The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, Nov. 27, edition that George Cohon, who played pivotal roles in establishing the McDonald's fast-food empire in Canada and Russia, died on Friday at the age of 86 at his home in Toronto. The Globe's Matthew McClearn writes that his son, Mark Cohon, announced his death on Saturday. In Mr. Cohon's colourful career, he rubbed shoulders with figures such as McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, Mikhail Gorbachev, Brian Mulroney and Bill Clinton. Born and raised in Chicago, Mr. Cohon practised corporate law there until 1967, when he bought a McDonald's franchise agreement covering Eastern Canada and moved to Toronto. He opened a McDonald's restaurant in London, Ont., the following year. McDonald's was then largely unknown in Canada, having opened its first restaurant in Richmond, B.C. -- its first outside the United States -- the previous year. Thus began a remarkable expansion. McDonald's opened its 50th restaurant in Canada by 1970. According to a profile by the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, McDonald's reacquired Mr. Cohon's licence in 1971, at which time he became chairman, president and chief executive officer of McDonald's Canada.