Thank you, Madam Chair.
Good afternoon, honourable members.
In this final year of the United Nations' International Decade for People of African Descent, what a wonderful opportunity I have to share my story with you. I am Cadleen Désir, a social entrepreneur. If there is one thing to remember, it is that my story is not unique and has led to the creation of a scholarship fund at the University of Montreal bearing my name.
In 1976, my parents arrived at Montreal-Trudeau Airport, fleeing Haiti under the Duvalier dictatorship. They faced the challenge of building a future while holding diplomas that were not recognized. Armed with courage, they started from scratch and bet on the eldest child—that's me—to break the cycle of generational hardships.
I quickly developed a strong sense of responsibility, working three jobs to pay for my education. So many constant sacrifices, busy schedules, and the pressure of juggling work, studies and caregiving responsibilities, while I just wanted to focus on my education. A few months before obtaining my degree in psychology, a professor taught future graduates a theory that claimed that Black people were less intelligent than white people. This moment marked my journey and motivated the creation of the scholarship fund bearing my name. While education is a powerful weapon, such statements have a devastating impact on several generations.
My entry into the workforce was marked by similar challenges. Being a woman, and the only person of colour on the executive team of a large SME, pushed me to burnout. How could I have been prepared to navigate these systemic challenges? I learned that I was pregnant, and that became my motivation. I became an entrepreneur out of necessity.
The journey of my business, Déclic, lasted for 17 years and served 50,000 children with special needs. Despite the challenges of accessing financing, the lack of mentorship and three pregnancies without maternity leave, Déclic received several recognition awards. During this period, I realized how I was, once again, part of the entrepreneurial exception, and the disparities in effort compared to my peers were striking and unjust. Faced with the lack of role models to guide me, my commitment to the cause was strengthened.
I contributed to the creation of the Afro-entrepreneur fund and saw how beyond financing, these individuals needed specific support. My story is not unique. Beyond programs, we need role models. Initiatives like the International Black Women's Summit, the largest gathering of its kind in Canada, deserve to be sustained because they allow 6,000 women to feel supported, empowered and equipped.
My story is not unique, and I aspire for it to shatter stereotypes while opening doors. If I have been the chair of the board of EntreChefs PME, which brings together more than 2,000 members, predominantly men from the manufacturing sector, there is still work to be done. I am proud to have facilitated the entry of other women and entrepreneurs of colour into this business circle. Yes, elitism in the ecosystem persists and further widens the gap with under-represented groups such as women. And yes, I believe we must continue to implement measures to propel the diverse faces of our economy within the existing networks.
On my resume, I also contributed to the transformation of Femmessor into Evol and chaired its board. Evol is an organization dedicated to financing and supporting female entrepreneurs in pursuit of equality.
You know, I understood that intersectionality brings its share of additional challenges, especially for BIPOC people who face constant specific barriers that require particular attention.
Despite these successes, I still face daily systemic challenges. Without access to a family legacy, I had no choice but to close the doors of my company, Déclic, as we emerged from the pandemic. Even when one has managed to overcome many obstacles, economic inequalities persist for women and, particularly, for BIPOC. These inequalities are exacerbated exponentially because these groups are at the forefront of all societal battles. This bleeding must stop. And the worst part is that the recession will only accentuate these gaps.
Afro-descendant women more than ever need psychological support to bolster their resilience on the path to financial autonomy and economic contribution. Black communities are diverse, and empowerment means offering a versatile and well-equipped tool box to build a resilient Canadian society that is more equitable and inclusive. This is where the Cadleen Désir scholarship fund comes in.