Paul James Phelan, CM (1917 – 2 Sep 2002) was a Canadian businessman, yachtsman, and wartime RCAF Squadron Leader.[1][2]

Life and career

Phelan inherited his family's Canada Railway News Co. (founded in 1883), expanded it, then renamed it Cara Operations Ltd when he took it public in 1968.[2][3][1][4] The company had started as The Canada Railway News Company and initially sold newspapers, magazines and confectionary to the travelling public.

Under Phelan, the company opened refreshment rooms at hotels and hubs along the rail line. He opened its first Swiss Chalet diner in 1954.[5] In 1977, Phelan engineered a takeover of the Swiss Chalet franchisor, Foodcorp, a $50 million business, with 97 food outlets between its Swiss Chalet and Harvey's brands.[6]

Cara provided food for Air Canada late last century.[7] Phelan controlled through it Swiss Chalet, Harvey's, Second Cup, Kelsey's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, and Montana's Cookhouse at the time of his death.[8]

In 2010, his heirs were diluted by Fairfax Financial Holdings.[3] Fairfax subsequently re-diluted them in 2013.[9]

In April 2015, when his heirs were forced back into the stock market, they were part-owners of a corporation that controlled 837 food outlets, and sold $1.7 billion in food. It was the third largest restaurant chain in Canada after Tim Hortons and McDonald's.[3] At the time, it had 26,000 employees across Canada.[5] In 2016, sales were over $2 billion.[9]

Family, legacy and honours

Phelan married Helen Gardiner. Together they raised Gail, Sharon, Paul David, and Rosemary, who gave them a dozen grandchildren. His funeral services were at Holy Rosary Church in Forest Hill, Toronto.[10]

Phelan, who sailed Dragon-class yachts,[2] was a past Commodore of the RCYC,[10] president of the CYA from 1961-1963 and again in 1990-91,[11][12] and was presented the 1986 Sail Canada Rolex Sailor of the year award for his merger of two rival Canadian bids for the 26th America's Cup,[13] when he funded a merger between them for $14 million.[2]

Phelan was a Member of the Order of Canada. The B'nai Brith Foundation presented him their Award of Merit, while the ISAF gave him their Long Service Gold Medal. In 1993, he was awarded the ISAF Beppe Croce Trophy for his outstanding voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing.[14] Through his ownership of the yacht Red Jacket, he helped introduce "new sailors who might not otherwise get a chance to become involved in yacht racing" to the sport, including many women.[15] Phelan also served on the IYRU as chairman of the Youth Committee, and contributed to World Youth Sailing Trust.[16] The P.J. Phelan Sailing Foundation continues Phelan's philanthropy to this day.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 "Inside the Phelan family's restaurant empire". Rogers Media. Canadian Business. 24 Jun 2004.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The fight for Cara's soul". The Globe and Mail Inc. 11 Oct 2003.
  3. 1 2 3 "Cara to raise $200M in IPO as early as April". CBC. 23 Mar 2015.
  4. ↑ "Cara executive provides food for thought". The Globe and Mail Inc. 10 Jun 2002.
  5. 1 2 "Canadian Trailblazer: Don Robinson, President and CEO, CARA". MediaEdge Communications Inc. RestoBiz and Canadian Restaurant & Foodservice News. 31 Mar 2016.
  6. ↑ "Foodcorp Limited Annual Report 1978" (PDF). Foodcorp Limited.
  7. ↑ "Cara loses, but the Phelan family wins". The Globe and Mail Inc. 11 Nov 2003.
  8. ↑ "Cara shareholder to fight takeover". CBC News. 27 Jan 2004.
  9. 1 2 "Why This Underperforming Restaurant Stock Can Outperform". The Motley Fool Canada, ULC. 22 Mar 2017.
  10. 1 2 "PHELAN Paul J. Date de décès: lundi 2 septembre 2002". The Globe and Mail. www.genealogiequebec.com. 4 Sep 2002.
  11. ↑ "Past Presidents". Sail Canada.
  12. ↑ "The History of the LAKE YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION 1884 - 1962" (PDF). Lake Yacht Racing Association.
  13. ↑ "Rolex Sailor of the Year Finalists". Sail Canada.
  14. ↑ "ISAF BEPPE CROCE TROPHY". ISAF. Archived from the original on 2012-07-19.
  15. ↑ "CYOB Inbox: Remembering George Cuthbertson". Canadian Yachting.
  16. ↑ "Obituary: Paul J Phelan (CAN)". sailing.org. World Sailing.
  17. ↑ "The P.J. Phelan Sailing Foundation". chimp.net.
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