Our Journey
Walking the walk since 1915—from shoes to spaces, always making room for more.
1915
Our story began in 1915 with Jim Holmes, a visionary entrepreneur who founded a shoe store that became a legacy. His commitment to quality, service, and integrity was more than just good business—it was a family tradition.
1975
That tradition carried forward with his sons and, ultimately, his grandson, Rick Holmes, who expanded the family’s entrepreneurial spirit beyond footwear. In 1975, Rick founded Holmes + Brakel (H+B), bringing the same dedication to excellence into the world of office furniture solutions.
1993
2018
In 1983, H+B made a pivotal decision—aligning with Teknion Furniture Systems, a premier Canadian manufacturer, to bring innovative, design-driven solutions to our clients.
1997
To better serve our North American customers, H+B crossed into the U.S. market in 1997, establishing offices in Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida.
1998
Our journey continued in 1998 with the opening of H+B Ottawa, allowing us to expand our reach into the nation’s capital. One year later, in 1999, we ventured west, launching our Vancouver office—our third Canadian location and fifth worldwide.
In 2018, we opened our Kingston office, solidifying our position as the only Teknion dealer servicing the corridor from Toronto to Ottawa.
2025
Today, H+B remains 100% Canadian-owned, with 140 employees across North America dedicated to delivering innovative workspace solutions. But we’re not done yet—our journey is far from over. We continue to evolve, grow, and find new ways to better serve our clients.
