He moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia with his family when he was young and took over his father’s bakery, Moir & Co.
He expanded his bakery business to become one of the largest and most modern in Canada, employing more than 260 workers and producing over 11,000 loaves of bread daily by the time of his death.
Moir was a pioneer in using steam-baking technology in Canada, which improved his efficiency and output.
He also ventured into other industries, such as flour and woodworking mills, paper-box manufacturing, timber lands, and real estate.
He overcame many obstacles and hardships in his career, including a workers’ strike and boycott in 1877, a financial crisis in 1881, and a factory fire in 1891.