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Vincent Lai, Nicey’s Food Mart CEO, Passes On

Vincent Lai, Nicey’s Food Mart CEO, Passes On

Photo above is of the late Vincent Lai and his wife, Lorain.

TORONTO, Ontario — Vincent Lai 65, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nicey’s Food Mart, passed away at his home in Richmond Hill, Ontario, on Friday, February 13, after a brief illness.

Vincent was the beloved husband of Lorain Fay Lai (née Duncan) and the father of son, Dr. Richard Vincent Lai (Daughter-in-law Kari Drue Lai (née Abraham) and daughters Melissa Katherine Lai (Son-in-law Nishan Gageton Jeyarajah) and Camille Rene Lai.

Vincent was born in Kwantung, China, on March 1, 1950 and migrated, in 1954, to Jamaica with his parents. The family resided in the Montego Bay area and Vincent attended, and graduated from, Cornwall College.

Vincent married Lorain Fay Duncan in August, 1976 and, shortly after, migrated to Toronto, Canada.

In 1979, he purchased Niceys Food Mart, a small West Indian grocery store in Scarborough. He successfully built and developed Niceys Food Mart into the largest Chinese West Indian Supermarket group in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with
franchises in Brampton, Downsview, Pickering, Vaughn and Mississauga.

Vincent was well known in the Chinese and West Indian communities and was recognized for his philanthropic involvement and work.

He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the BBPA Harry Jerome President’s Award in 2013 and the Jamaica Observer newspaper’s Business Leaders Award for Promoting Entrepreneurship in 2010.

Vincent is survived by brothers, Joslyn Lai, Cosmo Lai (Sister-in-law Susan), Derick Lai (Sister-in-law Valerie Hoang) and sister, Patricia Hue (Brother-in-law Frank Gary Hue) and sister-in-law Mary Lai, and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Austin and Edith Lai, and sisters, Gloria, Myrtle and Shirley, and brothers, Ronald (Sonny) and Errol Lai.

There will be viewings on Thursday, February 26, between 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Highland Funeral Home, 3280 Sheppard Ave. East, in Scarborough.

His funeral service will be held on Friday February 27, at 10:00am at St. Patrick’s Church, 5633 Highway #7, in Markham, Ontario.

In memory of Vincent, donations — in lieu of flowers — should be sent to: The Missionaries of the Poor (Canada) Inc. at 5762 Highway # 7 East, P.O. Box 54096 Markham, ON. L3P 7Y4.

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