Black Canadian Creators — Vision & Values
Deserve to be seen before they go viral.
Talent was never the problem in Canada. Discovery was.
Why we exist
We exist to
change the math.
For too long, Black Canadian creators have been the industry’s best-kept secrets. Building in silos. Creating in the shadows. Waiting for an invitation to a table that was never built with them in mind.
BCC celebrates, documents and amplifies the people shaping our cultural landscape — the podcasters in Montreal, the filmmakers in Vancouver, the digital strategists in Halifax.
We aren’t just a community.
We’re an operating system for Black creative excellence.
- Founded
- 2016
- Creators listed
- 550+
- Coast to coast
- 6+
- Ownership
- 100%
Started as a podcast and a group chat under the ChoNilla Network.
A national, searchable directory of vetted talent.
Cities represented, from Yellowknife to Halifax.
Community-powered. Creator-focused. Independent.
National reach
We are
right here.
Your work matters whether you’re building an audience in Toronto or shooting from a studio in Yellowknife.
- VancouverBritish Columbia
- YellowknifeNorthwest Territories
- WinnipegManitoba
- TorontoOntario
- MontréalQuébec
- HalifaxNova Scotia
Your story shouldn’t be a special feature in February. It should be part of the daily Canadian narrative.
The work
Our mission
Increase the visibility of Black creators across Canada. We document the work, share the stories, and build direct lines between creators, brands, media and audiences. We dismantle the myth that Black talent is hard to find.
Our vision
A Canada where Black creators are recognised as essential to the creative economy — with equitable access to opportunity, sustainable careers, and a legacy preserved for the next generation of storytellers.
What we believe
Five things
we don’t negotiate.
Seen first
People can’t support who they don’t know exists. We make discovery intentional, not accidental.
Content cousins
Creating is hard. Creating alone is harder. Collaborate, swap resources, celebrate wins — without competition.
Access, not applause
Exposure is a start. Access is the goal. We connect creators to the tools, grants and partnerships that move careers.
No code-switching
There is no correct way to be a Black creator. We celebrate the full spectrum of our identities.
On the record
We aren’t posting for the algorithm. We’re documenting history, and making sure it’s archived.
What we do
Five pillars.
One infrastructure.
Creator spotlights
Deep-dive interviews and features with the minds behind the mic and the lens.
Read the spotlights →News & stories
Trends, policy shifts and cultural moments shaping the Black Canadian creator economy.
Read the blog →Events calendar
From summits to local meetups — find where the community is gathering next.
See what’s on →Resources
Funding, grants, gear and tech tools, curated so creators stay competitive.
Browse resources →Community
The Hub and the newsletter — real-time connection, support and wins in public.
Join the Hub →Who we celebrate
If you’re making
something, you belong here.
Audio & video
- Podcasters
- YouTubers
- Streamers
- Filmmakers
Words & news
- Journalists
- Bloggers
- Authors
- Copywriters
Visuals & arts
- Photographers
- Illustrators
- Designers
- Animators
Education & tech
- Developers
- Educators
- Speakers
- Tech creators
Business
- Creative entrepreneurs
- Small business owners
Our story
From a question
to a movement.
BCC was founded by Sherley Joseph — podcast producer, digital strategist, community builder — who got tired of hearing industry leaders claim they couldn’t find Black creative talent in Canada.
ChoNilla launches — one of Canada’s first Black-led podcasts. Building the network exposed a gap: Black Canadian voices were missing from the national conversation.
The Content Cousins gather. A Facebook group started as a hangout. Within weeks it was obvious this wasn’t a group — it was a necessity.
Black Canadian Creators is born under the ChoNilla Network, as a podcast and a growing community.
The National Directory goes live, built alongside collaborators including Casey Palmer and Kaya Marriott. Proof, in one searchable place, that we are right here.
A multi-platform ecosystem — a podcast, a database of 550+ creators, and a community of thousands.
A letter from our founder
Sherley Joseph — Founder, BCC
When I started this journey, I wasn’t looking to build a social media page. I wanted to build a legacy.
I wanted a place where a creator in Winnipeg could see a creator in Montréal and realise they’re part of the same story. I wanted to make sure that when a brand says “we don’t know where to look,” we can hand them a list of 500+ names and say: pick one, they’re all excellent.
BCC is about more than numbers. It’s the check-in conversations, the shared resources, the collective power of owning our narratives. We aren’t waiting for permission anymore. We’re building the infrastructure ourselves.
Thank you for being part of this movement. Let’s keep showing up.
~ SherleyGet involved
Visibility is
a team sport.
Join the directory
Black Canadian creator? Get listed and get discovered.
Add your listing →Submit your story
Tell us what you’re building so we can tell the world.
Pitch your story →List an event
Workshop, screening, meetup? The national calendar is free.
Add your event →Partner with us
Brands and organisations: reach a highly engaged creative community.
Start a conversation →The Hub
More than a group.
A movement.
Drop your wins. Promote your projects. Find opportunities. Amplify other creators. From Motivation Mondays to Feature Fridays, every week brings a reason to show up.
Discover the Hub