Few passings have brought quite the outpouring of sympathy, remembrance or even the smile of appreciation that the loss of
Ed Mirvish has left among our viewers. From school projects to huge productions, we asked you for your memories of the local icon. And your responses would have made him proud - and likely moved him to tears. Here are just some of them.
Wendy Dyer
Cynthia Hiatt
F. Barry
Rest in Peace,
Ayana S.
Brigitta Anderson and family
Cameron McCleery
B. Lennox
L. Howell
"I remember my family going to Ed's Warehouse for dinner a few times, they were such grand adventures. One particular time I was around 8 or 9 yrs. old and we went there for dinner, the maitre d' had informed us that I had to wear a tie, as was the policy, apparently back then. Of course I did not have one, Mr. Mirvish was there, overheard the conversation, went into the back and came back with a little paper tie for me to wear. That memory is as clear today as it was almost 30 years ago."
Waseem Syed
Stefane Comeau
Russell Melville
Brenda Caplan
Tara Pearsall
Judith Bernard
Lesley Kempson-Marsh
Lucy
"As a child I still remember going to Honest Ed's on Bloor with my grandmother and mother. We would take the walk from College St. to Bloor and Bathurst and once we arrived we would look around for hours and picking up different trinkets or what ever it was that we had gone for in the first place. I never had so much fun and still today I will take a stroll to Honest Ed's just for the heck of walking around and most of the time coming home with something I really don't need but it was on sale and had to have it.Good old Mr. Mirvish, may he rest in peace and he will always be remembered in my prayers."
Lina
"I remember as a kid that "HONEST ED"S " meant a day of fun and treats nearby and a feeling of an adventure, although the store was obviously geared to family shopping. I always laughed at the witty signs on the billboards and one line really sums up the kind of guy Honest Ed Mirvish really was; THE ONLY THING CROOKED HERE, ARE THE FLOORS !!! We'll miss you forever ED, rest in peace 'cause you certainly deserve it!"
LAWRENCE - A BIG FAN
Diane, Geoff and Mark Stanley Milton Ontario
"So sorry to hear of his passing. He was a generous,kind & caring person. He always thought of the underdog & tried to help the best he could. I remember going to Honest Ed's when I came to the city to visit my cousin. It was a big thrill asIwas raised in the country and I couldn't get over how much stuff he had in his store. I loved going from floor to floor wishing I could get this or that. It was like a kid in a candystore. He will be greatly missed. My deepest sympathy to his family, he was a truegentle&special kind of person."
Sophie
Sharon Bahadur
"I was watching the news about the passing of Ed Mirvish and wanted to send out a message to all the viewers telling them that all in Toronto who loved and respected Ed Mirvish for all that he did for the people of our city should lay cards and flowers outside of Honest Ed's on the sidewalks in memory of him. "
Michele
"My Grandmother came to Toronto with her two young children as WWII refugees from Latvia in 1950. She used to always tell me that if it wasn't for Ed Mirvish and his store at the corner of Bathurst and Bloor, making ends meet in those early years would have been that much tougher. She was always grateful as am I to the man and his contribution to the community at large."
Marc
That was the first time I saw all those families lined up before dawn to get Thanksgiving turkeys from him. They were lined up all the way down the street. It really affected me, and I remember hoping that they all got one. Ed Mirvish was an inspiration, and I never forgot that. He proved that not everything in a big city has to be cold and merciless.
Each summer they'd close off Mirvish Village for a day, and throw a sort of mini-fair for people. It was very simple and extremely inexpensive. I saw a lot of kids genuinely enjoy it, and I wonder how much fun they would have had on those days if we never had Ed Mirvish with us."
Ewan