Upon turning 19 in Ontario, teenagers can look forward to a few firsts. The exciting prospect of winning some money from their first lottery ticket, buying alcohol for the first time, or voting in their first election. However, what 19-year-old Branksome Hall graduate Renee Jagdeo is looking forward to, is making history. 

The sudden closure of one of Pickering, Ontario’s most well-known marketplaces has left several Black business owners wondering how they will survive.

Brandon Gonez isn't going anywhere. He may have left our screens on CP24 News but he's moved on to blaze his own path with the signature authenticity and humour that's captivated Canadians across the country and earned him a die-hard fanbase. His new weekly online series The Brandon Gonez Show premieres on January 17th on YouTube with four exciting segments: NEWS YOU CAN USE, YOUR VOICE, OPEN & HONEST, and GOOD NEWS. It's backed by partners like Moët Hennessy, Uber, and Seneca College. The first season will feature ten must-watch episodes airing every Sunday.

(All featured images are courtesy of the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society) In southwestern Ontario, historians of Chatham-Kent have preserved the history of a Black community of doctors, lawyers and creatives alike who created a haven for freed Black enslaved people in North America in the 1800s.

Dr. Shardé Davis is a professor in the Department of Communication, and a faculty affiliate of the Africana Studies Institute and the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy at the University of Connecticut.

The next chapter in the story of the Underground Railroad in Sandwich, Ont., will be coming in the form of a storage container museum. 

Steve Anderson is a busy man. He's currently a lawyer with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) with over 16 years of service, and he also happens to be the Deputy Mayor of the Town of Shelburne, Ontario. In both roles, he's made history. In 2004, he became the first-ever Black lawyer hired in the TTC Legal Department. Then in 2017, he made history again as the first Black person to become a city Councillor. Barely a year later he was elected as Deputy Mayor in 2018. Utilizing his platform, Steve pushed for change. He introduced the first-ever Anti-Black Racism and…

Denise Jones pictured with husband Allan Jones, sons Jesse and Jerimi. Kevin Jones Photography. Denise Jones was always thankful, brought people together, and was masterful in all her entertainment endeavours. This was evident at the New Year’s Day soirees held annually at her home in Brampton, Ontario where her family and friends gathered “for food, friendship, laughs and conversation.”

“Having a Black arts centre is about being able to have this place where all of us, from our respective places in the diaspora and identities we bring with that, can have this space where we connect, have a sense of belonging, and share that unique experience for cultural exchange through the arts.” -Alica Hall (Executive Director - Nia Centre for the Arts)

The Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) and Facebook Canada are collaborating on an initiative to support Black business owners and entrepreneurs. Facebook Canada has contributed $500,000 in funding to the CBCC’s new grant program which supports members of the Black-business community who’ve been impacted by COVID-19. The program was announced this week at the inaugural C2 Online event and coincides with Canadian Black Business Week. The grants are meant to help business owners and entrepreneurs strengthen their online presence and increase their capacity.