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A Paper on Minority Settlement Strategies : Focus on English
Speaking Black Community of Montreal
Presented at
The Cultural Communities Conference
of the
The Union Cultural Communities Committee
Montreal, Qc. December 4 2010
Dr. Clarence S. Bayne
Director of the Institute for Community
Entrepreneurship and Development, JMSB, Concordia
President of the Black Studies Center and the QBBE.
ICED
•
The Institute for Community Entrepreneurship and Development
(ICED)had its beginnings as the Minority Institute in 1993
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It was created by JMSB (Concordia) in response to a call from the University to
its Faculties to “Balance the Equation” with respect to minority communities and
the distribution of knowledge products in those communities
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Two pilot studies on minority community development were
conducted in the English and French speaking Black communities.
These were funded by a private foundation, the Provincial
Government, and teaching resources provided by JMSB.
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Later the results were adapted to create a customized community
entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship program for the James Bay Cree
Regional Authority.: “The Cree-Concordia Entrepreneurial Spirit Program.”
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IC ED has adopted a social entrepreneurship approach to assist community
development and works from within the framework of
a cultural self-adaptive theory where sharing is facilitated by an information and
communication technology.
General Purpose of ICED
• "Helping visible and immigrant minorities to
persist in acquiring skills as successful social
and business entrepreneurs; and supporting
their initiatives to advance themselves,
strengthen and build sustainable healthy
communities".
Certificate in Office Management of Community-Based
Organizations Level II
(Administrative Assistants)
Graduates
Economic Development Officers
The Cree-Concordia Training Program
Graduates
Lessons From the Black Community and Cree Projects
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The problems of survival and development of these two kinships groups cannot be solved by simply
applying competitive market oriented success strategies borrowed from mainstream society
The market exchange system is only one aspect of the social framework within which different
kinship groups develop and plan their survival strategies.
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The population space (landscape) is peopled by diverse racial and cultural groups.
Different groups occupy different positions in the landscape: face different topographies, have
different access to information, and have different information processing capacities; different
factor endowments in the form of learned skills and histories,
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To understand why some groups survive and strive while others do not do as well, we need to adopt a
holistic approach to development.
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We need to study the patterns in the demographic changes of multiple kinship groups in the
context of the entire social system and its adaptive processes and mechanisms.
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We need to see how information is shared between all kinship groups, how learning takes place and
the degree of access each group has to resources and the means and capacity for living life beyond
the level of mere subsistence.
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What are the types of relationships and institutional arrangements that define the system? What
forms of operation, learning strategies and capabilities, and social relationships best improve the
resiliency of the system, and provide a fair and socially acceptable quality of life for all kinship
groups?
Canada As a Fitness Landscape
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Canada is a biosphere consisting of subspaces supporting life and ensuring the
perpetuation of life
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The focus is on human life and human activity in this space
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The central focus of life is self-preservation and self-perpetuation and improvement. The
primal action of man in an environment is a social entrepreneurial action, a survival
response captured by his continuous search for food, safety and security, and a purpose.
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The human specie through a process of knowledge creation and accumulation has
developed many strategic approaches to accomplish this central purpose
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Development of self adaptive learning capabilities based on success failure experiences
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Through kinship linkages and sharing, Western societies have created cultures
(production and spiritual) capable of surviving disastrous events.
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Self-adaptive learning model with a cultural change algorithms will help to explain the
settlement and development strategies of minorities
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Proposition: there is a need in Canada to widen the kinship boundaries along certain
dimensions in order to facilitate greater sharing and to achieve a sustainable and socially
equitable society.
Introducing the Self Adaptive Cultural
Change Model: An Abstraction
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The fitness landscape concept is about the perpetuation and reproduction of life in an
environment. The physical environment has properties and laws that govern its
existence. The life species have properties that govern their existence and chances for
perpetuating life.
There is conflicting dependencies between the shorter human consumption and
production cycles and the longer natural cycles of the life supporting eco-systems that
make up the biosphere.
