Issue 44 - Black Business Initiative

The Periodical of the Black Business Initiative
Tracey
Crawley
Crowning Glory
Hair Salon
Also in this Issue
• Constructing the Future
• Ask the BBI
•Local Artists
Fall 2009 u Number 44
“A dynamic and vibrant Black presence within
the Nova Scotia Business Community.”
Black to Business
1
Message from the Board of Directors
In this Issue
Cassandra Dorrington, Chair, Black Business Initiative
1
Message from the
Chief Executive Officer
2
COVER STORY
Crowning Glory
Hair Studio Plus
3
5
TRAILBLAZERS
Local Artists
7
Talbot Photography
Wayne Talbot
9
Maritime Centre for African Dance
Mufaro Chakabuda
11
Ask The BBI
glimmer of business resurgence. One
of the most telling signs is that Wall
Street is predicting the pay-out of
compensation in the financial industry
to be equivalent to, and perhaps even
greater than, the 2007 compensation
pay-out, which was considered to be
at an all-time high. These signs are all
positive indicators for the resurgence
and growth of the entrepreneurial
business environment.
Paul Adams
Message from the Board
Caribbean Twist
Lyndon Hibbert
Fall 2009
12
And the beat goes on...
I
t has been almost one
OUT & ABOUT WITH THE BBI
13
Constructing the Future
15
Rhonda Drummond 19
Business is Jammin’
20
that we were in the middle of
BBI Welcomes New Staff
22
a recession. This declaration
Building Business Skills and
Management Expertise – Training 23
year since the western
world openly declared
was followed by bailouts to
both the financial industry and
BBI 2009/10 Training Schedule
24
People & Business
on the Move
25
My Day with the Olympic Torch
27
PARTNER PROFILE
Encana
28
since the onset of the reces-
Business & Community Events
29
sion.
Regional Reports
Central
6
Business Development
10
Northern
19
Southern
22
24
Training Report
the automotive industry, not
to mention others. It is amazing how things have changed
We have seen the drop in housing
sales, the slump in both retail and
automobile sales, and business startups have taken a hit. Now one year
later, we are beginning to see the
The recessionary
period has proven
to be a time of
reflection and refocus
for Black Business
Initiative (BBI). From
a board perspective,
our mandate has
been to develop and
grow the capacity
for business startups across the Nova
Scotia landscape.
However, we have not been content
to simply say our job is complete.
continued on page 6>
within the Nova Scotia Business Community.
The Black Business Initiative
Centennial Building
Suite 1201,1660 Hollis Street,
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1V7
Phone: 902-426-2224 Fax: 902-426-8699
Toll Free: 1-888-664-9333
E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.bbi.ca
For Advertising Information, Rates, Submitting
Story Ideas, Notices or Community Events,
or for More Information,
call: 902-426-2224
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 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
Mailed under Canada Post Publications Mail
Sales Agreement no. 0040026687
The recessionary period has proven to
be a time of reflection and refocus for
Black Business Initiative (BBI). From
a board perspective, our mandate has
been to develop and grow the capacity
for business start-ups across the Nova
Scotia landscape. We are pleased
to say that over the recessionary
period the majority of our stable of
companies have weathered the storm.
Cover photo reprinted with permission of Tracey Crawley
Black to Business
2
Fall 2009
Message From the Chief Executive Officer
S. I. Rustum Southwell
Peter Marsman
new office location at 1660 Hollis
Street, Halifax. On that day, during
the open house attended by some
100 guests, while appreciating how
far we’ve come, we could not help
but realize we are not on this journey alone.
We are not alone
I
n the last issue of Black
to Business, we covered
the announcement of
our new five-year partnership agreement with Atlantic
We are not alone. It does sound a
bit like “Star Wars,” however, we
do realize that it is the people you
reach – colleagues, staff, board, clients, customers and partners – who
ultimately make this all worthwhile. Our public and private sector supporters are many and they
are sincere about their desire for
us to prosper. If you took a sample
of these philanthropic companies
and corporations who are business
partners that we have worked with
to implement our strategies and
deliver our services, you will notice
the variety from banking to energy,
transportation to marketing, etc.
Tourism and Culture.
RBC, Royal Bank of Canada is
one of our closest partners. They
provide direct services to all of our
clients and, apart from disbursing
the loans approved by our Board
of Directors to the Black business
owners, their staff participates by
sitting on our Board, and providing mentorship and guidance to
these business people. It is also not
widely known that it was senior
management of RBC who realized
that the “Business is Jammin’” (BIJ)
program is an important strategy
and encouraged us to become a registered charity. As a result, in 2006
the BIJ charity society was formed
and this year we are part of the
2010 winter Olympic Relay, thank
you RBC.
So it was the ultimate moment of
pride on Friday, October 16, 2009,
to have the Honourable Minister
Percy Paris and Peter Hogan,
Director General of ACOA, join
Joseph Parris, the Black Business
Initiative’s Vice Chair, to cut the ribbon at the official opening of BBI’s
There are other companies and
individuals – Global, Encana,
Michelin, Halifax Stanfield
International Airport (HSIA), Bell
Aliant, and O’Regans, to name a
few. However, it is the individuals
who take the time to provide their
support by participating at our
Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), our Federal
Government partner, and we
celebrated the appointment of
Percy Paris as the first African Nova Scotian Minister of
African Nova Scotian Affairs with additional ministerial portfolios of Economic
and Rural Development and
events and giving of their time and
advice who are priceless. Debbie
Windsor, Vice President of ACOA, is
someone who has certainly made
it easy for us to align our vision to
become a true participant in building a stronger economy for Atlantic
Canada. Pat Ryan, Chief Operating
Officer, Nova Scotia Business
Incorporated (NSBI), is another.
This native of Digby Neck brings a
dedication to inclusion and diversity in business seldom seen in the
Nova Scotia corporate sector. These
are two examples of a long list of
partners who are guardians to us
on our business journey and give us
comfort in knowing that we are not
alone.
Although we are seeing these champions rise up to work shoulder to
shoulder with the BBI to make
inroads into a vision of a significant
increase in Black business ownership
in Nova Scotia, there still remains
much work to be done. We are really
at the beginning and not the end.
The essential systems are now developed, tested and in place. The time
is right for corporate Nova Scotia
to engage in a strategy of inclusion that will identify partnerships
within the Black business sector to
create diversity in its supplier base,
while encouraging entrepreneurial
development and a strong growth
strategy for companies in the Black
community. Only stronger companies and a stronger workforce would
result from this direction.
The current global economic trends
are forcing us to become more efficient and productive in our business
actions. As a result, new alliances
and partnerships help to sustain
growth and entry into new markets.
For us this is transformational as we
continue to recruit and develop skills
in our community. Several of our
former staff team and board members have moved on to important
positions in the public and private
sectors, and we have continued to
continued on page 10 >
Black to Business
3
Fall 2009
Angela Johnson
Photos: Peter Marsman
I
n a nondescript strip mall of half a dozen stores, the one in the middle has been
Tracey Crawley’s dream for close to four decades.
Tracey Crawley’s Crowning Glory Hair Studio Plus opened its doors on November 25,
2008. Since then it has been a thriving business, featuring two full-time stylists and
one part-time barber with future plans to add two more stylists and an esthetician.
The master hairstylist will celebrate her one year anniversary as a business owner
in November 2009, but she has been working in this industry for more than two
decades. “I would get a doll’s head each Christmas and I would cornrow the dolls’
hair, starting when I was just four,” she remembers.
After graduating from Halifax’s
Transformation School of Hair
Design in 1989, Crawley worked in
several salons, spending the most
time at London Hair Design in
Halifax.
“The owner was looking for a diverse
hairstylist and I was looking for a
more permanent home,” remembers
Crawley. Fourteen years later she
decided it was time to strike out on
her own.
“I had been thinking about it for a
while,” she recalls. “It became too
chaotic there. I was the only one
doing ethnic hair and I’d hit a wall,
out grew the box. It was time.”
On her way to work at that salon,
Crawley drove by her current shop
several times. “Each time the ‘For
Lease’ sign called to me and I finally
thought, I have nothing to lose and
told myself to just dial that number.” Soon after securing the location, Crawley hired a lawyer and an
accountant, asked them “a million
questions,” signed the lease and was
on her way.
“There was so much to consider – permits, scheduling trades, complying
with the conditions of my lease. The
construction phase took the longest,”
she says.
However, the name of her shop came
relatively easy. A devout Christian,
while reading her Bible Crawley came
across a scripture that reads, “…a
women’s hair is her glory…”
“I had a vision of my shop long
before I started the process of having
one,” she explains. The shop’s subtitle and motto attests to that, it reads:
We are Hair to Serve You.
There is a concentrated direction
in the décor as well – cerulean blue
walls, turquoise shelving and touches
of warm dark brown. Customers are
treated to a relaxing reception area
with a comfortable couch and dark
brown club chairs. Upon arriving,
you are greeted with a smile, an offer
to take your coat and a hot or cold
beverage. Depending on who last
changed the CD player/radio, there
is gospel, rock, jazz music or the FM
radio playing.
Although she opened her doors
in November, Crawley hosted her
salon’s Grand Opening in January
2009. Clients, family, friends, suppliers, and former colleagues all
piled into the approximately 25 by
45 foot shop. All were treated to an
official introduction of staff, a live
jazz trio, door prizes, presentations,
and circulating hairstyle models
delivering hors d’oeuvres.
