In The News

Reformulary Group joins BlackNorth Initiative to combat anti-black racism in Canadian business

Plan advocates for companies to support upward mobility of black professionals

Toronto, July 21, 2020 – Reformulary Group, a Canadian healthcare company, has signed a pledge to join the BlackNorth Initiative, a strategic partnership committed to fighting anti-black systemic racism in Canadian businesses.

Recently launched by The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism, the initiative comprises leaders from some of Canada’s largest private and public businesses, including major banks and insurance companies.

While Reformulary Group is one of the smallest businesses to join the initiative, with 12 employees representing eight nationalities and speaking 13 different languages collectively, the company demonstrates that every business can make a difference, no matter its size.

“Corporations big and small must do more to dismantle systemic racism,” said Helen Stevenson, CEO of Reformulary Group. “This is a long-term commitment and Reformulary Group is ready to take concrete action both internally and externally to help build truly diverse and inclusive workplaces.”

Diversity and small businesses

Diversity is beneficial to the economy; it enhances corporate performance, improves employee engagement and advances growth. Meanwhile, small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy, with organizations of 99 employees or fewer making up 98.2 per cent of all businesses according to BDC.

With diversity and small businesses having such a big impact in Canada, it’s crucial the two are combined. Employees in a small business have a direct impact on success and diversity helps support innovative ideas and revenue growth – the latter often a challenge for start-ups.

The CEO Pledge

The inaugural BlackNorth Initiative Summit was held on July 20, 2020. At the summit, over 200 business leaders from across Canada, including Reformulary Group CEO, Helen Stevenson, signed a CEO Pledge committing their organizations to specific actions and targets designed to end anti-black systemic racism.

Learn more about the BlackNorth Initiative here.

About Reformulary Group

Founded in 2011, Reformulary Group is an expert-led healthcare company that helps Canadians make sense of medicine (prescription drugs and medical cannabis). The company’s proprietary list, the Reformulary®, is a subscription-based service offered to Canadian employers. Reformulary Group is informed by an independent committee of doctors and pharmacists from across Canada. The company’s award-winning DrugFinder™ provides reliable information to empower patients to make smart drug choices. Reformulary Group also developed Cannabis Standard, a digital platform that provides guidelines for medical cannabis use based on evidence and expert advice. For more information, visit www.reformulary.com.