In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of Haitian professionals and socio-professionals came together with the objective of responding to the needs of newly arrived immigrants from Haiti. The initiative also sought to establish a cultural centre that would promote mutual support, showcase Haitian culture and gastronomy, and foster greater connection within the community.
Another key objective was to support the integration of Francophones in the Greater Toronto Area, many of whom were experiencing isolation, by creating a dedicated community space for networking, solidarity, mutual support, and collective empowerment in response to the challenges of the time.
Among the founding members and early contributors were Léo Brun, Jennyne Mayard, Kensly Saint-Jean, Evna Dieudonné, Myrtho, Rony Désir, and Johanne Marcellus.
Since its establishment, the Haitian Association of Toronto has worked to support and empower the Haitian, Black, Francophone, and Caribbean communities across Toronto and Canada, while contributing to the well-being and development of the broader Canadian community. Its activities focus on immigration support and integration, women’s rights and empowerment, the fight against racism and discrimination, entrepreneurship and employment, education and academic achievement, and the preservation and promotion of Haitian culture, language, history, and heritage.
Through its programs and initiatives, the Association creates opportunities for individuals, families, youth, newcomers, and community members to participate fully in Canadian society. It seeks to strengthen families and communities, promote social inclusion and economic opportunity, and build bridges among Haitian, Black, Francophone, Caribbean, and broader Canadian communities.
In November 2024, following the appointment of a new Board of Directors, the Haitian Association of Toronto resumed its Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), known in French as the Projet d’intégration et d’engagement des jeunes (PIEJ), as part of a major organizational restructuring. The restructuring included the relaunch of the YESS/PIEJ program in partnership with our Montreal-based partner, Lakay Media, and the Centre Culturel Communautaire Afro-Canadien du Nouveau-Brunswick. It also strengthened and expanded the Association’s range of services and programs to better respond to the evolving needs of the communities it serves.
The YESS/PIEJ project focuses specifically on supporting youth through education, mentorship, skills development, employment support, and community engagement. It aims to strengthen educational and professional pathways and create new opportunities for Black, Haitian, Francophone, and Caribbean youth. By investing in young people, the
Association helps them develop the skills, confidence, and experience needed to reach their full potential and contribute to the social, cultural, and economic development of their communities and Canada.
As a member of the Caribbean Council of Canada, the Haitian Association of Toronto also actively participates in and supports events, initiatives, and activities organized by the Council. This partnership strengthens collaboration among Caribbean, Haitian, Black, andFrancophone organizations and communities across Canada, while creating opportunities to share resources, expertise, and networks and to contribute to social, cultural, educational, and economic development initiatives.