by Steve McLean republished with permission from the author Upper Canada College Grade 11 student Adam Sayani honours his father’s legacy in a documentary titled Village of Dreams that will premiere on TVO on July 1 as part of Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations. “Our film is exploring the entrepreneurial families in the Gerrard India Bazaar,”…
From left to right: Nasir Baig, Moin-Ud-Din, Mereid Wale, Nazim Goraya, Kamala Karki, Angad Singh, Gulshan Allibhai (owner), Aamer Kantawala, Gurpreet Mahi, Abul Hossain, Kottill Nair, Hitesh Arora, Rafik Patel and Abdul Jabbar. Lahore Tikka House Lahore Tikka House was founded in 1996 by the late Alnoor Sayani. It began as a modest business…
From left to right: Chandan, Sarabjeet and Jatinder Singh Chandan Fashion Chandan Fashion was founded in 1985 by Sarabjeet and Jatinder Pal Singh. Sarabjeet came to Winnipeg to study nursing. Originally from Punjab, India, Sarabjeet and Jatinder Pal met in Canada and they were married in Winnipeg in 1984. They started their first business in the Gerrard India Bazaar in 1985.…
Harleen Khorana, Diwali 2016 Kala Kendar Kala Kendar opened in 1972 in Bloor West Village and relocated to the Gerrard India Bazaar in 1976. They were one of the very first South Asian businesses to move to Gerrard Street East, drawn by the crowds generated by the newly opened Naaz Theatre (the first Theatre…
Neeraj Kumar Maharaja Fashions photo © Paul Hart for Village of Dreams Productions Inc. Mar. 4, 2017 This photo was taken as a part of a promotional poster campaign for the WHAT’S YOUR BAZAAR MEMORY? photo and story sharing contest. Join us in preserving our South Asian Heritage!
From left to right: Bhupinder and Inder Jandoo Sonu Saree Palace Inder Jandoo came to Canada in 1970 from New Delhi, India and was joined by his wife, Bhupinder in 1972. At first Mr. Jandoo found work as a general labourer and then he joined Sun Life Canada as an Insurance Salesman. In 1979 the…
Mohinder Matharoo Bollywood Music Center Mohinder came to Canada in 1981 from Punjab, India. After working at various jobs including one at Bell Canada, Mohinder saved enough to open her own Bollywood video business in North York. She moved to Gerrard India Bazaar in 1995 where she opened the Bollywood Music Center. Viewers may…
From left to right: Mohammad Saleem and son Abdul-Rehman Saleem Saleem Retail & Wholesale Saleem Retail & Wholesale was founded in 2008 by Mohammad Saleem (aka Saleem). Saleem came to Canada from Pakistan in 1996. His first business in Canada was a convenience store called “The Friendly Smoke” which also sold groceries and meat.…
Khomathy and Indrakumar Paramanantham Neelam Silk Neelam Silk was founded in 1992 by Khomathy and Indrakumar Paramanantham, who come from Jaffna, Sri Lanka by way of the UK. They both studied in England where they also married. They moved to Canada in 1980 and invested their savings in Neelam Silk. They rented at first…
Davinder and Gurjit Singh Chada Moti Mahal Moti Mahal is a traditional Indian take-out restaurant that was founded in 1976 by Davinder and Gurjit Singh Chada. Davinder and Gurjit were married in New Delhi and they moved to Toronto in 1971. Many of their Canadian friends said Davinder’s cooking was so good that she…