Minh Le – Minh’s Modern Vietnamese Dining+ Bar
4271 Sheppard Ave. E. Unit 1
For Minh Le, Vietnamese food is not simply a business – it is a life-long story of family, culture, passion and persevering. Growing up in Viet Nam, Minh spent his childhood in the kitchen watching his mother prepare dishes filled with fresh herbs, clear broth and the warmth that only comes from cooking with love.
Those early memories became the foundation of the brand he leads today – as founder and owner of Mihn’s Modern Vietnamese Dining – with his first Toronto location right here in Sheppard East Village. He picked our area because he is a foodie and knows the good reputation it has for delicious dining experiences.
After he came to Canada, Minh opened his first restaurant with nothing but determination and the spirit of hard work. He cooked, served, cleaned and took orders – alone. There were no shortcuts and no staff, but there was pure passion. He believed that if each dish carried sincerity and freshness, the customers would feel it. He was right.
He now has a great team in each location. “I enjoy training and promoting staff – I help people build their careers in the food industry,” Minh says. He remains deeply involved in operations, mentorship and quality control – ensuring that each location reflects the values on which he built his popular business.
“Vietnamese food is very healthy, with lots of vegetables and homemade broth. We have good options for meat-lovers, vegetarians and vegans. We cook everything fresh every day – when it’s gone, it’s gone. Then we start again tomorrow,” he says proudly.
In his spare time, Minh likes to take his family out to unique places to eat. Stop by his new location in Sheppard East Village and experience fresh and nutritious dishes that are sure to delight.
George Guirguis – Tuxedo Drug Mart
4865 Sheppard Ave. E.
George is the owner and operator of the Tuxedo Drug Mart that recently opened in Sheppard East Village.
He thinks of himself as an old-school type of pharmacist who enjoys educating the public and discussing medications with his customers. He is the current owner of 4 other pharmacies in Scarborough.
“I really enjoy helping people from all walks of life. This is every culture here and I strive to make sure they understand fully what they are taking and how. You never know a person’s story. I never want people to feel judged. I’ve had an opportunity to see some people turn their lives around and it’s very rewarding to me, personally. It’s all about respect,” remarks George.
This new Pharmacy offers OTC products, as well as Home Healthcare options like support stockings and braces. The store can also provide vaccination and flu shots and write prescriptions for a certain number of minor ailments.
George’s daughter has followed in her father’s footsteps and is a working Pharmacist in this convenient Tuxedo location – between Markham and McCowan.
Faria Khan – Canadian Tire
4630 Sheppard Ave. E. (at McCowan)
Faria is the Assistant Service Manager in the automotive department at the large Canadian Tire location here in Sheppard East Village. With 21 years of experience in a male-dominated field, Faria knows her stuff.
She is knowledgeable about all makes and models of cars and trucks that come in for service and she can help advise on anything automotive. She is a great resource at the front desk with excellent communication skills to assist with customer’s needs. This is her fourth Canadian Tire location and she enjoys working with both the customers and the technicians.
Faria was born in Guyana and immigrated to Canada when she was 3 years old.
“I love everything about Canada. Both of my children were born here,” says Faria.
Faria loves reading historical fiction and cooking for her family, in her spare time. If she forgets her lunch, she visits Mona’s Roti – her favourite place to eat in Sheppard East Village – for extra spicy chickpea doubles. She got her love of spicy food from her fatherand she works in the perfect neighbourhood with lots of food options nearby.
If you need to have your car, van or truck looked at, stop in and speak to Faria. She can give you great advice about servicing anything on wheels.
Laxman Subedi – Namaste Pavilion Restaurant
4438 Sheppard Ave. E. Unit 201
There is a lovely new gathering place in Sheppard East Village located in the Oriental Centre. Namaste Pavilion Restaurant is one part community centre and one part restaurant – with Nepalese, Chinese, and Indian flavours.
This large, bright space can accommodate up to 300 people for dining, meetings and special events. They also offer take-out items from their large menu of authentic foods from the Nepal region. The restaurant has 3 types of cuisine and 3 different chefs – and it is all delicious. They also offer a popular lunch buffet so you can try a bunch of different items for a variety of tastes.
The Restaurant is on the second floor of the building – with plenty of free parking indoors and both an elevator and an escalator, for easy mobility. This new establishment is ready to host corporate meetings, weddings, charity and live musical events.
Laxman immigrated to Canada from Nepal. He has a Masters Degree in physics and is also a real estate broker. He loves the serenity here in Canada and, when he is not working, likes to spend time with family. Although he doesn’t cook himself, he appreciates that other people do.
Next time you are looking for a hearty lunch, stop by this new location in Sheppard East Village and fill up your plate with some flavours of Nepal and its surrounding area.
Muhammad Moin Uddin – MEDED
4438 Sheppard Avenue E. Unit 373
Muhammad is a medically-trained doctor who launched MEDED to support and elevate healthcare education in the Sheppard East Village community. After earning his medical degree in Pakistan and immigrating to Canada, he discovered a passion for teaching and curriculum development. He continues to advance healthcare learning as a medical instructor at a leading career college in Toronto.
MEDED provides a wide range of professional certifications – in Food Safety; Red Cross First Aid and CPR; WHMIS Certification Workshops and also offers Medication Certification Workshops and preparation for the Practical Nurse Licensing Exam. Flexible learning options are available both online and in person.
“Many restaurants in Toronto have my graduate’s certifications in their windows,” he explains.
Beyond his professional work, Muhammad believes deeply in unity and compassion. “Never judge a person by where they come from. Love all people, no matter their birthplace. That is my hope for the world”, he says.
In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, gardening – especially tending his favourite pink roses – and travelling.
If you are looking to advance your career or upgrade your qualifications, visit MEDED Training, located in the Oriental Centre, in Sheppard East Village.
Sasi Yogalingam – Clutch Performance
4900 Sheppard Ave. E. Unit 6
It’s no surprise that Sasi has a huge passion for cars. Sasi is a young, hard-working entrepreneur with a business right here in Sheppard East Village.
Clutch Performance is a full-service auto body shop well-known in the neighbourhood.
Clutch offers all types of painting, finishes, detailing and bodywork in their busy shop on Sheppard Ave East. The business has a long-standing team of welders, painters and detailers who each specialize in their craft. They also do a lot of window tinting and wraps.
“A project has to be done properly. We take pride in our workmanship. Drivers love to personalize their vehicles. We have the team in place to make it all happen,” remarks Sasi.
What is Sasi’s dream car? “The 2002 BMW E46 M3 – old muscle – it’s a car that doesn’t hold anything back, then I’d add a customer wrap,” he says with a smile.
Sasi was born in Montreal and comes from a Sri Lankan background – he speaks fluent Tamil. He is also a drummer in his spare time and loves R+B type jazz music.
“Every year we do a charity festival and car wash in front of our business with all the donations going to Sick Kids Hospital. We understand the importance of giving back.”
Old or new, big or small – bring in anything that’s on wheels and Clutch Performance can get it looking sharp. Just another unique service here in Sheppard East Village.
Raghav Kaura – Unplugged Cafe+ Bar.
4271 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 11
Raghav helps run Unplugged Cafe+ Bar, a modern Indian Bistro located right here in Sheppard East Village. This is a full-service restaurant and bar open daily (except Tuesdays) from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., with live music every Friday night and a live DJ every Saturday night.
The idea behind the unplugged name is that they wanted to create a place for everyone to come and unplug from their busy lives and enjoy their authentic Punjabi vibe.
“It gives customers a nice feeling to know they have a place to enjoy that’s just like being back home. We welcome people from everywhere to come by and get to know the culture,” says Raghav.
This location has been open since 2023 and offers craft cocktails alongside a full menu of delicious Indian and Hakka food items. They also deliver and offer catering for special events.
“We have some very loyal customers who have ordered delivery over 50 times so they must like the food,” says Raghav smiling.
In fact, the crew behind the restaurant like Sheppard East Village so much they created a signature cocktail: The Sheppard Express Martini – Jameson, cold brew Baileys Irish Cream, and a splash of inhouse coffee, smoked in a chilled glass. Drop by and try one.
Raghav helps to organize many of the finer details and also takes care of all the marketing and social media. He was born in India and came to Canada in 2016 and studied finance. He enjoys going to the gym on his day off and follows some cricket teams from other parts of the world.
It’s worth a visit to Unplugged for a fun get together at this lively place in Sheppard East Village. It’s sure to become one of your new favourites.
Dr. Kripanjali Pujari – Pujari & Associates Family Dental Office
4830 Sheppard Ave. East, Unit 1
The first thing you notice when you meet Dr. Kripa is her big, beautiful smile – which makes a lot of sense when you consider that she has been a dentist in Sheppard east Village for many years.
Born in India, she came to Canada after practicing dentistry in the Middle East for 10 years. She had to go back to ‘square one’ here and take the dentistry program for a second time. She had already taken a big risk, coming to Canada with her husband and 2 small children before she had employment – but the risk has paid off.
This friendly and knowledgeable office offers a full range of services – including Orthodontic Treatment, Dental Implants, Wisdom Tooth Extraction, Sedation Dentistry, Bioclear, Dentures, Bridges & Crowns, and Cosmetic Dentistry.
They also treat CDCP patients and Dr. Kripa is well-known in the profession for her great ‘bedside manner’ with children of all ages. Many of her patients were introduced through ‘word of mouth’ recommendations and the office is happy to meet new patients.
She cares deeply for the patients she sees daily in her Sheppard Avenue office. She helps her patients stay healthy and their teeth looking bright.
Dr. Kripa has patients from many different cultures and ethnic groups – one of the great attributes of the Sheppard East Village neighbourhood.
She has a very supportive husband who helps manage the administrative side of the practice. “I love what I do, but my family comes first”, she says. “That being said, if one of my patients is in pain, I am in pain too.”
Dr. Kripa loves to stay fit – she is a big fan of meditation and yoga and enjoys eating healthy food and walking outdoors.
This is another great find in Sheppard East Village. We invite you to introduce yourself to this great dental service.
Derek Hughes – Advance Auto Care
Rear – 5070 Sheppard Ave. East
Advance Auto is located behind Superior Tire – just west of Markham Road, on the north side of Sheppard.
“Is that my car?” This is probably the most satisfying question you can ask Derek when you pick up your car from his shop.
He really hopes you will not recognize the vehicle – after this team has finished doing their magic on it.
Derek’s extensive knowledge of chemistry can help return even the dirtiest vehicle to its former glory. And it’s not just about cleaning- it is also about protecting a vehicle to give it longer life. Sunlight, road salt and other harsh elements can begin to age a vehicle quickly.
Derek and his team of 5 experts can help add good value to a vehicle. “Keeping a car clean and tidy – and rustproofing it – will extend its life and increase its re-sale value”, he likes to say.
“It is also wise to invest in a good detailing if you plan to sell your car. The more maintained that the car looks, the better the price.”
Advance Auto has seen it all – and cleaned it all – using some very effective products.
A visit to Advance is never a fast fix. The vehicle is left for the day – so it can be properly cleaned and dried before pickup. They actually prepare a car before they begin to clean it – which is why they stand out from other detailing shops.
Derek was born and raised in Scarborough – a ‘roll up your sleeves’ kind of guy who has been providing custom auto detailing and rust proofing in Sheppard East Village since 1990.
Drop by and leave your car for the day. It just may be hard to recognize when you pick it up.c
Paul Yu – Tokyo Bakery
4385 Sheppard Ave. East
Pastry Chef Paul Yu’s well-known Tokyo Bakery is located in the heart of Sheppard East Village. Paul bought an established bakery in 2007, after arriving in Canada from Hong Kong, and made it his own – with new recipes and added selections.
Paul designs and bakes beautifully presented cakes, pastries and sweets from many traditional recipes – but has also created additional baked goods based on French cuisine. The impressive selection of colours and flavours will make it interesting for you to choose.
Tokyo Bakery creates tasteful special occasion cakes for birthdays (with custom writing in any language), weddings and other milestone events. You can also find many smaller items, like petit mini-cakes, that can be enjoyed for no reason at all. They may be smaller in size, but they are just as pretty and tasty.
Blueberry cheesecake is a current favourite amongst his loyal customers. But his opera cake with chocolate almond sponge is becoming another fan favourite. Paul also crafts delicious muffins and cookies every day from scratch. This gem of a Bakery is another unique service provided in Sheppard East Village.
Paul loves to travel with his family, closing down once a year for a big trip somewhere. And on a rare day off he likes to play soccer.
If you are looking for a sweet treat for yourself, or a memorable cake for an upcoming event, drop in and say hello. Once you see what is behind the counter, you won’t leave empty handed.
Mary Ann San Juan – Filipino Centre
4395 Sheppard Ave. East
Mary Ann is the CEO of the Filipino Centre in Sheppard East Village – a hub for promoting and preserving Filipino culture in the GTA. She is one of the founding members of the FCT.
The Centre is a gathering place for Filipino-Canadians to meet and participate, as a community, in social, educational, business, recreational and sporting activities. Although called Filipino Centre, it is open to all individuals who would like to take part and contribute to the community.
The building includes a beautiful Hall that can accommodate up to 100 people as a conference room, party room or gathering place – available for private bookings. The Hall contains a Filipiniana Heritage Library with books and materials, many donated by the community, that people can access for educational purposes.
A recent renovation has made the facility totally accessible – front entrance ramps and restroom facilities – so now everyone can enjoy the Centre and all that it has to offer. Some of the more popular weekly programs include a painting workshop, Line dancing, Zumba and Ukulele classes as well as a free dental hygiene clinic for low income families.
When not at the Centre, Mary Ann is an avid Dragon Boat paddler who continues to compete and train and enjoy this fast-paced team sport.
If you would like to book the Hall for an upcoming party or to find out more about their programs, go to filipinocentretoronto.com – you will be warmly welcomed. It’s another great experience available only in Sheppard East Village.
Muskan Sharma – Diapers N’ Kidswear Factory Outlet
4800 Sheppard Ave. East, Unit 121
Muskan is one of the kind and helpful staff at Diapers N’ Kidswear Factory Outlet in Sheppard East Village. This specialty store is well-known for great selections and affordable prices for their goods for babies, children and adults.
