Timber Mart: We have it all so you can do it all.

November 5, 2022


Founded in 1967

TIMBER MART is Canada’s largest, national, member-owned buying group.

Company History

It was back in 1948, 74 years ago, that C. Ross McKinnon started C.R. McKinnon Mill Works on the main street of Hillsburgh, Ontario (about 90 minutes northwest of Toronto). His first star was in a shed behind a building that is now known as Tina’s Restaurant.


Timber Mart has 292 store locations across Canada

Back in those days, the business primarily built and sold wagon parts. Soon, as the community’s requests for lumber grew, Ross responded by expanding his business to include building supplies.


In 1948, the company phone number was simply 74r2.


Timber Mart, Caledonia, Ontario


Since 1948, the Timber Mart company has remained in the family, with two more generations of McKinnon’s having taken ownership. In 1971, Ross’s nephew, Ken, bought the company from Ross’ estate. With Ken’s hard work and much support from the community, the business soon outgrew its small lumberyard. In November of 1979, sealed with a handshake, a deal was made with Bert Rodgers for the property at the corner of 22 and Trafalgar Road.


In January 1980, the business moved to its new location, a 50′ x 30′ structure. The office walls were created out of window and door samples. By comparison, today the store includes 4,500 square feet of retail space, storage sheds, a workshop and a fully stocked pine shed.



In 1985, the company was again passed on to another generation of the McKinnon family when Ken retired and sold it to two of his sons, Murray and Keith. They continued to expand the business and since have tripled the size of retail space, expanded the stock lumber and hardware.


Why do children love McKinnon’s?

That would be because Santa visits the store every day of the two weeks before Christmas, every year!

Founded in 1967, Timber Mart this year marks 55 years business. With manufacturers, independent building-material and hardware retailers located in every province across the country Timber Mart provides its customers with everything they need for their building projects.

Gloria Sauvé
Communications-