Vanier College hosted a Black community and business fair Wednesday to mark Black History Month.
The event brought together small businesses from the Black community, showcasing everything from clothing and wellness products to African food and jewellery.
Many of the entrepreneurs were current or former students of Vanier.
CityNews caught up with some of them to learn about what it is to be an entrepreneur — including the passions and challenges — and what participating in the fair meant to them.
Imane Foka
Imane Foka, DJ and owner of Faith, at the Black Community and Business fair at Vanier College, in Montreal, Feb. 11, 2026 (Desirée Zagbai, CityNews)
Imane Foka is owner of the clothing brand Faith, a brand based on Christianity and drawing inspiration from Black American and Chicano styles. Foka launched the clothing brand in 2024, a dream she had had since she was 15 years old.
On top of running Faith, Foka also works as a DJ, playing at clubs, pop-ups and parties. Foka’s DJ interest began while she was a student at Vanier and joined a DJ club.
“I’m really honoured to be here because people really wanted me as a DJ,” Foka said. “I love (Black History Month). I love that some institutions like Vanier do celebrate that and put Black businesses forward.”
As a Black female DJ, Foka says people often underestimate her.
“You just keep going. If it’s not perfect, get it out still,” Foka said. “I just tried not to let myself be ruined by the whole capitalist system that’s going on. I still do it for the love of the game.”
A design part of Imane Foka’s clothing brand Faith. (Desirée Zagbai, CityNews)
Foka says through her DJ career and clothing brand, she wishes to bring people together.
“Let’s just dance together,” Foka said. “Also, if I can, I want to bring back the old club culture, not when you just go to get a bottle and flex a section, but when you come here to dance and sweat. This is what I want to see.”
She plans to donate 20 per cent of the profits from her first clothing collection to Welcome Hall Mission, a non-profit organization.
Raquel Huggins
Raquel Huggins at Vanier’s Black business and community fair in Montreal. Feb. 11, 2026. (Desirée Zagbai, CityNews)
Raquel Huggins is the CEO of Luxe Noire, which makes glassware, jugs, and insulated and reusable water bottles. The products’ design illustrate Black people’s struggles and achievements.
“What I really wanted to do was create something that was more Black-inspired and had more Afro-centric excellence,” Huggins said. “I’m portraying the diversity, as well as our Caribbean countries — St. Vincent, Antigua, Trinidad, Barbados, and Guyana.”
Huggins says being a sole owner of a brand can be challenging as she has to do everything from fundraising to marketing.
But, she says her friends became early customers, helping bring in the funds to invest into the business.
Luxe Noire, a drinkware brand, showcased at Vanier’s Black community and business fair on Feb. 11, 2026 (Desirée Zagbai, CityNews)
For her, Black History Month means empowerment and history.
“We deserve to be celebrated for the work that we’ve done and the work we’re still putting in every day to help our youth and seniors,” Huggins said. “And help other people understand what Black history means to us and how they can help us continue pushing Black history forward.”
Huggins hopes that other Black entrepreneurs in Montreal get more recognition and the ability to have their own expos.
“To be able to rent large venues and display their products and just to be able to come together as one people,” she added.
Phil Damas
Phil Damas at Vanier’s Black business and community fair in Montreal. Feb. 11, 2026. (Desirée Zagbai, CityNews)
Phil Damas created the self-care brand Soulutions Apothicaire in May 2023, after having issues with ingrown hairs, razor bumps, and post-shave irritation.
“I couldn’t find a solution, so I came up with my own,” Damas said.
Damas sells wellness, skin care, and hair care made of natural ingredients and for all genders.
“It’s really about investing in your health,” Damas said. “The earlier the better — before you get sick, (which is) more expensive and more painful.”
Damas says having access to financial resources has been one of the difficult things he has experienced as a business owner. But he said networking helped him learn from other business owners.
It’s important to “recognize your strength, your weaknesses, and the power of delegating and forming a team,” he said.
Soulutions Apothicaire, self-care brand by Phil Damas, at Vanier’s Black business and community fair in Montreal. Feb. 11, 2026. (Desirée Zagbai, CityNews)
For him, Black History Month is a reminder of Black people’s contributions to people’s daily lives.
“It’s about planting seeds. Planting seeds for us to try to go back and research things that we may take for granted,” Damas said.
In the future, he wishes to open a store where people can not only buy products but can also come for consultations about wellness.
His advice to aspiring Black entrepreneurs is to be perseverant and authentic.
“Don’t quit,” he said. “We often like to take care of others but take care of yourself first.”
Maryska Ashley Civil
Maryska Ashley Civil at Vanier’s Black business and community fair in Montreal. Feb. 11, 2026. (Desirée Zagbai, CityNews)
Maryska Ashley Civil, a social sciences student at Vanier, launched her own catering business Ashley’s Kitchen in 2024, mainly serving Haitian and Congolese food.
Civil has always loved cooking.
“It’s passion, it’s a way to escape life a little bit,” Civil said. “I feel like when I’m in the kitchen, it’s like a whole different world.”
Navigating how to prioritize her health and manage herself has been demanding. But she’s learning how to organize her time better.
Haitian and Congolese Food from Ashley’s Kitchen at Vanier’s Black business and community fair in Montreal. Feb. 11, 2026. (Desirée Zagbai, CityNews)
Civil, who is in her last semester, says after she graduates, she wants to get into marketing. But eventually, she wants to open her own restaurant, where she’ll serve dishes from unique cultures.
“I love going out of my comfort zone. I just want to explore everything,” Civil said.
