McDonald’s Canada and its independent Franchisees are supporting communities impacted by the wildfires

Jun 9, 2023 | Business

WEBWIRE –

Across Alberta, Nova Scotia, and most recently, Quebec and Ontario, communities and individuals continue to grapple with the impact of wildfires. McDonalds independent Franchisees and restaurant teams have been hard at work supporting guests and restaurant team members in these impacted communities. We also know that some of our McDonalds Canada team members have been affected by the fires. And so, as we have for over 55 years, well rally together to support our local Franchisees, their teams, and communities in times of disaster.

Here is how Franchisees and their teams responded first and fast in times of crisis.

  • Franchisee Peter MacIsaac supplied gift cards to any military personnel displaced by the fire in Halifax
  • Franchisee Dave Murray donated 140 meals in the immediate aftermath and is making a $5,000 donation to the RMHC Halifax Walk in support of displaced families
  • Franchisees Dave Murray, Mark Nelson and Bob Smith are teaming up to provide food to the Emergency Crews in Tantallon and Halifax. They have also reached out to local Fire Station in the community to drop off food as necessary and where possible
  • Franchisee Stephanie Jones is contributing food and coffee to comfort centres and donating to the Red Cross
  • Franchisee Tom Hickey has provided coffee to First Responders and local comfort centres
  • Franchisees in Northern Alberta worked together to support residents displaced by evacuation order

McDonalds Canada is proud to remain committed to its partnership with the @CanadianRedCross and will make an additional donation towards relief efforts supporting affected communities and evacuees. To support the Red Cross and find information about support available, please visit their website, here.

McDonald’s Canada Thanks Canadians for Joining Efforts to Help Address Food Insecurity

Dec 24, 2022 | Business

With help of Canadians, McDonalds Canada and its independent franchisees donate 500,000 meals to Food Banks Canada

TORONTO – WEBWIRE –

This year, approximately 1.5 million Canadians visited a food bank.* Between Dec. 12 and Dec. 22, Canadians from coast to coast to coast who visited The Giving Page had their unique site visit count as a meal for Canadians in need, through McDonalds Canadas partnership with Food Banks Canada. With the help of these Canadians, McDonalds Canada and its independent franchisees have donated 500,000 meals to families in need.

An enormous thank you to our independent franchisees and every Canadian who joined our efforts to help address food insecurity in our communities, said Gemma Pryor, Senior Director, McDonalds Canada Impact Team. The quick response of generosity and support inspires us to keep building meaningful moments, big and small, to connect with our communities and keep showing up when they need us most.

McDonalds became part of Canadas community since the first restaurant opened in 1967. Over a million guests come through the doors of McDonalds Canadian restaurants every day, not just for the food, but because of shared community connections. This is the third year McDonalds Canada has worked with Food Banks Canada to address food insecurity during the holiday season.
McDonalds Canada will continue helping Canadians with meaningful partnerships and programs to help address food insecurity in our communities. Our ambition is to provideapproximately1 million meals every yearto Canadians in need.

We have been feeding and fostering communities across Canada for 55 years and this meaningful, ongoing partnership with Food Banks Canada is just one of the ways well continue to do that, said Pryor.

McDonalds Canada and its independent franchisees remain committed to serving its guests, employees, and the communities in which they operate. One way is by supporting programs and initiatives that care for Canadian families in need, helping reduce food insecurity and helping in times of crisis.

To find out more ways to help, please visit the Food Banks Canada website.
*Food Banks Canada Hunger Count 2022 report.

About McDonalds Canada
In 1967, Canada welcomed the first McDonalds restaurant to Richmond, British Columbia. Today, McDonalds Restaurants of Canada Limited has become part of the Canadian fabric, serving more than one million guests every day. In both franchised and corporate-owned restaurants, nearly 100,000 people are employed from coast to coast to coast, and more than 90 per cent of McDonalds 1,400 Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent franchisees. Of the almost $1 billion spent on food, more than 85 per cent is purchased from suppliers in Canada. For more information on McDonalds Canada, visit mcdonalds.ca.

McDonald’s marks its 55th year in Canada with the first ever Gallery of Little Big Things exhibition

Nov 5, 2022 | Business

Gallery showcases artifacts from McDonald’s past, present and future


Toronto – WEBWIRE –



McDonald’s, with more than 1,400 restaurants in Canadian communities, is marking its 55th year in Canada by launching The Gallery of Little Big Things today. The Gallery is a limited time pop-up exhibition recognizing contributions – both big and small – that have made a big impact. The Gallery will showcase artifacts that represent the small changes and milestones people and communities have made from coast-to-coast-to-coast to help serve up a better tomorrow in key areas that matter most to Canadians.


The Gallery is free and open to the public=11.0pt every day from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 3rd until Sunday, November 6th at Stackt Market (28 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON) in the North Hall and Solarium. For those outside of the Greater Toronto Area, the Gallery will also be available online. To view the immersive virtual walkthrough of The Gallery of Little Big Things, the website is available here.


