About us

 

Mathieu Da Costa is considered by most historians as the first Black person to have arrived in Canada around 1609. Da Costa was a trailblazer whose ability to master different languages led him to accompany prominent European explorers on their early expeditions into North America, working as an interpreter between them and the Indigenous people of Canada.

Despite Da Costa’s many achievements very few Canadians know his name. Today, over one million people make up the Black population in Canada, many of whom are trailblazers in their chosen fields — law, finance, science, engineering, and education. Yet, like  Da Costa, very few Canadians know their names or stories. We plan to change this by sharing their achievements and showcasing their triumphs. We’ll celebrate the successes of Canadian professionals in the Black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC) communities by providing them with a forum and a legacy. We are Dacosta.

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Our mission

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Dacosta will spotlight BIPOC leaders who have risen to the c-suite and beyond by amplifying their voices and their stories. We’ll celebrate the steps companies across the nation are taking to diversify their senior management and boardroom positions, and we’ll share stories of entrepreneurs who have overcome hurdles to carve out a niche in industries in which the door was traditionally closed.