Diapers N’ Kidswear Factory Outlet is a Canadian business dedicated to providing a service-oriented and anxiety-free approach to satisfying the needs of parents and care-givers working with both children and the elderly.
They have recently added a number of new baby and children accessories to their line-up of products. They offer feeding accessories, blankets, toiletries and children’s clothing – from New Born to 5 years – in addition to their premium diapers for babies and adults.
The store has become known for caring advice and their great selection of
adult incontinence products – with 3 brands and 3 absorbances – not to mention diapers in hard-to-find sizes, up to 4XL.
They are happy to assist new clients with free samples to make sure they are getting a comfortable fit. If someone has mobility issues, they can make arrangements to have their order delivered.
Muskan enjoys advising her customers on the best products for their needs. “I love it when babies visit us in the store,” she says.
Drop in and visit this well-stocked store in Sheppard East Village.
Bijo Sebastian – Canadian Skills Development Centre
4465 Sheppard Ave. East, #15
Bijo is CEO of the Canadian Skills Development Centre located here in Sheppard East Village. This company actively provides career services for new immigrants to hnelp them upgrade their skills or switch to a new career.
He and his team like to provide guidance to people so they can learn the skills they need to work in a career they will enjoy. The Centre offers in-person training and online options – in Business, Healthcare and Technology – as well as tax courses and programs for food service workers.
Their helpful staff members speak 5 languages including French, Punjabi and Hindi.
“Don’t shy away from coming by and introducing yourself. We can help you even if you need some financial assistance,” says Bijo. “It really comes down to your aptitude and your interests. If you love something, then go for it – and we will help you get there.”
His popular YouTube channel has over 70,000 subscribers and he creates new videos every week offering ideas, advice and tips on getting a job in Canada.
Bijo was born in India and came to Canada in 2017. Being an immigrant has helped him better understand the needs of someone who moves here without employment.
Bijo started playing the violin in the 9th grade, in India, and he now teaches classes to young children to help them learn the instrument he still loves to play.
He enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 children and has traveled most of the provinces in Canada this year – with the notion of expanding the programs to other parts of the country.
John Varghese – Serendib Paints & Decor
4900 Sheppard Ave. East
John helps manage the sales at Serendib Paints & Decor store that has been located here in Sheppard East Village for many years.
The store carries Benjamin Moore paints for both interior and exterior paint projects.
The store has great staff – who can help with colour choices, how much paint to purchase and what kind of finish will complement the look a customer is going for.
“They are professional, helpful and personal when assisting all of our clients. We have a great guy here who can help match the ideal stains and lacquers for kitchen cabinets,” John says.
When asked about his favourite paint colour, he smiled and said, “I’d have to go with Swiss Coffee. It’s a warm colour that looks great on a living room wall.”
John was born in and educated in India – and spent some time working in Poland and Egypt, before coming to Canada.
If you are looking to freshen up a room or to repaint your home, we invite you to get in touch with this great local company here in Sheppard East Village.
Serendib Paints & Décor will help you find the perfect paint in a beautiful colour, for any project you want to complete.
Donald Bailey – Hogan Chevrolet Buick GMC
5000 Sheppard Ave. East
Donald is an experienced salesperson at Hogan Chevrolet/Buick/GMC – a modern dealership that has proudly served the Sheppard East Village community since 1979. With 35 years of expertise in selling GM vehicles, Donald still enjoys assisting clients through their purchasing experience.
“I love helping people get their vehicles and our dealership not only provides great service, it also fosters a welcoming atmosphere in which everyone feels appreciated and valued,” he says.
He likes to meet new customers and really listens to what they are looking for in a vehicle. He discusses financing, leasing and small details that need to be decided before making a good final decision.
“Many customers are curious about the Electric Vehicle (EV) sector and the Chevrolet Equinox EV has become a very popular choice in Canada. Its super cruise feature facilitates semi-autonomous driving. We sell a lot of them at Hogan’s.”
Donald highly recommends GM’s EV lineup. They have come such a long way since they were introduced and have much-improved range before charging is required. Customers can plan a long road trip effectively and reserve charging stations in advance – and typically be back on the road in about 20 minutes.
If you are in the market for a new or used vehicle, stop in to this popular dealership in Sheppard East Village and speak with Donald – he can help get you on the road in no time.
On his days off, Donald enjoys a little bit of golf and spending time with his family. He is also a big food lover and likes authentic Jamaican food.
Surinder Lamba – Homelife SilverCity Realty
4500 Sheppard Ave. East, #106
Surinder is a real estate broker and the branch manager at Homelife SilverCity Realty that has been located in Sheppard East Village since 2019. His company buys and sells new, pre-construction and commercial properties. There are over 60 agents at this busy location with staff that speak 5 languages – so they can be helpful in communicating to clients from many cultures and backgrounds.
“I love what I do – we can help anybody find what they are looking for in real estate,” Surinder likes to say.
Surinder is always looking to find a home that is perfectly suited to his client’s needs. His many years in the business have given him a good knowledge of the market and he always treats his clients with integrity and professionalism – from start to finish.
Something you might not know about Surinder is that he is a marathon runner. He completed 30 marathons in 2024 and is training to do some longer distances of up to 100 km.
Born in India, Surinder has been a vegetarian since 1982. He loves to cook healthy meals and considers lentil dishes among his favourites.
Stop by this great real estate service located in Sheppard East Village, whether you are looking to find something new, or to sell something you currently own.
Jay Nayakwade – Canadian College (CCBST)
4900 Sheppard Ave. East, #208
Jay is Admissions Officer at the Canadian College of Business, Science and Technology (CCBST). The college is located in the heart of Sheppard East Village and offers both in-person and on-line classes. They offer great courses in Business, IT, Healthcare, Law, Education and Beauty.
CCBST offers a quality learning environment – thanks to great facilities and highly experienced faculty. Each faculty member has a wealth of first-hand experience in their respective fields. Training with the brightest qualified instructors is a great way to get yourself qualified and to become successful.
CCBST serves a wide variety of students who are looking to upgrade their skills or perhaps switch careers. Their multicultural staff speak many languages and can help assist people that are newcomers from India, Pakistan, Asia and the Caribbean, to name a few.
Jay was born in India and immigrated here – and is very grateful he was able to get a job that allows him to help so many others find their way. Career counseling that can help people choose the right courses that will get them a career they will enjoy
is his favourite part of his job at CCBST.
Jay played cricket since he was a child and eventually played at the national level. He has coached the Canadian National women’s team and continues to showcase the sport for people of all ages.
He loves Sheppard East Village for all of its international food options – many of which he has enjoyed since he arrived in our community.
Kevin Boodhoo – PartSource
4420 Sheppard Ave. East
Meet Kevin Boodhoo, Manager of the popular PartSource store located at the corner of Brimley Road and Sheppard Avenue, in Sheppard East Village. The store is owned by Canadian Tire, but it operates independently.
PartSource is a one-stop shop for aftermarket automotive parts. They have a great group of customers who come in on a regular basis. The PartSource store also offers helpful services, including free battery testing and complimentary wiper installations.
“I enjoy speaking with our customers. I like the environment the team has created here. If we don’t have the part you need, we can usually source it quite quickly – often within a couple of hours. We are located on a convenient, busy corner and we get lots of lively people visiting the store. It certainly makes for a fun culture.”
“If money was no object, my dream car would be a 1960 Ford Thunderbird,” Kevin says.
“The interesting thing is that we get a lot of customers coming in with vintage cars and trucks they are fixing up and we try to help them find the parts they need. Auto restoration has become a popular hobby since the pandemic. It’s nice to see people taking old cars and making them run again.”
In Kevin’s spare time, he likes to check out the latest trends in technology, as well as staying busy with gardening and home improvement projects.
If you are looking for DIY automotive essentials, look no further than the PartSource store in Sheppard East Village – and don’t forget to say ‘hi’ to Kevin, when you come in.
Eddie Chung – RBC ROYAL BANK
5125 Sheppard Ave. East
Eddie Chung truly knows how it feels to move to Canada as an immigrant, having re-located here from India. It is this experience, years ago, that allows him to assist other people who move to Canada to study or live.
Eddie is the Manager of the large RBC branch in Sheppard East Village. He is also a member of the Sheppard East Village BIA Board.
This RBC branch at Markham Rd. and Sheppard Ave. has 27 employees who speak a total of 15 languages. This is a key part of their success in helping newcomers when they first arrive in the area. Eddie’s goal is to help newcomers embrace Canada and all that it has to offer.
“We have many international students here. We help set them up for success. We teach them how important their credit is from day one. We show them how to use a credit card, how to keep their passwords safe, how to purchase a car. We do free seminars every month to educate the community on these helpful details”, Eddie says.
He had visited area restaurants for many years before being transferred from another RBC branch. With so many culinary options here, he rarely brings his lunch to work. He likes to try the many different types of cuisine available in Sheppard East Village.
Eddie and his family like to travel – with a trip to Bali and Singapore being a family favourite. He has travelled to over 52 countries himself, but always loves to come home to Canada. On a day off, he likes to go for a drive and find a unique place to have lunch. He keeps Sundays free from activities, so his family can all just hang out together.
“Both personally and professionally, I want to give back to my community. It’s very important to me and my family,” Eddie says.
John Ren Lazaro – Bistro Manila
4455 Sheppard Ave. East
John Ren Lazaro is the chef and part-owner of Bistro Manila, the long-time Filipino attraction located in the heart of Sheppard East Village. He owns the restaurant with his sister, Liana. It was originally owned and operated by his father, when it was opened in 2009. His dad was also a chef and that is why John became interested in cooking.
Bistro Manila is well-known for authentic Filipino cuisine – that includes seafood, chicken and pork dishes cooked in fragrant spices.
This 100-seat establishment also offers fine beverages and live entertainment on weekends. They bring in bands that play popular ‘80s and ‘90s music and, if you ask John which band is his favourite, he would say Sunday Souls.
“We welcome everyone to enjoy the food and music when they come by for something to eat. We have many regulars who keep coming back”, John says.
John came to Canada from the Philippines in 2013. He likes the great opportunities that are open to Canadians and is thankful for living here with his family.
He is married with a beautiful baby girl. When he gets the occasional day off, he takes his family to local parks or they visit the Metro Toronto Zoo, to view the animals.
“It’s not easy working late nights with a baby, but we make it work. If we go out in the area, we enjoy Korean BBQ and sushi” he says.
Angelo Montoni – Brimell Toyota
5060 Sheppard Ave. East
Angelo Montini is the General Manager at Brimell Toyota, in Sheppard East Village. He has been part of the Drive Auto Group – which Brimell is part of – for many years.
Brimell Toyota sells, leases and services a great selection of vehicles that includes well-built cars, trucks, minivans and SUVs – along with good quality used vehicles.
This large, bright dealership prides itself on keeping their customers comfortable whenever they stop by. They have a welcoming library and lounge and offer complimentary hot beverages while customers wait for their vehicle. They also include a free car wash with every service visit.
Brimell employs over 100 people from the surrounding area, with a large number of diverse languages spoken throughout the dealership and service area. It allows Brimell staff to communicate fluently with their entire customer base.
Their professional technicians have the skills and equipment to handle all repairs and maintenance requirements using authentic Toyota parts. Brimell Toyota has been a long-standing pillar in the local community.
Angelo is keenly aware that buying a new vehicle is a big purchase. He understands that people need to weigh all the details before making a decision. “At Brimell, we are all well-versed in the Toyota lineup and can answer any questions a customer may have. Our team here has deep knowledge and can help customers make the right purchase,” Angelo says.
Angelo was born in Canada to Italian parents and enjoys an annual trip to Italy with his family. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening and cooking pasta sauce, using his home-grown tomatoes.
He speaks Italian, as well as some French and Spanish. Stop in and say ‘hello’ or ‘ciao’ to Angelo – he will be happy you stopped by Brimell Toyota.
Dr. Suja Prabhakaran – Brimley Dental Centre
4427 Sheppard Ave. East
Dr. Suja Prabhakaran and Dr. Kumaran Mayelam are a husband and wife team of dentists who joined Dr. Monica Dinca as practitioners and owners of Brimley Dental Centre. Together, their team provides a high level of dental care to their patients, in a professional manner. Suja also teaches, as a clinical instructor at the University of Toronto.
“Dr Dinca is an excellent dentist, so we enjoy working with her,” says Suja, smiling.
Brimley Dental Centre is a one-stop shop with services that include implants, orthodontics, crowns, root canals, corrective jaw surgery for cancer patients, wisdom teeth removal, TMJ disorder, implants and bone grafts. The team also does a lot of cosmetic work, including veneers and whitening.
“Our patients are our number one priority. I always like to do a cancer screening of the mouth with my patients of all ages” Suja says. “This is an important first step in prevention.”
“We have also seen an increase in teeth clenching and grinding since COVID-19. This is a stress-related condition. We educate our patients about the importance of meditation and mindfulness to help alleviate the symptoms. A custom night guard can also be an important part of the solution.”
Suja and Kumaran speak English, Tamil and Hindi – which is helpful in an area with such a diverse clientele. Their regular patients often stop by with a treat or vegetables from their garden for their staff to enjoy.
Suja and Kumaran have two children and the family likes to travel. During the pandemic, they discovered some local beaches for outdoor walks. Their kids are both foodies and together they like to cook middle eastern and Italian food. They also enjoy dining out.
If you are looking for a new dentist in Sheppard East Village, stop by and say hello to Suja and the team at Brimley Dental Centre. You will be glad you did.
Abdullah Rahman – Taste Daddy
4800 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 123
Abdullah opened a unique take-out food business in Sheppard East Village called Taste Daddy.
Taste Daddy offers up plenty of hot snacks and cold beverages – but it is most well-known for their tea.
About 250 cups of hot black tea, karak chai (creamy spiced tea) and bubble tea a day are served up to regular customers.
“Our customers say we have the best tea in the area,” Abdullah says, smiling. “I make four big pots in the morning – and keep making tea all day long.”