“The Gallery of Little Big Things is a physical expression of the steps McDonald’s has taken to help serve up a better tomorrow and recognizes how we’ve grown and changed with Canadian communities over the past 55 years,” said Gemma Pryor, Senior Director, Impact Team, McDonald’s Canada. “Every action – no matter how little – has helped to create a big impact; from supporting Canadian farmers & ranchers by sourcing Canadian beef, potatoes, dairy and freshly cracked Canada Grade A eggs, to our friends at Ronald McDonald House Charities that take care of our community members.”


The stories behind the artifacts


Starting with its first restaurant in Richmond B.C. 55 years ago, McDonald’s has always strived to go beyond serving burgers, and to feed and foster local communities. The artifacts, dating from 1967 to present day, tell the stories of the brand’s history in Canada and how it’s played a part in the lives of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.


Love what’s next™


This past summer, McDonald’s Canada launched the Love what’s next™ platform, which announced McDonald’s global and Canadian goals and ambitions that will help drive real and tangible changes for food quality and sourcing communities, the planet and our people. The Gallery of Little Big Things is an extension of Love what’s next by celebrating the big and small changes people and communities have made, while also looking ahead at what’s in store for the brand through an immersive in-person and digital experience.


To learn more about McDonald’s history of feeding and fostering communities and the changes we’re making, visit mcdonalds.ca.


About McDonald’s Canada


In 1967, Canada welcomed the first McDonald’s restaurant to Richmond, British Columbia. Today, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited has become part of the Canadian fabric, serving more than one million guests every day. In both franchised and corporate-owned restaurants, nearly 100,000 people are employed from coast to coast to coast, and more than 90 per cent of McDonald’s 1,400 Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent franchisees. Of the almost $1 billion spent on food, more than 85 per cent is purchased from suppliers in Canada. For more information on McDonald’s Canada, visit mcdonalds.ca.

From Crew to Corporate | A McDonald’s Employee Success Story

Sep 12, 2022 | Business

She worked her way through college and law school while managing a McDonald’s. Now she’s a lawyer for the corporation.

WEBWIRE –



McDonald’s lawyer Natalie Stephenson has had ties to McDonald’s since she was a kid.


Born and raised in New York City, she was impressed by the brand as she saw the business through the eyes of a family friend who owned multiple McDonald’s across New York City. 


At 15, her family moved to Philadelphia, then a few years later, she was off to Spelman College, an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Natalie takes pride in the fact she attended an HBCU and believes it’s more than just a school.  


’’It’s a time for you to really learn about yourself and have pride in who you are as a person and as a people; it really does change the way you think about yourself and what you can achieve.“

Being a full-time Manager and a full-time student  

In the second half of Natalie’s freshman year at Spelman, she began working at the McDonald’s on Peachtree Street in Atlanta as a full-time manager and did so all the way up to her senior year. Working as a Manager and being a full-time student meant Natalie didn’t have much free time, but she said she would be ”looking at a lot more debt“ if it wasn’t for her role at McDonald’s. ”It taught me how to relate to people and address difficult situations.“ 


During her time, she also learned the value of work ethic from her Owners/Operators. ”They would see potential that people didn’t even see in themselves. It was inspiring and I’ve tried to take that lesson forward in life,“ she says. 


While managing the McDonald’s restaurant, Natalie realized crew members were in all phases and stages of life and coming from a diversity of backgrounds ”I saw my time in the restaurant as an opportunity to provide a positive work environment and to help people grow,“ she says.  

Natalie’s path to a Legal Career at McDonald’s

After college, Natalie went on to law school and she continued to work at McDonald’s for the first year.  Natalie completed her law degree and went on to practice Criminal and Family Law in North Carolina. In 2004 Natalie and her husband decided that she would stay home during her four children’s early years.


She later started working part-time for a financial services firm and eventually joined full-time once her children became older. During her time at the firm, she also became a certified compliance professional.  


From there, the opportunity at McDonald’s started to present itself when she connected with a friend who mentioned the position opening. ”I’m new to this area of law, but I love learning new things,“ she says. 


We’re so proud to have Natalie back under the arches, but she said it best ”McDonald’s felt familiar, like home, and it’s kind of like everything that I’ve done in my life has come full circle”  


McDonald’s Canada is discontinuing On-Cup McCaf�® Rewards stickers and cards

Jul 27, 2022 | Business

. Completed McCafé Rewards cards can be redeemed at participating McDonald’s restaurants in Canada, including these areas, until December 31, 2023. McCafé Rewards cards and Rewards stickers cannot be transferred to the McDonald’s app and have no cash value.


**Eligible purchases only. MyMcDonald’s Rewards program available at participating McDonald’s restaurants in Canada. See Program Terms at mcdonalds.ca or in-app for details. Excludes delivery. App download and registration required.



registration required.