In 1866, as Henry Sherwin launched his paint business in a Cleveland storeroom, the "Father" of Sherwin-Williams Canada was born in Omemee, Ontario. At 15, he started working in a hardware store in Peterborough, Ontario, and the following year, he joined a hardware and paint store in Montreal, igniting his passion for the paint business. This passion led to the establishment of a Canadian paint enterprise known for quality and leadership.
In 1887, Walter Cottingham bought a Gold Paint formula for $25 and set up manufacturing facilities in Montreal. He expanded by acquiring agencies for British paints, becoming Canada's leading jobber of high-quality paints.
