Albert Wiggan

Albert's Real Jamaican Foods is an iconic part of the St. Clair West foodscape. Albert talks about the importance of motivating others to reach their full potential, and his inspiration to bring true Jamaican food to the neighbourhood.

AUDIO INTERVIEW

TRANSCRIPT

0:00 MARNY (Interviewer):  Today is April 15th, 2025, and I have the great pleasure of interviewing Albert Wiggan for the St. Clair West Oral History Project. Albert, it's a real pleasure and an honor to interview you, and I want you to know that you are a local celebrity. I've been mentioning to people that I'm interviewing you, and they've talked about your business. So, can you tell us the name of your business and where it's located?

0:32 ALBERT (Guest): We're at 542 St. Clair Avenue West. We're in the north -west corner at Bathurst and Vaughan Rd. Bathurst and St. Clair and Vaughan Rd.

00:43: MARNY: Right. That's okay. Yeah, that's right. And tell me why you called it Albert's Real Jamaican foods?

00:53 ALBERT: Well, many years ago, when I moved to Toronto, I have gone to several West Indian restaurants. And I wasn't so impressed myself with some of the meals that I was buying. So, I figured I had a little, I had this vision of opening a restaurant, So, um -

01:22 MARNY:  - So, Albert, tell me why you decided to start a business in this neighborhood?

01:27 ALBERT: Well, I was living at the time, I was living, I was familiar with the area. When I first moved to Toronto I lived on Bathurst.

01:37 MARNY: Oh, okay.

01:44 So, and I worked not too far away from here at the time. So, in scoping over the place for a restaurant, I saw this location, I saw this place for rent. It was occupied at the time by Pizza Pizza. So, I approached Pizza Pizza and that's how I started. Then they'd lease me the place, and I would go from there.

It was a little difficult when I first started because I had a full -time job, and I was working for a company at the time called Anchor Cap. I was making bottle caps. So, I worked with at Anchor Cap for, I think about 14 years, I worked there for. And Like I said, I've gone to a restaurant, and I've had food, and I wasn't too pleased with what everybody was serving.  I mean, of course, everybody cooked differently, I must say. But I figured, well, if you open up a little restaurant, maybe you can make things happen for yourself.

02:50 MARNY: Yeah, you can be competition.

02:52 ALBERT: Yes, yes. So, I started the place 40 years ago.  Actually 40, almost 41, almost 41 years ago. I started and it was a struggle when I first started 'cause I had a full -time job which I hold down and I'm trying to run this place, and I hire a couple of people which was kind of a roller coaster there and eventually with God's will, We were we've been there in our 40 years.

03:22 ALBERT: And I'm very grateful. For the, the people of Toronto. And I mean every nationality that you can think of. I'm sure grateful and very thankful for them because they're very supportive and If it wasn't for the people of, and now I'm going to say globally, because I feed people from all over the world today. Like every country you can think of, I've fed people.

03:57 MARNY: They've come through your door.

03:59 ALBERT: Yes, come through my door. Right. Right. There's not one race or one nation that I can think of hasn’t come through my door.

04:55 MARNY: Wow. Pretty good. Well, and that was a question I was going to ask you. And you came up with the name of the business because you felt you hadn't really had real Jamaican food anywhere else. So, what do you serve that's different or is it just the way you cook it?

04:26 ALBERT: It’s just the way you cook it. And everybody cooks differently. You know, I serve the same thing, the Oxtail, the Jerk Chicken, the Rice and Peas. You know, the soups and all that stuff.  Happen to sell different soups, a different Soup per Day. So, and I like to do things, so, very, I'm trying to find a name for it. I like to do things, whatever I'm making, yes, any of the materials to put in it. Oh, yes. I want to be authentic. That's what I'm looking at. So, if I did not have certain ingredient to put into what I was cooking, I wouldn’t make it that day.

05:08 MARNY: So, that's the real Jamaican food. Yeah. Okay. Have your products changed much over the years?

05:16 ALBERT: Not really. No. Not really at all. Not really. I wouldn't say I have much changes. I, I got Amish, I have to mention these people. I got the Amish people. They're growing my Scotch bonnet pepper now. Yes. And they're growing my scallion now. Okay. I mean it's a far distant out of Toronto to get it, but we have developed a relationship over the last 10 years with the Amish farmers. So, that's how I'm getting some of my products now and I'm grateful to have them. They're wonderful people.

