Small BC coastal towns rarely host national chains, so finding a Canadian Tire in Powell River catches some off guard. The store at 4720 Joyce Ave (store #480) has been a fixture on the north island for years, with contact available at 604-485-4649. This guide pulls together everything from parking and products to corporate ownership and a quiet deal that reshaped the brand’s horizons.

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Address: 4720 Joyce Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 3B5 · Phone: 604-485-4649 · Store #: 480 · Facebook: 604 likes · Roadside Assistance: 1-888-727-7478

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • No store-specific flyer available on the official site (Canadian Tire Official)
  • Some directories list the store as closed every day — likely outdated (Canadian Tire Official)
  • Specific local ownership beyond Dealer Principal Martin Leclercq unknown (Canadian Tire Official)
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Corporate expansion via HBC brand portfolio integration
  • Roadside assistance remains available 24/7 nationwide
  • Call ahead for hours since directory conflicts persist

Does Powell River have a Canadian Tire?

Yes — the Powell River Canadian Tire sits at 4720 Joyce Avenue in the heart of town, operating as store #480 within the national chain. Roadside assistance for the location lists the address as “4720 Joyce Ave, Powell River, British Columbia V8A 3B5” (Canadian Tire Roadside Assistance), confirming this is the correct, current location. Some older directories show postal code V8A 3B6, which appears outdated — the BBB file itself notes minor address variations (BBB business profile for Canadian Tire Powell River).

Store Location and Address

The store is easy to spot on Joyce Avenue, the main commercial strip through Powell River’s retail core. For those arriving from Courtenay or the Comox Valley, it’s roughly 52.6 km down the coast highway — about a 40-minute drive that makes the Powell River location the closest Canadian Tire for a wide swath of northern Vancouver Island (Cooper Tire store locator comparison). The official Canadian Tire store detail page shows the Powell River location with full address and directions (Canadian Tire Official).

Contact Details

The direct line for the Powell River store is 604-485-4649, confirmed across multiple directories including the UWS platform (UWS business listing for Canadian Tire Powell River). For roadside emergencies anywhere in the region, Canadian Tire offers 24/7 service at 1-888-727-7478 — coverage that works even if you’re not a member (Canadian Tire Roadside Assistance). The local roadside desk at Powell River keeps weekday hours (08:00–17:00) and Saturday mornings (10:00–14:00) for in-person tire and automotive service.

Hours and Directions

Due to conflicting hours in third-party directories, Canadian Tire’s official store page advises calling ahead to confirm current operating hours before visiting (Canadian Tire Official). The roadside assistance portal lists specific service window hours for that department, but retail floor hours may differ. The BBB file for this location opened June 1, 2009 (BBB business profile for Canadian Tire Powell River), and the store is not BBB accredited.

The upshot

Powell River has had a dedicated Canadian Tire presence for over a decade. If you’re driving up from the Comox Valley, call ahead on that 604 number — the mismatch in directory hours makes a quick confirmation worth it.

Who owns Canadian Tire Powell River?

The Powell River store operates as part of Canadian Tire Corporation, which owns the brand and oversees store standards nationally. At the local level, the Dealer Principal is listed as Martin Leclercq according to the BBB profile (BBB business profile for Canadian Tire Powell River). The Dealer Principal model means individual operators manage day-to-day store functions under the corporate umbrella — this is standard across Canadian Tire’s retail network.

Local Store Management

Martin Leclercq carries the Dealer Principal title for the Powell River location, per the Better Business Bureau record. This is a franchise-style arrangement where the dealer handles staffing, local operations, and customer service while Canadian Tire provides the brand, inventory systems, and marketing support. The arrangement gives local managers real skin in the game while keeping everything under the national brand’s quality controls.

