Bill Christie
Born in Scotland in 1902, young Bill Christie attended school until age 15, when he was forced to leave and work on a farm (all the men were off to fight in World War I). For the next seven years he worked on a grain farm and during this time some of the workers had left Scotland and gone to Canada. Bill had always dreamed of going to either Canada, Australia or Argentina. So, with just enough money for boat fare to Canada, his mind was made up and in May 1922, with very little money and a packed suitcase, he headed for Canada with two friends. From 1922 to 1924, Bill worked long hours on dairy farms and in cheese factories in the Belleville area.
His two friends that had accompanied him had gone out west, but Bill had decided to stay in the dairy business. In the winter of 1924, he attended a Dairy School to obtain a certificate as a cheesemaker. At the end of the four month course, he was given his certificate and started as manager of the King Cheese Company, north of Trenton. In 1926, Bill got married and left his job to take the manager position for the Acme Cheese Company, where he stayed until 1935. At this time, he had no real plans to go into business on his own. The depression had just ended and he managed to get by fairly well. The cheese business had been good, as 90% of the cheese was exported to Great Britain.
While working for the Acme Cheese Company, Bill met Charles Richardson, owner of the C. Richardson Company of St. Mary's, a large dairy supplier. In the fall of that year, Mr. Richardson approached Mr. Christie with the idea of buying the Queen's Line Dairy in North Renfrew County, then owned and operated by Mr. Richardson. Bill now had a family of two children and no money and explained his situation to Mr. Richardson. He did however, have an insurance policy.
So taking a chance, Bill cashed in his policy and purchased the dairy, which had one employee and made cheese and butter. Bill did have an ace up his sleeve though, and that ace turned out to be an uncle in London, England, who was the chief buyer for a large chain of grocery stores in England, and who at the time, was buying Canadian cheese. Bill immediately got in touch and began selling him his cheese. From his first week's operation in May, when he used 2500lbs of milk each day for cheesemaking, it rose to 10 000lbs of milk per day by the first of June. By the time World War II started, Bill had increased the the business to the point where he employed five men and a butter-maker, and was using 50 000lbs of milk each day.
In 1945, Bill sold the dairy to Pleasant View Dairy in Pembroke. It was always his ambition to own a fruit farm in the Niagara Peninsula, but that wasn't to be. A few dairy men who knew the area advised him to buy the Beamsville Dairy, located on the corner of King and Mountain Streets in Beamsville. At this time, Beamsville Dairy was strictly a fluid milk business. There were 10 employees, including drivers, plant help, and dairy bar help. At this time there were seven other dairies in the area.
His first move was to put ice cream on the trucks, which he brought in from Borden's. Business increased and in 1950, his licence was extended for sales in Grimsby, and at this time, the name of the dairy was changed to Christie's Dairy Limited. By 1951, Bill had bought out all the other dairies in the area. Interestingly, Christie's Dairy did not make cheese, even though for many years, Bill had been a cheesemaker, and it had proved quite profitable. The cheese exporting business was at a low and Canadians were turning to processed cheese rather than cheddar cheese. In 1956, Bill planned to build a dairy in Grimsby with the idea of using it as a depot. Before the plans were completed, however, he decided to go into the ice cream business to supply his own requirements both in Grimsby and in Beamsville. Christie's Dairy Bar was built with plant facilities at the rear to make the ice cream. Christie's Dairy grew to be a major manufacturer and supplier in the Niagara Region in both fluid milk products and ice cream. By 1968, 23 trucks were on the road and there were 50 employees.
His two friends that had accompanied him had gone out west, but Bill had decided to stay in the dairy business. In the winter of 1924, he attended a Dairy School to obtain a certificate as a cheesemaker. At the end of the four month course, he was given his certificate and started as manager of the King Cheese Company, north of Trenton. In 1926, Bill got married and left his job to take the manager position for the Acme Cheese Company, where he stayed until 1935. At this time, he had no real plans to go into business on his own. The depression had just ended and he managed to get by fairly well. The cheese business had been good, as 90% of the cheese was exported to Great Britain.
While working for the Acme Cheese Company, Bill met Charles Richardson, owner of the C. Richardson Company of St. Mary's, a large dairy supplier. In the fall of that year, Mr. Richardson approached Mr. Christie with the idea of buying the Queen's Line Dairy in North Renfrew County, then owned and operated by Mr. Richardson. Bill now had a family of two children and no money and explained his situation to Mr. Richardson. He did however, have an insurance policy.
So taking a chance, Bill cashed in his policy and purchased the dairy, which had one employee and made cheese and butter. Bill did have an ace up his sleeve though, and that ace turned out to be an uncle in London, England, who was the chief buyer for a large chain of grocery stores in England, and who at the time, was buying Canadian cheese. Bill immediately got in touch and began selling him his cheese. From his first week's operation in May, when he used 2500lbs of milk each day for cheesemaking, it rose to 10 000lbs of milk per day by the first of June. By the time World War II started, Bill had increased the the business to the point where he employed five men and a butter-maker, and was using 50 000lbs of milk each day.
In 1945, Bill sold the dairy to Pleasant View Dairy in Pembroke. It was always his ambition to own a fruit farm in the Niagara Peninsula, but that wasn't to be. A few dairy men who knew the area advised him to buy the Beamsville Dairy, located on the corner of King and Mountain Streets in Beamsville. At this time, Beamsville Dairy was strictly a fluid milk business. There were 10 employees, including drivers, plant help, and dairy bar help. At this time there were seven other dairies in the area.
His first move was to put ice cream on the trucks, which he brought in from Borden's. Business increased and in 1950, his licence was extended for sales in Grimsby, and at this time, the name of the dairy was changed to Christie's Dairy Limited. By 1951, Bill had bought out all the other dairies in the area. Interestingly, Christie's Dairy did not make cheese, even though for many years, Bill had been a cheesemaker, and it had proved quite profitable. The cheese exporting business was at a low and Canadians were turning to processed cheese rather than cheddar cheese. In 1956, Bill planned to build a dairy in Grimsby with the idea of using it as a depot. Before the plans were completed, however, he decided to go into the ice cream business to supply his own requirements both in Grimsby and in Beamsville. Christie's Dairy Bar was built with plant facilities at the rear to make the ice cream. Christie's Dairy grew to be a major manufacturer and supplier in the Niagara Region in both fluid milk products and ice cream. By 1968, 23 trucks were on the road and there were 50 employees.
Doug Christie
Bill was succeeded by his son Doug, continuing with the fluid milk and ice cream manufacturing. Doug groomed two of his sons, Bob and Bill, to succeed him.
In 1999, Christie's Dairy took on a major change. The company discontinued processing and packaging to become a full distributor for Natrel/Sealtest. The joining of the Sealtest brand name and the customer service of Christie's Dairy has been an excellent combination. Becoming a full distributor has also opened the door to look for new products to offer customers.
In 1999, Christie's Dairy took on a major change. The company discontinued processing and packaging to become a full distributor for Natrel/Sealtest. The joining of the Sealtest brand name and the customer service of Christie's Dairy has been an excellent combination. Becoming a full distributor has also opened the door to look for new products to offer customers.
Ryan and Bob
Christie
In 2007, Bob's son Ryan, retired from professional hockey to join the family business full time. The two of them are now at the helm of Christie's Dairy.
4 generations after Bill Christie first purchased Beamsville Dairy, Christie's Dairy has remained a successful supplier of quality dairy products to the Niagara Region.
4 generations after Bill Christie first purchased Beamsville Dairy, Christie's Dairy has remained a successful supplier of quality dairy products to the Niagara Region.