Windsor church deemed 'not Black enough' disheartened by grant rejection

A leader with theBritish Methodist Episcopal Church in Windsor, aBlackchurch with hundreds of years of history,says it's "disheartening" that the organization was denied a grant for Black communityorganizations.

Church clerk Nancy Allen said it's not therejection that concerns herbut the reason provided by the federal government.

"When you're rejected because of your ethnicity or you're told you're not Black enough to receive this grantbecauseitwas for Black-led organizations that's very, very it's disheartening," Allensaid at a press conference on Wednesday.

WATCH: Nancy Allen and MehariHagosreact to their organizations being denied a government grant for Black-led organizations.

Black-led organizations denied grant

4 years ago

Duration 0:59

Nancy Allen and Mehari Hagos speak out after being denied a grant for Black community organizations.

The church had applied for agrant from a $25-million federal program for organizations that serve Black Canadians, the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative.

On Tuesday, it received an email denying the application saying it didn't meet the eligibility requirements for Black leadership and governance.

"Information provided did not meet this eligibility criteria or was insufficient to clearly demonstrate that the organization is led and governed by people who self-identify asBlack," the email stated.

In order to receive the grant, a third of the leadership of the organization has to identify as Black.All members of the church's trustee board are Black.

The church dates back to the 1850s, and some of those who built it escaped slavery in the U.S. It'sone of several congregations of the British Methodist Episcopal Church,including one built by Harriet Tubmanin Niagara.

The church is no longer in its original location in Windsor the landwas expropriated and thechurch movedin1963.

The current building is in need of upgrades, Allen explained. Ithad applied for about $98,000last year to do retrofitsincluding air conditioning and kitchen upgrades.

"We're just trying to make the church and the community centre viable to keep their membership and maybe to grow some more," Rob Vidamour of restorationcompany Winmar said at the press conference.

Windsor West MP Brian Masseis calling on Ahmed Hussen, minister of families, children and social development, to reconsider the application and apologize.

He wrote a letter to the minister saying he couldn't comprehend how the application was denied on the basis that the church didn't meet the eligibility criteria.

"We're making a strong appeal to the minister. If [the]Black community is going to be supported and it's going to be enhanced with government projects, you just can't pretend when there's mistakes. You just can't pass them off and that's what the department did here," he said.

The church is among many organizations across the country speaking out after being deemed ineligible for the grant.

Anapplication by MH100, an after-school programfor at-risk Black youth in Windsor-Essex, was also denied, with the governmentsayingthe organizationdidn't meet the leadership and governancecriteria.

"I think they didn't really do their research enough. Ifthey did their research, then they'd find out...who this organization is ran by," said executive director Mehari Hagos, who said he was caught off guard by the decision but added that mistakes happen.

An application by Sandwich First Baptist Church in west Windsor is currently being reviewed.

Minister issues apology

So far, morethan 90 projects have been approved under the program, representing up to $7 million in funding, includingUnderground Railroad churches in Hamilton and St. Catharines.

Hussen, the minister responsible, recently apologized forthe letters received by applicants.

"The letter recently sent by my department to unsuccessful applicants for funding was completely unacceptable.As soon as it was presented to me, I quickly demanded a retraction and met with my officials to discuss how such a mistake could have happened in the first place," he said in a series of tweets last week.

The BME church saidit hasn't been given an alternative explanation for the rejection.

A second email to the BME stated: "Employment and Social Development Canada did not receive the information required to move forward with your application."

Hussen went on to say the government is taking "meaningful action" and being accountable.

"We are committed to getting this right," he said.

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.