R E STAU RANT & BAR
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 allinclusive (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
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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+
 Corporations
 University
 Schools
Party!
Community
for Lunches & Events
Students for the Bar!
for Field Trips / After Exam
ABOUT US - Media Attention

Global News


National
ABC News


CBS
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?

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?