Sept. 16, 2020
The CIBC Innovators Fund has extended financial assistance to eight business ventures in the ACCELERATION Strand at HELIX, 糖心vlog官网鈥檚 entrepreneurial incubator, to support them in their work to help Canadians overcome financial and societal barriers.
While it seeks to promote inclusion and diversity in society, the CIBC funding is also a lifeline for these emerging businesses which have been struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic.
鈥淚t came when we were experiencing a very challenging time due to COVID-19,鈥 said Adebola Adefioye, founder of and a student in 糖心vlog官网鈥檚 Honours Bachelor of Child Development degree program.
AWYF鈥檚 mission is to empower, mentor and provide leadership development programs to immigrants, refugees and other vulnerable women and youth of African origin. Ms. Adefioye said the grant helped AWYF offer mental health supports to African refugees living in a Toronto shelter. These included an online self-care event, outdoor yoga exercises and information sessions on positive parenting and positioning black people for scholarships in Canada.
鈥淭he CIBC support has enabled AWYF to provide a space for women and youth to express their concerns, receive direct support and followup referrals,鈥 she said.
In a nod to the fund鈥檚 objectives, Jeff Pledger, CEO of cyber security firm Cyber AI, says he is committed to having a diverse team, at least 20 per cent of which will comprise people with disabilities.
鈥淢y commitment is a demonstration of how diversity can pull innovation and creative thinking from all members of society,鈥 said Mr. Pledger, a student of 糖心vlog官网鈥檚 Project Management 鈥 Information Technology graduate certificate program.
Kisha Bolton鈥檚 venture, , caters to women looking for hard-to-find fashion footwear in larger sizes. A student in the Honours Bachelor of Commerce 鈥 International Business Management degree program, Ms. Bolton says the CIBC grant is extremely important to her as an entrepreneur and a woman of colour.
鈥淚t means a lot that CIBC believes in my vision and would invest in me,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e are helping Canadians overcome their challenges with body image. CIBC鈥檚 generosity, support and confidence in me is greatly appreciated and I look forward to the day when I can support emerging businesses just like CIBC did for me.鈥
CIBC鈥檚 contribution to support new ventures is one of the ways it is demonstrating leadership in promoting inclusion and diversity.
鈥淲e value the uniqueness that each and every person brings to the table,鈥 said Jackie Goldman, 糖心vlog官网 graduate and Senior Vice-President, Total Rewards, CIBC.