We All Belong in Durham

The Durham Is More campaign is an initiative led by the Region of Durham’s Local Immigration Partnership with support from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. It was developed in collaboration with Brilliant Catalyst, Business Advisory Centre Durham, Community Development Council Durham, and Spark Centre.

Durham Is More celebrates the growing number of immigrant business owners in Durham Region. Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute to our local economy, create jobs, and bring new products to market. They make Durham more sustainable, vibrant, and innovative. Between 2008 and 2018, Durham’s share of immigrants that reported self-employment more than doubled, from 5,415 to 11,310 entrepreneurs.

Watch the Durham Is More campaign video to hear directly from local residents who started their business in Durham as they reflect on their entrepreneurship journey—sharing how they started new endeavours all while settling in a new country.

If you’re a local entrepreneur looking to start or expand your business, Invest Durham can connect you with supportive partners in our community. Visit the Innovation and Entrepreneurship page to learn more.

Transcript - English

Ahmed

Ahmed is a Durham Region resident who moved from Bangladesh and established Selai Sourcing to connect fashion apparel businesses with sustainable and responsible suppliers.

Benazir

Benazir is a Durham Region resident who moved from Bahrain and founded AZON Bookkeeping Services Inc., a virtual accounting firm dedicated to assisting small business owners.

Gilles

Gilles is a Durham Region resident who moved from Cameroon and founded Taltis Foods Inc., a manufacturer of authentic African food products found on the shelves of major Canadian grocery stores.

Joel

Joel is a Durham Region resident who moved from Brazil and started Kevares Autonomous Services, a deep-tech company that fuses mobile robots, artificial intelligence, and software.

Sharmaine and Abralin

Sharmaine and Abralin are Durham Region resident who moved from the Philippines and started Medicstox, a supplier of high-quality, stylish and unique uniforms for professionals.

Varsha

Varsha is a Durham Region resident who moved from India and founded Tvara Naturals, a certified plant-based business that makes hand-crafted luxurious soaps.

Whoever you are—no matter your belief, your culture, your identity or your language—you belong in Durham.

Watch the We All Belong in Durham video to hear from Durham residents who are newcomers to Canada as they reflect on their settlement in the region—sharing both positive and challenging experiences while settling in a new community.

Thank you to our Durham is Our Home campaign ambassadors for sharing their experiences.

Transcript - English

Durham is close to my heart, whenever I travel and come back to Durham, I feel it's home.

When I moved here, it was very easy for me to just be me. I didn't have to pretend to change who I was to fit in. Neither did my kids.

We all deserve a seat at the table.

Durham Region is a place where immigrants can come and live the dream.

We should accept everyone for who they are.

I bring a lot to the table and I'm brave to have moved from my country into a new world and I'm thriving in it.

We're so happy to be a part of this community and be able to build it.

Immigrants enrich our culture and strengthen our economy.