By Neil Armstrong
 |
| Photo contributed. Vivienne Nelson-Campbell, CEO of Viv's Catering and Take Out in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. |
When Vivienne Nelson-Campbell, CEO of Viv’s Catering and Take Out, was working at the Jamaican consulate in Toronto, her co-workers were tantalized by the aroma of her lunches and suggested that she should cook and provide lunch for them daily.
She also observed what a restaurant that catered many events at the consulate offered and one day decided to do her own.
Since 1989, Nelson-Campbell has been whetting the taste buds of people in and out of Canada. Her clients include some of Canada’s major banks such as Scotiabank, CIBC, Royal Bank and TD Bank, but also Jamaica National Bank, Jamaica Tourist Board, JAMPRO, GraceKennedy, The Gleaner Company, Mercedes Benz Canada, universities, colleges, and community organizations. She prepares all the meals for Jamaican artistes visiting Canada to perform.
Soon after providing lunch for her colleagues, she found a hole-in-the-wall at Spadina and King streets and was amazed at the array of her customers.
“You should see the people in their suits and everything sitting on the steps eating their lunch. The TD Centre staff, the Winners, all these people coming over to buy their lunch.”
The business was moved to Lakeshore and Islington, then to Eglinton Avenue West and Keele where students at nearby schools bought their lunch.
Nelson-Campbell eventually moved the business into her garage at home in Mississauga. A client was so impressed with the work she did for him that he asked her where she was located.
 |
| Photo contributed Vivienne Nelson-Campbell with her Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for her contribution to the Jamaican Diaspora in Canada at the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards on the lawns of King's House in St. Andrew, Jamaica, on October 20, 2025 — National Heroes' Day. Standing beside her is one of the 141 honourees at the ceremony. |
Upon hearing that she was operating out of her garage, he took her to a location at Pantera Drive in Mississauga where she relocated for 15 years. As a result of the pandemic, the business moved to a different location in 2019.
Nelson-Campbell, 68, who is from Clarendon but grew up in Duhaney Park, says her customers have kept her in business.
“They rely on me so much and it happens that it goes through generations. Even though the parents or grandparents have died, the children and grandchildren are still buying from me.”
Five years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt globally and she had to be creative to survive. Knowing that most of her customers are seniors, the affable entrepreneur prepared the meals and took them to their homes.
“I did a menu and WhatsApp it to them and then they started ordering so that’s how now we prepare it, and we deliver it at home,” she said, noting that the pandemic also resulted in the business changing “eatery” in its name to “take out.” Customers pick up and go, and orders from office staff are delivered.
The pandemic also led Nelson-Campbell to develop a festive season meal so when it is Easter she sends the menu to her customers for them to order and she delivers.
“Since COVID we started doing all the festive season meals so Christmas, Independence, Thanksgiving, and Valentine’s; we prepare the meals and people order.”
Nelson-Campbell used to do a cooking show on Toronto Star TV, on CFRB Radio, and would do cooking shows whenever JAMPRO had new products and held grocery showcases.
She says she has some good customers, and they are all repeaters.
Photo contributed. Jamaican-Canadians honoured on National Heroes' Day in Jamaica. Vivienne Nelson-Campbell is flanked by Dr. Sylvanus Thompson who was appointed to the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer for invaluable contribution to community service and the advancement of Public Health and early Childhood Education in Jamaica from the Canadian Diaspora, on the left, and Chris Campbell, right, recipient of a Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for his contribution to the Jamaican Diaspora in Canada.
As the last child of her parents — both of whom were excellent cooks — Nelson-Campbell said she was labelled as a spoilt child who did nothing and there was no expectation that she would know how to cook.
“I always hear you’re not going to know how to cook anything because you’re not learning. Everybody is saying that you can’t do this, you not going to do this, and I like when people challenge me.”
While they are there talking, she was surreptitiously learning from them how to cook.
One of her elder sisters was well-known for her culinary skills and opened a restaurant in downtown Kingston but eventually left to become the concessioner at the new Daily News. That sister became the concessioner at the National Bakery and then went to Grand Cayman where she opened a restaurant near the cruise ship port.
“I watched them and see how they cook and then I started doing the things and because of that, that’s how my co-workers at the consulate told me to cook for them,” said Nelson-Campbell, noting that it was one of her colleagues there that suggested the name for the hole-in-the-wall — “Viv’s Island Take Out.”
How does she Nelson-Campbell explain the popularity of her business?
“To tell you the truth, I do not advertise because it’s just word of mouth so obviously I realize that my food is good.”
She has developed such a convivial relationship with her customers that they can tell her when she did not cook a meal.
Nelson-Campbell’s full-time job is a child and youth care practitioner, but she ensures that every process is complete in her business. She also has a Caribbean Meals on Wheels for seniors who cannot leave their homes.
No comments:
Post a Comment