1956

After a twelve-day trip aboard the MS Vulcania, Peter, his parents and two brothers, Sam and Morris, arrive at Pier 52 in Halifax, where they then took a train to Hamilton, Ontario. 
For us, arriving in Hamilton would be what it would be like for a child today arriving in Disneyland. It was as if we travelled to a different world. We saw a city, an actual city, with paved roads and streetlights and rows of buildings and houses. 

1960-1962

Despite his parents' wishes, Peter not only participated in sports, but excelled in soccer and baseball.
My devotion to sports demonstrated my competitive nature and the "I-can-do-it" convictionI brought to all aspects of my life. Whenever I saw someone with nice things or who had experienced success, I would say to myself, "I can do it!"

1967

Peter's band Indigo is formed. The members included Frank Calabrese, Mike Kondershov, Pino Garlisi, Joe Pollici, Tony Scutella, Billy Dika, and Peter Mercanti. 

They went on to back up acts like Roy Orbison, David Clayton Thomas, Anne Murray, and Burton Cummings. 

1970

Peter and Gabriella got married and held their reception at Luso Canadian Hall on James North, hosting 500 people, not counting the friends who were not invited but couldn't stay away.
...This was the woman for me. To this day, my favourite song is "My Girl" by the Temptations because it speaks to me of my Gaby.

1972

Peter begins working with the man who would become one of his greatest mentors, Pat Paletta, at Paletta Brothers Meat Products Ltd, before going on to start his own meat company. 

1985

Peter sells his portion of his meat company to his partner so he could work full-time at his Uncle Carmen's bakery. Within a few months, Peter diversified the business to "fill a gap" and offered full-service catering, which included decorations and flowers.
I believe Italians are good at filling the gap. They see a need and they fill it. This business strategy made many of them very successful. Many of them couldn't spell their names, but they became multi-millionaires by filling a gap. 

1988

The iconic Carmen's Banquet Centre opens its doors. 
Carmen's took off, with our hall being the place to get married. We ended up doing as many as twelve weddings per weekend. It takes a lot of people and a good team to make something work, and I am grateful to all of them. 

1993

The late George H. W. Bush Sr visited Carmen's Banquet Centre, where he captivated a crowd of 1000. The gala raised $100,000 for St. Joseph’s Hospital.

1999

​Academy Award Winner Sophia Loren hosted a fashion show with 1600 guests at Carmen's Banquet Centre on November 1, 1999. The fundraiser was in benefit of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario.
Sophia Loren is one of the classiest and most elegant, humble and beautiful women I have ever met... I couldn't get over, even at the age of 65, how beautiful she is.

2001

​The 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, made Carmen’s the location of his first Canadian visit after his term in office. The fundraiser for St. Joseph’s Hospital on May 3, 2001 raised $150,000. Fun Fact: President Clinton took individual pictures with every chef and steward in the kitchen.
Carmen's was the first place in all of Canada to book President Bill Clinton. The media coverage across Canada was phenomenal, and it was a good feeling to beat out the Toronto bidders.

2004

On October 20th, 2004, at the height of their popularity, three cast members of the The Sopranos brought their brand of entertainment to Hamilton, attracting guests from as far as Montreal and New York. The benefit dinner in honour of Emilio Grimaldi raised $75,000 for the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre.

2007

Academy Award Winner Michael Douglas hosted the gala event recognizing the opening of the Red Hill Valley Parkway and the inaugural Road2Hope Marathon. The benefit raised $100,000 for City Kidz and Joy and Hope of Haiti.

2010

Academy Award Winner Al Pacino brought his Pacino: One Night Only production to Carmen’s on November 22nd, 2010. The star of The Godfather and Scarface helped to raise $150,000 for Good Shepherd and Empower Global, and brought home a tray of lasagna back to his home in New York City.

2011

​Swayed by advice from his sons, Peter's final masterpiece, The Best Western Premier C Hotel by Carmen’s opens its doors, immediately becoming the most popular hotel in the Hamilton market.
Carmen's continued to be very successful, but I began to see the winds of change. My sons were bringing their own new and fresh ideas to the organization.

2012

The star of Rocky and Rambo captivated a crowd of 900 at the February 23, 2012 fundraiser for the Canadian Diabetes Association, raising $100,000. Fun Fact: In the crowd at the star-studded affair were NHL Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour, Shark Tank business guru Robert Herjavec, and ET Canada host Rick Campanelli.
He was a class act. He was respectful, gentle, soft-spoken and insatiably curious... I couldn't get over how interested he was in my life and my business. 

2015

Peter Mercanti sells his entire business to his sons, including Carmen's Banquet Centre, the hotel, and contracts with places such as Hamilton Convention Centre and Lakeview Confederation Park. 

2016

Peter starts Mama Yolanda's Gourmet Lasagna, selling his mother's lasagna. First manufactured in the back of Carmen's and now on Nebo Rd in Hamilton, it wasn't long before Mama Yolanda's grew to be available at Lococo's, Bennett's, Nardini's, Sobeys, Foodland, Fortinos, and No Frills.