Annual Black History Month Gala

AHA's Annual Black History Month Gala is held to commemorate and celebrate Black History Month by showcasing the Afro-Caribbean culture to our Sudbury community. The gala is open for all to attend as part of AHA’s mission to promote unity and togetherness through cultural experience that promotes diversity and understanding. This year’s gala theme is focused on emphasizing the connection between cross cultural integration and innovative success. To achieve this goal, we will be having a special keynote given by Mr. Wes Hall. Wes is parting with his precious family time on a Saturday to fly down to Sudbury and educate community leaders to become active allies to the black community. This is a milestone event that is not just reflecting on our history but it is about "History in the Making".

Through this event, we hope to design an environment where local businesses can leverage opportunities to connect with members of our community, to provide them with otherwise missing opportunities. Wes will share his experience on how he was able to get his big breaks through acts of allyship and how we can provide similar opportunities to our community.

Who is Wes Hall?

Wes Hall is the Executive Chairman and Founder of Kingsdale Advisors, BlackNorth Initiative and WeShall Investments Inc., author of bestselling memoir, "No Bootstraps When You're Barefoot", host of "Between Us with Wes Hall", and investor on the hit CBC series, "Dragons' Den." WeShall Investments Inc is a private equity firm with a diverse portfolio of companies predominantly supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs. Wes Hall comes from humble beginnings in rural Jamaica. He grew up in a plantation worker's shack as one of several children supported by his grandmother. Despite these challenges, his grandmother instilled in him the value of hard work, ambition, and industriousness. In 1985, Wes immigrated to Canada, where he set about to become the businessman you see today. Dressed daily in a suit, Wes started as a mail clerk at a leading law firm in Toronto. His curiosity, intelligence, and ability to spot opportunities allowed him to turn a $100K loan from the bank to start his first business, Kingsdale Advisors, into becoming the most preeminent shareholder advisory firm in Canada.

A staunch philanthropist, Wes is deeply committed to community upliftment. Wes is the vice-chair of the Board of Governors at Huron University College, a member of the Capital Markets Modernization Taskforce, and sits on the board of directors for SickKids Foundation, TIFF, and Pathways to Education Canada. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce most recently awarded him the Canadian Business Leader of 2022. Wes has received Honorary Doctorates from Queens University, Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of the West Indies.

A BLACK TIE EVENT FEATURING:

• African and Caribbean Food
• Fashion Show
• DJ and Live Band
• Business Showcases
• Vendors
• Awards, prizes and silent auction
• Special Keynote - Wes Hall

WHEN AND WHERE:

Saturday, February 4, 2023 @6:00 PM

📍 United Steelworker's Hall- Local 6500 Conference Centre (The Leo W. Gerard Main Hall)

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH FUNDS RAISED?

- Strengthen our community through networking events.

- And providing spaces for Mentorship and enterprenuship collaborations.

- Funds will offset event expenses.

For more information, visit our website at www.afro-heritage.org or contact Charles Bekai at cbekai@nobeep.ca (705 988 0413)

Come join us for an unforgettable night!