Milestones

1930's

1939
General Distributors (Gendis) founded in Calgary

1940's

1946
Toyko Tsushin Kogyo K.K. (Toyko Telecommunications Engineering Corporation), also known as Totsuko is founded

1950's

1955
Sony Introduces the Sony TR-55, the first transistor radio in Japan

General Distributors (Tokyo) Ltd is founded

1956
Canadian Albert Cohen had the insight to bring Sony's transistor radios to Canada. T. Eaton Co. is first retailer outside Japan to buy a Sony product.

1958
Totsuko Company name changed to Sony Corporation

1959
Over 100,000 Sony transistor radios sold in Canada.

1960's

1960
World's first direct-view portable television, the TV8-301 is launched

1962
The world's smallest and lightest all transitor television, the TV5-303 is introduced

1966
Sony's first cassette tape recorder, the "Magazine-matic 100" is introduced

1968
Sony of Canada Ltd. is established

1968
"Trinitron" colour television, the KV-1310 launches

1970's

1973
Sony receives first ever Emmy awarded to a Japanese company for the Trinitron colour television system

1975
General Distributors (Gendis) assumed 51 percent ownership of Sony of Canada Ltd

1976
Sony wins an Emmy award for its development of the Trinicon single-tube camera, electronic editing units and the U-matic, the world's first videocassette system

1979
Launch of the "Walkman", the world's first personal headphone stereo

1980's

1982
World's first CD player, the CDP-101 is introduced

1984
Discman® Sony's portable CD player is launched

1985
Sony of Canada Science Scholarship Foundation Inc. is founded

1985
Sony unveils first XBR® TV models

1990's

1990
Sony becomes an official EcoKids (www.ecokids.ca) sponsor

1995
Sony of Canada Ltd. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation

1995
The world's first consumer use digital video camcorder, the "Digital Handycam®" is launched

1996
Sony's Cyber-shot® Digital Camera is introduced

1997
Launch of VAIO® Computers

1998
Sony introduces world's first flat-screen CRT direct-view television, the FD Trinitron WEGA® in 32 and 36-inch models

1998
Sony introduces world's first integrated wide screen HDTV FD Trinitron WEGA® 16:9 34-inch model

2000's

2001
Sony develops world's largest (13 inch) full colour organic EL display 

Sony introduces LocationFree TV technology

2002
Sony introduces first plug-and-play Plasma WEGA® TVs in 32 and 42-inch models with built-in NTSC tuner and speakers

2003
Launch of the worlds' first next generation high capacity optical Blu-ray™ Disc recorder BDZ-S77 

"Qualia" products are launched 

Sony introduces first flat-screen 30-inch XBR® LCD WEGA® TV 

"SDR", a compact bipedal entertainment robot also known as "QRIO" becomes Sony's new corporate ambassador

2004
Sony develops new 4K SXRD high-resolution LCD panel setting a new global standard for digital cinema projectors

Sony's first desktop videoconferencing system is introduced

Launch of Sony's first consumer photo printer technology 

Launch of the world's first consumer use digital HD video camcorder recorder compliant to HDV standard 1080i. 

Sony of Canada becomes the exclusive and official supplier of consumer electronics products to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada

2005
Sony of Canada launches MBNA Sony Master Card

Sony Corporation signs a global partnership program contract with FIFA to commence in January 2007

The Cyber-shot® N1 digital camera featuring industry-leading audio and video Photo Album technology is introduced

Launch of the Hi-Definition Handycam® HDR-HC1; the world's smallest digital HD video camera recorder

Sony introduces Grand WEGA® SXRD™ rear-projection LCD TV.

Launch of the new BRAVIA LCD HDTV compatible flat screen televisions

2006
Launch of Sony's first Blu-ray Disc offerings including a home disc player, VAIO computers, an internal computer drive and recordable/rewriteablemedia

Launch of the nav-u™ Portable Navigation Device

Launch of the Alpha Digital SLR Camera Nov 2006

Launch of the PlayStation® 3 (PS3™)

2007
Sony's 8 year global FIFA partnership commences

Sony of Canada Ltd. acquires naming rights to The Hummingbird Centre in downtown Toronto, now called The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts

2008
Sony of Canada Ltd. launches the world's first Organic LED television in Canada

Sony of Canada Ltd. launches the Reader Digital Book, the first electronic reading device in Canada

Sony of Canada Ltd. re-brands The Sony Store(s) to Sony Style

Sony of Canada Ltd. expands its recycling program to include all Sony branded products

Sony Canada unveils Sony's first full-frame a (alpha) DSLR camera

2009
Sony of Canada Ltd. announces the Bravia® VE5 HDTV, its most energy efficient LCD HDTV to date

Sony of Canada Ltd. unveils the first Cyber-shot® digital camera with Sweep Panorama Technology

Sony of Canada Ltd. debuts first Handycam® camcorders with built-in GPS and digital maps for video and photo geo-tagging