Twyla Downey is Crowning Glory’s
General Hair Stylist, one designation
up from Junior. She graduated from
the one-year cosmetology program
at the Academy of Cosmetology
in Dartmouth in 2008. One of
Crawley’s clients suggested she hire
Twyla but she was already working.
Two months later, the salon downsized and Twyla was out of a job. “I
called her [Tracey] and asked if she
was still looking and she said yes.
I thought I could learn a lot from
her.”
In one short year, the 20-year-old is
almost as busy as the salon manger
and owner. “I hope to be here for a
while and maybe even take over the
Black to Business
4
business when she retires,” smiles
Twyla.
Both women say their working
together was divine intervention.
“She’s a wonderful stylist, nice person, easy to work with, very professional. She comes to me with ideas
and listens to mine,” says Twyla.
Rounding out the team is the salon’s
barber, Nathan Anderson. He has
been cutting hair for 17 years, professionally for 11, and joined the
salon three months after it opened.
While looking for locations for his
own barbershop, Nathan bumped
into Crawley when she was renovating hers. “I knew Twyla and had
talked to Tracey. It was a family
atmosphere and I fit right in,” he
says.
Nathan wields his clippers on Friday
evenings
and
Saturdays.
He says he appreciates the way
Crawley has organized her store,
her attention to detail and the
way she communicates with staff.
“Customers come and go. You have
to be able to deal with each other on
a daily basis – all else will then fall
into place.”
“Team Glory” will celebrate their
one-year anniversary on November
27, 2009, with the launch of a website at another open house. “Our
theme is An Attitude of Gratitude.
It’s about the clients, because without them where would we be?”
In celebrating this milestone,
Crawley says she got through the
challenging first year with three Ps –
Prayer, Perseverance and Patience. “I
take it one day at time, always looking forward,’ she explains.
Fall 2009
ing birth. It’s my baby, that needs
nurturing and care, and because it’s
mine, I respect it more and want to
do more for it.”
135 Wyse Road,
Unit 5A, Dartmouth
Tracey Crawley,
Owner & Master
Hairstylist
902-406- 7676
“I think I have finally exhaled. I
can breathe easier,” she says with a
smile. “But, I still sleep with a notebook and pen by my bed so I can
write down my ideas, when they
come to me.”
She adds that the best part of all
the work is walking into her shop
and knowing it’s hers. “It’s like giv-
Twyla Downey, general hair stylist
Nathan Anderson, barber
Tracey Crawley, salon manager / owner
Black to Business
5
Fall 2009
Caribbean Twist
Spicing up Gottingen Street
Sunjay Mathuria
Paul Adams
“We get lots of locals coming in, people who have never tried Caribbeanstyle food before,” he says.
And Johnson says one of the highlights
of owning a restaurant is, in fact the
customers. “The best part is the customer’s reactions. We have comment
cards now – 98 percent of which are
excellent,” he says.
Despite these perks, Johnson and
Hibbert admit there are some challenges. “It’s long hours. You don’t always
know what you’re getting into when
you start,” says Hibbert.
Mark Johnson (l), with Sherri and Lyndon Hibbert (r) , Caribbean Twist
A
s you walk into Caribbean
Twist on Gottingen Street, you
are immediately hit with a
rich aroma of spices.
rant than what meets the taste buds.
Owners Lyndon Hibbert and Mark
Johnson also ensure quality customer
service.
“Black pepper, salt, roasted herb garlic,
cayenne pepper, onions, garlic, some
barbeque sauce and honey,” Mark
Johnson, chef and one of the owners of the restaurant, lists just a few
of the spices and seasonings used in
Jamaican cuisine.
With Hibbert behind advertising and
promoting, Johnson in charge of food
services, and Lyndon’s wife Sherri taking care of the finances, the restaurant
runs on a combination of a variety of
skills.
“You need all three elements to make
it successful. And you need the manpower to have all three,” says Hibbert.
Steam rises and meat sizzles in the
back as all these tantalizing flavours
come together. With your eyes closed
and Bob Marley softly playing in the
background, it is easy to forget that
you are still in Halifax.
Looking for their favourite dish, satisfying a certain craving, or perhaps
led into the restaurant by the smell of
ackee, customers filter in and out of
Caribbean Twist all day.
Specializing in Jamaican and
Caribbean cuisine, Caribbean Twist’s
website provides a disclaimer, warning
customers to prepare for a “celebration of taste buds jumping for joy in
response to explosions of flavour.”
But there is a lot more to the restau-
With the prodding of several satisfied
customers over the past nine years,
Hibbert and Johnson decided to make
their part-time catering business into a
full-time endeavour. “We had customers asking us where we were located
and why we didn’t have a place, so we
decided it was time to open one up,”
says Hibbert.
Since Hibbert and Johnson opened
Caribbean Twist this past May, they
are already beginning to see many
familiar faces coming back for more.
“We’re getting to know the customers
and what they order,” says Hibbert.
But they still meet new people each
day.
For new business owners, Johnson provides the following advice: “You have
to be able to deal with each other when
you’re tired or lack energy. There’s lots
of time put into the business, so be prepared for that.”
Still, Hibbert and Johnson are not stopping here. They have plans to possibly
expand to other cities and renovate
their current location.
“We’re going to start delivering, but
we’re going to do some renovations to
make this an eatery market. We still
want this to be a restaurant, but with
market specialties,” says Hibbert.
“It’s good to have a place like this. It’s
makes the neighbourhood a brighter
place.”
489 4781 / 209-7964
[email protected]
www.Caribbeantwist.ca
Black to Business
REGIONAL
REPORT
Central
Njabulo
Nkala
Things are definitely picking up in
the Central region with a number of
potential businesses coming forward to
seek assistance from the BBI at the start
of what promises to be another busy
business season.
Although summer is officially over,
it is not forgotten. A record number
of youth participated in week-long
business camps through the popular
Business is Jammin’ summer camps.
Some of these young people were
motivated to set up their own
businesses beyond ‘Business for a Day’.
One example is talented sketch and
animation artist, Noah Levering from
Truro, who obtained a micro-loan to set
up a business he named Noodlehead
Creations. Noah got inspiration after
trying the ‘Business for a Day’ at
the camp. Noah is meticulous in his
creations for example animating a man
made out of LEGO. Noah is among a
group of African Nova Scotian youth
who are demonstrating you can actually
make money doing what you love.
I would like to congratulate Valerie
Reid-Tomlinson on her purchase of
Look Good Hair Design in Spryfield
from Pauline Patten. I also congratulate
SunWorld Tanning Studio on the start of
an extension on the studio.
Finally, our hearts go out to Elizabeth
Cooke-Sumbu and her CANSA team as
they rebuild from a devastating fire that
burned down their offices in Amherst
this fall.
For any inquiries, additional
information, suggestions and
comments please contact me at
(902) 426-4281 or by e-mail at:
[email protected].
Fall 2009
6
Message from the Board of Directors
continued from page 1
We have used this time to reflect on
potentially changing our strategy.
Having begun the organization almost
13 years ago during different economic
times, it was necessary to review BBI’s
vision/mission and strategic plan to
determine if, during these changing
times, we, as an organization, are
still on target. After consultation
with our key stakeholders, it was
determined that while our vision was
still appropriate, our strategies and our
measures require some minor revisions
to reflect the current environment.
What has that meant to us? In good
times, when opportunities and monies
are easy to access, organizations tend
to be more liberal in their actions but
given our current fiscal conditions, we
at BBI have been very reflective of our
business strategies and governance
requirements to ensure we have made
effective use of our resources, to ensure
we are both meeting our mandate as
well as fulfilling our strategies towards
achieving some level of organizational
sustainability.
In particular, having completed an
organization evaluation earlier in the
year, we used this information to revise
our strategic plan and its linkages to
the Balanced Scorecard. Other key
initiatives undertaken include:
•
An in-depth review of our financial position. As a result,
we identified an opportunity to relocate the multiple locations of
BBI staff into one location. This step has proven to be
not only cost effective but has
also facilitate synergies across the
organization.
•
A renewed funding commitment
from our partners. This has
facilitated our ability to fulfill
the BBI mandate. What most
people do not recognize is
that we, as an organization, have
managed under the same budget
as originally put in place 13
years ago. This has been a
challenge, to say the least, but
with the new infusion of funding
we have been able to step up
to the evolving requirements of
our stakeholders.
•
Continuous governance training.
As a board, we have focused on
building our board’s capacity to
fulfill their role as a board of
directors.
•
Participation and guidance in
the Constructing the Future
initiative. This initiative has
introduced approximately 20
young men and women to the
world of trades. The participants
have seen much success in
a short period of time and we are
already planning on a second
cohort into the program.
Overall, the BBI board has been
focused on providing management
and staff the autonomy and guidance
necessary to fulfill their business
plan. We are very proud of the
accomplishments of our staff and the
ongoing in-roads they have made
to build and grow entrepreneurship
across the region. Thanks to all board,
staff and stakeholders who continue to
make this vision possible.
Despite the onslaught of the recession,
BBI has continued to work with our
clients to grow and flourish their
businesses, recognizing the many
challenges encountered in fostering
and growing the skills necessary to
be successful in the world of business.
All in all, we will continue to forge
ahead to build capacity, recognize and
celebrate the successes as they come.
Whatever comes, whatever goes, the
beat goes on …
Cassandra Dorrington, Chair
Black to Business
Local Artists
Fall 2009
7
Pen and ink, acrylic and oil on canvas, quilting …
these artists may work in a variety of mediums, but
they share a collective interest in the dissemination
of stories that reflect Nova Scotian experiences.
Whether it’s poetry and politics, or
the visual arts and community activism, multi-disciplinary artist David
Woods says you can’t separate the
two.
