G Burger says farewell to Elgin Street before moving to new location
When Nader Salib originally put pen to paper for his Elgin Street lease, he had no idea that the space would one day become home to Gitanes Burger.
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Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic as a pop-up, sister-restaurant to Gitanes, the eatery colloquially known as G Burger became a permanent spot by 2022.
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'I think that period of time changed a lot in people's lives, and I was just more excited about the burger concept,' Salib said.
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After 10 years spent on Elgin Street, Salib is ready to establish G Burger's new home on Wellington Street West, which he is hopeful will open by the end of August. June 20 is the eatery's final day on Elgin Street.
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'When we originally signed the lease, it wasn't for a burger concept,' Salib said. 'The concept came about during COVID when we started doing takeout out of Gitanes, and we didn't want to do fine dining food for takeout. We thought we'd do burgers and it really took off.
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'The concept doesn't warrant that big space that's there, it just doesn't help it thrive. If anything, I think it holds it back a little bit.'
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It's 'super sad' to leave, Salib says, especially for the staff who have grown familiar with the Elgin Street location. Some staff who are now approaching 30 years old have worked in the same space since they were teenagers.
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'We built a lot of memories there,' Salib said. 'The laughs we've had together and stories we shared together.… There's just too many to count.
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'I think all of us are kind of sad to move on, but for me personally, I was ready for a change.'
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The Wellington Street location that G Burger will soon inhabit once belonged to the iconic John's Diner, which closed last April.
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It's 'very flattering' to take over such a well-known location, according to Salib, who says the move is 'surreal' despite the pressure.
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'It's definitely big shoes to fill,' he said. 'I think the scariest thought was, 'Are people gonna come in and expect John's from G Burger? Are they going to come in and expect us to be doing the same things?'
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'Can we really be ourselves and thrive in that space?'
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Regardless, Salib says he's 'super excited' to be in the Wellington Village neighbourhood, one of Ottawa's few areas that 'G Burger can see itself in' — the Glebe and Old Ottawa South being future potential expansions.
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Ottawa Citizen
a day ago
- Ottawa Citizen
G Burger says farewell to Elgin Street before moving to new location
When Nader Salib originally put pen to paper for his Elgin Street lease, he had no idea that the space would one day become home to Gitanes Burger. Article content Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic as a pop-up, sister-restaurant to Gitanes, the eatery colloquially known as G Burger became a permanent spot by 2022. Article content Article content 'I think that period of time changed a lot in people's lives, and I was just more excited about the burger concept,' Salib said. Article content Article content After 10 years spent on Elgin Street, Salib is ready to establish G Burger's new home on Wellington Street West, which he is hopeful will open by the end of August. June 20 is the eatery's final day on Elgin Street. Article content 'When we originally signed the lease, it wasn't for a burger concept,' Salib said. 'The concept came about during COVID when we started doing takeout out of Gitanes, and we didn't want to do fine dining food for takeout. We thought we'd do burgers and it really took off. Article content 'The concept doesn't warrant that big space that's there, it just doesn't help it thrive. If anything, I think it holds it back a little bit.' Article content Article content It's 'super sad' to leave, Salib says, especially for the staff who have grown familiar with the Elgin Street location. Some staff who are now approaching 30 years old have worked in the same space since they were teenagers. Article content Article content 'We built a lot of memories there,' Salib said. 'The laughs we've had together and stories we shared together.… There's just too many to count. Article content 'I think all of us are kind of sad to move on, but for me personally, I was ready for a change.' Article content The Wellington Street location that G Burger will soon inhabit once belonged to the iconic John's Diner, which closed last April. Article content It's 'very flattering' to take over such a well-known location, according to Salib, who says the move is 'surreal' despite the pressure. Article content 'It's definitely big shoes to fill,' he said. 'I think the scariest thought was, 'Are people gonna come in and expect John's from G Burger? Are they going to come in and expect us to be doing the same things?' Article content 'Can we really be ourselves and thrive in that space?' Article content Regardless, Salib says he's 'super excited' to be in the Wellington Village neighbourhood, one of Ottawa's few areas that 'G Burger can see itself in' — the Glebe and Old Ottawa South being future potential expansions.
