One of McDonald’s most iconic menu items is hitting a major milestone this year—and it all started right here in Canada.
Back in 1995, a franchise owner in Bathurst, New Brunswick named Ron McLellan came up with a simple but brilliant idea, blend vanilla soft serve with mix-ins like Oreo cookies and serve it with a signature spoon.
That treat became the McFlurry, a dessert that has since gone global and is now enjoyed in 99 countries around the world.
This summer marks the McFlurry’s 30th anniversary, and McDonald’s Canada is celebrating in true Canadian fashion, with new flavours, a nod to its East Coast roots, and a campaign that fuses dessert and art.
McLellan says he created the McFlurry to bring people joy.
“Seeing it embraced around the world is a dream,” he said in a statement. “The McFlurry is more than a dessert—it’s a testament to the Canadian spirit of innovation and a source of national pride.”
To celebrate the milestone, Canadians can now enjoy the limited-edition Cheesecake McFlurry, topped with one of four flavours: strawberry, fudge, caramel, or Oreo. A Birthday Cake McFlurry, loaded with cookie dough and birthday cake syrup, is also on the menu for a short time.
McDonald’s says another new flavour will roll out later this summer—though they’re keeping the details under wraps for now.
All McFlurries in Canada are made with 100% Canadian dairy, a detail the company says reflects its continued commitment to local sourcing.
In honour of its Atlantic Canadian origins, McDonald’s has also launched “An East Coast Original,” a campaign that brings together seven artists and artisans from across the Maritimes. Each was invited to create a McFlurry-inspired art piece in their own medium—from painting and quilting to stained glass and driftwood sculpture.
Artists involved include Nova Scotia’s Vanessa Thomas and Adam McNamara, New Brunswick’s Cynthia DeCoste and Janice Goguen (with rug hooking collective Les Hookeuses du Bor’de’lo), Prince Edward Island’s Sarah Nicole Dart, and Newfoundland’s Jill O’Reilly, along with Jonathan and Elizabeth White.
Their creations are being showcased online through McDonald’s Canada, and in some cases, locally in the artists’ home provinces.
And if you’re feeling creative, McDonald’s encourages Canadians to mix and match toppings to come up with their own unique spin. The original McFlurry was born from a simple idea and a little ingenuity—something McLellan says embodies the Canadian way.
Whether you’re picking up a McFlurry this week or catching a glimpse of the art campaign online, it’s a chance to celebrate 30 years of one of Canada’s coolest culinary inventions.
