retail

Monday March 17, 2025

The closure of Hudson's Bay marks the end of a storied Canadian institution, reflecting globalization's impact and stirring nationalistic sentiments amid modern political tensions.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Monday March 17, 2025

Also published in the Toronto Star.

The End of an Era: Farewell to Hudson’s Bay, a Canadian Icon

As we bid farewell to Hudson’s Bay Company, we are not just witnessing the closure of a retail chain but the end of an era that has woven itself into the very fabric of Canadian history and identity. For over three centuries, Hudson’s Bay has been more than a shopping destination; it has been a symbol of exploration, innovation, and resilience.

Founded in 1670, Hudson’s Bay was at the forefront of the fur trade, playing a pivotal role in the exploration and mapping of vast stretches of North America. Its iconic trading posts served as the foundation for many Canadian communities, marking the beginning of settlements that would grow into thriving cities. The company’s history is a testament to the spirit of adventure and enterprise that has shaped our nation.

News: Hudson’s Bay returns to court to seek approval to begin liquidating its business

However, the trajectory of Hudson’s Bay took a significant turn in 2008, when it was acquired by NRDC Equity Partners, a U.S. equity group. This acquisition marked a new chapter for the company, reflecting the broader realities of globalization. We’ve become accustomed to seeing long-established Canadian institutions pass into foreign hands—from donuts to beer, and from steel companies to department stores. Many things Canadians have embraced as their own are now under the control of foreign corporations.

To Canadian nationalists, this trend can feel like an affront. The idea that the fate of a Tim Horton’s maple glazed donut rests with a board in Ohio or that a Molson Canadian beer is influenced by decisions made in Denver can be unsettling. Similarly, the sale of Hudson’s Bay to an American investment corporation might be dismissed with a yawn by some, but it’s emblematic of a larger shift.

What many, including myself, find intriguing and lamentable is how the story of the once mighty Hudson’s Bay Company ends like this. A company that ruled over vast, undeveloped lands in North America for centuries is now just another token of commerce, passed between owners with little regard for its historical significance. Chartered in 1670 by King Charles II, Hudson’s Bay built relationships with Indigenous peoples, mapped rivers and coastlines, and laid the groundwork for Canada as we know it today. It’s difficult to dismiss this as just another corporate transaction.

News: The fall of Hudson’s Bay Co., a Canadian retail icon

In the present day, the rub against Canadians is compounded by the rhetoric from the current President, who openly discusses the idea of annexation and making Canada the 51st state. This adds another layer of complexity and tension, as Canadians grapple with the loss of iconic brands and the broader implications of such political discourse.

Yet, amidst this change, there is a silver lining. The original documents, photos, drawings, and records of the Hudson’s Bay Company will remain in Canada, preserved in the HBC Archives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This ensures that the legacy of Hudson’s Bay, its contributions to Canadian history, and its influence on the development of the nation will not be forgotten.

July 18, 2008

As we move forward, let us honour the legacy of Hudson’s Bay by supporting local businesses, fostering community connections, and celebrating the rich tapestry of Canadian history that it helped to create. The end of Hudson’s Bay is a loss, but it is also an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be Canadian and how we can carry forward the values that have defined this iconic institution for centuries.

This editorial cartoon was adapted from one which was originally published July 18, 2008

As I think about the closure of Hudson’s Bay, I find myself reflecting on its significance in shaping Canada’s history. While I can’t recall the last time I visited one of their stores, my connection to Hudson’s Bay is symbolized by the iconic striped blanket that keeps me warm every night—a fun fact being that these blankets are actually made in the UK.

Today, I’m in Toronto for an event tonight, and plan to make a nostalgic stop this afternoon at the flagship store at Yonge and Bay. If its doors are still open, I’ll take a moment to appreciate the memories and legacy of this storied institution.

The transition of Hudson’s Bay into American ownership in 2008 was a moment I captured in a cartoon, and now, with the rise of e-commerce, it faces new challenges. Although the retail landscape has changed, the history and impact of Hudson’s Bay continue to resonate, reminding us of its enduring role in our national narrative.

This editorial cartoon was adapted from one which was originally published July 18, 2008 https://mackaycartoons.net/2008/07/18/july-18-2008/

– The Graeme Gallery

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Saturday May 9, 2020

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday May 9, 2020

Ontario to reopen some retail stores within days, moving with ‘cautious optimism’ amid COVID-19

Ontario will relax some of its coronavirus restrictions in the days ahead, moving with “cautious optimism” to allow garden centres, nurseries, hardware stores and safety supply stores to reopen so long as they adhere to the same public health measures currently in place at grocery stores, Premier Doug Ford says.

The public will be allowed to shop in these stores as long as physical distancing, contact-less payment and sanitization measures are in place, Ford said at his daily briefing Wednesday.

Select retailers can reopen according to this schedule:

• Friday: Nurseries and garden centres 

• Saturday: Hardware stores and safety supply stores

• Monday: Retail stores with street entrances will be permitted to reopen for curbside pickup.

The province will also expand what counts as essential construction with work allowed on condominiums and apartments, Ford said.

