Afro-Caribbean Business Network | Fireside Chat with Tiffany Callender, Co-Founder and CEO of the FACE Coalition | Thursday, October 8, 2026 | Online
Ask Black entrepreneurs what stopped their growth, and many will describe the same moment: sitting across from a bank, doing everything right and still hearing no. For decades, that door stayed mostly closed.
Fortunately, today the picture is changing. Black business loans in Canada are more available than ever before, thanks in large part to one organization that turned community advocacy into a national lending engine. Even so, access still depends on knowing where to go and being ready when you get there.
So on Thursday, October 8, the Afro-Caribbean Business Network continues the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026 with a virtual fireside chat featuring Tiffany Callender, Co-Founder and CEO of the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE), exploring access to capital, economic inclusion and generational wealth.
Who Is Tiffany Callender?
Tiffany is a Caribbean Canadian raised by Bajan immigrants who taught her the value of community, hard work and resilience. Early on, she worked at a Black community day camp while in university. From there, she spent nearly two decades in the nonprofit sector, including managing a provincial program for Black entrepreneurs in Quebec.
Over time, she saw the same barrier everywhere: Black entrepreneurs across Canada could not get fair access to capital. Consequently, she co-founded FACE to bring communities together and build a loan program designed for Black wealth creation. Today, she is also a member of the Forbes Business Council and a leading national voice on Black economic inclusion.
I feel driven by a purpose, which in turn ignites a sense of urgency to make change. (Tiffany Callender)
Inside FACE: The Numbers Behind the Movement
FACE delivers the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, part of the Government of Canada’s Black Entrepreneurship Program. According to its 2024-2025 annual report, FACE has now disbursed more than $50 million to nearly 600 Black-owned businesses, with over $67 million in loans approved since the fund began.
Moreover, the reach keeps growing. In June 2026, FACE expanded its Micro-Loan Program nationally in partnership with BDC. Previously, the pilot offered $10,000 to $25,000 in Ontario and British Columbia. Now, the national program offers loans from $10,000 to $250,000 to early-stage and growth-stage Black-owned businesses, backed by a $160 million fund.
Every loan disbursed is more than a financial transaction. It’s an investment in innovation, resilience, and community growth. (Tiffany Callender)
Notably, FACE is also part of a larger story told throughout this conference. Our Day 1 spotlight on FACE co-founder Thierry Lindor tells how community advocacy helped create the coalition. Now, on Day 8, you will hear how Tiffany turned that vision into a national lending institution.
Why This Conversation Matters for the Black Community
1. Capital is the strike that decides survival
At ACBN, we name the Four Strikes™ that Black entrepreneurs face: small teams, difficulty attracting talent, overconcentration in professional services and systemic barriers to capital, credit and networks. Among them, the capital strike often determines whether a good business grows or closes. FACE exists to break it at scale.
2. There is a ladder, and every rung matters
Growth capital rarely arrives all at once. Instead, it follows a path. ACBN’s Business Loan Hierarchy starts with an ACBN microloan of $1,000 to $10,000, then helps entrepreneurs graduate to the Black Opportunity Fund and to FACE loans of up to $250,000, before moving on to commercial banking. In other words, every rung builds the credit history and documentation that the next one requires.
3. Readiness turns a no into a yes
Of course, lenders still need to see a plan, clean financials and a clear use of funds. This is where ACBN’s 3C Framework™ comes in: Clarity → Connection → Capital. First, get clear on your numbers, documents and goals. Next, connect with advisors and lenders who understand your business. Finally, apply for capital with confidence, knowing your application is ready.
Want to be loan-ready when opportunity comes? ACBN’s Growth Pathway program walks you through the 3C Framework™ with coaching, community and a direct route to funding, from your first microloan to larger loans. We are welcoming 100 entrepreneurs into the program.
4. Black women are leading the way
Undoubtedly, Tiffany is one of the most visible Black women leaders in Canadian finance today. For every Black woman entrepreneur who has been told she is not ready, her leadership sends a different message. Likewise, it shows that the people designing capital programs can come from the communities those programs serve.
5. Loans build more than businesses
Ultimately, access to fair credit is how families build wealth that lasts. A funded business hires locally, grows its assets and creates a foundation for the next generation. That is why every loan FACE delivers is also an investment in generational wealth.
What You Will Walk Away With
- How FACE’s Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund and Micro-Loan Program work
- What lenders look for before approving a Black-owned business
- How to move from your first loan to larger growth capital
- Why economic inclusion matters for all of Canada
- A live Q&A with one of Canada’s leading Black finance leaders
Frequently Asked Questions
What business loans are available for Black entrepreneurs in Canada?
Several options exist. For example, FACE offers loans from $10,000 to $250,000 through its national Micro-Loan Program with BDC and the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund. In addition, ACBN offers microloans of $1,000 to $10,000 (up to $25,000 through Alterna Savings) for earlier-stage businesses, along with coaching to get loan-ready.
How do I prepare for a business loan application?
Generally, lenders want to see a business plan, financial statements or projections, tax filings, registration documents and a clear plan for the funds. ACBN’s Growth Pathway helps you build that package step by step.
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 8
Day 8 continues a full month of workshops through October as part of the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026. So if capital has been the missing piece in your business, this is the conversation you cannot miss.
Fireside Chat with Tiffany Callender | BEEConference Day 8
Thursday, October 8, 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.
