Pioneering Progress with Durham Region’s Black Entrepreneurs

Founding Board Members of Durham Region Association of Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs (DRABPE) | Left to right: Brenton Alleyne, Silvan Murray, Carlene Honigan, Tennille Spencer, Dane Lawrence, Susan Blake,  Trevin Noble, Marlon Shaw

Written by: Abigail Guevara, Senior Content Writer – Freelance

Dane Lawrence, raised amid the balmy breezes of Jamaica, could not have foreseen his journey toward entrepreneurship in Canada, particularly in the vibrant Region of Durham.

His relocation to Canada opened doors to various professional corporate sales and marketing opportunities, which Dane maximized to establish his own business. Currently, Dane serves as the President of Salesforce1, a dynamic agency specializing in sales, marketing and brand management. Over the past 18 years, he has successfully grown and operated this enterprise in Durham.

Photo: Dane Lawrence, President of Salesforce1 and President of the Durham Region Association of Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs (DRAPBE)

Scouting Global Products for Renowned Retailers

Dane's business is distinguished by its focus on sourcing and facilitating the sales and marketing of exclusive items from international clients across Europe, Asia and the USA. These sought-after products find a home on the shelves of major Canadian retailers such as Costco, Walmart, Canadian Tire, Indigo, Mastermind and other prominent retail chains.

“I started Salesforce1 in Durham in 2006,” says Dane. “At that time and even now, the Region stands out as a prime business location due to its easy access to the Greater Toronto Area, Canadian head offices and overall affordability.”

A Growing Population and Rise in Entrepreneurial Trailblazers

During Dane's years of operation, he observed a notable surge in both the population and the number of Black-owned businesses and professionals in the region. According to Statistics Canada's 2021 Census Population for Durham Region, within a decade, the population surged from 608,123 in 2011 to 696,992 in 2021, with more than 88,000 new residents.

Part of this growth, 2.8 per cent (19,675 people), resulted from the arrival of immigrant populations between 2016 and 2021.

Of course, the influx of people into Durham necessitated employment opportunities. While many commuted to jobs in other cities, some discovered the benefits of establishing their own local businesses.

A Statistics Canada report on Black Business Owners in Canada in 2021 highlighted that in Canada, Black communities, constituting 4.3 per cent, are the third-largest racialized group after the South Asian (7.1 per cent) and Chinese (4.7 per cent) communities. Furthermore, Black individuals faced the fifth-highest unemployment rate among 12 racialized groups reported in the Census of Population. In response to these labour market conditions, many turned to entrepreneurship, recognizing that business ownership can drive economic growth, promote innovation, and create job opportunities. 

Source: Statistics Canada, Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population. Durham, Regional municipality)

The Need for a Collective Voice

Acknowledging the increase in Black-owned businesses in Durham and the challenges faced by Black communities, Dane, along with like-minded entrepreneurs, leaders, and service providers, took a proactive step by forming the Durham Region Association of Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs (DRABPE). This Association aims to unify, empower, and represent a collective Black professional voice in the Region.

“We recognized the wealth of individual talent, experience, and skills in the Black business community in Durham Region,” says Dane. “Bringing us together as a collective through DRAPBE means we can all learn and benefit from each other as our Association fulfils its mission of creating opportunities and road maps to success.”

While an increasing number of DRAPBE members are Canadian-born, many of its business leaders and owners trace their roots to the Caribbean and Africa; and collectively their businesses significantly contribute to Durham’s economic development.

DRAPBE, boasting over 200 members and growing, is making an impact in a variety of ways including establishing a Black business directory, facilitating a Black youth STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) entrepreneurship program, and delivering educational workshops.

In government relations, Dane and DRAPBE members actively participate in discussions with various levels of government, contribute to roundtables, enhance brand awareness for the Association, and foster strategic partnerships.

“Ultimately, I envision Durham Region as fertile ground for small and medium-sized businesses to thrive,” says Dane. “It's a prime business hub where Black-owned business offerings align with the Region’s 2023-2027 Strategy and Action Plan’s economic growth principles of Collaboration, Talent, Distinct Cultural Identity, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Innovation.”

For more information on the Durham Region Association of Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs (DRABPE), visit DRABPE.org.

Innovation and Inclusivity: Stories from Durham Region's Black Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Professionals is a series of stories about thriving Black professionals choosing to do business in Durham Region.

 Resources:

• “Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population Durham, Regional municipality” Statistics Canada, 2021, Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census - Durham (Census division) (statcan.gc.ca)
• “2021 Census of Population – Citizenship and Immigration, Ethnocultural and Religious Composition, Mobility and Migration (Release 6), File: D01-03", The Regional Municipality of Durham Information Report, Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development, 16, December 2022, 2021 Census of Population - Citizenship and Immigration, Ethnocultural and Composition, Mobility and Migration (Release 6) (durham.ca)
• Gueye, Bassirou, “Black Business Owners in Canada”, Statistics Canada, 22, February 2023 Black Business Owners in Canada (statcan.gc.ca)

• “2023-2027 Ready Set Future A Place Blueprint for Durham”, Durham Region, Invest Durham, https://www.durham.ca/en/economic-development/resources/PDF/2023---2027-Economic-Development-and-Tourism-Strategy-and-Action-Plan.pdf