A non-profit, charitable organization for Black business owners in Canada reached out to NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Black business community for the first time in Iqaluit on Dec. 3. at the Aqsarniit Hotel.
The Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA), an Ontario-based national organization, came North to showcase itSA国际影视传媒檚 Business Advisory Implementation Development Services program, designed to offer support to Black business owners with marketing, staffing and tax law.
Nadine Spencer, CEO of the BBPA, said NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 relative isolation and low population has previously hindered networking opportunities between Black business owners.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey feel a little isolated,SA国际影视传媒� she said, SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 one of the things we want to be seen. We want to make sure we bridge that gap.SA国际影视传媒�
The owners of one of IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 Black-owned businesses, the Nunavut Wellness Spa were excited to have this opportunity to connect with the BBPA.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 exciting they took the initiative to come up and see what they have to offer,SA国际影视传媒� said Patience Sibanda, one of two owners of the Nunavut Wellness Spa in Iqaluit, alongside Tatenda Chimhanda.
Chimhanda noted many Black-owned businesses in the territory are smaller enterprises and there arenSA国际影视传媒檛 many Black-owned businesses with a large presence in the territory.
SA国际影视传媒淣unavut being the land of Inuit, there is a lot of support being given to Inuit businesses which is very essential,SA国际影视传媒� Chimhanda said, noting that the two have received a warm reception to their business, even teaming up with the Government of Nunavut and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association on some projects.
While the isolation is one of the things which makes the situation different for Black-owned businesses in Nunavut, one of the similarities with the south, Spencer noted, is the lack of access to capital.
SA国际影视传媒淲hether youSA国际影视传媒檙e in Nunavut or Ontario, or Halifax or Winnipeg, itSA国际影视传媒檚 the lack of access to capital, lack of access to networking, lack of resources,SA国际影视传媒� said Spencer.
Sibanda and Chimhanda first got the idea to start a spa in Iqaluit when they saw a gap in wellness services in the territorial capital.
SA国际影视传媒淚n the past weSA国际影视传媒檝e had wellness practitioners, but weSA国际影视传媒檝e had a vision to build almost a one-stop shop for people to get their aesthetics, acupuncture under one roof,SA国际影视传媒� said Sibanda.
SA国际影视传媒淥ur business being Black-owned has been welcomed in Nunavut, in Iqaluit and we really do appreciate that weSA国际影视传媒檝e been welcomed to this place and weSA国际影视传媒檙e able to provide those services to everyone and especially Inuit,SA国际影视传媒� said Chimhanda.