Abdullah also cooks all the menu items – including chicken shawarma, beef, chicken and veggie patties, egg puffs and samosa – and enjoys serving ice cream and pastries to his customers.
Taste Daddy is take-out only. It is open until 9:00 p.m., for those late-night cravings, 7 days a week.
Abdullah is an entrepreneurial guy who started this second business in Sheppard East Village, where he also owns Fashion Unlimited.
He was born in Bangladesh. When he gets an occasional day off, he likes to visit cottages and beaches or travel to New York and Manitoba, to see family.
Abdullah invites you to stop by Taste Daddy – next time you need a tasty, hot snack or a good cup of tea.
Pritpal Ranhotra – Platinum Immigration Consultancy Services
4455 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 213
Meet Pritpal, founder of Platinum Immigration Consultancy Services.
Pritpal was born in India and is a retired Colonel in the Indian Air Force. He came to Canada and received his license as an immigration consultant in 2010 – and has been doing this important work ever since.
“I care for people; it comes from being a soldier. You are structurally groomed for that,” he says.
The company was established to provide high quality immigration consultancy services for students, newcomers and migrants from all over the world.
The company assists people to obtain temporary and permanent status – as well as sponsorships and visas. Since COVID-19, it has become mostly an online, paperless system.
“I bring over generations of one family. You step into their shoes. You build relationships. I find my job very rewarding. I know how it felt to come here myself,” remarks Pritpal.
He can speak Punjabi, Hindi, English, Urdu and a little bit of French – very helpful when communicating online with his wide array of clients from all over the world.
Pritpal is married with twin daughters and a son. He enjoys being in nature and fishing, when he finds some spare time.
We are glad to have Pritpal and his immigration services here in Sheppard East Village.
John Michael Soria – Breathe Matters Inc.
4438 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 207B
John Michael has sleep apnea – which is actually a good thing because it allows him to be very well-informed as he assists patients suffering with this complex condition. As one of the employees at Breathe Matters – located in the Oriental Centre at Brimley & Sheppard – his business is a breath of fresh air.
For those who don’t know, sleep apnea is a medical condition that occurs when a person stops breathing numerous times during the night and doesn’t get enough oxygen. This condition can be mild, moderate or severe. People that don’t get diagnosed and treated can have an increased risk of stroke and heart attacks.
Breathe Matters sells all of the CPAP/APAP supplies that a patient needs to have a healthy night’s sleep. “The machine is 100% guaranteed to work once it is set up properly,” remarks John Michael.
John Michael helps to advise, educate and set up patients for successful treatment after they have been diagnosed by a doctor. A number of different machine and mask options need to be considered. It is also important to keep the mask properly sized to the individual and to learn how to keep the accessories hygienic.
Breathe Matters is a family business with 4 locations – the first one opened here in Sheppard East Village 14 years ago. John Michael’s mother and father both work at other locations and they also have sleep apnea.
John Michael likes to give a 2-hour tutorial to clients who are just beginning the process of getting a machine. “I like to see people have a healthy sleep, especially if they’ve gone years without it. The benefits of getting it right can be life-changing. I appreciate the change because I went through it myself” he says.
“If you live with it yourself, it makes you better able to help someone else with this condition”.
When he is not at work, he enjoys going to the gym and he enjoys cooking. If he is having a special dinner, he will make a beef wellington for his guests.
So, if you are in need of CPAP supplies or a new machine, stop by and say hello to John Michael at Breathe Matters. He can set you up with everything you will need for a great night’s sleep. It is one more specialized service provided here in Sheppard East Village.
Tony Xynos – Automotive Specialties Inc.
4900 Sheppard Ave. East
Automotive Specialties, owned by Tony Xynos, has been located in Sheppard East Village for over 30 years.
Their team of skilled technicians are well-known and pride themselves on providing repairs, bodywork and service for most types of vehicles.
They do a lot of fleet repairs for large companies that have been loyal customers since the company first opened its doors.
Tony knows that cars are built better today than they were years ago – and don’t break down as often. But fleet vehicles have high mileage, so they need to be serviced more than once or twice a year.
“We are all about customer service – taking care of the person and the vehicle. We do the little things, like detailing or washing a car, that someone might not notice. I truly believe you have to go the extra mile if you want to build and retain customer loyalty. It hasn’t changed in over 30 years and it never will.”
“If you find a place that takes good care of you and your vehicle, you should stay there. It doesn’t matter if you have 300 vehicles or 1, the treatment remains the same. We’ve done that well and will continue to do so. It may seem old school, but it actually works,” Tony says.
Tony is not quite ready for an electric car yet – but says he might consider one when the battery allows greater mileage and offers faster charging options, on a long trip.
Tony has always had a love of cars and became a mechanic at a young age. If price was no object, his dream car would be a McLaren. He likes fast vehicles, whether it’s on land or on water.
Sheppard East Village is proud to offer up a long-standing success story like Automotive Specialties. Their customers may be from all over but they all enjoy the same thing – a well-serviced vehicle every time they visit.
Waseem Zahoor – Treats ‘N Eats Desserts
4830 Sheppard Ave. East – Unit 6
It would be fair to say that Waseem – owner of the new Sheppard East Village dessert place, Treats ‘N Eats Desserts – has gone from serving Canada in the military for 25 years, to serving ice cream cones in our commercial area. After spending many years away when serving our country in places like the former Yugoslavia and Israel, he wanted to give back to his community by offering up a great local place for dessert.
“I’m looking to put a smile on peoples’ faces,” says Waseem. Part of the reason he decided to open his own location was so that his family, including his wife and 3 children, could be involved in all parts of the business. “After many years away traveling, I wanted to be close to home and close to my family, every day of the week.”
The menu at this local shop includes pretty much anything and everything one might want for a treat. Ice cream by the scoop, soft serve ice cream cones, milkshakes made to order, smoothies, waffles, crepes, cakes, and chicken + waffles, for something more savoury. The list of toppings are an endless display of sprinkles and fun.
This new friendly location is a great addition to Sheppard East Village and a must place to visit when your family is on the lookout for dessert. Visit treatsneats.ca to see the full menu.
Waseem can speak Urdu, Punjabi and English with the addition of staff members who speak many other languages to help serve their multicultural customers. He has done many different things over his lifetime, including cave diving in Europe, but is happiest now scooping a cone of butterscotch ripple ice cream for an eager customer – it happens to be his favourite flavour of ice cream at the moment. But with 23 other flavours on the menu, he might soon change his mind.
Malka Gul – Nugget Halal Pizza + Chicken
4820 Sheppard Ave. East – Unit 10
Malka Gul is a busy woman. She and her family are the owners of Nugget Halal Pizza + Chicken located in the large plaza on Sheppard Ave. at Shorting – between Markham and McCowan Roads in Sheppard East Village.
Malka, her husband and son cook everything in the store from scratch, using 100% Halal ingredients.
This is a family-owned business that has hungry patrons visiting from outside the area to enjoy their delicious pizza, chicken wings, shawarma, chicken nuggets, burgers and side dishes. Malka’s family purchased the business in 2018. As she likes to say, “we create food we’re proud to serve and deliver it fast, with a smile.” The business is about 90% walk-in and 10% delivery.
This busy location does regular pizza catering to local schools, in some cases cooking between 50 – 100 pizza per week. Malka appreciates these regular weekly orders.
They also offer some great Family Combo Specials that include pizzas, wings, dipping sauces + drinks at a good price point. Although many come to enjoy the food because it is Halal, many customers also visit because they just find the food so delicious. Give this great location in Sheppard East Village at try. Visit nuggethalalpizza.ca to see the full menu.
Malka arrived in Canada 22 years ago from Pakistan. She can speak English, French and Urdu. On a rare day off, she enjoys reading books, visiting friends and dining out on Chinese food when celebrating a special occasion. She is currently planning to travel to Morocco for some much-needed time off.
C.K. Yeung – C + K Philatelics
4438 Sheppard Ave. East, Unit 363
Chin Kwok (C.K) began his love for collectable Asian paintings as a young man living in Hong Kong. When he immigrated to Canada, he packed up his collection of stamps, coins and art and eventually started his own business here in Sheppard East Village. His shop is a rare feature of the area – with no other collectable shop anywhere in the vicinity.
C + K Philatelics has been located on the 3rd floor in the Oriental Centre for many years. Chin buys and sells collectables to many of the people in the neighbourhood who enjoy adding to their collections. Many of his stamps are from the era before 1980. He gets a U.S. catalogue every year that allows him to know the value of the items he has in stock.
He also likes to attend stamp shows and auctions, to sell his collection and look around for interesting treasures to sell to his loyal clients. He said there are some very old stamps from the Ming Dynasty era that are worth large sums of money and continue to have added value.
The first adhesive stamp was invented in 1837 by a schoolmaster in England, an idea for which he became knighted.
Collecting is a relaxing hobby that allows people to see the heritage and culture of a particular country before the internet took over that task. He loves to see a customer come in and find that special something they have been searching for to complete a collection.
“I’d like to see the younger generation get interested in stamps and coins as it’s a great way to learn about the heritage of a country,” says Chin.
Chin usually works 7 days a week to allow business people to visit him on the weekend. If he does get time off, he enjoys taking his family out for dinner. He speaks both Chinese and English languages. Stop in soon to see some of the interesting collectables he has on offer. It’s another unique service here in Sheppard East Village.
Dr. Michael Wong – Agincourt Eye Care
4437 Sheppard Ave. E., at Brimley.
A newcomer to Sheppard East Village is Dr. Michael Wong of Agincourt Eye Care. Although there are many places to purchase glasses, Michael is one of the few Optometrists in the area who can conduct eye exams for children, adults and seniors.
These important annual exams can detect and help prevent eye diseases and vision issues and also help ensure they get corrected. Dr. Wong can also refer a client to a specialist, if they are in need of further examination or treatment.
Agincourt Eye Care does direct billing for clients for many insurance providers to help make the experience seamless. The location – at Brimley & Sheppard – also offers a selection of glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses in a variety of styles, brands and colours.
Dr. Wong is a big fan of polarized sunglasses for driving and other outdoor pursuits. “Once you try them you will wonder why you waited so long,” he says.
Michael took an interest in becoming an Optometrist after taking a course during his high school years. “I really enjoy helping people with their eye health; it’s rewarding,” he says.
When he is not at the office, he loves to watch basketball on TV. He is also quite musical and loves to play on his guitar and piano in his spare time. He has some upcoming plans to travel to France in the near future. Michael is fluent in English and Cantonese.
Agincourt Eye Care is a great new addition to the Sheppard East Village. If you haven’t had your eyes checked yet this year, get in touch for an exam. You will enjoy the view.
Yan Zheng – HSBC Bank, now RBC Bank
4438 Sheppard Ave. East – Main Floor
Yan Zheng is the new manager of the HSBC branch at Sheppard + Brimley, in the Oriental Centre. After spending 7 years working at other HSBC locations, she is enjoying her new role here in the Sheppard East Village. This is a larger branch with about 25 employees and many regular customers.
HSBC stands for The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation – which first established its business in Hong Kong, helping to finance trade between Europe and Asia. Today HSBC serves 40 million customers, in 63 countries.
Because the bank is so global, many immigrants new to Canada like the international benefits that come with HSBC. Many new Canadians already have an HSBC account set up online from home, so that when they arrive here, their new account is ready to function.
Yan has a great understanding of immigrating to Canada as she did this herself in 2010 – after spending time living in Beijing and New Zealand while furthering her education.
She feels that HSBC really understands all of the differences between global banking and the Canadian banking system. Yan enjoys educating clients on the many benefits that are available to them when they move to Canada. Yan speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin fluently, which can be a real asset with so many clients from international countries here in the Sheppard East Village community.
Many of the staff at the location have international backgrounds as well. “We feel appreciated when we can help new Canadians feel at home. When you have been a new immigrant yourself, it can give you a better understanding of what a person might be going through when they arrive here in Canada,” Yan says happily.
She likes staying active by playing tennis, badminton and swimming in her off hours. Yan is married and has a 6-year-old daughter.
Teresa Cheung – Throne House Jade
4438 Sheppard Ave. East, Unit 368
For nearly 20 years, Teresa and her husband Charlie have been importing jade, gemstones and other artistic jewelry from Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. Their Throne House Jade shop can be found in the Oriental Centre, right here in Sheppard East Village.
Teresa is proud of the beautiful selection of jade, crystals and gemstones she has on offer. The importance of jade stone in Chinese culture is reflected in its status as a symbol of goodness, preciousness and beauty. Jade is also widely considered a stone of good fortune, so it is often given as a gift. Teresa’s boutique is known for its large selection of traditional jade accessories. The store has many beautifully presented glass display cases with a variety of designs to choose from.
Regular customers of the store often just drop back in to say ‘hello’ when they are in the area. “Many loyal customers have now become our friends,” Teresa likes to say. She has many people coming by to purchase a piece to celebrate a special occasion like an anniversary or a birthday.
Teresa loves living in Canada because it is so multicultural and has great economic stability. She is proud to call Canada her home. She speaks Cantonese and English to help her customers feel at home. Throne House Jade is another example of a unique service found in the Sheppard East Village.
Teresa and her family like to dine out on special occasions and to celebrate milestones. Drop by her store next time you are in the neighbourhood.
Abdullah Rahman – Fashion Unlimited
4800 Sheppard Ave. E. Unit 123
Abdullah is the owner of Fashion Unlimited, located in the bustling section of Sheppard East Village near local favourite food service businesses Babu and Silver Spoon.
Fashion Unlimited is a wholesaler of imported men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. They have a good selection of casual and dressier items, with a small retail area at the front of the store and a larger wholesale section in the back.
Abdullah prides himself on importing good quality clothing that can be offered at a low price point. Alongside the hoodies and denim, he also has a selection of prom dresses. He has many local retail customers, along with wholesale customers interested in larger quantities.
“Many of my customers buy my clothing and put their own designs and logos on them. I always try to give our local community a low price point.”
