Potluck Caribbean Cuisine, a pillar of the Jamaican community in Mississauga, Canada, recently donated CAN$4,000 (approximately J$430,424) in scholarships and bursaries to two students at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Portland.

Sharon Johnson Telfer, proprietor of the popular restaurant, made the pledge on December 29 during its 30th anniversary gala at the Jamaican Canadian Association in Toronto.

The beneficiaries — Hope Bagwadeen and Naomi Muschette — are members of the faculty of Food and Agriculture at CASE.

Johnson Telfer, who is from Yallahs, St Thomas, spoke to Observer Online about the donation.

“There are two key reasons for selecting CASE. First, CASE represents my dream of fostering sustainable agriculture in Jamaica — a legacy for future generations. The institution provides systematic and practical learning in a non-urban environment,” she said. “Second, this choice is a tribute to my late father, Lawrence Telfer, who dedicated his life’s work to advancing agriculture in St Thomas through small farmers’ initiatives and social development.”

The businesswoman added that, “Agriculture is deeply personal to me”, as she cultivates bananas at two of the five Potluck locations in Mississauga.

Johnson Telfer disclosed that most of the funds for the scholarships came from “customers, partners and personal commitment”. She said Potluck’s objective is to make the gesture bi-annual.

Potluck Caribbean Cuisine was launched three years after Johnson Telfer migrated to Canada. The eatery is a go-to spot for lovers of Jamaican cuisine in the Greater Toronto Area, that country’s most diverse region.

“Our clientele has grown steadily over the years, with the only real setback being the anomaly of COVID. Despite that challenge, we’ve remained on a strong path, and the support from our customers continues to be amazing,” said Johnson Telfer.

The CASE started in 1910 and has nurtured the careers of Jamaica’s noted agriculturalists including Dr T P Lecky.