Jim Treliving

Walter James Treliving (born 12 May 1941) is a Canadian businessman, venture capitalist, and television personality. He along with George Melville, owns the collective investment portfolio T&M Group of Companies. Since 2006, Treliving has served as one of the investor "dragons" on the Canadian television show Dragons' Den. Treliving is the father of current Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving.

Career

Treliving began his career as a constable with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.^[1] In 1968, while still with the RCMP, Treliving noticed the growing popularity of Boston Pizza and purchased the rights to open a restaurant in Penticton, British Columbia. While in Penticton, he met George Melville, a chartered accountant. Melville acted as Treliving's business consultant for four years until 1973, at which time he became Treliving's partner in the business. In 1983, Treliving and Melville acquired the Boston Pizza chain from then-owner Ron Coyle. The two then divested 15 of their restaurants to other franchisees and converted one restaurant to a corporate training restaurant. By 1995, the chain had grown to 95 restaurants in Western Canada with sales in excess of $110 million (CA$).^[2]

Through T&M, Treliving and Melville share the title of Chairman and Owner of Boston Pizza International (as Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund), the owners of casual-dining restaurant company Boston Pizza, a franchisor. Through T&M, the two also own Mr. Lube, Dermal Laser Centres, brand LIVE, the Stonebrook Benchlands development (overlooking Okanagan Lake), real estate company White Rock Commercial, Velofix Holdings Ltd, and custom food manufacturer Kitchen Partners Limited.

Treliving is also chairman of the board for Global Entertainment Corporation, which owned the now defunct Central Hockey League, amongst other properties.

In 2006, Treliving joined the cast of the CBC program, Dragons' Den. Treliving is one of the "dragons", or potential investors in the business propositions made by aspiring entrepreneurs. Treliving has been with the show for all eleven of its seasons.

Awards

Treliving has won various awards:

• Pacific Canada Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Hospitality and Tourism
• British Columbia American Marketing Association's Marketer of the Year
• Irving, TX [Canadian~American Chamber of Commerce, DFW] Life Time Achievement Award

References

External links