Author: Rajat Jindal

In honour of Black History Month, we’ve collaborated with our friends at BOM YEG to share the stories of Black creators in the UNITE space. Together, let’s support and lift up Black entrepreneurs!

Meet Rochelle Ignacio, BOM YEG.

Rochelle Ignacio is the co-founder of Black Owned Market Edmonton (BOM YEG). BOM YEG has been a part of UNITE by TMK since October 2021 when it first opened.

Currently there are six BOM YEG vendors at UNITE, including Rochelle’s line of candles (Enid Rose Collectives) and loose-leaf teas (Black Owned Makers). Getting started in UNITE has given vendors an opportunity to explore and learn methods of merchandising, retailing, inventory, and lifecycle management. This way, businesses are able to experiment with new products, merchandising, and marketing before they think about opening their own storefront or expanding into different retail environments. They’re able to find what that perfect fit and balance is for them.

Q: After Black History Month is over, how can people continue to support and recognize Black entrepreneurs?

ROCHELLE: It’s really important for people to support the Black community not only in Black History Month but all year round. We’re Black every day, 24/7, 365. I know that a lot of people want to feature Black businesses. They want to collaborate, work, order products, food, but really what we’re asking is that people continue to come to UNITE. It really helps to get the sales so that we can ensure we’re staying within the space.

Find Rochelle’s products at UNITE in BOM YEG.

Meet Dupe and Seun Adedeji, Travelling Dishes.

Travelling Dishes is a local Nigerian food business that started in 2019. They offer catering, cooking classes, retail, and food delivery. The concept of their business is to highlight Nigerian food and introduce people to it. The name was inspired by their love for travelling and food.

Three products can be found in UNITE: Chin Chin Poppers (deep fried cookie chips), Coconut Candy (caramelized coconut flakes), and Rodo Brittle (chili infused peanut brittles). Being in this space provides them that opportunity to reach new clients or customers that normally wouldn’t know about them. Since their business is based online, they aren’t able to have that everyday customer interaction. The space gives them more exposure on their business, and helps them bring Nigerian food to new communities. As a start-up business, it’s sometimes hard to get into big box stores so being in UNITE provides that chance to start small then grow from there.

Beyond the snacks at UNITE, you can find a menu of Nigerian dishes with a little bit of “Canadian-ess”, meaning it’s a different spin on traditional Nigerian food. Two of their bestselling items are meat pies, called buka pies, and the very popular egusi soup.

Q: Is there anything that you’re looking forward to within the community during Black History Month?

DUPE: Definitely Feed the Soul. Knowing about all the different restaurants that I didn’t know about before, getting to try some of the food during that week, and even beyond that. Getting to see different black talents within the city or even in Canada, in general. I feel like there’s always something new to explore in terms of Black culture, Black excellence, and Black experience. I just love the celebration of how far we’ve come. From us coming from Nigeria to Canada, it feels so nice to be celebrated on someone else’s turf. I just feel really honored and privileged that there’s something like that here.

SEUN: For me, I would say educate myself on what’s going on in the community. There’s so much going on, that if we don’t celebrate, eat, or bring it out ourselves, we don’t know. If you want to be intention of universal support, you first need to know where to turn out and support. Being part of some of the events and celebrations for this month is a step towards being intentional.

Find Dupe and Seun’s products at UNITE in BOM YEG or their online website. 

Meet Tarissa Wollaston, LAYERED by Rissa.

LAYERED by Rissa is a custom cake business in Edmonton. Tarissa specializes in cakes for weddings, celebrations; whatever you’re celebrating, she can provide that for you. A diverse menu is offered with 9 standard flavours and 11 seasonal flavours, as well as gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free options.

arissa launched her brand in June 2020. At the time, she was working on her BA degree and a life situation occurred where she yearned for something to bring back that joy in life. Her brand is based on the fact that life has so many different layers and they all pile up sometimes, but the layers add to create something fruitful, exactly like a cake.

