BC Business
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is also offering pro bono legal services in the same amount. The deadline to apply is June 10.
Toronto-based Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is offering a $125,000 Small Business grant to Black-owned businesses in Vancouver.
This is the law firm’s third annual grant, the previous two having focused on Toronto and Calgary respectively. The initiative started as a way to support the Black community following the escalation of the Black Lives Matter movement and police shootings in 2020.
“We thought it would be a great idea to focus on those communities within the cities in which we operate,” says Kwaku Tabi, who is an associate in the firm’s real estate group, co-chair of the Black Affinity Group and also a member of its diversity and inclusion committee. In addition to the cash prize, recipients will also receive pro bono legal services in the same amount.
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The grant is supported by one of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP’s clients, Vancouver-headquartered Wheaton Precious Metals, who made a two-year commitment to help the firm in this initiative. This year, the mining company is contributing $60,000.
Previous recipients of the Cassels Black-owned Small Business Grant were able to scale their businesses. “The cash helps with ongoing plans that they have and then also, on the backend, we assist them with their legal fees,” Tabi adds. He recalls supporting skincare brand Ellie Bianca with legal contracts and also helping her go global.
The grant is open to all types of companies. Terms and conditions apply.
The deadline is Friday, June 10 at 5pm PST. Completed applications can be emailed to grantapps@cassels.com.