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A.J. (Alfred Jackson) Billes, CM (December 1, 1902 - April 3, 1995) was a Canadian businessman and co-founder of Canadian Tire. Biography. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Billes went at age 16 to work as a clerk at a branch of the Dominion Bank.
Nov 29, 2023 · Learn about the life and achievements of Alfred J. Billes, the founder and leader of Canadian Tire, a Canadian retail icon. Discover his humble beginnings, his visionary growth, his family and legacy, and his honors and recognition.
Alfred Jackson Billes, or “A.J.,” as he was better known, and his older brother John William Billes opened their Hamilton Tire and Garage Company on Hamilton Street just south of Gerrard Street on September 15, 1922.
Apr 3, 1995 · Alfred Jackson Billes, CM was a Toronto-born businessman and co-founder of Canadian Tire, a Canadian retail giant. At age sixteen, he worked as a Dominion Bank clerk. In 1922 he used his savings to team up with his brother William to buy Hamilton Tire and Garage Ltd. in Toronto.
- December 1, 1902
- April 3, 1995
- Canadian Tire Incorporates: 1927
- Postwar Years
- New President: Dean Muncaster
- Ownership Disputes
- 21st Century
Canadian Tire Corporation was launched by John William (J.W.) and Alfred Jackson (A.J.) Billes in 1922, when the two brothers purchased the Hamilton Tire and Garage Ltd., located in Toronto’sRiverdale neighbourhood. The pair bought the business for $1,800. The automotive market was growing; in 1927, Canada had the third highest car ownership per ca...
Toward the end of the war, Canadian Tire looked to expand further. To facilitate this, the company went public in 1944, selling 100,000 shares of stock at ten dollars apiece. This decision to go public was soon followed by A.J.’s development of a profit-sharing scheme with Canadian Tire employees, launched in 1946. Through the plan, the company red...
Once A.J. Billes cemented his hold as president of the company he cofounded, he began looking for successors. He gave direct control of the Canadian Tire flagship store at Yonge and Davenport to his eldest son, Fred, but he also began searching outside the family for a new leader. By 1964, A.J.’s doctors insisted that he step down as president, sin...
During the 1980s, the long-simmering disputes between the Billes family members erupted. In 1980, A.J. finally resigned from the company board when his wife Muriel passed, appointing his daughter, Martha. Rifts also began to emerge between the Billes family and Muncaster, namely over his expansion plans in Australia, A.J.’s desire to further expand...
Canadian Tire has undertaken several initiatives in its effort to remain competitive, particularly with the expansion of US-based chains like Walmart and Home Depot and growing competition from online retail services. The company homogenized the layout of Canadian Tire stores, using clearly delineated sections and providing information kiosks. In 2...
Back in 1922, John William Billes and Alfred Jackson Billes had no idea how successful they were going to be when they bought a small garage in Toronto’s east end and called it the Hamilton Garage and Rubber Company.
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Apr 3, 1995 · Find a Grave Memorial ID: 10436. Source citation. Entrepreneur, Business Magnate. Founder of the Canadian Tire company.