06:00 MARNY: Yes, I bet.

06:01 ALBERT: So, I look forward to go to the farm.

06:03 MARNY: So, you go there,

06:05 ALBERT: Yes. Yes, I go to the farm there.

06:08 MARNY: And your other products, you Source? –

06:11 ALBERT: Yes, yes, it comes out of a lot of the product come out of Jamaica. Yes. And I must say the Ontario Food Terminal has quite a bit of selections. Yes. So, I go there too.

06:25 MARNY: Right. A lot of work for you. Yeah. How about your staff? You were sort of mentioning that there was a bit of a roller coaster. Well. Has your staff changed a lot already?

06:34 ALBERT: Yeah, yeah. Yes. But everybody, every human being, you know, we all have different, And as an employer, you have to be able to understand strength and weakness. And I should have mentioned this before I continue the conversation. I'm severe dyslexic.

07:01 ALBERT: Yes, I am. And I have my own challenges.

07:05 MARNY: Yes. Yes. Right.

07:06 So, I'm very, I can be very observative. Yes. With people. Because, you know, I would say that in the last conversation we had here that everybody has some kind of a disability.

07:25 MARNY: Oh, you said it! That's true.

07:27 ALBERT: So, basically, You're just going to try to understand people and I don't know everything. But I do my best to try to figure people out where there's strength and weakness.

07:45 MARNY: Yes, use the strength and try to smooth over the weakness.

07:49 ALBERT: Yeah, try to smooth over the weakness and throughout my years I have run into a lot of people and a lot of families that have issues with their kids after I share my story of being dyslexic, then I've had talk to a whole lot of people about disabilities. So, I am very much one of them is an, an advocate of talking about people with disabilities.

08:28 MARNY: Now, you mentioned that you were working in the bottle cap factory, and you started up the business. Now, who did the cooking them in those days?

08:41 ALBERT: At the time, it was tough. I know how to cook because my mom taught me well, and I've been cooking ever since I was a child. My mom taught me stuff because we had a large family.

09:00 MARNY: Yes, and you were willing to learn.

09:03 ALBERT: And whether you want to learn or not, mom has you in the kitchen, you've got to do whatever she says.

09:07 MARNY: I see.

09:08 ALBERT: So, that's kind of how this is all started, and I work in the industry Jamaica for a number of years before I came to Toronto. Okay, So, I You know, that's a little bit of information here and there and then.

09:25 MARNY: So, it was you doing the cooking as well as the other job Here

09:29 ALBERT: Yes, yes doing that and then I have a little bit of help Okay, and then the help became a roller rollercoaster.  Sometimes I'm there from, from three in the evening till sometime two in the morning. My wife and I, you know she was very helpful back in the earlier years yes because I didn't afford to hire a bunch of staff I didn't know where the business was going, So, I was being careful, of how many people there and stuff like that, but we grow.

10:06 MARNY: Yes. Yes. So, do you still do all the cooking or do you have -

10:09 ALBERT: No, no, no, no, no, no, no. There is about, uh, if I'm not mistaken, I think there's about 16 people. Not all full time, but, um, about 16 of us.

10:22 MARNY: Okay. And you train them?

10:24 ALBERT: Yes, I train them, but over the years I step back a little bit in training, because you know, I like to train, but there's a lot of people there now who can do the training, So, I, you know,  pass some of this training off. After 40 years of doing the same thing, you know, you get a little bit of, who wants some of the job of somebody else.

10:52 MARNY: I just wonder if I could go back to your own history. You came to Canada when?

11:00 ALBERT: Well, I've been I'm living in Canada now about 40, I think 47 years I've been here.

11:08 MARNY: Okay So, it was in the 1990s? 1980s?

11:13 ALBERT: Yeah, I think - I'm not mistaken, don't quote me in it. I think I came in '76 if I'm mistaken. –

11:20 MARNY: Okay, you came in '76. Right, and then it was after 14 years. Oh, no, you worked for the bottle company for 14 years, and you started your business. –

11:30 ALBERT: Started my business then, like I said.

11:37 MARNY: After a few years, after a few years of being in Canada, but not right away.

11:41 ALBERT: No, I worked for the company for 13 or 13 years, I think. 13 years if I'm not mistaken. Sure. I think it's 13 years and then since you put 13 years.

11:52 MARNY: Yeah, that's 1980 – 1990, 1990.

