The original Mouat's Store opened in Ganges in 1907
when Gilbert Mouat and his mother Jane purchased the
Malcolm & Purvis store which was located adjacent
to the present main store building. In 1909, Gilbert's
older brother William joined the firm and in 1911 the
new store was constructed. Later the youngest brother
Gavin joined the firm.
Over
the years the business grew to include hard goods,
groceries, meats, produce, feed grains, lumber,
drygoods, petroleum products and many other products
and services. In 1912, Mouat's became a Ford dealer
and over the next 30 years sold a great many cars,
the storied Model T being the mainstay.
Mouat's
continued operating through the First World War,
the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Second World
War and on into the 1950s and 1960s when Salt Spring's
population entered a period of sustained growth.
Over the years, products carried in the store changed.
As the importance of farmsteading diminished, logging
went through a period of strong growth and as that
industry slowed construction and services to provide
for the needs of newcomers became dominant in the
Salt Spring economy.
Throughout
these years a great many Islanders were employed
by Mouat's -- some for their entire working careers.
The management of the operation passed from the
children to the grand-children and great grand-children
of Jane Mouat. Many other members of the extended
family worked in the business.
In
1969 Mouat's was being managed by Laurie and Mac
Mouat, sons of the founder, Gilbert. They, together
with the other shareholders, indicated an interest
in selling the business and in the spring of 1969
the assets were purchased by a group composed of
Dick and Barbara Toynbee, Manson Toynbee, Tom and
Yvonne Toynbee, Norman and Carolyn Mouat and John
Lees. Norman Mouat and the Toynbee brothers are
also grandsons of Jane Mouat. A new company was
formed under the name Mouat's Trading Co. Ltd. We
still operate under that name today.
In
the years since 1969, Mouat's continued to evolve
in response to the changing needs of Salt Spring.
On the retail side, the company has placed much
more emphasis on hardware, housewares and related
fields through its Mouat's Home Hardware and The
HouseWares Store operations. On the dry goods side,
Mouat's Clothing Co. with its unique collection
of products and colourful people, has grown rapidly
with great support from Islanders and visitors alike.
Old Salty is "the place" for greetings
and gifts is a favorite meeting place for Islanders.
Over
the last 20 years, Mouat's recognized the need to
diversify and to foster a strong business environment
in the Ganges core. In line with this, the Company
has built and leased space to CIBC, Canada Post,
Thrifty Foods as well as 30 other retail, restaurant
and office tenants.
In
2000, the Toynbee/Mouat families expanded ownership
of the company to include Ken and Diane Almond as
well as several members of the Bell family. Nicole
Bell (nee Toynbee) is the great grand-daughter of
Jane Mouat. Mouat's Trading Co. Ltd. has been
a retail "trend-setter" for over 100 years,
and we are very excited about the continued evolution
of this fine company. |
