Kiriakos “Jerry” Kiriakou: Building a Scarborough Institution

1911–1994 
Pine Hills Cemetery 
Section S Lot 147

When Kiriakos “Jerry” Kiriakou arrived in Canada from the small village of Vevi, in northern Greece, in 1951, he brought with him little more than determination and hope for a better life. Working 70-hour weeks washing dishes, Jerry saved enough to bring his wife, Peggy, and their children to Canada. Together, the family dreamed big and built a legacy that would become a cornerstone of Scarborough life.

In May 1958, Jerry’s sons Tony and Thomas took over a modest 50-seat restaurant in Wexford Heights Plaza. That restaurant, the Wexford, grew into a beloved community hub. Over the decades, it expanded to 300 seats, added a dining lounge named in Jerry’s honour in 1983, and became a gathering place for families, friends and even politicians. For 63 years, the Wexford was more than a restaurant – it was a meeting place, a Scarborough landmark and symbol of immigrant perseverance.

Jerry passed away on May 6, 1994, at the age of 83. He is at Pine Hills buried alongside his wife Peggy, who died in 1989, and his son Thomas, who passed in 2017. Their story reflects the journey of countless newcomers who shaped Toronto through hard work, family values and community spirit.

Though the Wexford closed its doors in 2021, its legacy lives on in the memories of generations who shared meals there, in a street named for the family near Lawrence and Kennedy and in the pride of Scarborough. 

Sources: 
•  Jamie Bradburn Writing – Scarborough Archives (Wexford & Community History) 
•  Mount Pleasant Group – Kiriakos “Jerry” Kiriakou 
•  Toronto.com – “Scarborough’s Wexford Restaurant Closing Amid COVID19 Pandemic”