“People tend to think that the arts
is one thing and politics is another,”
says Woods. “It isn’t to me. When
I had the opportunity to do community organizing – especially with
CAYG (Cultural Awareness Youth
Group) and with BUF (Black United
Front) – we used creativity as a basis
for how we organized our programs.
So I don’t see it as a separate thing.
And that’s primarily what my life has
been involved in.”
As a visual arts curator and a founder of the Black Artists Network of
Nova Scotia, Woods has discovered,
preserved, and celebrated the work of
black artists in Nova Scotia through
many successful exhibitions, including In This Place: Black Art In Nova
Scotia, the first comprehensive exhibition of African Nova Scotian art
(Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax,
1998). In This Place revealed a
200-year-old tradition of art-making
in Nova Scotia’s black communities.
Dr. Henry Bishop is probably best
known for his work as chief curator
of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova
Scotia. But his work as a graphic artist shows up regularly on posters,
pamphlets, and letterheads of several
local organizations.
The Fiddler by David Woods - acrylic on canvas
Aunt Evie by David Woods - acrylic on canvas
As a writer and spoken word artist,
Woods’ socially conscious works of
theatre and creative writing have
been featured in numerous books
and anthologies, and also on national television and radio. As a visual
artist, Woods is primarily known for
his acrylic and oil on canvas paintings, though he has also done mixedmedia installation work as well as
collaborative work with other artists
including sculpture, quilting, and
carving.
“I am drawn to black history and
experience,” says Woods. “I am
attracted to the parts of the experience that were unrecognized or lost
in the shuffle of events. The feelings
people had in times of great despair
or great struggle, or in personal confusion.
“Right now I’m working with (quilter) Myla Borden from New Glasgow,
exploring community experience and
black women’s experiences,” says
contributed
Woods. “So we talk and I draw, and
then she makes (the quilts).”
“I designed a lot of logos,” says
Bishop. “The original East Preston
Daycare logo, the BEA (Black
Educators Association) logo, the
WADE (Watershed Association
Development Enterprise) logo, the
Black Cultural Society logo … all
those logos you see from black organizations, I’m the guy behind the
scene.”
“Everything inspires me. People,
faces, communities, the way people
talk, the way people move, houses…
Bishop graduated from the Nova
Scotia College of Art and Design in
1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Visual Communication (with a
major in graphic design, and a minor
in photography). After graduating he
took on a communications role with
the Black United Front, designing
brochures and newsletters. This would
lead to more work designing logos
for organizations within the African
Nova Scotian community.
“The narrative of the black experience is the thread that runs through
most of my work,” says Woods.
“But the starting point is always the
people.”
“The whole concept of logos wasn’t
known in the black community at
large,” says Bishop. “But it caught
on because corporations were getting
into it. And I thought black people
Black to Business
Fall 2009
8
Shauntay Grant
which led to the establishment of
the Cumberland County School of
the Arts. “We wanted to establish
a venue that was open to any artisans,” says Strong of the latter. “Not
just people of color.”
Apart from graphic design, Bishop
has illustrated historical figures for
public display, and also for publication in books – most notably Out Of
The Past and Into The Future and
In Our Time, published in 1994 and
1996 respectively. As with his work
as a graphic artist, Africentric images
are at the centre of his creations.
“The main reason for me (creating
primarily Africentric work) is because
I just didn’t know enough about
my own culture growing up,” says
Bishop. “So as I got older, I tried to
get as much knowledge about this
great past that we didn’t learn about
in school. And I was driven to do
something about us – about black
people.”
This passion for celebrating black history and culture through the visual
arts has resulted in several portraits
of historic figures – many of which
are on display at the Black Cultural
Centre for Nova Scotia, including
Portia White, Sam Langford, Richard
Preston, and Mathieu Da Costa.
contributed
and organizations should have those
things as well.”
The Cumberland County School of
the Arts offers a “holistic approach
to the world of life skills, upgrading,
employability, entrepreneurship, art
and culture.”
Darlene Strong has had her fair
share of opportunities. As a visual
artist, her work has been featured
internationally and in various mediums, including the 2008 African
Heritage Month events calendar for
which she drew the historical figure
Marcus Garvey.
Homecoming by Darlene Strong
“I believe that every community
has an Anne of Green Gables,”
says Strong. “Anne, being fictitious,
continues to bring an international
audience to Prince Edward Island –
people love her and she’s not even
real!
“I was asked to design an image
of Mathieu Da Costa by Canadian
Heritage,” says Bishops of one of
his career highlights. “I came up
with different ideas of what he could
have looked like based on historical accounts from that period, and
(Canadian Heritage) bought the
rights to use (the image) for the Da
Costa campaign.”
Bishop says that while some may see
him as a one-dimensional artist, he
is committed to using his work to celebrate and disseminate black history
and culture.
“Landscapes, pretty pictures of boats,
white people… I can do that,” says
Bishop. “But I would rather do it
about my ancestors.”
Guitar Player by Darlene Strong
But no matter what opportunities have been awarded Strong
throughout her career, she remains
committed to helping others. In
1999 she founded the Cumberland
County Black Artisans Network,
“The artists we have here in Nova
Scotia also have something valuable, (and) we must preserve and
continue to present our gifts to the
world,” adds Strong. “I think the
biggest challenge is that sometimes
people just don’t realize their work
has value.”
Strong has made it her mission to
create opportunities for local artists
to develop their artistry, all the while
encouraging them to dream big.
continued on page 20 >
Black to Business
Fall 2009
9
Talbot Photography
Njabulo Nkala, RBDM
Wayne Talbot’s post-retirement dream
Carol Dobson
will spread as a result of those
shoots.
“I thoroughly enjoy landscape photography,” he says. “I’m out shooting on almost a daily basis, for a
couple of hours a day. Some days
I’ll come home with all kinds of
great shots. Other days, I don’t come
home with any, but I really enjoy
it.”
Wayne Talbot, Talbot Photography
I
t’s amazing how chance
can intervene in a person’s
life.
Twelve years ago, Wayne Talbot
went on a golfing expedition to
South Carolina with a bunch of
friends. One of them had an early
point and shoot digital camera
which he used to record the trip,
often to the annoyance of his fellow
travellers. When the trip ended, his
efforts not only resulted in a CD of
photos telling the story of their journey but in Talbot’s interest in photography.
“I did some research, started buying photography magazines, and
bought myself a good point and
shoot camera,” he says. “I got so
interested in it that I started buying
better cameras, different lenses, editing programs ...”
He also enrolled in the New York
Institute of Photography correspondence course. It’s a combination of
reading, assignments, critiques, and
quizzes. That course is almost over;
he’s got three or four lessons still to
complete.
Talbot worked for the federal government for 33 and a half years
in Nova Scotia and Ottawa for the
Department of Human Resource
Development (now Service Canada)
and three years ago, he launched
Talbot Photography as his postretirement dream. Since then, most
of his business has been generated
through word of mouth. Now he’s
working with the Black Business
Initiative on aspects he’d like to
further develop – his business plan,
marketing plan and website development.
“My preference is landscape photography but I know that, in order
to succeed in business, I also have
to do ‘people photography’,” he
says. “But my course has a lot of
emphasis on portraiture – using filters, lighting, how to set portraits up,
etc.”
He’s photographed weddings around
the province, in Truro, Weymouth
and Preston, and hopes that word
In addition to his professional
studies, he credits membership in
two photographic organizations
– Imagemakers in Truro and the
Photographers Guild of Nova Scotia
– as avenues for both improving his
craft and spreading the word about
his pictures. He recently won third
prize in a photo contest and his winning picture was displayed at a busy
Truro video store for a couple of
weeks, something which he says has
led to more recognition of his work.
“Our hospital has a hallway gallery where local artists exhibit their
work,” he says. “They’re for sale,
the hospital takes a small part, and
the artist takes the rest. I have three
pictures in the current exhibit. It’s a
great way to get the word out.”
Wayne Talbot
Talbot
Photography

34 Phillip Street
Truro, NS B2N 3B3

902-895-2986
[email protected]
Black to Business
Fall 2009
10
Message from the CEO
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
continued from page 2
shows the imperative of documentation through anecdotal and statistical evidence that programs like ours
are still necessary.
source and develop a capable BBI
team.
Recent changes at the BBI saw
Monique Carvery become engaged
and moving to Bermuda and
Shakara Russell, Regional Business
Development Manager (RBDM),
and James Williams (Management
Intern) joining our staff team. Evan
Williams was appointed to Director
Client Development for the BBI.
Evan has been with the organization
since 2005 and was RBDM acting in
the role of director for most of the
past year.
With the success of our first ever
Business is Jammin’ fundraising golf
tournament this fall based on corporate participation, we know that we
are not in this alone. BBI is making
progress, one step at a time, towards
economic parity and stronger and
better participation of Black-owned
companies in the Canadian economy.
And we have a lot of you to thank,
but we need more.
While we are pleased with our track
record, our goal is to use excellence
as the standard for everything we
do. We cannot afford to procrastinate and we put our team before
ourselves. The management team
is hands-on; we’re in this together.
Mistakes are just opportunities to
learn from. If we win, everyone wins.
The external evaluation by Gardener
Pinfold, our Balance Scorecard and
results from the 2006 Census clearly
Success is not final, failure is not
fatal: it is the courage to continue
that counts.
