An icon of Toronto\u2019s diverse Jamaican community, widely known for championing his homeland\u2019s flavourful cuisine, colourful music, and rich culture to the city, has died.<\/p>\n
Edward John Pottinger, affectionately known as Ed, was the co-founder of Toronto\u2019s legendary The Real Jerk Restaurant. He was also the owner of the now-closed music venue The Jerk Pit. <\/p>\n
Pottinger died on March 12 surrounded by family at his north Etobicoke home. He was 69.<\/p>\n
Born in Kingston, Jamaica on April 9, 1956, there, Pottinger \u201cfirst developed his lifelong passion for Caribbean cooking,\u201d his online obituary<\/a> said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe flavours, traditions, and spirit of Jamaica shaped not only his recipes but also the warm hospitality he brought to everyone he met. Everything was always Irie,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n Pottinger was the \u2018life of the party\u2019<\/p>\n In a March 13 statement, the Pottinger family said their patriarch never saw The Real Jerk \u201csimply as a restaurant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo him, it was the Pottinger family dining room \u2014 a place where there was always an extra seat at the table. He believed deeply that food brings people together, and he considered the thousands of customers who walked through the doors over the years to be part of his extended family,\u201d the Pottingers shared, adding they\u2019re \u201cdeeply touched by the outpouring of condolences, stories, and kind messages from friends, customers, and community members.\u201d<\/p>\n In his obituary, the late restaurateur is remembered as often being the \u201clife of the party,\u201c the one who liked to dance to Caribbean music with friends, family, and even his customers.<\/p>\n Pottinger was known for his love of spending time with friends and family over a good meal, not to mention his love of sports, especially the English Premier League (West Ham was his team.), dominoes, pool, and tennis as well as his affinity for his homeland of Jamaica and his adopted city, Toronto.<\/p>\n \u201cMy husband loved Toronto, he loved his culture, and he loved people. Ed always promoted the city and Jamaica,\u201d his wife Lily told CP24. <\/p>\n Pottinger, she said, was a man with a \u201cbig heart\u201d who was \u201creally, really funny,\u201d and a \u201cfantastic father\u201d to their three children, Troy, Cleigh, and June. <\/p>\n \u201cHe really enjoyed his life,\u201d Lily said, adding that since her husband\u2019s passing she\u2019s heard from several people about how he quietly helped others.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was really there for people.\u201d<\/p>\n Pottinger opened first restaurant in Jamaica<\/p>\n As a child, Pottinger lived in England for several years, immigrating to Canada with his mother in the late 1970s at the age of 16.<\/p>\n After graduating from Centennial College, he moved back to Jamaica to work at his uncle\u2019s import\/export business. While there, he met his future wife, Lily, and together they opened up their first restaurant, Little River Jerk, in 1981.<\/p>\n That year, Pottinger came back to Canada, with Lily following soon after, and they got married. <\/p>\n The couple initially lived in Milton but by 1984 they decided to open another restaurant called The Real Jerk. That first location was located in the city\u2019s east end, near Queen Street East and Greenwood Avenue.<\/p>\n While times were tough at first, the Pottingers\u2019 endeavour began to see some success and they were able to relocate to a much larger space a few years later at the corner of Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue. The Real Jerk Restaurant called its flagship location, known for its smiling sunshine fa\u00e7ade, home for 24 years before having to vacate the building after the property was sold. <\/p>\n Long-time friend Rob Davis was instrumental in helping the Pottingers when they were forced from their long-time location in Riverside, assisting them in obtaining an injunction to stay past the 30-day eviction period. At that time, Davis bought a large \u201cOPEN\u201d sign for Pottinger to carry when he shared the news with his staff and the media, who had been following the developing story closely for weeks.<\/p>\n Like many, Davis said he was sad to learn of Pottinger\u2019s death, adding he\u2019ll \u201cmiss him dearly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was one of a kind and put Jamaican and Caribbean food on the map in Toronto,\u201d Davis shared in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n About a year later, the Pottingers reopened their restaurant at 842 Gerrard St. E. at Carlaw Avenue. That spot made international headlines as it was where Rihanna and Drake<\/a> filmed the music video for \u201cWork\u201d in 2016. <\/p>\n Many photoshoots and music videos took place over the years at the Pottingers\u2019 uniquely decorated eateries.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite local fame and notoriety, Ed never lost the common touch,\u201d his family said in their statement. <\/p>\n Other Real Jerk locations later sprung up on Kingston Road in the Upper Beach and on College Street in Little Italy, but have since closed. Last September, the family sold the business to one of their long-standing employees.<\/p>\n Condolences pour in online<\/p>\n Many people have taken to social media to remember Pottinger, sharing their heartbreak and devastation at his death, and commending him for the \u201cincredible impact\u201d he had on the Jamaican community. They also remembered him for his warm welcome and great food he always provided to everyone who walked through the doors of his restaurants.<\/p>\n Others said he was a \u201cspecial guy\u201d who leaves behind an \u201camazing legacy,\u201d someone who \u201cdid the community proud\u201d and was \u201cundaunted, breaking barriers, peaceful and beyond others expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n Another called him a \u201cvery smart businessman, so approachable, honest, kind and truly proud of his children and loved his wife Lily dearly.\u201d <\/p>\n Pottinger is also being described as a \u201cmentor\u201d and a \u201cwonderful and kind friend\u201d who had the \u201cmost radiant smile and the warmest hugs.\u201d<\/p>\n Celebration of life on March 26 <\/p>\n Pottinger, who struggled with ill health for the last three years, leaves behind his wife, three children and four grandchildren as well as his mother, sister, and two brothers. <\/p>\n A celebration of life service for Pottinger will be held at Mississauga\u2019s New Haven Funeral Center on March 26. <\/p>\n The viewing is set for at 9 a.m., followed by a service at 9:30 a.m. A reception will immediately follow. Anyone interested in attending must RSVP online<\/a>.<\/p>\n The family is asking that attendees wear colourful Caribbean attire to \u201chonour the legacy (Pottinger) built through food, friendship, and community.\u201d<\/p>\n