Abdullah emigrated to Canada from Bangladesh. His background in accounting has served him well since he began his business importing and wholesaling clothing. He can speak both Bengali and English.
“Canada has been a great help to my life. It helped me build myself up and I consider it to be the best country in the world.”
Abdullah has three children attending university. They all participate in helping their community by making sandwiches for the homeless on a weekly basis – which makes him proud.
His favourite hobby is playing badminton with friends – both outside and inside during the colder weather. He also enjoys reading historical books, when he has some down time.
If you’re looking for some good quality clothing at a great price, give Fashion Unlimited a try. It’s another reason why Sheppard East Village is a destination area not to be missed.
Simon Ying – Rose of Sharon Flowers + Plants
4211 Sheppard Ave. E. Unit A112
Simon Ying is the owner and operator of Rose of Sharon Flowers + Plants, located at the intersection of Sheppard and Midland, in Sheppard East Village. He opened his store in 2016 to serve the surrounding area with lovely flower arrangements for special occasions.
There are many reasons why people buy flowers: including birthdays, weddings and funerals. But whatever the reason, Simon likes to please his customers with fresh and colourful arrangements that lift people’s spirits.
“It’s a nice feeling to give people joy. Flowers are always a great way to say you are thinking of someone,” says Simon, smiling.
Simon goes to the wholesale markets to get the freshest and prettiest flowers he can find. He also has a selection of house plants to choose from.
When asked what his favourite flowers are, Simon quickly answered “I really do like long-stemmed red roses.”
With an ability to speak Cantonese, Mandarin and English, he can help his multicultural customers get the floral arrangements they are looking for. He was busy during Covid19 with some of his customers requiring funeral arrangements, but he likes to think his flowers let people feel a bit better during such a difficult time.
As a kind gesture, his shop offers free delivery for funeral arrangements to local Scarborough, Markham and Richmond Hill funeral homes. “Our goal is to help families and friends find peace of mind with our flowers – to help them during their grieving period.”
Rose of Sharon has an online ordering system or, if customers prefer, they can call the store to get extra assistance. Simon chose the name of his store from a flower that he read about in the Bible.
Simon came to Canada when he was a teenager and has become a fan of the snow and cold by learning to ski, as well as hike in nature, when he has time.
If you have a special occasion coming up – why not give Rose of Sharon Flowers a try? It’s another place that makes Sheppard East Village a great place to visit.
Victoria Xu – Victoria Xu Law
4438 Sheppard Ave. East, Unit 373
Victoria Xu has been involved in family, real estate, employment and immigration law, as well as wills and estates, since 2015. Her office is located in the Oriental Centre here in Sheppard East Village, with her business signage viewable from the street.
Victoria is a mediator, accredited by OFAM and FDRIO, who specializes in resolving client issues through mediation. She has also successfully facilitated litigation at various levels of courts and tribunals, when necessary.
She is experienced in uncontested divorces and understands the emotional toll it can take on a family. Although some decisions and situations are upsetting, she feels she can be supportive to her clients as part of the process.
“As difficult as some of these client issues can be, I love what I do and feel I handle myself in a professional manner at all times. I have facilitated many mediations that have had a fair outcome for all,” explains Victoria.
Victoria was born in China and emigrated to Canada in 2006. She was a teacher in China before she moved to Canada. She went back to school here to upgrade her education and now holds multiple degrees. She actively participates in law association activities, to continue to keep connected and up to date.
Although her business slowed down a little during the pandemic, she is busy with numerous real estate sales as clients are buying properties for long term investments.
Victoria came to Canada with her husband and young son and added a second son to her family soon after they arrived. She loves to run with her children for exercise. Her two teenagers both attend high school.
“I love to visit many of the local restaurants for a good meal,” says Victoria, when asked about the area.
In her spare time, she likes to shop, take family walks, socialize with other families and watch movies. She can speak Mandarin and English, which can be helpful for her clients.
If you are in the Sheppard East Village and looking for legal assistance, stop by the Oriental Centre and say hello to Victoria.
Ebrahim Jahangiri – SIB Sport
4385 Sheppard Ave. East, Unit 11
Ebrahim is the proud owner of SIB Sport located in Sheppard East Village. His store has been a labour of love for many years as he continues to educate customers on proper clothing and gear for outdoor adventure.
He first became known in the area for his inflatable fishing boats and gear and has since added other types of outdoor equipment such as ice fishing, and camping gear to his two-level location.
“I like to stock the best brands for my customers,” he says.
Ebrahim likes to say that his many customers have now become friends, as well. As an immigrant who arrived in Canada in 2006 with his two sons, he can’t say enough about how much he loves living in Canada.
“I can’t put into words how much I appreciate Canada. In my country I didn’t have a life. I was very limited in what I was able to do there.”
Ebrahim works 6 days a week helping people of all walks of life gear up for fishing and other outdoor pursuits. He also has a good selection of camping gear, fishing tackle, water-proof clothing, as well as some stand-up paddle boards, which has recently become a popular water sport.
On his one day off a week he likes to put his own boat in the water and, you guessed it, do a little fishing. He has over 50 years of experience beginning in Iran with a simple line to fish for the many different types of fish available there.
“You have to have the right gear and the proper clothing to fish, especially in the winter on the ice.”
Ebrahim speaks English, Kurdish and Arabic which is helpful with the variety of customers he has visiting his store. If you have ever wanted to try out an outdoor sport for the first time, visit SIB sports in Sheppard East Village and Ebrahim will get you suited up.
Nicolas Borg – Amadeus Choir
4386 Sheppard Ave. East, Unit N
Nicolas Borg knew at a young age that singing was going to be his thing. And now, as general director of the famous Amadeus Choir here in Sheppard East Village, Nicolas wears a lot of different hats. He is the liaison between all of the different departments including the Board of Directors, the membership, the artistic director and the general public.
“A choir experience is important for the community. To keep connected to something. But we have adapted to keep it going in a whole new way,” says Nicolas.
The Amadeus choir has been enlivening Toronto’s arts community for 48 years. The award-winning Amadeus Choir is a semi-professional mass choir of auditioned voices from all parts of the GTA and surrounding areas. The Choir champions the best of choral music and premieres works of Canadian and international composers through self-produced concerts.
The choir itself has about 70 semi-professional singers in its membership, including a few emerging young singers that come to the group through sponsorship.
The Amadeus Choir is proud to take a leading role in educating the next generation of choral musicians by providing workshops for conductors, composers, and students. The Choir is known for its strong support of Canadian music, and regularly commissions work from established and emerging Canadian composers. The singer’s range in age from university students to seniors. “It really all comes down to the joy of music,” exclaims Nicolas. During Covid they shifted their practices to an online format which happily worked out better than first anticipated. “It brought a whole new life to the choir,” he says.
The Choir has recently begun to gather in person, safely, to sing again as a group. The singers were excited to be back singing together in the same room.
Nicolas studied music all of his life and has this to say about the importance of music; “To me, music is the expression of the soul. The most clear and direct way to influence people’s hearts. You don’t even need to know exactly what’s going on to be affected by it.”
“As a participant I didn’t expect it to be such a powerful experience. To hear adult singers making that much sound with just their voices is truly remarkable.”
When asked what his favourite opera is Nicolas had this to say; “Tosca by Puccini, it’s a gut punch and I saw it as a child and it literally shook my cells. And from that point on I was smitten.”
The Choir is always recruiting new singers for the wide variety of music they sing, so do get in touch if you think you might like to audition to this local treasure here in Sheppard East Village.
Basir Sher – Hajjy + Sons Bespoke Custom Tailors
5089 Sheppard Ave. E.
It is no surprise that Basir showed up for his interview wearing a spectacular double-breasted bespoke suit with wide stripes and a colourful silk lining.
Basir is one of three sons of Hajjy, the local custom Afghan tailor located in Sheppard East Village. Together, the sons and their father have created a bespoke custom tailoring business. The word ‘bespoke’ itself, officially means ‘like no other’, and has become everything that their business has come to stand for.
A bespoke suit from Hajjy + Sons is truly a one-of-a-kind creation. From fabric selection, design, measurements, consultation and hand-stitched finishings that complete these beautiful garments that are truly treasured by their owners.
Basir himself has somewhere between 25 and 34 suits of his own creation and tends to wear a suit to work each day. He graduated university as a civil engineer but always had a love for his dad’s alteration and tailoring business while he was growing up. He likes to say that engineering helped him with precision and design in his current position.
The company has a whole production team that helps with each garment. After a consultation there are numerous measurements to consider as well as fabric choices and the look and feel of the final product. Some customers have requested a lining using their own artwork which can make a suit even more personal. The shop is a special addition to Sheppard East Village.
When Besir isn’t working hard at the store he likes to play sports including basketball and soccer, as well as keeping busy with projects around his house. He recently got married, and you guessed it, had two suits created for the occasion. A tuxedo and a second suit for the reception. We can only imagine how amazing those suits must have looked on his big day.
Louis Yang – Ai Sushi Restaurant
5103 Sheppard Ave. East
“Sushi is all about freshness,” says Louis Yang, owner of Ai Sushi Restaurant.
Louis manages this establishment that opened in 2019 and has become increasingly popular since. The atmosphere is open and bright, with colourful animation on the walls. It is a great addition to the food service offerings in Sheppard East Village.
Ai Sushi has quite an array of offerings; with fresh sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, teppanyaki, kebabs and Asian stir-fry on the extended menu. They offer all-you-can-eat and a la carte options.
“People like the quality of our food and our prices for big platters,” says Louis.
Louis manages the kitchen and the service staff. He likes to see the large, fresh salmon arrive each day, to become delicious sushi for his loyal customers. He says that even the rice used in sushi dishes takes years to perfect. It is a true art form.
“Even when times are difficult for the restaurant industry, we feel it’s important to give back to our local community. We offered a discount to all the frontline workers in the area and we also purchased N95 masks and donated them to the North York General Hospital, to help do our part during COVID-19” Louis is proud to say.
Louis came to Canada for high school and has enjoyed it here ever since. He can speak Mandarin, Cantonese and English, which is helpful with his multicultural clientele.
“We see regular customers and some of them become friends. I like to make sure people are happy, enjoy the food, and then tell their friends.”
In his spare time, he likes to watch the Toronto Raptors, play badminton and enjoy some of the nearby restaurants. Louis is married with a 2-year-old son and feels lucky that his wife can take care of his son during his long hours at work.
Stop by the bright Ai Sushi restaurant in Sheppard East Village – it’s sure to become a new favourite.
Helen Chhangur – Hakim Optical
5085 Sheppard Ave. East
You can’t miss the big, bright Hakim Optical store that Helen manages at Markham & Sheppard. This great location is easy to get to using public transit and provides ample free parking.
“I like to think we offer very personal service at a great price. We sell two pairs of glasses for what other places may charge for one pair. Some of our lenses are made on site,” remarks Helen. “We serve an amazing multicultural group of customers. There are two of us in the store and we always help people look stylish and comfortable with their new glasses.”
Helen feels that she is honest with people about what looks good – and what doesn’t. She truly wants you to look – and see – your best when you leave the Hakim store. That is her motto.
Helen has an optician who works alongside her and they believe that the atmosphere they have created in their location is special. They are happy to adjust a pair of glasses for anyone who comes in. These small gestures demonstrate how kindness continues to keep Sheppard East Village a nice place to visit.
“We aim to please. It sometimes does take a little bit of patience, but we like to please everyone who comes through our door.”
Helen moved to Canada from Trinidad when she was a teenager. In her spare time, she likes to bake [chocolate cake and cheesecake with fresh fruit are two of her specialities], listen to music and watch movies.
“I am very blessed and happy with my life,” she likes to say.
“Please drop into Hakim Optical and see for yourself why it’s a great place to pick up your next pair of glasses (or two)”.
Rob Willitts – Canadian Tire
4630 Sheppard Ave. East
Rob is the general manager and Canadian Tire dealer – in their large, modern facility at McCowan & Sheppard. Rob grew up in Toronto but was a Canadian Tire dealer in Winnipeg who came back to the location in Sheppard East Village in 2019. He has become a Board member of the Business Improvement Area.
If you get a chance to meet Rob, it’s fair to say you will not forget his name. His staff decided to get rid of name tags and each have their names monogrammed right on their shirts. He likes the personal touch and so do his customers.
Rob likes to say, “I have been doing this since 1999. I was in Winnipeg and loved it there. Then this store was offered to me and I decided to move back. It has turned out far better than I expected. I am happy here. The staff are great, many of them speak multiple languages. The customers are wonderful.”
Rob grew up not far from Sheppard East Village. “I looked at the area and saw great potential. It was all fields here when I was a kid. The changes have been phenomenal. I am enjoying my work now more than I have in years.” Rob says happily.
“I run my business, by running around.”
Rob feels it’s very important for a manager to be on the floor – talking to staff; checking in with the automotive department; speaking with the cashiers to see how they are. He likes to say, “I don’t know how you can run a business if you aren’t on the floor. I get my 12,000 steps a day, most of them during working hours.”
“Car oil is the number one seller here, but the store has thousands of great products and seasonal items that people return for again and again. People are doing more DIY jobs to make their homes nicer and more comfortable and we can help with all of that. And the store is so centrally located for both transit and cars.”
Rob also mentions the national Canadian Tire Jumpstart initiative – a charity that raises funds for kids who can’t afford sports. He is happy to see that the funds raised locally are used locally. It may be a young athlete who needs hockey equipment or a local team that needs funding. Rob likes the spirit of the initiative that does so much good.
During the shutdown, his 3 adult children were all back at home and he says they lived like families did 50 years ago. The conversations around the dinner table included many lively discussions.
Make a trip to the Sheppard East Village Canadian Tire location, for your next home improvement or auto project. You may run into Rob walking around the store.
Abdullah Mohammad – Hyderabad Palace Catering + Takeout
4810 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 208
Hyderabad Palace is a popular ‘take out’ place, located next door to Babu’s in Sheppard East Village. It features authentic delicacies of Hyderabad, named after a famous royal landmark in the old country. Abdullah Mohammad owns this popular location with his brother, where many local customers drop by daily for tea.
