Across Canada, Black Canadians are building companies, advancing technology, mobilizing capital, shaping public policy, strengthening institutions, creating culture and opening new pathways for the generations that will follow.

CLAN 26: Black Canadians Building What’s Next was created to recognize 26 people whose work reflects that momentum.

This is not a ranking. It is not a list of who is most successful, most influential or most visible. CLAN 26 is a celebration of builders, people doing meaningful work today while creating possibilities that extend beyond themselves.

Why We Created CLAN 26

Too often, conversations about Black achievement focus on individual success without capturing the larger story: the institutions being built, the companies being launched, the capital being mobilized, the ideas being advanced, and the doors being opened for others.

We wanted to tell that story differently.

CLAN 26 recognizes people who are not simply succeeding within existing systems, but are building what comes next, creating businesses, organizations, networks, research, platforms, policies and opportunities that can shape Canada for years to come.

Their work spans entrepreneurship, technology, artificial intelligence, investment, law, education, health, culture, community development and more. What connects them is a commitment to building something larger than themselves.

How the CLAN 26 Were Selected

The selection process began with a broad consideration of Black Canadians whose work is creating meaningful impact across sectors and communities.

Rather than relying on popularity, follower counts or public visibility, we considered the substance of the work: what each person is building, the problems they are addressing, the communities and sectors they are strengthening, and the pathways their work is creating for others.

We also intentionally looked beyond a single industry or definition of leadership. Entrepreneurship matters, but so do research, capital, culture, public institutions, community infrastructure, technology, health and policy.

Geography mattered as well. Black Canadian leadership exists far beyond any one city or province, and CLAN 26 seeks to reflect a broader national story.

There was no numerical ranking among the final 26. Every person recognized is a CLAN 26 honouree.

Why We Are Celebrating Them

Recognition matters because stories help determine what people believe is possible.

When a young entrepreneur sees someone building a company, when a student encounters a Black scholar shaping the conversation around artificial intelligence, when a founder sees someone creating new pathways to capital, or when a community leader sees an institution built from an idea, the definition of what is possible becomes larger.

That is why CLAN 26 is about more than celebrating accomplishments.

It is about documenting the builders of this moment.

It is about recognizing people whose work deserves to be seen.

And it is about ensuring the next generation can look at Canada's future and see themselves not simply participating in it, but building it.

26 People. 26 Stories. One Bigger Story

Every CLAN 26 honouree has a different journey, sector and contribution. Together, however, they tell a larger story about Black Canada. One defined not only by achievement, but by creation, ownership, leadership, imagination and impact.

CLAN 26 celebrates what they have built.

More importantly, it celebrates what their work makes possible next.