Bank promotes Black history, culture

By Gerald V. Paul

TD Bank Director of Community Relations Alan Convery chats with young TD reps, from left, Jared Singh, Anastasia De Lyon and Kyle Timul about Black History Month and culture. Gerald V. Paul photo
TD Bank Director of Community Relations Alan Convery chats with young TD reps, from left, Jared Singh, Anastasia De Lyon and Kyle Timul about Black History Month and culture.
Gerald V. Paul photo

TD Bank is celebrating Black History Month and culture, from the Caribbean to Cuban, from Brazilian to Guyanese, with the theme Get Inspired.

The Camera was at the CBC building recently as TD presented Trailers for A Monumental Miniseries, The Book of Negroes, a six-part TV show; Celebrate With Us as TD partners with BAND, (Black Artists Networks in Dialogue) and Real, People, Real Stories, the Black Experience Project: A Revolutionary Study.

“At TD, diversity is a core value that makes a stronger organization for our colleagues, customers, shareholders, and communities,” Bharat Masrani, group president and CEO said in a written message.

TD is presenting Then and Now, a Black History Month series of cultural events that celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black / Caribbean Canadians, a tradition that started eight years ago.

He said being a bank is about more than financial results. “We care just as much about being a supportive place for our employees, a comfortable place for our customers and an open environment for our suppliers.”

Masrani said that “Then and Now has grown to include more than 60 events in sacrifice, heroism and accomplishment – they also represent the history of Canada’s Black community and what is best about Canadian multiculturalism.”

TD Bank’s sponsorship of The Book of Negroes on CBC is part of that multi-cultural heritage celebration, and the Black Experience Project. In the latter, TD has paired with Environics to create the Black experiences of individuals within the Black community in the Greater Toronto Area.

Alan Convery, TD director of community relations, said the bank is proud to celebrate Black History Month and the Then and Now series and to help establish emerging artists.

Freedom City, Uncovering Toronto’s Black History, showing in the TD Gallery until March 29 includes research and contributions from historians and authors Karolyn Smardz Frost and Dr. Afua Cooper.

Karen Carter, BAND board chair, said, “BAND strives to promote Black culture and heritage through the arts – locally, nationally and internationally. Since 2009 we have encouraged Canadians to take time to investigate local Black culture in their respective communities with TD Then and Now Black History Month Series.

“Beginning with Toronto and Montreal as our participating cities, we have grown nationally to include Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa and Halifax,” Carter added.

She said BAND is proud to present the 2015 TD Then and Now Black History Month series with the bank.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank TD Bank executive Scott Mullin for his dedication and leadership in the development of this national Black History Month series with BAND.”

Gerald V. Paul
Gerald V. Paul