“Tea is our culture. I have customers that come here twice a day for tea. Especially now that more people are working from home, they like to take a short break and visit with other people. Our famous tea is steeped for an hour and a half with milk and sugar then served in a small cup. We import it from India so people can enjoy the authentic flavour from back home,” Abdullah says proudly.
When it comes to cooking the delicious food, Abdullah’s sister-in-law is the chef here and serves up most of the traditional dishes. Their most popular dish is biryani, offered with lamb, chicken, veal and mutton, depending on the day.
“The people from my city like to come and enjoy the flavours they remember from home. This is not ‘curry in a hurry’,” Abdullah likes to say.
Hyderabad also offers many great catering options with large party trays including curry, rice and desserts. Just another great reason to consider Hyderabad Palace for your next special occasion.
“I am even learning to cook, which is nice,” says Abdullah.
Abdullah was born in India and came here in 2014. “I am enjoying many more cultures here in Canada and learning so much from customers and new friends.”
Abdullah works 7 days a week, including holidays. He often puts in a 12-hour day and, although a busy man, still finds time to give back to his local community. Hyderabad cooks meals for 200 seniors, two days a week, for a local community centre. It takes great effort to cook these meals, but he feels good helping people in need.
On a rare day off, he likes to go to Brampton and play cricket with his friends. He also likes to do bodybuilding to stay healthy. If he goes out for dinner, he really enjoys many of the Chinese food options in Sheppard East Village, which he had never experienced back home.
Drop by Hyderabad Palace for a cup of tea and pick up something delicious for dinner.
Andrew Chang – Home Karaoke
4559 Sheppard Ave. East
Andrew Chang is the founder and owner of Home Karaoke, Canada’s first Karaoke store, located between Brimley and McCowan. The store is a great example of a ‘destination’ location in Sheppard East Village.
For over 28 years, Andrew has designed, manufactured and sold many different types of Karaoke machines and accessories. Since the early days, he has learned a lot of things about how to create an entertaining experience for his customers.
It is interesting that the Japanese word ‘Karaoke’ translates to ‘invisible orchestra’ in English. Andrew has a popular YouTube channel that can educate customers about everything there is to know about the machines, the music and the experience of karaoke.
Andrew recognizes that the business has changed over the years and has noted that different cultures enjoy Karaoke in different ways. He has travelled to many places, including Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, for research and the development of his machines and related products.
With updated technology, his products can help a customer source thousands of songs almost instantly.
Andrew wasn’t really a singer himself until he had to demonstrate the machine at a community booth. The first song he learned to sing was ‘Love Me Tender’ by Elvis Presley.
“Karaoke is for singers and music lovers. My motto is that life is meant to be enjoyed. Don’t take things too seriously. Singing can help with that. There is scientific proof that singing is an internal massage of all your organs. It’s good for the heart,” Andrew says.
“We are seeing more customers as people continue to stay home and look for new things to do. I am hearing from more and more younger customers – who want to sing ‘Adele’,” he says smiling.
Andrew was born in China and speaks Cantonese, Mandarin and English. He enjoys Japanese food because it offers a balanced diet– and likes to drink a little beer – both available right here in Sheppard East Village.
“I am so proud of being a Canadian. You will never find another country with this kind of multicultural mix of people. We respect each other. To see how we all need to live, just listen to the words from ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon. Or better yet, sing it out loud!”
Melissa Unidad – Unitax Inc.
4438 Sheppard Ave. East, Unit 397
Melissa is one of many Sheppard East Village members located in the Oriental Centre at Brimley & Sheppard. She operates a financial planning and tax service for her clients and would like to build her practise over the coming years.
Melissa explains, “I do tax preparation – both personal and business, U.S. taxes, business services, corporation, HST and GST filings. I am also a financial advisor, so I am really a one-stop shop for my many local clients. The foundation of my business is exceptional customer service.”
Melissa feels one of the main strengths of her business is that she returns people’s phone calls. She is amazed how much clients appreciate this small gesture, whether at tax time or any other time of the year.
With her husband and son, Melissa came to Canada from the Philippines and has many customers with a similar background. That being said, she also has customers from all around the globe – another reason she likes being located in Sheppard East Village.
“I like getting to know people and they trust me to answer any questions they might have regarding their finances. They put a lot of trust in my abilities and I don’t take that for granted,” Melissa says.
Melissa enjoys ballroom dancing, in her spare time. She likes the music, the energy and the joy of a dance party. She also knows her way around a tennis court. When she dines out in Sheppard East Village, her two favourite restaurant choices are Bistro Manila and Asian Legend.
Kerry Liu – CIBC Glen Watford Branch
4256 Sheppard Ave. East
Kerry Liu is Manager of Client Advice at one of the largest CIBC branches in Canada, located in the west end of Sheppard East Village. Its 33 employees offer a wide range of financial services – including day-to-day banking needs, investments, lending and wealth protection – and it has built up a wide following among local residents, businesses and students.
Although this may be a large branch, it offers many thoughtful additions to help their customers have a great banking experience each time they visit. When COVID-19 hit, the branch set up an outdoor tent to keep their clients covered from inclement weather and offered drinking water for clients having to wait in line, for social distancing. The branch also increased the limit on debit cards to make purchasing contact-free.
Kerry feels it’s important to mention “we always make sure our seniors and customers with disabilities don’t have to wait in line. We also offer free banking for international students, to help them become successful.”
Kerry moved to Canada from Shanghai in 2009. His Cantonese, Mandarin and English abilities help him communicate well with the multicultural customers who come to this location.
If you are looking for Kerry at lunch hour, you will likely find him at Peking Duck Kitchen, his favourite local restaurant. He often sees many of their staff come into his branch to use CIBC services.
Kerry likes the fact that there are some new condos going up in the area and is happy to see more affordable housing being offered in the Sheppard East Village area.
In his off hours, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 children and likes to stay fit playing tennis.
Virginia East – Royal Canadian Legion Centennial Branch 614
100 Salome Drive
The Royal Canadian Legion was founded by veterans in 1925, to help support veterans and their families. This membership-based community group also donates funds to the local hospital, as part of their mandate. Virginia East began attending the Royal Canadian Legion when her son was in the army.
Virginia has held many different volunteer positions within the organization since she became a member at Branch 614, a long-standing pillar of the Sheppard East Village community.
On the main floor of the Legion, there is a pub-style restaurant that has become a great place to meet friends. On the second floor, there is a large event space that has seen its share of weddings, dances and community events, for members of the Legion as well as for non-members. There is plenty of free parking which makes it a nice experience for guests.
Virginia would often help cook, clean and serve at these events, as part of the Ladies’ Auxiliary, where she served as Treasurer for 10 years.
When reflecting on her many years of service, Virginia likes to say “It makes me feel good to help others, while I am healthy and able to do so. I ask for nothing in return.”
Although veterans attend Legion events, the Branch is also open on Tuesdays for local community members to drop by for lunch and listen to some live entertainment. Please check the website for updated information.
Not only does Virginia spend countless hours at the Legion but her husband, Stuart, has also been a vital part of the organization, serving in many different roles over the past 30 years. What a special couple – you may have never heard about – right here in Sheppard East Village.
Virginia is originally from Peru. She can speak Spanish, French and English which can be helpful with a multitude of cultures visiting this Legion Branch. She also enjoys such outdoor recreation as walking, running and cycling. Virginia and her husband have two adult children.
Pat Cho – Asian Caregivers
4438 Sheppard Ave. E. #357
Pat Cho is the founder of Asian Caregivers, a service in Sheppard East Village located in the Oriental Centre that connects seniors online, so they can find someone to help them continue to stay in their own homes.
The idea was sparked by Pat’s own mother, who wanted to stay in her home for as long as possible. She wanted to live in familiar surroundings and continue to garden and enjoy the food and culture she was accustomed to.
“It makes me feel good that I am able to help other people solve a problem that I had myself,” says Pat.
She sees her business as a way for adult children to honour their parents. “Humanity is quality of life,” continues Pat.
Pat likes to say that she has brought the high-tech world together with the softer skills of finding a great person to care for a loved one. She uses the words “when we need someone to just be there” to describe the meaning behind her services.
Caregivers listed on her site can include languages they speak and any special skills – to help people narrow down their search – so a family member who is looking can choose from a number of suitable candidates. Her site can often have viewers globally.
Pat is a Registered Nurse and manages the website for Asian Caregivers in her off hours. The site often has about 100 caregivers looking for work. For nominal fees, anyone can access the site for a week, a month or an unlimited amount of time. Caregivers that want to be added to the list must be legally able to work in Canada.
Pat was born in South America and has lived in England, Vancouver and now Toronto. She is from a large family of 7 kids and she considers herself a service entrepreneur.
Kevin Wattam – Food Basics
5085 Sheppard Avenue East
For a guy who is surrounded by food all day, it’s funny to think that Kevin Wattam doesn’t cook.
Kevin is the manager of Food Basics, the only ‘mainstream’ supermarket in Sheppard East Village. He works 6 days a week, managing 75 employees. His goal each day is to create the best shopping experience possible, at a lower price.
It would be fair to say there is nothing basic about how Kevin runs the store. He enjoys the cultural mix of both the customers and the employees at Food Basics – he works hard to make sure they are all happy. He considers himself to be even-keeled, which always helps.
He started his current job as a part-time stock boy. And now Kevin manages this Food Basics location.
Kevin is glad he gets great support from the head office when he wants to make a change or improve anything in the store. “They really listen to what our needs are, they are always open to new suggestions. I like that. It makes for a better store for everyone,” he says.
“Bananas are the most popular item we sell – but I’m an orange guy,” Kevin says, smiling.
Kevin lives with his wife, three daughters and a whole bunch of pets: 2 dogs, 1 rabbit and 5 cats. He likes to take his holidays with family in the summer – and swim where the water is fresh and clean, at a cottage near Sauble Beach.
Jessie Jesus – Scarborough Rouge Physiotherapy
4830 Sheppard Ave. E., Units 3 + 5
Jessie Jesus arrived in Canada from the Philippines in 2000. He came here with a background in the sciences and started out as a resident in a physiotherapy clinic.
Jessie is now the proud owner of Scarborough Rouge Physiotherapy clinic in Sheppard East Village. His full-service clinic offers a number of health-related services: physiotherapy, massage, chiropractic, chiropody, acupuncture and orthotics. With a staff of specialists, his facility is a one-stop shop for all of the health-related services his clients need.
“We are happy we are helping people,” says Jessie.
His clinic is open long hours, to service clients when they want to come in. The clinic caters to a large number of clients who are referrals from happy customers and the clinic has staff that speak many different languages.
Jessie commutes from Peterborough, where he lives with his family and kids, working long hours to keep his customers feeling good.
He likes to play tennis when he has time and he watches every Raptors game that he can. His favourite lunch place is Mona’s Roti, also in Sheppard East Village.
Adel Metyas – German Star Motors
41 Milner Avenue
“I put myself in my customer’s shoes,” Adel likes to say.
Adel Metyas is the owner of German Star Motors in Sheppard East Village. His company specializes in import/export of luxury vehicles. He exports about 300 vehicles a week to the U.S. dealership market.
He also has some pre-owned vehicles for sale, with options for financing.
Adel’s business is a true family affair. Both of his adult sons and his wife, a human resources specialist, help out with the business.
He flies south of the border with his sons on a weekly basis – to sell cars and trucks to dealerships all over the United States. His biggest sellers are Ford 150 trucks and Mercedes and Range Rover SUVs.
Adel takes very good care of his customers and feels this is the reason for the success of his business.
Being part of a family business allows Adel to chat about the company and to hear everyone’s opinions on all aspects of the business at family BBQs and gatherings.
Adel moved to Canada from Egypt in 1971 and now has a large contingent of family members here in Canada. He spent his youth in Scarborough and loves the area he grew up in.
Gladys Yung – BMO Branch
4271 Sheppard Ave. East
Gladys Yung is the manager of the BMO branch, located at Glen Watford and Sheppard, that was renovated and expanded to give customers a more spacious and professional atmosphere.
This BMO branch in Sheppard East Village offers a full range of services, with financial and investment advisors available on-site.
Gladys is happy to see that many original customers are now bringing their second and even third generations to the branch.
“We also see a large contingent of international students using this location because they can set up their account at a BMO in Hong Kong, or other cities, and use this branch to do all of their banking after they arrive in Canada. It makes it all seamless,” explains Gladys.
When Gladys is not working, she enjoys golfing, skiing and playing mah-jong with friends. She lives in the area with her husband and 2 university-aged children.
Her favourite type of cuisine to enjoy in Sheppard East Village would have to be the delicious dumplings.
Justin Lee – CarMax Tire & Automotive
4800 Sheppard Ave. E. Units 106+107
“Building trust is the best way to be a success in the automotive maintenance business,” remarks Justin Lee.
Justin is the owner and manager of CarMax Tire and Automotive, located near the Service Ontario outlet, in a strip mall in Sheppard East Village.
His shop can service many brands of domestic and imported vehicles. It is a one-stop location for all automotive service needs, with great packages for routine maintenance, oil changes and tire services.
His shop prides itself on having a crew of good mechanics, which is hard to come by these days with so much automotive work being done electronically.
He has many long-standing customers who travel to his shop to have their vehicle serviced despite the distance. They come back because of the service that CarMax provides.
He considers himself lucky to have his wife working alongside him to help with customer reception – and making it a true family business.
Justin what born in Hong Kong and grew up in Toronto. He has a young son who likes to come by and visit the shop, but has big dreams of being a pilot.
Justin likes to visit Markham Station Restaurant for their all-day breakfast options, when he heads out for lunch in Sheppard East Village.
He works 6 days a week but, on his day off, he likes to relax and go power-boating on Lake Simcoe.
Alice Mau – CCM Centre
4438 Sheppard Ave. E. #3107
Alice manages the administrative and operational requirements of the CCM Centre located on the 3rd floor of the Oriental Centre, at the northeast corner of Sheppard East and Brimley Road.
