An online director of BIPOC-owned and operated business in the area is back up and running, several months after being taken down due to technical issues.
Provided by the Guelph Black Heritage Society, the Viola Desmond BIPOC Business Directory was resurrected earlier this month – something society president Denise Francis said she was pleased to see align with February’s recognition as Black Heritage Month.
“We try to support each other and it helps us to promote other Black-owned and operated businesses in our area,” said Francis. “There’s a lot of great businesses in our community and we want to try to help amplify their stories and their voices.”
The directory initially began in 2021, named in honour of civil rights activist and businesswoman Viola Desmond. In addition to participating in Nova Scotia’s anti-segregation movement of the 1940s, Desmond created her own line of beauty products and founded a beauty school that trained young Black women.
The Viola Desmond BIPOC Business Directory is intended for businesses that are BIPOC owned and operated in Wellington County, Waterloo Region and beyond. #blackheritage #violadesmond #BIPOC #businessdirectory #community pic.twitter.com/3OkKKYGVlK
— Guelph Black Heritage Society (@GuelphBHS) February 23, 2023
According to the GHBS website, Desmond’s family granted permission for her name to be used with the initiative.
Though the directory features mostly Guelph and Wellington County business listings, there are others from throughout the province, including several in Waterloo Region.
While the concept isn’t completely new, Francis said businesses can get on the list without paying a fee – something that can’t be said about most others.
