In 1967, amidst Canada’s Centennial year festivities, Roger de Pinto had his own reason to celebrate. The year Canada turned 100 was the year Roger launched his small frame distribution company – aptly named Centennial Optical.

On May 1, 2007, the company marks its landmark 40th year, and any chronicle would have to begin with Roger and his staff of six trying to run a fledgling business out of a tiny 600 square foot office. There are a lot of great stories about those early days, but Roger never lost sight of Centennial's primary focus of providing the Canadian ophthalmic community with more than just excellent products, but also with dedicated, personal service and support. Today they offer over 25 frame brands, including designer labels exclusively licensed (in Canada) from both the "who’s-who" in international fashion and renowned Canadian designers such as Alfred Sung, Nygard and Roots.

So today, along with a full range of optical products including finished sunglasses, contact lenses, lab supplies and accessories, the company has physically expanded across Canada to include four local distribution

offices and three Canadian facilities for UTMC (Ultra-Tough Multi-Coat) and Teflon® Clear Coat Lenses.

Another landmark in the business’ development took place in 1979. With the frame division flourishing, Roger’s son, Steve de Pinto, stepped in to widen the company’s focus by developing their new lens division. Under Steve’s direction, Centennial eventually became the exclusive Canadian distributor for Carl Zeiss Vision (ZEISS, SOLA and AO brand lenses), the only independent distributor of Carl Zeiss products in the world.

A lot has happened over forty years. However, what remains unchanged is that Centennial Optical is still a wholly independent, proudly Canadian, family-owned business that still follows their original Mission Statement for "innovative vision care solutions and excellence in products and services". This year, as Centennial’s fortieth anniversary is celebrated, it is with great pride that Founder and Chairman, Roger de Pinto; President and CEO, Steve de Pinto; Vice President, Allen Nightingale; all members of the management team; and the entire staff, now numbering over 200, share in the accomplishments that have turned a small frame company into a full service optical distributor... and a true Canadian success story.