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.

This regal building in Kingston served as James Richardson & Sons, Limited’s head office from 1913-1923.

George Richardson opened a branch office in Toronto.

The Richardson terminal in Kingston could carry 250,000 bushels with the best available equipment for storage and transfer.

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.

JR grain office and staff are shown on Commercial Wharf in Kingston. At this time, the Firm hired its first female employee.

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.

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.

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.