Harvin Hilaire

Harvin Hilaire is an undergraduate student in Marketing at Concordia’s John Molson School of Business.

His student leadership journey began with the Concordia debate team, which opened his eyes to the complexities of university life and sparked a desire to make a difference. He joined the Haitian Students’ Association of Concordia, first as VP external and later as president. During his tenure, he spearheaded a series of initiatives: mental health seminars, a thrift-shop fundraiser that raised more than $700 for an underserved school, art expositions celebrating Haitian heritage, and the first month-long Black history event series uniting all Concordia associations representing African diasporic student communities.

The 2020 murder of George Floyd was a catalyst for Hilaire. Engaging with student leaders, professionals, campus administration and deans, he worked to identify and address some of the challenges he saw in institutional systems, as a member of the 2020–22 Leadership committee for Concordia’s President’s Task Force on Anti⁠-⁠Black Racism. 

On the board at CASA, the John Molson School’s undergraduate students’ association, he founded and chaired its diversity committee. He advocated for more than 7,000 students, established a $10,000 scholarship fund and helped launch the Black Students Career Development event. To date, the event has successfully connected more than 2,000 students, alumni and professionals.

He diversified his experience through a variety of internships, including with Concordia’s Advancement team, where his work supported the launch of the university’s Black Alumni Network. Hilaire is also a fellow of the Black Wealth Club, which helps the Canadian Black community create wealth and reinvest it in their communities.

He received the Concordia University Alumni Association's Outstanding Student Leader Award in 2024.