Afro-Caribbean Business Network | Fireside Chat with Anthony Henry, President of The Walnut Foundation | Thursday, October 29, 2026 | Online
Entrepreneurs talk a lot about building wealth. However, we rarely talk about the one asset every business depends on: the health of the person running it. For Black men in particular, that conversation is overdue.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, Black men of African or Caribbean ancestry face almost double the risk of developing prostate cancer compared with non-Black men. In other words, prostate cancer in Black men is not just a health issue. It is a family issue, a community issue and a business issue.
So on Thursday, October 29, the Afro-Caribbean Business Network continues the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026 with a virtual fireside chat featuring Anthony Henry, President of The Walnut Foundation, on the health and well-being of Black men and their families.
Who Is Anthony Henry?
Professionally, Anthony is a financial advisor with nearly three decades of experience in retirement and estate planning. He holds an honours BA in Economics and Political Science from the University of Toronto. In short, he has spent his career helping families plan for the future.
However, his commitment to The Walnut Foundation is deeply personal. Anthony is a prostate cancer survivor, and several members of his family have been affected by the disease, including his father. After years as an advisor and First Vice-President of the foundation, he became its President.
We cannot afford to sit back and watch Black men being disproportionately impacted by a treatable disease and do nothing about it. (Anthony Henry)
Inside The Walnut Foundation
Originally founded in 2007 and based in Brampton, Ontario, The Walnut Foundation is a registered charity that provides Black men and their families with the resources, information and support they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives, with or without prostate cancer. Its programs include:
- Monthly support group meetings for men and families
- Free PSA testing clinics for Black men over 40
- An annual Prostate Cancer Conference and Black History Month Symposium
- Walk the Path, an annual walkathon that raises awareness and funds
- Peer navigation to help men move through the health system
In addition, the foundation partners with Toronto hospitals and researchers, including a Canadian Cancer Society health equity study led by Dr. Aisha Lofters, to address barriers Black men face in cancer care.
Why This Conversation Matters for the Black Community
1. Your health is your most important business asset
At ACBN, we name the Four Strikes™ that hold Black entrepreneurs back, and the first is small teams. Most Black-owned businesses have fewer than five people. Consequently, when the owner gets sick, the whole business can stop. Protecting your health protects your income, your employees and your family.
2. Early detection saves lives
Fortunately, prostate cancer is highly treatable when found early. Yet, as Anthony has noted, many Black men in high-risk groups are not encouraged to get screened. That is why knowing your risk and talking to your doctor matters.
3. Planning for the future includes health
As a financial advisor, Anthony also knows that estate and succession planning are part of building generational wealth. Similarly, health planning belongs in that conversation. A plan for your business should include a plan for you. (For more on wealth that lasts, read our Day 5 spotlight on Black generational wealth in Canada.)
4. Brampton is building community care
Just like ACBN, The Walnut Foundation calls Brampton home. Together, local organizations like these show how community-led support can reach people that larger systems too often miss.
5. Clarity starts with the founder
That is why ACBN’s 3C Framework™ moves entrepreneurs through Clarity → Connection → Capital. First, get clear on what you and your business need, including your health and wellbeing. Next, connect with community resources like The Walnut Foundation and ACBN. Finally, access capital to grow a business that can thrive for the long term.
Build a business that can last. ACBN’s Growth Pathway program walks you through the 3C Framework™ with coaching, community and a direct route to funding. We are welcoming 100 entrepreneurs into the program.
What You Will Walk Away With
- The facts about prostate cancer risk for Black men
- Why early screening and family history matter
- How to talk about health with the men in your life
- Why health belongs in your business and financial planning
- A live Q&A with a survivor, financial advisor and community leader
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Black men at higher risk of prostate cancer?
Yes. In fact, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, Black men of African or Caribbean ancestry have almost double the risk of developing prostate cancer compared with non-Black men. Talk to your doctor about your personal risk and when to start screening.
Where can Black men get prostate cancer support in Ontario?
For example, The Walnut Foundation in Brampton offers support groups, free PSA testing clinics for Black men over 40, education and peer navigation for men and their families.
I missed the live session. Can I watch the replay?
Yes. Replays of BEEConference sessions will be shared on the ACBN YouTube channel.
Join Us on Day 29
Day 29 continues a full month of workshops through October as part of the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026. So bring the men in your life, and join a conversation that could save one.
Fireside Chat with Anthony Henry | BEEConference Day 29
Thursday, October 29, 2026 | Online
Can’t make it live? Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss a replay, workshop or conversation: youtube.com/@acbn_canada
Connect. Build. Grow.
Note: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Please speak with your doctor about your personal health and screening.
