Impact Gala 2025
Relaunching our Provincial Hubs
Black Builders Network
Understanding the Gaps
Youth Employment Skills Program
2024/25 Black Ideas Grant (B.I.G.) 2.0
Letter From Executive Director
Fellow Community Members,
As we reflect on the second quarter of 2025, the Federation of Black Canadians is proud to share the momentum we’ve built together. This spring, we relaunched our provincial Hubs in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan—strengthening local leadership, engagement, and advocacy for Black communities across Canada.
We also hosted our first-ever in-person Black Builders Networking Event, bringing together entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and community partners for an evening of connection and insight. Alongside this, our bilingual Federal Election Panel and national survey amplified Black voices in critical conversations about equity, justice, and community priorities. Programs like our Youth Employment Skills Program continue to break barriers, with over 60 youth across Alberta and Saskatchewan gaining mentorship, training, and pathways to meaningful work.
With milestones like our ongoing role as a founding partner of the Black Innovation Zone and our selection as a recipient of the 2024/25 Black Ideas Grant, we remain committed to advancing innovation, capacity building, and economic empowerment for Black Canadians.
As we look ahead, we invite you to join us at the 2025 Impact Gala this September in Brampton—a celebration of Black excellence, leadership, and community. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
In solidarity,
Chris Thompson
Executive Director,
Federation of Black Canadians
Impact Gala is Almost Here!
In case you forgot, we’re getting closer and closer to the 2025 Impact Gala, and it’s a night you don’t want to miss! Join us on September 27th from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM at the Dreams Convention Centre in Brampton, Ontario as we celebrate Black excellence with inspiring awards, live entertainment, and community connection. Early bird tickets are now sold out, but regular tickets are available for $105. Visit fbcfcn.ca/gala-2025 for group rates and more event details.
Award nominations are also officially closed, thank you to everyone who submitted and to our generous sponsors: Nobellum, Black Founders Network (BFN), Abimbola, the Khem Birch Foundation, Mansha Plan, and Black Entrepreneurship Alliance. We’re still looking for award sponsors for the Excellent Student Award, Excellence in Justice Advocacy, Community Impact Award, and Outstanding Mentor Award. General sponsorship opportunities are open so you still have a chance to get involved and help us amplify Black excellence across Canada.
Relaunching our Provincial Hubs
The Federation of Black Canadians (FBC) has relaunched its provincial Hubs, renewing its commitment to local engagement, advocacy, and representation for Black communities across Canada. As outlined on our website, this relaunch strengthens FBC’s grassroots approach by empowering regional teams to lead initiatives that align with national goals while addressing local priorities. The updated structure provides clearer leadership roles, increased coordination, and better support for volunteers and community leaders. The first Hubs will roll out in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
With this relaunch, FBC had invited individuals to apply for new leadership positions including Hub Chair, Community Engagement & Events Lead, Membership & Volunteer Engagement Lead, Governance Relations Lead, and Research Lead. These roles are crucial in building strong, localized networks that reflect the lived realities of Black Canadians and influence change from the ground up. Whether through policy research, volunteer coordination, or community outreach, Hub leaders will directly contribute to the advancement of Black communities across the country. Learn more here.
Federal Election
As part of its civic engagement efforts, the Federation of Black Canadians (FBC) supported and co-hosted a bilingual Federal Election Panel ahead of the February 27 provincial general election. With over 100 guests in attendance, the panel featured speakers including the Liberal Party, and served as a space for community members to ask questions, raise concerns, and engage directly with political leaders. The event was hosted in both French and English, with FBC staff, Debra Olaniyi (Programs and Services Manager), Chris Thompson (Executive Director), and Gloria McMayoni (Bilingual Communications Assistant) ensuring the chat remained inclusive and accessible for all attendees. A recurring sentiment expressed during the event was a strong desire for more forums like this that amplify Black voices and foster open, bilingual dialogue about political accountability, policy development, and community priorities.
To complement the panel, FBC conducted a national survey with 100 respondents to better understand Black Canadians’ priorities during the election. 94% identified as Black or part of the African Diaspora, with most respondents based in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia. Equity, racial justice, and reconciliation emerged as top issues, followed by job creation, child care, climate action, and support for small businesses. Notably, 76% of participants indicated they were likely or certain to vote. The survey also captured powerful quotes on topics like immigration, affordable housing, and education, highlighting systemic challenges and the need for inclusive solutions. Events like these and the accompanying research demonstrate why voting matters, influencing healthcare, education, employment, and more. For more on how to vote and your rights, visit elections.on.ca.
