Three Jamaican-Canadian women have emerged as the top finalists out of a record-breaking pool of 243 applicants for the prestigious Women Empowerment Awards — Mantella Corporation BIPOC Entrepreneur Grant Award. 

The Award recognizes successful Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) business leaders who have overcome greater challenges, breaking through roadblocks to gain credibility and establish themselves in their industry. 

The Mantella Corporation BIPOC Entrepreneur category represents the highest number of nominees for this year’s Women Empowerment Awards. As finalists, one of the Jamaican-Canadians will secure a CA $10,000 grant which will be awarded to the category’s winner to support the continued growth and success of their business.

The trio of Jamaican-Canadian business leaders who have made outstanding strides in their respective fields are:

• Judy Stewart, Founder of Trèsolz
• Kimesha Walters, CEO of Oasis Integrated Communications
• Natasha Ferguson, Founder & President of Ethelfox Construct Group

“We are honoured to be acknowledged on such a grand scale and to be featured on the national stage in Canada,” said Kimesha Walters. “Each of us carries a deeply personal story — a calling — that inspired us to take bold action to change something we could not accept. We each found the courage to dream bigger than our circumstances and even more strength to turn our dreams into a reality.”

Background of the Founders and their Businesses

Born in Canada, both Judy Stewart and Natasha Ferguson are first-generation immigrants. Stewart’s parents immigrated to Canada in the ‘60s and Ferguson’s parents a decade later in the 70s.

Stewart’s journey has been one of transformation — from a teacher, professional athlete, personal trainer, life coach, and mother of three teenage boys to a trailblazing entrepreneur. For her, Trèsolz is more than just a shoe brand; it’s a movement that tells her story — a story of overcoming adversity and embracing the beauty of difference. In Canada, she faced multiple challenges in navigating a world that often overlooked women like her. Her struggle to find fashionable and comfortable shoes in her size was not just a personal inconvenience but a source of deep insecurity.

“For over 30 years, I squeezed my feet into shoes that were too small, enduring pain and discomfort because trendy, affordable shoes simply didn’t exist in my size,” Stewart recalled. “But eventually, I saw my height, body, and even my feet for what they were — a gift from God. I realized that our differences make us special.”

Stewart added, “This nomination is not just for me; it’s for every woman who has ever felt overlooked or underrepresented. It’s a reminder that we have the power to create change and that our struggles can become our greatest strengths.” 

Meanwhile, Ferguson, an award-winning entrepreneur who has been demolishing and rebuilding walls on residential job sites, has also been inevitably shattering gender and racial barriers in the construction industry. EthelFox Construct was named one of the Best Businesses in Canada by the Canadian Business Review Board in 2021, Ferguson won $10,000 in the Startup Canada pitch competition in 2023 and was a participant in the Starter Company Plus Female Founders Program, offered through Enterprise Toronto where she received a $5,000 grant to grow her business.

The EthelFox Construct Group includes EthelFox Construct, SkyGarden Landscaping, SkyLimitless Roofing, and TKO Demolition. Ferguson named her company in honour of her mother, Marian Ethel Osbourne who hailed from Woodside in St. Mary, and her youngest daughter, Fox. She says the combination reflects that Ethel means noble and foxes are clever. 

“I am deeply honoured to be a finalist for the Women Empowerment Awards, it underscores my commitment to fostering equality, uplifting women’s voices, and creating opportunities for future leaders,” said Ferguson. “This recognition strengthens my resolve to continue breaking down barriers and driving meaningful change for women everywhere.”

Back in 2019, as a new immigrant, Walters was struggling through countless job applications and feeling the weight of her decision to leave the safety of her life and career in Jamaica. Despite over a decade of experience with top brands like GraceKennedy, Pepsi, and Scotiabank, and successfully reintroducing the Hyundai brand to Jamaica, securing a job in Canada felt impossible. That frustration pushed her to start Oasis Integrated Communications, a strategic communications firm where she gets brands, entrepreneurs, and C-Suite executives seen, heard, and remembered. She is on a mission to build a successful business that hires talented people from all walks of life regardless of their backgrounds, the colour of their skin, their accent, or any other characteristic that would usually box them in and restrict them from climbing the career ladder.

“I know what it’s like to feel invisible, overlooked, and forgotten. While I was job hunting, I had hundreds of job applications under my belt. I had disappointing job interviews. Some were just downright heartbreaking. Some made me cry,” said Kimesha. “My mission is to play even a small part in changing that reality for people across Canada. Being a finalist out of 243 applicants validates the growth and positive impact I’ve had since launching my business. I hope that this will inspire others who are struggling to dream bigger and to reach further.”

The winner of the Women Empowerment Awards Mantella Corporation BIPOC Entrepreneur Grant Award will be announced on Friday, September 13 at an awards dinner gala at the Park Hyatt Hotel, a luxurious urban retreat in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood.