An Innovation Hub by the BEA
The element centre
Building inclusive entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in Toronto’s northwest corner.
A home for new perspectives
With the support of key partners, the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) conducted a 2023 study to look at the gaps of innovation infrastructure in Jane-Finch/Northwest Toronto, and determine the feasibility of a new, state-of-the-art innovation hub to support the development and growth of underrepresented entrepreneurs and professionals.
The BEA was first launched as a collaboration between the Black Creek Community Health Centre (BCCHC) and York University. Together, we’re backed by over 30 years of community-building experience, with more than 70 partners across community, academia, and research.
Through the federal government’s Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP), we’ve received $2.99 million dollars in investments to support Black-led businesses and to make innovation accessible to all.
Making innovation accessible to all.
There’s an uneven geography of innovation in Toronto.
Despite the wealth of talent and potential in the city’s northwest corner, the majority of innovation infrastructure is still only available in the downtown core. Marginalized communities across northwest Toronto are underserved, preventing the inclusive growth of Toronto’s innovation ecosystem. The Element Centre is changing that.
The Element Centre
Behind the vision
Built with insights from emerging professionals and entrepreneurs, stakeholders, and the Jane Finch Initiative, the Element Centre is a space dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and professionals in northwest Toronto.
Expanding Toronto’s Geography of Innovation
Inner suburb communities in Toronto are excluded from the innovation economy, especially in the northwestern corner—one of the city’s most economically depressed and demographically diverse areas. An Innovation Hub in Jane and Finch will give local entrepreneurs direct access to the tools and resources that, until now, were only available to those in the downtown core.
Inclusive Economic Recovery
Industries that commonly employed Jane and Finch/Northwest Toronto residents were hit the hardest with job loss. The BEA Innovation Hub will give local entrepreneurs & startups the network, education, and resources needed to contribute to Toronto’s innovation sector.
Bridging local talent with the innovation network
Coinciding with the city’s Jane Finch Initiative, the Innovation Hub will help export local innovation by being a connector between the local community, academia, and the broader innovation network. It’ll also provide an early entry point to innovation for youth, women, and racialized groups located in the inner suburban community of northwest Toronto.
For the
long run
With all-angle objectives, the Element Centre is dedicated to making lasting change for diverse entrepreneurs and professionals in northwest Toronto.
Founding Partners + Funders
Technical Support Providers
Support the Innovation Hub as a Partner
Partner Testimonials
The Black Entrepreneurship Alliance is forging a vital path forward, and York University is honoured to be a trusted partner on this journey. The Element Centre embodies our shared commitment to creating tangible opportunities that empower underrepresented communities. It represents a collective effort to open doors and build an inclusive ecosystem where Black and underrepresented founders are positioned to succeed. The impact of this initiative will extend far beyond its walls, driving positive change across our region and the nation.
Amir Asif
Vice-President Research & Innovation, York University
Economic opportunity is community health. The Element Centre is more than an innovation hub; it's a direct investment in public health. By empowering Black and diverse founders and professionals, we address financial stability—a critical social determinant of health. This initiative is a prescription for a healthier, more equitable future for our community.
Cheryl Prescod
Executive Director, Black Creek Community Health Centre
The Element Centre is a bold and visionary initiative that will transform the innovation landscape in Northwest Toronto. I’m proud to support the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance in this vital work to build a more inclusive and equitable ecosystem. This is exactly the kind of community-driven leadership we need to build a more equitable future. By investing in local talent and creating space for entrepreneurs from Jane and Finch, Rexdale, and beyond, the Element Centre will unlock opportunity, drive meaningful economic recovery, and ensure that the brilliance of our community is front and centre in Canada’s future.
Hon. Judy A. Sgro
Member of Parliament for Humber River–Black Creek
Project
Planner
Designed to break new ground
Led by award-winning architecture firm AKAFLDWRK, the Element Centre will be a centre of local innovation and entrepreneurship, with purpose-built spaces designed for every stage of the journey.
