Jamaican founder of iconic restaurant in Toronto has died

Edward John Pottinger, popularly known as Ed Pottinger, the co-owner of the iconic The Real Jerk restaurant in Toronto – a cultural institution in the community – died recently, and is being remembered for how he made his customers feel welcomed.

Lily said her husband was the face of the restaurant and always advised the staff to treat customers equally.

“He was a giving, caring, kind-hearted person, but most of all for me personally, he was a fantastic father. We have three children – Troy, Cleigh, and June – and he loved them, he did everything with them,” she said in a radio interview.Ed was born on April 9, 1956, in Kingston, Jamaica, where he first developed his lifelong passion for Caribbean cooking. He passed away on March 11 surrounded by his family.

“ The flavours, traditions, and spirit of Jamaica shaped not only his recipes but also the warm hospitality he brought to everyone he met. Everything was always Irie,” notes an obituary on the website of New Haven Funeral Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

In 1984, The Real Jerk opened its first Toronto location at Queen and Greenwood, before moving to its well-known flagship restaurant at the corner of Queen and Broadview. The Jerk Pit on Richmond was hopping then too, winning awards for live reggae music, notes the restaurant’s website.

“ The Real Jerk is a Toronto restaurant tradition. For three decades, Ed and Lily Pottinger have been offering delicious Caribbean cuisine in a laid-back West Indian atmosphere: their iconic sunshiny logo is a beacon for good food and good times.”

In December 2011, the couple received an eviction notice and after seeking and winning a court injunction, they decided to vacate the Queen and Broadview building in early 2012. Three thousand people had signed a petition in support of them staying at the iconic location.

Rob Davis, a former Toronto city councillor and customer of the restaurant since the late 80s/early 90s, was instrumental in that effort. “ He was one of a kind and put Jamaican and Caribbean food on the map in Toronto,” he wrote about Pottinger’s passing on Facebook.

Since 2013, the couple have operated the restaurant from its Gerrard and Carlaw site; in total, they have been restaurateurs in Toronto for over 40 years.

“We want people to sit, observe, not just come and eat food. We want them to look and say wow, this is what the Caribbean is all about. We have one of [Usain] Bolt there. We’re just trying to share our culture with everybody. I’m proud of where I come from and I want to show it in a positive light,” said Ed about the pictures on the tables in an interview with The Gleaner in 2013.

In 2016, two of the biggest artistes in the music industry –Drake and Rihanna – filmed a video for the Rihanna’s song “ Work” at the restaurant.

Following in his parents’ footsteps, Cleigh opened The Real Jerk Legacy restaurant and event space on College Street in the Little Italy area of the city in 2023. In September 2025, there was a notice on its social media page that it would be closing that week. The Gerrard-Carlaw location was also sold to a longtime manager ensuring that the name and legacy of the restaurant remain.

“ Ed loved spending time with friends and family over a good meal. You could also find him playing tennis, watching the EPL [English Premier League], shooting pool, and slamming dominoes. He was often the life of the party, dancing to lively Caribbean music with customers, family, and friends,” notes the obituary.

The Real Jerk: New Caribbean Cuisine, written by Lily and Ed Pottinger, was published by Arsenal Pulp Press in 2002.

Warren Salmon, CEO of First Fridays, who has known Pottinger since the 1970s, admired him for maintaining a restaurant over four decades. “It was an honour to really know him, support the restaurant, and watch him continue over all those years.”

Pottinger is survived by his wife, mother, sister, two brothers, two sons, daughter, and four grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on March 26 at the funeral centre. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the “staff in care of Edward Pottinger” at Humber River Hospital.

“ With gratitude for your love and support, to honour the outstanding medical staff at Humber River Hospital who treated our family with love and professionalism, we invite you to consider a contribution to either the Urology team or the Cancer Care team at Humber River Hospital, in place of flowers.”

A viewing will be held at 9 a.m., followed by a service at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral centre which is located at 7025 Legion Road in Mississauga, Ontario. There will be a private cremation.