This humble DJ and community worker is always looking for new sounds

CBC Quebec highlights people from the province’s black communities who are giving back, inspiring others and helping to shape our future. These are the Black Changemakers 2023.

From spinning records to helping people find jobs, Scott Clyke brings passion and humility to everything he does.

The father, DJ and employability coordinator at the Desta Black Community Network has made his home in Montreal for almost 30 years, having moved from Toronto in the mid-1990s.

Clyke is known to Montreal music fans as Scott C – one half of the DJ duo who hosted a monthly event called The Goods at Mile End venue La Sala Rossa for 15 years.

The Goods presented attendees with a wide variety of music that wasn’t played in clubs or on the radio. Along with Andy Williams, Clyke played funk, soul, jazz and hip-hop records in a venue that has become a meeting place for Montrealers of all generations and backgrounds.

“I always felt like I was doing something right when a great mix of people came out and responded to the music we put on the table,” says Clyke.

“We had seniors come into the night … people from all walks of life and races — just a real cut and cross-section of what Montreal was about. And to me, that’s essentially what a great party is all about.”

He also shared his knowledge of music outside of the DJ booth. For a decade, Clyke was a hip-hop columnist for the Montreal Mirror, the alternative weekly whose coverage of arts and culture was a staple until it closed in 2012.

With a smile, he recalls the balance between DJing and freelance gigs as “rough times”.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he says.

‘Your Favorite DJ’s Favorite DJ’

Music is tied into pretty much everything Clyke does – at age 51 he’s still discovering and sharing new sounds.

“It’s a big part of my life. And I don’t take it for granted at all,” he says. “It’s something that always gets me excited, and it’s served me really well.”

“He could be your favorite DJ’s favorite DJ,” says Elisa Shenkier, a longtime friend of Clyke’s who helped organize The Goods.

Scott Clyke DJing at the Metropolis in Montreal in 2012. (Submitted by Scott Clyke)

She says that while the music industry has big egos, that’s not the case with him.

“He’s very authentic. He’s extremely real and he’s an excellent listener,” says Shenkier. Clyke makes others feel confident in expressing themselves, she says, because despite his talent and experience, he doesn’t pump himself up.

The Goods ended in 2017, but Clyke continues to DJ regularly. In 2019 he transitioned to a new career at Desta, a non-profit group based in Little Burgundy that works with young people in Montreal’s black community.

He produces Stories from the inside out, a podcast exploring the impact of incarceration. And as the agency’s employment program coordinator, he works personally with people looking to make a career change or find a job, connecting them with others across the Desta network.

Clyke’s patience and compassion help him connect with the people he meets, a process he describes with characteristic humility.

“You don’t think it’s important, but when you’re on the other end of it…it’s valuable,” he says.

He says a lot of people have a resume that looks great but still feels like an imposter. Part of what he does is help them develop the confidence to believe they deserve the opportunities they are given.

“It will always be necessary, especially in the black community,” Clyke says. “They’re trying to deal with reluctance to work in spaces where they might be the only person of color on staff.”

“I wish I had that kind of support when I was younger.”

The Black Changemakers is a special series recognizing individuals who, regardless of their background or industry, strive to make a positive impact in their community. From overcoming problems to giving small acts of kindness on a daily basis, these change agents make a difference and inspire others. Meet all changemakers here.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians – from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community – click here Being Black in Canadaa CBC project that Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

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