Alfred J. Billes
Encyclopedia
Alfred Jackson Billes, CM
(December 1, 1902 - April 3, 1995)
was a Canadian
businessman and co-founder of Canadian Tire
. Born in Toronto
, Ontario
, at age sixteen, he went to work as a clerk at a branch of the Dominion Bank
. In 1922 he used his savings to team up with his brother William
to buy Hamilton Tire and Garage Ltd. in Toronto. The following year, the brothers moved the business to downtown Toronto where they began the conversion to a garage/retail business. In 1927 the brothers incorporated under the name Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd. and in 1934, Canadian Tire opened its first official associate store in Hamilton, Ontario
. The Billes brothers expanded into a full line of automotive products and then added home and garden supplies. They created owner/operated stores throughout the Province of Ontario and into Quebec
and the Maritime Provinces. Then, in 1966 they opened a store in Winnipeg, Manitoba and by 1980, the most successful Canadian owned and operated franchise in the country's history had a nationwide network of dealer operated Canadian Tire Associate Stores.
On the unexpected death of his brother William in November 1956, Alfred Billes took over as President of Canadian Tire. He held the position for the next ten years and served as a director until 1988. When he stepped down as the company's President and CEO, the Board of Directors
named Dean Muncaster (b. 1934) as his replacement.
In 1976 Alfred Billes was made a Member of the Order of Canada
and in recognition of his contribution to the Canadian economy, was voted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame
.
Alfred Billes married Marjorie Baldry and had sons Fred and David and a daughter Martha. He died in 1995 and was interred in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
.
A publicly traded
company on the Toronto Stock Exchange
, Canadian Tire Common shares are widely held. However, the company has a dual share structure that gives voting control to the holders of a relatively small number of "Class A" shares. Following the settlement of Alfred Billes' estate, in 1997 Martha Billes bought out her brothers and, through a majority of the "Class A" shares, she has a controlling interest in the company.
In honour of Alfred Billes, the Canadian Tire Distribution Centre in Brampton, Ontario was named after him, the A.J. Billes Centre.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(December 1, 1902 - April 3, 1995)
was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman and co-founder of Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is one of Canada's 60 largest publicly traded companies. The firm operates an inter-related network of businesses engaged in retailing hardgoods, apparel and petroleum as well as financial and automotive services, employing more than 58,000 people across Canada...
. Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, at age sixteen, he went to work as a clerk at a branch of the Dominion Bank
The Dominion Bank
The Dominion Bank was a Canadian bank based in Toronto and incorporated in 1869 that merged on February 1, 1955 with the Bank of Toronto to form the Toronto-Dominion Bank. -History:...
. In 1922 he used his savings to team up with his brother William
J. William Billes
John William Billes was a Canadian businessman and co-founder of Canadian Tire. Born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1922 he and his brother Alfred bought Hamilton Tire and Garage Ltd. in Toronto. The following year they moved the garage to downtown Toronto where they began the conversion to a...
to buy Hamilton Tire and Garage Ltd. in Toronto. The following year, the brothers moved the business to downtown Toronto where they began the conversion to a garage/retail business. In 1927 the brothers incorporated under the name Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd. and in 1934, Canadian Tire opened its first official associate store in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
. The Billes brothers expanded into a full line of automotive products and then added home and garden supplies. They created owner/operated stores throughout the Province of Ontario and into Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and the Maritime Provinces. Then, in 1966 they opened a store in Winnipeg, Manitoba and by 1980, the most successful Canadian owned and operated franchise in the country's history had a nationwide network of dealer operated Canadian Tire Associate Stores.
On the unexpected death of his brother William in November 1956, Alfred Billes took over as President of Canadian Tire. He held the position for the next ten years and served as a director until 1988. When he stepped down as the company's President and CEO, the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
named Dean Muncaster (b. 1934) as his replacement.
In 1976 Alfred Billes was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and in recognition of his contribution to the Canadian economy, was voted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame
Canadian Business Hall of Fame
The Canadian Business Hall of Fame honours "Canada's most distinguished business leaders", selected by an independent panel representing Canadian business, academic and media institutions....
.
Alfred Billes married Marjorie Baldry and had sons Fred and David and a daughter Martha. He died in 1995 and was interred in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a cemetery located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.In the early 19th century, the only authorized cemeteries within the city of Toronto were limited to the members of either the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England...
.
A publicly traded
Public company
This is not the same as a Government-owned corporation.A public company or publicly traded company is a limited liability company that offers its securities for sale to the general public, typically through a stock exchange, or through market makers operating in over the counter markets...
company on the Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Canada, the third largest in North America and the seventh largest in the world by market capitalisation. Based in Canada's largest city, Toronto, it is owned by and operated as a subsidiary of the TMX Group for the trading of senior equities...
, Canadian Tire Common shares are widely held. However, the company has a dual share structure that gives voting control to the holders of a relatively small number of "Class A" shares. Following the settlement of Alfred Billes' estate, in 1997 Martha Billes bought out her brothers and, through a majority of the "Class A" shares, she has a controlling interest in the company.
In honour of Alfred Billes, the Canadian Tire Distribution Centre in Brampton, Ontario was named after him, the A.J. Billes Centre.