Mike Wekerle and Mark Wahlberg promote Toronto Wahlburgers

Difference Capital Executive Chairman Mike Wekerle points Mark Wahlberg north.The last time Boston and Toronto got together, it didn’t go so well for Toronto.

Leafs fans suffered through a heartbreaking comeback at the hands of the Bruins last spring, losing their first round playoff series after an epic third period collapse. Another pair of larger-than-life characters hope their Beantown-Hogtown venture will leave a better impression.

Bay Street impresario Mike Wekerle and film star Mark Wahlberg will be on BNN today to promote the latest location of Wahlberg’s “Wahlburger” chain, a hamburger restaurant he opened with his brothers Donnie and Paul, who is the restaurant’s Executive Chef.

The restaurant, which will be located at Toronto’s SoHo Metropolitan Hotel, is the second in the aspiring chain after the original location in Hingham, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.

Wekerle and all three Wahlberg brothers will be at the hotel tonight for a “green carpet” event that will launch the location. Just before that, at 4:45pm EST, Mark Wahlberg and Wekerle will be on BNN.

The Wahlbergs launched their eponymous burger shop in 2011. The upscale venue features an array of hamburgers, salads and microbrews, including the “Wahlbrewski”, a custom unfiltered pale ale made by Harpoon Brewery.

Wahlburgers Canada is a collaboration between the Wahlbergs, Wekerle, Bruce Greenberg, President of Starwood Group, and Henry Wu, President of Metropolitan Hotels.

Paul Wahlberg says Toronto is a natural fit for the family.

“My brothers and I are thrilled to announce the opening of our Canadian location at the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel,” he says. “Having spent a lot of time in the city, we have a strong connection to Toronto and appreciate the vibrant food culture. The Toronto Wahlburgers location will help build on that by using local purveyors to bring our menu to life.”

Paul’s youngest brother is no stranger to Toronto; in 2011, he bought a 4,600-square-foot penthouse in the city for a rumoured $12-million.

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