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Mr. Walter Hachborn was born in Conestoga, Ontario on July 24,1921 to William and Florence
(Ritter) Hachborn. When he was four the family moved to St. Jacobs where his father was the
millwright at Snider Flour Mills. Walter began his education at the 2-room school directly
across the street from his home. Later he rode his bicycle to Elmira High School, five miles
north, because there were no school buses. The Hachborn family lived in a home directly behind
Hollinger's hardware store, which may be the reason that Gordon Hollinger asked Walter's
father if his son could work at the store. In 1938, Walter began working for Hollinger when
school ended. The first year, Walter received $8.00 a week, from which his mother received
$4.00 for room and board. The Second World War began in 1939 and Walter enlisted in the Army
until 1946 when he returned to a much expanded Hollinger Hardware. When Mr. Gordon Hollinger
died of a hart attack in 1948, Walter assumed many of his responsibilities.
Inspired by an article in the 1956 issue of "Hardware Age" magazine about the "Case for the
Dealer-owned Wholesaler", Walter continued to build on this idea for the Canadian Hardware
industry. The result was a new dealer-owned company that started operation in 1964 under
the leadership of Walter Hachborn and Henry Sittler. By 1965 United Hardware Wholesalers
Limited was formed with St. Jacobs as the buying centre for the four largest hardware
distribution groups in Canada. As President from its inception, he has seen Home Hardware
grow to become the largest independent hardware retailer in Canada, with over 1,100
dealer-owned stores and annual retail sales exciding $5.0 billion.
Walter's further accomplishments are listed as follows:
| 1974 |
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Named Citizen of the year for Woolwich Township, Ontario |
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| 1985 |
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Recipient of an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law from Wilfrid Laurier University,
Waterloo, Ontario. Walter served as a member of the Board of Governors of WLU for 10 years. |
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| 1988 |
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Walter received Award as the Distinguished Retailer of the year at the Retail Council
of Canada's Annual Convention in Toronto. |
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| 1989 |
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nducted into the Canadian Hardware Hall of Fame. 1989 received Gold Hammer Award from
Estwing Co. and the Stanley Gold Saw for 50 years in the Hardware Industry as well as the CRHA
Award. |
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| 1996 |
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Walter was named Master Entrepreneur by The Entrepreneur of the year program founded by
Ernst & Young, Canadian Business Magazine, Bank of Montreal, Nesbitt Burns, McCarthy Tetrault
and Air Canada. |
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Served with the Canadian Executive Service Organization -CESO in projects in Panama, the
Czech Republic and Native Canadians. |
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Participated in a Habitat for Humanity building project in Kentucky with US President
Jimmy Carter. |
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| 1999 |
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Recipient of the "Hardware Retailer of the Century" Award from the Hardware
Merchandising Magazine. |
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October 21st Mr. Walter Hachborn is appointed a Member of the
Order of Canada by
Adrienne Clarkson, the Governor General of Canada. This Award recognizes outstanding
achievements and service in various fields of human endeavour. |
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