The Sorel Mini Tourist Guide

A short history of Sorel Quebec

History of the Sorel boot

Sorel is known the world over mainly because of the brand of footwear called Sorel boots. These boots were never made in Sorel Quebec. They were launched by A.R. Kaufman, whose family business started making boots in 1907 in Kitchener Ontario, and marketed products under brands like Sorel,^® Gander,^® Fraser,^® and Black Diamond^® amongst others. “The Sorel line of winter sport/work boots, introduced in 1959, became its most successful product line.”₁ The name Sorel was used to invoke images of ruggedness and cold protection as Sorel was a big WWII and post war-time shipbuilder and steel town.

A series of warm winters and flawed business decisions put an end to the manufacturer of the famous Sorel boot. The Kaufman footwear building on King street west in downtown Kitchener, where the Sorel boot was made, has been converted into condo lofts.

History of the bankruptcy

In April 2000, the Red Wing Shoe Company, based in Red Wing, Minnesota, signed a letter of intent to purchase Kaufman Footwear, based in Kitchener Ontario. No purchase price or agreement details were given.

On July 20, 2000, Kaufman Footwear of Kitchener, Ontario, went into financial receivership after having been in business for over 93 years.

In September 2000 the Sorel name became a division of Columbia Sportswear Company in Portland, Oregon which still markets the boot.

October 24, 2000, Acton International Inc., located in Acton Vale Quebec, acquired some assets from the bankruptcy of Canadian manufacturer William H. Kaufman Inc.