Coming from Carribean descent, Tarissa grew up in a household of cooking. She recalls memories of foods class in high school where she was given the opportunity to create something out of random ingredients and how it brings her joy to this day. Tarissa has been working on the recipes and working on them for years to come. From that, she has established a brand of cakes that are not too sweet, and something that her clients come back for.

Q: Black History Month is super busy for Black entrepreneurs. What is the lead up into the month and what are your energy levels feeling like?

TARISSA: The month is a lot. You’re expected to show up for your business or if you’re in the corporate world, for your job in that space. But as an entrepreneur, you’re supposed to show up as an entrepreneur and also for the other entrepreneur events that are happening. Balancing that can be quite tricky. I think for me personally, I mentally prepared myself by taking January a little bit slower and putting new systems in place that would help alleviate my time. We’re launching our new website that will be e-commerce based so that way I don’t have to do too much work on the admin side and answering so many emails. So just putting in different systems in place has helped me really prepare for this month. I think just knowing that I can still show up for the other events, it’s going to be really refreshing.

Join Tarissa for her pop-up at UNITE on February 14 from 12:30 to 6:30 pm for Valentine’s Day treats and Feed the Soul features.

Meet Africart.

Africart is a new jewelry vendor in BOM YEG that has been in Edmonton for over 10 years. When an opportunity for a new jewelry vendor at BOM YEG came up, Rochelle reached out to the owner of Africart because she thinks that their jewelry is beautiful and speaks to the black community.

Shop Africart at UNITE in BOM YEG. 

Local Gifting

Shop local this Valentine’s Day for unique items that support businesses in our community. From custom terrariums, to fashion accessories, to sustainability-minded decor, find the perfect gift to show your appreciation to your loved ones.

Gold Plated Heart Hoop Earring Glitter & Co.

Aloe Vera Glass Earth

Opal Spectacles Glitter & Co.

Lake Louise Tumblr MTNPK Glassware The Makers Keep

Hoya Heart Glass Earth

For The Little Valentines

Add a touch of charm to kids’ outfits with playful, heartwarming accessories. Whether it’s a love-themed hair clip or some cozy socks, these fun accessories let kids show off their excitement and joy for the season of love.

Heart Shoulder Bag H&M

Heart Hair Clips H&M

Brannan Bear Toy Gap

Sparkle Bow-Back Dress Hudson’s Bay

Heart Terry Socks H&M

Galentine’s Gifts

Make this Galentine’s Day extra special by picking out the perfect surprise that’ll bring joy to your favourite gals. From trendy accessories to self-care products, there’s something for every friend at Kingsway.

Summer Fridays Sephora

Dual Wristlet Heart Pouch Lululemon

Poems for Love Indigo

Miss Dior Eau de Parfum Sephora

Gold Chain Bracelet Pandora

Happy Pride month! As you probably know, the rainbow flag is synonymous with this celebratory time that honours and uplifts the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. You’ll often spot it in the windows of people’s homes, on bumper stickers, pins, blowing in the wind on flag poles in addition to apparel like t-shirts and backpacks. This flag symbolizes unity, acceptance, and the fight for equal rights and when it’s displayed, it’s a way of showing support for the Queer community.

Gilbert Baker Pride Flag

Traditional Pride Flag

Bisexual Pride Flag

Created by bisexuality activist Michael Page in 1998, this flag has three horizontal stripes—pink, purple and blue—and represents bisexuality. The pink stripe is for attraction to the same gender, blue for the attraction to a different gender, and the purple represents attraction to two or more genders.

Lesbian Pride Flag

This Pride Flag was created in 1999 by graphic designer Emily Gwen. Her goal was to create a symbol for the lesbian community. This flag has seven horizontal stripes: three stripes of gradient red and orange, one stripe of white and three stripes of gradient pink. The shades of orange represent gender non-conformity and community, the white stripe represents unique relationships to womanhood, while the shades of pink are for serenity, peace and femininity.

