Category: Focus

Eli El-Chantiry came to Canada in 1975 with $20 in his pocket and three French phrases . . .

When Daoxing Chen and his wife moved here from China in 1997, they looked forward to promising careers in the city’s booming high-tech industry. Chen never imagined they would one day be discussing job prospects with the Ottawa police.

Matt worked 14 hours a day, 75 hours a week, he says, washing dishes, preparing food, running downstairs to get supplies. The restaurant owner promised Matt $5 an hour, but at the end of the week he said he could only afford $250, less than $3.50 an hour. Matt took the money. He needed the job and kept on working.

Many immigrant-run shops and restaurants in Centretown once catered to their own niche communities, but now other Canadians are increasingly frequenting their businesses.