11:56 ALBERT: Okay, and you put 41 years.

11:58 MARNY: Yeah. So, Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

12:01ALBERT: It’s been a lot of years.

12:02 MARNY: Oh yes, it's certainly has. Um, what was the block? You said your business was a Pizza Pizza. What was the whole sort of area there between Bathurst and say, which would?

12:15 ALBERT: Well, you have the um -

12:18 MARNY: Has it changed?

12:19 ALBERT: Oh, hell of a lot.

12:20 MARNY: Yes. Yep.

12:22 ALBERT: It's changed a lot. You have the BiWay back then. Then you have the Salvation Army that's moved. Then you have the Coral Reef, it used to call it the Coral Reef, and you have, called Gouda's food, Goudi's, not Gouda's, Goudi's food, [Note: Goudi’s Food Market] which was where the apartment building is now.

12:43 MARNY:   Right on the corner?

12:44 ALBERT: Right on the corner there, and then you have a place that the kids go from St. Mikes to play games and stuff like that. Video games. I don't remember the name of it, and then you have a place called Fatso's. Right. That was there.

13:00 MARNY: I've forgotten where Fatso's was.

13:02 ALBERT: Right, and then you have at first you have I think you had Dunkin Donut* [Note: This was a Mr. Donut store] that was there and then after Dunkin Donut then you have, I think Coffee Time came there and then um there there were so many changes.

13:22 MARNY: The church has always been on the other corner opposite you the St. Alphonsus, right?

13:26 ALBERT: Thank God, it's still there.

13:28 MARNY: That's good. Yeah, that has not changed, but practically everything else has. Yes, you've outlasted a lot of changes.

13:35 ALBERT: Well, yes, I but I do not give the credit to myself alone. Oh, no, I don't. There's a lot of people that contributed to this. And the workers, who, 40 years you go through a lot of people, but with all the people that contributed, if it wasn't for them. And the workers today, you know, and like I said, the people of Toronto, And that must be said, this is very important, the Almighty God who gave me strength every day to go on.  Without Him, none of this would have been possible.

14:27 MARNY: Right. I'm sure there have been times when you really needed Him.

14:31 ALBERT: Oh God, yes.

14:32 MARNY: Yes. You see a lot of things. Yes. How did the changes along the St. Clair affect your business?

14:40 ALBERT: Well, I got to be honest with you, when they first put in the right of way, it was a nail biter.

14:48 MARNY: The streetcar right of away?

14:49 ALBERT: Yes. I got to mortgage my house, yes, to stay afloat.

14:54 MARNY: I see.

14:56 ALBERT: I have to.

14:57 MARNY: Because it affected business a lot.

14:58 ALBERT: It affected business, yes.

15:00 MARNY: Oh, dear.

15:01 ALBERT: Yes, but I must say that people, there was some loyal, loyal, loyal customer. That, they would do everything to come and help and support me. Because, you see, I'm not all about me, okay, I'm about people.

15:34 ALBERT: And there's Something that I have done for all people, is if you come into my place and you don't have money to pay for food, and you, I go, “Eat”. I feed everybody. The street people are coming, they don't afford to buy something and I'm gonna say to the staff, “Feed them. Just give them whatever they want to eat.”, because this is one of my philosophies. Okay?

16:12 MARNY: Yes.

16:13 ALBERT: And I want you to listen to this one very carefully. There are some people who are millionaires, but they don't share. I consider myself, in food, I am a millionaire, in food. Okay, I have tons of food. So, I share it with the people who don't, who don't afford to pay.

16:42 MARNY: Wonderful. And have you seen more people in that situation in the last few years or has it always been pretty much?

16:50 ALBERT: Well, put it this way. I don't really look in the last few years of the times that we're in. I look at, I want, okay,  and, um, what I do like as I said food is a gift from god, and if somebody don't have food to eat and you have food, like as I said again and I’ll repeat, when it comes to food I’m a millionaire having food I have so much food that um I’m willing to share it with the ones who don't have.

17:33 ALBERT: Now, let's go back here to this. There's a scripture in the Old Testament that says much given, much is expected. Much given to me, much is expected of me.

17:50 MARNY: Yes, I understand.

17:52 ALBERT: So, I have that that obligation too. They have not, the one who does not have, and I can see them. Not every day they come but when they do come up, they know my door is open.

