1922 – J.W. and A.J. Billes: brothers and co-founders
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In 1922, two Toronto brothers, John W. and Alfred J. Billes, with a combined savings of $1,800, buy the Hamilton Tire and Garage Ltd. at the corner of Gerrard and Hamilton Streets in Toronto. |
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1923 – On the move
In 1923, Hamilton Tire & Garage Ltd. is sold and the Billes brothers move to the corner of Yonge and Gould under the name Canadian Tire Corp’n.
1927 – Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited officially incorporated
”We chose Canadian Tire,” co-founder A.J. Billes later recalled, “because it sounded big.”
1928 – First catalogue published
J.W. and A.J. Billes produce their first catalogue featuring tire values on one side, and a handy roadmap of Ontario on the back.
1934 – First Associate Store
The store in Hamilton becomes the first officially designated Canadian Tire Associate Store, serving as a catalyst for the development of Canadian Tire’s highly successful nationwide Dealer-operated network of Canadian Tire Associate Stores. Today, there are more than 473 Associate Stores.
1936 – First store in New Brunswick
Canadian Tire opens its first store in the province of New Brunswick in Sussex.
1937 – Clerks on roller skates
Canadian Tire’s main store moves into a vacant supermarket located at Yonge & Davenport Streets in Toronto. A.J. Billes introduces an innovation that delights generations of Toronto shoppers: clerks on roller skates who race to fill orders.
1937 – First store in Nova Scotia
Canadian Tire opens first store in the province of Nova Scotia in Amherst.
1939 – First store in Quebec
Canadian Tire opens its first Quebec store in Rouyn. Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited now has 225 employees and 105 Associate Stores.
1955 – First store in Newfoundland
Canadian Tire opens its first store in the province of Newfoundland in St. John’s.
1958 – First Gas Bar opens
Canadian Tire’s first gas bar opens at Yonge & Church Streets in Toronto. Gas bar customers receive discount coupons, later known as Canadian Tire 'Money', redeemable on merchandise at Canadian Tire stores.
1963 – Distribution Centre opens
Canadian Tire’s new Distribution Centre on Sheppard Avenue in Toronto opens.
1966 – First store in Manitoba
The Winnipeg store in Fort Garry becomes the first Associate Store west of Ontario.
1968 – Canadian Tire integrates financial services
During the 1960s, Midland Shoppers Credit Limited, a small financial services firm offering third-party credit card processing for local retailers, begins adding Canadian Tire Associates Stores to its client list. By 1968, Midland was servicing Canadian Tire Associate Stores across Ontario, and then becomes a subsidiary of Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited, renamed as Canadian Tire Acceptance Limited.
1972 – Canadian Tire celebrates 50 years
Canadian Tire celebrates 50 years and the first store opens in the province of Saskatchewan.
1973 – New Distribution Centre in Brampton
First phase of Canadian Tire’s new Distribution Centre in Brampton opens. The computer-controlled, high-rise storage and retrieval complex is the first of its type in Canada, with 65 million cubic feet of space.
1976 – A.J. Billes gets the Order of Canada
A.J. Billes, co-founder of Canadian Tire, becomes a Member of the Order of Canada "for his contribution to the community of business, his concern for his employees and the sharing with them of his successes right from the very start".
1976 – First store in Alberta
Canadian Tire opens its first store in the province of Alberta in Calgary.
1980 – First store in British Columbia
Canadian Tire opens its first store in the province of British Columbia in Langley.
1980 – Canadian Tire continues to grow
Corporate gross operating revenue exceeds $1 billion for the first time and employees share $7,265,000 in profit sharing and share purchase bonuses. By 1981, Canadian Tire has 334 Associate Stores, a total of 116 gas bars and "Pit Stop" fast-lube facilities in Ontario and Quebec.
1991 – A.J. Billes Distribution Centre opens
A.J. Billes Distribution Centre in Brampton opens. The state-of-the-art, 100–acre facility has 13 miles of conveyor belts and one mile of storage aisles.
1992 – Canadian Tire expands to the Territories
Three Canadian Tire stores open in the Territories in Whitehorse, Yukon and Yellowknife, N.W.T.
