Brand new store now open at Lakeshore and Leslie

    Total investment of $46 million in the community; 140 new retail
    positions

    TORONTO, Oct. 26 /CNW/ - At an event held earlier today, Canadian Tire
showcased its new state-of-the-art facility, featuring the first automated
customer pick-up service in the network. The new 70,000 retail square foot
store, located at Lakeshore and Leslie, was designed specifically to meet the
needs of the surrounding communities and includes environmental features
focused on energy conservation and sustainable urban solutions. For Associate
Dealer Peter Oliver and Canadian Tire Corporation, this project represents an
investment of $46 million in the community and the creation of approximately
140 new retail positions.
    "This store combines the strengths of the original Concept 20/20 store
format with unique features designed specifically for this market enabling us
to meet the needs of one of Toronto's most popular communities," says Mike
Arnett, president, Canadian Tire Retail.
    The new store's layout is anchored with 'Driving', 'Playing', 'Living'
and 'Fixing' areas representing Canadian Tire's cornerstone businesses -
automotive, leisure and sporting goods, hardware & tools, home décor, home
maintenance and repair, outdoor living and lawn and garden products. Expanded
product assortments in key categories such as small appliances, home décor,
outdoor recreation and pet supplies, means that customers have everything they
need for their home, car and leisure activities under one roof.
    In addition to the 50,000 products and a 7,000 square foot rooftop Garden
Centre, the store also features a 13-bay Automotive Service Centre offering
customers the latest in diagnostic technology and one of the country's largest
assortments of automotive products. Adjacent to the Service Centre, Canadian
Tire's new Pit Stop quick lube features two drive-in bays enabling customers
to get an oil change and be back on the road in fifteen minutes.
    Peter Oliver, who owns and operates the store, has been with Canadian
Tire for more than 30 years and knows what it takes to run a successful
business.
    "Customer service is of paramount importance to me and I am thrilled to
be able to offer our customers the first automated Customer Pick-Up service in
the network," said Oliver. "This innovative new service enables customers to
order bulky items, continue shopping and retrieve items on their way home,
quickly and easily. That combined with the unique assortment of products and
more than 50 customer assistance buttons throughout the store, provides the
ultimate in shopping convenience."
    While the store has only been open for a short time, Peter and his team
are already actively involved in the community providing support for Ryerson's
Rowing Club, the Bird Research Centre at the bottom of Leslie Street, EID
Festival and the Diwali Festival. Peter and his team look forward to working
with local organizations to help build an even better community.
    Canadian Tire's commitment to the communities in which it operates can
also be seen in the environmental practices that guide the company's building
designs, construction and operational practices for the stores.Focused more than ever on building energy-efficient stores and reducing
the impact to the environment, Canadian Tire has undertaken a number of
initiatives, including the following, to name just a few:

    -   creating a pedestrian-friendly site with appropriate lighting, access
        points and benches

    -   recycling 95% of the materials from the previous existing building

    -   selecting energy-efficient building materials and sourcing those
        materials locally

    -   installing low voltage lighting sensors for controlling lighting
        inside and out

    -   installing energy efficient lighting systems that can reduce energy
        consumption by 50% when natural light is adequate

    -   using clean refrigerants for better ozone protection

    -   installing energy recovery ventilators to reclaim waste heat and
        cooling in order to reduce both energy consumption and combustion
        emissions into the atmosphereThe store will officially celebrate its Grand Opening November 1st -
November 4th with extended opening hours, incredible in-store savings, and fun
events including a book signing with Debbie Travis and live performance by The
Philosopher Kings.

    Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX: CTC, CTC.a) operates more than
1,100 general merchandise and apparel retail stores, gas stations and car
washes in an inter-related network of businesses engaged in retail, financial
services and petroleum. More than 50,000 Canadians work across the Canadian
Tire organization from coast-to-coast. Canadian Tire Retail and its Associate
Dealers together form one of Canada's best-known and most successful retailers
with 468 stores in communities nationwide. Canadian Tire stores offer a unique
mix of products and services through the leadership of three specialty stores
under one roof - Automotive, Sports and Leisure, and Home Products. Canadian
Tire also offers shopping and home delivery through www.canadiantire.ca and by
phone order at 1-866-746-7287.

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