Congratulations to SKN National Mr. Rustum Southwell for receiving the Order of Nova Scotia! 

Rustum Southwell arrived in Halifax in 1972 and has been contributing to Nova Scotia’s business landscape ever since. Southwell began his business career in the food industry as one of the province’s first Black franchise owners.

After several years managing restaurants, he moved on to become executive director of the African Canadian Business Development Centre. In 1996, Southwell became founding CEO of the Black Business Initiative (BBI). The BBI has created over 1,500 jobs and provided business training to over 1,000 aspiring entrepreneurs. Since its inception, the BBI has expanded across the Atlantic Provinces. Southwell has demonstrated his commitment to the community. He has served as co-chair of the African Heritage Month Committee, the first chair of Hope Blooms Youth Ventures Inc., and served on the boards of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the Waterfront Development Corporation (now Develop Nova Scotia), and United Way Halifax. He is a member of the Board of Governors of Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), the Black Loyalist Heritage Society, and the Community Consultative Committee of the Halifax Stanfield International Airport Authority (HSIAA).Among his many accolades are the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He has received honorary doctorate degrees from Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s universities.

See the YouTube link.