Asian Heritage Month: Montreal businesses inspired by home cultures

The family behind Long Phung. (Long Phung)

It’s Asian Heritage Month.

To celebrate Montrealers with origins from the Far East diaspora, every Saturday in May, CTV News is highlighting individuals who have not only built their lives here but also created thriving local businesses.

Long Phung

It’s a family affair at Long Phụng, a company that has manufactured Vietnamese sausages in Quebec since 1988.

“We are five siblings, born one year apart, and we often compare ourselves to the fingers of a hand,” explains My Hanh Pham. “Each of us has a different role in the family business, contributing to its success in our own way.”

The company was started in Saint-Isidore, Que. by couple Thế Long Phạm and Thị Tin Nguyễn, as a nod of nostalgia to the childhood flavours of their homeland.

Things were admittedly a little rocky at first, with a health inspector knocking on their door to tell them they can’t legally make or sell sausages from their home.

“That inspector, Monsieur Sicard, didn’t just stop there – he helped us find a proper factory, setting us on the path to where we are today: a federally regulated facility distributing products across Canada,” said Pham. “His support was an unforgettable part of our journey.”

Today, the family distributes to Asian markets across Canada, bringing what they call an “authentic taste of Vietnam to communities nationwide.”

“Looking back, many Vietnamese refugees came to Canada in search of a new home,” Pham notes. “Our parents missed the flavours of Vietnam and wanted to ensure that their children grew up with a taste of their heritage.”

She points out that though the second generation is currently running the business, the third is already learning the ropes as they grow up.

“We are committed to continuing our parents’ legacy, sharing our Vietnamese heritage through food, and building a strong family business for generations to come,” said Pham. “Cultural diversity makes a country richer. The more people are exposed to different cultures, the more vibrant and dynamic Montreal becomes.”

Suitablee

Artificial intelligence (AI) generated suits: it’s a real thing, and it’s a technology Suitablee co-founder Jean-Sebastien Siow is using to his advantage.

“Measuring people in those first years and learning the trade…I would just see a customer, and I’d be able to pretty much size them up with my eyes,” he said.

Siow, a computer engineer, says he started looking at AI as a possibility to do what his eyes were already capable of.

The results, he says, were impressive from the get-go.

“We take body scans, and all the patterns are digitally created so that we can create a bespoke outfit without it costing anything more than an off-the-rack price,” he said. “When we take a scan, unlike taking a measuring tape, we take a lot more data, such as angles of shoulders and the angle at which somebody stands, which can change a lot of things in a suit.”

Siow says his curiosity for well-tailored suits came from his travels back to his mother’s homeland of Vietnam.

“We always wondered, how is it that they can do it that well?” he said. “If you go to Vietnam…or China…there’s a lot of little entrepreneurs... Getting a tailored suit is part of the culture.”

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Nowadays, Suitablee dresses everyone from the average Montrealer to NBA dreamer Jérémy Gohier and other well-known sports superstars.

Another thing that sets his company apart? Suitablee doesn’t use professional models.

“We said, ‘let’s just start putting our faces,’ despite the fact that people weren’t used to seeing Asian models, and our brand started to do even better,” Siow said. “All of our models are our employees, and it’s an extremely diverse group of people…We’ve just hired the best people, and we’re very proud of having a very diverse company.”

Atout Coeur Design

Julieanna Law, or Juju as she’s known to friends and family, says she took a leap of faith in opening Atout Coeur Design, an innovative hub offering personalized gifts, event planning and creative workshops.

“We specialize in DIY wood painting, a unique offering in Montreal, where I teach everything from painting to glueing and assembling,” explains the 42-year-old mother of three. “The pandemic inspired me to create a space where both children and adults can explore their creativity. It was a bold step, but seeing the joy and creativity it brings to others has been incredibly rewarding.”

She describes opening the space as both “exciting and challenging.”

After all, she left a steady job behind and didn’t quite have a concrete business plan in hand.

“I took a leap during the pandemic to create a place for socialization and mental well-being,” she said. “The support from the community has been heartwarming, making the journey worthwhile.”

Through the years, Law says she’s learned resilience and hopes Montrealers will continue to uplift those around them.

“Supporting small POC (person of colour) businesses in Montreal is an opportunity to embrace diversity and innovation,” she said. “I hope people learn the value of community support and the richness that diverse perspectives bring to the business world.”