Paul Gallant

Lore & Background

Paul-Émile Gallant was born in Edmundston, New Brunswick. He began his career in the music industry, working for Trans Canada Musique, Columbia Records (a division of Sony Music), and the CBC for approximately eighteen years. In the late 1980s, he switched to the toy industry and began developing a new concept for traditional puzzles involving 3D solutions inspired by commercial design. After one year of design, he completed a prototype for what would become Puzz-3D. In 1989, Gallant laminated polyethylene foam—the same type used to insulate airliner cockpits—with paper and built his first 3D puzzle, a miniature wall, on his kitchen table.

Gallant founded Wrebbit Inc. in partnership with Rene Binette, with a logo featuring an easily identifiable frog. The Puzz 3D product line was launched at the Canadian Toy & Hobby Fair in 1992. A crucial entry into the US market occurred when Gallant drove from Montreal to New York's FAO Schwarz in September 1991 and convinced their toy buyer to immediately order 72 puzzles. The puzzles were made in Canada and sold in more than 40 countries worldwide; by 2000, approximately 30 million Puzz 3D puzzles had been bought by global consumers. Irwin Toys purchased Wrebbit in 2001, but when Irwin Toys went out of business in 2002, Gallant once again became the owner. He sold Wrebbit and its product lines to Hasbro in 2005.

Reader's Guide

Paul Gallant's significance lies in his transformation of the jigsaw puzzle from a flat, temporary pastime into a three-dimensional, displayable model. His Puzz 3D puzzles, often depicting buildings and landmarks, could be kept indefinitely after assembly, creating a new category in the toy industry. Gallant's entrepreneurial journey—from a music industry career to founding Wrebbit Inc., securing a key order from FAO Schwarz, and achieving global sales of 30 million units by 2000—demonstrates his impact on the toy market. His inventions, including the Wrebbit Puzzle Machine and Perfalock flat foam puzzle, further diversified his contributions. Gallant received the Canada Export Achievement Award in 1995 and the Canada-America Business Achievement Award in 1996, and was inducted into the Canadian Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 2008. His legacy endures through the continued presence of Puzz 3D puzzles worldwide and his role in expanding the possibilities of puzzle design.

Did You Know?

• Gallant built his first 3D puzzle prototype on his kitchen table in 1989 using polyethylene foam used to insulate airliner cockpits.
• Approximately 30 million Puzz 3D puzzles were bought by global consumers by 2000.