The self adaptive cultural change model will assume two types of spaces: the belief
space and the population space.
The belief space is a depository of knowledge:
 Situational knowledge
 Normative knowledge
The population space is where the species work, play, celebrate, worship and interact
with each other in a physical life-supporting environment:
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there is an environmental and a social context to this space.
Activities in the population and the belief spaces are linked through acceptance
(pragmatic, legal, moral and cognitive/transcendental legitimization ) and influencing
(best practices, technology, learned skills, and ingenuity capacity) channels.
Agent-Based Modeling of Cultural Change
• The next two slide present diagrams taken from an
article “Agent-based Modeling of Cultural Change in
Swarm Using Cultural Algorithms”.
• Authors: Ziad Kobi, Robert G. Reynolds, and Tim
Kholer.”
• The diagrams illustrate graphically the population
and the belief spaces; the flow of knowledge to the
belief space from the population space; and the
legitimization and feedback of updated accumulated
knowledge to influence decision-making and action
in the local population space.
Belief Space
Situational
Normative
E1
E2
E3
…..……..
Influence
Accept
Population
Local Strategy
Local Strategy
Local Strategy
Local Strategy
Local Strategy
Local Strategy
Belief Space : History of Transactions
Global Strategy
Population
Accept / Influence
Local Strategy
Local Memory
Update
Agent Experience
Fitness Landscape
• The concept of the Fitness landscape as used in
ICED facilitates an analysis of the struggle of the
species to overcome physical and social barriers
to their survival and the improvement of life
• It introduces the concept of social
entrepreneurship which is very different from the
concept of business entrepreneurship (profit
accumulation and wealth maximization).
The Fitness Landscape
Diagram 1: Fitness contour
Fitness Peak B
Z= net benefits(fitness level)
Fitness Peak A
Fitness peak
C
Y = working
Population size
X = productivity
Light
Belief Space : Use of case-based knowledge as
situational knowledge to assess and influence
change in the plans/strategies for survival of
individual households and organizations
Belief Space: Global learning and
accumulation of success experiences as
normative knowledge and generalized
population preferences
Acceptance function
Influence function
Households
External factor
input and
labour flows
Factors of
production
Public
Agencies
Goods and
services Market
Firms and
organizations
Determine level of
satisfaction of social and
economic needs
Determination of
socially desirable
distribution of wealth
among households and
kinship groups
Determine the level of
fitness enjoyed by
households and kinship
groups compared to
some socially cohesive
ideal
Create communication,
production, and
improved problem
solving and survival
strategies
Update knowledge in
belief space
Population space: a social interactive and exchange space
A Multi-agent Cultural Change model as a Competitive Market Democracy with
an Open Social System
The Fitness Landscape
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The wellbeing/welfare function (see notes on previous slide) can be further
explored in terms of a fitness landscape model
We will describe Quebec as a landscape or as a region within a larger biosphere
system from which it derives a certain capacity to support life.
The possibilities for human existence and the perpetuation of life and the quality
of life are challenging and threatened by the uncertainty of negative influencing
events. Thus a mapping of total possible outcomes resulting from all human
decisions aimed at attaining the best life possible would define a fitness landscape
that is multi-dimensional and very difficult to chart
The landscape may have many configurations: relatively smooth undulating
features, deep canyons, mountains rising to great peeks and plunging to valleys
and rough terrain. Different kinship groups are located at different fitness peaks.
These contours take the form of economic boom and bust, famine, pandemics,
floods, storms, earthquakes, wars, degradation of life supporting eco-systems, and
the possible disastrous consequences of human activity on the biosphere
Thus the fitness landscape is an environment that offers a range of possible
relationships between different kinship groups, organisms, societies in its space.
The landscape (Environment) itself may change depending on the nature of these
relationships (the structure of the interdependencies)
Group Objective is Survival
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The task of any group is to search for, find and move to higher fitness peaks on the
landscape.
Movement is not a simple task. One needs resources: security and support systems,
access to information and knowledge goods, equal opportunity, ingenuity and the
determination to succeed.