Transgender Pride Flag

Transgender activist and US Navy Veteran Monica Helms created this Transgender Flag in 1999. She created the flag—consisting of five horizontal stripes of blue, pink, white, pink, blue—as a symbol to celebrate and empower transgender people, including the diversity within the community and the rights that transgender folks are still fighting for. The light pink and light blue stripes represent traditional colours for male and female and the white stripe is for those transitioning, are intersex or are non-binary.

Pansexual Pride Flag

Graphic artist Jasper Vardey created the Pansexual Pride Flag in 2010 as he wanted to create a standalone symbol for the pansexuality community. You can spot this flag by its three horizontal stripes in pink, yellow and blue. Just like the Polysexual Pride Flag with pink and blue representing attraction to those who identify as female and male, the yellow stripe is for attraction regardless of gender.

Asexual Pride Flag

First introduced in 2010 by a group of asexual activists, this Pride Flag was created to empower the asexual community. Consisting of four horizontal stripes in black, grey, white, and purple, black represents asexuality, gray is for the grey area between asexuality and sexuality, white for sexuality and lastly, the purple stripe represents community.

Demisexual Pride Flag

While it is not known when the Demisexual Pride Flag was created, it is suspected that its design was inspired by the Asexual Pride Flag which was created in 2010 (see above) as it uses the same colours but in different shapes. Demisexual identity is where a person forms sexual attraction to someone else only after they have established a deep emotional connection to that person. At the top of the flag is a white stripe, which represents sexual attraction, and below it sits a small purple stripe, which represents community, then a large grey stripe at the bottom for demisexuality. Lastly, there’s a black triangle at the left-hand side of the flag which represents asexuality.

Genderqueer Pride Flag

First introduced in 2011 by genderqueer activist Marilyn Roxie, the Genderqueer Pride Flag was created to represent those who identify as a combination of genders or who have a gender that is outside the traditional male and female binary. The flag consists of three horizontal stripes: purple, white and green with purple representing androgyny and other queer identities, white for agender identities or having no gender and green for those who are non-binary.

Genderfluid Pride Flag

In 2012, genderfluid activist JJ Poole first introduced the Genderfluid Pride Flag. It was created to celebrate people who have a gender identity that is not fixed and can fluctuate in different circumstances and/or over time. This flag has five stripes in colours of pink, white, purple, black and blue and each one represents a different part of the genderfluid community. Pink is for femininity, white for neutrality, purple for a combination of male and female genders, black for the absence of gender and blue for masculinity.

Polysexual Pride Flag

In 2012, Tumblr user Samlin created the Polysexual Flag, and it was introduced to differentiate polysexuality from bisexuality and pansexuality. This flag has three horizontal stripes in pink, green and blue. Pink represents attraction to female-identifying people, the blue for attraction to those who identify as male, and the green stripe is for attraction to people who identify as non-binary or other genders.

Intersex Pride Flag

This Intersex Pride Flag was designed by intersex activist and organization founder Morgan Carpenter in 2013. This flag was created to empower the intersex community which consists of people who are born with reproductive traits or sexual anatomy that are outside of the male-female binary. There have been changes made to the Intersex Flag over the years, but this version is yellow with the outline of a purple circle on it—two colours that are seen as gender neutral.

Nonbinary Pride Flag

The Nonbinary Flag was created in 2014 by nonbinary activist Kye Rowan to represent people who don’t identify with either binary gender or those who don’t identify within the binary in general. With stripes of yellow, white, purple and black, each colour has a different meaning: yellow for gender outside the binary, white for those who have multiple or all genders, purple for those who are both female and male identifying while the black stripe represents those with no gender.

Agender Pride Flag

Salem X created the Agender Pride Flag in 2014 and it represents people who don’t identify with any gender, are gender neutral or have no gender. The flag has seven horizontal stripes, two black stripes at the top and bottom of the flag, two grey stripes above and below the black, two white stripes next to grey and a green stripe in the middle. The black and white stripes represent the absence of gender, the grey stripes are for those who are semi-genderless, and the green stripe represents non-binary folks.

