Purolator Inc. is a Canadian courier majority owned by Canada Post. It was founded as Trans Canada Couriers, Ltd and acquired in 1967 by Purolator, a US manufacturer of oil and air filters.[3] In 1987, the company returned to Canadian ownership. Although it retained the Purolator name, it has had no connection with the oil filter business since that time.
Purolator began in the 1960s, initially called Trans Canada Couriers, Ltd. with two employees as a subsidiary of American Courier Corporation. In 1967, ACC was bought out by Purolator Filters, who made automotive oil filtration systems (hence the name "Pure-oil-later" = "Pur-o-lator").[4] By 1970, it operated 84 vehicles.[5] The courier company was later renamed Purolator. In 1987, it was sold by Purolator Filters to Canadian owners but retained the Purolator name.
In 1987 Purolator partnered with DHL's predecessor (Airborne Express) to better serve the American market which continued until 2008. In 1993, Canada Post became the majority shareholder and now owns 91% of the business with 7% owned by Rainmaker Investments Ltd. and 2% by others.[1] Purolator opened its first fully automated sortation hub in Ontario in 2022.[6]
On September 24, 2007, Purolator Inc. introduced the Unicell Quicksider, a prototype full-electric, lightweight urban delivery vehicle, developed by a consortium led by Toronto-based Unicell Limited with ArvinMeritor, Electrovaya, the Transportation Development Centre of Transport Canada, and others.[10][11]
In 2003, the Purolator Tackle Hunger initiative was created by company employees to address food insecurity and has since delivered over 18 million meals to food banks across Canada.[12] Purolator has also refurbished and donated 20 curbside delivery vehicles to Canadian food banks and food organizations as part of the Purolator Tackle Hunger initiative.[13] The Canadian Football League is a partner in the Purolator Tackle Hunger initiative and raises awareness through Game Day Drives.[14] Annually, during the first week of June, the Purolator Tackle Hunger Week is held to raise awareness of food insecurity and to collect donations.[15]
