature Trust Dinner
World Trade and Convention Centre
Speaker: Stephen Lewis
Silent Auction
4:30 – 10:00pm
Tickets: $125 regular; $175 patron
For info: Zsofi Koller, 425-5263
December 4, 2008
Black Business Initiative’s
Directory Launch and
Christmas Social
Waterfront Warehouse
Lwr Water St. Halifax
For info: 426-2224
November 13
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
Floors Plus Bayers Lake
The staff and management at Floors
Plus, Bayers Lake are looking forward
to meeting you at the upcoming
Chamber’s connection event on
November 13. Come and join us for
an exciting and informative evening
in our wonderful new showroom.
We want you to experience first
hand the extensive selection in all
categories of floor covering along
with our innovative bathroom and
glass furniture lines. Area rugs,
designer sheet glass, granite counters
and much more.
Come and enjoy our hospitality and
refreshments and stay for some great
door prizes.
Roger Kent , Manager, Floors Plus
Please RSVP.
For more information please contact:
Tania Crouse,
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
call: 902-468-7111
E-mail: [email protected]
The BBI would like to thank all of our Sponsors,
Partners, Supporters, and Delegates who helped
to make the Black Business Summit 2008 such a
great success!
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