18:11 MARNY: Yes. Wonderful. Yeah. Well, no wonder you're a local celebrity.

18:17 ALBERT: Well, I don't know if I'm a celebrity, but I'll take it from you, but I'm not. So, I really don't work as hard as I am.

18:24 MARNY: Perhaps not. How about connections with other businesses and on St. Clair do you have much?

18:33 ALBERT: Yes, yes.

18:34 MARNY: Which ones do you?

18:35 ALBERT: Well one I love Italian food. That's number one. I go to Ferro. Ferro are one place that I love to go. When I go there, they treat me like family. So, when I have my Italian itch, I go to Ferro.

19:03 MARNY: Okay. How about any other business?

19:07 ALBERT: I go to the, you know, places where there's a little desert here and there. But other than that, when I really, once in a while I'll go through it and get some, or something. But I don't know about that. I'm kind of, I'm a Ferro's boy.

19:27 MARNY: Right. Okay. Okay. And since you live in Mississauga, there's no sense in doing things like getting your paint or you know going to the other kind of the other stores. Not, not just restaurants but others.

19:41 ALBERT: Well, I used to, I used to go, um.  I used to go to the paint shop here many years ago I used to go there and buy stuff and there's a paint shop now that opened next door to me. Where the Budget used to be. I go there occasionally to buy stuff .Because if I'm doing stuff with a contractor, normally they provide their own paint and all that stuff,

20:09 MARNY: Yeah. Okay.

20:10 ALBERT: And I go to a grocery store across the street, a Chinese place to buy vegetable, here and there.

20:15 MARNY: Oh, the fruits, the one that's, yes,

20:18: ALBERT: Yes, yes. I go there to buy stuff. Yes. And I go to the hardware.

20:22 MARNY: Oh, yes.

20:23 They're lovely people. Always in there, giving them jokes. I love owners. We get along very well. They're good people. And that's helpers out there. Yes. That's my second little, um, between Ferro and that place. I'm always in there getting stuff. And they're very good to me. They're very good people. Yeah.

20:49 MARNY: Oh, nice to hear that. Um, did you, you lived, you said on Bathurst, you lived in the neighborhood?

20:55 ALBERT: Yes, I lived in Bathurst when I first came to Canada.

20:58 MARNY: Where on Bathurst did you live?

21:00 ALBERT: I used to live at 1650 at one point, I used to live at 1862, Bathurst.

21:07 MARNY: So, that's a bit north of St. Clair?

21:10 ALBERT: Yeah, that was north, close to Eglinton.

21:13 MARNY: Okay, okay, So, you've never actually lived along St. Clair in the neighborhood. So, we've heard about your favorite places So, far. And what about the TTC barns? I know that the streetcar was a problem for you when they converted it, but what about the Barns? Did you have anything to do with that?

21:40 ALBERT: I have gone there a couple of times. There's a few times that I've gone there to do food and some patties and that stuff at one point. I haven't really done nothing there in a long time. I haven't. Matter of fact, I haven't done a lot of catering. I used to do a little catering out of the restaurant, but you know, caterings very hard. It's a lot of work. –

22:02 MARNY: Isn’t it. –

22:03 Yeah. You know, you break down and you load up, and you get this, and you get a that. But I haven't done nothing at Wychwood for a while, but I've done a few things. A few, um, venues. Then you go, uh, while back. I haven't done nothing in a while.

22:16 MARNY: Do you like the way they've changed it?

22:19 ALBERT: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I, you know, I, I like the way they have things there.

22:24 MARNY: It's been good for the neighborhood compared to those empty streetcar barns.

22:28 ALBERT: Yes, and the markets, and I I think I saw around that around he was a good guy, Joe Mihevc, I think he did a wonderful job with the Barns. Yes. I mean, he'll always be remembered for what he has done as a counselor around here. Because I remember a couple of times I had to go out, I had a few issues, and I had to go to him, and he was available to me.

22:55 MARNY: He, he was helpful.

22:56 ALBERT: Yeah.

22:57 MARNY: Well, he is still around, but he's not a counsellor.  As a matter of fact, he lives quite close to here. I was going to ask you about some celebrities you've met, or important people, anybody, has anybody interesting?

23:17 ALBERT: Well, I've met quite a few people. I mean, they're... I met so, many people that I can't even remember their darn names. I honest to God, there's a lot of people that come through my door. And in the earlier years, the Blue Jays boys used to eat at my place in the earlier years, and  um -

23:43 MARNY: - That’s exciting!

