2019 Black & White Gala

CGLCC Presents: MISSION UNSTOPPABLE

The theme for tonight’s event is ‘UNSTOPPABLE’. We can’t think of a more appropriate word to describe what’s going on with the CGLCC and Canada’s diverse business community right now. Momentum, critical mass, whatever it is, we’ve got it. This past year has clearly demonstrated that we are on our way to becoming an unstoppable force for progress and prosperity in Canada.

Our signature accomplishments this year include:

• Working with the Federal Government to take 16 Canadian LGBT+ enterprises to the NGLCC conference in Tampa on our 2nd International Trade Mission.
• Expansion of the Out for Business LGBT+ Youth Entrepreneur Program across Ontario.
• Providing LGBT+ Inclusion Training for Canada’s tourism sector.
• Hosting a successful Global Business Summit & Supplier Diversity Forum in Toronto at the end of May.
• Signing a partnership agreement with the Canada-Florida Chamber of Commerce.

All of this on top of continuing to work with corporations and LGBT+ businesses to support and promote supplier diversity in Canada!

It takes a lot of work to become an unstoppable force, and we want to express our sincere thanks to the CGLCC team, whose dedication is at the heart of our success.

We also depend, for this evening and for other programs and events, on faithful volunteers, many of whom are here tonight.
To those who help us by giving freely of their time, we want to extend our personal thanks.

A word of thanks, too, to all of our partners and sponsors, for helping us turn so many ideas into reality and for helping us become unstoppable.

It’s been a wonderful year; now, let’s celebrate!

Bill Pallett, Chair

Darrell Schuurman, Co-founder and CEO

Meet our Emcees

Martha Chaves

Emcee

The Grande Dame of Canadian Comedy

Martha Chaves’s infectious, candid style, her captivating stage presence, and her gift for relating to a wide range of audiences have led her to numerous appearances at clubs, colleges, fundraisers, corporate functions and comedy festivals, including Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.

Martha Chaves

Emcee

The Grande Dame of Canadian Comedy

Joey Niceforo

Canadian Anthem

Joey Niceforo made his professional debut in 2005 when he joined the original Canadian Tenors. He then formed his own classical crossover ensemble Destino in 2006 which toured internationally, including performances at the Beijing and Vancouver Olympics, Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas and a national tour with the Rankin Family. He has performed across Canada, the U.S., Italy, the Czech Republic and China. He has been featured singing on the NBC and ABC networks and this past year Joey released his debut solo album called ‘Priceless’.

Joey Niceforo

Canadian Anthem

DJ Jade Elektra

Closing Reception

Best known for her underground New York club hits “Bitch You Look Fierce”, “How Do I Look?” and “Trade”, Jade Elektra has released house music versions of songs previously recorded by Ike & Tina Turner (‘Proud Mary’), Lou Reed (‘Walk On The Wild Side’), Gladys Knight (‘If I Were A Woman’) and Billie Holiday (‘Don’t Explain’), among others.

HIV+ for 25 years and counting, Jade Elektra (real name: Alphonso King Jr) is fully out about his/her HIV status and has proudly worked with several HIV/AIDS organizations in the United States and Canada. Elektra considers “Scared Of Evolution”, “I Was Born This Way/Respect Yourself” and an earlier club track “HIVogue” to be her most political recordings to date.

DJ Jade Elektra

Closing Reception

Patrick Hunter

Award Artist

Our LGBT+ Business Award winners receive a limited edition Maple Leaf print by our very own certified supplier Patrick Hunter, an Ojibway 2spirit artist. We are grateful to have prints of Patrick’s incredible Woodland Art awarded at our Black and White Gala for the third year in a row! Make sure to check out Patrick on Facebook and Instagram.

Patrick Hunter

Award Artist

Award Highlights

Event Sponsors

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