Get the latest news, information and stories that matter to our Black communities.
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.
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.
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.
31 March 2021
Black Opportunity Fund is pleased to join a coalition of Black Community groups who are calling on the Federal Government for more community investments in the 2021 budget. Black communities are in need of more recovery and greater prosperity.
Read the full letter, that was submitted on March 31st,
and
Add your voice, to support Canadian Coalition for Black Communities
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.
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.
14 March 2021
Your concerns about COVID vaccines deserve a judgement-free discussion and expert advice that considers our perspective.
In a national forum on Saturday March 13th that invited our community to engage with Black medical experts, Black Opportunity Fund and the Black North Initiative proudly helped provide answers.
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
17 February 2021
Building on the worldwide momentum of the anti-Black racism events of 2020, BOF hosted Sustaining Canada’s Anti-Black Racism Movement which brought together voices from some of Canada’s key Black-led organizations. The event can be streamed here.
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.
26 November 2020
Black Opportunity Fund is building its board of directors. If you have the qualifications we’re searching for, please let us know. If you know someone who does, let them know too.
26 November 2020
In June 2020, when the Black Opportunity Fund was launched, we promised our supporters that we would conduct an extensive and national consultation with as many Black leaders, Black-led businesses and Black community organizations as possible. We also promised to deliver a summary of those discussions. The report has been completed and will be released shortly. We thank you for your patience.
25 November 2020
Responsible Investment Association (RIA), your kindness will not go unnoticed. Beginning with the Diversity & Inclusion Week you hosted October 26-30, educating investment pros on how to advance diversity and inclusion in their organizations and portfolios, we are thankful for your understanding of the need to improve diversity, equity and inclusion. We are especially grateful for the portion of funds that RIA donated from that event to Black Opportunity Fund. We thank your members. We thank the leaders of the organization.
15 October 2020
Black Opportunity Fund hosted its first Town Hall on September 21st with an intense focus on Black healthcare issues.
The engaging discussions examined the rise of mental health within the community, the challenges and microaggressions faced by Black medical students, and the urgent need for the collection of data to improve healthcare within the Black community.
Expert voices included Dr. Ato Sekyi-Otu, an orthopaedic surgeon at William Osler Health System, Sharon Davis-Murdoch, Co-President, Health Association of African-Canadians, Donna Alexander, Paul Bailey, Executive Director, Black Health Alliance, Dr. Hadal El-Hadi and Semir Bulle, co-president, Black Medical Students Association.
#blackopportunityfund #bof #blackenterprisematters #yourphilanthropymatters
29 September 2020
You won’t want to miss BOF co-founders, Jaqui Parchment, Dennis Mitchell and Colin Lynch as they share center stage at the inaugural D&I Week in October.
Presented by the Responsible Investment Association (RIA), an impressive list of panellists will come together to share insight and discuss case studies on the rise of impact investment funds. (October 26-30, 2020) https://www.riacanada.ca/
#blackopportunityfund #bof #blackenterprisematters #yourphilanthropymatters
15 August 2020
The Black Opportunity Fund is proud to announce that Richardson GMP has become its first sponsor. CEO Andrew Marsh is very enthusiastic about the Black Opportunity Fund and is looking forward to working with us in the future. We thank the entire Richardson GMP team for their commitment to combating anti-Black racism and for their support of the national Black community.
#blackopportunityfund #bof #blackenterprisematters #yourphilanthropymatters
3 August 2020
Toronto Foundation, in partnership with Vancity Community Investment Bank, has created the Better Toronto Coalition. We are delighted to announce that Vancity is coming on board as one of our financial partners.
This exciting new development is the impact funding action we need to help boost Black-led businesses and organizations.
The partnership will operate within the wider objective of Vancity Community Investment Bank which has commenced a study designed to help small, local enterprises in Ontario and B.C whose growth may have been impeded by the economic headwinds of the COVID-19 crisis.
#blackopportunityfund #bof #blackenterprisematters #yourphilanthropymatters
