For the past 12 years since arriving in Canada, Shafiq Qureshi has been a hot-dog vendor, for the better part of that time at the corner of Robson and Burrard streets. He often works 12-hour days. Mr. Qureshi has very good customers and 'summertime is good money,' he says, but he doesn't look forward to winter: 'The cold weather with the rain, wind, and I'm standing continuously [outside]to make $100 or $50. I'm open all the time, it doesn't matter how's the weather.' Still, he says, 'so far I'm happy. I'm doing something, better than staying home and [collecting]welfare.
"It looks like nothing but it's a very hard business."
Shafiq Qureshi, hot-dog vendor