🏆 WE WON AN AWARD!

The last time we connected, our Black Experience Pavilion at the Restaurants Canada Show (RC Show) was an incoming train whose tracks were laid but not tested.

This time, we’re thrilled to share that not only did we have an incredible inaugural showing, but our 360-degree Pavilion sparked new ideas, wowed judges, and won the Best First Time Exhibitor Booth Award!

With 15 live demonstrations, lip-smacking samples, 30+ wholesale products by Black entrepreneurs, and delicious giveaways provided by KraftHeinz, our space piqued attendee curiosity, kept participants engaged, and demonstrated the importance of diversity to one of Canada’s most innovative industries.

The cherry on top, or rather, the orange slice in the bird feeder, was the success of our Black Talent Networking Session.

Proudly sponsored by High Liner Foods, our afternoon recruitment event connected Black job seekers to representatives from KraftHeinz, SkipTheDishes, Sysco, BIPOC Executive Search, Black Creek Community Farm, and Honey Soul Food in an informal environment that also built B2B relationships. Here’s what a couple participants had to say:

We’re working on another event to bridge the gap between our community and network, so stay tuned for more updates if you're interested in tapping into the treasure trove that is Black talent in Canada.

Local food filmmaker wins big in LA! Margarette Leandre has channelled her love for Toronto's food scene into a digital series called Kitchens of Toronto. It highlights food culture through profiles of local restaurants and recently won Best Pilot at the Los Angeles Webseries Festival! ​ Despite this achievement, Season 2 needs help to cross the finish line. It’ll take a lot of emails, donations, and social posts to reach her $50K goal, but every bit helps. How much love do you have for local restaurants? SUPPORT THE SERIES

📌 HOW DO TO EMANCIPATION DAY WELL

Quick question: Which day of significance is better known in North America: Emancipation Day or Juneteenth?

Fast follow: Which day has been officially recognized by a provincial government for over 15 years?

Despite August 1st being declared as a day of emancipation across the British Empire in 1834 and a provincially-recognized day of significance in Ontario since 2008, most Canadians are unaware of the importance of this milestone on the journey to the abolition of slavery in Canada.

In our last issue, we noted how repeated efforts over time drive systems change. Closing the Emancipation Day knowledge gap is a vital step towards change as it expands the narratives often shared about our history and opens the door for new conversations about the realities of being Black in Canada.

So, how can you get involved in re-balancing the scales of truth? Here are three tips for by celebrating this unique day of significance in your organization this summer.

1- UNDERSTAND WHAT EMANCIPATION DAY IS ALL ABOUT. Historically, Emancipation Day has not received the corporate pomp and circumstance of Black History Month, meaning your efforts to ensure it's observed with intention will have to be a little louder and a lot more informed. In our experience, nothing makes it easier to influence buy-in for cultural (read: Black) events than a strong grasp of what you’re pitching.

Start with resources like this one from the BC Black History Awareness Society or this interview with Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard to begin your deep dive into the nuances of Emancipation Day and the impacts of the transatlantic slave trade on the Canadian Black community. Before you pitch your idea internally, reflect on what you’ve learned so you can draw clear links between Black history, Canadian history and the power your organization has in upending the legacies of slavery, colonialism, racism, and discrimination in Canada. Here's a freebie from us.​

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2- LINK THE IMPACT OF EMANCIPATION DAY TO BRAND VALUES. How does Emancipation Day relate to values like belonging, innovation, and autonomy? In addition to securing buy-in from leadership, this strategy shows your Black and non-Black employees that you understand the impact and legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and believe that honouring it is integral to your brand’s HR strategy.

Caring about and supporting Black employees means understanding the nuances of their lived experiences and how that affects their day to day performance. Consider giving Black employees an additional day off or offering a professional development activity (like free passes to a relevant exhibit) as a constructive example of your organization's understanding of emancipation, resilience, and independence.

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3- GIVE EMANCIPATION DAY ITS DUE BY EXTENDING THE OBSERVANCE. Just like a good cocktail, a diverse blend of touchpoints will have a greater impact in providing employees with an experience that closes knowledge gaps and drives equity & inclusion than a solitary moment. By spreading the celebration across multiple days of email communications, virtual sessions, and live events, you also provide colleagues and leadership with more opportunities for the day's significance to be shared, activated, and reflected on without being lost to the hustle and bustle of the long weekend. Regardless of how you decide to structure your celebration, remember that more touchpoints mean more voices and more experiences to honour; and that’s equity and inclusion in action.