5 Things to Know About 5 Years in Canada

Five years ago, Chick-fil-A opened its doors in Toronto, marking a new and exciting chapter for the brand in Canada. Chick-fil-A’s focus has been (and continues to be) bringing the authentic Chick-fil-A experience to Canadian Guests, from serving delicious food and warm hospitality to caring for communities. In reflection of Chick-fil-A’s five-year milestone, Canada’s first local Owner-Operator, Wilson Yang shares his most memorable highlights.

Here are five of his best memories over the last five years while serving Chick-fil-A in Canada.

1.  Honoured to be first in Ontario: On September 6, 2019, Chick-fil-A opened the first permanent Canadian location at Yonge & Bloor in Toronto.

“It was a huge privilege to be the first local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A in Canada. If you asked me where I saw myself in 10 years when I started my journey at Chick-fil-A in 2013, I never would’ve guessed that I would open a locally owned and operated Canadian location at Yonge & Bloor in Toronto. I was surprised and honoured,” shared Wilson.

2.  Lasting first impression: From the long lines and Guest excitement to unwavering support of Team Members from all over the U.S., opening day will always be one of Wilson’s fondest Chick-fil-A memories.

“Seeing people lined up for their first bites of Chick-fil-A in Toronto – whether it was their first Chick-fil-A experience or 15th - it was very humbling,” Wilson remembered. “I’m so proud of my team and grateful to Toronto for supporting my restaurant and the Chick-fil-A brand.”

3.  Teamwork makes the dream work: Chick-fil-A Yonge & Bloor’s five-year anniversary milestone is made all the sweeter with the support of a team who has been with Wilson since opening day. “I still have a core group of Team Members who have served by my side for almost five years. Seeing them grow and step into new opportunities over the years has been incredible,” said Wilson.

“Every year, we have seen the number of Remarkable Futures Scholarships received by Canadian Team Members grow. We also had our first US$25,000 True Inspiration Scholarship awarded at my Restaurant this year. My Team Members always give their best and are so deserving of these opportunities.”

4.  Building a stronger community together: Wilson holds close to his heart his restaurant’s continued collaboration with Second Harvest through Chick-fil-A Shared Table™. “We’ve worked with Second Harvest since opening and I’m always humbled by our partnership,” he said. “Together, we’ve been able to directly address local hunger issues in the community.” 

In Canada, nearly all local Owner-Operators participate in Chick-fil-A Shared Table, which redirects surplus food from Chick-fil-A restaurants to non-profit organizations to fight hunger in the community. Wilson explained that his restaurant donates to the Yonge Street Mission in Toronto. One occasion was particularly meaningful to his team. “Our community partners shared that on the days we bring our sandwiches, they noticed the community feels a stronger sense of dignity. Having access to a hot, fresh sandwich made with top-quality ingredients meant getting a more nourishing meal. That’s when it hit me – this was our impact in our community.”

5.  Reflecting on the past and feeling empowered for the future: A lot has been accomplished in the past five years and Wilson is optimistic about the future. “I am amazed at how far we have come. It is a huge milestone for my restaurant, especially reflecting on some of the storms we have weathered like the COVID-19 pandemic,” shared Wilson.

“It has been rewarding to bring Chick-fil-A to Canada and that was made possible through the hard work of my Team Members and the support of the community. For the future, I can only hope to keep that support – so that I can continue to bring Chick-fil-A's signature hospitality to our guests and working towards making our community a better place.”