Corporate Ownership

Canadian Tire Corporation is headquartered at Canada Square in Toronto, Ontario (Wikipedia overview of Canadian Tire). The company runs a dual-class share structure: Class A shares (CTC.A) are non-voting and trade publicly, while Class B shares carry voting rights and are held predominantly by the Billes family (Porters Five Force corporate ownership analysis). This arrangement keeps control tightly held within the founding family while allowing the company to access public capital markets.

Recent Changes

In May 2025, Canadian Tire announced the acquisition of Hudson’s Bay Company intellectual property for $30 million CAD (Wikipedia overview of Canadian Tire). The deal received court approval on June 3, 2025, and includes the HBC Stripes branding, coat of arms, and various trademarks — but not the Zellers name, which remains with HBC. CEO Greg Hicks framed the move as an effort to “give the Hudson’s Bay a second life” and add brands representing Canadian heritage (YouTube news coverage of HBC acquisition). This corporate activity doesn’t directly change the Powell River store’s operations, but it signals the direction of the broader brand Canadians trust in small towns like Powell River.

What to watch

The HBC acquisition adds heritage brands to Canadian Tire’s portfolio. Watch for changes in the weekly flyer as integration proceeds.

What country owns Canadian Tire?

Canadian Tire is a Canadian company, headquartered in Toronto and founded in this country in 1922 by J.W. Billes and A.J. Billes (Porters Five Force corporate ownership analysis). The company has remained under Canadian control throughout its history — no foreign acquisition has ever shifted the ownership base away from Canada. This is notable in a retail landscape where many chains eventually fall to international buyers.

Canadian Ownership

Canadian Tire’s Canadian ownership is baked into its structure. The Class B voting shares ensure the founding family’s influence stays domestic, and the company’s publicly traded Class A shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Even the company’s financial services spin-off (Canadian Tire Bank) and real estate vehicle (CT REIT, launched via IPO in 2013) remain under Canadian Tire Corporation’s majority control (Porters Five Force corporate ownership analysis).

Family Control

The Billes family, descendants of the founders, hold approximately 60–61% of the Class B voting shares, giving them effective control over the corporation (Porters Five Force corporate ownership analysis). The family settled internal arrangements in 1997 to consolidate this voting control, cementing the multigenerational nature of the ownership. There are roughly 3.4 million Class B shares in circulation as of 2025 (Porters Five Force corporate ownership analysis). Scotiabank previously held a 20% stake in Canadian Tire’s financial services arm but this was repurchased by the company in 2022 (Porters Five Force corporate ownership analysis).

Major Shareholders

Beyond the Billes family, institutional investors hold significant Class A stakes but lack voting power. Martha Billes, one of the prominent family members, remains a key shareholder figure in corporate disclosures. The company’s portfolio extends beyond its namesake stores to include brands like Mark’s, Sport Chek, and Party City Canada (Wikipedia overview of Canadian Tire). For someone visiting the Powell River store, this means the brand pulling you in is ultimately anchored to a family that has operated in Canada for over a century — not a foreign equity firm.

Which family owns Canadian Tire?

The Billes family has owned Canadian Tire since brothers J.W. Billes and A.J. Billes founded the business in 1922 in Hamilton, Ontario (Porters Five Force corporate ownership analysis). Over the past century, the family has grown from a single auto parts shop into one of Canada’s most recognizable retail conglomerates. The current corporate structure still reflects the family’s founding intent: voting control stays within the Billes lineage through Class B shares, while public shareholders hold non-voting Class A stock.

Billes Family History

J.W. and A.J. Billes started with a simple auto parts operation that expanded into the broader retail model Canadians know today. The company grew steadily through the mid-20th century, weathering economic cycles and competition from foreign entrants into the Canadian market. The 1997 family settlement was a pivotal moment — it resolved internal succession questions and locked in the voting control structure that persists today (Porters Five Force corporate ownership analysis). That settlement ensures no outside shareholder or activist investor can wrest control from the family, no matter how many Class A shares they accumulate.

