Mandarin co-founder James Chiu welcomes a large crowd on Canada Day.<\/p>\n
He may have been born in Taiwan, but James Chiu\u2019s life became a Canadian success story.<\/p>\n
Chiu, president of the Mandarin Restaurant chain, died on April 29 at the age of 78.<\/p>\n
His passing was announced on the company\u2019s social media channels, which said he died following a lengthy battle with pulmonary fibrosis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have lost a true restaurant icon and a passionate champion of people and community,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n
After arriving in Canada in 1963, his family settled in Montreal, where Chiu later studied business at Concordia University.<\/p>\n
He began his hospitality career at a young age, opening his first restaurant in Montreal before moving with his family to Ontario. In 1979, alongside his future co-founders \u2014 his brother George, sister-in-law Diana, and long-time friend K.C. Chang \u2014 he purchased a small Chinese restaurant in Brampton called the Mandarin.<\/p>\n
As the original Brampton location grew, by 1987 the company began encouraging employees to become franchisees, helping to fuel rapid expansion across Ontario.<\/p>\n
Today, there are 29 locations operating across the province, serving thousands of customers daily, with the company\u2019s head office still based in Brampton.<\/p>\n
While the Mandarin grew into a major brand under Chiu\u2019s leadership, many say he will be best remembered for his commitment to customers and community.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery customer must feel welcomed as soon as they arrive,\u201d was a guiding principle he shared with staff. \u201cEvery customer must be happy and smiling when they leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2014, to mark Mandarin\u2019s 35th anniversary, Chiu invited all Canadian citizens to enjoy a free buffet meal at any location on Canada Day \u2014 a tradition that reflected his appreciation for the country he called home.<\/p>\n
In addition to numerous industry and consumer awards received by the company, Chiu was personally honoured with several accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the City of Brampton, and induction into the Ontario Hostelry Institute Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
The Mandarin also became a major partner of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada in 2013. As a result, the MS Walk in Ontario was renamed the Mandarin MS Walk. By 2019, more than 50 walks across the province had raised over $1 million in support of research and community programs.<\/p>\n
The company also supports post-secondary students across Ontario through a scholarship program.<\/p>\n
Chiu is survived by his wife, Sheila, as well as his children, grandchildren, and extended family.<\/p>\n