And the nominees are…

When Alana Fiks and Angela Farkas opened Black Market Provisions, they hired one employee and almost couldn’t imagine bringing on more.

“We tend to be sort of scared and risk averse, so even the thought of having employees at the time seemed like a dream to us,” said Fiks, who started the shop with Farkas in Winnipeg’s South Osborne neighbourhood almost seven years ago.

The entrepreneurs have built a workplace culture rooted in respect, transparency and well-being. Today, Black Market Provisions has four full-time and six part-time employees.

The Manitoba Queer Chamber of Commerce recognized Fiks and Farkas earlier this week when the organization named the duo as finalists for the Employer of the Year Award as part of its 10th annual MQCC Business Awards.

The chamber named 20 finalists across four categories, and will hand out the awards during a cocktail reception at WAG-Qaumajuq on March 19.

“To be thought of as a place that is worthy of being nominated for Employer of the Year is particularly special,” Fiks said. “We do pride ourselves on trying to treat our team very well. We literally cannot do what we do without them.”

The chamber, which has a membership of more than 100 businesses, non-profits and individual professionals and entrepreneurs from the queer and allied community, announced the return of the awards last month after a five-year break.

The event was started in 2013 to recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership and innovation are creating a positive impact on the province’s LGBTTQ+ and broader business communities.

The chamber fell into a state of dormancy after the awards were last handed out in 2021, but was revived a year ago, thanks in part to a $300,000 grant from the federal Department of Small Business, through its 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program.

The grant has allowed the chamber to hire two staff members and expand its programming, which includes bringing back the awards.

“We’ve revitalized our organization, we’ve restructured our memberships… we’re a lot more active, so we thought now was the time,” said Jenny Steinke-Magnus, executive director.

Nominations for the awards were accepted throughout December and January, and a committee of chamber members selected the finalists.

Brittany Amorim said she was moved to tears when she found out she was one of the finalists for the Emerging Entrepreneur Award.

Formerly a corrections officer, Amorim said she was motivated to become a realtor after her own homebuying experience left her wanting.

“It felt extremely transactional, like you could almost feel the irritation if I wasn’t interested in the house that I looked at,” she said.

Since earning her real estate license at the beginning of 2023, Amorim has branded herself as “your friendly, inclusive realtor.” Her web presence highlights that she is LGBTTQ+ affirming and interested in helping people from BIPOC and marginalized communities.

“People gravitate toward you when you’re being authentic,” she said. “I am a safe place for people and… it’s been lovely. I love it.”

Creating a welcoming space is also important for Adam Kelly, one of 11 finalists for the Community Builder Award.

Kelly is the co-founder and chief operating officer at Social Entrepreneurship Enclave, which supports entrepreneurs from the BIPOC and queer communities. Since it was started in 2019, the organization has supported more than 75 entrepreneurs through its incubator and coaching programs.

Entrepreneurship is difficult for everyone, but BIPOC and queer entrepreneurs in particular tend to have fewer supports that recognize their lived experience, Kelly said.

Social Entrepreneurship Enclave aims to give entrepreneurs not only tangible assistance with their business, but holistic support that considers the entrepreneurs’ mental and spiritual health.

Being nominated at the MQCC Business Awards is exciting, Kelly said.

“Spaces like the queer chamber are really important and really meaningful. I hear all the time how transformative it is to be in spaces that are for us, by us,” Kelly said, adding that allies are welcome to attend the awards and join the chamber. “This is for everybody.”

The March 19 event will be hosted by CBC radio personality Faith Fundal, and will include a drag performance by Kymera and music by local DJ the Kaptain.

The program will include the Chamber Member of the Year Award. Nominations are not accepted for this recognition; instead, the awards committee identifies a member whose impact has been especially noteworthy over the past year.

The evening will also feature a celebration of the completion of the first cohort of Emerge, the chamber’s development program for queer entrepreneurs. The 2025-26 cohort included 15 mentees and 10 mentors.

The chamber has operated under a few different names over the last four decades. It was founded in 1988.

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca