Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

"Black Voices Rise: Virtual Election Forum Predicts Record Candidacies" By Stephen Weir Warren Salmon isn’t saying who will be the next Prime Minister of Canada, but after organizing the Black Community Federal Election Meet and Greet Virtual Event last week, he’s predicting a record number of Black candidates will run across the country. The event was designed to showcase Black candidates and engage various political parties in a meaningful way. Salmon was one of the principal organizers of the event, which was supported by 17 organizations from across Canada. Held virtually, the event created a space where Black Canadians could connect directly with federal election candidates. It aimed to boost political engagement by offering a platform for dialogue, sharing community concerns, and securing candidate commitments. The goal: to encourage informed voting and increase representation in government. “It was an opportunity to learn more about each party’s platform highlights, as...

  First Fridays Event Gives Toronto Entrepreneurs a Chance to Get Funded Toronto’s entrepreneurial community will take centre stage on Friday, May 2nd , during a special edition of the First Fridays business networking event. “Get Your Big Idea Funded,” will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Real Jerk, located at (College Street, with a live Zoom stream beginning at 8 p.m. The event promises to blend business inspiration with practical opportunities, bringing together innovative minds and potential investors under one roof. Drawing inspiration from shows like Shark Tank, the program gives selected entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors. These decision-makers will determine if the pitches have the potential — and the spark — to warrant financial backing. The goal is not just exposure, but the real possibility of walking away with a commitment to funding that could take a business idea to the next level. Organizer Warren Salmon say this F...

1st First Friday Marks 30 tonight at Globe and Mail By Stephen Weir: I know what Warren Salmon was doing on Friday June 3rd1994. IT was early in the evening, and he was rolling the dice wondering if people within the Black community would come out to the Glass Bucket. It was a long gone Yonge Street lounge and it was hosting the launch of Warren Salmon's first First Fridays event. Salmon describes his vision for the monthly event he planned to run the 1st Friday of every month as the “premier networking event for entrepreneurs and professionals of African descent in North America and other parts of the world.” Back in the early days of the evenings, the Caribbean Camera called it an event that attracts Black businesspeople “who want to network, learn about new business endeavours, meet industry leaders and most importantly, socialize. And, on that spring even the dice rolled his way, people took to his networking concept. "Around 80 people showed up. It was hosted by Mike Pur...

WARREN SALMON Now it is all about the Holidays By Stephen Weir After 28-years the Black Business community should be getting ready to spend an evening networking and celebrating Christmas without being poked and prodded. Just in case they’ve forgotten, Wa rren Salmon , the founder of First Fridays just sent out an all-encompassing Social Media reminder that this Friday evening they will be  holding a hybrid Black Business Holiday Showcase gathering at the ScottHill Caribbean Cuisine Restaurant   on Avenue Rd in North Toronto .   Founded in 1994, First Fridays describes itself as Toronto’s  Premier networking event for entrepreneurs and professionals of African descent. Taking place, the first Friday of each month in popular restaurants around the city, the often-sold-out event attracts Black business people who want to network, learn about new business endeavours, meet industry leaders and most importantly, socialize.  “We did have to go on-line during the ...

It wasn’t the first Friday that Brampton business people spent the evening together networking.  Peel’s First Fridays Tradition Is Here! By Stephen Weir 1st Fridays Peel (Ryan Knight, President of the  Afro Caribbean Business Network (ACBN),  Andria Barrett, President of the  Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) and Warren Salmon Technically Brampton has already had three First Fridays, but the Caribbean Community is still in first contact mode for the once monthly business-networking event.   Last Friday evening over 50 people from Peel came out to see what the professionals' Greet and Meet is all about.Organizers are expecting an even larger crowd in April. First Fridays is a networking and social night that is, as the name says, held the first Friday evening of each month, has been a must-attended ritual in Toronto for the past 26-years. An after-work chapter has just been established in Brampton which is being run by  Ryan Knigh...