We preserve and honour heritage buildings but what about heritage communities? Gulshan Alibhai, owner of Lahore Tikka House - an iconic restaurant in Toronto's Little India - explores how her community transforms lives. A social worker by trade, Gulshan realized that the impact she hoped to achieve through her profession was happening through this restaurant and its community. In this talk, Gulshan takes you through Little India, sharing why these communities are more than just cultural food and shops, and rather are beacons of hope and places of refuge that we need to preserve as heritage communities. Gulshan took over the operation of the iconic 400-seat restaurant Lahore Tikka House in Toronto’s Little India when her husband passed away in 2013. With a master’s degree in social work, she has worked with diverse populations like immigrants, refugees and individuals with mental health issues. She currently teaches within the social work programs at Wilfrid Laurier University and Seneca College. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx