Alex Magee & Sons - Probably Runnymede's oldest business

I love to walk the laneways of Runnymede.  It’s one of the few areas in the west end of the city with them.  There are only five north-south lanes and four east-west ones; two of which are dead ends. I’m always looking out for anomalies, and the short dead end in the northeast corner of Jane and Annette had one: an extra-long brick garage-like structure that didn’t have any garage doors opening onto the lane. Walking around the block to the Montye side of the lane,  I saw a small sign, Alex Magee and Sons Ltd.

Since 1922, Alex Magee and four generations of sons have worked out of 37 Montye Avenue near the corner of Jane and Annette.

They do something that few know about and even fewer know how to do: install and maintain the boilers and burners that heat the air and water of large buildings throughout South and Central Ontario. That includes many of the churches in Runnymede and environs.

Alex was a steam fitter, trained and apprenticed here in Toronto.  He was already working when he decided to set up his own business in 1922, working out of his home on Montye.

The venture started as Alex Magee and Son Ltd. (At some point, it became Alex Magee and Sons) when one of his two sons, James, joined him in the early 1930s.  James took over the business around 1950.  His three sons, Doug, Terry and Brian, joined him in the 50s and 60s. They started to operate the business in 1972.   Brian left around 1980, and Doug retired in 1993.
Terry retired in 2019 and consulted for several years after.

Today, the company is owned and operated by Kirk and his son, Mason.

The company services, replaces and repairs all types of boilers and burners in commercial buildings and institutions in southern Ontario. 

The staff consists of Master Steam Fitters, Master Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Burner Mechanics. Getting the skills and licenses for these roles can take years.  It’s generally a 5-year apprenticeship for a plumbing and steam fitting license. The Gas fitters' license is done at night school. To get a #1 gas fitting license

today can take several years to obtain.

Every Magee had at least one of these trades.  Alex and James were steam fitters. Terry was a master plumber, master steam fitter, and a #1 gas fitter. Doug was a welder and steam fitter, Brian was a steam fitter. Kirk is a Master plumber,  a #1 gas fitter and a welder. Mason, the fifth generation Magee in the business, is a 4-year plumbing apprentice and a #2 gas fitter.

Kirk, the current Magee in charge, notes that the business is changing as their clientele is turning to smaller units that work in tandem and as standalone units while one breaks down or requires servicing.