Entrepreneur.
Born on 18 January 1936, son of Alexander Arthur “Alex” Van Elslander (c1909-1991) and Angela “Nellie” Shalay (1909-1974), his entrepreneurial pursuits began in his youth. His first business was a Chicken Delight franchise then, in the early 1960s, he established Gondola Pizza on Pembina Highway and grew it into large, multi-franchise operation known for its advertising tag line “Incomparable”. He worked in commercial real estate, building, renovating, and operating strip malls. In 1993, he purchased the upscale restaurant Medicine Rock Cafe at St. Francois Xavier and operated it for 12 years. His last business venture was Van Goes Pizza & Chicken. On 22 June 1963, he married Margaret-Anne “Peggy” Banks (?-2022) had three children, including daughter Lorilyn Van Elslander (1967-2005). He died on 3 February 2023.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Medicine Rock Cafe (St. Francois Xavier, RM of St. Francois Xavier)
“Wedding announcements,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 August 1963, page 14.
Obituary [Alexander Arthur Van Elslander], Winnipeg Free Press, 2 July 1991, page 27.
Obituary [Lorilyn Van Elslander (1967-2005)], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 December 2005.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 18 March 2023.
Obituary [Norm Van Elslander], Ethical Death Care.
“‘Incomparable,’” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 September 2023.
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 17 September 2023
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