Constantine Boukydis
Plot Q, Lot 40
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
Born in Sparta, Greece, Constantine “Gus” Boukydis emigrated to Chicago in 1900 and began peddling fruit and vegetables from a small pushcart. He and his brothers eventually moved to London, Ontario then on to Toronto where, in 1912, they went into the candy making business.
Boukydis eventually opened a restaurant at 181 Yonge Street and, remembering the statue of Diana, goddess of the hunt, prominently on display in the town square back in Sparta, decided to call his new establishment Diana Sweets. So popular was this restaurant that Boukydis eventually opened several others around town. He remained active in the business until 1960. He died nine years later on October 2, 1969.
There are still three family-operated Diana Sweets restaurants located in various suburban Toronto shopping malls.*
Mike Filey
Mount Pleasant Cemetery: An Illustrated Guide
Second Edition Revised and Expanded
*Editor’s Note - 2017: Unfortunately, there don’t appear to be any more Diana Sweets restaurants in Toronto, however, there is, apparently, still one in Listowell, Ontario.