1857
Ten years before Confederation, James Richardson founded a grain merchandising business in Kingston, Ontario. While the Firm has since evolved, it still bears his name today.
1860
James Richardson was assisted by his sons George and Henry. By 1868, they acquired sufficient capital to buy a wharf and warehouse on the Kingston waterfront.
1870
James Richardson & Sons arranged direct shipping by what was known as the “mosquito fleet”: assorted sailing ships whose owner-captains acted as company grain agents.
1890
JR grain office and staff are shown on Commercial Wharf in Kingston. At this time, the Firm hired its first female employee.
1896
The Firm’s first representative in Western Canada was permanently located to an office in the recently-formed Winnipeg Grain & Produce Exchange in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1897
The Richardson terminal in Kingston could carry 250,000 bushels with the best available equipment for storage and transfer.
1897
George Richardson opened a branch office in Toronto.
1910
This regal building in Kingston served as James Richardson & Sons, Limited’s head office from 1913-1923.
1913
The Pioneer Grain Company Limited was established to operate the Firm’s rapidly-expanding collection of western country grain elevators. Years later, the company’s elevators would be painted in its signature “Pioneer orange” colour.
1917
The Firm constructed Richardson Terminal at Thunder Bay, which would unload its first railcar of grain on January 3, 1919.
1917
1925
The Firm moved into the investment securities sector. In 1926, it joined the Montreal Stock Exchange and a year later, acquired the Wall Street brokerage of EA Pierce & Co.
1925
Beginning with a small station in Moose Jaw, the Firm got into broadcasting as a means of reaching farm customers with the latest news, weather conditions and stock prices.
1925
1930
James Armstrong Richardson formed Western Canada Airways Limited and Canadian Airways Limited, the largest air transport companies in the country.
1930
Under James’ direction, the flying operations of Canadian Airways Limited were extended from coast to coast.
1938
James A. Richardson, as Chancellor of Queen’s University, and Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King conferred an Honorary Degree on US President Franklin Roosevelt.
1940
After James Richardson’s death, his wife Muriel Sprague Richardson became the Firm’s fifth President and oversaw its continued growth for the next 27 years.
1944
Muriel Richardson introduced a pension plan for all personnel, followed shortly with the first group life insurance plan.
1957
At JRSL’s 100th Anniversary gala celebration, Mrs. Richardson paid tribute to her predecessors at the Firm, “to whom we owe so much.”
1957
The Firm invested in Canada’s oil future through Marine Pipeline Construction of Canada. It would later build the first 42” pipeline and the first commercial natural gas pipeline north of the 60th parallel.
1961
JRSL became associated with Sorel Elevators Limited. The terminal at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and St. Richelieu Rivers soon underwent extensive upgrades.
1965
The Firm announces plans to build a new complex on the corner of Portage and Main, which would include a 30-storey office tower, concourse and hotel. It opened in 1969.
1965
1979
A 112,000-metric tonne Pioneer Grain port terminal was officially opened in Vancouver. It was capable of loading ships at 140,000-bushels per hour.
1980
Mohawk Navigation was renamed Pioneer Shipping Limited to more closely identify it with its sister companies.
1980
An affiliate of JRSL starts a 50/50 joint venture operating under the name of “Tundra Oil and Gas”. Tundra’s oil production in the first year is 115 barrels per day.
1982
Richardson Securities of Canada merged with Greenshields Inc. of Montreal to form Richardson Greenshields of Canada.
1982
Richardson Greenshields was Canada’s largest investment dealer in terms of national and international presence.
1989
Tundra Oil & Gas Limited purchased Manitoba Oil and Gas, making the company the third largest oil producer in Manitoba.
1991
Tundra Oil & Gas drills Manitoba’s first horizontal oil well.
1994
Pioneer Grain opened its first high-throughput elevator in Glossop, Manitoba.
1996
The Firm accepted an offer from the Royal Bank of Canada to purchase Richardson Greenshields.
1999
James Richardson International acquired Canbra Foods Ltd., a fully-integrated canola processing and packaging facility in Lethbridge, Alberta.
2000
After owning 50% of Tundra Oil and Gas Ltd. for two decades, JRSL purchases the remaining shares from its partner to make it a wholly-owned subsidiary.
2003
Tundra makes a major oil discovery near Sinclair, Manitoba, which ultimately becomes an 800-well field, providing long-term economic benefits to the region and to the Province. James Richardson & Sons, Limited re-enters the financial services field with Richardson Partners Financial Limited, with the mandate of serving high net worth clients.
2007
Active and retired personnel from across Canada joined with the Richardson family in celebrating the Firm’s 150th Anniversary.
2007
James Richardson International (JRI) seized an opportunity to grow its grain-handling business by 60 per cent with the acquisition of Agricore United assets.
2008
JRI is rebranded as Richardson International Limited and all divisions are unified under the Richardson name (Richardson Pioneer, Richardson Oilseed, Richardson Nutrition).
2009
Richardson Partners Financial Limited merged with GMP Private Client LP to become Richardson GMP Limited.
2010
Richardson International finished construction and officially opened its $170-million canola processing plant in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
2010
2011
Tundra creates a new subsidiary, Tundra Energy Marketing Limited, to satisfy industry needs for pipelines and other infrastructure assets.
2011
The new Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport is opened. Named to honour his visionary contributions to Canada’s air transport industry, three generations of Richardson’s descendants gathered to unveil a sculpture of his likeness in the terminal.
2012
Tundra exceeds milestone production of 25,000 barrels per day to become one of the top 25 oil producers in Canada.
2012
Richardson International participated in the largest-ever transaction in the agriculture sector which resulted in Richardson agreeing to acquire $900 million worth of Viterra grain-handling, crop inputs and processing facilities.
2013
Richardson GMP purchases Macquarie Private Wealth Inc., effectively doubling Richardson GMP in size to $28 billion in assets under administration, while growing from 115 to 300 advisor teams across Canada.
2014
Tundra Oil & Gas announces the purchase of 550 wells in southwestern Manitoba from EOG Resources Inc. The wells produce approximately 7,000 barrels of light oil per day in the Waskada and Pierson areas, resulting in Tundra’s total production surpassing 30,000 barrels of oil per day.
2015
A shareholder in Wynward Insurance Group (formerly Grain Insurance and Guarantee Company) since 1920, the Firm acquires 100% ownership of the company on June 1, 2015.
2016
Tundra Energy Marketing Limited acquires the 2100-kilometre South East Saskatchewan Pipeline System from Enbridge Income Partners. The $1.075 billion transaction is the largest acquisition in the Firm’s history.