News/Press

UBC scholarship program supports Black Canadian students at UBC

1 February 2022

As we celebrate and recognize the achievements of so many Black Canadians this month, we are proud of the hard work and dedication currently underway at UBC by a group of ambitious Black students in the Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program.  This scholarship is supported by donors and partners, including Black Opportunity Fund, which set up two awards for Black students to attend UBC. Academic benefits include access to opportunities for collaboration, leadership, and the exchange of ideas, both within the program and as students transition into life post-university.

Richardson Wealth donates to Black Opportunity Fund

1 February 2022

Thank you Richardson Wealth for your donation to Black Opportunity Fund. We are thrilled to welcome you as one of our corporate partners in our mission to create more entrepreneurial success within Canada’s Black communities.

BOF partners with University of BD and Hogan Alley on Health Survey

17 December 2021

University of British Columbia and Hogan’s Alley Society have teamed up to help increase vaccination rates within the province’s Black community. A health survey that includes Black Opportunity Fund as one of the co-partners of the report, shines a spotlight on the numbers.

Dr. Ato Sekyi-Otu, BOF board director and co-chair of the BOF Health Task Force, in The Hill Times

17 December 2021

Black Opportunity Fund continues to work hard to combat anti-Black racism in the Canadian healthcare system. BOF board director and co-chair of the BOF Health Task Force, Dr. Ato Sekyi-Otu, shares his insight on this in The Hill Times.

Episode 29 — The BOF’s Craig Wellington on serving the intersection of Canada’s Black communities

7 October 2021

VIBEtalks – In Conversation: Craig Wellington, Executive Director – Black Opportunity Fund

7 October 2021

The Black wealth gap in Canada

21 July 2021

Black Opportunity Fund co-founders Dennis Mitchell and Charmain Emerson were interviewed for this story about the challenges of accessing Black capital and creating wealth within the Black community.

Black Opportunity Fund partners with UBC to empower next generation of Black leaders

29 June 2021

Today we celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Black Opportunity Fund with a new opportunity in education. Through partnership with The University of British Columbia, we’re proud to announce our first scholarship program to help support Black Canadian students begins today.

We have a long road ahead in addressing racism

26 May 2021

Intentionality is crucial to building a more inclusive society. Hear more on this from BOF co-founder, Colin Lynch, in a recent interview on The Close with BNN Bloomberg.

Opinion: Federal budget a good first step for Black communities

5 May 2021

Craig Wellington, Executive Director of BOF, comments on the recent federal budget and measures intended to help Black communities in National Post.

CTV News Interview with Martine St-Victor, co-founder of BOF

28 April 2021

Martine St-Victor, co-founder of the Black Opportunity Fund, was recently interviewed on CTV News by Mutsumi Takahashi about entrepreneurship in black communities.

Building Solidarity and Collaboration to Support African, Caribbean and Black Women Entrepreneurs During COVID-19

19 March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified disparities in our socio-economic and political systems that have impacted women entrepreneurs around the world. Black women entrepreneurs are facing an even greater burden—largely due to systemic inequality, discrimination, and lack of access to needed supports.

Charmain Emerson, member of the BOF board of directors, participated in one of the round tables, that were hosted by the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA), Casa Foundation, de Sedulous Women Leaders, and the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) to discuss the state of Black women entrepreneurship in Canada.

This report sheds light on the state of Black women entrepreneurship, summarizes the discussions held during the virtual roundtables, and shares the recommendations derived during the roundtable discussions.

Podcast – Community empowerment through the Black Opportunity Fund

18 March 2021

Black Opportunity Fund co-founder, Ray Williams, sits down with Meres Weche for a podcast interview on his show, Afropolitan Dialogues by AfroToronto.com. Click here to Listen to the podcast interview.

Addressing vaccine hesitancy among Black Canadians

13 March 2021

Elise Stolte: Black, Indigenous and other seniors in grave danger as variant COVID-19 strains grow

13 March 2021

How can I describe the tragedy unfolding? There’s a train barrelling down the tracks toward a small group of Edmontonians and they’re not jumping out of the way.

I’m writing, of course, about the COVID-19 vaccine and the threat of a variant-driven third wave. Every day, 11,000 more Albertans are getting their doses of life-saving vaccine. But Black, Latin American and Indigenous Albertans are least likely to be among them.

Nationwide town hall hosts Black Canadian medical experts to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy within Black communities

13 March 2021

With concern growing that Black Canadians are reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine despite being disproportionately more likely than other groups to contract the disease, health care workers knew they had to address their community directly.

Canada’s economy can’t afford to leave the Black community behind

25 February 2021

OPINION: This country will not be able to “build back better” if we don’t tear down the barriers preventing Black Canadians from contributing to economic prosperity

By Colin Lynch – Published on Feb 25, 2021

Giving back is a priority for accomplished business leader

21 January 2021

We have 51 co-founders of the Black Opportunity Fund. Here’s a spotlight on Colin Lynch, who was recently appointed to the inaugural Board of Directors.

Momentum grows to tackle racism, inclusion issues in CRE

5 January 2021

A Dec. 17 webinar — introduced by KingSett chief operating officer Anna Kennedy, moderated by REALPAC chief executive officer Michael Brooks and featuring a five-person panel — focused on the Black Opportunity Fund, the BlackNorth Initiative and actions that can be taken by companies to advance the cause.

Black businesses are struggling during the pandemic — and feel left out of funding

15 December 2020

Nadine Sparks, owner of Unity Wigs & Hair Services in Dartmouth, N.S., was just getting her business off the ground prior to the pandemic. She was gaining clientele, establishing her name in the community and things were really starting to come together.

Sparks has not been approved for any government funding during the pandemic, and her salon isn’t the only Black-owned business in that situation.

Black Opportunity Fund continues to be in the spotlight

5 November 2020

Investors across Canada are eager to learn more about the fund. Dennis Mitchell breaks it down in an interview with the Uncommon Sense Investor at Davis Rea:

Black Business in Canada

1 November 2020

We’ve heard from hundreds who attended the Black Business in Canada Town Hall on October 28th, that systemic discrimination in the banking industry, is a major hurdle faced by Black entrepreneurs when it comes to securing capital.

CBC producer, James Donne, took a closer look at this issue and acknowledged Black Opportunity Fund as one of the solutions to tackling this problem.

Bloomberg Canada

14 October 2020

The Black Opportunity Fund was created to combat anti-Black racism in Canada. Co-founder, Colin Lynch, tells BNN Bloomberg exactly how it plans to accomplish its mission.

The Globe & Mail

11 October 2020

Ray Williams, co-founding director of BOF lists the many reasons he is thankful for the Black community’s past and present contributions to Canadian life, and how our futures can be brighter still.

Innovating Canada

1 October 2020

BOF’s, Colin Lynch, discusses the role of strategic partnerships in building and sustaining a booming Black business network of communities.