June 26, 2009

“We have seen in other jurisdictions that moving too fast, ignoring the advice given on this virus and even giving it an inch can set us back,” Ford said. “So we will move cautiously.”

Asked about when restaurants might reopen, Ford said his hope is that they can do so “sooner than later,” but provided no benchmark on how low Ontario’s daily new case count would have to go before that happens. 

Although the government is allowing some businesses to reopen, the province is not yet technically in the first stage of its reopening framework, and on Wednesday extended its emergency orders until May 19.

Life in a Pandemic

Stage one of the reopening framework would allow workplaces that can modify operations to open their doors, the opening of parks, allowing for more people at certain events such as funerals, and having hospitals resume some non-urgent surgeries.

But before all that can happen, the chief medical officer of health is looking for a consistent, two-to-four week decrease in the number of new cases. So far, the province is in day four of a downward slope. (CBC)


 

Thursday October 12, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 12, 2017

Tough Times for Sears and CRA

Sears Canada workers are feeling confused and angry after learning on Tuesday that the retailer plans to close its remaining 130 stores.

June 23, 2017

If Sears gets court approval, it would start liquidating the stores as early as Oct. 19, putting the retailer out of business and about 12,000 employees out of work.

“Many of us feel frustrated, anger, betrayal,” a Sears manager told CBC News in an email on Tuesday. He and another employee interviewed asked that we not publish their names because they still work for the retailer and fear retribution.

“People don’t know what to do,” said the manager about staff at his location. “Many people went home already as they were physically upset and needed some personal space.”

A Sears memo sent to staff Wednesday said workers will lose their jobs as early as within the next few days, but that some will stay on for a few months. It also explained that employees will lose their benefits as soon as they’re terminated. (Source: CBC) 

Meanwhile, The federal government appears to be doing away with a controversial tax policy interpretation that would have seen employees taxed for discounts they get at work.

Amid a growing controversy, a spokesperson for National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier said Wednesday that the government will pull the new wording at the heart of the debate from the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Spokesperson John Power said the CRA made the original decision to change the wording, not Lebouthillier.

“This document was not approved by the minister and we are deeply disappointed that the agency posted something that has been misinterpreted like this,” he said in an emailed statement.

The CRA will hold an internal review on the wording change, which will be followed by a consultation on the issue with industry groups, Power added.

The former wording in the employer’s guide on the issue of employee benefits was to be reinstated as early as Wednesday afternoon. (Source: Toronto Star) 

 

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Wednesday July 26, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday July 26, 2017

Rising loonie: The Winners

Buoyed by strong sentiment about the state of the Canadian economy, and getting the benefit of general weakness in the U.S. greenback, the Canadian dollar is now flying in territory it hasn’t seen in two years.

A recent interest rate increase by the Bank of Canada, and the expectation of more to come, has the loonie up about 10 per cent over the past six weeks.  The Canadian dollar rose above 80 cents US on Monday before closing at 79.97 cents US.

January 14, 2016

“The obvious winner would be the average Canadian, just in terms of their travel plans or in terms of what they buy from the U.S.,” said Doug Porter, chief economist at Bank of Montreal.

The recent loftiness of the loonie makes it cheaper for Canadians to travel when they buy vacations priced in U.S. dollars.

For example, a one-week cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., priced at $878 US would have cost $1,203 Cdn when the loonie was trading at 73 cents US. With the loonie at 80 cents, that same cruise would cost $1,097 Cdn — meaning a consumer would save $106.

Similar to consumers, Canadian businesses that buy goods or services in U.S. dollars would wind up paying less for those items after factoring in the effects of our fluctuating currency.

For example, professional sports teams often pay player contracts in U.S. dollars.  A stronger loonie means the revenue earned in Canadian dollar goes further when it comes to paying players in greenbacks. (Source: CBC News) 

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Friday June 23, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday June 23, 2017

Sears Canada to close 59 stores, lay off 2,900 in restructuring

Sears Canada plans to close 59 stores and eliminate 2,900 jobs across the country as part of a court-supervised restructuring process.

Shares in Sears Canada were halted Thursday morning after the retailer applied for and was granted protection from its creditors under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act — the law that covers insolvency proceedings.

The move gives the retailer 30 days to restructure itself, which includes $450 million in debtor-in-possession financing to fund the company while it restructures, a process that will include closing dozens of locations and laying off thousands of workers.

The chain will axe 20 full Sears stores, 15 Sears Home Stores, all 10 outlet stores and 14 Sears Hometown stores — roughly one-third of its current retail footprint.

All other Sears locations will remain open, the chain said, and the company “plans to continue to operate a large number of stores, continue to maintain significant employment, and to service its customers across Canada,” Sears said in a court filing.

About 500 office positions at the company were to be eliminated immediately. The remainder of the job losses will come as Sears closes stores. As of May 30, the company employed approximately 17,000 people, with 10,500 in part-time positions and the rest working full-time.

Trading in the shares was halted before the Toronto Stock Exchange opened on Thursday, pending news. Minutes later, Sears Canada announced its plan in a press release. (Source: CBC) 

 

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