I grew up a tin shack in Jamaica and ultimately found great opportunities in Canada to thrive. It was never easy, but I was one of those fortunate enough to succeed through much hard work and perserverance. I feel a sense of responsibility to pay it forward and break down systemic barriers in the Black community, so that my success on Bay Street is not one of the exceptions. This requires deep systemic change. I live in one of Toronto’s exclusive neighbourhoods with my wife, who is white, and our five kids. After all my successes, neighbours still mistake me for the security guard or my wife’s personal trainer. My children also experience unacceptable prejudicial bias. Whoever says there are not systemic racist problems in Canada is ignorant to the truth. Jay Rosenzweig isn’t one of those people. For two decades, Jay has been on the frontlines fighting for justice and equality throughout society from top to bottom, including through his annual Rosenzweig Report, and he’s been a valuable addition to the board of the BlackNorth Initiative.

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Wes Hall, executive chair and founder of Kingsdale Advisors and founder of the BlackNorth Initiative, a not-for-profit enterprise under the umbrella of the Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism that is on a mission to end systemic racism by utilizing a business first mindset