Mr. Rustum Southwell, will speak at the event expected to take place on Wednesday 12th September at the Wesley Methodist Church Hall (Old Basseterre Boys School) beginning at 8:00P.M.
A national of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Southwell was named one of the Black Business and Professional Association of Canada (BBPA) distinguished Black men for 2010.
He owned a Harvey’s franchise for 11 years before becoming the chief executive officer of the Halifax-based Black Business Initiative (BBI) which has helped to create over 300 Black businesses and nearly 700 jobs in Nova Scotia since it was created 14 years ago.
Mr. Southwell is a passionate leader and tireless advocate for economic diversity and capacity building.
He sat as the chair of the Provincial Steering Committee of Startup Canada. He holds membership on many other boards including; the Waterfront Development Corporation Limited, United Way, the Community Consultative Committee of the Halifax International Airport Authority and Prostate Cancer Canada’s Atlantic Regional Advisory Council.
He was recently awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his service to Canada and Nova Scotia and he was part of the inaugural investiture in Nova Scotia.
This year’s Independence theme is “Cherishing Children, Strengthening Families.”