Canadian Wal-Mart stores open their doors around the clock until Christmas

Recently named the top holiday shopping
destination for Canadians, Wal-Mart Canada today announced that it will
operate 192 of its 310 stores nationwide around the clock in December. The
majority of Wal-Mart stores nationwide will open their doors on December 1 and
leave them open until closing time on Christmas Eve, 576 hours later.
Advertised locally on radio, in newspapers, and in stores, 24-hour store
listings will be available at www.wal-mart.ca/24hourstores and are listed
below.
  A survey released this week by Maritz Research shows that Wal-Mart Canada
is the number-one destination for Canadian holiday shoppers. In the survey, 41
per cent of Canadian customers indicate that extended store hours play a
determining role in their choice of shopping destinations.
  "This is an unprecedented number of stores open for an unprecedented
length of time, but it's clear the popularity of 24-hour shopping is growing
with Canadians," said Jim Thompson, Wal-Mart Canada's senior vice president of
operations. "The message to customers is simple: Wal-Mart is ready for you
when you're ready to shop."
  In recent years, Wal-Mart Canada has tested 24-hour openings during busy
retail periods, like back-to-school and Christmas time. In January 2008 the
company opened 25 stores around the clock permanently, subsequently expanding
to 30 stores. The company continues to hear growing demand for extended hours.
  "We're always asked 'Who in the world would shop around the clock?', but
late-night and early morning shoppers are just busy people like you and me,"
said Thompson. "We expect the extra hours will be popular with everyone from
families to shift workers. For many people, shopping is simply more convenient
when the kids are in bed or you're heading home from an off-hour job or
commitment."
  One or more Wal-Mart stores in the following cities will operate
24-hours-a-day from December 1 until closing time on December 24, unless
otherwise noted. Customers should confirm exact locations and schedules at
www.wal-mart.ca/24hourstores online Friday.

  Alberta: Brooks; Calgary; Cold Lake; Drayton Valley; Edmonton; Edson;
Fort McMurray; Grande Prairie; Lethbridge; Medicine Hat; Okotoks; Red Deer;
Sherwood Park; Spruce Grove; St. Albert; Stettler; Strathmore; Wetaskiwin;
Whitecourt.

  British Columbia: Burnaby; Clearbrook; Courtenay; Cranbrook; Dawson
Creek; Duncan; Kamloops; Kelowna; Langford; Langley; Nanaimo; Nelson; New
Westminster; North Vancouver; Penticton; Port Alberni; Prince George; Quesnel;
Surrey; Terrace; Trail; Vernon; Victoria; Westbank; Whiterock.

  Manitoba: Brandon; Dauphin; Flin Flon; Portage la Prairie; Selkirk;
Thompson; Transcona; Winnipeg.

  New Brunswick: Bathurst; Fredericton; Grand Falls (open Dec. 15-24);
Miramachi; Moncton; Saint John; Sussex (open Dec. 15-24); Woodstock (open Dec.
15-24).

  Newfoundland: Carbonear; Clarenville; Corner Brook; Gander; Grand Falls
(open Dec. 14-24); St. John's.

  Nova Scotia: Bridgewater; Amherst; Antigonish (open Dec. 15-24);
Dartmouth; Dibgy (open Dec. 15-24); Halifax; New Glasgow; New Minas; Port
Hawkesbury (open Dec. 15-24); Sackville; Sydney; Truro; Yarmouth (open Dec.
15-24).

  Ontario: Agincourt; Ajax; Barrhaven; Barrie; Belleville; Bolton;
Brampton; Brantford; Brockville; Burlington; Cambridge; Chatham; Cobourg;
Collingwood; Cornwall; Dryden; Etobicoke; Fort Erie; Fort Frances; Georgetown;
Guelph; Kanata; Kenora; Kingston; Kitchener; Leamington; London; Markham;
Meadowvale; Midland; Milton; Mississauga; Napanee; New Liskeard; Newmarket;
Niagara Falls; North Bay; Oakville; Orangeville; Orillia; Orleans; Oshawa;
Ottawa; Owen Sound; Pembroke; Peterborough; Pickering; Richmond Hill; Sarnia;
Scarborough; Smith Falls; St. Catharines; St. Thomas; Thornhill; Thunder Bay;
Timmins; Toronto; Trenton; Vaughan; Welland; Whitby; Windsor; Woodstock.

  Prince Edward Island: Charlottetown; Summerside (open Dec. 15-24).

  Saskatchewan: Moose Jaw; North Battleford; Prince Albert; Regina;
Saskatoon; Swift Current; Yorkton.

  Wal-Mart Canada serves more than one million Canadians each day in 310
stores nationwide. With more than 77,000 associates, the company is one of the
nation's largest employers. The retailer also operates one of Canada's
strongest community involvement programs focused on supporting national and
local charities in every region of the country.