Cornish steps up again to encourage diversity
Jon Cornish is looking to make a difference.
Indeed, these days, the Calgary Stampeders legend has built a non-profit organization consisting of individuals working to support diversity in and around the city.
And his Calgary Black Chambers initiative is gaining momentum during a time when Cornish and his wife fell victim to racism for the first time in Calgary just last week.
The couple was out walking in an alley in their neighbourhood of 10 years, when a woman came out from a house and started yelling at them until they reached the end of the back lane, Cornish said.
He added that she threatened to call the police and then followed them by car.
“Get out of my neighbourhood and never come back,” said Cornish of what she said next. “You’re not wanted here.”
The incident shows issues of racism are close at hand and not simply a problem in the United States.
It also proves why Calgary Black Chambers is so vital to the community.
The mission of the initiative is to find Calgarians willing to serve as mentors and advocates to foster the growth of post-secondary students and future professionals.
“I realized as I was entering into my professional life that I wanted to set up a professional network,” Cornish said. “I always had lots of opportunity going to different events, but it was very rare when I saw somebody that looked like me.
“So I thought maybe it was time to put something together to bring people who are culturally the same together and maybe help other people while we are doing it.”
The idea was his wife Kiran’s and sprang to life last August when they began building a membership base essentially by approaching professionals in the community to become mentors.
Calgary Black Chambers soon built partnerships with SAIT, Bow Valley College and Mount Royal University from which to welcome students to mentor.
“It was an idea that we wanted to share,” Cornish said. “We wanted to find fellowship in Calgary and use that fellowship to advocate for our people and bring up the next generation through scholarships and mentorship. It’s my hope that you eventually meet people at events or at our monthly meetings online that can help you in your journey.
“I was really surprised by the amount of energy when professionals heard about the idea. Everybody got pretty excited. Specifically, they didn’t really have that volunteer outlet, so a lot of people got involved.”
Those involved in mentoring bring their expertise from a variety of professional services, such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, investment bankers, business owners, analysts, chefs, engineers, chiropractors and naturopaths.
There’s even a few former pro footballers joining Cornish, including former star teammate Keon Raymond.
The organization has become a “connective glue,”,says Cornish.
While he wanted to take the experience of his volunteer efforts with the Alberta Children’s Hospital, the Daryl K. Seaman Canadian Hockey Fund Committee and You Can Play and “do something similar for African-descent peoples,” he reiterates that Calgary Black Chambers is not an exclusive club.
“Calgary Black Chambers has the word ‘black’ in the name,” Cornish said. “But our intention is to foster diversity in our town — bring more voices to the table. When you have different ideas being shared, then better ideas are being created.”
The Cornishes, who run a wealth advisory practice at RBC Dominion Securities, are urging more Calgarians to visit calgaryblackchambers.ca, where they can sign up and get involved.