Univar Canada Ltd.'s predecessor, Van Waters and Rogers Ltd, was incorporated in 1950 in Vancouver, B.C. as the Canadian affiliate of the company founded in 1924 in Seattle by George Van Waters and Nat S. Rogers. A small Vancouver distributor, Industrial Materials Ltd., was purchased and the company began selling industrial chemicals.
In 1958 the acquisition of Commercial Chemicals Ltd. which had operations in both B.C. and Alberta expanded the industrial product lines as well as introducing agricultural chemicals. The Company's customer focused service generated increasing sales and market share. New tank farm and warehouse facilities were constructed in B.C. and Alberta in the '60s and '70s.

The 1973 acquisition of McArthur Chemicals provided nation wide coverage of the industrial market with the addition of tank farms and warehouses in Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and the Atlantic provinces. A period of steady growth in sales and market share led to the purchase of Harcros Chemicals in 1991 adding over 100 experienced people and increasing sales by 50%.

In a similar fashion the agricultural business grew from a small operation in B.C. into a national distributor of crop protection products.

Univar Canada Ltd. is now Canada's largest and most successful distributor of industrial chemicals and crop protection products. The Company's success is a testament to the dedication and commitment of all its people to providing outstanding customer service.