– Winston Churchill
S.I. Rustum Southwell, CEO
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 website at
www.encana.com/deeppanuke/business
For information on employment opportunities
at Deep Panuke, visit the Career section on
EnCana’s website at www.encana.com or
the Career Beacon website at
www.careerbeacon.com
Gordon Doe
CEDIF: Invest in Nova Scotia
There is a bigger reason for you to invest in the
Black Business Community Investment Fund
(BBCIFL) this season. The initial 30 percent tax
credit benefit available to investors in the fund
has been increased to 35 percent. At the same
time, the subsequent tax credit (20 percent in
year 5 and 10 percent in year 10) remain in
place.
We are preparing to launch our sixth offering in
December, having held off on an offering last
year due to the market downturn. We hope you
plan and prepare to invest. Our goal is to take
our $441,000 portfolio beyond the half-million
mark. Your investment in the Black Business
Community Investment Fund will help the fund
to make a greater impact in the Nova Scotia
economy as we continue to invest in small
businesses.
Construction
Over eight years of working within the
community, I do not recall a program that
has excited and engaged participants as our
Constructing the Future program has. There are
currently some 30 unsolicited applicants for a
potential next phase of this program. The results
of the program partly explain this excitement.
The summary of the program results to date
include:
Phase 1: 20 out of 22 shortlisted applicants
were enrolled in the program after a three-day
assessment phase
Phase 2: 19 out of 20 participants graduated
after the 8-week personal development phase
Phase 3: 15 out of 19 participants graduated
from the 14-week specialized construction
training at Nova Scotia Community College
(NSCC)
Phase 4: Currently, of the 15 who graduated
from the NSCC training:
• six are taking trades training at NSCC
(two in carpentry, two in pipe trades, two in plumbing (blended)
• seven are on work placements with different employers
• two are out of the program.
Additionally, we have developed significant
private sector partnerships with numerous
stakeholders in the construction sector, principally
employers. This program in partnership with
the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and
Workforce Development is a very effective way
to expose people to the construction industry
and holds great potential for the youth in our
community.
As always, please feel free to call me at
426-6985 if you have any questions or
plan to invest.
www.encana.com
ECOR-7758 Deep Panuke_Generic ad update.indd 1
REPORT
1/20/09 11:21:51 AM
Black to Business
11
Maritime Centre
for African Dance
Paul Adams
November with a 2009 Women
of Excellence Award from the
Halifax chapter of the Canadian
Progress Club.
Not bad for a business idea that
garnered plenty of skepticism
when Chakabuda first pitched it.
“There were a lot of naysayers,
because the idea of an African
dance studio was so foreign to a
lot of the people I presented it to,”
she says. “They thought it just
wouldn’t fly here.”
Despite the doubters, MCAD
has flourished – even more than
Chakabuda perhaps first expected, and “not without lots of pressure and stress,” she admits.
Mufaro Chakabuda
F
ive years ago, Mufaro
Chakabuda was ready to
pack her bags.
The native of Zimbabwe was considering either a return to her home
country or moving on to Montreal for
further studies. But a recurring question kept her in Halifax.
“I was teaching some dance classes
at the YMCA, and people kept asking me, ‘Where else do you teach?’”
Chakabuda says.
Out of that question, the Maritime
Centre for African Dance was
launched. Chakabuda likes to say
that she started the business with just
$20: the cost of renting space for her
first lesson.
“It sort of grew from there,” she says
– which is a major understatement.
Less than five years after she
launched MCAD in the spring of
2005, Chakabuda has taught dance
classes and workshops from coast to
coast and performed for some illustrious audiences. She was honoured in
Weekly dance classes are now the
smallest part of the growing centre, which also offers cross-country
workshops, summer camps, hiphop dance competitions and a
DVD series.
Chakabuda’s studio employs a
network of 13 drummers and 10
instructors. She has crossed the
country giving workshops, including one in Vancouver last summer
that drew 500 participants.
Chakabuda also travelled with
four other dancers and two drummers to Washington to perform
at U.S. President Barack Obama’s
historic African Inaugural Ball in
January, which was the highlight
of a lifetime, Chakabuda says.
“It was also very nerve-wracking,
because there were people there
from the (African) continent who
knew the traditional dances and
would know if we screwed up,”
she says with a laugh. “But there
are no words to describe it. At the
end of the performance we had
people coming up on stage and
dancing with us. Everybody was
dressed in traditional outfits. It
was beautiful.”
Fall 2009
Chad Lucas
The Maritime Centre for African
Dance draws on a wide range of
styles and influences from across
the continent, including Zimbabwe,
Gambia and Ghana, among others.
Chakabuda credits its popularity to
what she sees as a growing curiosity
about other cultures.
“I think it’s becoming such a global
world,” she says. “People are interested – ‘What is this culture all about?
It looks like more than what I see on
TV.’”
For Nova Scotians of African descent
who visit her studio or take a workshop, it’s often about connecting with
their own roots.
“They come in and say, ‘I want to
learn my heritage. I want to learn
my culture and what it’s all about,’”
Chakabuda says.
She says MCAD’s mandate is so much
more than just teaching dance steps.
She and her instructors do plenty of
presentations in schools, especially
during African Heritage Month.
“We feel our role is really to be
ambassadors of the continent,” she
says. “We’re in the business of cultural education.”
The Maritime Centre for African
Dance is on the web at:
www.mcafricancamps.com
Maritime Centre
for African Dance
Mufaro Chakabuda
406 3280, 225-9267
[email protected]
www.mcafricandance.com
Black to Business
Fall 2009
12
Question
L
Where can we access more specific data on the
African Nova Scotian community to use in business
and trend applications?
make understandable by a non statistician or a decision-maker.
Featured Expert:
Greg Nazaire, Regional Business
Development Manager
Data and Research - The case of
the African Canadian community
When the private or the public sector wants to elaborate any strategy
or any initiative targeting some
ethnic groups, it needs to overcome
major challenges due to the lack of
economic data and research concerning those cultural communities. In
Canada, there is ample data on East
Indians and Chinese communities, a
de facto situation when considering
the importance of the trade relations
of these countries with Canada. The
Black community situation in that
regard is impressive. Very few formal
studies or data collecting initiatives
addressing the Black community
currently exists. The tendency is
for them to be very limited in scope
and very often they address most of
the problems facing this community
from a social or historical standpoint
such as slavery, racism or education.
Most of the available data are raw
data, mainly from Statistics Canada
via censuses and surveys. Those data
take a considerable amount of time
and special skills to analyze and
The need to start generating economic data and rigorous research
is vital for businesses that are seeking to more effectively reach and
provide goods or services to the
growing African Canadian segment.
For example, in the United States,
research has shown that the shopping behaviour of African American
consumers differs from that of their
white counterparts. Therefore, different marketing strategies may be
needed to reach these people.
Research and data on this subject is
quite extensive and regarded as an
American mainstream topic. There
is a study by Kimberly McClain
DaCosta from Harvard University
on how marketers conduct market
research on African Americans as
opposed to the “general market. We
also have a study conducted by
Walstad and Kourilsky (1998) that
grabbed our attention that showed
that the entrepreneurial aspirations
of Black/African American youth
(age 14 to 19 years old) were significantly greater than those of white
youth – 75 percent of Black/African
American youths surveyed would
want to start their own business, compared to 63 percent of white youths.
But to be able to find similarities and
differences between communities, we
have to start giving more attention
to visible minorities and their culture
and affinity within our society. Any
finding in that regard can be also
critical for governments (municipal,
provincial or federal) to formulate
policies, let alone implementing
them effectively in the Black community. The need for some studies
on this matter will lay the groundwork for the conceptualization of differences between the Black community market and the “mainstream”
market as it is widely explored in the
United States, thus allowing private
and public entities to do a better segmentation of the population.
Anecdotal evidence often suggests
that Black businesses are confronted
with specific challenges (e.g., barriers to financing) but peer-reviewed,
statistically based empirical studies conducted on this issue using
Canadian data are extremely hard
to find. This seems to be due to the
scarcity of relevant data that could
be disaggregated according to different criteria. The development of
a dataset, whether census-based or
survey-based, at the national level
that would include information
about both a firm’s characteristics
(e.g., size, industry, age, capital
structure, location, revenues, etc.)
and the firm-owner’s characteristics
(e.g., ethnicity, gender, age, education, etc.) would allow researchers to
come up with some sound conclusions regarding various aspects of
business ownership by minorities,
which in turn could greatly improve
the public policy decision-making.
Black to Business
Fall 2009
13
The saying goes: ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ or in this case, a short caption. Not a full story, but a quick
snap-shot, the new Black to Business regular feature, BBI Out and About is a photo spread that will highlight the BBI
staff and board ‘out and about’.
BBI Open House
October 16, 2009
Mike Hayes, ACOA (left), Robert Browning (Bell
Aliant) & Alexia McGill (Agenda Managers)
Minister Percy Paris (l); BBI Board Vice Chair,
Joe Parris; & Peter Hogan, ACOA (r) cut the ribbon
Rose Davidson, BBI Board (left) & Idy Fashoranti,
BBI (far right)
Rev. Glenn Gray blesses the new office
Councillor Tim Outhit (l); Minister Percy Paris
and his EA Mike Wyse (r)
Shakara Russell & Cheyanne Gorman-Tolliver,
RBDMs prepare presentation
National Minority Supplier Development
Council 2009 conference in New Orleans
Rustum Southwell networks with other conference delegates
Cassandra Dorrington, BBI Chair
& Magic Johnson
Black to Business
Fall 2009
14
Business is Jammin’
Charity Golf
Tournament
September 23, 2009
Grandview
Golf &
Country Club
Relaxing after a ‘hard’ day of golf
Teammates – Dorey, Ash, Williams and Ash
Champions: The Bell Aliant team receives trophy
from BIJ Chair Joe Parris
Greg Nazaire and cheque
Longest Drive winner: Pam Williams
Additional
Notables
Best Dressed: Nova Scotia Power team
Photographer Paul Adams at a BBI planning session
Evan Williams, BBI Director of Client Development
featured in Business Voice magazine
by: Chad Lucas
Constructing the Future, a 40-week
job readiness program that the BBI
launched in March, in partnership
with the provincial Department of
Labour and Workforce Development
and the Nova Scotia Community
College (NSCC).