23:44 ALBERT: - they used to eat and –and a lot of, just a lot of people from, from can't remember everybody’s name. The manager used to come there, Cito Gaston.  See they used to come in and eat.

23:59 MARNY:  Oh my.

24:00 They used to eat and – and then the chief and like everybody come. And, and a lot of , I have quite a lot of Memorabilia on my wall, all the people that come. Like as I said, everybody who is somebody comes to my place. Everybody in the middle of the road comes to my place. Everybody comes to the restaurant.

24:28 MARNY: At some point.

24:29 ALBERT: At some point. But I have, you know, like the celebrity, a lot of them comes through there. And, and this guy when he used to come to Canada, and it's a very famous guitarist Santana.

24:46 MARNY: Oh, yeah

24:47 ALBERT: He used to sell and pick up his stuff at the restaurant.  Stuff like that. So, um, you know, I said everybody come. I've known people that um, that um,  live in California, works in Hollywood, you know, they come, and they know, like, like everybody come. But I don't wear it out on my shoulder to be very honest with you. I treated everybody equally, type of thing. Yeah, So, you know, it is what it is.

25:25 MARNY: And I hear you got an award. This is something that -

25:30 ALBERT: Yeah

 25:31 MARNY: The Jerome -  

25:33 Yes, I have. I have put it this way. I have, with God's will, I have been in just about every paper in Toronto.

25:42 MARNY: Oh really?

25:45 ALBERT: Yes, I have. And thanks to the people of the city. Yes. I mean, name it and I have, I have gotten the Harry Jerome Award. I have two Queen’s Jubilee medals. I have that street, that little street up there that name after me at Bathurst.  and north of St. Clair there. And I have, with God's will, I and the people of course I mean - I have been blessed. –

26:19 MARNY: Yes, good -

26:20 ALBERT: - So, I am very grateful for that, but I have. Okay?

26:24 MARNY: So, the Harry Jerome Award, what's that for? –

26:29: ALBERT: That was for business. –

26: 31MARNY: Yes, for running a successful business.

26:33 ALBERT: - Yes, yes, that was for business. At that year, [Note: 1999] that was the one that I was nominated for that. And, uh, Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien, was there too.

26:42 MARNY: - Oh my –

26:43 ALBERT: Yes, and like everybody, like I'm grateful, like I said, very grateful for all the, for all the support that I got over the years. And, I must say to you, when I first started the business, there was a, the government back then have a little grant. And it was a little business loan that, hey, Pierre Trudeau then, back in the days, have a little loan called a New Ventures Loan, which if you have $15,000, they will match your $15,000, but you've got to pay back the loan. It was 1 % above prime at the time.

27:31 ALBERT: So, with the Liberal Party back then, and when Trudeau was the Prime Minister back then, that little loan, that loan was made available to Canadians, not just for me. So, I was very lucky to, to, to get that loan. Which I paid back in full and that's kind of how I started.

28:03 MARNY: Yes, you took a risk. Yes, you took a risk, but you had good support and, from your wife especially I would say. Sounds like. But that that loan really helped

28:15 ALBERT: Yeah, that $15,000 plus my 15 yeah really help Yes, I went out and I utilized a little money that I had, and I went to the restaurant supply place and then got used equipment. Everything was used. Because back in those days, you don't get the money in your hand. You got to buy a piece of equipment, you got to bring the receipt and then they release the money. So, it's not like you're just taking money, you know, no way. That's a part of what make me who I am today was that $15,000 from the government, which I paid that, yeah.

28:58 MARNY: And then you later, because you said of the St. Clair, the streetcar, you had to mortgage your house.

29:09 ALBERT: I got to find some money. I, -

29:11 MARNY: - To keep going.

29:12 ALBERT: To keep going.

29:14 MARNY: And then now you've been able to pay that back, I'm sure.

29:17 ALBERT: Well, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Actually, no. What we actually did, now it came back to my mind. We did talk about mortgaging, but I used our savings.

29:27 MARNY:  Okay. Okay.

29:28 ALBERT: And that's mortgage in my house. So, we're saving that we have.

29:30 MARNY: Oh, I see.

29:31 ALBERT: We have to pull everything out. Okay. You see that not a mortgage or a place that we're living in, but we have to pull out our savings to keep afloat.