The CCM Centre is a community hub offering many different types of programs and outreach for men, women, children, youth, and families. Offerings include art, music, bible and parenting classes, summer camps, and even a men’s running group that trains for an annual marathon. Many classes assist new immigrants to learn about cultural differences that can occur as they begin a new life in Canada. The Centre receives donations from individuals, churches and other generous organizations and this enables CCM to offer so many courses and classes each week.
People from all walks of life are welcome to drop by and learn about the programs and classes. There are many different languages spoken within the Centre, including Mandarin, Cantonese and English.
Alice is a kind and caring individual who has worked at the Centre for many years, along with her colleagues and the Centre Director, Winnie Ng.
She likes the fact that CCM has a specific group for men. “Men have a harder time talking about their emotions; and our group helps them meet new friends and enjoy fellowship.”
When Alice has spare time, she does plenty of volunteer work – providing important outreach to seniors in the area. “Sometimes they just need help paying a bill or getting a computer to work and when you can assist them, they are very grateful,” says Alice.
Alice has four grown-up children, as well as a very special golden retriever named Coco that she enjoys taking for daily walks.
If you are looking for a bit of company in the near future or you want to learn something new, drop into the CCM Centre and make a new friend.
Danny Wong – Superior Tire + Auto
5070 Sheppard Ave. E.
Danny Wong has worn many hats since he began his career at Superior Tire in Sheppard East Village in 2001. He started off as a technician, then became the manager of the store and is now the owner of the business.
Superior Tire + Auto does all types of tire work, as well as repairs to any make or model of car or truck. The reason they continue to be so successful can be attributed to their warm customer service, their wide range of options and their excellent workmanship.
Along with every tire brand you can imagine, Superior offers all of the latest brands of custom wheels – to add style to any car or truck.
“Many police officers from nearby 42 Division bring their vehicles to us because they want reliability when they are on the road,” says Danny. “They put many miles on their cars every day.”
Superior Tire has many repeat customers who come back again and again – for snow tire removal, to purchase new tires, and for other automotive repairs. Because it is on such a busy corner in Sheppard East Village, it gets great exposure to thousands of potential customers driving by each and every day.
“We take great care of our customers. Not long ago, we had a young 16-year-old driver pull into the shop. The frame of her vehicle was pretty much ready for the junk pile, but she had driven here from North Bay all on her own. We spoke with her mother on the phone and arranged a ticket for a Greyhound bus to get her back home safely,” explained Danny.
Danny grew up in Scarborough and enjoys a little road biking when he has time off. He now lives in Ajax with his wife, who was a customer at Superior Tire before they met.
Drop in and see the wide variety of tire and wheel options at Superior Tire, to get your vehicle ready for the season. You will enjoy the experience. And the next time you come back, you can be sure that Danny will remember your name.
Arvind Soreng – Scotiabank
4220 Sheppard Ave. E.
Arvind has managed the Scotiabank branch located at Sheppard & Midland since 2016. A Scotiabank branch has been located in Sheppard East Village for over 100 years.
The large banking team at Sheppard & Midland is ready to help customers with everything from mortgages and business loans to investment and savings advice. Because the community is home to many newcomers, the branch specializes in helping people with all of their banking needs in many different languages – including Mandarin, Cantonese and Hindi – a language in which Arvind is fluent.
Arvind’s branch also helps more and more international students settle themselves in Canada with their first bank account, allowing students to establish that all-important credit history so crucial to planning for a future in Canada. Assisting students with personal budgeting is part of Scotiabank’s commitment to the infinite potential of our youth.
Arvind worked at Scotiabank in India before immigrating in 2002 and loves the diverse Canadian culture – its people, different foods, languages and, of course, the weather.
Many small businesses in the community take advantage of the advice offered by the experienced small business team at the branch. “We help our business customers with all of their needs,” he says proudly. “We like to support our customers and the businesses that they own and operate.”
Arvind is a great role model for his staff and is an avid golfer and cyclist. He recently completed the Ride to Conquer Cancer for the second year running. “We had a team from Scotiabank riding together – it was grueling but when you see cancer survivors riding, you feel inspired by their efforts.” Arvind is married, with two young boys that keep him busy playing sports – hockey, skiing and baseball.
Arvind loves the neighbourhood mix of cultures and the international cuisine that is available at lunch hour. One of his favourite places is Markham Station, for the all-day breakfast.
Please visit the branch sometime and say hello – or perhaps “Namaste” which is hello in Hindi.
Rogel Restua – RM Printing
4455 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 6
Rogel and his wife, Mary, operate a quality custom printing shop in Sheppard East Village. After beginning their business in the basement of their home, they now serve clients from their convenient location just north of the 401.
Rogel and Mary are proud Filipino-Canadians who serve clients from many cultures who require customized promotional products. Starting a business on your own has many bumps on the road but, as Rogel likes to say, “we had to stick with it and see it through. It allowed us more flexibility so we could spend time with our family.”
RM Printing can print on just about anything – including ribbons, bags and t-shirts. They create custom products and giveaways for bridal showers, family reunions and corporate promotions.
When asked about the weirdest request for an order they have received Rogel smiled and said: “I once had to print something on underwear for a stag party – that was a first!”
The couple takes pride in their work and has many repeat customers – both in the nearby area and from areas well outside the neighbourhood.
Rogel loves to travel back to the Philippines and island hop while he is there. He and his wife enjoy camping near Wiarton, as it brings back memories of when their children were little. He is happy to see his children, now all grown up, return to the same campground to enjoy the same ‘unplugged’ experience.
If you have an upcoming special event or just need a few t-shirts for a friend’s birthday party, drop in and see what RM Printing can do to customize your requirements and make your event a great success.
Michael Chau – Y.C. Chau & Sons Piano
4211 Sheppard Ave. E., #210
One interesting fact about Michael Chau is that, ironically, he does not know how to play the piano. A second fact to learn is that he can tune, move, build, dismantle, refurbish or refinish a piano of any kind! “While I don’t play the piano, I can take a whole piano apart and put it back together,” Michael says, smiling.
Michael was born in China and moved to Trinidad – and then finally to Canada. He worked in a piano factory and became a foreman for a big manufacturer – before eventually starting his own company with his father here in Sheppard East Village.
“People become very attached to their pianos. Many people bring them in so they can be refurbished and passed down to younger generations. I get to hear so many meaningful stories.”
One of his favourite stories is about an old piano that came in from St. Michael’s Choir School. “It was an upright transposing piano with 98 keys, instead of the usual 88. After we received the piano, the school needed time to save up for the refurbishment so they asked us to set it aside until they could raise the funds. It sat with a note on it for months until, one day, a customer came in and heard its story. He was an alumnus of the School and he offered to help fundraise the money, with other alumni, to refurbish it. The piano was welcomed back to the School with a special concert. It’s a rare 1930’s piano that is still working today. I won’t forget that piano anytime soon.”
It can take months to completely refurbish a piano. The company always takes ‘before and after’ pictures so their customers can see the difference. They are always impressed with the outcome.
In his spare time, Michael likes to go bass fishing. He has four children that all play the piano and he is the proud grandfather of 5. His son took piano technology in college and now works alongside his dad.
Drop by and look around the store. Just don’t ask Michael to tinkle out a song.
Babu Rajakulasingham – Babu Takeout & Catering
4800 Sheppard Ave. E.
At the back of a plaza in Sheppard East Village is the well-known Babu Takeout & Catering. Mayor John Tory was guest of honour at Babu’s grand re-opening in 2016, after its capacity was expanded by about 300% – reflecting how popular his delicious food has become.
After arriving in Canada from Sri Lanka with very little, Babu worked for a few years in a bank. He then changed career paths and decided to start a catering business with his wife, working from their basement apartment.
An entrepreneur was born. The store itself started as one unit and has grown from there. After about 5 years, it really took off. He often worked 20 hours a day in the beginning – and it sure paid off. His take-out shop is now a wildly popular place to get breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“I cook for my customer’s taste, not my own” Babu says cheerfully.
Ask anyone on a Scarborough street about “Babu” and they will likely know what you are talking about. The food they serve is incredibly fresh – with new dishes coming every 30 minutes.
“I think part of the success of Babu is that I take a lot of feedback from my customers. The place has a wide variety of dishes – with Tamil, North Indian, South Indian, Hakka and Chinese influences – and we have a separate area for our vegetarian options.”
Customers from all over the world come to his 4800 Sheppard East location. His shop is open from 5 a.m. to midnight, so everyone can get their meals when they aren’t working.
When asked about his favourite dishes on the Babu menu, he said, “the crab and the pepper chicken.”
Happy to no longer work 20 hours a day, he has a bit more time to travel to India and to celebrate special days with his many friends.
Babu is a generous business that often donates food to local schools and charity events, as a way of giving back to Canada. He is very grateful to have come here and been given the chance for a new life. He recently arranged a fundraiser for the local hospital – and handed them a cheque for $6,000.
Wayne Lam – ACM Computer Systems
4400 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 1
Wayne is the owner / operator of ACM Computer Systems, which has been located in Sheppard East Village since 1992.
Wayne meets a variety of software and hardware needs for his clients and customers – including both p.c. and laptop sales & service; data recovery; security camera sales & installation; as well as virus and spyware removal.
He has a real gift for figuring out what is wrong with a computer and fixing the problem. Wayne keeps up-to-date with all of the upgrades in his business and his customers appreciate his knowledge, advice and friendly attitude.
As a longtime service provider in the area, he has had an opportunity to visit almost every restaurant in Sheppard East Village. Wayne loves all kinds of food and enjoys every place he has tried so far. He couldn’t be in a better area for a variety of great ethnic cooking.
Wayne was born in India and speaks both English and Cantonese, which is helpful for many of his customers.
“I’m all about loyalty. If I have to stay late in order to get something finished for my customers, I will” he says.
Wayne loves living in Canada. “It’s peaceful, it’s beautiful and my children love it here” he says.
In his spare time, he likes to visit local cultural destinations, like the Toronto Zoo and Science Centre, with his family. Wayne also helps some of his elderly customers with snow clearing and other tasks they may need help to complete.
ACM is conveniently located at 4400 Sheppard Ave. East.
Abdul (Hajjy) Sherafghanzadah – Master Tailor & Cleaners
5089 Sheppard Ave. E.
It is no surprise that Abdul, or Hajjy as everyone calls him, showed up at the interview for this biography in a perfectly tailored suit. He has been tailoring fine clothing since he was a young boy in Afghanistan.
Following his apprenticeship with other tailors, Hajjy opened Master Tailor & Cleaners, located in the large plaza at Markham Road and Sheppard, in 2003.
He is meticulous in his workmanship and difficult projects are often referred to him because he has such an extensive background in the craft of tailoring. He can be found hard at work in his store six days a week. He listens carefully to his customers and gives them excellent service. It is for this reason that many of them are repeat customers.
“Small details matter” says Hajjy. “I like the Sheppard East Village because it is so ethnically diverse – I have customers from all over the world.”
Hajjy can custom-make fine clothing from the many fabrics he has on hand. “When I see a guy walking down the street I know what small adjustments I can make to his suit to make it fit perfectly” he says. He loves the spring season when all the graduating students come to see him for their prom dresses and suits. He wants everything to be perfect for their special day.
He considers his shop a family business – with his wife assisting in the shop and his 3 grown sons helping out when they are not busy studying.
Master Tailor & Cleaners also sells dress clothing, accessories, and offers custom alterations and expert dry cleaning.
“I have a membership card available for my customers. When they join for a year, they get 10% off any of our services. It is my way of thanking them for their loyalty.”
When he is not at his shop, Hajjy likes to dine in the area with his family, often ordering fresh kebabs and rice. He also enjoys watching basketball on T.V. and is a Toronto Raptors’ fan.
This is ‘share’ in Hajjy’s language: درميان گزاشتن
You can reach him at mytailor@mastertailor.ca.
Alan Poon – BTL Sports Ltd.
4211 Sheppard Ave. E. #A11
BTL Sports is located in Midtown Plaza, at the corner of Midland and Sheppard. Alan has spent more than 10 years coaching people to improve their swimming and tennis abilities. He prefers a swimsuit to a whistle, unlike some coaches. He thinks that getting into the pool is the best way to demonstrate correct form.
He is a member of the Coaches Association of Ontario, the U.S. Tennis Association and the U.S. Sports Tutors’ Institute. Alan has taught people of all ages and walks of life how to swim, or how to swim better. He started out teaching young people, but then their parents became interested in his coaching, as well. Alan says, “I am pretty confident I can teach anyone, at any age, how to swim in about 10 lessons. It’s never too late to learn a new skill.”
“I have taught many 80-year-olds to swim” says Alan with a smile, “although they like to learn backstroke, not the dolphin kick.”
Alan moved here from Hong Kong 20 years ago, and speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin, which is helpful in the Sheppard East Village neighbourhood.
Alan has one son who has just graduated from university – and it is no surprise that he is both a great swimmer and tennis player.
And if you think Alan just helps others, you should see him do Kung Fu in his living room every morning. His father was a Kung Fu master back in Hong Kong, and he enjoys the daily discipline, using a houseplant for a partner.
You can contact Alan at btlsl2005@yahoo.ca.
Cody Bott – StorageMart
4780 Sheppard Ave. E.
Cody manages the large StorageMart located in Sheppard East Village. He can help you with any of your storage needs – both big and small. The facility boasts a large outdoor area for automobiles, trucks, and RVs, using a keypad access gate. The inside units are climate- controlled and come in a wide variety of sizes.
Cody says that a lot of people store their cars at his location because StorageMart provides a high level of security and a well-lit property. “We have video cameras recording the property 24 hours a day”.
StorageMart can also streamline your moving experience – with dollies and handcarts to help do the heavy lifting and quality cardboard boxes, durable locks, and standard packing tape for sale. They have a great website where you can get information regarding sizes and prices.
Cody is a big fan of the Sheppard East Village area. He likes that his store is accessible to people without cars and easily reachable by TTC. “This area stands for what Toronto is” says Cody, “everything you need is here”.
The area has allowed him to become immersed in cultures and food from around the world. He recently attended a Hindu wedding and another wedding at a Mosque that opened his eyes to new cultural experiences.
