The History of the Canadian
Macedonian Restaurant Co-op
In 1974 the Canadian Macedonian Restaurant Co-op was founded by
restaurateur and business man, Angelo Argiro. For over thirty-three
years the Co-op has been representing and serving the interests
of Macedonian restaurateurs through out the Greater Toronto Area
and beyond. The Canadian Macedonian Restaurant Co-op during its
peak represented the interest of over 220 restaurants. The remarkable
success of the Co-op's mission over the years is a result of three
key principles put forth by its President, Angelo Argiro. The Co-op's
mission is as follows: First, to collectively deal with the mufti-national
suppliers and provide Macedonian restaurant owners more leverage
with respect to pricing, service and benefits. Second, to create
an environment wherein Macedonian business owners are recognized
for their solidarity and as such become a force to be reckoned with,
within the Canadian restaurant industry. Third and most importantly,
to effectively distribute the proceeds earned by the Canadian Macedonian
Restaurant Co-op throughout the Macedonian community. This hugely
important achievement can be attributed to the strength and commitment
of the Co-op's Board of Directors and its dedicated membership over
the years. As a result of its success, the Canadian Macedonian Restaurant
Coop has financially supported a number of important causes such
as: Medicine for Macedonia; the establishment and support of Macedonian
Churches; Hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area; the recognition
of Macedonia globally and within the United Nations; Canadian Macedonian
Placea home for senior citizens. The aforementioned are just a few
of the causes that the Canadian Macedonian Restaurant Co-op has
supported and continues to support under the leadership of its Board
of Directors and its President, Angelo Argiro.
Since arriving in Toronto, Canada as a young man in 1949, Mr. Argiro
has been involved in the Toronto and GTA food service industry for
over four decades. In 1964, he opened the Big MDrive-In, a fast-food
restaurant in south Pickering, Ontario. Mr. Argiro eventually purchased
the property that was home to Big M and with the help of his
son Don, together they transformed the small drive-in into large
and successful full service restaurant known throughout the Durham
region as Massey's.
In both cases, Massey's and Big M became recognizable abbreviations
for Macedonian and the proud heritage that Mr. Argiro and his wife
Christina are well known for supporting through their charitable
work and financial donations within the Macedonian community both
in Canada and in Macedonia.
Mr. Argiro was also one of the founding members of Saint Clement
of Ohrid Macedonian Cathedral in Toronto. His wife Christina is
a member of the Board of Directors at Canadian Macedonian Place
and for over thirty years has been instrumental in fundraising for
CMP, the Canadian Cancer Society and all of the Macedonian churches
in the Greater Toronto Area.
Having always demonstrated a strong commitment to the success of
Macedonian businessmen in Canada, the Macedonian cause in Canada
and throughout the world, Angelo Argiro has fostered a sense of
responsibility and pride of heritage in his children and his grandchildren.
As coming generations of Canadian business men and women of Macedonian
decent advance, it is Angelo Argiro's goal to ensure that the solidarity,
recognition and prosperity of the Canadian Macedonian Restaurant
Co-op and its membership continues to be a benefit to the Macedonian
community today and for generations to come.
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