HISTORY: THE DELAMONT FAMILY
The Second World War had just ended and Ed Delamont was fresh out of the army. As a young man with a renewed outlook on life, he was eager to take up the army’s offer to cover the expenses of a certain amount of vocational training. He decided he would pursue something that required passion and skill; a craft in an industry that intrigued and excited him and one that he’d had a brief experience with before the war. It was in this first step, when Ed decided to become a watchmaker, that the first stone in the foundation of a family legacy that would stretch for generations was laid.
While working in a jewellery store in New Westminster, British Columbia after completing his education, Ed met an exceptional woman who would later become his wife. The two moved back to her hometown of Cranbrook, British Columbia in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and decided they would set their roots deep and their dreams high. They purchased a jewellery store from Mr. Henry Wilson, a well-known and respected jeweller in the community. In 1947 the two dove headlong into creating and growing not only their company but a close-knit and loving family as well.
Ed Delamont
Ed and Teresa’s six children grew up in their parent’s store, learning and participating in the various layers of the jewellery business. From mopping floors to mailing letters, closing up at the end of the day, to helping clients, there were few areas of the business that the Delamont children didn’t thoroughly experience. While they were kept busy with the less glamorous side of owning and running a family business, they were also watching and being inspired by their father’s skill, passion and craftsmanship. Seeing the joy in people’s faces, watching their father craft beauty and return beloved pieces to their former glory, and bearing witness to his connection to the people who entered his business resonated deeply with each of them.
In witnessing the union of passion and skill, feeling the pride in the beauty of the finished product, and seeing the joy in their client’s faces, that sparked Ed and Teresa’s third son, Gord’s interest. Not only did Gord want to work for the company, but he desired to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a watchmaker.
There is a strong respect and belief for the importance of education, coupled with practical skill in the Delamont family. So it came as no surprise that young Gord’s desire to join the jeweller trade was met with support, and the strong encouragement to pursue a formal education entering the business. After studying the rigorous Swiss model of education at George Brown College in Toronto, Gord proudly entered the family business and is now the owner of Delamont Jewellers.
Standing in a historic building with a beautifully detailed brick facade in the heart of downtown Cranbrook, it’s impossible not to feel the passion and the history that this family business has built and maintained in the community. When asked what makes him most proud about where Delamont Jewellers has come from and where it’s headed, Gord said, “I’m proud of the history of the company. I’m proud that I’m carrying on the tradition started by my father. I’m proud of what we do, the people that I have working for me. I’m very proud of them. There are highly skilled, good people that work here.”
With a company that has been thriving in this community for nearly eighty years, it’s impossible to say how the jeweller profession will look in another eighty years. One thing that we can be sure of is that Delamont Jewellers will continue to be a place where the community can draw inspiration from as a place of fine beauty in the heart of our town. We will continue serving clients with passion, expertise, history and joy that cannot be found anywhere else. We will continue to be a warm and welcoming light that shines fondly on the past while lighting the way into the future.
