A Montreal restaurant owner named Abdul Rashia Khan has been running a successful “pay it forward program” at his restaurant, Mama Khan, where customers can donate at least five dollars to provide free meal vouchers for those in need. The program has been well-received, with over 712 free meals given out. Khan, who has a background in social work, believes in the importance of charity and giving back to the community. The restaurant has previously offered free meals during times of crisis, such as the 2023 ice storm and power outages. However, the program has recently been halted due to complaints made to the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).
The OQLF, also known as the language police, sent Khan a warning letter regarding his use of English-language social media posts, stating that commercial publications in languages other than French are not allowed in Quebec unless French is more prominent. As a result, Khan had to remove the free meal vouchers from the wall, as they were only in English. This decision was based on fear of facing fines or penalties from the language law enforcement authorities. Khan expressed surprise at the situation, as he was not aware of the laws regarding language use in commercial publications. Despite the setback, he remains committed to supporting those in need, even if the vouchers are no longer available.
Khan explained that he invested time and money into creating the free meal vouchers, which cost approximately $400 to print and design. Running a family-owned restaurant and working 90 hours a week, he had limited resources for marketing and promotion. After sharing his story online, Khan received an outpouring of support from the community, with individuals like food blogger Jason Lee offering to donate vouchers and sponsor meals at the restaurant. While the OQLF clarified that they did not specifically target Khan’s free meal program, they did issue a warning about his social media posts in English.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Khan remains positive and grateful for the support he has received. He acknowledges his mistake in not ensuring that his promotional materials were bilingual or in French, and plans to learn from this experience moving forward. He is determined to continue providing free meals to those in need, even if the vouchers are no longer in circulation. Khan’s dedication to helping others and his commitment to community outreach shine through in his response to the situation. Overall, the incident highlights the importance of understanding and adhering to language laws in Quebec, while also showcasing the resilience and generosity of individuals like Abdul Rashia Khan.
