Article

Certified to Succeed

Across two decades in complex infrastructure, energy, and multi-stakeholder environments, one pattern is clear: firms are rarely excluded for lack of technical competence. More often, they are disqualified at prequalification because their documentation, governance, compliance, and operational systems fail to meet institutional standards. This distinction determines who gains access to regulated, large-scale markets and who […]
Article

When Giving Pays Off

The Tax Benefits of Philanthropy Philanthropy means giving to help others. It can take many forms, including money, time, or other resources such as stocks or land. Understanding what qualifies for tax purposes and the rules that apply is essential for Black entrepreneurs seeking to wield giving as a strategic tool. In Canada, a gift’s […]
Article

The Core of Community Care

Community has always been at the centre of my work. Professional equity and anti-racism practice, social enterprises such as Feed the Soul YEG and Black Owned Market Edmonton, and small-scale cultural organizing all stem from the same commitment to community building that understands and responds to people’s unique needs in ways that centre care. Misconceptions […]
Article

Turning Passion into Purpose

Some legacies are carved into buildings and monuments. Others take shape through people, relationships, and daily acts of care. Mary Burlie’s legacy lives in the latter. Her name continues to resonate across Edmonton not simply because of who she was, but because of how she showed up for her community and the values she embodied […]
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From Incorporation to Governance

Choosing a business structure is one of the earliest and most consequential legal decisions a business owner will make. In Canada, this choice often comes down to operating as a partnership or a corporation. While it may seem technical, the structure selected at formation shapes how the business is governed, financed, taxed, and protected as […]
Article

From Ledgers to Leadership

Leadership has always been about serving others. As I moved up the corporate ladder and led both small and large teams, I tried different approaches, but servant leadership stayed with me. This style focuses on lifting people rather than asserting authority. I often think of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. He did not […]
Article

Advocacy as Capital

Philanthropy is often framed as a function of money: who gives, how much, and to whom. Yet within Black communities, progress has rarely depended on surplus capital alone. Collective advancement has instead been driven by something more deliberate: the reinvestment of voice, time, credibility, and presence into systems never designed with us in mind. To […]
Article

Healing Meets Infrastructure

Healing runs in my family. My great-grandfather practiced as a Healer in Zimbabwe, using observation and intuition to guide care. My first sister is a nurse, while my second sister works as a cancer research analyst and registered nurse in the UK, approaching wellness with precision and structure. Watching both of them taught me that […]

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