Where are they now?
Featuring Latoya Belfon
In light of March being International Women’s Month, Latoya Belfon is a woman worth recohnizing and celebrating. The Vanier Alumn started her experience at Vanier in 2008 and graduated in 2011. She earned her diploma in Social Science & Women’s Studies. The former student is now an award-winning author, publisher, educator, and Founder and CEO of Labworks Publishing Inc..
Why did you decide to apply to Vanier?
“It was a college that was close to me. I thought that Dawson College being so close to the shopping mall may deter me from my studies.”
Walk us through your first impressions of the school.
“Everything was big, strange, and new. I was eager to learn, but maneuvering through different classes, floors, and buildings is not an easy task for any new student. The student population was diverse, which made the environment feel welcoming and interesting, even while I was adjusting to it all.”
What was your favorite class?
“I loved every English class. I loved analyzing literature and stepping into that world.”
Who was your favorite teacher?
“I was blessed to have classes with Danielle Altidor. She inspired me to pursue my dreams and truly believe in my ability to succeed.”
What is your fondest memory about Vanier?
“I was part of the Christian Club at Vanier, and I loved hanging out in Jake’s Mall. Well, everyone does! But my fondest memory at Vanier was starting the Vanier Black Student Association. I remember having a discussion with my French teacher, Danielle, about it and taking on the huge task of building the club from the ground up. From choosing our room and the paint to trying to mobilize the student body to engage in our activities, it was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. But let’s talk about the parking tickets I had to endure, or racing to the N building, so I would not be late for class. Even attempting to park my car on the property next to student services, hoping that I don’t get towed.”
How did your cégep program affect your career choice?
“Honestly, when I started CÉGEP, my thinking was very small. I did not dream big, and my only goal was to graduate with a college diploma. As I moved through each semester, class by class, and was empowered by my teachers while seeing my capacity for excellence grow, I began to think bigger. When that time came, I chose to pursue the Education program at McGill University. I was proud that my grades were strong enough to give me the opportunity to aspire to higher education and be admitted into the program.”
Provide a job description of what you do?
“I support authors in transforming their ideas into published works, brands, and legacy-driven businesses while protecting their intellectual property. As an intellectual property strategist and public speaker, I lead workshops and keynotes that equip writers and entrepreneurs to scale their vision with strategy and confidence. My work also extends into education and community leadership, where I design culturally responsive initiatives that promote literacy, youth empowerment, and representation.”
After Vanier, what were your next steps (academic, work experience) to obtaining the job(s) you have?
“While in college and university, I worked at the hospital, constantly balancing work and school. That season built discipline, resilience, and time management skills that prepared me not just for a career, but for life. Juggling those responsibilities shaped how I lead, teach, and build today.”
“When I joined student associations, I was finally able to invest in my community in a way I hadn’t had the time to before. That experience strengthened my ability to organize, mobilize, and serve. At church, whether I was practising dance routines or leading youth in ministry, I was building confidence, communication skills, and leadership capacity. Looking back, I did not realize I was being prepared for public speaking, curriculum development, and guiding people through transformation.”
“And then there was my entrepreneurial side. During university, I started doing nails and hair. I even opened a little salon in the extra bedroom of my 4.5 apartment. I was completely content with the extra income I was making. This was back in 2013, long before “side hustle” was a buzzword. I just saw an opportunity, used my skills, and created something for myself. That season taught me that I did not have to wait for permission to build. I could
create value with what wProvide a job description of what you do?
“I support authors in transforming their ideas into published works, brands, and legacy-driven businesses while protecting their intellectual property. As an intellectual property strategist and public speaker, I lead workshops and keynotes that equip writers and entrepreneurs to scale their vision with strategy and confidence. My work also extends into education and community leadership, where I design culturally responsive initiatives that promote literacy, youth empowerment, and representation.”
After Vanier, what were your next steps (academic, work experience) to obtaining the job(s) you have?
“While in college and university, I worked at the hospital, constantly balancing work and school. That season built discipline, resilience, and time management skills that prepared me not just for a career, but for life. Juggling those responsibilities shaped how I lead, teach, and build today.”
“When I joined student associations, I was finally able to invest in my community in a way I hadn’t had the time to before. That experience strengthened my ability to organize, mobilize, and serve. At church, whether I was practising dance routines or leading youth in ministry, I was building confidence, communication skills, and leadership capacity. Looking back, I did not realize I was being prepared for public speaking, curriculum development, and guiding people through transformation.”
“And then there was my entrepreneurial side. During university, I started doing nails and hair. I even opened a little salon in the extra bedroom of my 4.5 apartment. I was completely content with the extra income I was making. This was back in 2013, long before “side hustle” was a buzzword. I just saw an opportunity, used my skills, and created something for myself. That season taught me that I did not have to wait for permission to build. I could
as already in my hands. And that mindset has stayed with me ever since.”
Can you please provide some of your career highlights? “Some of my career highlights include founding Labworks Publishing Inc., where I have supported authors in bringing their books to life and building brands around their work. I am also the Co-Founder of Brandality Solutions Inc., Empowered Women in Lit, and Christian Women in Business, initiatives that focus on entrepreneurship, representation in literature, and faith-based leadership for women.”
