Woodward's was a pioneering department store in Alberta and British Columbia that was created in 1892 and sold to Hudson's Bay Company in 1993. 1892 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Hudsons Bay Company building in Montreal The Hudsons Bay Company (HBC) is the oldest corporation in Canada and is one of the oldest in the world still in existence. ...

History

The story of Woodward's, the famous Vancouver retailer, begins in 1875 on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron. It was there that Charles Woodward opened his first store with his brother-in-law, in a bid to break away from farming. The small store catered to newcomers to this fledgling farming community but did not fare well: its inexperienced 23 year-old owner was too trustful and as a result quickly acquired a heavy debt load. The following 18 years, until he set up shop in Vancouver, were hard on Charles and his family. He would learn the retail trade the hard way, moving around Northern Ontario and opening several stores with various degrees of success. Two lessons would serve him until his death: never sell on credit, and always monitor store activities closely. {{Canadian City/Disable Field={{{Disable Motto Link}}}}} Motto: By sea, land and air we prosper City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Location. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Area 1,076,395 km² (4th)  - Land 917,741 km²  - Water 158,654 km² (14. ...

A fire, allegedly criminal, destroyed Charles Woodward's store in Thessalon, Ontario, in April of 1890. This blow was the last straw for Woodward's ambitions in his home province. Discouraged by the many setbacks he suffered, he headed west, with the wave of fellow travellers hoping for a better life. He arrived in Vancouver in 1891 and immediately began scouting possible locations for a retail store. His new store opened at the corner of Harris Street (now Georgia) and Westminster Avenue (now Main), the main thoroughfare leading to the rapidly growing town of New Westminster, in March ]]1892]]. Laden with debt, Charles struggled for the first few years to meet his monthly payments but, despite a recession and the loss of his wife and 2 of his children to tuberculosis in the summer of 1892, he managed to make it through the tough times, emerging as a healthy retailer 1890 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1891 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Pattullo Bridge (centre) connects New Westminster (left) with Surrey (right) across the Fraser River. ...

In 1902, Charles Woodward was ready to take the next big step. Following the advice of his lawyer, he took six associates and incorporated a new company: Woodward's Stores Limited. The new company opened its store at the corner of Hastings and Abbott streets in Gastown the following year. The partnership quickly soured, however, and Charles decided to sell his original store and use the proceeds to buy out his partners' stakes in the new company. Thus, by 1904 he was, again, the only master in his store. 1902 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Business grew tremendously in this first decade of the 20th century, in parallel with the growth of the city. Vancouver's population was about 14,000 when Charles Woodward opened his first store in 1892. 15 years later, it was already 60,000, and would reach almost 130,000 by 1912. It is no surprise, then, that established retailers with a strong work ethic were to reap the benefits of this growth. Charles Woodward finally achieved the success he had been seeking since starting in business. 1892 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1912 is a leap year starting on Monday. ...

Eager to involve his family in business matters, Charles' sons all joined the company: John N. ("Jack"), the eldest and a druggist, in 1895; Donald shortly before 1900, as bookkeeper, although he quit in 1909; William in 1907, as a bookkeeper; and finally Percival in 1907, as a salesman. Despite John's untimely death from tuberculosis in 1900, Charles was greatly comforted by the fact that his sons were eager to take up the business. When Jack joined the business in 1895, Charles allocated space previously devoted to groceries to a drug counter offering quality product at low prices. Charles purchased the stock and fixtures of a former druggist, and opened the pharmacy despite the concerted opposition of free-standing drug stores and the medical profession in general whose perception of low priced drugs was very negative. Problems with acquiring supply persisted until provincial legislation prohibited price fixing and restraint of trade. Woodward never regretted the decision, however, acknowledging that from that time forward "I began to go ahead." 1895 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ... 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ...

By the time Charles was considering retirement in 1911, his company had gained much respect and recognition in the city. The 25-cent Days promotion, introduced in 1910 (and changing to 45-cent, 95-cent, and finally $1.49 Days over the next decades) certainly played a role in that recognition. Retirement did not suit Charles very well, however, and he soon returned to his position of President of the Company, where he stayed for another 6 years. While he never fully retired, starting in 1919 Charles felt comfortable enough to allow his sons complete operational supervision of the store's activities. He did not agree with every decision they made, far from it, but in the end was usually convinced. A database query syntax error has occurred. ... 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

At this stage of his life Woodward often travelled to California, spending long stretches of time there. After a few months away, he would come back and see that things were under control. One of the first times he returned from California, in 1919, he was horrified to discover that the unthinkable had happened: the counters in the "groceteria" department had been removed and clients were helping themselves to products! It took a lot of convincing on the part of his sons before he grudgingly gave his assent. Soon enough, this was proven to have been the right decision: never before had the store seen so much business! State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Feeling somewhat left out, in 1922 Charles Woodward decided to visit Edmonton to get a feel for the city. He was impressed with what he saw, and registered C. Woodward (Edmonton) Ltd. In June of that year, with himself and his 2nd wife Alice as sole directors. Four years later a store would open downtown Edmonton, and engage in a fierce battle with local retailers. 1922 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... {{Canadian City/Disable Field={{{Disable Motto Link}}}}} Motto: Industry Integrity Progress City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Location. ...

