Colin Freel’s business card was a Big Mac and his infectious laugh was his secret sauce | Canada Voices

Colin Roy Freel: Burger king. Optimist. Dad. Grandpa. Born March 5, 1937, in Hamilton; died Aug. 18, 2024, in Toronto, of dementia; aged 87.

If laughter truly is the best medicine, then the world lost a beloved healer with the death of Colin Freel.

Colin was the only child of Elmer and Marjorie Freel, who met and married in Hamilton after Elmer won the Irish Sweepstakes in 1932 – £1,750, a huge sum of money in the Great Depression.

Colin lived a charmed childhood growing up in Hamilton. His mother kept a record of his milestones and noted that he was a happy baby and “laughs so heartily – it tickles the heartstrings.” Colin’s laugh was his secret sauce, getting him through life’s highs and lows.

He studied history and economics at the University of Western Ontario and graduated in 1960. At university, Colin became friends with a fun-loving group of men. For almost 70 years they gathered annually, over time bringing along spouses and families on retreats to golf, to ski, to skeet shoot and to socialize.

Colin went through two heartbreaking divorces, but his starring role was as a father to three children, two stepchildren and (eventually) 12 grandchildren. He got down on the floor and played games – advising how to bluff and strategize everything from Snakes and Ladders to Risk. He loved to “shoot the moon” for the win, and laughed when he did. His family learned how to be gracious winners and good losers when playing everything from board games to tennis.

In the early 1970s, Colin joined McDonald’s Canada and sold franchises across the country. When he introduced his awestruck young daughters to Ronald McDonald, they felt like they were meeting Santa Claus. Colin’s business card was in the shape of a Big Mac and the recipient could redeem it for a free hamburger. Colin quickly moved up the corporate ladder, leaving the company for executive positions at Burger King, The Pop Shoppe, Wendy’s and Pet Valu. When Colin became the president of Wendy’s, one of the perks was the use of the bright yellow company van with its blaring “Hot and Juicy” logo. His daughters found it a fun and attention-getting way to be dropped off at the camp bus.

Colin loved to entertain and his hearty laughter rang through every gathering. Cocktail hour was his happiest hour. As he got older, he’d say “It’s time for a drink” earlier each day. He loved to invite family and friends to his place before going out and he went all out, ice in a bucket, fancy glasses and enough appetizers to take away your appetite for dinner.

Colin taught his family that punctuality is a sign of respect and he led by example. As he aged, he became more committed, some might say, obsessive, about being on time. He would arrive at events way ahead of schedule and pace with his coat on, worrying and agitating about being late. Yet he never was.

Throughout his life, McDonald’s remained his lunch place of choice, mostly ordering an Egg McMuffin, fries and Diet Coke. He loved to take his grandchildren out for Happy Meals and regale them with stories of his career. He relished telling the person working behind the counter how he sold this franchise (and many others) over 50 years ago.

When it was time to move into a retirement home, Colin and several of his lifelong friends did it together, making that transition easier. With his signature chuckle, Colin would hold court with stories of his hamburger days and try to sell a franchise to anyone who would listen.

Above his desk he proudly displayed diplomas from the Canadian Institute of Hamburgerology and Whopper College, training programs required for all McDonald’s and Burger King executives.

Colin’s favourite book was Grinding it Out – The Making of McDonald’s by Ray Kroc and in his final year, Colin carried it around like a bible.

Lianne Hill is Colin Freel’s daughter.

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