Cody is often seen wearing his StorageMart jacket out for lunch and he gets stopped and asked questions about his facility on a daily basis.
In his off hours, Cody likes to play hockey and baseball with his friends and fire up the BBQ to make dinner.
StorageMart is a supportive member of the BIA and likes to sponsor local community events and charities during the year.
Cody can be reached at 416-291-5353.
Debbi Andronek – Hogan Chevrolet Buick GMC.
5000 Sheppard Ave. E.
Debbi is a loyal and dedicated employee who has worked for Drew Foss, Hogan’s owner, since 2007. Prior to that, she worked for Drew’s father for 17 years. In fact, she moved her family to the area so she could take the job at Hogan Chevrolet Buick GMC, here in Sheppard East Village.
Debbi has tremendous respect for Drew Foss and the way he runs his business. In addition to their extensive line of Chevrolet, Buick and GMC cars and trucks, Hogan also boasts a large commercial truck service centre that specializes in repairing light and medium duty trucks, trailers and buses.
Debbi is a highly regarded service consultant who considers herself the liaison between the customers and the mechanics. Debbi learned about cars at a very early age from her father and is one of the few females in this role. She helps ensure the work is done right and on schedule – and she really knows her stuff.
“Hogan’s is a ‘small-town’ style dealership in a big city” she says. “It is a warm place to work, we all help each other out, and everyone gets along really well.”
Debbi enjoys the multicultural aspect of her job, “I have customers at my desk all day long, probably because I remember everyone’s name, everyone’s stories, and people trust my experience and expertise” she says smiling.
When not working long hours at Hogan’s, she enjoys cooking Greek food for her family, and traveling with her husband and teenage daughter. “I love to travel with my daughter and we have been on many Caribbean cruises – this year we are going somewhere last minute, which should be fun” Debbi says.
So if you are looking for a great place to get your car serviced, drop in and see Debbi. Chances are she’ll remember your name.
Contact Debbi at dandronek@hoganchev.com.
Mike Bowers – Premier Wheels Direct
4732 Sheppard Ave. E., #4-6
Mike has been with Premier Wheels Direct since 2014 – and knows a thing or two about wheels; having been in the auto business for over 40 years. Premier carries thousands of different tires and rims for cars and trucks and offers winter/summer tire storage. “We have an extensive selection” says Mike. In fact, Premier showcases more than 500 rims in-stock and offers a full selection of name brand tires to choose from.
Mike has seen all sorts of interesting tire situations at the shop. The one that sticks out the most is the customer who came in with a wrench that punctured right through the tire. “We like to get everyone back on the road with a safe set of tires at a fair price.”
Mike likes the diversity of food and shopping he can enjoy in the neighbourhood. “I like the spicy Jamaican jerk pork at Sunrise Jamaican Restaurant – 95% of the guys in the shop are from the Caribbean and have introduced me to some great new lunch options.”
Mike has done some wild and crazy stuff in his past – including 100 jumps from an airplane. “I had all safe landings – except for number 95 when I landed hard in a wheat field and got a bit roughed up. Needless to say, I have retired from skydiving and now enjoy road biking, camping, and spending time with my 5 kids” he says with a smile.
Premier Wheels Direct has many local long-time customers and many customers who travel a great distance to enjoy the expert service and wide selection of products that they offer.
Located in the middle of Sheppard East Village, Premier Wheels Direct is owned by Colin Chung. Colin likes the way the area has been developing over the past 10 years and would like to create some community events in the future, to make it even better.
If you have a vehicle that needs a new set of wheels or tires, be sure to drop in for a visit.
Mike can be reached at mike@premierwheelsdirect.com.
Vince Gutierrez – Remely’s Filipino Restaurant
4830 Sheppard Ave. E.
Vince’s family owns and operates Remely’s Filipino Restaurant here in Sheppard East Village. It is one of the five east-end restaurants that Tyler Cowen visited in 2015, about which he said “I concluded that Scarborough is the best ethnic food suburb I have seen in my life, ever, by an order of magnitude.” These comments generated a great deal of media exposure for Remely’s and the Sheppard East Village area.
It is no surprise that the Restaurant receives such high praise. Opened in 1997, Remely’s is an authentic Filipino eatery that serves cuisine with a high standard of quality and freshness. It started out in Vince’s mother’s kitchen and moved to the current location to cook up more of the good food people have come to love. All orders are served with a genuine helping of Filipino hospitality. “We really wanted to bring some of our food and culture here for people to enjoy” Vince says.
The Restaurant is frequented by many in the Filipino community, as well as local office workers and residents from all walks of life.
Vince manages the eatery and is constantly looking for new ideas to help Remely’s continue to be the best it can be. “I like to incorporate good ideas from other fine restaurants into my own business”.
Vince lives here with his family and two children. When asked what he likes best about the neighbourhood he said, “It’s like a suburb that doesn’t feel like a suburb.”
In his off hours, he likes to sing Filipino music in a group, and likes listening to good music.
You can reach Vince at info@remleys.com.
Justin Brooker – Krown Rustproofing
4736 Sheppard Ave. E.
If you want to have a long conversation about rust, drop in and talk to Justin or his brother Austin, from Krown Rustproofing. They are the second generation managers of two locations of Canada’s #1 rust protection company. Their special formulations are only available in a Krown Rustproofing facility.
This is a truly family business, started by Justin’s parents and now run by the two brothers.
“We do all of this for our parents, they gave us an amazing opportunity and we learned in school that there is a difference between a job and a career.” Austin said. “We don’t mind going in early or staying late when it’s your own business.” The brothers have big ambitions for their business, going forward.
They love the small community feel of the area and talk about the Boys and Girls Clubs and baseball teams that help keep youth in their neighbourhood on the right track. Both brothers have been working since they were teenagers, giving them a great work ethic coming out of high school. They would occasionally have to leave school to help out at the shop – one sacrifice of being part of a family business.
They have learned a lot from their mom and dad about customer service, treating people with respect and running a successful business and they try, on a daily basis, to make them proud.
There are over 200 Krown franchises across Canada and, each year, they pick one day to donate car wash proceeds to the Children’s Wish Foundation. But Justin and Austin decided to take it one step further. Drive into their shop for a car wash – any day of the year – and all the proceeds go to the charity.
If you get a chance to stop in and say ‘hello’, you will see why these two young entrepreneurs are poised for retail stardom.
Syed Nasib – SDN Consulting
4454 Sheppard Ave. E., #212
When Syed opened his consulting firm in the neighbourhood he called it SDN consulting – not after three members of the company, but after three members of his family: his wife and two daughters.
Syed is the owner of SDN Consulting Inc., a corporate management consulting firm that specializes in financial management, business financing, bookkeeping, payroll management and tax management. His company helps to transform a micro-sized business into a small business, and a small business into a medium-sized business. He has a great track record of helping each of them successfully grow and prosper.
SDN chose to concentrate its customer base on micro and small businesses and charitable and non-profit organizations, by providing expert financial advice at a lower cost point. SDN employs a dedicated team of Certified Professional Accountants and Certified Tax Practitioners trained by the Canada Revenue Agency, each with over a decade of experience in their related field.
Syed came to Canada from Pakistan, with a wealth of financial expertise, and started his business in the Scarborough area in 2014. His thoughtful approach leaves his staff and his clients feeling good when they work together on a project. His clients come from all over the GTA and he finds his office perfectly located whether his clients drive or take the TTC.
He loves the cultural mix in the neighbourhood and the foods from many countries that are available.
He lives in the area with his wife and two daughters. On weekends, he likes to pursue his passions for fishing and photography. He likes to head out early and get set up for the beautiful morning light that comes with the sunrise. He talks of one favourite photograph he has taken – a close up shot of a bird chasing a dragonfly in the air.
If you get the pleasure of meeting Syed sometime, ask him about that picture – he’d love to show it to you.
Lydia Adams – Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto.
4386 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit N
We are pleased to introduce one of our newest members, Lydia Adams, Conductor and Artistic Director of the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto, a community choir formed in 1984. The Amadeus Choir presents a 4 concert Toronto season each year, records CDs of great choral works and is asked to perform regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and other well-known musical ensembles.
Lydia also conducts the internationally-renowned Elmer Iseler Singers and is a winner of the prestigious Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.
Lydia grew up with an early love of music. Her mother was a musical force in Nova Scotia -pioneering a youth choir in Glace Bay and teaching piano, with a touch of courage and inspiration on the side. When Lydia’s mother died 4 years ago, she received many letters from people who had enjoyed her music and had been inspired by her.
“Music teaches life” Lydia says. “A choir has tremendous heart, it gives the audience exactly what they need at the time, be it strength, joy or solace.”
Lydia loves the Sheppard East Village neighbourhood for its great transit, free parking and culinary diversity.
She would very much like to see other arts groups make this area their home. She thinks this neighbourhood is a fabulous place to put down roots, so she extends an open invitation to other non-profit Toronto arts companies to put Sheppard East Village on their radar. Can you hear that Toronto or does the Choir have to sing a little LOUDER?
Lydia shares her Sheppard. ‘Hallelujah’ to that.
Yummy Tan – Gourmet Malaysia Restaurant
4466 Sheppard Ave. E.
Yummy Tan is a long-time resident of Sheppard East Village. He runs Gourmet Malaysia, which started out as a small take-out service in a food court and has since grown into a big beautiful restaurant that can serve a large number of people. Gourmet Malaysia serves Malaysian, Indonesian, Singaporean and Thai food. It also has a VIP room for up to 50 people and a larger space for 150, with lots of electronics and other cool features for customers of every age.
Yummy has a real name that is hard to pronounce – so he decided that, because his food was yummy, it would be the perfect name for someone who runs a restaurant.
He has many long-time customers and if you ever get a chance to meet him, you will know why. He has a warm personality that makes people feel very comfortable. And if you really want to get him going, ask him to do a little Karaoke for you. “I think it is the food and my singing that is the real draw” say Yummy, smiling. “I love hanging out with my customers and making them happy.”
Gourmet Malaysia is truly a family affair – with Yummy’s wife working as the head chef.
Yummy is Indonesian and loves the food and the dance.
He really enjoys the cultural mix of the Sheppard East Village neighbourhood. He says it celebrates so many different holidays and celebrations, there is always something going on.
If you’ve never had a chance to experience all that Gourmet Malaysia has to offer, drop in and ask for Yummy. You may walk in a stranger and walk out a friend.
Dr Monica Dinca – Brimley Dental Centre
4427 Sheppard Ave. E.
When Monica was a small girl living in Romania, she had yearly visits to a wonderful dentist who was amazing with kids. She loved going for check-ups and told her parents that one day she would be a dentist.
And she did just that. After being trained as a dentist in Romania, she came to Canada in 2002 and went back to university here to re-certify herself to Canadian Dental standards.
She spent a few years working in the Hamilton area, but when a dentist in the Sheppard East Village was looking to sell his long-time practice, Monica decided to buy it and begin her dream. She likes the fact that all the same hygienists and staff were able to stay for consistency. “I’m the only new one around here”, says Monica laughing.
“I have been in the area since 2014, I live and work here. I love the multi-cultural aspect of the area and look forward to trying all the different restaurants.”
She says her job is very rewarding. She talks of a young man that came to her and said that his brother told him he didn’t like his teeth because they had big spaces between them. Dr Dinca was able to re-create a beautiful new smile for the man and could see the joy written all over his face.
“I am a perfectionist and I am meticulous in my work.” She says, “And I have lots of patience with my patients at Brimley Dental Centre.”
Sounds like a great combination. Feel free to stop by and welcome Monica to the neighbourhood.
Monica likes to share her Sheppard and remind everyone to floss.
Lance Hanson – Scarborotown Chrysler
4960 Sheppard Ave. E.
Lance cruised through the Scarborotown Chrysler dealership service area recently, where he has worked since 1995, and was handed a plate of jet-black curry. Before taking a bite he asked what it was, and was told to just eat it, and not worry about the origin. It was 8:30 am, but since the guys had gone to so much trouble he stuck his fork in and started to eat.
He was surprised to find out that a few guys that work at the shop had hunted a deer on the weekend, and a Sri Lankan fella had curried it. “It was amazing” said Lance. “When I walk through the service bays around lunch time it smells amazing. Chinese, West Indies, Sri Lankan, Hakka, it’s all home cooked food from every culture. I love it.”
When asked what he liked about being in the car business his answer was unique. “It’s not car knowledge that I have, it’s people knowledge, figure that out and I think your dealership can be successful.”
“It’s dead simple, if you want to retain customers, you have to retain your staff. We have mechanics here that were 18 when they started and are now in their late 40s.” Lance feels that if his employees are content (90 and counting), that in turn will make for a happy customer.
“When someone buys a car from us we are very eager to get the service business. If you can keep a customer’s car running well, and have it ready when you say you will, for 4 or 5 years, they will buy another car from you. Occasionally we don’t get it right and our customers let us know. We are the first to admit fault when something isn’t perfect. Then we make it right. I think that makes us different.”
Lance isn’t sure what the boys in the service bays will be cooking up next, but he is always willing to give it a try.
Lance is always keen to share his Sheppard.
Perry Panagakos – Markham Station Restaurant
5117 Sheppard Ave. E.
When Perry and his cousin Jim say they offer an all-day breakfast, they mean it. As co-owners of The Markham Station Restaurant they operate a big diner-style place with a take-out area and a sports bar. “We are open 24 hours a day, every day”.
“We get a huge variety of different crowds coming through here. We get the after-party crowd at 2am for the big breakfasts. We get lots of regular morning customers, and we get lots of families having dinner in the evening.”
It has been in the same location, in Sheppard East Village, since 1988 and is well-known in the community for burgers, steaks and everything in between.
“Our families come from Greece. Our parents came here in the ‘50s as dishwashers and prep chefs, and those values have stuck with us,” says Perry.
Part of what makes them successful is the service staff. Almost all of them have been here for 15 or 20 years. They know everyone. People come back for that reason alone.
“We used to do a 12 hour shift 5 days and a double one day so the other guy could have a day off. It’s not that way anymore, but we are still on call if the computer goes down or the fire alarm goes off at 3am,” says Jim.
