Canadian Tire celebrates 100 years, but only 56 in Western Canada

© 2022, Christian Cassidy

Canadian Tire is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022 though it took many decades before Western Canada saw its first outlet. By the time it did in September 1966, there were already 235 stores in Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

After doing some market research, the company decided that Winnipeg would be the best fit for its first Western store and leased a 10,000 square foot former Safeway at 1330 Pembina Highway south of McGillivray Boulevard. The building had sat empty for a couple of years after the grocer opened a larger store across the street.

"Help Wanted" ads first appeared in local newspapers in July and it opened its doors to customers at 10:00 a.m. on September 15, 1966. A seven-bay automotive service department followed in January 1967.

The man selected to own and manage the franchise store was store was 32-year-old Donald Johnston who relocated here with his wife and three children from London, Ontario.

Johnston grew up working at Canadian Tire as his father managed a store at Timmins, Ontario. After he graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in business administration in 1958, he began working full-time for the company.

Today's shoppers would recognize the Canadian Tire of the 1960s. The automotive department was king but it had already branched out into sporting goods, camping gear, hardware, cookware, and even a toy department. Early stores were around 10,000 square feet in size.

R. J. Hobbs, vice-president of Canadian Tire, spoke at the American Marketing Association convention in Winnipeg in November 1967. He addressed a recent finding that up to 80 per-cent of a household's disposable income was spent, or heavily influenced, by the woman of the house by saying: "Our stores are a place where a man can come in and browse and feel at home. I don't think we will change our lines of merchandise so that we will attract more women."

The Pembina Highway store was a success and the company announced in the summer of 1967 that two new, custom-built stores would be added to the Greater Winnipeg area the following year.

The first to open was St. Anne's Road at the Trans Canada (pictured above) in early April, followed by Nairn Avenue at Lagimodiere Boulevard a couple of weeks later. They shared an official grand opening date of May 16, 1968.

Three more stores were constructed in the 1960s. The 3550 Portage Avenue and 700 St. James Street locations opened in November 1969 and Notre Dame at Isabel opened in May 1970.

Only three of the 1960s stores remain standing.

The 1330 Portage location was expanded and converted into a YMCA in 2004 after the retailer moved further west. The 700 St. James Street location is still there, though in 2007 it was expanded and the interior gutted to create a "2020 prototype" store. The Notre Dame at Isabel store was closed in April 2007 due to its size and was converted into a Part Source, also owned by Canadian Tire, the following year.

Also see:
Who We Are Canadian Tire Corporation
Canadian Tire Corporation The Canadian Encyclopedia