George Cohon was the founder of McDonald’s Canada who later brought the iconic hamburger chain to Russia.
- Died: November 24, 2023 (Who else died on November 24?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Toronto at the age of 86.
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George Cohon’s legacy
Born in Chicago, Cohon served in the U.S. Air Force and was working as a lawyer when he met McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc. Impressed with Cohon, Kroc offered him a chance to bring McDonald’s to Canada. In 1968, he opened the first eastern Canadian McDonald’s in London, Ontario, and founded McDonald’s Canada; more than 50 years later, there are almost 1,500 restaurants around the country. Cohon committed to his new home, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1973. In 1988, he was honored as a member of the Order of Canada, and he was given a key to the city of Toronto in 2012.
As Cohon grew McDonald’s Canada, he also became determined to bring the legendary burgers to a completely new market: the Soviet Union. He began working on this plan in the 1970s, long before the fall of the Soviet Union, but it wasn’t until the regime’s final days in 1990 that he brought it to fruition. The opening of the first Russian McDonald’s in Pushkin Square was touted as a triumph of capitalism, and tens of thousands of people waited in line to eat at McDonald’s on its opening day. Cohon remained involved with McDonald’s Russia over the years, and he was honored by President Boris Yeltsin (1931–2007) with Russia’s Order of Friendship.
Cohon served as president and CEO of McDonald’s Canada for decades. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities, having brought the program to Canada. Cohon is remembered for helping save Toronto’s famous Santa Claus Parade; when its original sponsor pulled out in 1982 after almost 80 years, he helped lead the group that kept it afloat. He continued to be involved with the Santa Claus Parade for decades.
Cohon on his biggest accomplishment
“[T]he way for me to answer that question is to ask myself ‘What has getting involved with McDonald’s allowed me to do for other people?’ And that’s the charities — the Ronald McDonald Houses; the McHappy Day. The pride I have is what I’ve been able to do through McDonald’s, not only to sell hamburgers or to make a profit but to be a good member in communities around the world — to help society.” —from a 2015 interview for Foodservice and Hospitality
Tributes to George Cohon
Full obituary: The Globe and Mail
