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IQBAL AHMAD RIYAZ
Iqbal Riyaz was born in Amritsar, India in 1940, the second youngest of 11 siblings. His family immigrated to Pakistan shortly after partition. He studied pharmacy at university, before immigrating to Canada in his mid-20s in search of adventure.
He arrived in Winnipeg on July 1, 1967, Canada's 100th birthday. His pharmacy degree from overseas was not recognized by Manitoba, so he worked multiple jobs to study pharmacy a second time at the University of Manitoba. One of his jobs was as a cook at a Pakistani restaurant that he co-owned, where he learned to make many dishes that he later became known for, including his haleem, his pulao, and his palak gosht. Cooking became one of his great passions - his children would go on to assemble a cookbook of his recipes to (poorly) replicate his delicious dishes.
He worked as a pharmacist at Health Sciences Centre and was later the owner and sole pharmacist at Brown's Drug Store on Henderson Highway for much of his career. In his youth, he enjoyed piloting glider planes, travelling far and wide, and playing racquet sports. He was very fond of gardening for all his life, spending hours each summer day meticulously caring for his yard and enjoying its splendour. He was an avid Jets and Blue Bombers fan and was thrilled to see the Bombers win their second Grey Cup in a row the night before his passing.
Nothing gave Iqbal Riyaz greater joy than his family and particularly his grandchildren, all of whom are shattered by his sudden loss and will miss his gentle company dearly. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Humeira, his children, Rehan Saniya and Salman, his children-in-law, Mike Adeela and Sumreen, and his grandchildren, Mikhail, Esa, Lilia, Alia, Sufi and Sami.
In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree this spring in a place where you might see it often, and remember him and his love for nature fondly.
Interment has already occurred at Glen Lawn Cemetery, 455 Lagimodiere Boulevard.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 16, 2021
Condolences & Memories (1 entries)
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I was saddened to read of the passing of Iqbal Riyaz. I am the daughter of Harold Brown, the previous owner of Browns drugstore. My grandfather, J Kerr Brown was also a pharmacist starting this business in 1905. I have many fond memories of working with my father in the store growing up. I remember him selling it to Mr Riyaz and happy to see he spent many years there. It is apparent he lived a full and interesting life. Sincerely, Kathryn Brown - Posted by: Kathryn Brown (I am the daughter of the original owner of Brown’s drugstore ) on: Dec 16, 2021