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Kitchener, ON – May 13, 2025 – The Waterloo Region Entrepreneur Hall of Fame is proud to announce that the Flanagan family (Joe, Dee, Rick, Dan, Jeff and Murray) were honoured as this year’s Laureates. These visionary leaders have made a lasting impact on the business community through their entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and dedication to creating positive change in Waterloo Region and beyond.
The gala celebration and induction ceremony took place on May 13th, 2025 at 5PM in the Embassy Room at Bingeman’s Conference Centre.
For almost five decades, the Flanagan family has been a cornerstone of Waterloo Region’s business community. Flanagan Foodservice was founded by Joe, who is being honoured posthumously, and Dee Flanagan in 1977, and has grown from a small retail location into Canada’s largest Canadian-owned foodservice distributor.
The founders’ vision of providing exceptional service was carried forward by their four sons, who took leadership roles in the 1980s and 1990s. The family’s commitment to reinvestment led to expansion across Ontario and Atlantic Canada, with the company achieving revenue growth every year for 47 years. Through this growth, they maintained a workplace culture emphasizing respect and customer service.
In 2018, the family established a charitable foundation run by three generations of Flanagans, giving back to their community. Today, Flanagan Foodservice stands as a testament to family values, innovation, and industry leadership.
Emceed by Mike Farwell of Rogers Radio, the evening featured inspiring speeches, an impactful conversation with JA Company Program alumni, a silent auction, and musical performances by Amadea and Osanna Mikitka of the Kitchener-Waterloo Youth Orchestra. JA President & CEO Karen Gallant highlighted JA SWO’s growing impact, with nearly 31,000 learning experiences facilitated last school year alone
“This event is not only about celebrating the achievements of our laureates, but about investing in the next generation of leaders,” said Gallant. “We are grateful to the Flanagan family and our generous sponsors for making this event such a success.”
Sponsors of the 2025 Gala included:
We’re also grateful for many individual and corporate supporters of the silent auction and Legacy Leaders Challenge. The Legacy Leaders Challenge, launched this year, recognized top contributors from among former Laureates. Special thanks were extended to Mike Kropp & Robert Harris (PEER Group), Stephanie Soulis (Little Mushroom Catering), and John Whitney (WHITNEY & Company Realty Ltd.) for their outstanding support.
More information on the event and the 2025 Laureates is available at jaswo.org/ehof.
Canadian and Family Owned