Christine Magee
Encyclopedia
Christine Magee is a well known spokesperson for and President of Sleep Country Canada
. In October 1994, she co-founded the company with Steven Gunn
and Gordon Lownds
. By 2004, the company had expanded to 89 stores, with over 600 employees and operations in three provinces. Magee is on the Board of directors
for McDonald's Canada
and Cott Corporation
.
in Mississauga, Ontario
and Turner Fenton Secondary School
in Brampton
for the International Baccalaureate Program. She also attended Clarice Montage Public School throughout her elementary school years.
in London, Ontario
with a BA in Honours Business Administration (HBA). Her first job after university was with Continental Bank
as a Commercial Accounts Manager. In 1985 she joined the National Bank of Canada
as Senior Manager of Corporate and Commercial Lending
.
In 1994, Magee and her business partners launched the first four Sleep Country locations in Vancouver
. In an interview with Business Edge News Magazine, Gord Lownds said, "We had known Christine in her days as a banker at National Bank, where she was actually a lender for a couple of buyout transactions we had done. For a number of reasons, we were looking for a third partner who longer-term could take over and run the business on a permanent basis. She fit the bill on a number of fronts. I was convinced that she wasn't a lifelong banker because she had more entrepreneurial spirit than I would expect in a banker."
The chain expanded into Toronto
, opening 19 stores in 1996. Over the next year, more stores were opened in Southern Ontario
and Calgary
. By 2001, the chain had over 100 stores in six regional markets and controlled an estimated 40% of market in regions where it operated. Currently, there are over 150 stores and 14 distribution centers spanning 6 provinces, including, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec (under the name Dormez-vous?) and in 1 state, Arizona (under the name Sleep America).
In 2006, Magee was the United Way
of Greater Toronto's Retail Chair, and a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization, the Rouge Valley Health System, and the Richard Ivey School of Business' Advisory Council and the Entrepreneurship Council.
Sleep Country Canada
Sleep Country Canada is a major mattress retailer in Canada, with over 140 stores operating in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.The company was ranked one of the top 50 companies to work for in Canada by the Globe and Mail...
. In October 1994, she co-founded the company with Steven Gunn
Steven Gunn
Stephen K. Gunn is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and co-Founder of Sleep Country Canada Inc. As of 2006, the company had 111 stores across Canada and 32 stores in the US .- Early life :Gunn grew up in Montreal and Kingston...
and Gordon Lownds
Gordon Lownds
Gordon Lownds , co-Founder of Sleep Country Canada and Listen Up! Canada, is a successful Canadian entrepreneur.Gord Lownds was born and raised in Toronto, Canada...
. By 2004, the company had expanded to 89 stores, with over 600 employees and operations in three provinces. Magee is on 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...
for McDonald's Canada
McDonald's Canada
McDonald's Restaurants of Canada, Ltd. is the Canadian branch of the popular fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's. One of Canada's largest fast-food restaurant chains, the franchise sells food items including hamburgers, chicken, french fries and soft drinks all across the country...
and Cott Corporation
Cott
The Cott Corporation is a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks distributing to Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In addition to producing many private-label beverages for retailers, Cott also has a large and growing portfolio of its own brands...
.
Early life
Magee attended Erindale Secondary SchoolErindale Secondary School
Erindale Secondary School is a public high school located in the Erin Mills community of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.The architectural exterior of the school is almost an exact copy of Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School which is located in Malton...
in Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
and Turner Fenton Secondary School
Turner Fenton Secondary School
Turner Fenton Secondary School is the Peel District School board's largest high school, and the fourth largest school in Peel region, located in Brampton, Ontario. The principal is Robert Rozario...
in Brampton
Brampton
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.Brampton may also refer to:- Canada :* Brampton, a city in Ontario** Brampton GO Station, a station in the GO Transit network located in the city- United Kingdom :...
for the International Baccalaureate Program. She also attended Clarice Montage Public School throughout her elementary school years.
Career
In 1982, Magee graduated from the Richard Ivey School of BusinessRichard Ivey School of Business
The Richard Ivey School of Business is located on the University of Western Ontario campus in London, Ontario, Canada, and is consistently rated as the top business school in Canada. It is offered, along with a range of other programs, by the University of Western Ontario, but is managed separately...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
with a BA in Honours Business Administration (HBA). Her first job after university was with Continental Bank
Continental Bank of Canada
The Continental Bank of Canada was a chartered bank formed in Canada when IAC, a financing company, decided to expand the scope of operations in the 1980s. This small bank struggled for several years before being acquired by Lloyds Bank of the United Kingdom. Continental Bank became "Lloyds Bank of...
as a Commercial Accounts Manager. In 1985 she joined the National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada is the 6th largest bank and 8th largest financial institution in Canada. The bank's headquarters are in Montreal, Quebec....
as Senior Manager of Corporate and Commercial Lending
Commercial lender
Whilst nearly all lenders offer loans on a commercial basis the term commercial lender has differed meanings around the world.* In much of the world and especially in the UK, the phrase commercial lender refers to a lender arranging commercial loans especially commercial mortgages. In the UK it is...
.
In 1994, Magee and her business partners launched the first four Sleep Country locations in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. In an interview with Business Edge News Magazine, Gord Lownds said, "We had known Christine in her days as a banker at National Bank, where she was actually a lender for a couple of buyout transactions we had done. For a number of reasons, we were looking for a third partner who longer-term could take over and run the business on a permanent basis. She fit the bill on a number of fronts. I was convinced that she wasn't a lifelong banker because she had more entrepreneurial spirit than I would expect in a banker."
The chain expanded into 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...
, opening 19 stores in 1996. Over the next year, more stores were opened in Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
and Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. By 2001, the chain had over 100 stores in six regional markets and controlled an estimated 40% of market in regions where it operated. Currently, there are over 150 stores and 14 distribution centers spanning 6 provinces, including, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec (under the name Dormez-vous?) and in 1 state, Arizona (under the name Sleep America).
In 2006, Magee was the United Way
United Way of Canada
United Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...
of Greater Toronto's Retail Chair, and a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization, the Rouge Valley Health System, and the Richard Ivey School of Business' Advisory Council and the Entrepreneurship Council.
Awards
- 1997 – Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40
- 1998 – The Financial PostFinancial PostThe Financial Post was an English Canadian business newspaper, which published from 1907 to 1998. In 1998, the publication was folded into the new National Post, although the name Financial Post has been retained as the banner for that paper's business section and also lives on in the Post’s...
named her and Steven Gunn the Ontario Entrepreneur of the Year, Retail/Wholesale - 1999 – Named the Consumers’ Choice Toronto Business Woman of the Year
- 2003 – Guest Speaker at Annual Influential Women in Business Speaker Series
- 2005 – Inducted into the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame, Retail Council of CanadaRetail Council of CanadaThe Retail Council of Canada was founded in 1963. It is a Canadian not-for-profit association representing more than 40,000 stores of all retail formats, including independent merchants, regional and national mass and specialty chains, and online merchants...
- 2006 – Recipient of CIRAS Henry Singer Award for exceptional leadership in the retailing and services sectors
External links
- Mentor Program
- Sleep Country Investor Relations
- Wilfrid Laurier University News
- Bio from The Learning Partnership
- Live and Learn: Christine Magee
- UWO Alumni Gazette
- Christine Magee reveals her workout regimen
- Influential Women in Business
- Canadian Institute of Retailing and Services (CIRAS)
- Aural entrepreneur hears market's call