There are many possible fitness peaks, some of which may already be occupied and
reserved exclusively for particular (established) kinship groups. This creates vertical
mosaics (John Porter, 1965) that inhibit movement and improvement in the fitness of
newer and less established groups.
Moreover, it is not known with certainty whether other peaks exist that offer greater
fitness. It is this uncertainty and the urgency of the situation (the need for
opportunity to benefit or do good) that motivates the business and social
entrepreneur to intensify their search.
The intensity and oligopolistic competitive nature of the search (Baumol, 2005) adds
to the complexity and uncertainty in the population space (Homer-Dixon, 2000).
This may create an ingenuity gap (Homer-Dixon, 2000): inadequate supply of new
knowledge to construct effective decision search rules (W. H. Tauber, 1969) to reach
higher fitness peaks or avoid the disastrous consequences of stagnating on one
( fossil fuel dependent economy)
Black Immigrants and the Canadian Fitness Landscape
• In 1960 the number of Blacks living in Montreal were 6000, almost
all English speaking
• By census 2001 the number of Blacks numbered 147 000,
approximately 50 000 English speaking from the Caribbean
countries and 70 000 Haitians and other French speaking Blacks
• Black immigrants faced a hostile fitness landscape. Other minority
immigrants face similar environments
• In social terms exclusions from the host society, benevolent neglect
(Robin Winks, 1971).
• The colour line/racial profiling are barriers to better jobs, housing,
access to quality use of public spaces, and quality education for
young Blacks and other visible minorities.
• Ineffective public sector development and integration plan. Low
expectations on the part of the host populations
The Bottom of the Totem Pole
• If Canadian society were like a totem with all things British at
the top and all other Europeans graded and fitted into the
middle, then Blacks, the First Nations, Asians were at the
bottom: in the valleys and foothills of the fitness landscape.
• The Vertical Mosaic existed as an experiment in Nation building
• Blacks not only entered Canada in large numbers at the bottom
of the Totem, but in Quebec the largest numbers came at a time
when Quebec was being redefined by the French as being a
society that was all French.
• Bill 101 was enacted to make French the official language in
Quebec in all aspects of life. For some English speaking Blacks
from the Caribbean this was equivalent to asking them to live
through colonialism twice in a lifetime.
Key Issues addressed by the New Organizations
• Persistent work over thirty to forty years challenging and
engaging the government and private sector to commit to the
reduction of discrimination in the labour force
• Addressing structural economic weaknesses in the Black
Communities: Working in collaboration with provincial
Government to create a long term strategy to help Blacks start
and sustain successful businesses: a problematic relationship.
• Working with school Boards and parents to reduce the drop out
rates among Black Youth. Serious obstacles when working with
French School Boards.
• Creating a net work of support for Black families and Black
Organizations
• The promotion of Black Culture and the arts through theatre,
dance, and festivals (problematic relationships).
• Facilitating the full participation of Blacks in Quebec society.
Partial Comparative Indicators of Fitness
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Participation in the Labour force and comparative employment and
unemployment rates are good indicators of the location of a group in the fitness
landscape
Historically Blacks have been admitted to Canada and valued for their labour
service content. This has effectively been shown by Robins Winks in the “Blacks
in Canada”, and James W. St. G Walker (1980) “A History of Blacks in Canada.”
Commoditization of Blacks and immigrant minorities need revision.
Improvements in scientific knowledge, and the social sciences have lead to
dramatic changes in Canadian normative knowledge (values and sense of right
and wrong)
In Canada updated concepts of democracy (The Constitution Act, including
Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, 1980) and race relations make all
kinship groups equal under the law and legitimizes their rights to their
particular cultures and heritage; equal access to health and education services;
and equal access to employment
However, Statistics Canada data continue to show a disturbing picture of
inequalities in the comparative level of fitness of immigrant and visible minority
kinship groups.
Normative knowledge accumulates but it does not influence change in the
population space at an equivalent rate. Racial profiling and discrimination in
the job market persist.
