RIGHT: Portrait of Jennifer Lee, Owner of Hakka Chinese restaurant Federick’s by Sid Naidu BELOW: SM founders Alex Narvaez and Sid Naidu BELOW LEFT: SM youth artist Alyssa Vidal INSET: Ferdinand Orlain
SCARBOROUGH MADE: COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS + CULINARY CULTURE BY SID NAIDU
SCARBOROUGH MADE (SM) IS A SOCIAL IMPACT DOCUMENTARY organization that champions storytelling through photography and video in Toronto’s East. Co-founded by Alex Narvaez and Sid Naidu in 2019, the multifaceted project aims to shift how marginalized neighbourhoods are portrayed in media by documenting local culture and community stories.
We’ve built this project from our lived experiences as artists growing up in Scarborough to address the representation of underserved neighbourhoods and the lack of creative opportunities present. SM inspires emerging BIPOC youth artists interested in pursuing visual arts professionally. The project provides mentorship and paid opportunities for youth, allowing them to work with their local community through storytelling and public art. Connections are made from exchanging positive cultural experiences with one another. Food may be one of the most
valuable cross-cultural connectors to help us explore our shared narrative as a society. Photography is a tool that helps us amplify the importance of communicating connection. Scarborough is a community where immigrants from all parts of the world contribute to a rich culinary culture. Documenting food in our community is essential in showcasing our diversity. Our local restaurants are cultural institutions that have been important parts of our neighbourhood for decades. When documenting stories, we always look to strike a connection between people and place. Our youth artists choose the people and topics in the community they want to profile. Youth artist Alyssa Vidal produced a story on Ghadir Meat & Restaurant, a Middle Eastern grocery store and restaurant on Lawrence Avenue East. Owner Ali Dbouk started Ghadir Meat Market when he came to Canada in 1991. In 2016, the store expanded into a restaurant, traditionally grilling their meats on charcoal and opening up photo ED 13