Participants and program
facilitators after a training session
Vincent Johnson
climbs out of bed these
days with a new sense
of purpose.
The Uniacke Square resident used
to pick up odd jobs wherever he
could, though steady work was rare.
But since August, Johnson has been
training on the job with Carvery’s
Construction through the Black
Business Initiative’s Constructing
the Future program.
With a new set of skills and a foot
planted solidly on the doorstep of
the construction industry, Johnson
says he feels like he’s turning a
corner in his life.
“I feel good every morning I get up,”
he says. “It’s something I talk about
every day. It’s been a good journey.”
Helping people like Johnson make
a living in the trades is the aim of
The groundwork began several
years ago as the BBI looked to
make more of an impact in the
construction sector. One of the first
steps in 2007 was creating ADEPA, a
project management firm that works
with black-owned companies to bid
on big contracts that smaller firms
may not be able to land on their own.
ADEPA also focuses on training,
and the BBI held roundtables in
several communities to determine
what needs were out there in the
construction sector.
“We wanted to bring people’s skills
up in the industry,” says Gordon
Doe, the BBI’s director of business
development.
From there, the BBI partnered
with the Department of Labour,
which provides key financial
support to Constructing the Future.
The program was launched at a
crucial time earlier this year, with
governments looking to find ways to
increase employment in the face of
a recession.
But she had let her interest fall by
the wayside until she heard about
Constructing the Future.
“I had been working
in the food
industry for years
and I wanted
a change,”
Drummond says. “I
heard about Constructing
the Future and I
thought, why not now.”
That’s exactly the question
that more people – especially
those in the black community
– should be asking themselves,
says Joel Marsman.
“It turned out to be
timely, given the
economy,” Doe says.
The program covers plenty of ground
to prepare people for a career in
construction. Participants started
in March with 12 weeks of personal
and professional development,
covering everything from forklift
operation to math upgrading, before
moving into 14 weeks of trades
training in areas such as plumbing,
electrical, drywall and flooring.
The final phase is a 14-week work
placement or apprenticeship with
employers, or further training at the
community college.
“There’s always a need
for certified professionals,”
says Marsman, the program
coordinator for Constructing the
Future. “There are so many things
in the construction industry that pay
well, and the black community is
under-represented. We’re trying to
change that.”
Robert
Sampson
wants to
change that
too. Sampson is the
Academic Chair for Trades
and Technology at NSCC, and
he jumped at the opportunity to
help when the BBI approached the
community college.
“We put this high on our priority
list, because it should have
happened 15 or 20 years ago,”
Sampson says. “For me, it’s
important to do something about
under-representation. Those
mechanical areas like plumbing and
electrical are where the big bucks
are, and the representation in the
black community is just not there.”
The course immediately piqued the
interest of Rhonda Drummond. The
Dartmouth resident always had an
eye for the trades – she remembers
being the only girl in her junior high
shop class, and she went on to take
a post-secondary drafting course.
continued on next page >
Participants, program facilitator, and other guests during
a lunch event at Dalhousie University
NSCC has been a crucial partner
in Constructing the Future. The
college’s Leeds Street campus
hosted and provided instructors
for the trades training phase of
the program, and also helped
find partners for some work
placements. Several participants,
including Drummond, are pursuing
further training at the college.
“We’ve gotten a lot of help from
the Nova Scotia Community
College,” says Marsman. “(The
participants) gained some real
practical experience there that
prepared them for their work
placements. We wanted them
prepared when they went out to an
employer.”
It’s been so far, so good for those
who moved into the workforce on
August 14. Vincent Johnson says
he’s grateful for the opportunity to
prove himself, as well as for the
continued support from both the
BBI and the community college
even now that he’s on the job.
“I really didn’t expect all the
support we’ve had from everyone
involved,” he says. “I get phone
calls from people asking me how
I’m doing, how’s it going. That
means a lot to me.”
Employers who have lent support
to the program seem satisfied
as well. Richard MacInnis of
MF Electric, a Lake Echo-based
company, says it’s not easy to
break into the electrical trade – but
he likes what he sees in Tyrone
Dixon, who’s apprenticing with MF
Electric through Constructing the
Future.
“We hope to keep him on,”
MacInnis says. “He wants to work
and he wants to learn, and that’s
what we look for.”
Joel Marsman says it’s been
fun to watch participants grow
and change over the course of
the program, some from barely
believing in their own abilities to
working confidently on a job site.
NSCC has been a
crucial partner in
Constructing the Future.
The college’s Leeds
Street campus hosted
and provided instructors
for the trades training
phase of the program,
and also helped find
partners for some work
placements.
“It’s amazing, the change in some
of them,” Marsman
says. “You can almost
see the light going
on. They’re starting
to think beyond
today and tomorrow.
They’re setting goals
for two or three
years down the road.
The confidence
they’ve gained is
tremendous.”
Rhonda Drummond is one of
those looking down the
road. She’s planning
to upgrade her math
and physics to
study construction
management and
administration at NSCC.
It’s a field she didn’t
even know existed a
few months ago.
“It’s just incredible
– I’d never really
thought about all the
different areas and
all the things you
have to consider
when putting up a building,” she
says. “It’s opened up a lot of doors
for me.”
Sampson said he’s looking forward
to an ongoing partnership with the
BBI, as well as drawing in more
construction firms to build those
crucial networks between students
and potential employers.
“I think the tell-tale in the future
will be the connecting,” Sampson
says. “Four or five years from now,
I think we’ll really see the fruits of
what’s happening now. I’m looking
forward to doing (the program)
again.”
And there should be no shortage
of applicants, the way Vincent
Johnson is spreading the word.
“It’s just been excellent,” Johnson
says. “I told (the BBI) I’ve been
putting the word out there and
they’ll have 100 people signing up
by January.”
Drummond is quick to add her
endorsement as well. “Anyone
who has the opportunity to get into
the program, they should take it,”
she says. “It’s been everything I
expected and more.”
For more information on the
program contact the Black
Business Initiative.
Black to Business
19
Constructing the Future
Rhonda Drummond - Opportunity Rising
Fall 2009
REGIONAL
REPORT
Northern
Cheyanne Gorman-
Tolliver
It has been a quiet few months in
the region however, a new season is
approaching and I am excited by the
recent inquiries from the Northern
Region.
Working out of Sydney’s African Nova
Scotian Employment Centre (ANSEC)
Omonigho (Omo) Omonode has
been hired as Economic Development
Officer. BBI has been in contact with
Omo and there are some promising
partnership opportunities for clients in
the area.
Rhonda Drummond (l) with classmates
C
reating new opportunities in the construction industry for African Nova Scotians The Black
Business Initiative is working
closely with NSCC to develop
innovative programs for Nova
Scotians of African heritage.
I’ve always been creative. In high
school, I was really into drawing
and poetry, and when I graduated, I
worked for many years as a cook in
the healthcare sector which I enjoyed.
But I was always drawn to the trades,
especially the construction industry.
So at the age of 44, I decided to go
back to school. A friend emailed a
brochure about a program called
‘Constructing the Future’. It offers
training to African Nova Scotians
interested in construction, and is supported by the Black Business Initiative
and NSCC. Everything about it
appealed to me, so I applied. I went
for an assessment, and boom, I was in
– and started almost immediately.
Not only am I the oldest in the class,
I’m also the only woman, but that’s
what makes it interesting. I can’t
tell you how much I’m enjoying it.
We’re all learning so much in such
a short time. Our instructors take a
personal interest in our success and
go the extra mile to help us.
... I was always drawn to
the trades, especially the
construction industry.
The first time I created and built
something from start to finish, I
looked at it and thought, “Yeah, I
did that.” It spurred me on to discover that I have a special passion
for architecture. Maybe, down the
road, I’ll build that dream, too. With
NSCC, I have more options than
even I thought possible.
Reprinted with permission from the
Nova Scotia Community College Report
to the Community 2009 www.nscc.ca/
report09
Congratulations to Mufaro Chakabuda
and her dance company Maritime
Centre for African Dance (MCAD) in
the announcement they have been
asked to perform in Vancouver for
the 2010 Olympics. This is the same
dance company who performed at
an inauguration party for President
Barack Obama. For more information
on classes/programs contact Mufaro
at 225-9267.
The Business Is Jammin’ Summer
Program made its mark on two young
entrepreneurs. Brother and sister team
Travon (11) and Sierra (9) Duarte were
successful in obtaining financing and
counsel to start their own business: a
car wash & refreshment service. Look
for them to continue their business
around Dartmouth when the warm
weather returns.
BBI continues to seek new opportunities
to partner with organizations to
deliver the most current business
related
training
courses
and
workshops. These are not limited to
HRM residents. If you are a regional
community group, organization, or
entrepreneur interested in business
skills development BBI can arrange
these activities in your region.
For more information or to
arrange a meeting please
contact me at 426-8685,
toll free at 1-888-664-9333
or by email: gorman-tolliver.