Cision Canada
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- Cision Canada
Mazda Canada Inc. Announces Leadership Transition Français
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Mazda Canada has also earned several prestigious accolades including a spot on the Greater Toronto's Top Employer List for ten consecutive years and earning the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association's top two awards - Highest Overall Satisfaction and Most Effective Dealer Communications – for six consecutive years. "Every part of my journey at Mazda has been deeply rewarding, and it's been a pleasure working with the best teams in the business" said David Klan. "Mazda in Canada has outstanding momentum and it's a distinct privilege to hand over the reins to my chosen successor, Amy Fleming. Amy is an exceptional leader with unparalleled drive and dedication, and I'm confident she will continue to drive Mazda forward with vision and purpose." Mazda Canada's incoming President and CEO, Amy Fleming, possesses a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Schwartz School of Business and Information Systems and is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University. She started her career in automotive more than three decades ago at a dealership in her hometown of Antigonish, Nova Scotia where she worked while pursuing her studies. After graduation, she continued her automotive career in Ontario, working in both the corporate and retail side for several years. After developing a strong foundation in dealership operations, she joined Mazda Canada in 2006 and has been a key member of the executive team for the past decade. With her extensive involvement in all areas of the business, she has had a major positive impact on Mazda Canada's operations, notably amid the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic. She assumed the position of Senior Director and Chief Operating Officer in 2023 and currently oversees national sales, marketing, fixed operations, and customer experience operations. In recognition of her transformative leadership and commitment to putting people first, just last month, Fleming received the prestigious honor of being named one of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry by Automotive News for a second time. This marks the first time in Mazda Canada's history that a woman holds the role of President and CEO. "It's an incredible honour to lead Mazda Canada at such a pivotal time in our industry," said Amy Fleming. "Under Dave's leadership, we've built a strong foundation for success, and I'm committed to continuing to build on that momentum with our talented team and passionate retailers across the country. With our award-winning product line-up, and our mission to building lasting emotional connections to our products and people, I'm excited for the future of Mazda in Canada." "On behalf of Mazda Motor Corporation, I want to extend our appreciation to David for both his leadership and tremendous contributions over 33 years of service, and I am delighted to welcome Amy to her new role in Mazda Canada," said Jeff Guyton, Representative Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer and CFO, Mazda Motor Corporation. "Amy has twice been recognized as one of the Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry by Automotive News, and I am certain that Mazda Canada will continue its growth and success under Amy's leadership." "On behalf of Mazda retailers across Canada, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Dave for his outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to the Mazda brand," said Mitch Lewicki, Mazda Dealer Council Chair and General Manager of Park Mazda. "His vision and steady hand have guided Mazda Canada through a pivotal time, strengthening our position in a rapidly evolving market. As he moves into a well-earned retirement, we wish him all the best in this next chapter. We are also pleased to welcome Amy Fleming as the new President and CEO of Mazda Canada. Amy brings a deep understanding of both the retailer and OEM perspectives, and we are confident in her ability to build on our momentum. Her collaborative approach and strategic insight position Mazda Canada for continued success in the years ahead." Klan will remain President and CEO until September 30, 2025, ensuring a smooth transition as Fleming, his close collaborator and the second consecutive Canadian in the role, assumes leadership. About Mazda Canada Inc. Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 163 retail stores. For additional information visit Mazda Canada's media website at
Global News
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- Global News
Canada must double home construction over 10 years for affordability: CMHC
Canada's housing agency says home construction in the country will need to double within the next 10 years if affordability levels are to reach what was last seen in 2019. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) said up to 4.8 million new homes will need to be built by 2035, with its latest supply gaps estimate report showing between 430,000 and 480,000 housing units are needed annually — far more than projections by the CMHC of 245,000 starts each year. 'Tackling this housing affordability challenge is enormous, it's absolutely critical to increase housing supply,' said Aled ab Iorwerth, CMHC deputy chief economist. Ab Iorwerth said, during a podcast published by the agency, that doubling the pace of construction was achievable but it would require a 'significantly larger and modernized workforce,' as well as more investment from the private sector, fewer delays and less regulation. Story continues below advertisement Earlier this week, the CMHC said housing starts in May edged down 0.2 per cent compared to April, with 279,510 units. The report, released Thursday, stated that restoring affordability levels that were last seen in 2004 was 'no longer realistic.' That goal was laid out in 2023, when the agency estimated Canada would need to build an added 3.5 million housing units by 2030, in addition to the 2.3 million projected to be built by that year. 1:05 'No wrong places to build housing': Robertson responds to AG report's criticism But the post-COVID-19 surge in housing costs 'changed Canada's affordability landscape,' and challenges being seen in places like Toronto and Vancouver — already ongoing for decades — would take more time to tackle. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The report includes reassurances that increasing the housing supply is unlikely to cause financial instability as 'these forces take time to produce reactions.' Ab Iowerth added the projections in the report were calculated on a 10-year timeline for that reason. Story continues below advertisement But Ab Iowerth noted if supply is not added, prices will only get worse. 'We have predictions that, without increasing supply, house prices will continue to become more and more affordable,' he said. 'There's that challenge, but there's equally a challenge in the rental system. Rents will continue to rise because of the absence of supply, so if we don't tackle this problem, it will become a bigger and bigger problem that starts to pile up and become worse.' Housing construction was a key issue during the federal election campaign earlier this year, with the Liberals promising to double the rate of residential construction over the next decade to reach 500,000 homes per year. The plan emphasized scaling up prefabricated housing construction. It said a new entity called Build Canada Homes would provide $25 billion in debt financing and $1 billion in equity financing to prefabricated homebuilders to reduce construction times by up to 50 per cent. The CMHC report shows a return to 2019 affordability levels in the next decade would lead to house prices being roughly one-quarter lower than they would be in 2035 as it currently stands, with average rents down by an average of five per cent. Without changes, however, Ab Iowerth warns the issues facing Canadians is unlikely to shift. Story continues below advertisement 'The average person looking to rent or buy a house right now is facing a big challenge: not only is it costly, but even finding a place is hard,' he said. 'We need more housing supply so that people can move to Vancouver and find the work they want or move to Toronto and get the job they want and, in the process, help the Canadian economy.' —with files from The Canadian Press
