Through her courses, Glendon College professor, Dr. Rose Ndengue, is fighting for an equitable place in society for Black women. For Dr. Rose Ndengue, her road to joining the Department of History at York University’s Glendon Campus as an assistant professor in 2021 had its challenges. At just 15 years old she left her native Cameroon for France where she would spend 23 years of her life. There she earned a master’s degree in political sociology from the Institut d’études politiques de Lyon and a PhD in African history from the Université Paris Diderot. After feeling targeted in a global…
Author: Avah Taylor
Montreal has not only built a reputation as Canada’s fashion centre. SHIFTER’s Avah Taylor takes a look at 10 dope Montreal clothing brands you need to know. From streetwear to ready-to-wear to haute couture, Montreal is a city of a style and a world-class shopping destination for fashion lovers from around the globe. Arguably the fashion capital of Canada, the city has become a hot spot for emerging designers and up-and-coming brands throughout the years. Here are 10 Montreal clothing brands you need to know about.
Since being named the Official Representative of the Honorable Nelson Mandela’s family in North America back in 2014, Ottawa entrepreneur and community activist Gwen Madiba has become a staple in the local community. She founded the University of Ottawa’s Black History Month gala and the spinoff Ottawa Black History Month Gala, bringing notable celebrities like supermodel Naomi Campbell, eTalk’s Tyrone Edwards, and Reverend Al Sharpton to the capital. She has also championed a number of other local initiatives, including Meals for Hope and, more recently, Afro World Fest, a free three-day music festival that celebrates Black culture while challenging racial stereotypes of Black people.…
Although the nation’s capital is not exactly synonymous with fashion, there is one designer that has been disrupting that narrative. Stacey Martin Bafi-Yeboa is the founder, creator and CEO of Stacey Martin Lifestyle, one of Ottawa’s leading fashion companies. In 2020, the self-taught designer and entrepreneur took to social media to announce the pending rebrand of the company formerly known as KANIA. What started in 2004 as a line of luxury sweatshirts has evolved into a luxe loungewear company we know today as Stacey Martin Lifestyle. Made in Canada, the brand continues to remain eco-friendly and uses sustainable fabrics to…
The #BuyBlack movement has garnered mainstream attention and raised international awareness and interest in Black-owned products and services.#BuyBlack places an increased focus on both Black and non-Black consumers being more conscious of where they spend their money. It underscores the importance of creating generational wealth through the economic empowerment of Black entrepreneurs.The call to action has led to a rapidly growing number of Black Canadians and allies using their purchasing power to support more Black-owned businesses, especially in the food and beverage industry – the second largest manufacturing industry in Canada. This Black History Month, Invest Ottawa is highlighting three…
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sat down with Oprah Winfrey for their first joint interview since stepping down as senior royals last year. In the explosive two-hour tell-all, no topic was off-limits, and the couple spilled all the tea about their split from the royal family. Below, we recap five key takeaways from the Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview which aired on Sunday night. 1. Meghan had suicidal thoughts and the palace prevented her from getting professional help “It was all happening just because I was breathing,” Meghan said. “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore. That was a…
Earlier today, Tiger Woods was hospitalized in serious condition after being involved in a single car accident in California. According to a statement from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, his vehicle sustained “major damage” and emergency responders had to use the “jaws of life” to extract him from the wreckage. This morning @LMTLASD responded to a roll-over collision in which @TigerWoods was injured. Please see our statement… pic.twitter.com/cSWOxKZC1w — LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) February 23, 2021 The professional golfer was rushed to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he is undergoing surgery. His agent, Mark Steinberg, said he suffered “multiple leg…
Coffee is a $6.2 billion industry in Canada. Canadians consume coffee more than any other beverage – even tap water. In 2020, the Coffee Association of Canada found that Canadians drank an average of 2.7 cups of coffee per day. Simply put, Canadians love coffee. For many, coffee is an essential part of their daily routine. For one local entrepreneur, it was a chance to create something she envisioned since moving to Ottawa 14 years ago. Deborah Ntawigiriria is the co-founder and Managing Director of Izere Coffee, a family-run business that sells specialty coffee imported from Burundi. “I grew up…
Rihanna and French luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton are pressing pause on the singer’s Fenty Maison label, less than two years after its debut. When Fenty was launched, it marked the first time LVMH had created a new house from the ground up since Christian Lacroix in 1987. Rihanna made history by becoming the first woman to create an original LVMH brand, and the first Black woman to head an LVMH house. LVMH confirmed the news in a statement to Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) saying, “Rihanna and LVMH have jointly made the decision to put on hold the ready-to-wear…