[email protected]
Black to Business
20
Business is Jammin’
T
he summer months were
very busy for the Business
is Jammin’ (BIJ) program.
Again partnering with Service
Canada, we were able to hire six
youth coordinators to facilitate our
summer BIJ programs around the
province. Youth coordinators were
stationed in Halifax (BBI), Dartmouth (WADE), Sydney (ANSEC),
Truro (CEA), Kentville (VANSDA)
and Yarmouth (YBERC). The
students hired were Kiesha Jefferies in Halifax, Alisha Brown-Fagan
in Dartmouth, Robyn Martelly in
Sydney, Tyrone Chase in Truro,
Ellis Ffrench in Kentville and Ariel
Smith in Yarmouth. Special thanks
to the students and the African
Nova Scotian Employment Partnership Committee (ANEPC) offices
that partnered with us and helped in
making the program a success.
This year we were able
to deliver 20 presentations, 4 workshops and
18 week-long Business
Builder camps to over
500 youth province
wide. We were also able
to assist six youth start
their own businesses.
This would not be possible without the financial support from our
corporate sponsor RBC
and from the generous
donations from businesses and individuals. You have truly
made a difference and have assisted BIJ
with positively influencing the lives of
our youth. To learn how to support BIJ
financially or in kind please contact us
or visit www.bbi.ca . BIJ is a registered
charity and will issue tax receipts for all
contributions.
To deliver the programs it takes many
resources. We are very fortunate to
have an ongoing partnership with the
African Nova Scotian Employment
Partnership Committee network and
also the in-kind support of entrepreneurs like Steve Lawrence of JMS
Driving School, Jessica Bowden of
TNT Magazine, Lyndon Hibbert of
Caribbean Twist, Kelly Carrington
of Evolution Massage Therapy
and Duane Jones of Glitterati
Communications.
BIJ’s programs and services have
historically been funded by Black
Business Initiative. Moving forward,
BIJ is aiming to become less dependent
on the BBI and a rigorous fundraising strategy has been implemented.
On September 23rd BIJ hosted the 1st
Fall 2009
Evan Williams
Annual BIJ Charity Golf Tournament
at Grandview Golf and Country Club.
The 60 golfers participated in an
exceptional day of fun and support for
a great cause. This event would not
have been possible without the support of Silver sponsors – Bell Aliant,
Boyne Clarke and Encana – and our
Bronze sponsors – Atlantic Lottery,
Halifax Stanfield International Airport,
Michelin, Nova Scotia Power and
Sobeys. We also want to thank all of
our golfers, hole sponsors and all of
the companies that donated prizes.
The 2nd Annual BIJ Charity Golf
Tournament will be held during the
2010 Black Business Summit in June.
To learn how your company can
be involved with BIJ, please contact us.
A personal approach to
mobile business solutions
You wanted faster speeds.
It’s the fastest.
You wanted more coverage.
It’s the largest in Canada.
You wanted global coverage.
It works in over 200 countries.
You wanted it to work whenever you need it.
It’s the most reliable.
The New Network is
Get on Canada’s best high-speed mobile network1and do
more things in more places, on the best devices from
around the world. Being with Bell just got better.
Business takes you places.
Don’t leave productivity behind.
BlackBerry® Bold™
9700 smartphone
Turbo Sticks
Call 443-2956 to have one of our trained wireless professionals meet with you.
www.amacommunications.com
Toll Free 1 866 872-0818
351 Portland Street, Dartmouth, NS, B2Y 1K7
Available with compatible devices within coverage areas available from Bell and its international partners’ coverage areas where technology permits. May not be available in all locations. Other conditions apply. (1) Based on:
(a) fastest network, according to tests of average upload and download speeds using HSPA devices, in large Canadian urban centres, (b) largest network, based on total square kms of coverage, and (c) most reliable network
based on tests for dropped calls and call clarity in large Canadian urban centres using HSPA devices; all on the shared HSPA/HSPA+ network available from Bell, vs. Rogers HSPA/HSPA+ network in Sept, 2009. Speed may vary
due to topography, environmental conditions, device type and other factors. HSPA/HSPA not available in all areas. Bell.ca/network. BlackBerry®, RIM®, Research In Motion® and related trademarks, names and logos are the
property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world.
Black to Business
BBI Welcomes
New Staff
22
Trailblazers
Local Artists
continued from page 8
And Strong has been doing some
big dreaming herself lately. A multidisciplinary artist with a background
in music, literature and the visual
arts, Strong has recently launched an
initiative that combines her love of
the arts with her background in nursing, counselling and consulting, the
ultimate goal being to “bring hope
and healing to our world.”
Shakara Russell
Regional Business Development Manager
Shakara joins the BBI after gaining professional
experience with a public accounting firm
in Halifax. She has worked with companies
across many industries including oil and gas,
food brokerage, electrical utilities and construction. Shakara has a passion for assisting
clients in developing sound business strategies and is excited to be working to further
develop the business community.
“Professional counselling services
are now available.” says Strong
of Maria’s Place, which opened in
Brookdale on September 1, 2009. “In
addition to traditional professional
counselling, such as stress reduction, we offer services in art, music,
creative writing … sometimes, for
example, children respond and communicate better through art when it
may be difficult to verbalize some of
the problems that they are experiencing. “
Apart from counselling services,
Maria’s Place also offers workshops
and creates programs for businesses,
groups and individuals. The venture
offers a platform for Strong to market
her artwork and literary publications
as well.
James Williams
Management Intern
James Williams was born and raised in Halifax.
He graduated from St. Patrick’s High School and
studied commerce at St. Mary’s University. After
a few years of study, James moved to Toronto
to pursue a passion in music recording. After
completing a diploma in sound engineering
James decided to return home to Nova Scotia to
complete a Bachelor degree in Finance, which
he is currently pursuing part-time.
Since returning, James has held several contract
positions, gaining valuable work experience,
with organizations such as; The Atlantic Film
Festival Association, ABM Integrated Solutions,
Metro Regional Housing Authority, to name a
few. James was drawn to BBI because of their
presence in the province and because he wanted to be part of something that helps make a
difference in the community.
“It’s more than just counselling – it’s
an integration of the arts and counselling,” says Strong of her new project. “And at this point in my life, it
needs to be easy. So I’m blessed to be
under one roof.”
Fall 2009
REGIONAL
REPORT
Southern
Greg
Nazaire
Although summer was quiet, we
started the fall season with some
very promising projects in the
construction sector in Halifax.
Partnering with notable businessmen
Ed Crawley, Tony Whynder or James
Downey, there is potential for job
creation through their businesses.
Following the success we had last
year with the series of workshops
and information sessions with
CBDC and ACOA on the economic
situation and business opportunities,
we are planning to organize the
same in Kentville. In this region, we
will partner with CBDC in Hants
County.
We are planning to organize the
same series of workshops in Digby in
cooperation with Darlene Lawrence,
the Executive Director of the Digby
County Family Resource Centre and
other institutions.
It is critical for us to continuously
inform the community on what
programs and services, the BBI and
other organizations, have to offer.
We are also planning several training
sessions on business management
and marketing in partnership with
the Valley African Nova Scotia
Development Association.
I would like to congratulate Jordan
Martin on his new venture. Jordan
obtained a mini-micro loan to start
a business following his participation
to the BIJ business camp last
summer.
Should you require further
information or to book a regional
visit please contact me at:
(902) 426-1625 or toll free
number at 1-888-664-9333.
Black to Business
23
Fall 2009
Building Business Skills and
Management Expertise – Training
C
and workshops were delivered by experienced and knowledgeable professionals. A total of 53 students completed
training.
In 2008-09, the BBI offered numerous
training courses and workshops at its
Gottingen Street Training Centre
and through outside sources. Designed
to meet the needs of our clients, particularly those in the early stages
of business development, these cources
BBI’s training is designed to meet the
management and personal development needs of entrepreneurs. As such
we work in partnership with various
organizations to deliver the best business skills development program. Our
training courses and workshops cover
important ground related to financial
management, sales, marketing and
business development.
ontinuous education
and skills building is a
hallmark of successful
entrepreneurs and businesspeople. That’s why the BBI
holds training as a core focus
of our organization.
BBI Training Objectives
Client Identified Needs
Client Perceived Outcomes
Stress importance of
entrepreneurship
Business skills
development
More business knowledge
overall
Business skill development
Creating a business plan
Increased confidence to do
things by self
Business plan preparation
Guidance in starting
own business
Increased assertiveness
Provide support and
mentorship
Training and support
Experience and practice
Developing partnerships
Marketing and
accounting skills
Increased networking
opportunities
Providing networking
opportunities
Small business planning
Learned how to start a business
2008 Evaluation of the Black Business Initiative by Gardner Pinfold Consulting
Black to Business
Fall 2009
24
Black Business Initiative
2009/10 Training Schedule for Metro
Workshops:
Day
How to Get & Keep a Customer for Life** Friday
Date
Time
Dec 11
7:30am
9:30am
Marketing Your Business Online**
Friday
Jan 8
7:30am
9:30am
Improving Sales & Profitability
in a Retail Operation**
Friday
Jan 15
7:30am
9:30am
Branding and Imaging**
Friday
Jan 22
7:30am
9:30am
Project Management**
Friday
Jan 29
7:30am
9:30am
First Steps in Exporting**
Friday
Feb 5
7:30am
9:30am
Business Angels-How to Find
Investors for Your Business**
Friday
Feb 12
7:30am
9:30am
Top 20 Taxation Questions for
Small Businesses**
Friday
Feb 19
7:30am
9:30am
Breaking Down Barriers to Growth** Friday
Feb 26
7:30am
9:30am
Creative Thinking for Business**
Friday
Mar 5
7:30am
9:30am
Cutting Costs: How to Cut Costs
Instead of People**
Friday
Mar 12
7:30am
9:30am
Managing Your Greatest Asset**
Friday
Mar 19
7:30am
9:30am
Expand Your Target Market**
Friday
Mar 26
7:30am
9:30am
Entrepreneurship 101
(Outside of HRM)
Available on request
Workshop Fee: Clients and Non Clients : $5.00
** Space is very limited in these workshops. Call to Register and for more information
Registration is open to everyone.