29:44 MARNY: So, what I'm wondering is, has the dedicated streetcar now that it's running, has that helped, is business picked up since then?

29:53 ALBERT: Well, the thing is, like, been around for 40 years, you know, things change. And you get different, different people coming.  And one of the good things about me and people, I have third generation coming in. You gotta understand. 40 years ago, some of the people that are coming to the restaurant, they were 40.  Now, they're 80. Okay, yeah, and then their kids come and then their kid’s kids are coming.

30:30 ALBERT: They understand me. So, I looked at myself as I reach out to people and people reach out back to me. And that's one of the things I love about being, working with people. I don't know everything about people. I think I know people very well.

31:03 MARNY: It's the give and take, I think is what you're saying.

31:04 ALBERT: Yes. I was at the Human Rights Commission for a while. I sat on the board at one of the Interior Human Rights Commission at some point. So, I have an idea of how people work and what to expect from one that they expect. I learned a lot when I was at the commission.

31:32 MARNY: That must have been very interesting.

31:34 ALBERT: I had a wonderful boss. Her name was Barbara Hall.

31:38 MARNY: Oh yes, Barbara Hall.

31:41 ALBERT:  Yes, she, I learned a hell of a lot from her. Yep, I am very, she was always in the back of my mind. I've learned a lot there about people.

31:54 MARNY: Yes, I'm sure you did. Human Rights Commission, that must have been, some important decisions have to be made.

32:02 ALBERT:  Yes, yes, So, I am very much affiliated with some understanding people in general. And I thank God for that, by having that experience.

32:21 MARNY: Albert, overall, what would you say are some of the positives of having a business on St. Clair?

32:29 ALBERT: Well, you know something the positive is, is you've grown over the years, and I have an open heart to people that's one that's one of the positive things. I, excuse me, I get to know people. And one other positive thing is, is helping people. Yes. And I got a story I'm going to share with you while it's in my head.

33:03 ALBERT:  I remember buying kids the first computer when some parents did not afford to buy their kids computers. I would buy computers for them.

33:13 MARNY: Oh my.

33:14 ALBERT:  Yes. And one of the greatest things is, is to see some of them come back and say, "Thank you very much. You bought my first computer."

32:23 MARNY: Oh, yes. The circle, the circle of gratitude.

33:32 ALBERT:  There was a gentleman, I think, his story is a story that I'll always remember for as long as I live. I remember speaking to this gentleman one morning and every morning I go to the donut shop to buy a coffee. I saw him sitting in a chair there. And one morning I walk over to him, and I sit down, "How is it? Every morning sitting down. Do you have a job?" And he said to me, "Yes, Mr. Albert, I have a job. I drive taxi at night. But just to let you know I'm an engineer and I can't find work.

34:19 ALBERT:  And my, my head went into a thinking mode. My brain went into a thinking mode. And I said to myself, You gotta create a formula for this guy.  So, what I actually did, I said you're an engineer. What you need to do is to go back to school and do engineering. You're already an engineer, of course it's going to be a hell of a lot easier for you, cause you're already an engineer in Germany.

34:57 ALBERT:  And he looked at me like I've never heard that before. And I saw tears running down his face and I said to myself I may be hit a wrong card there this morning, Albert.  But anyway, story is a very good story. He said to me, I said I think we should go back to school and lo and behold, I didn’t see him for about two weeks, I said to myself, Maybe this guy felt insulted, insulted that he doesn't come up to the donut shop anymore.

35:36 ALBERT:  But anyway, I saw him about a month later, or three weeks later, he says, "You know, Mr. Albert, I took your advice. I enrolled in university."

35:48 MARNY: Really? He did it.  

35:50 ALBERT:  And honest to God, I had tears running down my face. He said, "I enrolled, I listened to you, and I enrolled in university." I said, "Where are you going?" He said, "I'll be going to Guelph." Guelph, I forgot the name of the university down there, but anyway.

36:08 MARNY: It's called, that's it, University of Guelph,

 36:11 ALBERT:  yes. University of Guelph. And so, he went back to school, which is all good. But every so, often he come to report what he's done. So, he came back once and he says, "I need to talk to you." With a stern look on his face. I said to myself, "I've told so many people the story. Wonder if he heard back and he's going to come after me."

