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UAE's 'Green Sheikh' seeks to build legacy for Calgary restaurateur Marco Abdi


Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi from the United Arab Emirates, right, nearly two years ago with his Calgary representative and restaurateur Marco Abdi at La Brezza at the time. Abdi died early this year.



Thursday, April 23, 2015

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A member of one of the ruling royal families in the United Arab Emirates wants to build a legacy for the late Marco Abdi, the owner of the Italian La Brezza restaurant in Bridgeland who died of lung cancer in February.

Known as the Green Sheikh, Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, an adviser for environmental strategies for the Ajman emirate, said that pursuit would include a book about Abdi, an effort to rename a Bridgeland street after him and the launch of an annual run/walk in Abdi’s name to raise money for charities he supported.

“Marco is really my second spirit,” said Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who knew Abdi for about 18 years. “Not just a friend, not just a brother. He was a unique person. It’s beyond business. It’s friendship, brotherhood, family.”

The Sheikh, who is in Calgary this week, said he came to encourage, empower and support the Abdi family.

“This is a man who really made people not just laugh but showed them their best potential,” he said.

For years, Abdi worked with the Green Sheikh and his family in facilitating introductions with the local business community and the UAE. He said Abdi was a bridge between the UAE and Calgary and Alberta businesses.

“Of course, we’re still open. We will continue the legacy of Marco — to bring people there.”

He said the book about Abdi could be published in English, Italian and Arabic and would include what he called the seven ‘f’s’ of Marco — forever what he did for Canada, his funeral where numerous people attended, friends, family, food, feeling and fun.

“Marco’s spirit was fun,” said the Sheikh. “These are the seven spirits of Marco and I want to put them into a book … People would love to read his story. It’s one of the legacies I want to leave for Marco.”



 





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