Who We Are

Land Acknowledgment ​

We acknowledge we are on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Seíwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.  We thank them for having cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial , and look forward to working with them in partnership as we continue to build this great city together.

This acknowledgment is a reminder of the discriminatory, racist, and colonial practices that have had a lasting legacy, and continue to create barriers for Indigenous peoples and communities in our city.

We at BEBC Society are honoured to live, work and play on these lands, as we continue to build important relationships of meaning and solidarity with the Indigenous peoples of these lands because their sovereignty and Black liberation are bound together.

Leadership Team

Jackee Kasandy | Founder, CEO

Jackee is a seasoned expert in retail, marketing, procurement, and strategic business practices, with over two decades of corporate advertising and marketing experience and a decade as a successful entrepreneur.

EXPERTISE

  • Entrepreneurship | Retail
  • Branding, Marketing & Digital Media Strategist
  • Research, Data & Transformation
  • Advocacy and Community Engagement
  • Supplier Diversity & Procurement

HIGHLIGHTS

As the founder and CEO of Kasandy Inc., a thriving lifestyle brand, established in 2016 with a flagship brick-and-mortar store at the historic Granville Island in Vancouver, BC, Jackee has applied her expertise to advertising, marketing, growth, and transformational strategy across diverse industries, including retail, food, consumer products, corporate sectors, and hospitality.

A recognized leader in procurement strategy and supplier diversity, Jackee has been instrumental in creating and teaching a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind procurement course for the supplier. The course is designed to help suppliers become certification-ready while enabling corporations to diversify their supply chains. By equipping organizations with practical tools and strategies, the course builds the capacity of suppliers to achieve certification and effectively engage in procurement opportunities with public and private corporations. It also empowers these corporations to integrate more underrepresented suppliers, fostering inclusive procurement practices that drive innovation and benefit businesses and communities alike. Beyond teaching, Jackee is a passionate advocate for systemic changes in procurement policies, collaborating with industry leaders to promote equity and the meaningful inclusion of diverse suppliers at every level of supply chain management.

Her extensive experience also includes large-scale, multi-year marketing initiatives such as product launches, mass-market retail strategies, customer journey redesign, store operations, digital transformation, sustainability, and innovation. Jackee’s ability to drive impactful results has earned her recognition as a trusted leader in both corporate and entrepreneurial spaces.

Her thought leadership and entrepreneurship journey have been featured in national and international media, including Montecristo Magazine, and she was recognized by the Vancouver Economic Commission as one of the “23 Black Leaders in Vancouver” for her advocacy, education, and leadership in supporting women and business owners.

Currently, Jackee serves as the Global President and Board Chair of the Black Entrepreneurs & Businesses of Canada Society (BEBC), which she founded in 2020 to champion Black entrepreneurship, innovation, and supplier diversity across Canada.

Her career reflects a commitment to driving innovation, advocating for systemic change, and empowering businesses to thrive through impactful strategies.

Judy Bosire | Founding Director of Operations

Judy is an economist at Deloitte with over 10 years of experience delivering research, analysis and strategic advice to governments and agencies, associations, private sector, Aboriginal communities, and a host of organizations on issues at the intersection of policy, social and economic development, and strategy.

With demonstrated experience in managing regional and national engagements that centre on the state of the Canadian economy, Judy brings expertise in economic data analysis providing an economic lens to issues impacting Canadian Black businesses at both the regional and national levels. She will also benefit the Society through her leadership and experience as a co-founder of a technology platform company and Board of Directorship appointments. 

Peter Mwariga | Founding Director of Networking, Partnership Management and Technology

As a small business owner and independent sales consultant at Teleconnect Solutions Group, Peter has over 20 years of experience in the IT industry primarily focused on Telecom and Data Centers solutions for Small and Medium businesses.

Through direct engagement and partnerships, Peter has worked with businesses on their digital transformation to help them compete in this fast-changing business environment.

Peter has a passion for helping small and medium businesses understand the global digital transformation currently taking place and working with them to close the large gap between them and the aggressive and disruptive larger competitors.