A Summary Look at the Fitness Story
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Studies by Statistics Canada, McGill Consortium, The Quebec Government, and ICED
point to a grim situation
The data on employment over the last quarter century show that whether a Black
Person was born in Canada or outside of Canada; lived in St John, Halifax, Moncton,
Montreal,. Toronto, Vancouver, or elsewhere; an equivalent education profile to
Whites or not ( had a certificate, a diploma, a trade, or none of the above).
Whether the person is young or old, male or female that he or she would be more
likely than a white person to have lived an entire life exposed to low level jobs and
incomes, to be unemployed; he or she would be less likely to own a home; to have
started a business;
In the period 2001 – 2006 unemployment among Blacks in Montreal was 21.3
percent compared with 12.2 percent in Toronto
In the same period unemployment rates for Whites( not visible Minorities) was 17.2
percent (Montreal) and 10.1 percent in Toronto.
Blacks in the age group 45-64 experienced unemployment rates between 24-39
percent in Montreal (Nationally 14-18 percent). This compared to 12-16 percent for
Whites in Montreal( 8-10 per cent Nationally)
Even during periods of boom the disparity between Blacks and Whites, visible
minorities and not visible minorities, remained dramatically different and
disfavourable towards Blacks and other visible minorities
The Response of the Black Kinship Groups to Exclusion
• The rise of social entrepreneurship as part of the search decision rules for
improving fitness: the removal of barriers
• Black social entrepreneurs in the English speaking sectors attacked the
colour line and used the media and public forums to remove anti-social
influencing exemplars from the social and belief spaces
• Black leaders created social and cultural organizations, mutual societies,
religious institutions, educational institutions to assist the community in the
struggle for survival and to improve the quality of life.
• Black Leadership negotiated with Quebec Provincial and Governments to be
included in the Quebec social economy.
• Mathieu Da Costa Foundation was an outcome of those negotiations, as
well as the creation of a table de concertation during the Bourassa
administration.
• Vigorous participation in the debates that lead to Aces Egalite laws
• Replacement of Mathieu Da Costa by the Black Entrepreneurs Fund and
new initiatives to integrate Black communities into the Quebec Social
Economy.
The social economy
may consist of
organizational
arrangements that are
non- profit oriented,
civic society
organizations, social
economy businesses;
community based
organizations involved
in community
development; and
combinations of all
these. That is to say all
these forms or
combinations (networks
and partnerships) may
be used purely for the
preservation and the
perpetuation of life for
the kinship group or the
largest number of
different kinship groups.
Black Community
social entrepreneurship
organizations are
concentrated in the
public non-profit and
community
development groupings.
The Emergence of Social
Entrepreneurship
• The next slide illustrates the emergence of a
leadership and organizations that define the social
entrepreneurships action in of the English Speaking
Black Communities of Quebec and the Black
Communities across Canada.
• This is only a sample of the action. It is not intended
to be a complete picture of Black social
entrepreneurship as we define the term in this paper.
Date of
Registration
1969 – 1985
Organization
Type
Objective
The National Black Coalition of Canada
National Alliance of
Black social, political
and community based
Organizations
A federation of Black organizations across Canada dedicated to the creation of
a united voice for Blacks in Canada; seeking to create a more inclusive Canada;
a more socially cohesive Canada; a fuller social, political and economic
integration of Blacks and Black cultures into the National fabric of Canada .
1971
Black Studies Center
Community
Development
Community development; social studies; Specialist in social entrepreneurship
and self employment; facilities for business incubation.
197?
1971
The Black Coalition of Quebec (has its origins Community
from the national Black Coalition of Canada) development and
anti-discrimination
activism
Quebec Board of Black Educators
Education
1971
The Black Theatre Workshop
Arts and Culture
1973 -1993
The Black Community Council of Quebec (
and its outreach regional programs )
Community
Development
Late 80s to
present
Black Community Associations of Lasalle,
Laval, CDN, NDG, Verdun, the West Island
The Garvey Institute
1991 (February)
1994
1995
Black History Month
Remedial and SEL : elementary and high school; Research and development;
Educational reform
The development of the Black performance arts; the creation of a Black
Canadian literature; the promotion of Black theatre in the schools and
throughout Quebec and Canada.
