At Cassels, we believe that a diverse environment is a rich environment, and an open, inclusive atmosphere benefits everyone working in it. While we continue to work to foster such an environment within our firm it is also our desire to promote such diversity and inclusion in the broader business world in which we operate.

We understand the funding challenges that small businesses face in Canada and are aware of the unique challenges faced by Black business owners. Over the next three years, Cassels will offer financial support to the Black business community in the form of annual grants totaling up to $75,000 to one or more Black-owned or operated small businesses in each of the three cities in which Cassels has offices (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary).

In addition, this grant amount will be matched with pro bono legal services to help these businesses succeed. Our hope is that this initiative will provide recipients with the financial support and expert advice needed to sustain their business and create long term economic opportunity.

We are now accepting applications from small Black-owned or operated businesses in the Greater Toronto Area for the first year of the program, with Calgary and Vancouver to follow in 2021 and 2022 respectively. To learn more about the application process, visit us at cassels.com/grant.