Bigender Pride Flag

Currently, there are multiple variations of the Bigender Pride Flag. This flag, created in 2014 by Tumblr user ‘no-bucks-for-this-doe,’ is one of the more commonly used versions. It represents those who identify with two genders, whether that’s male and female or outside of the gender binary. This flag has seven horizontal stripes in two shades of pink, two stripes in one shade of purple, one of white and two shades of blue. While there’s currently no written explanation to explain what each colour means, it is widely thought that the pink and blue stripes represent the feelings of identity, the top purple stripe is for good relationships, the white stripe is for unique bigender experiences, and the bottom purple stripe is for pride.

Androgyne Pride Flag

There’s more than one Androgyne Pride Flag, but this one was believed to be introduced in 2014 by a Tumblr user by the name of ‘saveferris.’ The Androgyne Pride Flag represents individuals who display a combination of masculine and feminine characteristics or someone who’s gender identity is androgynous. Androgyny may be referring to gender identity or expression or biological sex. The flag consists of three vertical stripes in pink, purple and blue with the meaning of the pink stripe being femininity, the blue stripe being masculinity and the purple stripe in the middle representing a blend of both genders.

The Two-Spirit Pride Flag

This flag represents Indigenous American that identity as two-spirit individuals meaning they fall outside of the M-F binary. Tumbler user ‘2Sanon’ developed the most seen two-spirit flag and was submitted to ask-pride-colour-schemes on December 17, 2016. The feathers represent masculine and feminine identities. The circle signifies the unification of both identities into a separate gender while the rainbow represents modern queer identities.

Trans-Inclusive Gay Men’s Pride Flag

This version of the Gay Men’s Pride Flag is the second iteration, and its time of creation is unknown. It has seven horizontal stripes in different shades of green and blue, along with a white stripe in the middle. The flag now includes representation for non-cisgender gay men.

Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag

This flag has had a few iterations. In 2018, Portland-based artist Daniel Quasar designed the Progress Pride Flag, which was the rainbow stripes of the Pride flag, plus triangle stripes of white, pink and blue for the transgender community, along with black and brown triangle stripes to represent marginalized people of colour. In 2021, it received an update by Valentino Vecchietti to include a yellow triangle and purple circle to call back to the original 2013 Intersex Pride Flag.

Something Sparkly

Adorn your loved one with a piece of jewelry that will stand the test of time. A delicate necklace, a sparkling bracelet or a pair of elegant earrings can add a touch of sophistication to any outfit and serve as a constant reminder of your affection.

Paris Jewellers

Michael Hill

Something Sweet

They say the way to the heart is through the stomach, so why not treat your Valentine to a delectable assortment of gourmet goodies? Local sweets from The Makers Keep or a box of chocolate from Purdy’s can add a dash of sweetness to your celebration.

Explore more dining options

The Makers Keep

Purdy’s

Something Stylish

Surprise your beloved with a timeless staple they can style for years to come. Consider a fun accessory like a colourful scarf, a pair of statement sunglasses, a classic handbag, or a sleek watch that complements their personal style.

Bailey Nelson

Fossil

Something Fragrant

Spritz some love in the air with a fragrance that they can enjoy year-round. Whether it’s a gift set in their signature scent, a sample set of minis, or even some home fragrance goodies like candles and room sprays, these gifts will have your loved one feeling scent-sational.

Sephora

HomeSense

Something Tasty

Make this Valentine’s Day extra special with a meal that will make their tastebuds swoon. Whether you’re dining in or taking out, Kingsway has plenty of delicious dining options, including Moxies, Pür & Simple, and Boston Pizza.

Explore more dining options

Pur & Simple

Boston Pizza

Sustainable Fashion Brands

When it comes to eco-friendly clothing, consider shopping for brands that use sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester and natural fibres like linen and bamboo. These materials are better for the environment and often have a lower carbon footprint than sustainable materials (plus, they feel like a cloud on your skin!). Additionally, look for brands that use as few natural resources as possible throughout their products’ life cycle, as well as companies that support ethical labour practices.

