By Rajitha Sivakumaran
.........................................................................
I
n 1925, a young watchmaker by the name
of J. Vair Anderson began a modest jewel-
lery store in the heart of downtown Calgary.
Little did he know that his name would be spo-
ken on the streets of Alberta’s largest city (and
beyond) 90 years later.
The post-First World War period was an excit-
ing time – the gold rush of Oregon was still
in progress. Having finished his watchmaking
training in Ontario, young Anderson, following
the commonly heard summons: “Go west,
young man”, hopped aboard a westward train
in search of a vocation. He found it in Calgary
working under the notable jeweller D.E. Black.
When Black’s jewellery store merged with
Henry Birks & Sons, Anderson suddenly found
himself under the employment of one of Can-
ada’s largest national jewellers. It gave him the
ample experience needed to start a venture of
his own: J. Vair Anderson Jewellers.
The store’s legacy has propelled through time,
serving a high-end clientele with designer col-
lections, diamonds, gemstones, pearls, and
Swiss watches. Now under the leadership of
Ken Anderson, grandson of the founder, J. Vair
MAY 2016
H
business elite canada 101
