Chairman of the Board
Gerard Curran
The James Joyce Irish Pub and Restaurant
Calgary AB
Gerard Curran was elected Chairman of the Board of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) at the association’s Annual Meeting on March 8, 2010.
Gerard and his wife Anne are the founders and proprietors of The James Joyce Irish Pub and Restaurant in downtown Calgary – the first authentic Irish pub and restaurant in Alberta. Opened in 1997, this 225-seat establishment employs 40 people and serves what has been called the best pint of Guinness in Canada.
Born and raised in Ireland, Gerard gained a wealth of experience before venturing into the pub and restaurant business. As a teenager he worked in Irish pubs, as well as for the Guinness company, before fulfilling his dream of emigrating to Canada. He arrived in Toronto in 1979 at the age of 20 and eventually settled in Edmonton. Within three years of landing a job at a brewing company, he worked his way up from general sales manager to president and chief executive officer of a $30-million business.
After overseeing a successful sale of the brewing company, Gerard moved on to his next dream -- that of becoming an entrepreneur. He launched a consulting firm that soon had a roster of big-name clients, including Labatt’s, Guinness, Anheuser Busch, Bass Charrington, The Mark Anthony Group and Tsingtao Beer.
From there Gerard pursued his next dream – opening his own pub and restaurant. He invested his life savings in the James Joyce, importing authentic Irish furnishings – from the chandeliers to the bar -- to recreate the ambience of a true Irish pub. At one point Anne asked, “What do we do if this doesn’t work?” To which Gerard replied, “You can sing on Stephen’s Ave. and I’ll hold the hat.” Luckily, the pub was a resounding success.
Since joining CRFA’s Board of Directors in 2003, Gerard has served as Chairman of the Provincial and Federal Government Affairs committees, as well as Chairman of the Member Products Committee. He also serves as Chairman of Groupex, CRFA’s group buying company.
Gerard is passionate about the hospitality industry, as well as his local community and his Irish roots. In addition to his leadership role with the CRFA, he is president of the Calgary Irish Chamber of Commerce and is a past participant on Calgary’s 4th Street Redevelopment Board and the Calgary Downtown Association. He is also sole proprietor of several other unrelated companies.
Gerard and Anne have four children ranging in age from 16 to 23. In addition to his business, volunteer and family commitments, Gerard finds time to pursue several hobbies, including quading (ATVing), horseback riding, recreational shooting, hiking and running.