Honest Ed Mirvish Celebrates His 92nd Birthday
Posted July 23, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Thousands of people turned out to help Honest Ed Mirvish celebrate his 92nd birthday, a man many say has made Toronto a better place to live with his legendary generosity.
“He has done for Torontonians – all Canadians – so many things,” said Toros Djerdjian, a customer at Mirvish’s discount store Honest Ed’s.
In honour of his birthday, Ed offered some incredible bargains at his popular store with many items on sale for 92 cents.
“He has given people an example of what this city can give you if you treat the city well,” Ed’s son David said.
There was plenty of food, hula dancers put on a show for the birthday boy and Ed even got to meet his namesake, Honest Ed, a member of the Toronto Police Mounted Unit.
“It’s a good looking horse,” Mirvish said.
The businessman moved to Toronto when he was just nine-years-old. After the Second World War he opened up a discount store, Honest Ed’s, which went on to become a local landmark.
Mirvish is also responsible for boosting the city’s live theatre scene. He purchased the Royal Alexandra Theatre in 1962, which was slated for demolition and in 1993 he built the Princess of Wales Theatre down the street. He and his son now run Mirvish productions, which has brought some of the biggest and best musicals to Toronto.
While his business ventures have made him a well-known figure, it’s his generosity that’s won him a place in the hearts of Torontonians. His birthday celebrations are a summer tradition in the city and every holiday season he hands out hundreds of free turkeys.
More than 50,000 people were expected to head to Bloor and Bathurst to wish Ed a happy birthday Sunday.
“The city has been very good to me, and I appreciate it,” he said.
