Black entrepreneur finds success with African grocery in Saskatoon, but barriers still exist

It has been a year since Laura Oriaifo started her African grocery store and take out restaurantCrownAfriq, where she brings a taste of Africa toSaskatoon.

"I'm excited that I've been able to achieve this milestone. It's been a challenge and it's been fun. It's been stressful for a startup. But so far so good. I'm grateful," she said with a big smile on her face.

Oriaifo always wanted to have a retail outlet and often thought about owning a Dollarama or another dollar store, but did not have the necessary capital.

"My friend and I thought why not set up an African grocery store, especially since there are not many in this region."

Ground nuts, African greens, drinks, beans, fou fou flour, traditional spices and African yams are found in abundance at the store, located on the corner of Eighth Street and Clarence Avenue.

The inventory is focused onNigeria, Oriaifo's home country, but as many in Saskatchewan mark Black History month, she said she hopes to gradually bring in flavours from more African countries.

Oriaifo left Nigeria in 2010 andwent to the U.K. to pursue her master's. Then on Sept. 20, 2014,she moved to Saskatoon.

"I'm just lucky to be an entrepreneur here," she said."People come in here and go ' wow, this is home away from home.'"

LISTEN| Saskatoon Morning host Leisha Grebinski visitsthe store:

Saskatoon Morning7:52On the corner of 8th and Clarence you can find ground nuts and fufu flour

Host Leisha Grebinski visits Crown Afriq, an African grocery store that's been open for one year, and meets owner Laura Oriaifo.

'Systemic racismmakes it difficult for Black entrepreneurs': CEO

Cindy Harrison, CEO of ACT Learning Centre and Communicare companies, said Black entrepreneurs face barriers above and beyond many others.

"In general in Canada, we don't do a lot to encourage entrepreneurship, but the obstacles become magnified in very significant ways for people of colour," she said

"We have a system that's rife withbarriers and systemic racism, unfortunately, that make it difficult for Black entrepreneurs to be successful."

She said the most critical way to close gaps in Black entrepreneurship in Canada is through prioritizing representation. She told CBC that it can be difficult for Black entrepreneurs to contemplate entrepreneurship becausethey "don't see successful entrepreneurs that look like them or have the similar lived experiences."

Harrison said there are even more barriers fora Black woman,as she herself has experiencedfirsthand.

"Women have to work twice as hard to be thought half as good as their male counterparts. I think that becomes magnified tenfold when you're female and you're Black."

She said Black-owned businesses are filling gaps in the community, but too often experience racism that is "systemic and institutional".

"I think a big part of the solution is mentorship to close that racial wealth gap."

Harrison said meaningful training on racism should be made mandatory for educators, health-care practitioners, business leaders, government workers and executives.

"It also starts with educational institutions and with meaningful training for educators on racism and unconscious bias. There are a lot of systemic barriers in our educational system that prevent the success for young people of colour," she said.

"Policy makers also need to create legislation that brings about meaningful change, not just on paper. It should focus on breaking down the systemic barriers that people of colour face."

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.You can read more stories here.