CityNews and 680 NEWS are featuring 13 businesses that were applicants from the 2021 RSM All IN campaign and were chosen because they all had emotional & inspiring back stories.

 

Each business owner was asked, ‘What’s The Story Behind Your Business?” to help signify the importance of Black-owned businesses in Canada.  Check out their stories below.

 

 

KidzSwag

Their Story

My name is Kim West. Founder, Mother, Wife, Worker Bee.  I am a mom of two beautiful girls and I am dedicated to ensuring their zest for life and love for self is reinforced by seeing positive images of children that look like them.  The focus of KIDS SWAG is everyday lifestyle items.  Great action is taking place to improve diversity in books and dolls and there are a number of different vendors making it easier to find these great items.  A simple premise – a confident child will lead to a confident adult that is unstoppable in their pursuit of excellence.  It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my first child that I realized how hard it is to find products (books, party supplies, toys, clothes, etc…) that would reflect her beauty and provide positive reinforcement of her black culture and heritage. I started buying everything I could find and would share my triumphs on Facebook. The immediate likes and inquiries into my purchases made me realise I was not alone.

 

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Blacbiblio

Their Story

What will your students say they were taught during this time of change and awareness? How will you address the missing voices of our history in our culture? How will you answer students that ask why they did not learn about Blacks, Indigenous and other people of color in their textbooks?  The way we taught in the past has NEVER answered these burning questions.

The ABC’s of Canadian Black History Kit helps you address the historic and current inequalities that 2020’s racial tension are bringing into focus. Containing 26 carefully designed lesson plans, the Kit is a resource that fosters awareness, acknowledges the presence and contributions of Black Canadians, and helps you reach the student who does not see anyone who looks like her in her studies. Help her to understand that “if she can see it, she can be it”.  Let your legacy of awareness and inclusion be the one that this student, and her classmates, carry forward.

 

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Oofii

Their Story

Tyrell James-Harris born January 29, 2004 is a young entrepreneur from Shelburne Ontario. Born and raised in Brampton by both parents Shawn and Kirlince Harris. “Tyrell has always been a quiet, helpful, and loving older sibling to baby sister Tyra. “ says mom.

In January 2020 Tyrell became a young entrepreneur to his new trendy clothing brand OOFII. OOFII meaning ‘RICH and Wealthy’ has people of all ages and ethnicities excited for more. With OOFII having a powerful meaning behind it Tyrell makes it top priority to have great quality garments.

Tyrell started his brand by selling sports head bands. “I started off with 150 headbands and sold them all in about two weeks, After that I knew I had something special”. Shortly after Tyrell introduced his ladies OOFII t-shirts, OOFII crew necks, The fashionably high demand OOFII Hoodies, and now the classic OOFII tracksuits.

Tyrell’s goal for OOFII is for the brand to be sold across Canada in all the shopping malls creating jobs for youth.

 

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Stewart Hockey

Their Story

Stewart Hockey was first established in 2014 by Anthony Stewart. After retiring from a 10 year professional hockey career he decided to give back to the  hockey community that went above and beyond to help him and his brother Chris reach the NHL. Stewart Hockey’s  mission is to create an environment where players of all ages and socio economic backgrounds can advance their hockey skills . Together with their hand picked staff they hope to inspire the next generation of leaders and athletes.

 

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Shayla’s Voice

Their Story

After our daughter Shayla, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2, our mission was to gather as much information as possible, and to seek the best help for our daughter. With sleepless nights researching the internet, and speaking to professional after professional, we grew more and more confused and devastated day by day, as we simply did not know what the right service was, or who would provide the best service for our precious angel. We found ourselves spending money on anything and everything from diets, to therapies, seeking, reaching and hoping that we were doing the right thing for Shayla. Like us, we are certain that many parents receiving a new diagnosis for any disability has done and are doing just the same.

As we look back and reflect on our journey, although we wouldn’t do anything differently, we however identified an opportunity to do better for our precious kids. We created Shayla’s Voice to provide resources to families in our community solely based on other parents’ personal reviews and journeys.

Shayla`s Voice is a non-profit organization created to help special needs families find the right services for their loved ones through the collective reviewing of services offered to the special needs community. Through this platform, families can share their own personal experiences on the services they’ve used in order to encourage the right level of services for other families in the community. Essentially, Shayla`s Voice hopes to help special needs families find the right services for their loved ones, one review at a time.

 

 

Nia Centre for the Arts

Their Story

Initially funded through the Youth Challenge Fund in 2008 to address the roots of youth violence and disengagement, early programs focused on helping young people hone their artistic talents, and support positive youth development. Since then, Nia Centre has connected thousands of young people and emerging youth artists to mentors, opportunities to build transferable skills and employment. The Centre has offered programs in music, spoken word, literature, visual arts, theatre, dance and interdisciplinary arts often in partnership with established artists and arts organizations.

Nia Centre always had a vision for a physical space to address the lack of safe spaces for African-Canadian communities.

