In 1969, Bruce Burgess opened a well-stocked 1000 square foot marine retail store, The Rigging Shoppe.

Bruce also owned and operated Seaway Spars from 1975. They assembled masts, booms, standing & running rigging for Canadian boat builders including Northern, Goman, Halman & P.D.Q. assembling over 500 masts a year at peak production.

The early 80's saw a decline in Canadian boat building, and thus a decline in the demand for locally built masts so the Burgess's decided to move the retail store and the mast shop under one roof in 1989.

In 1993 the business relocated to it's current location, 44 Midwest Road, just off the west side of Midland Avenue, north of Lawrence Avenue.

Bruce and his wife Shirley worked full-time in the business until 1998 and now spend their time at their home near Kingston, Ontario.

In 1989, with many summers of part-time work, their daughter, Carolyn Burgess began working full-time at the shop.

Carolyn continues to offer the same degree of customized service that Bruce Burgess was famous for. She leads a team of staff that understand boats and their associated parts intimately.