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Professional Associations

The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion maintains this directory. Western does not endorse any specific association listed below.

The Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) is a volunteer charitable organization consisting of Black Social Workers and Human Service Workers throughout the Province. ABSW was originally formed in Montreal, Canada, in 1977. A group started in Nova Scotia in 1979, with a membership of 4. ABSW was reactivated in 1987, and now has a growing membership. ABSW offers educational and community based programs ranging from clinical counselling to professional development. 

Founded in 1983, the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) is a non-profit, charitable organization that addresses equity and opportunity for the Black community in business, employment, education and economic development. Their mission is to advance Canada’s Black communities by delivering programs that support business and professional excellence, higher education and economic development. The vision is to be the organization of choice for serving the business, professional, and economic development needs of the Black community.

The Black Canadian Studies Association (BCSA) is a nationwide academic association of scholars, students, artists, and community members who are committed to supporting, engaging in, and furthering the development of Black Studies in Canada. 
The Black Healthcare Professionals Network in Ontario (BHPN) is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the careers of Black professionals in the healthcare industry. The organization provides a range of services and resources to its members, including networking opportunities, career development support, and advocacy efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in healthcare. 
Established in 2017, the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) is an independent not-for-profit community legal clinic that combats individual and systemic anti-Black racism by providing free legal services, conducting research, developing public legal education materials, and engaging in test case litigation and law reform. 
The Black North Initiative (BNI) supports Black entrepreneurs in Canada. They encourage industry experts to join their mission to support Black entrepreneurs by sharing their expertise, inspiring growth, and making a lasting impact. For Black entrepreneurs, join a growing community and leverage free 1:1 mentorship support from volunteer Industry Experts!
The Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario (BPAO) was founded in 2007, following an influx of Black physicians into the province at the time, and was incorporated as a not-for-profit in 2015. The organization was established to focus on medicine and continue advocating for the improvement of health in Black communities in Ontario. They worked to implement initiatives that would encourage and facilitate Black youth to pursue a career in medicine. The inaugural president of BPAO was Dr. Cindy Maxwell, who made significant contributions to the organization's initial development and progress, and continues to serve in this capacity to this day. 
The Black Physicians of Canada aims to build a community of Black physicians and physicians-in-training, as well as create social networks and learning together. They focus on providing mentorship to Black physicians and those in training, as well as advocacy, representation, guidance, support, encouragement, resources, and advice. Further, aiming to provide economic support to help fund research projects, initiatives and the pursuit of leadership positions of Black physicians and physicians in training. Our leadership team consists of Black physicians, residents and non-medical professionals across Canada. 
Black Physicians of Tomorrow (BPT) is dedicated to creating a culture of positive self-image within the ACC community, to revolutionize and awaken the minds of these individuals and inspire them to foster a new perception of themselves as they become Black Physicians of Tomorrow. Their organization empowers individuals to feel confident and supported in reaching their highest potential as they pursue a career in medicine and the allied health professions. 

The Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN) is bridging the network gap between Black talent and career opportunities across North America. We’re here to help Black professionals network, connect, share resources and grow their careers with a network that counts over 50,000 Black professionals. We provide our members with access to mentorship, skill-building opportunities, and a strong peer network to support professional growth and advancement. BPTN also helps partners attract, hire, retain and promote Black tech and business talent through pipeline building and internal culture development. 

The Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) was formed in March 1996, with a mission to uplift and celebrate the achievements of Black professionals within the legal field by offering its members access to job opportunities, mentorship, and professional growth opportunities. Additionally, CABL also works to advocate for the overall well-being of the Black community. Since 2004, the organization has been able to grow its presence further by opening chapters in 6 provinces, with membership composed of individuals representing a range of legal practices, career levels, languages, geographic locations, ethnicities, and gender identities. 
The Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) is a cultural non-profit organization formed as a chamber of commerce. It was created to generate commerce for Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, fostering economic development within our proud Black communities across Canada. They are a cultural chamber of commerce incorporated on August 21st, 2018. The CBCC is a Hub of the Canadian Black Business Ecosystem, creating value, fostering collaboration, and generating opportunities for all firms within the evolving ecosystem. 
The vision of the Canadian Black Scientists Network (CBSN) is to Elevate, Make Visible, Celebrate, and Connect Black Canadians pursuing or possessing advanced degrees in STEMM across sectors. This vision is pursued in alignment with the three pillars of the Network’s mission: (1) Increase intake and retention of Black Youth in STEMM, (2) Increase representation of Black Canadians as STEMM researchers & practitioners, and (3) Advocate for equitable practices in funding & awards 
The Career, Education, Empowerment (CEE) Centre For Young Black Professionals is a charity dedicated to addressing economic and social barriers affecting black youth (18-29 years). For over a decade, we have provided workforce development, education, and advocacy programs, with over 1000 youth graduating since our inception. They offer career training programs in six labor market gaps, namely Technology, Entertainment, Social Services, Finance, Trades, and Hospitality, with holistic, person-centered, and culturally relevant approaches that aim to improve the careers, education, and empowerment of Black youth in Canada. 
The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (Ontario), Canada is an affiliated Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (International) (“Ontario Chapter”). The Ontario Chapter comprises members from International and National unions residing predominantly in Ontario, but also in Quebec and across the country. CBTU (Ontario), Canada seeks to fulfill the dream of Black trade unionists, both living and deceased, who throughout our labour history in Canada have courageously and unremittingly struggled to build a national movement that brings our collective strength and varied talents to bare in an unending effort to achieve economic, political and social justice for all. 
As a Pan-Canadian body, the Federation of Black Canadians (FBC) seeks to discuss the opportunities, contributions, and challenges that exist for people of African descent nationally. Black communities across Canada are diverse, resilient, creative, and multifaceted. For the first time in Canada’s history, there are over 1,000,000 Black Canadians who call Canada home. The FBC is working diligently to partner with individuals and organizations across Canada to advance the interests of Black Canadians, helping to build a promising future that builds on and celebrates our diverse heritages, histories, cultures, and contributions to Canada. 
The Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) is a philanthropic organization for Black Communities in Canada. It exists to ensure that every Black person in Canada can thrive and that all Black communities have the agency to define their future. They invest in change-making, working alongside Canadian community, philanthropic, political, and business organizations to ensure that Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused non-profit, charitable, and grassroots organizations have the sustained resources and infrastructures they need to make a meaningful impact and shape their solution-making and self-determination. 
Nia Centre for the Arts is a Toronto-based not-for-profit organization that supports, showcases and promotes an appreciation of arts from across the African Diaspora. Their space at 524 Oakwood Ave is Canada’s first professional Black arts centre. The Nia Centre is a space purpose-built and dedicated to Black artists and young creatives. Designed to serve a wide array of multi and interdisciplinary arts, the Centre provides the community with a multi-purpose performance theatre, event space, a digital media lab, exhibition space and a dedicated youth hub.
The Ontario Association of Black Paralegals (OABP) exists to raise awareness and enable change to end systemic discrimination and increase racial diversity in the legal system. They educate and mentor Black paralegals and law clerks in Ontario, creating a supportive network to help them confidently advance their careers. OABP encourages and supports non-Black legal professionals in the pursuit of learning more about systemic discrimination and racism in the workplace, and how it impacts their colleagues and clients through sharing strategies for impactful allyship. 

Founded in 1978, the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) is the organization in Canada that is at the forefront of celebrating Black history and heritage, with a demonstrated record in the study, preservation, and promotion of Black history in Ontario. The OBHS is also the only Ontario Provincial Heritage Organization of the Ministry of Culture. We are the organization responsible for initiating the formal celebration of Black History Month at all levels of government in Canada, thanks to our year-long efforts to extend this celebration. (i.e. the first formal declaration of February as Black History Month with the City of Toronto in 1979; and with the Province of Ontario in 1993).

The United Nations Decade for People of African Descent (UNDPAD) Push Coalition envisions a future in which Black Canadians have equal access to and opportunities for economic development and prosperity. Black Canadians are consulted and included in decision-making and policy development. Black Canadians’ contributions to Canadian society and the world are recognized, reaffirmed and celebrated. The Mission of the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent (UNDPAD) Push Coalition mission is to advance the Objectives, Pillars and adoption of Special Measures as stated in the UN International Decade of People of African Descent in Canada.