Charles Rogers was Canada’s first chocolatier, apparently. Who even wants to think about a country without chocolate?
Charles immigrated from Massachusetts and married a local woman, Leah Morrison. Together they ran a green grocers in Victoria BC, and sold sweets imported from San Francisco. Somewhere in there they decided to make their own chocolates, thereby capturing both the manufacturing and the retail mark-ups.
The first product – the Victoria Cream – was a success, and the rest is history. Charles died in 1927; Leah in 1955. Today, Rogers’ Chocolates is privately owned by Canadian families not named on the official website, and continues Leah’s commitment to community involvement.
All things are inter-connected. Rogers’ Chocolates original storefront is one of Canada’s historic places. National historic places are similar to national historic sites, another of Canada’s national treasures.
I have relatives that are “Rogers” and relatives that are “Morrison” – do you think I can find a connection?? I’ve never really looked, but I have enjoyed the chocolates! and especially, the Victorian Cream.
Alison – Ooh. Maybe you could get a family rate? And I could get a commutative friends-of-family rate? Let’s hit those genealogical records pronto.