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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