While Charles kept busy with his business, politics (he was a M.L.A. for Vancouver in the 1924-1928 period) - and his frequent trips to California, his sons consistently improved the business in the Vancouver store. Between 1924 and 1928, the numbers of customers the store served increased from 5 to 9 million! Numerous enlargements and additions were made to the store over a relatively short period of time. The store first occupied a full city block in 1925, and already by 1927 had been expanded to 7-storeys. Meanwhile the Edmonton store grew in parallel with the Vancouver store, although it was not until Charles' death in 1937 that it would be combined with the Vancouver business under one unified administrative structure. 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Events January-May January 3 - Benito Mussolini announces he is taking dictatorial powers over Italy. ... Events January 7 - First transatlantic telephone call - New York City to London January 9 - Military rebellion crushed in Lisbon January 14 - Paul Doumer elected president of France January 19 - Britain sends troops to China February 12 - First British troops lad on Shanghai February 14 - Earthquake in Yugoslavia - 700 dead February... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The 1920s and 1930s were years of rapid growth on all fronts. While the Vancouver and Edmonton business grew tremendously, the company's Mail Order Department made sure that every community in western Canada not served by one of its stores could nonetheless shop at Woodward's. Upon his father's death, William (Billy) was named President. He served in this capacity for a short few years until the beginning of the World War II, when he went to Ottawa and served as a "dollar a year man", assisting in the war effort, for the next 2 years. Upon his return to British Columbia in 1941, he was appointed Lieutenant Governor. He completed his term in 1946, refused a second one, preferring to retire to a farm he bought on the Saanich peninsula, north of Victoria, while running the company. Centuries: 19th century - 20th century - 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s - 1920s - 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 Referred to as the Roaring 20s. ... Events and trends Technology Jet engine invented Science Nuclear fission discovered by Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassmann Pluto, the ninth planet from the Sun, is discovered by Clyde Tombaugh British biologist Arthur Tansley coins term ecosystem War, peace and politics Socialists proclaim The death of Capitalism Rise to... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... {{Canadian City/Disable Field={{{Disable Motto Link}}}}} Motto: Advance Ottawa/Ottawa en avant City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Location. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Splendour without diminishment) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Area 944,735 km² (5th)  - Land 925,186 km²  - Water 19,549 km² (2. ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... A Lieutenant Governor is a government official who is the subordinate or deputy of a Governor or Governor-General. ... The District of Saanich is a municipality on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. ... Victorias Inner Harbour with the Provincial Legislature in the background. ...

Billy's son, Charles Namby ("Chunky"), also contributed to the war effort: he fought with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons from 1942 to 1945. Chunky had a wild streak: he wanted to be a cowboy rather than work at the family store. However, upon his return from the war, he joined the company as an apprentice to John Haddock, one of the company's directors, with whom he toured England and continental Europe in an effort to re-establish pre-war business relationships. In 1946, he made the decision to commit himself to the company, which meant he would eventually run it. Despite being the boss' son, Chunky was not given the preferential treatment one might expect. When the company's third store opened in Port Alberni, in 1948, Chunky worked there. As a result he experienced first hand every job required to make a store operational, a matter of pride in his later life. 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... 1946 was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Port Alberni, British Columbia is a city located in the province of British Columbia in Canada. ... 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

While Chunky was learning the ropes and climbing quickly in the hierarchy, his father and uncle, Percival ("Puggy"), remained the driving forces behind the company. They drafted ambitious expansion plans. The Port Alberni store had been opened specifically to pilot new concepts which would assist the development of new stores in new locations. Park Royal was the first of those stores, and what an innovation! Woodward's gambled that malls were the wave of the future and was the driving force behind the Park Royal Shopping Centre, in West Vancouver, which opened in 1950. The westernmost end of West Vancouver. ... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The 1950s was perhaps the most eventful decade in Woodward's history. The Company began to roll out its expansion plan, opening 2 shopping centres and 2 free standing stores. In 1955, Percival retired from the store. He and his wife established the "Mr. and Mrs. P.A. Woodward Foundation" to endow worthy causes. Their largest contribution was also their last: a gift of $3.5 million to assist UBC in building its Health Science Centre. In 1956, Billy left the President's job to his son in order to spend more time on his farm. The following year, Billy died. Change at the top could not have been more complete or radical, nor so rapidly effected. Millennia: 1st millennium - 2nd millennium - 3rd millennium Events and trends Technology United States tests the first fusion bomb. ... 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... UBC can refer to the University of British Columbia the Union Bank of California United Baptist Convention Used Beverage Containers (i. ... 1956 is a leap year starting on Sunday. ...

