Rideau (company)
Encyclopedia
Rideau is a private, Canada-based company that provides corporate and governmental recognition programs and products. Founded in 1912 as the Stephenson Company, the company has undergone several buyouts and ventures in different geographical markets. Rideau was the first Canadian
company to produce the Order of Canada
, the country's highest civilian decoration
, as well as the first Canadian company to be granted its own Coat of Arms
by The Heraldic Authority
.
, began as a producer of emblematic jewellery for associations such as the Masons
, the Knights of Columbus
, and other organizations. During World Wars I
and II
, the company produced military insignia for the armed forces. However, in the mid 50’s the company's shares were sold to a U.S.-based company that moved Stephenson Company's headquarters to Montreal North. The company was later sold back to two Montrealers who had numerous business interests but nevertheless, Stephenson went into a steady state of decline.
In 1968, Ed and Phyllis Hart purchased the business—the company almost bankrupt and only staffing five employees. Its largest customer was Avon Cosmetics, which used the company's awards to incentivize its sales force. In the 70's Avon began selling Stephenson's jewellery door-to-door with its traditional cosmetics
, which proved successful and helped the business to take off. In 1974, the Harts partnered with Maurice Bradden of D’Orlan Jeweler’s, helping to launch its manufacturing capabilities on the European continent in the Republic of Ireland
. The facility produced Nina Ricci
fashion jewellery in the European Common Market. Despite a major change in company leadership in 1978—the Harts selling the operation to their four children and family friend— the company continued to expand in Europe, opening a subsidiary in the United Kingdom called The Jeweller’s Guild in 1979. This branch of the company sold fashion jewellery by mail order. In 1980 other subsidiaries were set up in France, Holland and Germany—they also selling fashion jewellery by mail order. Stephenson and its subsidiary companies did well until 1982, when the company's own over-expansion and the recession of 1982 forced the company to change.
.jpg)
In 1983, the newly restructured company started producing the Order of Canada
, the country's highest civilian decoration
, which up until that time had been produced in England
by crown jeweller
Garrards of London
. At the suggestion of Bruce Beatty
, the chief designer of the Canadian Honours System
, the owners renamed the company Rideau to reflect their service the Governor General of Canada
, who resides in Rideau Hall
in Ottawa
.
, Scotiabank
, BMO
, Molson
, Alcan
, Canadian Pacific, and the Government of Canada
. In 1991, Rideau became the first Canadian company to be granted its own Coat of Arms
by The Heraldic Authority
, bearing the Latin
motto Opus excellentiae ("Impressions of excellence").
In the last decade, Rideau has engaged in different joint-venture opportunities. In 1998 Rideau launched Yellowbox, a dot com subsidiary designed to help charities through online gift sales; however, Yellowbox dissolved a few years later. In 2005, Rideau formed an agreement with Ceridian
, a U.S.-based human resources
outsourcing
firm, to deliver reward and retention programs to its clients. Rideau is also a sponsor of Recognition Professionals International
.
, BMO
, Magna International
, Scotiabank
, Desjardins, Bell Canada
, H&R Block
, Owens & Minor
, Alcan
, Exxon
, Alcatel-Lucent
, Government of Canada
, Oracle
, Ericsson
, Rona
, Best Buy
, Canadian Pacific, Irving Group, Molson
, and James Richardson International. Rideau's competitors include O.C. Tanner
, Globoforce, Maritz, and Terryberry
.
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...
company to produce 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...
, the country's highest civilian decoration
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
, as well as the first Canadian company to be granted its own Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
by The Heraldic Authority
Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
.
Growth and transition
In 1912 the Stephenson Company, situated on Saint-Maurice Street in old MontrealOld Montreal
Old Montreal is the oldest area in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, dating back to New France. Located in the borough of Ville-Marie, the area is bordered on the west by McGill St., on the north by Ruelle des Fortifications, on the east by Berri St. and on the south by the Saint Lawrence River...