Pan-African alliance of Black organizations aimed at creating an economically
autonomous Black community speaking with a single political voice within the
Canadian framework of Canada as a Federated Multicultural society.
A network of front line Outreach organizations of the original BCCQ with similar aims and objectives
community family
Autonomous with respect to their regional mandates
service agencies
Education
Black publication; Black School; provision of Scholarships to Blacks;
community education and development, social and political criticism and
activism.
A City Montreal
A City wide celebration of Black culture, art , and contributions by Black
Citywide Celebration Community and Montrealers in collaboration with the City of Montreal.
Carifiesta, Rythme du Monde, Vue D’afrique Festivals and Cultural
Displays
The Quebec Black Medical Association
Research and Health
care Education
Black Community Resource centre
Mission is the search for identity unity and liberation of Blacks in Quebec.
Engaged in the struggle for human rights and freedoms; struggle to ensure
that justices prevails everywhere and every time.
Community
Development
Helping motivated and socially involved youth to gain access to various careers
in the field of health care. Dissemination of health care information in the
community. Maintenance of fund for research and education in healthcare.
A holistic approach to social and emotional training of youth, supporting
organizations and engaging in community building community networks.
Key Issues addressed by the New Organizations
• Persistent work over thirty to forty years challenging and
engaging the government and private sector to commit to the
reduction of discrimination in the labour force
• Addressing structural economic weaknesses in the Black
Communities: that is working in collaboration with provincial
Government to create a long term strategy to help Blacks start
and sustain successful businesses.
• Working with school Boards and parents to reduce the drop out
rates among Black youth
• Creating a net work of support for Black families and Black
organizations
• The promotion of Black Culture and the arts through theatre,
dance, and festivals.
• Facilitating the full participation of Blacks in Quebec society
Location of ICED in the Cultural Change Model
• ICED is a facilitator of learning both in the belief
system and at the level of the local kinship groups in
the population space
• It facilitates communication and collaboration within
and between minority kinship groups; and between
minority and mainstream kinship groups.
• It conducts research, creates and disseminates
knowledge
• Acts to update cultural knowledge in the belief
space
• Promotes and encourages the entrepreneurial spirit
as a strategy for development
A Communication and Planning Chart
QBBE-ICED BUSINESS SUMMER
SCHOOL 2010
Faculty and students
Sample of presentations
Business Type
• Brizzy Bryce
Promotions is a sole
proprietorship which
is responsible for
contracting, the
promotional
packages, and sales
within the venue of
choice
Elements Deco: Vision & mission
statement
• Elements Deco: an incorporation registered under the
incorporation act of Québec.
• Our mission: apply our design expertise to companies
and particulars alike.
• Implementing a space that reflects their values.
• We offer a range of products and services that include:
painting, flooring, window treatment, custom furniture
and custom artwork.
Products & services cont…
• Additional elements: Windows, upholstering, flooring, accessories, custom
artwork or furniture is charged accordingly.
• Custom artwork – complementary to an overall design or theme
• Personalized artwork
Bella’s Day Spa
2010
By Isabelle Reignier
Mission StatemenT
Bella’s Day Spa’s mission is to run a profitable business by providing
aesthetician services in a clean, caring, upscale, and professional
environment. We intend to tailor the client's experience based on initial
interview information, as well as feedback during the treatments, to
ensure the client's comfort and satisfaction. We are thoughtful of the
overall experience at our day spa - using only the finest oils and beauty
products. Special lighting, music, decor, and textiles are used
throughout the spa to complete the comfortable, rich environment and
enhance the client's overall spa experience.
Initial Interview
Caring
Feedback
Professional
Finest Beauty
Products
Upscale
VISIT ICED PORTAL
• A complete one hour presentation of the
Summer business program can be viewed at
• http://www.icedportal.com/