In 2015, we secured a lease for 524 Oakwood Ave, located just south of Eglinton Ave West, in the heart of a historically Caribbean neighbourhood with a long history of artistic and creative entrepreneurship

 

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Jeffrey Tosh Art

Their Story

After receiving a B.A. in Visual Arts from the University of Western Ontario in 2006, Tosh began pursuing his art career in the Toronto area. As a landscape painter, Tosh varies the perspective of his experience by magnifying details of the urban terrain. This magnification fuses with contemporary expression into a graffiti inspired cocktail of abstraction and realism; arousing the senses and energizing the viewer.

 

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BlackHealingTO

Their Story

This fundraiser mission was largely inspired by Racheal Cargle’s Loveland Foundation, and I wanted to bring a similar proven & tested model closer to home. There are major gaps in the public health care system with an implicit bias of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour. Many Ontarians have to wait on a long waitlist for mental health care, but the barriers for Black and Afro-Indigenous people differ because of intergenerational trauma, the history of colonization, and slavery.

Systemic anti-Black racism creates barriers for asking for help and receiving help.  Black and Afro Indigenous people need to feel safe & seen to access mental health care. Black Healing TO focuses on making it possible for individuals to choose culturally competent therapists, so they can move towards discovering and reclaiming a sense of well-being and feeling secure in their body, mind, and soul.

Black Healing TO is committed to providing support & care for Black & Afro Indigenous folks in Ontario. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and trauma informed. We aim to embody 4 principals: respect, self-determination, being trauma informed, and anti-racist & anti-oppressive practices. When we heal, we all heal. We all have the personal & collective responsibility not to ignore the reflection of hundreds of years of trauma in various Black communities because everyone’s liberation is interconnected.

 

 

KinkyCurlyYaki

Their Story

My name is Vivian Kaye and I am the Founder and CEO of KinkyCurlyYaki.

I have always been proud of my natural hair. I love the way it feels after a wash-n-go, how my curls look when I’ve given them the attention they deserve and how many different ways I can wear it.  But I also love experimenting with protective styles such as weaves, wigs and braids and love to switch up my look on a whim based on my mood.

In 2010, after watching tons of videos of women unintentionally damaging their own natural hair in an attempt to blend it with exotic textures like “Brazilian”, “Peruvian” & “Malaysian”, I began searching for textures that looked more like my own. I was so ready to say goodbye to that whole “African in the front, Indian in the back” thing.

But my search came up empty.

I found that most hair extension companies carried mostly straight or synthetic curl textures that were not versatile or easy to maintain; not to mention the available textures weren’t so cute either.

So in 2012, I decided to create a company that not only sold high quality, kinky, curly and natural-looking textured hair extensions but one that also celebrates the women who wear it. YOU.

 

 

Naij Hair

Their Story

For Black Womxn that finally need a trusting, reputable and consistent hair company, NAIJ Hair provides you with premium, long lasting, luxury hair. Unlike our competitors, our hair is exclusively and ethically sourced, undergoes a triple quality check and is cleansed before it’s sent out to you, our cherished customers.

Our mission to be a part of your daily beauty ritual, to be a leading hair source in North America and to raise the standard in the human hair industry.

 

Pro League Sports

Their Story

Since 1991, this hidden gem in The Beaches neighbourhood of Toronto prides itself on offering only the best licensed apparel from nearly every professional sports league. From jerseys to hats to collectibles and everything in between, Pro League can help you find what you’re looking for.

An athlete himself for his whole life, owner Tex Thomas started out collecting autographs, sports cards, and memorabilia deciding to turn his passion into a neighbourhood staple for more than 25 years.

Along with providing memorabilia of your favourite players and athletes, Pro League can also create custom orders (including jerseys and team shirts) based on your needs.

A one-stop shop for all your sport apparel needs.

 

 

Cup of Te

Their Story

An accident left former gymnast Taylor Lindsay-Noel quadriplegic—but didn’t stop her from dreaming big. Her collection of six ethically sourced teas is a luxurious mix of flavors, and a portion of the proceeds goes to mental-health awareness causes.

 

 

Below – additional Black owned businesses you can support right now and they’re all located in the GTA.

 

BEAUTY

Diva creations skin and hair care 

Ladies Love Units

MFMG Cosmetics

Tiny Balms

Queenfidence Cosmetics

 

FASHION

the Allen Avenue

BeniBoo Fadshon

Inspire Legacy Company

Israella Kobla

LC Apparel Co.

LIWI68

Marvelus Creations

Nadia Lloyd

PHOENIX 4EVER BEAUTY

Pro League Sports

Stylz Afriq

 

FOOD / DRINK

Mary’s Brigadeiro Handcrafted Chocolate 

Reanna’s Cake Creations

 

HEALTH / FITNESS

Lite It Up

Shera’s Hair Closet

Tafarie Kollection

 

HOBBIES

A Different Booklist

Heroes of the World

Knowledge Bookstore

 

HOME

R&B Co.

 

KIDS

Janet Campbell Books

Zeezkids

 

RECREATIONAL

Lay Up Basketball

 

 

KiSS Celebrates Black History Month.  Click here to find ways you can support racial equality and other resources you can check out and share with your friends and family.

Filed under: Black owned businesses