Actuality¹⁶⁶

Being a spokesperson and ambassador for the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Montreal means representing young business people committed to the economic and social development of Greater Montreal. It also means acknowledging that our words are shaped by our backgrounds, experiences, and identities, which influence how we interpret the world. During Black History Month, I want to take the time to reflect on what this period means to me, but also on the lasting mark that these moments of recognition leave on our collective space, well beyond the calendar.

Every February invites me to revisit my history. That of my birth in Haiti, but also that of my childhood in Quebec, within a Caucasian family that passed on to me their love, language, culture, and solid values. This time of year also prompts me to reflect on the bond I am still building today with the Afro-descendant communities of Greater Montreal.

A relationship that evolves over time, nourished by encounters, learning experiences, and realizations. A relationship that leads me to reflect on how these different dimensions of my journey intersect and influence each other, with a very real impact on the person I am becoming.

Looking back on these trajectories always leads me to assess what has shaped me. Growing up between several worlds long gave me the impression of inhabiting an intermediate space. It took me time to understand that these worlds were not opposed: they coexist, and it is in their encounter that I learned to recognize myself. Black History Month has been an ally in this journey. A conversation, a book, an exhibition, or a testimony is often enough to shed light on another angle, to name a feeling, to revive a memory. Through the artists, entrepreneurs, and thinkers I have discovered, I have found reference points that help me better understand my origins and imagine the place I want to occupy within this community.

This exploration reminded me that cultural richness extends far beyond shared traditions and DNA. It transforms our perspective, redefines our reference points, and opens up inner paths. It reminds us that there are a thousand ways to embrace our identity. Over time, I have come to understand that belonging does not stem from a single heritage, but from the freedom to embrace several. To take a little from here, a little from there, and build a coherent inner space. This approach transcends questions of origin and can resonate in many different trajectories.

Montreal excels at offering these spaces. It is a city where stories intersect, influence each other, and reinvent themselves. A place where you can evolve at the pace of your cultures, without having to erase part of yourself to be accepted. A city that encourages you to fully occupy your place, even when your identity does not follow a linear path.

But all of this depends on one essential skill: daring to be yourself.

Even when our profile doesn't match what people expect to see. Navigating between multiple identities can sometimes make us feel like we have to justify ourselves or choose between them, when in fact this plurality is a strength. We belong in every room we walk into, even if our presence surprises or unsettles others. It is precisely these moments that enrich conversations, projects, and decisions.

For young business people and Quebec society alike, the challenge is no longer just to celebrate diversity, but to accept that it transforms us. To truly listen to different voices, to build bridges rather than silos, and to recognize that our collective strength is rooted in encounter. When we agree to broaden our perspective, multiple identities cease to be perceived as exceptions and become a source of richness.

And if we truly choose to welcome diversity in our businesses, institutions, and relationships, each person will be able to offer their most authentic self. This is how we contribute to a Quebec that is true to its aspirations, by allowing everyone to embrace our plurality.