News Release - Brampton, Ontario

Addressing healthcare disparities, providing mentorship and professional development opportunities, increasing representation, and facilitating collaboration and knowledge-sharing among Black health professionals is more important now than ever following COVID-19. That is why today, Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South, met with Aspire for Higher to highlight funding provided through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev) to support the development and launch of the Black Health Professionals Network (BHPN).

Accompanied by the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev, MP Sidhu toured the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre and met with members of the Aspire for Higher team responsible for launching the BHPN. Aspire for Higher is a not-for-profit Black-led business organization that is receiving federal funding to launch the BHPN, which provides bilingual networking and business advisory services, a bilingual Black health professional web-based tool for healthcare professionals, and a mentorship program for young Black healthcare professionals.

The BHPN supports not-for-profit Black-led business organizations across Canada to develop new services or expand those they already offer such as mentorship, networking, financial planning, and business training for Black entrepreneurs. 

MP Sidhu was proud to support this initiative and knows it will be an important tool for promoting diversity and inclusion in the healthcare sector and will be instrumental in supporting Black healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs across Canada.

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QUOTES:

"The launch of the Black Health Professionals Network is a milestone for Black health professionals across Canada. This investment from FedDev demonstrates our government's commitment to supporting the Black community and promoting diversity and inclusion in the healthcare sector. This network will provide key support to Black healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs, and it is my hope that it will help to foster diversity and inclusion in the healthcare sector in Brampton and across Canada."

– Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament, Brampton South

“Aspire for Higher is doing incredible work to mentor young Black men on the importance of mental health and equip them with the tools they need to lead healthy, successful lives. Our government is pleased to support organizations like Aspire for Higher that make real differences in their communities.” 

– Hon. Filomena Tassi, Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“The Federal contribution is providing needed support to Black communities and is beginning to stabilize the business infrastructure of our frontline healthcare service providers who serve all Canadians.”

– Abena Addo, Executive Director, Aspire for Higher

CONTACT:

The Office of Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament, Brampton South

P: (905) 846-0076   |  E: [email protected]