Tradewinds was opened by Ross and Chris Lister in 1997.  Tradewinds Imports came into being from the owners' love of travel and from a number of years working abroad with Canadian international development. 

Ross and Chris spent 9 years working Lesotho in in Southern Africa and 2 years working in Java, Indonesia.  They spend the winter traveling abroad searching for traditional local crafts and for goods to offer in Tradewinds.