We are committed to celebrating the achievements of Black businesses that contribute to the Ottawa community and beyond.
Although this is a highlight feature for just a few Ottawa-based, Black-owned businesses, for a more thorough list, please visit this directory created by Build Out Loud (a program developed by Black Ottawa Connect).
Product-based businesses:
What started as a hobby, the art of soap making, stuck with her while she lived in 4 different countries and now, we’re lucky to have access to Aromariss products since she’s settled in Ottawa. Her soaps truly put natural first, by only using ingredients such as herbs, clays, spices, vegetable juices. Her moisturizing soaps are a real gem in Canadian weather, especially during the winter months!
‘Artist’ is the name of the game (seriously, her last name is Attis, which is extremely similar to the word ‘artist’ in Creole). It shows in her work ranging from carefully curated bouquets to beautifully decorated events and creative projects. If you’re not just looking for floral arrangements on special occasions, Attis also offers floral subscription services!
When the founder, Nahomy, was experiencing hair struggles like heat damage, breakage and colour damage, she sought out natural ingredients as the solution. If you’re exploring hair care or want to learn how to maintain your curls this year, Shouts Naturals is a great place to start!
Service-based businesses:
Sculpted Clinic
Co-founders, Kiaa and Keren, blended their backgrounds in nursing with their passion for aesthetic medicine/beauty. You can really walk into their adorable boutique in Westboro for a non-invasive, full body treatment. With services ranging from fillers to facials to cryotherapy, there’s really something for everyone. And everyone deserves to treat themselves a little!
Savannah launched Of Wild & Wonder with a focus of empowering people through photography and capturing the magical experiences in life. Specializing in wedding photography, the little details go a long way to make sure that a single image brings back all of the feelings of the moment. Their philosophy says it best, “You handle the love and we will handle the art”.
We’d take yoga classes in Arnprior, just to hang out with the studio director, Ro. With her contagious energy, you’re bound to fall in love with her classes as well. Not only does the Union team focus on fostering a safe space for everyone, they are dedicated to blending the traditions of yoga into a sustainable practice for modern-day life through movement.
Food/Restaurants:
If you’re looking for Caribbean food, look no further than Island Flava, provided by Executive Chef, Lennox Antoine. Voted as Ottawa’s Best Caribbean Restaurant six times, it really is the go-to place for authentic and high quality food. For golden, crispy fried plantains to the Capital city’s first jerk chicken poutine (coined as JCP), we’re getting hungry just thinking about it.
Award winning Chef and Food Artisan, Resa Solomon-St. Lewis also wants to share the taste of the Caribbean lifestyle in Ottawa by combining her heritage from Trinidad & Tobago with her Canadian nationality. Baccanalle offers family-style meals that are ready-to-eat or they can meet all of your catering needs! Keep an eye out at the Ottawa Farmers Markets because you might also see them there.
Vanitea Room brings a little bit of Europe to Ottawa, where you can experience the look and feel of a traditional tea salon. Embracing the significance of tea for many cultures, co-founders, Hind and Chanel, wanted to create a space for an elevated, and beautiful dining experience. They host a variety of private events and even have regular Drag Brunch and Drag Dinners!
By consciously choosing to support Black businesses and entrepreneurs, you’re uplifting local communities and helping close the racial wealth gap experienced by racialized Canadians.
This Black History Month, we encourage everyone to recognize the uniqueness of the Black experience in North America, embrace diverse cultures and continue to educate ourselves about Black history all year round.
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