Alberta Boot Company History

THE ALBERTA BOOT COMPANY HAS MOVED!
After 30 years at our downtown Calgary location, The Alberta Boot Company has moved to our new spot just 2 blocks east of Macleod Trail on 50th Avenue South. Phone: (403) 263-4623 Come visit our new showroom and factory outlet at #50 50th Avenue South.  CLick for Map

At the turn of the century, an American homesteading family emigrated from Nebraska to Saskatchewan. It was here, in 1920, that Clement F. Gerwing was born. He grew up working on the family farm, attending school, enjoying a relatively peaceful life when war broke out in Europe.

As a member of the British Commonwealth, Canada was at war with Germany, and Clem Gerwing knew it was time to serve his country. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, RCAF. He became a SPITFIRE pilot and returned to Canada in 1945 ready to start his next career.

Back in Saskatchewan, Clem married, commenced farming and started to raise a family. In 1963, he moved his wife and their six children to Calgary. In 1968 he purchased a wholesale footwear company and this is where his Western Boot career began.

For 10 years his company sold Quebec, Mexican, and American made boots. In 1978 it was decided that boots should be made right here in Calgary - ALBERTA BOOT COMPANY was born!

Clem's son, Tim, joined the company as General Manager in 1981, and the two have managed to coexist, with Gerwing senior still very active as President of Alberta Boot Company.

In 1988, Alberta Boot was the Official Western Boots of the Calgary Winter Olympic Games, and later that year the Calgary Chamber of Commerce bestowed the SMALL BUSINESS of the YEAR AWARD to this growing company.

Tim Gerwing received the Milner Finnerty Pinnacle Award, saluting entrepreneurial achievement in 1995, and in 1997, Calgary hosted the World Police/Fire Games and Alberta Boot was once again the Official Boot Supplier.