Leadership

The Billes family’s influence operates at the board level more than the executive level — the company has professional management running day-to-day operations. The Dealer Principal system at individual stores (like Martin Leclercq in Powell River) is part of this professional layer, with corporate leadership setting strategy while local operators execute. This structure means the family provides continuity and governance oversight without needing every store managed by a family member.

CEO Details

Greg Hicks serves as President and CEO of Canadian Tire Corporation, steering the company through major moves like the HBC acquisition. The Billes family’s voting control doesn’t mean family members sit in the executive chair — it means any CEO must operate with board alignment that reflects family interests. Hicks has emphasized brand heritage in public statements, calling the Hudson’s Bay acquisition part of a mission to add brands that “represent Canadian heritage” (YouTube news coverage of HBC acquisition). For a small-town Canadian Tire customer, this means the Billes family’s long-term thinking shapes what products appear on shelves and how corporate strategy evolves.

Products offered by Canadian Tire Powell River?

The Powell River store carries the full Canadian Tire product range: automotive supplies, tools and hardware, sports equipment, household goods, and outdoor living products (Yellow Pages business listing for Canadian Tire Powell River). The in-store auto centre handles tire fitting, oil changes, and basic mechanical work — useful for a town where the nearest independent mechanic might be 30 minutes away. Online ordering is available for items not stocked in the small-town location, with delivery to the store or direct to your address.

Shopping Categories

Canadian Tire’s merchandise mix is wide: automotive (wiper blades, batteries, oil, brake pads), home improvement (power tools, paint, plumbing), seasonal (lawn mowers, camping gear, snow tires), and sports (bike accessories, fishing tackle, workout equipment). The Powell River location, being a full Canadian Tire rather than a Gas+ or Partsource, carries the full suite — though stock depth depends on what fits a smaller town’s demand profile. For specialized items, the store can order from the national distribution network.

Flyers and Deals

The Canadian Tire weekly flyer applies nationally — there is no separate Powell River-specific edition with localized deals (Canadian Tire Official). This means customers get the same promotional cycle as anyone in Toronto or Vancouver, which is actually an advantage for smaller communities that sometimes get left out of regional promotions. The main flyer page shows current deals on automotive, home, and seasonal categories (Canadian Tire Official).

Online Options

Even if the Powell River store’s physical aisles don’t stock a specific item, Canadian Tire’s ecommerce platform covers the gap. Customers can browse the full online catalog, check local store stock availability, and choose between home delivery or in-store pickup. For items like snow tires or high-end power tools that a smaller store might not keep in deep stock, this online channel extends what the Powell River location can effectively offer.

Bottom line: Powell River residents gain a reliable local anchor store with genuine national backing when they shop at Canadian Tire. The Billes family keeps operations Canadian and controlled, the store offers the full range of automotive and household products, and roadside assistance is a click or call away.

Store Specifications

Three data points define the store’s identity at a glance: store number, address confirmation across sources, and service scope.

Attribute Value Source
Store Number 480 Canadian Tire Official
Primary Address 4720 Joyce Ave, Powell River, BC V8A 3B5 Canadian Tire Roadside Assistance
Secondary Address (outdated) 4720 Joyce Ave, Powell River, BC V8A 3B6 BBB business profile for Canadian Tire Powell River
Phone Number 604-485-4649 UWS business listing for Canadian Tire Powell River
Facebook Followers 604 CTPowellRiver (verified local page)
BBB File Opened June 1, 2009 BBB business profile for Canadian Tire Powell River
BBB Accreditation Not accredited BBB business profile for Canadian Tire Powell River
Dealer Principal Martin Leclercq BBB business profile for Canadian Tire Powell River
Distance from Courtenay 52.6 km Cooper Tire store locator comparison
Automotive Service Hours Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00, Sat 10:00–14:00 Canadian Tire Roadside Assistance
Corporate Structure Dual-class shares (Class A non-voting, Class B voting) Porters Five Force corporate ownership analysis
Class B Voting Control 60–61% held by Billes family Porters Five Force corporate ownership analysis

The table shows a store firmly embedded in local operations while remaining tethered to national corporate standards. Powell River customers benefit from both the community-focused dealer model and the backing of a century-old Canadian institution.

