Beverly Mascoll

Beverly Mascoll (born Beverly Ashe, 1941-2001) was a Canadian businesswoman, fundraiser, community leader, and Member of the Order of Canada.

Early life and career

Beverly Ashe was born on October 29, 1941, in Fall River, Nova Scotia, to parents Arthur and Gwendolyn Ashe. The Ashe family moved to Toronto in the early 1950s, when Beverly was a teenager.

After completing high school, Beverly Ashe worked as a receptionist at Toronto Barber and Beauty Supply. Within six months she was working as an assistant to the company's president. During this time she quickly noticed a business niche that needed to be filled - black hair-care products were scarce.

Mascoll Beauty Supply Ltd. Beverly Mascoll incorporated her own company, Mascoll Beauty Supply Ltd. in 1970, with only $700. She began selling products out of her truck and home, before flying to Chicago to convince U.S. manufacturer Johnson Products (at the time the largest manufacturer of beauty products) to grant her the rights to be the company's first and only Canadian distributor. and went on to become a major player in the beauty supply industry.

By 1998, Mascoll's company carried 3,000 beauty care products, and operated a chain of retail outlets. These retail outlets were a hub for many new Black-Canadian immigrants. The stores were a validation of their identity in a new country.

Education and community activism Community activism ran parallel to Mascoll's business endeavors. She was involved with several community organizations including the Harry Jerome Scholarship Fund (awarding excellence to Black-Canadian achievers), Camp Jumoke (a camp for children with Sickle Cell Anemia) Trustee for the Harry Jerome Scholarship fund Director of the Ontario Science Centre Eldon Mascoll presented the inaugural award, named after his late mother, on March 4, 2019.

Beverly Mascoll died from complications due to breast cancer in 2001, aged 59. She was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.