George Cohon, who brought the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant chain to Canada, passed away over the weekend at the age of 86.
“Last night we said farewell to my Dad,” said son Mark Cohon in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“Our family, Canada and the world lost a remarkable man.”
Cohon was born in Chicago and studied law before moving to Toronto in 1967 to work for the McDonald’s Corporation for Eastern Canada.
He opened his first McDonald’s in London, Ontario, in 1968.
Cohon was then elected president of McDonald’s Canada in 1971. The company now has 1,400 restaurants nationwide.
Cohon was also the founder of the Ronald McDonald House Charities for Canada, helping over 30,000 families a year access quality health care and family centre care.
For his charitable efforts, Cohon was made a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario.
He also received the Canadian version of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal and Diamond Jubilee Medal.
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