Mr. Christie Cookies William Christie

Remembering William Mellis Christie: Canada’s Cookie King

On a quiet walk through Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, with light snow gently falling on his grave, I came across the resting place of William Mellis Christie—the man affectionately known as Canada’s cookie king.

Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, William learned the art of baking at a young age. With limited growth opportunities at home, he brought his skills to Toronto in 1848 and began a journey that would change Canadian baking forever.

By the 1880s, in his 50s and employing a staff of 120, William’s bakery had become the largest biscuit manufacturer in Canada. His reputation for quality was well established—he even won first prize for the best collection of biscuits at the Toronto Exhibition hosted by the Agricultural Association of Upper Canada. To this day, the phrase “Mr. Christie… you make good cookies” appears on many of the brand’s products, a testament to his lasting legacy.

Nearly five decades after William’s death, the iconic Christie’s bakery was built on 27 acres at Lake Shore Boulevard West in Mimico. This massive plant employed 600 workers and produced beloved treats like Arrowroot, Fruit Crème, Chips Ahoy!, Fudgee, and countless Girl Guide cookies. For those living nearby, the aroma of freshly baked cookies was an everyday delight.

William Mellis Christie passed away at his home near Queen’s Park on June 14, 1900, at the age of 71. The business was passed on to his only son, Robert, who is buried beside him in the family plot.

Though the Mimico bakery plant closed permanently in 2013, the iconic Christie’s water tower remains, preserved as a cherished piece of Toronto’s industrial heritage. It stands proudly alongside the Gardiner Expressway—a sweet reminder of a legacy that continues to delight Canadians to this day.

1829-1900

Mr. Christie’s home at the corner of Wellesley and Queen’s Park Circle, Toronto. Part of the University of Toronto today.