Amikley Fontaine

Amikley Fontaine is the Founder and CEO of the Sylvenie Lindor Foundation. A position he has held since the Foundation’s inception in 2011. Amikley’s commitment to serving the community has spanned more than two decades through his work with Sylvenie Lindor as well as other non-profits organization that he is involved with. Amikley is the driving force behind several of Sylvenie Lindor’s programs. Working with a dynamic team, Amikley uses the Foundation as a platform to empower young black Francophone Canadians through assisting them in becoming better integrated into Canadian society both economically and socially. Amikley also addresses the plight that many black youth find themselves in when having to overcome language barriers as Francophone Canadians. As a proud Franco-Ontarian, Amikley has participated in numerous marches to protect and support Franco-Ontarian institutions and also to establish and recognize the great importance of Franco-Ontarian heritage in Canada.

In 2015, Amikley proudly launched the Annual Multicultural Forum initiative where one crucial element is the special Integration Awards that are presented to individuals with outstanding achievements in the community. The Forum is also meant to be a cultural celebration with a panel of speakers where the focus is on celebrating Canada’s amazing diversity and coming together as a community in a country that is home to so many individuals from various different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Another one of Amikley’s major accomplishments is the Toronto Youth Action for Change project that was launched in 2019 and relaunched for a second time in 2021. This initiative has allowed the Foundation to reach out to about 2,000 young people across Ontario through workshops, a Soccer Club, excursions, and awareness activities.

This project has been relaunched for a third time in 2025 and its now renamed « Canadian Black Youth Action for Change- CBYAC » whose objective is to continue a dialogue with young Canadians in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Calgary on topics related to Justice, Leadership and Entrepreneurship.

Under the great leadership of Amikley Fontaine, the Sylvenie Lindor Foundation has been able to build a national reputation where many amazing youth have benefited greatly from the services offered. Henceforth, the Foundation has received some amazing recognition from the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, the Canadian House of Commons, the Leader of The Official Opposition of Canada, the Honorable Pierre Poilievre, and the Premier of Ontario, the Honorable Doug Ford and many other official dignitaries.

Amikley’s humanitarian efforts have gone beyond borders. Amikley currently coordinates the Solidarité-Torontoise program that has provided important assistance to 50 children in Haiti since 2014. Amikley also manages the Francisque Fontaine Fund (FFF) that has aided 32 women in the southeast rural area of Haiti through the Femmes Entrepreneures Project. The global pandemic was a difficult time for all Canadians and we continue to feel the after-effects. As a result of this, Amikley launched two key programs that came to the aid of those who have been disproportionately impacted by the crisis. These were The Feed the Homeless Initiative and The Covid Emergency Relief Initiative. Through these two programs, the Foundation was able to provide over 7500 meals to individuals experiencing homelessness in downtown Toronto and also supported over 300 low-income families through a mobile food bank.

A former public servant of the governments of Ontario and Canada, Amikley holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Philosophy, Law and Social Thought, and Sociology. Amikley sits as a board member on The Francophone Affairs Advisory Committee of the City of Toronto where he advises and offers insight on how the city serve Franco-Torontonians. Amikley continues to be a role model in the community by championing causes such as equity and inclusion as well as the importance of having programming and initiatives that specifically serve youth.

A Lifetime Commitment to Civic Engagement

Amikley’s work spans more than two decades through the Sylvenie Lindor Foundation and other non for profit organizations. Amikley is the driving force behind several of the Foundation’s programs. Amikley has stated that “volunteering enables me to give back to my community and live up to the legacy of those who paved the way before me. Volunteering is my own way to ensure that there is enough room and space for those who seek refuge in our land of freedom”.

In 2020, Amikley wrote an official letter to the Attorney General of Canada, the Hon. David Lamatti, to address the issue of systemic and anti-Black racism in the Canadian justice system. This was a call for action with regard to the mass incarceration of black and Indigenous youth in the Canadian prison systems.

In 2018, Mr. Fontaine met with the Honorable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety, where he addressed issues related to police brutality in interactions with black Torontonians. Also in 2018, Amikley met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Canada, Mr. Jean Nicholas Beuze, where he addressed the issues faced by black individuals who are seeking asylum in Canada.

Awards & Recognitions

Throughout his two decades of commitment to civic engagement and community building, Amikley has received the following awards & recognitions:

• The Desjardins Individual Collective Excellence Award: In September of 2023, Amikley was awarded the Individual Collective Excellence Award. This was issued by The Cooperation Council of Ontario and the award recognizes the exceptional contribution of Amikley as an entrepreneur to the organization’s cooperative social enterprise and to the Francophone community.
• The Florent – Lalonde Award: In October of 2022, Amikley received the Florent-Lalonde award which was issued by the Assemblée de la Francophonie de Ontario. The Award recognizes the efforts and commitment of Amikley as a volunteer within Francophone communities in Ontario.
• The Government of Ontario Francophonie Awards. In March of 2022, Amikley was awarded the Ontario Francophonie Award. This award recognizes individuals whose social, economic, political or cultural contributions have made a difference in the Francophone community and in Ontario as a whole.
• Recognition in the Canadian House of Commons: In February of 2021, Amikley was recognized in the Canadian House of Commons for his contribution to the black community. Though his Foundation, Amikley continues to soldier on and aims to impact the lives of more and more youth each year.
• Black Franco-Ontarian Personality of the Year 2019: In February of 2019, Amikley was recognized by CBC Radio Canada as the Black Franco-Ontarian Personality of the Year for his exceptional contributions to the black community and for his activism.
• Albion Neighborhood Services Awards: In January of 2010, Amikley was awarded this recognition for his services aimed at assisting new immigrants in the Etobicoke region of Toronto.
• Maison d’Haiti du Grand Toronto Awards: In 2011, Amikley received the Maison d’Haiti Volunteer Award for his work aimed at helping new Haitian immigrants comfortably settle in the city of Toronto.