Indigo Books & Music has named Chika Stacy Oriuwa to its board of directors.

Oriuwa is currently a psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto, where she graduated from its faculty of medicine with several awards behind her name. She was the first Black woman to be recognized as the school’s sole valedictorian. Oriuwa is also a spoken-word poet, writer, and advocate for racialized and marginalized populations.

In a press release, Indigo CEO Heather Reisman said, “As we advance our position as a major destination for wellness knowledge and well living, we know, given her areas of interest, we will be very well served to have her expertise and brilliant, curious mind to influence our efforts. Finally, we will also look to Chika as an additional and knowledgeable voice to inform our diversity and inclusion efforts.”

“Being appointed to the board of directors at Indigo is nothing short of a dream come true, and a defining moment of my life,” said Oriuwa. “As a poet and writer, I have grown to understand the power of words, vulnerability, and authenticity. As a resident physician and aspiring neuropsychiatrist, I have come to appreciate the fragility of life, wellness, and living with intention. As a public speaker and advocate, I place value upon amplifying the voices of the marginalized, creating equal opportunity, and curating spaces of inclusion. Heather Reisman, and my remarkable co-directors at Indigo, have enabled me to blend my passions into this role, and given me the opportunity to affect change on a grand scale; my gratitude is endless. Here is to the journey that lies ahead.”

In October, Indigo became the first Canadian retailer to join the #15PercentPledge. The initiative, launched by former Torontonian Aurora James, commits retailers to dedicate at least 15 per cent of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses.