The State of Black Businesses in Alberta

The Africa Centre, the Pan African Collaboration for Excellence (PACE), and the University of Alberta partnered to produce a study on the State of Black Businesses in Alberta. 

Alberta, in recent years has become the province having the fastest-growing Black population in Canada (growing five-fold between 1996 and 2016). According to Stats Canada, by 2041, the Black population would be larger than the Indigenous population in Canada. Given this considerable growth rate, understanding the incidence of entrepreneurship, self- employment  and related challenges among the black population in Alberta is important.  This study was conducted to explore the general characteristics of Black Albertans' entrepreneurial orientations and understand the unique challenges they face.

The findings of the study highlighted major gaps in training and education to start/run/manage a business as well as financial literacy and awareness. Entrepreneurs reported ‘lack of availability of credit and/or loans as their most common challenge. Entrepreneurs also highlighted personal savings as the most common financial resource used to start their businesses. ‘Increasing personal/family wealth’ was the most commonly cited reason for starting the business.