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Leo’s father opened the shop in 1976 and to this day, it’s a family-run business that values community.

During his time at Dal, Leo learned some crucial entrepreneurial skills, such as time management and organization, that he still relies on today to run his business. 

How did you come to be the owner at Tony’s?

Ever since my father opened the store, it’s been a family business. Even though I own Tony’s now and run the day to day, it remains very much still a family business as my siblings contribute to the ongoing success of the restaurant.

How did Dal prepare you for becoming a business owner?

At Dal, I learned some important skills like time management, organizational skills, and learning how to prioritize tasks. Working in hospitality also relies on your social skills, which I also connect to my time at Dal. I was always meeting new people and developing my social circle. Dal also enriched my sense of community, which is a big part of Tony’s success.

What is your favourite part of owning and operating Tony’s Donair?

Tony’s Donair has been running for almost 50 years. Although there are stressful days and pressure, it’s the family legacy that really keeps me motivated. It’s also exciting to introduce first timers and tourists to donairs. I like to say that you’ll always remember your first kiss and you’ll always remember your first Tony’s Donair!

What is a typical day at work like?

I check in at the shop first thing, review the numbers from the night before, talk through issues and successes with the team. After that, I’m usually running errands most days and sometimes I hang around and help at the shop, where and when I can.

What are some of your favourite memories of Dal?

Some of my favourite Dal memories are the new friends I made while there and lifelong friendships I’ve kept to this day. Entering a new journey in your life is never easy, but looking back all I can say is wow, what a journey university life was and I’m all smiles just thinking about that right now.

What advice would you give to recent grads embarking on their career journey?

We all have different challenges, dynamics and life paths. From my experience (and some of this may sound cliché, but these are my past experiences and continue to be a big part of my life) some important things I’d tell recent grads are:

• Never stop learning.
• Trust your intuition — I really believe that. That doesn’t mean you won’t make mistakes, whether in your future careers or future business endeavors, but keep going and trust yourself. Never hesitate to ask for help and ask all the questions!
• The fact is, we are never going to get it right every time and things will never be perfect, but that’s part of the beauty of the journey. We have to continue to strive to be better than the day before.
• Always aim to be a better version of yourself and honestly, there is no better feeling than being kind.
• Success is one thing, but family, friends and health are more precious than any amount of money. Always keep that in the back of your mind.
• You will face fear, but you will also overcome that fear in anything you do.
• We are very fortunate to be Dal alumni because you will always have someone to talk to and to offer you advice on their past experiences. I know my door is always open and I can guarantee you many more feel and will do the same.
• Go Tigers!! 😊

What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?

I love coaching soccer; that is another favourite Dal memory of mine. I was privileged and honoured to be part of the Dal Men’s Soccer coaching staff for 10 years and thinking about that time puts the biggest smile on my face as I write this.

I also love travelling and exploring different countries and cities. Finally, I love spending time by the ocean! You can often find me on the oceanside or beachside anytime I get the chance to be there.

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