They feel the reason they have been successful can be summed up in three ways: good food, good service and good value.
Perry likes to share his Sheppard 24 hours a day.
Ray Sanchez – Mister Transmission
4900 Sheppard Ave. E.
If would be safe to say that Ray Sanchez doesn’t drive like he used to. That’s because back in the day he was a ¼ mile drag racer on the U.S circuit. He could hit 225 mph in about 6 seconds, behind the wheel of his 1967 Camaro.
His love of cars started when he took automotive courses in high school and college. At the young age of 15 he bought his first car and fixed it up to have ready when he could legally drive at 16.
“I used to race cars, now I fix them”, he says, laughing.
As a long-time owner of the Mister Transmission in Sheppard East Village, he has been in the neighbourhood since 1991. He and his expert team repair all makes and models from A to Z. “We can take care of anything”, Ray said.”My team and I are constantly keeping up with technology and every technician here attends two training sessions every year to stay current.”
“I think honesty and integrity is a big part of our success. I would say that 60-70% of my business is word of mouth.”
Ray has both a South American and French-Canadian background. And he feels fortunate that his children get to visit Peru every summer. People live with less material goods, but more happiness. He thinks there is a lesson in that, for all of us.
“I think you almost have to leave Canada for a bit, to really appreciate how beautiful it is here.”
Well said.
For many years Ray has been sharing his Sheppard.
Mona Khan – Mona’s Roti
4810 Sheppard Avenue East
In 2003, when Mona’s Roti first opened, people would stop in to ask the same question: “Is this the same Mona’s Roti from Marabella in Trinidad?” Turns out it is. Before moving to Canada in 1987, Mona Khan served up flavourful curries and rotis at a family-run business ‘back home.’ “Our restaurant was famous,” she says, reminiscing on a bustling atmosphere where weekday lunch lines were as long as leisurely Saturdays. “We started that roti shop in 1983 and there was no problem getting the customers to come. They’d come from all over the island. It was word of mouth.”
That familiar name and Mona’s love for cooking up home style Caribbean cuisine has translated to steady business for the small, Sheppard East Village takeout shop she owns with her husband. “We moved to Canada because of the kids. We wanted them to go to school and have a better life,” she shares. “Opening a restaurant was in the background. We thought ‘let’s do it again here’ because we had such good reviews. It was good in Trinidad. We worked like hell but the money was there!”
Owning a small business in Toronto has its challenges, Mona admits. “Trinidad is more easygoing. Don’t get me wrong, you have to work, but it’s laidback.” She laughs while talking about how hot her little kitchen can get during the city’s humid summers.
Stop by and that’s where you’ll usually find Mona: in the kitchen, folding fragrant meat and vegetable stews into light, chewy rotis, while her husband takes orders up front. “Roti is our main thing and the boneless chicken roti is most popular,” she says, adding that her staff takes care not to make it too spicy. And though you can tackle the hefty wrap with cutlery, Mona has this advice: “The best way to eat it is with your hands, really!”
Ask Mona to share her Sheppard.
John Pugh – CycleWorld Superstore
4545 Sheppard Avenue East
“I started out selling motorcycles at 4455 Sheppard Avenue East, and ended up at 4545 Sheppard, 40 years later,” says John Pugh, the owner of CycleWorld Superstore. Though Pugh spent about 15 years doing business downtown, he returned to Sheppard in 2007 after purchasing CycleWorld from its original owner. Today, it’s the largest pre-owned motorbike dealer in Canada.
“When I started, in 1974, Sheppard Avenue was a hard-paved one lane road with ditches on either side. I’ve got pictures of kids pulling wheelies on motorcycles by the railroad tracks!” says the young-at-heart 60-year-old. “I’ve seen this area grow through good city planning, enthusiastic business, and responsible people.”
Pugh’s spent most of his life in the east end: he attended Victoria Park Secondary School, and went on to study at the University of Toronto at Scarborough Campus. He bought his first bike, a 1973 Kawasaki F11 250, with money that was made from cutting lawns. But owning a motorcycle business was what he really wanted. “Selling used bikes is the best thing that ever happened to me, because every day is different. Motorcycles are fun, they’re dreams,” he says.
So CycleWorld, with a front garden of 200 bright day lilies planted by Pugh himself, is kind of like a place where dreams come true. He helped a retired 70-year-old Israeli highway planner purchase his very first motorcycle, and this year Pugh met his furthest client: a man who rode his bike 17,000 kilometres, from Brazil to Markham. “He found us online, and we serviced his bike and now he’s going to ride to Alaska,” says Pugh, smiling.
Sheppard East Village has changed over the years, and he says it’s still a great place to do business. The 401 makes it easy for curious motorcycle enthusiasts traveling from around the Greater Toronto Area and the United States to find his shop. But, more importantly, CycleWorld is just around the corner from his own house.
I’m proud to share my Sheppard.
Sue Latino – Redline Automotive
4736 Sheppard Ave E.
There’s always eye candy parked in front of Redline Automotive. “If you drive by you’ll see old Camaros and Corvettes,” says Sue Latino, who manages and owns Redline with her husband, Eric. “We take pride in those vehicles because they’re beautiful. And customers bring them in because they know we have specialists and have been working on them for years.”
Redline, founded in 1993, is truly a family business: the Latino’s two sons work in the shop and are passionate about performance and accessorizing work. As for Sue? “I think I was just thrown into the car world with the boys!” she says, laughing. “It started out with the bookkeeping years ago and now I’m there every day. Now I sell tires and schedule appointments!”
The family lived in the east end for many years, and opened their first automotive business near Finch Avenue and Markham Road before moving into the Firestone location on Sheppard. Along with standard automotive servicing, they’re known for the custom performance work. “We have customers coming in from distant places, and people from 20 years ago still coming in,” says Sue. “For the older cars, we have old school mechanics who have the knowledge on what to do to make them faster or perform better.”
Speed is another reason Redline’s got a rep. Eric Latino isn’t just a mechanic and businessman. He’s a record-breaking pro-mod race car driver. “Last year he was the U.S. and Canadian champ,” says Sue. She’s proud of her husband, and says his racing is always a topic of conversation amongst regular customers, but she isn’t so crazy about just how fast he goes. “His car, a ’69 Camaro, goes in the low 6’s, high 5’s in the quarter mile – at some ridiculous miles per hour!”
Sue’s proud to share her Sheppard.
To facilitate construction of the Subway station and new tunneling at McCowan and Sheppard, Metrolinx planners determined they needed to expropriate the professional building on the southeast corner of the intersection.
This meant that, by the end of February 2023, all of our BIA members in that building had to out of their premises. Some were able to re-locate nearby and we are pleased to include them in this section of our website, to recognize the years in which they have been good SEV BIA members and to remind readers that you are still welcome to come back to our commercial area to shop or obtain other services when you deal with these people in their new nearby premises.
Muhammad Noor – Safnor Printing
421 Nugget Ave. Unit 8
Muhammad came to Canada from Pakistan, with a background in statistics. It was this type of attention to detail that allowed him to succeed when he took over as the new owner of Safnor Printing.
Safnor Printing does all types of cards, flyers, brochures and signs for many businesses within the Sheppard East Village and a wide range of other clients, including students and community organizations.
The quality of their copying is also easy to recognize. It is a core service that has attracted customers over the years.
“At Safnor, good service brings people back,” says Muhammad happily.
He provides a reliable resource for all of your printing needs whether it’s for a special event, a promotion or an upcoming sale.
What you might not know about Muhammad is that he is quite the gardener. He tends to some very rare black roses in his backyard that give him great enjoyment when they are in bloom.
He also enjoys watching Pakistan play cricket matches – and likes to head to Babu Catering, in Sheppard East Village, for something delicious for lunch.
Rennee Mathroo – CIMT College
55 Nugget Ave. Suite 202
`Get Trained – Get Certified – Get Hired`
This is the motto of the Canadian Institute of Management and Technology, a private career college with a campus located in Sheppard East Village at 1711 McCowan Road, Suite 202. CIMT College specializes in offering training courses in Healthcare, Technology, Management and Business. This campus is easily accessible from Highway 401 and by public transit.
Rennee and her husband, Surinder Pal, own and operate CIMT College. Rennee is also Campus Director at the McCowan location, where she and her team assist in creating new programs, building community connections and finding placements for graduating students.
CIMT offers programs such as food service and personal support worker, as well as medical office and network administration. The school is open to any student 18 or over, offering job-oriented and focused programs. Many older students, in their 50s and 60s, are coming back into the workforce and learning new skills at CIMT – which Rennee enjoys seeing.
Rennee was born in India, came here in my late 20s and has a solid background in education. She can speak Hindi, Urdu, English and Punjabi, which can be very helpful for students who are new to Canada. “English is the business language of the courses, but our team can connect and help parents and students by answering questions in a variety of languages,” she says.
“I get great satisfaction from seeing our students succeed. One night a year, we invite all the graduates to a big ceremony where we give out awards to special students who go above and beyond. We gave an award to a student in her late 50s who was taking a food service worker program. She became quite emotional when her name was announced – it is a special memory for me.”
Renee lives with her family in Brampton. On her day off, she likes to spend time reading, cooking and being with extended family. And when she finds the time, she likes to travel.
We invite you to visit the CIMT website and see if there is a program that might help you learn a new skill or find a new career.
Adel Abdelmalek – Main Drug Mart
41 Milner Ave
Adel is the long-time owner of Main Drug Mart, located in Sheppard East Village since 1997. It is a drug store with a community feel, which is harder and harder to come by, and it is also our local Canada Post outlet.
Main Drug Mart has many long-time customers – in fact, they still deliver prescriptions to a number of people out-of-town who are loyal to the pharmacy and its service.
“Most of the time when we answer the phone here, we already know the name of the person on the other end. It makes for a very personal and helpful conversation,” remarks Adel.
His pharmacy has helped three generations of families in the local neighbourhood – and he feels fortunate to have so many loyal employees who have worked with him for many years.
“The customers speak virtually every language you can think of and the staff comes from all over the world – so that really helps when we are explaining how to take a prescription.”
“Our country relies a lot on small businesses. If we lose all the small independent drug stores, then we will only have two big players – never good for business owners or customers” remarks Adel.
Adel is of Egyptian heritage and moved to Ontario in 1991 with his wife, after a short stint in Montreal.
He likes to go to the gym in his spare time and considers himself a good cook. “I am quite creative with my recipes. It’s all about the presentation. I sometimes serve something I have never made before to the delight of family and friends” he says, smiling.
Stop by Main Drug Mart at 1711 McCowan Road & Sheppard and say hello – there is sure to be someone who speaks your language.
Deborah Dunphy – McCowan Foot Clinic
1457 McCowan Rd. Suite 215
McCowan Foot Clinic has been located here in Sheppard East Village, since 1999. This medical Clinic helps people of all ages keep their feet healthy and comfortable. They have an experienced team of six, including Deborah, who is one of their five chiropodists. The Clinic also prides itself on educating its clients in all areas of foot care.
The Clinic team can help with any type of foot problem – from high arches, to corns and calluses, to nail fungus issues. Another big part of their service is creating custom orthotics for all types of foot problems. As caring professionals, they do a lot of foot maintenance for their elderly clients who have difficulty doing it themselves. The Clinic is also a supplier of a line of orthopedic shoes.
“Healthy feet are very important to your overall well-being and we help people understand why,” Deborah says. “We discuss common foot problems – and solutions to help keep feet healthy and ready to step comfortably. Feet are the foundation of your body; if they are not happy, the rest of your body isn’t happy.”
Deborah switched from nursing to chiropody and – 31 years later – still enjoys what she does. “I love getting up in the morning and coming to our office.”
“Many of our patients wear ill-fitting shoes and need assistance removing corns or calluses, a couple of times a year.” The Clinic policy is to spend the time to really examine each situation and to help educate their customers on what they can do to keep their feet healthy. They always follow up – making sure everything is still good.
The majority of the services the Clinic offers are covered under most extended health plans.
“We have patients who return here a couple of times a year, from long distances. They like the caring service provided by our Clinic and feel it is worth the drive to see us.”
“Our secretary is the first person you will meet when you come in – she has been warmly welcoming people at the Clinic for 15 years.”
Deborah was born in Guyana and has a large number of siblings. She is married with two teenage children. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and dining on seafood with friends.
Drop into the McCowan Foot Clinic and say ‘hello’. You can be sure Deborah will be wearing a comfortable pair of shoes.
Dr. Kelly Tsioros – McCowan-Sheppard Chiropractic
100 Cowdray Court, Suite 300
Dr. Kelly Tsioros and Dr. David Kirsh run McCowan-Sheppard Chiropractic here in Sheppard East Village. They have combined experience – providing state-of-the-art chiropractic care – spanning over 50 years. Kelly and David work on alternating days to give their patients friendly and professional service six days a week. They very much complement each other in their styles of practice.
They both share a caring attitude toward helping improve the quality of life of their patients. “Chiropractic care has become more accepted over the past several years – with an increasing number of family physicians referring patients to our clinic. This provides us the opportunity to help our patients to get well” says Kelly.
Their family practice specializes in sports injuries, and as David likes to say, “I don’t cure people; I help people cure themselves.”
“Our practice has really changed as a result of the technology revolution. It used to be primarily focused on issues related to the lower back. But now it’s upper back, right shoulder, and wrist and thumb problems – resulting from overuse of computers and other electronics. This was relatively infrequent 20 years ago” David says.
Kelly has seen hundreds of patients improve their well-being in her practice. “After two or three visits, I often see improvements. Regular chiropractic care allows you to have a properly functioning nervous system that helps you stay healthy” says Kelly.
What David and Kelly like best about the Sheppard East Village area is the amazing food their patients bring in for them to sample. “We get to experience all kinds of baked goods and interesting foods from other cultures. These tasty treats are especially delicious around the holiday season.”
In her spare time, Kelly enjoys a variety of fitness routines involving running, swimming, yoga and Pilates.
Kelly and David can be reached at 416-292-4100.
