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A Century of Trust – 100 Years in Canada

Celebrating 100 Years in Canada

Established in 1920, UL Canada has stood the test of time by advancing safety, security and sustainability in a fast evolving world. Let’s take a quick walk back in time in our history and reflect on a journey of trust and accomplishments:

1893 – William Henry Merrill (Founder of UL) was sent to Chicago by New England Insurance Interests to make a systematic study of the hazards of electrical lighting equipment.

1894 – Merrill outfitted an electrical testing laboratory in a small room on the second floor of a fire patrol station in downtown Chicago.

1910 – Testing, inspection and labelling of devices by UL was taking place at several Canadian factories.

1910 – Inspection centers established in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and other major Canadian cities

1920 – The growth of Canadian industry and demand for our services UL Canada was incorporated under a federal charter granted by the Secretary of State of Canada.

1949 – UL Canada head office and testing Laboratory was opened at 340 Richmond St. West, in Toronto.

1953 – Land purchased in Scarborough, ON and new building started

1954 – UL Canada takes possession of its new building in Scarborough, ON.

1995 – UL Canada opened two office within Canada: Vancouver and Montreal

2003 – UL Canada opened office in Ottawa

2006 – New Electrical Lab launched in Toronto

2016 – New Fuel Burning Test Lab launched in Toronto

2017 – UL acquired CLEB and added building envelope test lab in Montreal

2018 –  New Building Envelope Test Lab and Fenestration Lab launched in Toronto.

2019 – UL Canada opened office in Edmonton.

2020 –  A century of trust. UL Canada celebrating 100 years in Canada serving Canadians!

Today, UL Canada plays a leading role in innovating safety solutions that advance societal well-being – from the public adoption of electricity to breakthroughs in nanotechnology. Time changes, trust remains. We look forward to continue serving Canadians and advancing our mission of public safety.

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