Cathy’s Cafe (operating under the Blessed Abilities Society) is a mission-driven social enterprise with a heart for inclusion. We’re here to empower young people with developmental disabilities through hands-on training, supportive mentorship, and meaningful employment—so they can grow in confidence, independence, and pride.
It all started with a dream…
Cathy’s Cafe began as a heartfelt dream for the Tang family. As the mother of a child with special needs, Cathy envisioned a space where her daughter, Grace, and others like her could find a true sense of belonging. She dreamed of a place where individuals with developmental disabilities could learn life skills, grow in confidence, and find purpose through meaningful employment.
Cathy’s love for local coffee shops inspired her vision of a community cafe built on inclusion. Though she passed away in 2015, her family never lost sight of that dream. In 2025, an opportunity finally arrived to open a cafe in their own beloved neighbourhood of Kerrisdale.
Today, we operate with the same values Cathy lived by: kindness, care, inclusion, safety, and love. We invite you to join us in a space where everyone has a seat at the table.
And continued with love.
After Cathy’s passing, Gary carried her dream forward with love and determination. Inspired by Cathy, and by his journey as a father to Grace, he founded the Blessed Abilities Society in 2021 to create real opportunities for young people with developmental disabilities—especially those who face barriers to employment after finishing school.
Gary married Esther in 2023, and together with his wife Esther and their children Grace and Faith, Gary opened Cathy’s Cafe in 2025 as a mission-driven social enterprise: a welcoming café that serves great food while providing hands-on training in food preparation, customer service, cash handling, and teamwork. Through structured training, meaningful paid employment, and partnerships with schools and disability organizations, Cathy’s Cafe exists to help individuals build independence, belonging, and a future filled with possibility.