Wilfrid Laurier University mourns the passing of Ryan Smolkin

Oct. 31, 2023

Wilfrid Laurier University is deeply saddened by the passing of Ryan Smolkin (BBA ’95), a dedicated member of the Laurier alumni community known for his entrepreneurial spirit, ambition and passion. Ryan passed away on Oct. 29, 2023. He was 50 years old.

Ryan was the founder and CEO of Smoke’s Poutinerie, a well-known chain of restaurants with more than 200 locations across Canada and the U.S. While a celebrated entrepreneur, Ryan often made time to give back to Laurier.

Ryan’s road to success started while attending university, when he built a portfolio of rental properties that would launch his business career. After leaving Laurier, he founded the brand and graphic design firm Amoeba Corp., which counted businesses including Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Nike and Molson among its clients.

After selling Amoeba Corp., Ryan opened the first Smoke’s Poutinerie location on Nov. 20, 2008 on Adelaide Street in downtown Toronto. His charisma helped grow the company into the world's largest chain of poutine restaurants.

Known for his gregarious personality, Ryan was often seen wearing his trademark lumberjack hat, sunglasses and plaid shirt during public appearances. As well as business, he placed a focus on fun, calling himself Smoke’s Poutinerie’s “chief entertainment officer.”

Ryan’s contributions to the Laurier community were many, including serving as a member of Laurier’s Vanier Cup champion football team in 1991. In 2012, he returned to Laurier as an alumni speaker as part of a Student Leadership Summit and in 2018 delivered the speech “Strategic brand building through entertainment” to a standing-room-only audience as part of the university's Entrepreneur Speaker Series.

“I’m weird, wild and wacky,” Ryan told the audience in his trademark enthusiastic style during his 2018 speech. “You don’t have to be like me. The smile on your face can be your thing, but everyone has to be entertaining in their own way.”

In 2019, Ryan was presented the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award as part of the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association Awards of Excellence. The award is presented to an alumni community member for work as a business founder or entrepreneurial leader.

Ryan will be greatly missed by his two sons, Nate and Sam, their mother and caring co-parent, Tanya Smolkin, as well as many close family members and friends, including those at Laurier.

A funeral service for Ryan will be held at Ottawa Torah Centre, 111 Lamplighter Drive in Ottawa, on Nov. 2, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Jewish Memorial Gardens, 6549 Herberts Corners Rd. in Greely, Ontario. A live stream of the service is available for those unable to attend in person.

In lieu of flowers, Ryan's family requests donations be made to We Care or a charity of your choice. Friends are also invited to share memories of Ryan on the Smoke’s Poutinerie website.