Our History
Since 1919, our small & independent business has been an integral part of the retail scene in Calgary, Alberta. Originally known as Fair Play Flour & Feed, the business expanded to include pet food and supplies, as well as gardening products in the late 1950s. The owners at the time, Milt and Svana Campbell, hired Svana's brother, George Bjarnason, in 1967. Mr. Bjarnason purchased Fairplay from his brother-in-law in 1973 and then along with his wife, Anne and four children, began a career in the pet supply industry that would last a lifetime.
In 1980, Fairplay moved from its home of 60+ years at the corner of 10th Street and Memorial Drive to it's current home on Kensington Road N.W. The horse feed, tack & supplies end of the business then expanded to its own location, The Horse Store, just two doors down from Fairplay.
Through the 1980s, Fairplay followed the economic path of the oil industry. As the local economy flourished, Mr. Bjarnason opened two more locations and had more than 30 employees. After the boom, came the bust and Fairplay felt the economic pinch, closing the two stores, but maintaining the primary locations on Kensington Road. Mr. Bjarnason played an active role in the company up until the late 1990s, when the operation of the stores was left in the hands of his daughter, Christine Nurse, who continues to guide the stores to this day.
