- Edwin Mirvish was actually born in Virginia. His father, David, didn’t move the family to Toronto, Canada until 1923.
- Ed is the namesake of Honest Ed’s, a well-known bargain store in Toronto’s Annex district.
- Like many who become successful businesspeople, Ed didn’t start out that way. In fact, following the failure of his father’s grocery store business in Washington, D.C., after Ed’s father died and he took over the new grocery business in Toronto, it also failed.
- Honest Ed Mirvish is the recipient of over 250 awards. Two that perhaps stand out more than any others are the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and Officer of the Order of Canada.
- Theatre goers know the Mirvish name very well. Mirvish rescued the Royal Alexander Theatre in 1962, refurbished it, and ended building a theatre/restaurant empire around it. Much of King Street West in Toronto’s Entertainment District arose due to Ed’s entrepreneurial efforts.
- Mirvish was generous. Every Christmas he would give away up to 10,000 pounds of free turkeys to people who lined up from early morning to get them. Starting with his 75th birthday, and going right through to his 92nd one, Ed had an annual birthday bash. He’d give away food, and provide entertainment and children’s rides. Thousands of people attended Ed’s annual bash.
- Many people won’t know this, but thanks to Ed, an artistic renaissance of sorts took place in Mirvish Village (right beside his landmark store). Today, a number of upscale restaurants and art venues populate the streets nearby.