R E S T A U R A N T & B A R Where Noise Meets Silence

Agenda  The Concept  Deaf Community  Our Goals  Our School Program  The Experience  The Learning  Conclusion

The Concept  Unique restaurant mostly staffed with the Deaf  The Service, The Interaction & The Learning  Understanding of the Deaf Culture  An all-inclusive environment  Diversity

How It All Started?  Idea – While working at a Boston Pizza??  My first time with Sign Language  Knowledge from MBA at Ryerson  The Communication Barrier –  First Interaction with the Deaf Community  Looking at the Concept from a business perspective

How does it work?  Hearing hosts introduce Hearing Guests to Deaf Servers  Deaf Servers teach Hearing Guests some basic Sign Language (transition)  Deaf Servers use Ipads to take orders  Guests use Sign Language in cheat-book & Menus to Interact with Deaf Servers.  Deaf Servers teach sign to Guests from Cheat Book.

Our Business Goals  To become the best restaurant in Canada that:  Provides exquisite food and drinks that meet the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality and combines both modern-creative and traditional styles of cooking.  Provide impeccable service by demonstrating warmth, graciousness, professionalism and integrity.  Provide our hearing guests with a learning experience and a great interaction with the Deaf Community.  Provide our Deaf guests with fantastic service and feel-like-home environment  Give all the staff who work with us a friendly, cooperative and rewarding environment which encourages long- term, satisfying and growing career.

Our Goals for the Deaf Community  Bridge the Gap between the Deaf & the Hearing  Creating Awareness for the Deaf Community  Show that given the tools, Deaf can work in different fields  Spreading Sign Language within the Hearing Community  Showcase Deaf Talents

Intriguing Facts about SIGNS!  First Canadian Restaurant Staffed with the Deaf  First Concept in the world that hires Deaf as front-line workers!  Signs has over 50 staff and around 36 are Deaf.  First Restaurant to have a Deaf supervisor and a Deaf Assistant Manager.  First Innovative Concept in the world that breaks down the barrier between Deaf and the Hearing.

Facts About Signs… Continued…  First restaurant in Canada that provides a dining experience as well as a learning experience.  First Deaf for-profit business that caters to the General Public.  World’s first for-profit restaurant Concept that is truly all- inclusive (There is no discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, race, sexual orientation or disability).

Signs Restaurant Food  Contemporary Cuisine  Canadian / Multi-Cultural Food  Make everything from Scratch (Fries, bread, dessert etc)  Special Seasonal food everyday  Made to Order Dessert Special  Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian and Vegan Options  Local ingredients, fresh food!

The Food

The Learning Experience  Deaf Culture  Using Sign Language  The difficulties faced by people from different cultures  Social Awareness  Social Responsibility  Equal Treatment

Implementing the Concept  Securing the Location  Identifying Potential employees  Working on the service process  Building the RESTAURANT!  Hiring the Employees  Creating the Menu  Making the food, Creating SOPS  Creating Staff Policies  Staff Training!

The Deaf Community  Oppressed and secluded for a long time  Use Sign Language to communicate  Limited Employment Opportunity – High levels of unemployment & Underemployment  Career Opportunities are Limited, but growing very slowly  Education – mostly at RIT or Gallaudet University

Job Opportunity for the Deaf? Question: Can you name some career options that are available for a Deaf person in the Hearing World?

Signs Target Market  Tourists (intrigued by the Concept)  Families with Kids  LGBTQQIP2SAA+ Community  Corporations for Lunches & Events  University Students for the Bar!  Schools for Field Trips / After Exam Party!

ABOUT US - Media Attention  Global News Global News  National National  ABC News ABC News  CBS CBS  Right This Minute Right This Minute

Achievements!  Top 5 restaurants in Tripadvisor!  More than 4+ rating in all restaurant review sites!  Best Employer, unsung hero & achievement award!

Future  Opening more Signs Restaurant Franchises  Opening more businesses for the Deaf  Goal to open the first school for Deaf Hospitality in Canada  Creating more number of all inclusive organizations  Spreading awareness

Accessibility – The Big Problem?  The City of Toronto – Does it support Accessibility? The City of Toronto – Does it support Accessibility?  Currently fighting the City to ensure the Accessibility future of Toronto  Toronto has strict By-laws – Preventing businesses from being accessible  Can our ramp will decide the future of Toronto’s Accessibility?

QUESTIONS?