36:32 ALBERT:  He says, "No." He says, "Let me report to you. I've got to tell you what's going on. Because of you, I'm actually doing what I'm doing. And my professor told me that I'm the smartest one in my class. And what are you going to do when you leave here?” He said, “You're a very smart young man.” And honest to God, it was helping me and we're talking.

37:01 ALBERT:  And I said, “You did it.” He says, “Thank you, Mr. Albert.” I said, "I didn't do it." I said, "You did it. Not me. I may plant a little seed, but you did it.” However, to make a long story short, he finished his university, came out, got his first job he got, started off at $40 ,000. That was his first job. –

37:22 MARNY: Oh! Nice.

37:25 ALBERT:  And he works there for a while, and I guess he moves up, but there was a job come available for him for, there was a job available, and he applied for it. 100 people applied for the job. He came back, I was sitting on the church wall and said to me, "You know I need to talk to you about something." And I go, "But what?" He says, "You know I applied, the 100 people applied for this job and I got it." Said they hire me. "Thank you, Mr. Albert." And he said, "Just to let you know that I'm going to be working for the UN."

38:01 MARNY: My goodness.

38:03 ALBERT:  Yes. And that is a story that I share whenever time I get a chance to talk about people.

38:12 MARNY: Yes.

38:14 ALBERT:  Sometimes people are like a standard car With an alternator and a little bit of juice in the battery. Sometimes all in need is just a push, slide it into gear, and drive!

38:35 MARNY: That's what happened, that's for sure you I think it's so, interesting that when you talk about what's positive about being on St. Clair it’s about the people. That's so, wonderful.

38:47 ALBERT:  It's about the people and like I said I have helped with just about everything that you can talk about.  I have talked to every sex. About everything. They aren’t afraid to say to me, “Look I need to talk to you.” And they'll talk to me about all different kind of issues yes and so, I get it. You understand?

39:25 MARNY:  Yeah, yeah, I think you're part psychologist.

39:28 ALBERT:  Well, the thing is you gotta look at things from a human perspective right. You know the two ways of giving?

39:46 MARNY: No, not really. I mean –

39:48 -You don't. I'll tell you two ways of giving: when you give with your hand you have an expectation. When you give with your heart you don't expect nothing.

40:00 MARNY: I See, okay, okay.

40:04 ALBERT:  You understand?

40:05 MARNY: Yep. 

40:06 ALBERT:  So, that's kind of how I lived my life. And that's kind of how my parents, my mother, she has held a role in this. True, because I'm from a very large family. You know, my mother had 15 of us. And some didn’t make it, you know. But that's how we have, that's where I came from, that's a stop that I came from.

40:36 MARNY: Yes. And the example that you started from, yes. If there's anything you would change about St. Clair, what do you think that would be?

40:46 ALBERT: It is very hard to say what I would change about St. Clair. I, I wish when they were selling the building I was in, that would have given me first offer, I think.

40:59 MARNY: Oh, that didn't happen?

41:01 ALBERT: No, that didn't happen. So, I did put it in my lease, I would like to have first option, I didn't get that opportunity.

41:12 MARNY: Oh, dear.

41:14 ALBERT: So, that hurts. But at the same time, what can I say? It's all in God's hands

41:29 MARNY: So, you're not, you know, seeing all these condos going up and so, on you're not against that kind of change.

41:37 ALBERT: No, no, no. People have to find a place to live. That's number one. I'm not against, we're gonna live somewhere. And it's up to our leaders to create that living space for us. I'm not against anything. You know, you're gonna argue, which a lot of people don't understand. You come into this world with nothing, you go with nothing.

42:13 MARNY: True enough.

42:14 ALBERT:  So, we can argue as much as we want about, I should have this, and I should have that. When you die, you don't see all the universe, all your belongings.

42:36 MARNY: That's right.

42:37 ALBERT:  So, you live.

42:43 MARNY: Good for you. That's a very good attitude to have, I think. Well, Albert, thank you so, much for coming today and answering my questions and telling us about your experiences here, and we look forward to putting this interview up on the website.

43:07 ALBERT:  That's how it is, you don't argue and fight, do all the other stuff, and you don't do that. You let things, everything fall into place, And if you and I, you can't let that wrong. Like you, people gonna know it. If you and I know what the future is, we all would do things differently. Nobody knows what the future is, but the Almighty God. I’ll close on that. Thank you.

Image Credit: A trip down St. Clair. Joe Testagrose photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection.