Slater & York Limited was a men's clothing store which was established in 1921 when Ransom L. Slater joined in a partnership with Mervin E. York. Mr. Slater was born in Inkerman, ON, on May 13, 1870. He moved to Moose Jaw in 1890 and went into the tailoring business with Dan McCormack. Later he established his own tailor shop, and in 1913 opened a men's clothing store. Mr. Slater married Florence Annetta Powell in 1895. They had one daughter, Phyllis (Mrs. K.G. Murison). Mr. Slater was a member of Zion United Church, Moose Jaw Lodge No.3, Lodge of Perfection, Rose Croix, the Saskatchewan Consistory, Moose Jaw Shrine Club, Chamber of Commerce and he served as director of the Grant Hall Hotel. He retired from business in 1953. He died in 1962.
Prior to his partnership with R.L. Slater, Mervin E.York was a salesperson, buyer and department manager for various retail businesses in Moose Jaw. He began working as a salesman for R.L. Slater in 1916. Mr. York died in 1953. Slater & York Limited was sold to Geoffrey R. Baskwill and James Stewart Robertson in 1953. They sold the business to Reginald A. Bushell and George Field in 1959, who then sold it to Brian Chadwick in 1987.