“Montreal author Latoya Belfon poses in front of her book, “Izzy’s New Life,” at Indigo Place Montreal Trust. (Fariha Naqvi-Mohamed, CityNews Montreal)” (City News Montreal, 2024)
“As an award-winning author and intellectual property strategist, I have had the opportunity to speak publicly on publishing, authorship, and protecting creative work in an AI-driven world. I have been honoured with the Woman of Merit Award, CBC Black Changemaker recognition, Black History Month Laureate 2026, Top 100 Accomplished Black Women in Canada, and Top 100 Black Women to Watch.”
“One of my most meaningful highlights has been watching my son, Khai-El John, create and develop his book Terra the Triceratops and become a best-selling author at a young age. Seeing him step into authorship and ownership so confidently reminds me why I do this work. Beyond the titles and awards, the true highlight is witnessing others realize their voice and potential.”
On Wednesday, February 11th, 2026, you presented at the Humanitarian Symposium at Vanier. For those who missed it, could you give a brief recap of what you spoke about?
“At the Humanitarian Symposium, I spoke about Afrofuturism and the power of narrative in shaping identity, possibility, and collective imagination. I explored how Black authors, artists, and musicians were
able to create stories where Black people were centred, victorious, and visionary, even when their present realities suggested otherwise. I challenged the audience to consider that Afrofuturism was not escapism, but strategy. It was a way of reclaiming authorship over our future before society made space for it.”
“I also connected this to the idea of inherited survival, referencing how cultural memory and protection have shaped generations. The core message was this: imagination is not passive. The stories we tell influence what we believe is possible. We are now living in a time where we are not only imagining better futures, but actively building them through education, entrepreneurship, authorship, and leadership.”
How did it make you feel, presenting as a grown adult in the school you once were a student in?
“It felt surreal at times. Walking the halls again felt like I had just been there, searching for myself and slowly
building the courage to desire more for my life. Everything looked different, yet strangely familiar.
Standing there as a grown woman reminded me that time moves, but growth is intentional. It showed me that what you do with your time truly matters. Legacy is not built in one big moment; it is shaped in the quiet decisions you make when you are still becoming. Returning to Vanier felt like witnessing that journey come full circle.”
What is one thing you did not do during your time at Vanier that you would advise current students to do? “One thing I did not fully do during my time at Vanier was intentionally invest in knowing myself beyond academics. I was focused on achieving, performing well, and graduating, but I did not yet understand that self-awareness is strategy. At that time, the world around me was often trying to define me, tell me who I was, what I should pursue, and how far I could go. There were moments when that external noise weakened my confidence.”
Over time, I had to remember that identity is not something the world assigns to you. It is something you define for yourself. When you anchor yourself in the foundation of who you are, your character, your values, and your convictions, you will not be easily shaken or pressured into a life that was never designed for you. You will not shrink to fit expectations that do not align with your purpose.
If I could tell current students one thing, it would be this: do not wait until life forces you to know yourself. Do that work now. Because when you know who you are, you do not just chase opportunities. You build a life that reflects you.
What advice would you give to your younger self on her first day of cegep?
On my first day of CÉGEP, I would say, “Hunny, you belong. You matter. You can do it. And do not forget to dream a little bigger.”
Ignore the voices that try to convince you that going into the science field is out of reach. The academic journey will not always be easy. There will be moments when the weight of life, expectations, and even relationships make you question whether it is all worth it. There will be days when giving up feels easier than pushing through.
But every time you choose to keep your word to yourself, every time you honour your own commitment, you are building discipline. And that discipline will shape you into an unstoppable businesswoman. So chin up. Stay focused. And dominate.
What advice would you give to current and future Vanier students?
The advice I would give to current and future Vanier students is this: do not wait for the perfect moment, the perfect conditions, or the perfect version of yourself before you move. Life is not perfectly arranged. There will always be something unfinished, uncertain, or uncomfortable.
Too many people delay their growth because they are waiting for everything to align. But progress is truly built in imperfect seasons. I am living truth of that. So take the class. Apply for the opportunity. Start the idea. Even when you feel unsure. You learn so much about your capacity to pivot, grow, and adapt when you stop waiting for perfect conditions and start moving anyway. It is in the uncertainty, the pressure, and the unexpected shifts that you discover how resilient and resourceful you truly are.
Latoya Belfon’s Published Work:
Children’s Books
Izzy’s New Life: “Izzy moves to a new country, but her Caribbean accent is making a bigger appearance in class than she is”
Grandma’s Hands: “A mother tells her daughter the beautiful immigration story of her grandmother”
Where Flies The Bird?: “A curious narrator takes another journey to discover a bird’s migration story through changing seasons”
Adult Books
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fullfill his promises to her!: “A Christian faith-based journal and guide for praying through difficult times and increasing faith while holding onto God’s promises”
Visionary: “An Undated Planner and Motivational Journal that encourages users to dream big and strategize their action”
You can support Latoya Belfon through the following platforms:
Website: www.labworkspublishing.com
Instagram: @latoyabelfon | @labworkspublishing
Boss Writer: @bosswriteracademy
