Our History
- 1855
- 1912
- 1935
- 1953
- 1955
- 1956
- 1960
- 1962
- 1963
- 1963
- 1964
- 1966
- 1968
- 1985
- 1993
- 1993
- 1999
- 2000
- 2005
- 2006
- 2006
- 2008
- 2013
- 2016
- 2017
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
Before the advent of the light bulb, the telephone and automobiles, there was Samuel, Son & Co., Limited. Started by two brothers in 1855, the business is still owned by the Samuel family today.
1855
Brothers Mark and Lewis Samuel open M & L Samuel, a hardware and metals import/export business in downtown Toronto, Canada. They set up operations in a narrow, corner building known as "The Coffin Block". Toronto’s famous Flatiron Building stands in this location today.
1912
Sigmund Samuel, Lewis Samuel’s son, becomes the company’s president.
1935
The company is renamed to Samuel, Son & Co., Limited when Sigmund Samuel becomes the sole owner.
1953
Ernest Samuel, who would go on to become the fourth-generation owner, joins the company, working closely with his grandfather, Sigmund Samuel.
1955
Samuel celebrates its 100th anniversary and is recognized by the City of Toronto for its contributions to the industrial strength of the region.
1956
The first Samuel branch outside of Toronto opens in Montreal.
1960
The City of Toronto expropriates Samuel’s Fleet Street location to build the Gardiner Expressway. Samuel sees the development opportunities just west of Toronto and builds its new headquarters in Mississauga.
1962
Sigmund Samuel passes away. He is revered for his 73 years of service to the company and his many philanthropic accomplishments. Sigmund successfully developed the business into a multi-million-dollar operation. Sigmund's grandson, Ernest Samuel, becomes president of the company.
1963
Sigmund Samuel's autobiography, "In Return", is published. Among other things, the book details his life, the development of the business and his philanthropic contributions.
1963
Samuel creates a packaging division, which manufactures a broad range of steel strapping, hand tools and unitizing equipment. Today, Samuel Packaging Systems Group has grown into one of the company’s largest businesses
1964
Kim-Tam Logistics is created as an in-house trucking division to efficiently handle shipments of the company’s rapidly growing metal processing orders. Its name combines those of Ernest Samuel’s two daughters, Kim and Tammy.
1966
The company issues its first official employee newsletter, The Torch. Today, The Torch remains synonymous with company news as the name of Samuel's intranet.
1968
Sam-Son Farms is founded by Ernest Samuel following the historic gold medal won by his champion, Canadian Club, at the Mexico City Olympic Games. Sam-Son Farms goes on to become one of North America’s pre-eminent thoroughbred racing and breeding operations. More than 44 champions, including Hall of Fame inductees, Dance Smartly and Chief Bearhart, carried Sam-Son’s iconic red and gold silks to victories in Canada and the United States, including the Queen’s Plate and Breeders’ Cup.
1985
The company combines its three manufacturing divisions into Samuel Manu-Tech Inc., which becomes a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SMT. After a quarter century of further expansion, Samuel Manu-Tech would again become a wholly owned subsidiary of Samuel, Son & Co., Limited in 2010.
1993
"The Samuel Way" is unveiled as a program to orient "employees to the way we believe people should be treated and how the business should be run." These principles guide Samuel’s operations to this day.
1993
The Samuel Family Foundation is established as the philanthropic arm of Samuel, Son & Co., Limited. The Foundation’s mandate includes poverty eradication, human rights, climate change, youth and older people’s empowerment and universal design.
1999
Samuel completes a decade of rapid growth across Canada and the US, more than quadrupling revenue and locations since 1990.
2000
Ernest Samuel passes away after building the business for more than 40 years. Under Mr. Samuel’s leadership, the company grew from a two-branch operation, with less than $5 million in sales, to one of North America’s largest steel processing and manufacturing operations. Ernest’s wife, Elizabeth Samuel, becomes Chair of the Board of Directors and Wayne Bassett continues as President and CEO.
2000
As President of Sam-Son Farms from 2000 through 2008, Tammy Samuel-Balaz perpetuated the legacy established by her father.
2005
The company turns 150 and marks the occasion with several celebrations. Customers, suppliers and employees receive a commemorative coin bearing the likenesses of Ernest and Sigmund Samuel, along with an inscription reading, “A proud history and a strong future ahead.”
2006
Ernest and Elizabeth’s son, Mark Samuel, is named the company’s Chairman of the Board, becoming the fifth generation of the Samuel family to lead the business.
2006
Tubos Samuel de Mexico is established, representing the company’s first move into Mexico. The facility is expanded several times, with the most recent project completed in 2020.
2008
Elizabeth Samuel passes away. The newly renovated Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) honours her life and work with its rooftop “Liza’s Garden” a year later. In addition to being Samuel’s Board Chair for many years, Liza Samuel served the ROM in many capacities, along with several other philanthropic organizations.
2013
After nearly four decades of service to the company, including 13 years as CEO, Wayne Bassett retires. Wayne led Samuel’s rapid expansion, including several acquisitions throughout North America. Bill Chisholm is appointed the company’s new CEO.
2016
Ribbon cutting ceremony in Columbia, TN attended by (from L to R), Local official, Bill Chisholm, local official, Mark Samuel, Rick Balaz.
A new 200,000-square-foot facility is opened in Columbia, Tennessee.
2017
Samuel announces the acquisition of Burloak Technologies, a leader in additive manufacturing, establishing a leadership position in an emerging technology that will enhance Samuel’s ability to support and partner with customers. A year later, Burloak Technologies opens its state-of-the-art Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Oakville, Ontario.
2017
The Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness is founded with a mandate to build social connectedness within and between communities through partnerships, research, programming, learning initiatives and advocacy. The Centre is aligned and works closely with the Samuel Family Foundation to advance research and programmatic efforts with strategic partners.
2018
The company rapidly expands its manufacturing capabilities, acquiring several new businesses, including Sierra Aluminum, a leader in the aluminum extrusions industry and CAID Industries, a provider of fabrication and precision machining services.
2019
Bill Chisholm retires as Samuel’s CEO. Under Bill’s leadership, the company invested to modernize, further diversify its operations and prioritize safety across the business. Colin Osborne is named Samuel’s new President and CEO.
2019
The company announces the retirement of Mark Samuel as Chairman of the Board following 33 years of service to the company. During his tenure, Samuel grew from $1.5 billion to more than $4 billion in revenue. John Caldwell succeeds him as the first non-family Board Chair in the company’s history.
2020
Samuel establishes its Automation Systems Group following the acquisition of Systematix. Continuing to invest in advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies will help position Samuel for long-term sustainable growth.
2021
After calling Mississauga, Ontario home since 1960, Samuel moves to nearby Oakville, Ontario. This is only the fifth head office location in the company's long history.
2021
Samuel introduces a refreshed mission, vision and values that clearly outlines how team members will work together to deliver value to all stakeholders and outcomes that ensure the company’s long-term sustainability.
2022
Samuel is named a “Best Managed Company” by Deloitte. This award recognizes excellence in privately-owned companies across a number of categories, including financial performance, strategy, culture, capabilities and innovation.
2023
Sierra Aluminum, a division of Samuel, Son & Co., Limited, begins construction on its new 350,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art greenfield facility in Mexicali, Mexico.