, began as a producer of emblematic jewellery for associations such as the Masons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, and other organizations. During World Wars I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the company produced military insignia for the armed forces. However, in the mid 50’s the company's shares were sold to a U.S.-based company that moved Stephenson Company's headquarters to Montreal North. The company was later sold back to two Montrealers who had numerous business interests but nevertheless, Stephenson went into a steady state of decline.
In 1968, Ed and Phyllis Hart purchased the business—the company almost bankrupt and only staffing five employees. Its largest customer was Avon Cosmetics, which used the company's awards to incentivize its sales force. In the 70's Avon began selling Stephenson's jewellery door-to-door with its traditional cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
, which proved successful and helped the business to take off. In 1974, the Harts partnered with Maurice Bradden of D’Orlan Jeweler’s, helping to launch its manufacturing capabilities on the European continent in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The facility produced Nina Ricci
Nina Ricci (brand)
Nina Ricci is a fashion house founded by Maria "Nina" Ricci and her son Robert in Paris in 1932, and owned by the Spanish beauty and fashion group Puig since 1998. Nina Ricci designed gowns while Robert managed the business and finances. She worked with the fabrics directly on the mannequin to...
fashion jewellery in the European Common Market. Despite a major change in company leadership in 1978—the Harts selling the operation to their four children and family friend— the company continued to expand in Europe, opening a subsidiary in the United Kingdom called The Jeweller’s Guild in 1979. This branch of the company sold fashion jewellery by mail order. In 1980 other subsidiaries were set up in France, Holland and Germany—they also selling fashion jewellery by mail order. Stephenson and its subsidiary companies did well until 1982, when the company's own over-expansion and the recession of 1982 forced the company to change.
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...
, the country's highest civilian decoration
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
, which up until that time had been produced in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by crown jeweller
Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom
The collective term Crown Jewels denotes the regalia and vestments worn by the sovereign of the United Kingdom during the coronation ceremony and at other state functions...
Garrards of London
Garrard & Co
Garrard & Co is a luxury jewellery and silver company founded by George Wickesin London in 1735. Its current base is at Albemarle Street in Mayfair, London, its USA flagship store is in New York. The company also has a presence in Tokyo, New York, Dubai, Moscow and Hong Kong...
. At the suggestion of Bruce Beatty
Bruce W. Beatty
Bruce W. Beatty, CM, CD, FRHSC is a Canadian graphic designer best known as being chiefly responsible for designing the emblems of the Canadian Honours System, starting with the badge of the Order of Canada in 1967. The emblem is the shape of a snowflake - just as every snowflake is different, so...
, the chief designer of the Canadian Honours System
Canadian honours system
The orders, decorations, and medals of Canada comprise a complex system by which Canadians are honoured by the country's sovereign for actions or deeds that benefit their community or the country at large...
, the owners renamed the company Rideau to reflect their service the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, who resides in Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of 170 rooms across 9,500 m2 , and 24 outbuildings around the...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
Business under the Rideau name
Towards the end of the 80’s promotional products and fashion jewellery were increasingly being off-shored to the Far East, so the company began focusing on corporate recognition programs. It began providing fully outsourced recognition programs to RBCRoyal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
, Scotiabank
Scotiabank
The Bank of Nova Scotia , commonly known as Scotiabank , is the third largest bank in Canada by deposits and market capitalization. It serves some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world and offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial,...
, BMO
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
, Molson
Molson
Molson-Coors Canada Inc. is the Canadian division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is the second oldest company in Canada after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St...
, Alcan
Alcan
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. is a Canadian company based in Montreal. It was created on November 15, 2007 as the result of the merger between Rio Tinto PLC's Canadian subsidiary, Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc., and Canadian company Alcan Inc. On the same date, Alcan Inc. was renamed Rio Tinto Alcan Inc..Rio...
, Canadian Pacific, and the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
. In 1991, Rideau became the first Canadian company to be granted its own Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
by The Heraldic Authority
Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
, bearing the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
motto Opus excellentiae ("Impressions of excellence").
