Small Business Week-An invitation to pause, reflect & celebrate the journey

An invitation to pause, reflect & celebrate the journey

As Canada honours the invaluable role of small businesses this month, we extend a heartfelt invitation to our community of entrepreneurs and partners to celebrate the ongoing legacy and contributions of Black entrepreneurs to the Canadian economy. Small Business Week is a time not only to recognize success, but to pause, reflect and celebrate every step of the journey.

But what’s Small Business Week?

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Small Business Week is an initiative that started in 1979 in British Columbia by the Business Development Bank of Canada (at that time Federal Business Development Bank). The goal of this initiative is to gather small business entrepreneurs and recognize their significant contribution to the country, communities and economy. From construction to community services and clinics, small businesses represent 98% of Canadian employment and are key to the vitality and growth of the country. Today, small and medium-sized businesses account for nearly 99.8% of all Canadian companies and employ more than 60% of private sector workers—powering sectors from construction and healthcare to retail and professional services.

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The Legacy and Impact of Black Entrepreneurs

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As a long-serving Black business association in Canada, Black Business Initiative (BBI) has been privileged to witness first-hand how Black-owned SMEs empower families, shape communities, and strengthen the region’s economy. In Atlantic Canada alone, we have had the honour of supporting thousands of entrepreneurs. Yet, we know that recognition for these achievements does not always come easily—either from outside or within our own networks. As a Black business owner, you belong to a community of over 66,880 Black entrepreneurs in Canada, building prosperity and legacy for future generations, often while overcoming unique social and economic barriers.

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It is precisely in the face of these challenges, and the stories of resilience and triumph, that we urge Black entrepreneurs to celebrate during Small Business Week. Here’s why:

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Celebrate Your Progress

Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line. While it’s natural to dwell on setbacks, we often overlook the progress made: every idea refined, every client served, every barrier overcome. Transforming a vision into a sustainable business takes resilience, dedication, and belief in your mission. Consider for example, the founder of tRev clothing, Trevor Silver: back in 2017, while studying law at Dalhousie, he had an idea of creating a brand that will combine his passion for justice, design and a desire to inspire. From a sketch, to a series of iterations and refinements, he held onto his vision to provide a luxury and elegant bag for women. The viola purse is now a reality and a testament of his dedication and belief in the process. No matter where you stand today, every step forward is worth recognizing.

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• Celebrate your team: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." Your business is shaped by a network of team members, partners and or freelancers, who invest their skills and belief in your vision. This is a moment to acknowledge those who share in your mission. A simple note of gratitude, a mention in your business channels, or even a short gathering can go a long way to strengthen bonds and fuel collective success.

• Celebrate your supporters: alongside every entrepreneur, is a village- family, friends, mentors and community who uplift you at every turn. Their support makes all the difference. The story of Comfort foodie founder, Keisha Marie is a great example. After studying and building experience in Calgary’s food industry, she came back to Halifax in 2022 and started with the help of her family having pop-up restaurants. With the support of the community, her business has grown over the years and this year, after securing funding from BBI, she realized her dream of owning a food Truck and having a base to serve more clients in the community. 

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• Celebrate your learnings: We know it's not easy to accept our failures, but why not look at them from a different perspective? To be able to do this as an entrepreneur, you will have to embrace an experimentation culture. An experimentation culture implies that instead of viewing your mistakes as something negative that can stop you from growing, you choose to accept the learnings gained, and leverage this information to improve and build better. An experimental culture also calls for humility, integrity and exploration, key elements for effective leadership. By integrating these elements in your culture, you will be able to recognize the life lessons and growth that have emerged from some of your worst business mistakes.
  
  

If you are looking to build this culture in your business, we recommend reading this great article by Stefan Thomke at Harvard Business School. https://www.exed.hbs.edu/blog/building-culture-experimentation 

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Finally, pause to celebrate yourself. Entrepreneurship takes courage and unwavering commitment—to your business, your team, and your community. Despite obstacles, you continue to show up, innovate, and create lasting change. 

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As always at Black Business Initiative, we are cheering and championing you. Thank you for standing tall and building a legacy for the future generations of entrepreneurs in our communities. 

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This month, let’s collectively celebrate the achievements and resilience of small businesses. If you’re an entrepreneur, take a moment to recognize a peer’s journey. If you’re a community member, support a Black-owned business—share their story on your social channels or make a purchase. These acts of celebration and support create real impact. Together, we can 'grow stronger, build capacity and ensure inclusion for Black entrepreneurs in the Canadian economy.'

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