The Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) is paving the way for a new and vibrant breed of young entrepreneurs. In November, the BBPA held its first National Black Business and Professional Convention (NBBPC) at Toronto’s Sheraton Centre to promote youth entrepreneurship, diversity, economic empowerment, and to provide networking opportunities.
Another exciting update is the expansion of services at the Tropicana employment centre. Through Employment Ontario, the centre, which primarily served youth, is now able to broaden its client base to include adults. Plus, each summer, Tropicana facilitates Summer Jobs for Youth, a provincial government program that provides job readiness, training and support with paid employment placements through July and August.
Premier Dalton McGuinty and his team hosted an Ethnic Media Reception on December 15 at the new Bram & Bluma Salon at the Toronto Public Library. Many local Liberal MPP’s, with the notable exception of Mike Colle of St Paul, attended while the Premier talked about the rich diversity of Ontario and the magic of family, paying special tribute to his own family of 12, including his father who was an MPP in the late ’80s.
For 28 precious days (sometimes 29), the roles of iconic figures like Lincoln Alexander, Liberty Silver and Donovan Bailey are examined and lauded. But for Mhairy McLachlan and Ricardo McRae, the founders of Whos WhoInBlackCanada.com, a single month of recognizing Black Canadians was simply not enough.