In Memoriam
17 March 2022
Get the latest news, information and stories that matter to our Black communities.
17 March 2022
1 March 2022
We’ve launched our Grant Program for Education and Health with the help of @TDbank ’s generous funding. This grant program was developed to help fund Black-led, Black-serving and Black-focused not-for-profits and charities, who are leading impactful initiatives in the key areas of health and education. We are accepting applications for this grant until March 31st.
14 February 2022
BMO Launches Business Within Reach: BMO for Black Entrepreneurs and Commits $100 million in loans to Help Black-led Businesses Start up, Scale up, and Grow.
To support the new program for Black Entrepreneurs, BMO has partnered with the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) – a community-led organization committed to removing financial barriers for Black-led businesses. The partnership will provide wrap-around educational programming to Black business owners in key areas such as business planning, financial management, sales, marketing, and budgeting.
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.
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.
31 January 2022
In collaboration with Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce, BOF launches the Black Entrepreneur Program! This program provides a unique wrap around support, including non-repayable funds for Black Entrepreneurs who have been unable to access traditional funding. A huge thanks to CIBC & CIBC Foundation for kickstarting this program with a generous donation!
7 January 2022
As we enter a new year, we want to thank you for your continued support of our mission to fight anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in Canada. As we welcome 2022, we can’t help but reflect on some of the great accomplishments of 2021.
23 December 2021
Happy Kwanza to all celebrating this holiday. The 7 principles of Kwanza are something that Black Opportunity Fund hold close to our hearts with the principle of Nia – Purpose, standing out as the one we connect with the most. Purpose is something we always keep in mind when reflecting on our mission to combat anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in Canada. Best wishes to all and their families.
17 November 2021
Book your calendar for a Black Opportunity Fund community event on December 9th. You won’t want to miss this national round table discussion on the Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention.
There will be a large focus on gun and gang violence. Our society has a reactive approach to violent crime. It’s time to walk a different path. The public health approach recognizes that violence is the result of a complex causal system, and its approach is one that would look at prevention as opposed to reaction. You won’t want to miss this virtual gathering. The panel line up is outstanding. Thanks to Colliers Canada for your partnership on this event.
12 October 2021
Black communities have been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. How do we get out of this? Vaccinating as many people as possible is certainly part of the solution. Health professionals from Black communities discuss the impact of the pandemic and the barriers that remain.
In collaboration with: Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), Black Health Alliance, Sommet socio-économique pour le développement des jeunes des communautés noires, Quebec Black Medical association, The Black Community Resource Centre, Jamaican Association of Montreal inc., The McGill Motivational Lab, DRSP de Montréal et de Laval, Ville de Laval.
7 October 2021
7 October 2021
16 September 2021
We are happy to share that TD has announced a $10 million commitment to Black Opportunity Fund to help fund and empower Black-led businesses and community organizations in Canada. This significant donation is among the largest contributions in Canada to a Black-focused, Black-led and Black-serving organization. This collaboration will go a long way in supporting our mission to combat the impact of anti-Black racism and systematic discrimination in Canada.
30 July 2021
Black Opportunity Fund is horrified by the recent rise in violence against Black Muslim women in Alberta and across Canada and wish to express our wholehearted condemnation of Islamophobia, gender-based violence, and anti-Black racism in all their forms.
23 July 2021
We are proud to announce a new partnership between Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR), Pitch Better and BOF, funded by Facebook, that will offer grants of up to $10,000 to help support and empower Black-led businesses in Canada!
The goal of the CILAR partnership Grant Program is to provide capital resources for as many Black-led businesses as possible, and we are thrilled to be a part of the initiative!
15 July 2021
The Black Opportunity Fund is proud to present a comprehensive report on vaccine confidence in the Black Canadian community, which would not have been possible without the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council and Innovation Research Group. Based on our findings, 33% of our community shows vaccine hesitancy, largely due to a lack of trust. Find out where that trust breaks down and how it can be rebuilt.
30 June 2021
On February 17, the Black Opportunity Fund gathered leaders in the community for an essential panel discussion, titled: Sustaining Canada’s Anti-Black racism movement: What’s Next? Panelists discussed how George Floyd’s murder and the social movement it sparked brought to light many struggles that have been a reality in the Black community for generations. Now, our panelists share, we must make sure this newfound consciousness isn’t wasted, and create a better world for the generations to come. Watch the full video to find out how.
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.
25 June 2021
It is with heavy hearts that we express our sympathy and stand in solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters of Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan.
18 June 2021
The Black Opportunity Fund Grants Committee is a standing committee of the BOF Board of Directors, empowered to develop and administer the granting process for BOF.
The Grants Committee is currently seeking applications from individuals from across all regions of Canada who are interested in serving in the roles below.
The Grants Committee recognizes the diversity of Black Canadians across Canada. Francophones and other applicants from Western Canada, Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Territories or who represent the LGBTQ2+ community are especially encouraged to apply.
14 June 2021
At the Black Opportunity Fund town hall on education, we asked parents and caregivers of Black children to reflect on how Canada’s education system serves them.
Our community told us what barriers they and their children come up against, and how their educational needs can be prioritized through three paths of affecting change.
School, Community, and Home.
1 June 2021
We are saddened by the discovery of more than 200 Indigenous children in Kamloops, BC and we at the Black Opportunity Fund stand in solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters, today and every day. Read our full statement on these tragedies here
28 May 2021
At the one-year mark since the murder of George Floyd, Canadian organizations must assess their progress against the promises they made to combat systemic anti-Black racism.
An article written by Craig Wellington, Executive Director, Black Opportunity Fund
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.
10 May 2021
Congratulations to BOF’s co-founder Hazel Claxton!
TELUS reports operational and financial results for first quarter 2021, and announced that Hazel Claxton will be joining the TELUS Board of Directors.