To register for any session, please call 426-8683
Note: Course and Workshop delivery times are subject to change.
TRAINING
REPORT
Evan
Williams
The summer season is historically
fairly slow for training courses. We
do not offer many summer courses
because of participant vacation
conflicts. Potential participants
reengage once fall rolls around
therefore September was the
beginning of another rigorous
training season.
Fall/Winter courses include Simply
Accounting, Marketing for your
Business, Creating a Winning Business
Plan and Bookkeeping Level 1.
We were also able to send several
clients to St. Mary’s University
Business Development Centre’s
Breakfast Workshop Series. The
morning workshops covered topics in
the areas of Marketing, Management,
Finance and Operations. These
workshops will be running from
September to March.
We are still trying to reach areas
outside of HRM. The only way that
we can do this effectively is with
your input. If we do not have the
critical mass to organize our own
sessions, we can look at finding you
established training in your area.
If you are interested in any of
BBI’s training courses outside of
Metro, please contact me directly
at 902-426-8688 or toll free @
1-888-664-9333 or speak to the
RBDM for your area. I encourage
everyone to take advantage of
the various very affordable top
quality-training programs that BBI
has to offer.
Black to Business
25
Fall 2009
People & Businesses on the Move
Congratulations to Justine Colley,
Celeste Williams, and Carlos Beals.
They were awarded $4000 Future
Leader scholarships from Future Shop
for their outstanding contributions to
their local Boys and Girls Club.
Justine Colley was one of the stars of
the Canadian team during the FIBA
world under-19 championships in
Bangkok, Thailand. Her performance
contributed to wins against Tunisia
and Japan.
The former Seaview Road received a
new name during this year’s Africville
Reunion. Now the road that extends
from the north end of Barrington
Street to the Fairview Cove Container
Pier will be known as Africville Road.
During the Reunion weekend, the
160th anniversary of the founding
of the Africville Baptist Church was
celebrated, with the Rev. Rhonda
Britton as the guest speaker.
Emancipation Day was marked
during the weekend with a special
program at the Maritime Museum of
the Atlantic.
Shanice Bennett is the recipient
of this year’s Burchells Summer
Internship and Scholarship. The
internship included a summer work
term at the Halifax law firm and a
scholarship towards her studies at
Dalhousie University this fall.
Juanita Peters’ newest film,
“Africville: Can’t Stop Now” was
one of the films shown at this year’s
Atlantic Film Festival. It debuted at
the Festival on September 20 and
chronicles the lives of Irvine, Eddy,
and Nelson Carvery as they carry
on their crusade for Africville. The
documentary also aired on the
Documentary Channel on July 23 and
on CBC on July 25.
“Children of Africville”, Christine
Welldon’s new book, was launched at
the North Branch Library in Halifax
on October 21.
Imhotep’s Legacy Academy has
launched a virtual tutoring program
that will enable math and science
tutors at Dalhousie to help African
Nova Scotian high school students
across the province. The program
uses webcams and videoconferencing
software set up at Dalhousie and in
the participating schools (Citadel
High, Cole Harbour High, Prince
Andrew High, Sydney Academy,
Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial
High School, and Cobequid
Educational Centre).
The fourth annual Dikita Women’s
Festival was held July 31st and August
1st 2009. The theme was exploring the
female body, with dance hula hooping
sessions, Gambian dance, yoga of
the body with elements of earth and
water, concluding with a dinner
featuring international food and a
dance.
Her Honour, Mayann Francis,
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia,
was the special guest speaker at the
Founder’s Weekend Garden Party in
Shelburne in mid-July.
La Amistad visited Shelburne as part
of the commemoration of the 175th
anniversary of the abolition of slavery.
The Black Loyalist Heritage
Society’s Freedom 175 events
included art and quilting shows, a
gospel festival and tours aboard the
schooner when it visited Birchtown
in August.
Congratulations to Mufaro
Chakabuda from the Maritime
Centre for African Dance who
has received The Progress Women
of Excellence Award from the
Canadian Progress Club.
Pat Watson released a new CD
entitled “Feeling Good” in late June.
The Pat Watson Quartet was also
the featured entertainment at the
Halifax Club’s Fall Fashion event
to benefit Dress For Success on
September 20th.
The Charlestown Maroon
Drummers and Dancers performed
three shows in the HRM during
the summer. The first, at Alderney
Landing also included a play by
Shauntay Grant, the second, at the
Black Cultural Centre featured the
music of Marko Simmonds, and
the third, at Citadel High included a
performance by Harvey Millar and
b-sharp.
Gary Beals performed in concert
at the Carson and Marion Murray
Centre in Springhill, Cumberland
County this past summer. The
Highland AME held three major
fundraising events – a yard sale, an
auction and a fundraising concert
featuring local entertainers.
The story of Marie Marguerite
Rose, a woman from Guinea who
Black to Business
26
was one of more than 300 people
enslaved at Louisbourg, was brought
to life through special guided tours
at the Fortress of Louisbourg this past
summer.
Leslie Carvery’s show “Selena –
Death After Life” was performed on
stage at Neptune Theatre during
this year’s Atlantic Fringe Festival in
September.
There were two concerts during
the Halifax-Dartmouth Natal Day
weekend in celebration of Black
Freedom 175. The first featured
Asia & NuGruv, Dennis Wright
(aka hellafactz), Harvey Millar &
“b-sharp”, Wes Mackey Band, the
Gary Beals’ Band and U-Soul while
the Freedom Festival Gospel Concert
featured Shoulder to Shoulder,
The Nova Scotia Mass Choir, and
Rhyume & Good News.
Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis marked
her third anniversary of her
installation as the lieutenant
governor of Nova Scotia with
celebratory mass and blessing on
Sunday, Sept. 6 at St. Philip’s African
Orthodox Church in Sydney.
A Parks Canada plaque
commemorating Rev. Richard
Preston was unveiled during the
156th AUBA annual session. This
year’s meeting was held at the
Cornwallis Street Baptist Church and
the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium during
the weekend of August 14-16.
On August 12, Canadian Blood
Services held its first blood donor clinic
at the North Preston Community
Centre.
Participants in this summer’s Business
is Jammin’ camp in Halifax showed
their entrepreneurial spirit by
producing “Super Sonic Veggies” salad
dressings from produce grown in the
community garden on Brunswick
Street.
The Black Educators Association
held an Open House on August 27.
Visitors were able to talk to members
of the association about its various
programs including the Cultural
Academic Enrichment Program,
Regional Educators Program, Annual
Fundraising events, Bursary Program,
Adult Education; BEA Spelling Bee and
Math Camp.
Gerald (Gerry) Clarke has
been appointed to the position
of Principal at the Nova Scotia
Community College’s Akereley
Campus.
The Beechville Baptist Church
celebrated its 165th anniversary
on September 27. Rev. Damon
Gilyard, of New Jersey, was the guest
preacher.
The East Preston United Baptist
church celebrated its 167th
Anniversary in September with the
Rev. Jivaro Smith of Toronto as the
guest speaker.
The 15th Annual Africentric
Conference was be hosted by
Graham Creighton Junior High
School on October 23. This year’s
event emphasized cultural diversity
from an Afrocentric context. The
keynote speaker was: Dr. Na’im
Akbar PhD.
The Dartmouth Seniors’ Service
Centre hosted its 3rd. Annual
Community Leadership Recognition
Dinner on Thursday, October 1.
This year’s recognition went to fiveprominent Dartmouth residents: Dr.
Wayne Adams, Roland Thornhill,
Shirley Morash, Don Valardo, and
Tom Forestall.
Fall 2009
Congratulations to Dalhousie
University’s Black Student
Advising Centre. It celebrated its
20th anniversary on October 23.
Halifax-based filmmaker Thom
Fitzgerald has translated
playwright George Boyd’s Gideon’s
Blues into a poignant and moving
domestic tragedy set in the North
End entitled “Gospel According
to the Blues”, which debuted on
September 24 in Halifax. Jackie
Richardson stars as an AfricanCanadian gospel singer who must
confront the decline of her son; the
film balances powerful first-person
narration and uplifting music
against gritty, poetic inner-city
drama.
Chelsea Nisbett and Cindy Cain
were the featured entertainers at
the Community YMCA’s “Carry the
Books, Carry the Ball” fundraiser
held at the Westin Nova Scotia
Hotel on October 15.
Auburn Drive students held an
“Embrace Diversity” night at the
school on October 15 featuring
music, food, and poetry.
On October 15, the Black Cultural
Society held an unveiling
ceremony in commemoration of
the Democracy 250 Monument:
Freedom Stone. The monument
represents the legacy of Freedom
and Democratic Government as it
relates to Black History.
Congratulations to Rose
Stevenson-Davidson, Service
Canada, BBI resource member
who recently was appointed to the
Board of the Council on African
Canadian Education representing
the Valley Area. This is a three year
term.
