Fonds F3189 - Riley and McCormick fonds

Riley and McCormick Ltd. was founded in Calgary, Alberta in 1901 by partners Eneas McCormick and William James Riley. It opened as a wholesale and retail business and factory that specialized in custom-made saddles, boots and other leather goods. In 1903, the company added a mail order catalogue department so goods could be sold more widely. The firm was incorporated in 1905. Around 1912, Riley retired and McCormick took over the business, retaining the original name.

When Eneas died in 1956, management of the company passed to daughter and son-in-law, Mary Isabelle McCormick and Urban Guichon. Under Urban’s direction, the business grew during the 1960s and 1970s to 33 stores throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Montana. The company suffered the effects of the economic downturn in Calgary during the early 1980s and went into receivership in 1983. After a hard-fought legal battle, the family retained the original firm and one store. Three of the Guichon children, Greg, Carolyn and Brian, took on the task of rebuilding the business with the help of Urban in a supporting consultative role until his death in 1993. In 2001, Riley and McCormick celebrated its 100th anniversary.