Eric Pilgrim | Founding Director of Professional Services and Technology

With over 20 years in the IT industry, working in a variety of sectors such as Beverage, Telecom, Manage Service Provider, Construction, Property Management, and Health Care. Excelling in a diversity of roles for companies within these sectors

Eric has lead I.T teams of various sizes to implement and support several critical infrastructure projects in the Province of B.C,  Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement  Project (600 Million) required for the 2010 Winter Games. Port Mann Hwy 1 Improvement (2.5 Billion) and the Pitt River Bridge &Mary Hill Interchange (200 Million) are a few examples. He is now focused on the Health Care sector using his past knowledge to manage various aspects of the Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment Project, a three-phase project estimated at 1.3 Billion.

 Eric has a unique perspective that has allowed him to meet the challenges of working on very large infrastructure projects. He will bring those viewpoints and skills to the BEBC.

Candace Lauren | National Programs Manager

Candace is a seasoned leader with deep expertise in crafting strategic communications and managing programs that empower corporations, social impact brands, and diverse communities to thrive in today’s evolving landscape.

EXPERTISE

  • Visual Brand Design
  • Communications/Marketing & Digital Media Strategist
  • Event Management & Public Speaking (Facilitation)
  • Advocacy and Community Engagement
  • Entrepreneurship (Consulting)
  • Supplier Diversity, Procurement, and Certification

HIGHLIGHTS

  • 8 year corporate plus 10 years entrepreneurship experience Founding Board Member | Black Entrepreneurs & Businesses of Canada Society [BEBC Society] | Main facilitator of Procurement & Certification programs
  • Deep expertise in Visual Brand Design, Communications, and Marketing strategy
  • Previous Board experience in the Post-Secondary sector
  • Co-created one the largest Sustainability Projects at Humber College, Toronto

Candace Lauren is a dynamic creative, marketing, and communications professional with over 15 years of experience across various client-focused sectors, including academia, business consulting, communications, community engagement, event planning, program development, operations, and nonprofits. As the founder of CLGC Inc., Candace empowers corporations and social impact brands to craft effective communication strategies that promote sustainability. Her other venture, Brand Communiqué Inc., specializes in brand and event management.

 

A distinguished brand strategist, award-winning speaker, and best-selling author, Candace has partnered with high- profile clients such as the Think and Grow Rich Institute and CBS’s “The Talk,” developing impactful strategies for six- figure to multi-million dollar, award-winning brands. Her work has been showcased on Global TV, CBC, MSN, Yahoo! Finance, BCBusiness, and Rogers TV.

In her role as Founding Board Member, now National Programs Manager for the BEBC Society, Candace leverages her extensive expertise and creativity to drive initiatives that expand access to the Procurement and Certification Readiness Course for suppliers across Canada. She also oversees the Black Business Certification, Corporate Membership, Pro-Bono Legal, Financial Literacy, and Investment Readiness programs, fostering opportunities for growth and development within the Black business community. Her unwavering commitment to fostering supplier diversity continues to shape the future of equitable procurement practices in Canada and beyond.

As the visionary creator of the national BEBC Society online supplier portal, web learning platform, and website, she is a trailblazer in procurement strategy and supplier diversity. She is the primary facilitator, alongside program curator Jackee Kasandy in teaching a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind procurement course tailored to prepare suppliers for certification while enabling corporations to diversify their supply chains. This transformative course equips suppliers with the tools and strategies needed to achieve certification and confidently navigate procurement opportunities with both public and private sector organizations. Her career embodies a dedication to fostering innovation, championing equity, and empowering organizations and communities to thrive through strategic communications, impactful programs, and transformative initiatives.

Advisory Board

We are a black-led organization, representing Black businesses in Canada.

We are providing a unified platform for advocating and supporting Black entrepreneurs and businesses in Canada to create opportunities for advancement and self-determination for the Black community. In addition to advocacy, we help facilitate access to financing (Federal, Provincial, and Local), access to social procurement  and certification, as well as provide advisory and mentorship services to our members.

Our mission is to help Black businesses grow, scale up and become sustainable.

Legal Representation | Norton Rose Fulbright

CRA 702374471RT0001 | BC Registration 702374471BC0001

Our Mandate | Our Promise

Are you an aspiring or established black entrepreneur?

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For all media inquiries, please contact: media@bebcsociety.org