Empowering Black Owned
Businesses to thrive.
Our Mission
BLK OWNED is a non-profit organization with a mission is to celebrate, showcase, explore, and support black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in the Greater Hamilton Area. Our goal through this support is to empower and create a sustainable and thriving economy for black-owned businesses.
2.9%
of Canadian business are black-owned
75%
of business owners have never received funding
70%
of business owners have never received training
Discover
Acknowledging and honouring the efforts of black-owned businesses while uncovering what changes that need to happen for continued success.
Champion
Actively advocate; for the diversity of culture, creativity of the black-owned businesses, adoption of technology and systemic changes.
Educate
Empower black and racialized-owned businesses with the skills, resources, and networks through workshops, courses, and networking opportunities.
BLK Owned is dedicated to supporting black entrepreneurship by providing resources and building a supportive community
Our Story
On Blackout Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Abygail Montague questioned the significance of the Black Squares flooding social media. This questioning led to the inception of Blackout Tuesday, a movement originating in the music industry to pause production in honor of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, victims of police brutality.
Abygail, alongside her sisters Alexandria and Ashleigh Montague and community members, compiled a list of 150+ Black Owned Businesses in Greater Hamilton, urging support for Black-owned ventures. They launched ‘BLKOWNEDHAMONT’ on social media, aiming to spotlight, support, and celebrate these businesses, harnessing the power of purchasing to mobilize the community.
What We Do
Educate
BLK Owned educates black entrepreneurs through a hybrid opportunity for youth gain foundational business knowledge and establish an ecosystem of peers and connections.
Empower
BLK Owned empowers entrepreneurs by providing tools, resources, and a supportive community through a community platform available for black entrepreneurs.
showcase
BLK Owned hosts markets, events, and workshops along with a black-owned business directory that highlights and showcases businesses to the community.
Our Team
Ashleigh Montague
Executive Director, Co-Founder
Gugulethu Mpofu
Senior Manager, Community Relations
Alex Montague
Founding Advisor
Aby Montague
Founding Advisor
Jacques Hypolite
Operations Manager
Board of Directors
Tej Sandhu
Chair
Maria Lee Fook
Vice Chair
Jonathan Hunt
Finance
Chris Roberts
Secretary
Queenette Martins
Board Director
Aaron Perry
Board Director
