Since forming in 2020, Black Engineers of Canada has become a dynamic community dedicated to fostering opportunities for Black engineering graduates across Canada. Their mission is clear: to create an enabling environment that empowers Black engineers to excel in their chosen profession, unburdened by societal biases.
As we mark Black History Month 2024, Engineers Canada caught up with its partners at Black Engineers of Canada (BEC) to get an update on their key initiatives, their recent events, and what they’ve got coming up.
Key initiatives
BEC recognizes that diversity is the cornerstone of innovation. Their existence is rooted in the belief that a diverse engineering workforce drives progress, creativity, and resilience. By championing Black talent, they contribute to the growth of the engineering profession and the Canadian economy.
They champion and support this Black talent through a number of key initiatives:
- Their mentorship programs connect aspiring engineers with seasoned professionals for one-on-one guidance that helps members navigate challenges in academia, job searches, networking, and workplace barriers.
- The BEC Career Centre bridges the gap between talent and industry, serving as a hub for high-performing, diverse engineering talent. Employers post job opportunities and search for candidates who possess the skills needed to meet their needs.
- The BEC Academy provides best-in-class learning experiences to the BEC community. Workshops, webinars, and skill-building sessions equip BEC members with the tools needed for continuous learning and career progression.
- BEC nurtures entrepreneurial spirit through their Entrepreneurship Corner, which partners with business leaders to offer mentoring, coaching, and access to startup funds for BEC entrepreneurs.
- BEC also offers internship and work experience programs that create pathways for Black engineering students and skilled immigrants to gain valuable Canadian work experience.
- BEC hosts networking sessions and events within their communities and with their partners that facilitate the building of meaningful connections that are essential for personal and professional growth.
Recent events
As part of its mission to provide an enabling environment for growth and leadership by developing pathways to excellence for Black engineers and engineering graduates in Canada, BEC held a career fair in January that brought together engineering employers and the diverse talent pool in the BEC community of members. Employers and exhibitors present included Lockheed Martin, General Dynamic Mission Systems of Canada, Acciona, and Metrolinx, and the event saw 84 Black engineering students, recent graduates, and engineers from across Canada.
BEC also recently marked Black History Month with a fireside chat entitled, Standing Out: A Black History Month Event. The event featured two Black engineering leaders—Ade Babasola and Malcolm Fabiyi—sharing their experiences within the engineering field, and providing valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring, new, and seasoned engineers.
Coming up
With the support of their volunteers and committees, BEC continues to deliver empowering opportunities for its members. Coming up in March, BEC will be hosting an Entrepreneurship meetup, where two Canadian Black entrepreneurs—Nana Obeng and Akinola Ifelola—will share their experiences in entrepreneurship. They will explore the challenges that they faced, their pivotal moments, and the valuable support they received along the way.
And during National Engineering Month in March, BEC will be collaborating with the PEO London, ON, chapter on a networking session at London’s BMO Centre.
To learn more about BEC’s initiatives, to stay up-to-date with BEC news and events, and to donate or get involved as they empower Black engineers, visit blackengineers.ca