Black to Business
27
My Day with the
Olympic Torch
S.I. Rustum Southwell
running shoes and
socks, under shirt,
long johns, St. Kitts
Olympic team T- shirt,
camera and a picture
of Daddy and Mother.
On the back of the
picture I had written
the names our relatives who have passed
- Daddy, Mother, Von
Rebop, Clio, and Lillian
and Marcelin (My wife
Gracey’s sister and
brother).
As I carried the torch, family,
friends and colleagues cheered me
on from the sidelines. BBI Board
Member, Greg Browning yelled,
“take your time and enjoy it.” My
wife Gracey said, “Slow down!”
But Pat Ryan and Idy Fashoranti
wanted to see me run.
And then I went to
work.
I held a folded page with the picture of my parents and names of
our lost loved ones in my red mittened hand with the embroidered
maple leaf and pressed it to my
heart covered by the cotton fabric
of the St. Kitts Olympic team shirt.
I had planned my day
to be ordinary. I still
kept some key appointments, trying to calm
my nerves. I was nervous with excitement.
I was so excited that I
Rustum Southwell, olympic torchbearer
became nervous. I was
over excited. No, I was
y hand slipped off
just really, really, nervous.
M
the button and the
flame went out. I
panicked. Oh my goodness
what have I done in front of
the entire world! I had extinguished the Olympic flame.
These were my thoughts the
night before I was to hold high
above my head, for about
160-180 seconds, the Olympic
Torch. Reason enough for losing sleep.
When I got out of bed that
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
morning, after my sleepless night,
I rechecked my bag where I had
packed the torchbearer outfit, my
Fall 2009
The day seemed to drag on but
finally it was time to get to the processing centre. I arrived at the Delta
Barrington before 4 PM because we
were told to be there by 4:15 or be
replaced. We were greeted by Billy, a
5 foot 5 inch curly black haired, former teacher, hockey playing, energizer bunny who reconfirmed that
we were about to make HISTORY.
I was in the last group to run that
night - one of the final four before
the finale that would end at Parade
Square in front of City Hall. 20
torchbearers in all including two
celebrities got into the torchbearer
shuttle bus where the briefing continued and the drop offs began - first
at the Pier 21 in the city’s south end,
where we also picked up our police
escort.
Alas it all ended too soon. At the
intersection of Bell Road, Sackville
and South Park streets I kissed the
next torch in a relay that began in
Athens Greece and will continue
on to the Olympics in Vancouver.
I rejoined the other torchbearers
on the shuttle for the return trip
to Parade Square where thousands
of people were waiting to see
hometown hero and hockey star
Sidney Crosby pass the flame to
Olympian Sarah Conrad.
The day ended at an RBC reception
where the cauldron that has the
original flame from Athens Greece
was displayed. This flame follows
the relay wherever it goes. And this
is a long relay - 45,000 kilometres,
12,000 torchbearers and I, Rustum
Southwell, was one of them. I will
never forget this moment in time.
Big thank you to Lori Smith (RBC,
Manager Public Affairs) and Greg
Browning (RBC, BBI Board), who
asked me to be part of this historic
event. RBC has been much more
than our banker they are one of
our closest partners. They sponsored us to be part of the 2010
winter Olympic Relay, thank you
RBC.
Black to Business
28
Fall 2009
PARTNER PROFILE
Encana
T
he Deep Panuke Field
lies on the Scotian Shelf
approximately 250 kilometres southeast of Halifax.
Two years ago, Encana’s board
of directors gave the go ahead
to start building the installation of facilities required to
produce and process natural
gas from this field. The gas
will be processed offshore and
then transported, via an undersea pipeline, to Goldboro and
from there, will be fed into
markets served by the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline.
It is estimated that there is approximately 13 years’ worth of
natural gas available from this
particular field.
Last year, Encana launced an initiative aimed at connecting the project’s
major suppliers and contractors with
Nova Scotian companies owned and
operated by the following groups:
• Aboriginals
• Visible Minorities
• Persons with Disabilities
• Women
The Encana website, www.encana.
com/deeppanuke/business has
been set up as a “matchmaking” service, with links to the Black Business
Initiative, the Centre for Women
in Business, the Entrepreneurs with
Carol Dobson
Disabilities Network, and Ulnooweg’s
Aboriginal Business Directory, among
other organizations. The company
estimates that the companies listed
in these organizations’ databases will
“place contacts for more than one thousand Nova Scotia companies owned or
operated by disadvantaged groups at
the fingertips of major contractors or
suppliers to Deep Panuke.”
“The page has been fairly well visited
over the past year,” Encana’s Lori
MacLean says. “The role of the page,
for us, is to expose opportunities that
are available and to facilitate people
coming together.”
She says Encana has employed
Dwight Dorey as an Aboriginal and
Community Liaison Advisor. His role
is to open lines of communication
between the identified groups and
Encana, share information about business opportunities, and provide analysis/advice to Encana’s management
team. More information on his work
can be found at http://www.encana.
com/operations/offshore/deeppanuke/communityinformation/
P1201106922053.html.
MacLean says business opportunities
with the Deep Panuke project are listed
online at www.bids.ca.
“If you are a member of Offshore/
Onshore Technology Association
(OTANS), they issue a daily bulletin
to their members that includes business opportunities with Deep Panuke,”
MacLean says.
She says Encana is also encouraging
young Nova Scotians to look at careers
in the energy industry. Encana spon-
sors an annual youth award presented
to enterprising young Nova Scotian
scientists and inventors.
“We’re trying to encourage young people in careers in science, engineering,
and mathematics – the basic courses
you need for a career in our industry,”
MacLean says. “So we’re encouraging young people to get involved in
science fairs, so that they can become
aware that the type of groundwork
they’re gaining, can be a help to them
in their future careers.”
The Encana
website,
www.encana.com/
deeppanuke/business
has been set up as a
“matchmaking”
service, with links to the
Black Business Initiative,
the Centre for
Women in Business,
the Entrepreneurs
with Disabilities Network,
and Ulnooweg’s
Aboriginal Business
Directory, among
other organizations.
Black to Business
Fall 2009
29
Business & Community Events
December 3
December 9
March 6 - March 14
2010 BBI Directory
Launch &
Christmas Social
Halifax Chamber of
Commerce
2010 Tim Hortons Brier
For info: 426-2224
www.bbi.ns.ca
December 4
The Whiney Pier Youth
Club First Annual
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Community Cup
6:30pm
Cost: $5 or donation at the door.
For info contact:
Wayne MacKay:
[email protected] or
902.578.8752
Joe Menchefskit: [email protected]
or 902.371.4335
United by Song - a night of
women’s stories & songs
Harmony Bazaar presents, to
mark the 20th anniversary of the
Montréal Massacre
Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
fundraiser
7:00pm
The Company House,
2202 Gottingen St., Halifax
Tickets: $25
(at The Company House)
For tickets and info: 404-3050
December 5
More To Me Than Meets
The Eye - workshop
The Association of Black Social
Workers
REV. DAMON GILYARD,Corinthian
Baptist Church in New Jersey
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
North Branch Library, Gottingen
St., Halifax
Cost: $10/Members; $20/non
For info: [email protected];
494-1190
- Premier Darrell Dexter
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel
11:30 for 12
Tel: 468-7111
www.halifaxchamber.com
December 12
The Black Cultural Society
/ Centre Presents
“The Sweet Sounds
of Christmas”
7:00 p.m
The Black Cultural Centre
1149 Main Street, Dartmouth
Admission fee: $10.00 (adults),
$5.00 (students) and children
(six and under) admitted free.
Bring the entire family!
Tickets on sale now.
For more information call:
434-6223 in HRM or
1-800-465-0767 outside Metro
December 31
ANSMA & PBBA presents
New Years JAM 2010
w/DJ LOONEY TUNEZ
9:00PM-2:00AM
Army-Navy-Air Force Club
137 Main Street, Dartmouth
$35 p/p; $60 p/c
for tickets & info call:
404-3036 or 452-0682
Everyone is Welcome!
Halifax Metro Centre
T: 451-1221
www.ticketatlantic.com
March 4-7
2010 East Coast Music
Awards, Festival &
Conference
Sydney, Cape Breton, NS.
For Info: Phone: 902.892.9040;
Fax: 902.892.9041
E: [email protected]
August 13-20
2010 New Glasgow
Black Gala Homecoming
Contact:
Sajai M. Dorrington-Sheppard,
Tel: 902-755-3793
Correction:
In Issue 43, in Black to Business,
the Trailblazers feature we
incorrectly identified
Rev. Glenn Gray as Wayne Gray.
B2B apologizes for any
inconvenience this may have
caused.
January 9
The ANSMA 12th
Annual Music Awards
& Show
The Schooner Showroom,
Casino Nova Scotia
7:00PM
for tickets & info call: 404-3036
www.ansma.com
Rev. Glenn Gray
New Beginnings Ministry
The Race to Business Success
The Black Business Initiative is proud to
host the 7th Black Business Summit
Workshops
Boat Cruise
Golf Tournament
Biz Show
Networking
Trade Show
Keynote Speakers
AGM Dinner & Dance
jUNE 23–25, 2010
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel , Halifax, Nova Scotia
For more information, please call 902·426·2224 or visit our web site at www.bbi.ca
Charity Golf Tournament
T
he BBI wishes to thank all the golfers, hole
sponsors and companies that donated prizes. This
event would not be possible without your support!
If undeliverable return to:
The Black Business Initiative
Centennial Building
Suite 1201,1660 Hollis Street,
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1V7
Publications Mail
Agreement No.
Poste-publications
numéro de convention
0040026687 0040026687