Friday 11 October 2019
by Sophia Jacob
Greetings community,
Please see the write up below on this past Friday’s African Canadian Communities Federal candidates’ debate.
Black Ottawa Business Network is proud to have been a part of this very important event where our communities had an opportunity to hear from party candidates on issues that matter to the African Canadian community.
Thanks to the candidates that participated and thank you to the moderators Sarah Onyango and Adrian Harewood.
We are thankful to the Canadian Labour Congress and the Dream Legacy Foundation for being sponsors for the event.
This collaboration was brought to the community by a coalition of African Canadian community organizations: Black Ottawa Business Network, 613/819 Black Hub, African Canadian Association of Ottawa, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, among others who helped to make this event an epic success.
Be sure to head to the polls on October 21st and exercise your right to vote!
Sophia Jacob
Founder, Community Organizer
Black Ottawa Business Network Social Group
www.blackottawabusinessnetwork.ca
www.twitter.com/BlackOttawaBiz
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by Richard Sharpe
Thanks to all the candidates and African diaspora community members who attended the all candidates debate last Friday. We had almost 200 people in attendance and almost everyone stayed 30 minutes over time to hear the candidates speak. The candidates that took part were:
- Abdul Abdi – Conservative Party of Canada
- Jean-Luc Cooke – Green Party of Canada
- Greg Fergus – Liberal Party of Canada
- Angella MacEwan – New Democratic Party
- Alain Musende – People’s Party of Canada
We witnessed great discussion from the candidates on issues ranging from employment equity, criminal justice, child care and housing, all within the context of how these issues affect Black and African diaspora communities in this region and the country.
I have been corrected by an elder that informed us that this was not the first time the Black community has held such an event here in Ottawa. That being said, it was a great success and showed our growing communities’ increased interest in the federal political process.
See short CBC footage from the event (fast forward to the 4:10 mark) – https://www.cbc.ca/player/news/Canada/Ottawa
See photos (Thanks to Dina Epale) – https://photos.app.goo.gl/67ZHne2VTeQpDYYz9
Thanks again to our sponsors: Canadian Labour Congress and the Dream Legacy Foundation.
As well thanks to the volunteers from the African Canadian Association of Ottawa, 613/819 Black Hub, Black Ottawa Business Network Social Group, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and others who helped make this event such a success.
Now go out and vote!
Cheers
Richard Sharpe Dream Legacy Foundation 613/819 Black Hub Tel: 613-889-8140
Source: Black Ottawa Dialogue