CAMSC Supplier Diversity Bytes – Feb 13, 2023

In February, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of the Black Canadians throughout history. This year’s theme of the Black History Month is “Ours to tell” and for this occasion we would love to share with you the voices from our own team members here at CAMSC.

Shaping history

The role of Black Canadians and their communities in Canada has largely been ignored or minimized throughout history. Since 1988, when the Black History Month was first observed in Nova Scotia, a lot of progress has been accomplished in improving the social and economic situation of Black communities in all provinces. Thanks to efforts by individuals, groups and organizations who fought and worked relentlessly to promote equal rights, greater diversity and fair representation, we are slowly evolving into a more just society where excellency of Black Canadians in business and culture is getting more exposure and recognition. Yet, there is a long way to go, as prejudice and discrimination continue to exist.

Did you know even today:

• Statistically, there are nearly twice as many unemployed black women aged 18-69 in Canada as there are unemployed white women.
• Employment income figures showed Black Canadian men earned on average 33% less compared to the average Canadian man who is not a visible minority.
• Black university graduates earn only eighty cents for every dollar earned by white university graduates – despite having the same credentials.

(Source: 2016 census Statistics Canada)

Looking towards future

The Canadian Black population is younger than the average total population in Canada. In 2016, the median age for the Black population was approximately 30 years versus 40 years for the total population*. Black Canadians also appeared to be more active in the labor force. (The same year, data showed that their participation rate for men and women within that cohort stood at 72.2% and 66.1%, respectively, in respect to 69.1% and 60.8% for the non-racialized male and female populations).

CAMSC proudly plays an active role in increasing awareness of all visible minorities and Indigenous business owners. We strive to give fair recognition to Black business owners, facilitate networking and educate our members and partners about ways to make progress together. Our goal is to provide valuable resources to our suppliers from the black community to help encourage economic growth via several channels and platforms such as industry roundtables, matchmaking events, procurement fairs and related programs.

CAMSC is currently developing Track 3 of our Supplier Diversity Playbook Series based on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and would like to gauge your interest.

Please click on the link and vote in less than 20 seconds. We sincerely appreciate your feedback.

Biggest challenges on your journey towards success and leadership

Happy Black History Month. My name is Cassandra Dorrington, I am the President & CEO of CAMSC. I am the second CEO to sit at the helm. The honour of this position came in an unexpected convergence of events. An accountant by profession bringing many years of corporate experience from my earlier career days to my entrepreneurial experience through my consulting practice led me to become one of CAMSC’s first certified suppliers. As a business owner, I was a strong believer in CAMSC’s work and was a strong advocate in my community, among my peers and clients. When I was asked to take over the mantle of leadership at CAMSC, I couldn’t refuse. To the suppliers in the community, I know your challenges, I have been there – and I have made a commitment as a leader of this organization to affect change.

Many of the challenges that you have faced as entrepreneurs were equally as challenging for me when I ran my business. These included such things as ensuring the clarity of my value proposition, building my confidence as a budding entrepreneur, and identifying and connecting with decision makers to grow my business. What I have also experienced is the bias as a black woman entrepreneur.

My life’s outlook has always been one of positivity based in realism. What is exciting is that with the establishment and growth of organizations like CAMSC, we are providing those supports, resources, and access to networks to address these very issues.

New supports and resources to address Capital Skills Training, Access to Capital, a growing entrepreneurial eco-system coupled evolving ESG goals incorporating SD are the next tier of resources and supports to building and supporting a diverse and burgeoning business community across Canada.

Read more

Beza Getachew – Marketing & Communications

My name is Beza Getachew, and I am the Marketing and Communications Intern here at CAMSC. Black History Month is important to me as it not only is a time to reflect on the challenges the black community has overcame but also recognize and to not be ignorant to the prejudice and hardships that continues to happen.

As a student attempting to get her foot into the corporate world, diversity and inclusion are factors I must always consider when I think of where I might want to be placed; To feel welcomed, heard, and comfortable should always be a given but unfortunately is not always the case. This is why I believe it is important to recognize the representation of black individuals in leadership and significant roles. Representation not only in higher roles but in the media can assist in reducing stereotypes of the black individuals and can also boost self-esteem, especially the younger generations.

In my experience, I have overcome challenges through surrounding myself with others who are accepting as well as becoming the representation that I know other people may appreciate. Rather than allowing tough environments to discourage me I decided to make it a goal to become the solution for other younger people to look up to, whether that be in school or the workplace.

While we have made progress as a society it is important to understand that it does not end here. We must continue create equal opportunities and tackle the system issues that are still evident. Black History Month is a way to continue the progression of equality and to never stop.

CAMSC simplifies your search for diverse suppliers by connecting you directly to certified Indigenous, Minority and Refugee owned businesses.

To get access to inclusive supply chains please apply here.

Suppliers

CAMSC offers national certification, giving Indigenous, Minority and Refugee owned suppliers access to the leading network of organizations committed to diverse and inclusive supply chains.

If you are an aboriginal or minority business owner and would like to get access certification to corporate and public sector purchasing opportunities, get certified here.

Jackee Kasandy, CEO and co-founder of the Black Entrepreneurs and Businesses of Canada Society, said she started the contest to help Black businesspeople who still face barriers, such as poverty, not having a house or other collateral, or a poor credit score.

The Black Pitch Contest is designed to help Black entrepreneurs who have been excluded from traditional investment avenues like loans, grants and business financing, said Kasandy, who also owns a shop on Granville Island called Kasandy.

The Enterprise Center (TEC) is blazing a trail with its $50 million Innovative Capital Growth Fund, demonstrating how private sector investment can be leveraged through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Small Business Invest Companies (SBIC) program to increase private-equity investment in Black-owned businesses.