July 2014 BCBusiness 113
Prince
CITY
of
The
As he hurried through a downtown alley to lunch in Vancou-
ver one day, a tall, broad-shouldered man in a dark blue suit was stopped by a
BMW driver who ran down the window and asked, "Excuse me, you're Francesco
Aquilini, right?" It's not uncommon for the Canucks owner to be recognized in res-
taurants and airports, asked about the team, or simply wished well. But this fellow's
request caught him off guard.
"I bought a condo at Maynard's and I have to put 20 per cent down by the first.
I thought I only had to put down 10 per cent. I'm not sure I can come up with the
money by then. Do you think you could give me a little more time?"
Aquilini couldn't help laughing—"Give your real estate agent a call," he said. It was
kind of funny, like a server at a garden party asking a bank chair if he could loan her
another $1,500 for her kitchen reno. The incident speaks to his familiar place in the
city, and to the outdated perception many people have of the Aquilinis.
Tough, shrewd and deTermined, Francesco aquilini is The driving
Force behind The growTh and diversiFicaTion oF The aquilini
Family's mulTibillion-dollar empire by gary sTephen ross
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