In the last decade, Rideau has engaged in different joint-venture opportunities. In 1998 Rideau launched Yellowbox, a dot com subsidiary designed to help charities through online gift sales; however, Yellowbox dissolved a few years later. In 2005, Rideau formed an agreement with Ceridian
Ceridian
Ceridian Corporation is a global business services company in the human resources, transportation and retail markets, serving businesses worldwide with employees in the USA, Canada, Europe and Mauritius. It was a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange until it was acquired in 2007...
, a U.S.-based human resources
Human resources
Human resources is a term used to describe the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, although it is also applied in labor economics to, for example, business sectors or even whole nations...
outsourcing
Outsourcing
Outsourcing is the process of contracting a business function to someone else.-Overview:The term outsourcing is used inconsistently but usually involves the contracting out of a business function - commonly one previously performed in-house - to an external provider...
firm, to deliver reward and retention programs to its clients. Rideau is also a sponsor of Recognition Professionals International
Recognition Professionals International
Recognition Professionals International, , is a professional association which represents workers in the field of human resources. RPI works to promote the role of human resources as a profession, and provides networking, education, certification in workplace recognition...
.
Clients and competitors
A few of Rideau’s clients include: RBC, BoeingBoeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, BMO
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
, Magna International
Magna International
Magna International Inc. , is an automotive supplier headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturer, and one of the country's largest companies. It owns the Magna Steyr automobile production company of Austria....
, Scotiabank
Scotiabank
The Bank of Nova Scotia , commonly known as Scotiabank , is the third largest bank in Canada by deposits and market capitalization. It serves some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world and offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial,...
, Desjardins, Bell Canada
Bell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
, H&R Block
H&R Block
H&R Block is a tax preparation company in the United States, claiming more than 22 million customers worldwide, with offices in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Kansas City-based company also offers banking, personal finance and business consulting services.Founded in 1955 by brothers...
, Owens & Minor
Owens & Minor
Owens & Minor is a Fortune 500 company based in Mechanicsville, Virginia. This company is a distributor of medical and surgical supplies.Owens & Minor is the fourth oldest company in Richmond, Virginia. The company was originally founded in 1882 as a wholesale drug company by Ortho Owens and G....
, Alcan
Alcan
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. is a Canadian company based in Montreal. It was created on November 15, 2007 as the result of the merger between Rio Tinto PLC's Canadian subsidiary, Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc., and Canadian company Alcan Inc. On the same date, Alcan Inc. was renamed Rio Tinto Alcan Inc..Rio...
, Exxon
Exxon
Exxon is a chain of gas stations as well as a brand of motor fuel and related products by ExxonMobil. From 1972 to 1999, Exxon was the corporate name of the company previously known as Standard Oil Company of New Jersey or Jersey Standard....
, Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent is a global telecommunications corporation, headquartered in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France. It provides telecommunications solutions to service providers, enterprises, and governments around the world, enabling these customers to deliver voice, data, and video services...
, Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
, Oracle
Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
, Ericsson
Ericsson
Ericsson , one of Sweden's largest companies, is a provider of telecommunication and data communication systems, and related services, covering a range of technologies, including especially mobile networks...
, Rona
Rona (company)
Rona Inc. is a Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, home improvement and gardening products. Rona was founded in 1939. Rona operates a network of some 700 stores and is the leading distributor and retailer in its market with approximately 51,594 employees. The Rona network represents...
, Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, Canadian Pacific, Irving Group, Molson
Molson
Molson-Coors Canada Inc. is the Canadian division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is the second oldest company in Canada after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St...
, and James Richardson International. Rideau's competitors include O.C. Tanner
O.C. Tanner (company)
O.C. Tanner Co., named after founder Obert C. Tanner, is a human resource consulting and services company that designs and helps implement employee recognition programs for clients in the U.S., Canada, and Europe...
, Globoforce, Maritz, and Terryberry
Terryberry
Terryberry is a private, U.S. based company that provides employee recognition and award programs. Founded in 1918 by H. R. Terryberry in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Terryberry’s original business focus was producing High School class rings in the Midwestern United States...
.