Owen Sound Mourns Restaurant Owner Sharif Rahman, Murdered by Customers

Rahman was the owner of The Curry House. According to police, he and his nephew were attacked by male patrons on August 17th over an unpaid bill. The male patrons fled the scene and are still being sought by police. 

In critical condition, Rahman was first taken to a hospital in London, Ontario where he was put on life support. He subsequently passed away on August 24 ‎إنا لله وإنا اليه راجعون. His funeral was conducted by the Owen Sound Muslim Association (Masjid) on August 27th.

The response of the Owen Sound community to Rahman's assault and subsequent death has been heartwarming.

Walking vigils, a drumming circle, and a make-shift memorial in front of his restaurant have all been ways the community have mourned his loss and shown support for his family.

Rahman, 44, came to Owen Sound from Bangladesh in 2015. He served as a member of the board of the YMCA of Owen Sound. According to the YMCA, Rahman supported the centre as "a Health, Fitness and Aquatics member; an Employer who utilized YMCA Employment Services to offer job opportunities to community members; a supporter of YMCA’s Grey Bruce Settlement Services programs and activities welcoming newcomers to Owen Sound and Grey Bruce; and through his business, The Bee Café in the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre, located just outside the main entrance to the Y, which he and his family run.We know these are just a few ways in which Sharif leaves a lasting legacy of compassion and care for his community."

He leaves behind a wife, Shayela, and daughter, as well as his brother and nephew.

Rahman's friend, local realtor Mark Barbosa, has set up a fundraiser on Go Fund Me to support Rahman's family.

The funds will be directed to:

• Covering medical bills and any related treatments.
• Providing support for "The Curry House" to ensure its continuity in Sharif’s absence.
• Assisting Sharif's family with daily necessities and unforeseen expenses.

Before his death, in response to support of the local community, his widow, Shayela, wrote the following:

"Hello, Lovely People of the Owen Sound Community and beyond. I literally spent hours just thinking about how and what to write to express my gratitude to all the lovely people for the love they are showering on my family. Despite my sincere efforts, I could not figure out the best words to truly express my appreciation and where to begin with. If I were to write about all the reasons for which I am grateful to you on little pieces of paper, they would perhaps be compiled into a book! You all are amazing, and I am blessed to have the opportunity to spend some time in my life with the lovely people of this community. It's this lovely community that does not leave us feeling deserted after Sharif’s critical health condition following an awful assault. The whole community stood up and did everything that was humanly possible. You have donated money, organized a parade, said prayers, sent us flowers in the restaurant with wishes, dropped off cards to our residence, offered voluntary help and what’s not to demonstrate your unconditional love and immense care for us. Sharif's critical condition is an irreparable loss for us. I wonder how difficult it could have been without a community that loved and supported us unconditionally after the unfortunate traumatic incident. Accept my sincere gratitude on behalf of our family for everything you are doing for us in this rough time. We are grateful to you for being there with us by extending your hand with love and helping us feel connected with the community. Your kindness, love, and generosity truly give our family the strength to navigate this difficult time and be resilient. I wish I could have better words to express how grateful and blessed I felt seeing everything you all are doing for my family."

Community members and patrons of The Curry House have also been leaving messages of condolences on the fundraising campaign page.

To donate to the fundraising campaign, click here