In the finest traditions of early Canadian traders, brothers Angus and Malcolm McCulloch have opened Canadian Rug Traders on Clarence Street, at Dalhousie, in the Byward Market. The brothers' love for, and extensive knowledge of oriental rugs is evident, and questions about the origins, materials, dyes and weaving of each of the hundreds of rugs on display will be cheerfully answered!
ANGUS MCCULLOCH was born in Canada and moved to England with his parents in the early 60's. After graduating from City University in London, he joined Harrods Department Store where he rose through the ranks to gain extensive buying and management experience in carpets, textiles and home furnishings. While at Harrods he was awarded the prestigious Sir Ralph Perring Scholarship to study retail furnishers. His thesis won him the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers Master's Prize which was awarded to him by the Lord Mayor of London at the Mansion House at a dinner in his honour.
After Harrods, Angus became a buyer of oriental rugs and textiles for a group of department stores in Britain. He has traveled extensively to China, India, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey developing business contacts (and friends) throughout the world's rug trade.
Angus met his wife MARIA while he was at Harrods. Maria has accompanied Angus on many of his worldwide buying trips and is currently dividing her time between working at the store and looking after their two daughters (ages 15 and 18).
MALCOLM left Ottawa in '59 to attend the Royal Canadian Naval College in Esquimalt, B.C. As a naval officer he flew anti-submarine bombers from the aircraft carrier Bonaventure. Later, he spent 18 years as a pilot for Air Canada. In 1984, Malcolm and his sailboat "Muscade" left to fulfill a lifelong dream of navigating the Seven Seas.
Since then, Malcolm has been traveling the world both on his boat and by more traditional methods. His travels have included many high altitude trekking expeditions in the Himalayas, the Karakoram Mountains, the Andes and Mount Kilamanjoro, to name just a few. He has spent the last few summers sailing in Portugal, Spain, France, Corsica, Italy and Greece.
As a partner in Canadian Rug Traders, Malcolm's travels continue, with frequent buying trips to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey (as well as to his beloved "Muscade" which is now waiting to come across the ocean to the Caribbean).
Angus, Maria and Malcolm all agree that one of the chief pleasure of partnering the Canadian Rug Traders is the opportunity to meet and chat with customers who share their love and enthusiasm for the beauty, history and mystique of these oriental treasures.

Care and Fair... For Children's Welfare

Canadian Rug Traders is the first North American member of this Association, founded in Europe, for action against child labour. This means that all of our rugs imported from India, Pakistan and Nepal are child labour free. In addition, we also pay back to the Association a percentage of our imports from these areas to finance existing and new care projects such as schools and clinics to better the lives of children in these areas.