For the first 25 years of Chunky's rule, Woodward's blossomed into a major player on the retail scene of Western Canada. No less than 18 stores opened in cities throughout B.C. and Alberta, often as anchors in very important shopping centre such as the Chinook Centre and Market Mall in Calgary, or the Southgate Centre and the Edmonton Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. Sales increased by a factor of more than 10, from under $100 million to well over $1 billion, thanks to unprecedented favourable economic conditions. Motto: Fortis et Liber (Strong and free) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Lieutenant Governor Norman Kwong Premier Ralph Klein (PC) Area 661,848 km² (6th)  - Land 642,317 km²  - Water 19,531 km² (2. ... Motto: Heart of the new west Area: 712. ... Edmonton Centre is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada. ... {{Canadian City/Disable Field={{{Disable Motto Link}}}}} Motto: Industry Integrity Progress City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Location. ...

The arrival of the 1980s put a stop to all that. The recession hit Woodward's harder, perhaps, than any other retailer. The rapid expansion of the preceding years, including the opening of 4 stores in 1981 alone, left the Company financially fragile at a time when a combination of high inflation, high interest rates and large debt exerted pressure on customers as well as retailers. In a bid to improve its situation, Woodward's immediately began disposing of assets to lower its liabilities and improve cash flow. Some surplus land and buildings were sold, and various cost-saving measures were implemented. Examples included the 1983 strategy to invest more in inventory, and the Take-A-Break program, allowing staff to take voluntary leaves of absence as well as the introduction in 1985 of a sharp focus on the expansion of fashion and soft goods markets. Stores were re-located to better and cheaper locations, buildings were sold and leased back, but as the tough years stretched on, more radical measures were required. The Company's Furniture stores closed in 1984. In 1985, all of Woodward's real estate was sold to a subsidiary of Cambridge Shopping Centres Limited, and leased back. In 1986 the Company took the radical step of selling its famous Food Floor operations to Safeway Canada. In 1988, it sold its credit card receivables and operations to General Electric Capital. 1983 is an integer and composite number that represents a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Safeway is a brand name used by several supermarkets around the world: Safeway Inc. ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

While the company was being downsized and reorganized, it nonetheless pursued an aggressive expansion program, introducing Abercrombie & Fitch's exclusive eponymous stores to Canada in a few select locations across the country. The chain did not do well as expected, however, and was folded after only a few years of activity. More successful was the introduction of Woodwynn stores, named for Billy Woodward and his wife Ruth Wynn-Johnston . Woodwynn was Woodward's bargain retail banner store, albeit in an upgraded format. Introduced in 1985, only one year after the first Canadian Abercrombie & Fitch, the Woodwynn chain had 2 dozen stores in 1988. Abercrombie & Fitch is a clothing company which operates an extensive chain of retail outlets, marketing casual clothing to young adults. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the final analysis, however, all these efforts could not save the company. In 1989, management passed from members of the Woodward family into the hands of professional managers. But hindsight demonstrates that this was a symptom not a cause of the company's decline. The demise of the Company became reality in 1992 when it filed for bankruptcy. In a last ditch attempt to regain financial health the Woodwynn stores were put on the block but did not sell. Instead all locations were closed down except for three stores located in Vancouver which liquidated merchandise coming from the 30 closed stores. That same year Hudson's Bay Company announced that it was purchasing most of the company's assets. The acquisition, which took effect June 11, 1993, helped Hbc strengthen its position in the far West. In fact, the Woodward's stores were so well located in their respective markets that most of the company's 26 stores were converted to Zellers or Bay stores. The net gain to Hbc was 11 Bay stores and 10 Zellers stores in B.C. and Alberta. 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003) Events Media:January January 1 - Czechoslovakia divides. ... In geography, a bay or gulf is a collection of water that is surrounded by land on three sides. ... Zellers Inc. ...

Today, Woodward's is a fond memory to the people of Vancouver and Western Canada. When the once great department store on Hastings Street closed it doors on January 15, 1993 the general feeling was that of the end of a great tradition. For generations, Vancouver families had been visiting the store for all their needs, from food to clothing. But changing times and relentless competition saw the final unravelling of the Company - an organization that remained very much a family business until the very end. 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003) Events Media:January January 1 - Czechoslovakia divides. ...

Source: Hudson's Bay Company

Locations

• Vancouver (Downtown, Park Royal Shopping Centre)
• Calgary (Chinook Centre, Market Mall)
• Edmonton (Southgate Centre, Edmonton Centre)

See also

• List of Canadian department stores
• Hudson's Bay Company