How newcomers are building Thunder Bay's food scene with cuisine and culture from home

The food scene in Thunder Bay has seemingly more options than ever before, driven by newcomers bringing a slice of something new to the northwestern Ontario city. 

The entrepreneurs say Thunder Bay is now a hot spot for new business because there's a big demand for variety, and the cost of living is significantly lower than big cities such as Winnipeg or Toronto. 

Just over 9,000 immigrants live in Thunder Bay, representing nearly nine per cent of Canada's population, according to the latest figures from Statistics Canada. Roughly half of those newcomers are from Europe, while the rest are split between Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South and Central America. 

Andre Pires and his mother, Paula Costa, who is originally from Portugal, have opened the latest restaurant in Thunder Bay, Sweet Nata, which is named after a Portuguese pastry and is believed to be the city's first Portuguese restaurant. 

Costa's husband worked frequently in Thunder Bay, which meant Andre and Paula would come to visit. They noticed the opportunity the city offered for entrepreneurs, she said.

Costa previously owned a café in Portugal and had thought of opening one in Toronto, but found it too difficult due to the affordability and a saturated market. 

Thunder Bay is "definitely a growing city that has a lot of business potential," Pires said. "It's a city that has a lot of opportunities for everybody, especially opening a new business. It has a lot of new variety that is coming in the future, and living wise — it's way better than it is in Toronto. Toronto living costs are insane." 

The two are ecstatic to watch their menu and business grow, but in the meantime, they suggest you check out their current menu items, which include, a nata. Think butter tart, but a flakier pastry with a sweet custard filling. 

Immigrants and other newcomers are a critical piece for the Thunder Bay economy going forward, according to a 2020 report from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It notes the local workforce and base of entrepreneurs are aging fast, and building a talent pipeline would be key for the region going forward. 

The report also suggested that every 100 new immigrant families with an average household income would generate more than $9 million in household spending. 

The federal government is pushing for immigration as a key part of its economic plan. This fall's economic statement notes, "Immigration is core to our identity as Canadians, while also being a key driver of Canada's economic growth," and aims to see 1.45 million new permanent residents in this country over the next three years.

The mom and daughter team of Duha Shaar and Aya Wadi are two of the refugees who came to Thunder Bay from Aleppo, Syria, in 2017. Now, they run the Royal Aleppo, which is no secret to Middle Eastern food lovers in Thunder Bay.

"I believe having an authentic Syrian restaurant here in Thunder Bay is good," Wadi said. "It helps to tell more about the culture and our story, and at the same time, to have a good variety — for people who are looking for new food to try." 

They felt grateful to find a new home where they could start their life, and eventually their business, Wadi said. The two worked closely with the local cultural kitchen at Roots to Harvest, where they were able to focus on building economic access and community for refugees and newcomers to Canada.