# Pajar Canada

> Pajar Canada is a Montreal family-owned footwear and outerwear company founded in 1963. It sells waterproof winter boots, retractable-cleat Ice Gripper styles, outerwear and accessories through ecommerce and wholesale channels, while a small Montreal factory still makes its premium Heritage line. After building a business heavily weighted to fall, Pajar began buying and distributing complementary footwear brands to create a year-round North American platform.

- **Founded:** 1963
- **Headquarters:** Montreal, Canada
- **Founders:** Paul Golbert (Founder)
- **Team size:** Approximately 70 workers reported in 2025; LinkedIn lists 51-200 employees, while a supplied company record lists 63.
- **Products:** Pajar Montreal | 1963 Heritage Collection, Ice Gripper footwear, Performance footwear, Outerwear and apparel, Footwear distribution
- **Notable:** Opened its Montreal factory in 1973 and continues to produce the premium Heritage line there., Became official provider to the Canadian Alpine Ski Team in 1989., Won an International Shoe Association Gold Award for children's winter boots in 1991.

## Products & services

- **Pajar Montreal | 1963 Heritage Collection** — Premium waterproof leather and genuine shearling boots handcrafted in Montreal, with some craftsmanship styles also made in Tuscan ateliers.
- **Ice Gripper footwear** — Winter boots with a patented retractable or reversible steel-cleat traction system for moving between icy outdoor surfaces and indoor floors.
- **Performance footwear** — Waterproof winter boots, kids' boots, sneakers, sandals and slippers produced across Canada, Europe and Asia at several price and temperature tiers.
- **Outerwear and apparel** — Parkas, puffers, ski jackets, lightweight jackets, base layers, hosiery, casual wear and cold-weather accessories.
- **Footwear distribution** — North American wholesale and commercial management for owned and partner brands including Cougar, Melissa, Mini Melissa and Ipanema, plus Canadian distribution for Merrell Kids, Saucony Kids, Stride Rite and Kenneth Cole Women's.

## Achievements

- Opened its Montreal factory in 1973 and continues to produce the premium Heritage line there.
- Became official provider to the Canadian Alpine Ski Team in 1989.
- Won an International Shoe Association Gold Award for children's winter boots in 1991.
- Received the La Griffe d'Or award for best designer/manufacturer in 1997.
- Expanded into major European retailers beginning in 2005.
- Pajar boots were worn by volunteers during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic opening ceremony.
- Recognized by the City of Montreal in 2017 as a Quebec-manufactured and exported heritage brand.
- Opened its first U.S. flagship in SoHo in 2021.
- Acquired Cougar Shoes in 2024.
- Acquired GGB in 2026, adding an established U.S. warehouse, staff and retail integrations.

## Latest updates

- **2024-10** — Pajar acquired Canadian waterproof-footwear brand Cougar Shoes for an undisclosed sum, with plans to expand it internationally and into additional product categories.
- **2025-02** — President Michel Golbert said about 95% of production occurred in Europe and Asia, around half of sales came from the U.S., and the company was exploring Dominican Republic production for fall 2026.
- **2025-06** — Pajar expanded its Grendene relationship to distribute Melissa, Ipanema, Rider, Cartago and Zaxy in Canada.
- **2026-08** — Pajar acquired Grendene Global Brands USA for a reported US$3.6 million, taking over U.S. distribution and commercial management of Melissa and Mini Melissa and retaining the operation's warehouse, systems and most staff.
- **2026-08** — Pajar said it had also taken over Canadian distribution for Merrell Kids, Saucony Kids, Stride Rite and Kenneth Cole Women's after distributor Indeka closed.

## Links

- Website: https://pajar.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pajar-canada
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PajarCanada
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pajarofficial
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pajarcanada/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PajarCanada/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pajarcanada

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/pajar-canada
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-23