1993 – New-format store expansion strategy launched
Canadian Tire launches the most extensive store renewal and redevelopment program in Canadian retail history with the launch of its “class of” new-format store. The strategy serves to reinforce the company’s strong locational advantage and to create an even more exciting, consistent customer shopping experience nationwide.
1995 – Canadian Tire Financial Services launches Canadian Tire Options MasterCard
Canadian Tire Financial Services becomes the first non-deposit taking, financial institution worldwide to launch a MasterCard called Options® MasterCard®. Canadian Tire Financial Services now has more than 4.6 million card members.
1997 – Canadian Tire celebrates 75 years of serving customers
By 1997, 85 percent of the Canadian population lives within a 15-minute drive of their local Canadian Tire store and nine out of ten adult Canadians shop at Canadian Tire at least twice a year.
1999 – Canadian Tire Foundation for Families launched
The Canadian Tire Foundation for Families was launched to provide a helping hand to families in need, to ensure that life's basic needs are met: food, shelter, clothing and essential goods. Since its launch in 1999, the Foundation for Families has donated more than $28 million dollars to help families in communities across Canada.
1999 – PartSource stores launched
PartSource – a chain of automotive parts specialty stores is launched in 1999. The stores are designed to meet the needs of major purchasers of auto parts – professional automotive installers and serious do-it-yourselfers. Today, there are more than 70 PartSource stores in Canada.
2000 – Canadian Tire launches Next Generation store format
As part of the company’s highly successful store expansion strategy, Canadian Tire announces that it will open 100 “Next Generation” stores that will deliver a brand new store layout with new features, products and services to customers.
2000 – Canadian Tire launches Canadian Tire ‘Money’ on the Card™
CTMOC mirrors Canadian Tire ‘Money’™, Canada's oldest and most recognized customer loyalty program, and enables customers to earn Canadian Tire ‘Money’ everywhere they shop, anywhere in the world.
2001 – www.canadiantire.ca brings online shopping to customers
Canada’s most shopped general merchandise retailer brings its unique shopping experience online and quickly becomes one of the busiest e-commerce sites in the country.
2001 – Mark’s Work Wearhouse joins Canadian Tire family
Canadian Tire acquires Mark’s Work Wearhouse, one of the country’s leading retailers of work, work-related, casual and active-wear categories, as well as healthwear and business-to-business apparel.
2003 – New Concept 20/20 store format introduced
Canadian Tire launches its newest store layout featuring ‘Driving’, ‘Playing’, ‘Living’ and ‘Fixing’ areas that represent Canadian Tire’s cornerstone businesses – automotive, leisure and sporting goods, hardware & tools, home décor, home maintenance and repair, outdoor living and lawn and garden products. With more than 473 stores across the country, Canadian Tire Retail serves three million customers per week.
2003 – Canadian Tire Financial Services establishes Canadian Tire Bank
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian Tire, Canadian Tire Bank provides greater marketing flexibility for its credit card operations and enables Canadian Tire to facilitate continued expansion into the high-growth bank card market. Today, one in five Canadian households has a Canadian Tire credit card and there are 5.3 million Canadian Tire MasterCard credit cards in circulation.
2005 – Canadian Tire Launches Canadian Tire JumpStart
Canadian Tire launches Canadian Tire JumpStart to address an issue of national concern – the inactivity of children. National in scope, but local in its focus, Canadian Tire JumpStart helps kids in financial need participate in organized sports and recreation by providing funds to help offset the costs associated with playing sports such as registration fees, transportation and equipment. To date, Canadian Tire JumpStart has helped give more than 100,000 kids the chance to play.
2005 – Debbie Travis: exclusive to Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire announces its exclusive partnership with Debbie Travis and soon after introduces the Debbie Travis paint palette, ready-to-assemble furniture and storage solutions. The collection uses an array of patterns, colours and textures to help create unique moods in any room in the home.
2006 – Canadian Tire launches Retail Banking Pilot
Canadian Tire Financial Services launches a limited pilot of new retail banking products including high interest savings accounts, variable and fixed-rate mortgages and guaranteed investment certificates.
2006 – Canadian Tire Announces Partnership with NASCAR and TSN.
Canadian Tire, NASCAR and TSN launch a multi-year partnership to bring the excitement and thrill of NASCAR racing to motor sport fans across the country. The Canadian Tire NASCAR Series consists of 10–12 races from May to September at local racetracks across the country.