Canadian brand Matt and Nat (available at Hudson’s Bay) produces high-quality, timeless products made from different recycled materials such as nylons, cardboard, rubber, cork and windshield resins. Additionally, their linings are made solely of 100% recycled plastic bottles. Sustainable activewear brand Girlfriend Collective (available at Hudson’s Bay) is another pick you can feel good about, thanks to its ethically-made activewear with recycled materials in sizes XXS-6XL. Finally, American Eagle’s Real Good collection not only uses sustainably produced and sourced materials, but also has reduced the amount of water used per pair of jeans by 14%.

Hudson’s Bay

American Eagle

Clean Beauty

If you’re wanting to incorporate sustainability practices into your beauty routine, there are a few things to look out for. You’ll want to find brands that use sustainable beauty ingredients (that is, those formulated without harmful ingredients) and sustainable packaging that has as little waste as possible (think: reusable glass jars and compostable cardboard). And just like we mentioned, look for companies that take steps to lower their impact throughout their entire supply chain and that create products with the well-being of animals, people and the planet in mind.

A great place to start is by checking out Sephora’s “Clean at Sephora” program which features products that are free from over 50 harmful ingredients, including sulfates, parabens and phthalates. Our top picks include Biossance, Tata Harper and Rose Inc.

Other sustainable beauty brands we love include L’Occitane en Provence (available at Hudson’s Bay), The Body Shop and Lush.

Sephora

The Body Shop

Recycle and Repurpose

Another way to incorporate more sustainability practices into your everyday life is to recycle and repurpose items you already own.

Sephora, The Body Shop and MAC Cosmetics and have beauty recycling programs which allow you to recycle beauty items such as compacts, lipsticks and concealer, foundation and mascara tubes. From there, the items are sorted, separated and used to create new products. Additionally, H&M has a Garment Collecting program that collects any brand’s unwanted clothes or textiles in any condition (bonus: you receive a thank-you voucher to use towards your next purchase).

MAC Cosmetics

H&M

Our Commitment to Sustainability

Kingsway is committed to being environmentally responsible. We’ve implemented various energy and emissions reduction programs, including motion sensor lights, energy-efficient HVAC equipment and maintenance trucks, LED lighting, and recycling initiatives. Through this, we’ve received the BOMA BEST Gold Certification in 2023 as we continue to strive for excellence in sustainability.

In addition, the Kingsway Rooftop Garden will be returning this summer, in support of Edmonton’s Food Bank to help combat food insecurity in the Edmonton community.

To learn more about sustainability at Kingsway, click here.

Tableware

Set the table for Lunar New Year with vibrant dinnerware featuring elegant prints, gold accents, and striking decor as you gather with loved ones to celebrate the Spring Festival.

Beverage Glasses H&M

Glow Buffet Plate Hudson’s Bay

Porcelain Plate H&M

Gold Candle Sticks The Maker’s Keep

Self-Care Essentials

Treat mom to some pampering so she can unwind, rejuvenate and look and feel her absolute best. Whether it’s a mani-pedi at Allure Nails, a brow shaping at Kurves Brow Bar, or a blowout at Altimo Salons, there are plenty of opportunities for you and mom to indulge in some TLC.

Want to recreate the spa experience at home? Grab some beauty and wellness essentials from LUSH, Sephora, The Body Shop and local retailer, The Makers Keep so mom can continue her self-care in her own space.

Sephora

Lush

Sweet Treats and Savoury Delights

While spending Mother’s Day at Kingsway, don’t forget to refuel with some food and drink! From brunch at Pür & Simple to an afternoon pick-me-up at Chatime and dinner at Moxies or Boston Pizza, Kingsway has plenty of options to suit every palette.

Pür & Simple

Moxie’s

Heirloom-Worthy Jewels

Jewelry is a timeless symbol of mom’s love and appreciation. Opt for an heirloom-worthy keepsake, a personalized piece or simply a fun accessory that matches mom’s personal style. We recommend checking out Paris Jewellers, Pandora, Hillberg & Berk and Fossil.

