Ontario-born founder of Smoke's Poutinerie Ryan Smolkin dies at age 50

Smoke's Poutinerie founder and CEO, Ryan Smolkin, has died at the age of 50. 

Smolkin, who was born in Ottawa, was considered a pioneer and a trailblazer in the culinary industry thanks to his ever-growing quick-serve poutine restaurant chain. 

In Loving Memory of Ryan Smolkin
Friend, Founder & Chief Entertainment Officer
1973 - 2023 pic.twitter.com/tsn5O3hlRS

— Smoke's Poutinerie (@poutinerie) October 30, 2023

The Ajax-based company opened its first location in Toronto in 2008 at 218 Adelaide St. W., and went on to open more than 150 outlets in Canada and the U.S. over the next several years. 

The company attributed Smolkin's death to unexpected complications from a recent surgery. 

Smoke's Poutinerie's president and chief operating officer Mark Cunningham will be taking on Smolkin's role.