As Black Business Initiative’s founding CEO passes the torch, Rustum Southwell reflects on how the organization’s past and present are shaping its future.

The Black community in Nova Scotia is one with deep cultural roots and a history that spans more than 400 years.

But despite building homes, communities and businesses, discrimination and a lack of resources prevented them from reaching their true potential, especially in the business sector. That changed in 1996 with the introduction of Black Business Initiative (BBI).

“We’re over the moon and very fortunate,” said recently retired CEO, Rustum Southwell, about all that BBI has accomplished over the past two-plus decades. “[We feel] not only vindicated, but we’ve said all along that if you follow this pattern with discipline, an eye for excellence, these are the results you get.”

Created as a province-wide business-development organization under the Canada/Nova Scotia Co-operation Agreement on Economic Diversification, BBI was designed to foster the growth of local Black business owners. It has since become a national model for community engagement and entrepreneurial supports—but getting here was a challenge.

 

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