Hillberg & Berk

Fossil

Home

They say home is where the heart is, so why not gift mom all the things she needs to create a space that truly feels like hers? Find homewares, dishwares, decor and more at Homesense, Pieces of Paradise and Stokes.

HomeSense

Stokes

A Little Something Special

Give mom a little something special by gifting her a custom arrangement from BUD + BLOOM, Canada’s first-ever cannafloral boutique. Or, if mom has a green thumb, visit Glass Earth Inc. For a variety of tropical plants, succulents, terrariums and more. You can even build your own terrarium with mom at their Plant Bar!

BUD + BLOOM

Glass Earth Inc

Sweet Stocking Stuffers

Little presents, big impact. Our ideal stocking stuffers strike this beautiful balance: something cozy, something practical and something that smells delicious.

H&M Scented Candle in Glass Holder

Bath & Bodyworks Pistachio & Toasted Vanilla

Aerie Fur Scruff Slippers

AE Green & Brown Claw Clip 4-Pack

Laneige Divine Lip Duo

Gorgeous Gift Sets

With curated gift sets, you get so much present in one covetable package. For the wellness enthusiast, consider a lineup of essential oil roll-ons, while the beauty lover will feel the joy unwrapping a viral lipstick duo.

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Pillow Talk Lipstick & Liner Set

Saje Pocket Farmacy® Physical Edition

Saje Well Wishes Advent Calendar

Biotherm Discovery Body Trio Gift Set

Everything Under $50

Turn a smaller budget into a wow-worthy present with these picks that really pay off. Some stellar ideas: a winter-ready accessory they’ll wear all season long, a trending belt bag that’ll accompany them every day or holiday morning pajamas for an Insta-perfect snap.

H&M Fluffy Scarf

Gap Adult Pajama Pants

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L

OFFLINE By Aerie Puff Love Crescent Bag

Kid-Approved Picks

From the cozy sets for the littles in the family to full-blown Lego sets and future-favourite stuffies, these gifts get the youngster stamp of approval every single time—no gift receipt required.

GUND 5-Piece My First Sports Bag Set

Gap Baby Fair Isle Cozy Cardigan Sweater Set

LEGO Star Wars 2024 Advent Calendar for Kids

GUND Plush Baby Lamb Rocker With Wooden Base

Something Sparkly

A piece of jewelry—specially chosen just for them— shows just how much you know your loved one. Pick out a pair of everyday earrings, an architecturally shaped ring or a stacking bracelet to elevate their collection.

Pandora Polished Wave Ring

Michael Hill Bead Station Bracelet

Hillberg & Berk Single ABC Stud Earring

Best Backpacks

The backpack is the ultimate back-to-school staple. It’s the item that you’ll be carrying everywhere, every day, so it’s important to find one that’s not only functional, but also expresses your personal style. Luckily there are plenty of options out there—from colourful knapsacks to chic carryalls and totes, choose a bag that you’ll be excited to carry year-round.

Lululemon

Ardene

Dorm Decor

Moving away from home can be scary, but it’s also a great opportunity for you to cultivate a space that’s uniquely your own. Aside from the essentials (bedding, bath towels, space-saving appliances and more), be sure to add decor items such as desk organizers, photo walls, lights and cute catchalls, to make your space really feel like home.

QE Home

HomeSense

Tech Accessories

Stay plugged in this year with tech accessories and gadgets that will keep your productivity (and motivation) in check. Think cute laptop sleeves, pastel keyboards, fun Air Pod cases and more!

Forever 21

Fossil

Multitasking Beauty

Build a back-to-school beauty kit that will help you look (and feel) your best during the year. The essentials? Multitasking beauty products (perfect for throwing into your bag for touchups throughout the day), a good base routine that will leave you glowing post- cram-session and a luxe mask to help you decompress on those extra stressful days.

The Body Shop

Sephora