2023 Equal Slice Grant Winners
Since 2021, ICIC has partnered with Yum! Brands to deliver the ICCC-Pizza Hut Equal Slice Program, which provides free business education, virtual trainings, and mentorship opportunities specifically to disabled, immigrant, indigenous, minority, and women-owned small businesses across Canada. One of the key components of the ICIC-Yum! Brands partnership is the opportunity for participants to receive one of five $20,000 CAD grants designed to help grow and strengthen their businesses. See below for the grant winners from this year!
2023 ICCC-Pizza Hut Equal Slice Grant Winners
Akilah Newton – Big Dreamers
“Big Dreamers is a division of Akilah Newton Projects Inc. that focuses on producing literature, games and arts activities and supplies. The goal of Big Dreamers is to celebrate multiculturalism and individuality through the lens of diversity. We value the contributions, accomplishments and sacrifices made by people who have blazed a trail and paved a path for future generations to dream big!”
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Carolina Foresti – Carolina’s Brownies
“At Carolina’s Brownies, we handcraft high-quality, all-natural gourmet brownies that not only satisfy your taste buds but also make a positive impact. Part of the proceeds support children with special needs, because we believe in spreading joy, one brownie at a time.”
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Jaime Ward-Yassin – Hero Academy
“Hero Academy is a martial arts gym that provides group classes to adults, kids, women and adaptive athletes. Our classes and programs are for everyBODY. We don’t limit our classes to body type or physical ability. We create a welcoming and inclusive environment and taper our classes and movements so that you can be yourself while feeling brave, challenged and safe..”
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Nancy Wingham – Nuez Acres
“At Nuez Acres®, we are dedicated to creating eco-friendly, waterless beauty products that nourish your skin and hair while promoting sustainability. Our mission is to provide natural, vegan, and sustainable beauty solutions that honor our indigenous heritage. Join us in our journey towards a greener future, one beautiful step at a time.”
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Cynthia Sweeny – Simply Good Form Inc.
“Through lived experience and unique skill sets, SGF Inclusion is a niche, award-winning solutions-provider working with our clients right across Canada, building simply good solutions to solve tough challenges for businesses around equity, diversity and inclusion. We strategically transform workplace cultures and the impacts for our clients are simple: they drive innovation and growth that impacts your bottom line.”
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“Participating in the Equal Slice Program helped us think strategically and take our business to the next level. It allowed us to interrupt the inertia of our day-to-day business activities to critically think about where we are and where we want to go.”
Cassie and Christine, I’ll Know It When I See It™ – 2021 ICCC Equal Slice Grant Winner
2022 Grant Winners
Carolyn Simon – Choose Life Foods
“Carolyn Simon, our Patty Queen, grew up loving Jamaican Patties, which is a freezer staple in every Caribbean Home! When trying to transition to a plant-based diet, she noticed the absence of Caribbean plant-based meal options, especially Jamaican Patties while grocery shopping. She decided to start making her own and soon her family and friends were asking repeatedly why she wasn’t selling them. Thus, Choose Life Foods was born!”
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Susan Keast – Resources Ink
“Through effective leadership, strategic planning, and change management, you can rest assured that your staffing needs will be met. I have a proven passion and desire to help others. To learn more about our services, including human resource management, health and safety, and payroll outsourcing service, contact us today.”
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Tique Chandler – Chandler Honey
“Our honey products combine the white creamy honey that my family produces with unique flavour infusions. At Chandler Honey, we believe in quality, simplicity, and creating unique food products that everyone will love.”
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Danielle Murrell Cox – Zuri & Dre
“Zuri & Dre is a plush doll, stationery, accessories & home decor brand that celebrates uniqueness and aims to diversify toy boxes, plush collections & everyday life. Our core value at Zuri & Dre, is to make you feel like you belong, uniqueness and all.”
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Dodie Ellenbogen – The County Bounty Artisanal Soda Co.
“[In 2017, Dodie] began to experiment with all sorts of weird and wonderful local flavours in unique combinations to create some cordials for market. They were so well received that she decided to take it to the next level and pursue bottled soda. In 2018 she launched the sodas as a farm value-added product and it caught like wild-fire! She has now switched to making soda as her full time pursuit but has not forgotten her roots as a farmer and she continues to support her fellow local farmers by sourcing as much Ontario-grown produce as possible.”
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Denise Edwards – Tropix
“Tropix Coconut Drops are made using the best quality ingredients, with attention to everything from flavour to packaging. The result is a delightfully delicious taste that is simply irresistible.”
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Jocelyn Eisert – Bizzybody Enterprises
“Bizzybody Enterprises of Fort St. John, BC is a learning & development and consulting firm providing solutions for individuals, communities, businesses, and organizations. Specializing in Northern, Indigenous, and New Canadian entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders, and reinventors with business and career coaching, training & development, project and events management, strategic and community planning, DEI & cultural literacy education, and online and in-person facilitation
Tianna McFarlane – Heal In Colour
“We are revolutionizing the way people shop for bandages. We want to create a world where black and brown bandages are the norm. We will build long-term relationships with customers based on integrity and a dedication to excellence by offering the highest quality brown and black bandages, made from premium materials, at a competitive price.”
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Erin DeWolfe – Web321
“Imagine never having to worry about your website becoming old and out of date, being hacked, getting ignored by Google or disappearing into darkness. No more frantic calling around to web agencies to see who has time to help you. Your site is just… taken care of. WordPress maintenance services: That’s what we do.”
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Téjahn Burnett – Téjahn Burnett
“Téjahn Burnett is a contemporary footwear brand that specializes in women’s high heels, boots and hand-crafted sandals. Designed in Toronto, the Canadian-Jamaican designer creates standout worthy footwear that is size-inclusive and created with versatility and comfort in mind. Our brands eye-catching designs prioritize innovation, functionality and femininity.”