I am a heading
When Cezar talks about art, it’s with the purest delight. He shows us around his eclectic space, Grit Studio, a cafe meets art gallery meets community hub. He enthusiastically shows off a large clock on the wall made up of tiny clocks, funky furniture he’s handmade himself, and his army of robot figurines that stand guard over the space. And despite having worked all day, he’s full of energy and can’t stop smiling. This is a person doing exactly what he’s meant to be doing.
“[Grit is] my calling.”
After moving from the Philippines, Cezar left his community and job as an advertising director to start a new life in Canada. Though he was in a new place, his passion for art never left him. The problem was that Cezar wanted to connect with other local artists but didn’t know where they were. So, he came up with an idea to bring Port Moody’s creative community to him. With a lot of hard work, determination, and a supportive family—Cezar took a leap of faith and created Grit Studio. A place for artists to share their work and a gathering place for the community to convene over delicious lattes and thought-provoking art.
Familiar with the ups and downs that come with putting your artistry on display, Cezar poured his heart and soul into Grit so he could help others. When asked why he did it, he explains “My struggle as an artist is also their struggle. Artists need a space to create—without the proper nurturing, space, and people supporting you, it’s hard.”
Named after the very trait that helped Cezar’s little slice of the city thrive after opening in the middle of the pandemic. Cezar’s has quickly turned Grit Studio into a community hot spot—for both artists and coffee enthusiasts. Ask him how he did it and he’ll tell you, “Passion was what was propelling me forward.”
If grit is defined as passion and perseverance to make your dreams a reality—Cezar is the living definition. He has made it his life’s purpose to support a new generation of artists. He is doing something much bigger than serving up coffee and art. Cezar is living his dream and helping others live theirs.
“Grit gives people hope and I must continue on with it.”
A Home
With A Story.
Dr. Mary Anne Cooper
Long-Serving Community Leader and
Recipient of Port Moody’s Highest Honour,
The Freedom of the City Award.
“‘Where there is a will, there is a way ’ has always been a rule with me. I believe that we cannot survive without this social objective. I think we all have a responsibility to give back as well as to receive services throughout life. It is a kind of stewardship to life itself.”
Meet Your Neighbours
Sarah
Resident, Mother,
Storyteller
“My plays are an exploration of loss and how to move forward. I feel like as humans, we’re always having to do that. As humans there’s always something we’re going to have to let go of.”
Cezar
Artist, Owner of Grit Studio,
Energizing Soul
“I’m doing something I’m really passionate about. My struggle as an artist is also their struggle. Artists need a space to create— without the proper nurturing, space, and people supporting you, it’s hard.”
Rainer
Long Term Resident &
Owner of the former Gallery Bistro
“Pretty soon we’re going to have what we’re longing for, which is this village feel around us. A place to get milk and bread.”
Helen
Resident, Community Builder,
Owner of the former Gallery Bistro
“To feel like you’ve made a difference to somebody in what they ended up doing, feels pretty good.”
Taryn
Butcher and Owner of
The Little Butcher
“I feel incredibly accepted as a female butcher… it’s still unusual, probably for every 100 male butchers is one female butcher. But I think it’s becoming more accepted.”
Valentina
Former Irish Dancer,
Aspiring Lawyer
“My interest and desire and wanting to go into the legal profession comes from the great sense of gratitude that I feel for my grandparents and what they had to go through to build a better life for themselves and their families.”
Claire
CEO of SHARE, Mom,
Tri-City Resident
“I love being able to look at the system and try and figure out ways to make it better. It is very rewarding for me to figure out where there’s a problem in the community and how we can fix it.”
Robert
Resident and Historical
Advocate
“As you see a community evolve, you have to capture and protect that information knowing that the physical elements are probably going to disappear. But you have to keep some kind of record of the information and recall some of the life during that era.”
Deanna
Mother, Director of
PoMo Arts, Clayist
“The experience and learnings I have had about reconciliation through participating and attending these events have changed me. A community that participates in this life-long journey is one that I want to be a part of and grow my family with.”
Share Your Story.
The fabric of a community is crafted by its inhabitants. Each and every one of us has a unique journey full of ups and downs, challenges and victories. We learn to persevere, we learn to grow, we learn to adapt. And along the way, we meet people that inspire us, teach us, and motivate us. Do you have a story you want to share? Or perhaps a story about someone who made your life a little brighter?
Start Your
New Chapter Here
Rental Homes Rooted in Port Moody’s Rich Story.
e: info@placemakergroup.ca