What experts say

“Even if you’re not a member, we will never leave you stranded. Call us 24/7.”

— Canadian Tire Roadside Assistance (Official Service Page)

“This company is essentially trying to give the Hudson’s Bay a second life and add to their list of brands which they feel represent Canadian heritage.”

— Greg Hicks, President and CEO, Canadian Tire Corporation (YouTube news coverage of HBC acquisition)

“Canadian Tire said Thursday that it will pay $30 million for intellectual property belonging to the retailer.”

— Deal insider reporting on the HBC acquisition (Wikipedia overview of Canadian Tire)

The trade-off

The Billes family’s tight voting control keeps Canadian Tire Canadian — but it also limits outside accountability. The CEO’s public statements reveal a brand that thinks in terms of heritage, not disruption. For Powell River customers, that’s a double-edged promise: stable, long-term thinking on one side; slow to adapt to market changes on the other.

Related reading: TD Car Insurance Phone Number

Additional sources

ariesautomotive.com, corp.canadiantire.ca

British Columbia shoppers can find comparable retail experiences at the Powell River store and fellow outlets like the Maple Ridge outlet, complete with essential services and products.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the slang for Canadian Tire?

Among Canadians, “CT” or “Canadian Tire” itself often gets shortened in casual conversation, but no widely recognized slang term has stuck the way some brands develop nicknames. The store is commonly referred to by its full name in everyday use, with the occasional “Tire” used as shorthand in certain regions.

Is Helly Hansen no longer Canadian?

Helly Hansen is a Norwegian brand owned by a Canadian Tire subsidiary — the Canadian parent keeps the brand’s Scandinavian identity and operations intact. So the brand is Canadian-owned but not Canadian-made; it operates within the Canadian Tire Corporation family alongside other brands like Mark’s and Sport Chek.

What is Greg Hicks’ salary?

Greg Hicks’ compensation is disclosed in Canadian Tire Corporation’s annual proxy circular, which lists executive pay in detail. The exact figure varies year to year based on performance metrics; the most recent publicly available proxy filing shows total compensation in the range typical for a CEO of a major Canadian retail conglomerate.

Who is the biggest shareholder of Canadian Tire?

The Billes family, through their Class B voting shares, holds the largest effective control — approximately 60–61% of the voting shares. Public institutional investors may hold more economic value in Class A non-voting shares, but they have no say in corporate governance decisions.

What is the phone number for Canadian Tire Powell River?

The direct line is 604-485-4649. For general inquiries and to confirm current hours before visiting, this is the number to call. For roadside emergencies anywhere in the coverage area, use the 24/7 line at 1-888-727-7478.

Does Canadian Tire Powell River offer roadside assistance?

Yes — the store’s automotive service department handles tire work and basic mechanical service. Roadside assistance is available 24/7 across Canada through Canadian Tire’s national program (1-888-727-7478), with local in-store service hours on weekdays and Saturday mornings at the Powell River location.

What automotive services are at Canadian Tire Powell River?

The store operates as an ARIES Automotive location, meaning it can handle tire installation, oil changes, brake service, and general automotive maintenance. The roadside assistance portal shows specific service hours for the local desk, and the nationwide program ensures you can call for help anytime.

For Powell River residents, having a Canadian Tire in town means not driving to Courtenay every time you need wiper blades or snow tires. The store’s dual role — as a consumer goods retailer and an automotive service centre — makes it one of the most practically useful businesses on Joyce Avenue. The corporate ownership by the Billes family keeps it Canadian-owned, and recent moves like the HBC acquisition show the brand still thinks in terms of building national presence rather than chasing short-term margins. The store at 4720 Joyce Ave gives north island residents a contact worth saving in their phones.