Entrepreneurship & Black Builder Highlights
Black Builder’s Network Updates
Past:
Around 100 attendees were present for FBC’s first-ever in-person Black Builders Networking Event in Mississauga, ON, in partnership with RBC. This milestone gathering brought together past Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) participants, community members, allies, and ecosystem partners for an evening filled with connection, celebration, and insight. There were two panels, 1 featuring our BEP grads who have been crushing it in their new businesses and the other featuring more senior industry leaders. The panels featured speakers from SoPlugged, Tiwaa Agency Futurepreneur RBC and more. Read our full recap here.
Present:
Since then, we’ve continued to build momentum across the Black Builders ecosystem. We’ve launched practical resources like our blog series, designed to support both nonprofits and businesses at any stage of development. Be sure to check out: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Launch Your Nonprofit, Is Starting a Nonprofit Right for You?, and Tips for Writing a Business Plan. We’re also excited to roll out Office Hours for Premium Black Builders,1-hour support sessions with our experts, and upcoming webinars (topics coming soon). Stay in the loop and join the Black Builders Network.
Consensus 2025 Recap
The Federation of Black Canadians (FBC) is excited to share that something special is on the horizon, and you won’t want to miss it! In our continued mission to empower and connect Black Canadians, we’re working on an upcoming opportunity where free tickets will be offered to our community. Whether you’re passionate about innovation, advocacy, or building connections that matter, this will be a chance to learn, network, and be inspired, all at no cost to you. Stay tuned for details on how to claim your ticket, and in the meantime, if you’re curious about Consensus, one of the world’s most influential events on the future of finance, tech, and culture, you can start exploring here: https://consensus2025.coindesk.com
Black Innovation Zone
The Federation of Black Canadians (FBC) continues as a founding partner for the Black Innovation Zone (BIZ) to advance Black-led innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment across Canada. Together, we work to provide culturally relevant programming, mentorship, and capacity-building opportunities that support Black entrepreneurs and innovators at every stage of their journey. 100s of Tickets and Black organizations have been given space, elevation and funding to be a part of major conferences in Canada including Websummit and Toronto Tech Week.
Understanding the Gaps
We recently hosted an interactive focus group centered on the barriers Black Canadians face in accessing justice. The session featured open-ended discussions exploring critical themes such as legal accessibility, systemic knowledge gaps, and personal or community experiences with the justice system.
Participants engaged in thoughtful dialogue, highlighting real-world challenges and proposing actionable solutions. The focus group was followed by a dynamic panel discussion that brought together diverse legal voices, including licensed notaries, paralegals, law students, and practicing lawyers, who shared their insights and expertise on how to bridge gaps in justice and equity for Black communities in Canada.
This session is part of our ongoing commitment to amplifying Black voices, addressing systemic inequities, and working toward a more accessible and just legal system for all. Read our stay tuned for when we release the full report.
Youth Employment Skills Program
The Federation of Black Canadians Youth Employment Skills Program, designed to support Black youth, newcomers, youth with disabilities, and NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) youth across Canada has made headway with over 60+ Black youth actively participating in our program. This initiative provides a 9-week paid training program followed by a 6-week quality employment placement, offering 30 hours of experience per week, along with personalized mentorship and support. Currently, 34 youth are active in Alberta and 26 in Saskatchewan, with a new Ontario cohort launching in August. Through this program, we are breaking down barriers and building strong pathways to employment for marginalized youth across the country.
To learn more, visit: https://fbcfcn.ca/youth-employment-skills-program/
2024/25 Black Ideas Grant (B.I.G) 2.0
The Federation of Black Canadians (FBC) is proud to have been selected as a recipient of the 2024/25 Black Ideas Grant (B.I.G.) 2.0 through the CORE stream, funded by the Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC). This grant provides long-term, flexible support to Black-led, Black-serving organizations across Canada working to strengthen operations and increase impact in their communities. FBC’s selection reflects our continued commitment to empowering Black Canadians through advocacy, financial literacy, youth programming, and culturally relevant initiatives that respond directly to community needs.
Get Involved with FBC
Volunteer With Us
Volunteers are a crucial aspect to the strength and success of the Federation and we provide a variety of ways to get involved. You can learn more here.
Become a General Member
General members of FBC will receive regular communications and access to contact lists for other African Canadian organizations across Canada. You can sign up to become a member here.
Become a Paid Member
Paid members of FBC receive invitations to our Annual General Meeting and receive voting rights at our meetings. You can become a paid member here.
Invest In Us
By supporting FBC, you can have a positive impact on our ability to keep much-needed programs (such as BEP and SSLP) accessible for the Black community. Find out more.