In the pantheon of Canadian entrepreneurs, few stories embody the classic rags-to-riches tale quite like Jim Treliving’s. Born in the dusty plains of rural Manitoba, Treliving traded his Royal Canadian Mounted Police uniform for a pizza oven in the late 1960s, eventually building an empire that spans restaurants, real estate, and sports entertainment. At 84, the Vancouver-based tycoon remains a force in the boardroom, a beloved television personality, and a dedicated philanthropist. With a net worth estimated at around $700 million, Treliving’s journey is a masterclass in spotting opportunity, investing in people, and never shying away from a calculated risk.
Humble Beginnings and a Badge of Ambition
Walter James “Jim” Treliving was born on May 12, 1941, in the small farming community of Virden, Manitoba—population barely 3,000 at the time. Growing up in a modest household where his father ran a barber shop, young Jim learned the value of hard work and fiscal prudence early on. “My dad abhorred debt,” Treliving later reflected in his 2012 book Decisions: Making the Right Ones, Righting the Wrong Ones, a principle that would guide his business philosophy.
At just 18, Treliving joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), serving as a constable in Alberta and British Columbia for eight years. The role suited his sense of duty and adventure, but it also exposed him to the entrepreneurial spirit simmering in post-war Canada. Stationed in places like Penticton, B.C., he patrolled streets by day and dreamed bigger by night. “I was a young RCMP officer in 1966 when I walked into ‘Boston Pizza and Spaghetti House’ in Edmonton and saw big dough in my future,” Treliving quipped in a CBC profile. That serendipitous slice of pizza would change everything.
The Pizza Pivot: Building Boston Pizza into a North American Powerhouse
By 1968, Treliving had left the force and scraped together $25,000—mostly from savings and a small loan—to buy the franchise rights for Boston Pizza in Penticton. It was a gamble: Pizza was still a novelty in Canada, and the chain was a fledgling operation out of Edmonton. But Treliving’s first outlet thrived, blending casual dining with sports-bar vibes that resonated with hockey-loving Canadians.
Enter George Melville, a sharp chartered accountant who started as Treliving’s consultant in 1969. By 1973, Melville became his full partner, forming the backbone of what would become the T&M Group of Companies. Their big break came in 1983, when they acquired the entire Boston Pizza chain from founder Ron Coyle for an undisclosed sum. Under Treliving’s leadership as Chairman and Owner of Boston Pizza International Inc. (BPI), the brand exploded. From a single spot in Penticton, it grew to over 435 locations across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico by 2025, raking in nearly $1 billion in annual system-wide sales.
Treliving’s touch? A relentless focus on people. “Behind every great business is a great team,” he often says, a mantra evident in BPI’s recognition as one of Canada’s “50 Best Managed Private Companies” and a “Top Ten Most Admired Corporate Cultures.” He wasn’t done with pizza, though. Through T&M, Treliving and Melville snapped up Mr. Lube in the 1990s, transforming it into Canada’s go-to quick-oil-change chain with hundreds of outlets. Other ventures followed: real estate firm White Rock Commercial, Dermal Laser Centres, and even sports holdings, including the Central Hockey League through Global Entertainment Corporation, where Treliving serves as Chairman.
| Key Business Milestones | Year | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| First Boston Pizza Franchise | 1968 | Opened in Penticton, B.C. |
| Partnership with George Melville | 1973 | Formed T&M Group foundation. |
| Acquired Boston Pizza Chain | 1983 | Bought from Ron Coyle; expanded to 95 locations by 1995. |
| Mr. Lube Acquisition | 1990s | Grew to national chain. |
| Boston Pizza Network Size (2025) | 2025 | 435+ locations, $979M+ sales. grokipedia.com |
Enter the Den: Dragons’ Den and the Art of the Pitch
Treliving’s folksy charm and no-nonsense wisdom catapulted him to national fame in 2006, when he joined CBC’s Dragons’ Den as one of the original “dragons”—venture capitalists grilling aspiring entrepreneurs for investment deals. Modeled after the BBC’s Dragons’ Den and predating America’s Shark Tank, the show became a ratings juggernaut, and Treliving was its heart. Over 15 seasons until his 2021 exit, he invested in dozens of startups, including Steeped Tea (a loose-leaf tea innovator), Frogbox (eco-friendly moving boxes), and Velofix (mobile bike repairs).
Viewers adored his approachable style—rooted in his Mountie days and small-town grit. “He’s the encouraging, savvy investor,” one profile noted, often backing underdogs with straightforward advice like “Asking for money is a skill—get good at it.” His Dragons’ Den tenure not only diversified his portfolio but also solidified his role as a mentor to a generation of hustlers.
Giving Back: Philanthropy and Family Ties
Success hasn’t softened Treliving’s commitment to community. Since 1990, he’s directed the Boston Pizza Foundation, which has donated over $33 million to Canadian charities, focusing on youth sports and education. He serves on the board of the David Foster Foundation (supporting children with life-threatening illnesses) and advises the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). In 2019, Treliving was appointed to the Order of Canada for his business leadership and charitable contributions. He’s also an inductee in Canada’s Walk of Fame, celebrated for turning a pizza hunch into a national treasure.
On the personal front, Treliving has been married to Sandy Treliving since his early business days; they have two children, Brad and Cheryl. Brad, a chip off the old block, is the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a role he assumed in 2023 amid high expectations—and recent scrutiny over the team’s “vanilla” play and trade decisions. As of November 2025, Jim’s X posts show unwavering support: “Go Leafs go!” he tweeted just days ago, ever the proud dad. Treliving splits time between a lavish 10,000-square-foot waterfront penthouse in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour—complete with a glass-enclosed wine room—and properties in Toronto and beyond.
Legacy: Investing in People, Not Just Profits
Today, Treliving’s influence ripples far beyond Boston Pizza’s beer taps. His book Decisions remains a staple for budding CEOs, distilling decades of wisdom into actionable insights: Know your valuation, embrace long hours, and bet on the team behind the idea. Even after Dragons’ Den, he quietly scouts talent, backing ventures that align with his ethos.
As Canada grapples with economic headwinds in 2025—from inflation to AI disruptions—Treliving’s story endures as a beacon. From Virden’s prairies to Bay Street’s boardrooms, he proves that with grit, a good partner, and a willingness to pivot, anyone can build something lasting. In his own words: “Every business needs money… but it takes hard, long hours to succeed.” Jim Treliving didn’t just succeed—he redefined the Canadian dream, one slice at a time.
