Wal-Mart opens for business

Eager shoppers braved the bone-chilling cold this morning as Wal-Mart opened its doors to customers at 8 a.m.
About 50 people were on hand as the door was unlocked and greeter Jim Pole and members of the Wal-Mart Thrashers minor hockey team immediately got jumping.
“We’re delighted to be in Fort Frances. There’s been quite a buzz about this opening day and finally it’s here,” Wayne Aucoin, district manager for the Northern Ontario division of Wal-Mart Canada, said during an opening ceremony.
He noted the corporation opened 12 other stores elsewhere in Canada today, adding the number of Wal-Marts in the country has now reached 231, employing more than 75,000 “associates” (as Wal-Mart refer to its staff).
“You’re all part of the largest retail organization in Canada and in the world,” Aucoin said, adding he recognizes all the hard work the staff has put into getting the store here ready for the big day.
“The company will appreciate what you’ve done,” he remarked.
“You look after each other. And you have got to look after customers.”
Local store manager Cindy Kellett welcomed the associates for their first day of working at the store with customers in it, thanked them for their hard work, and led them in the Wal-Mart cheer that starts every work day.
She also revealed that the associates here, in the spirit of the corporation’s commitment to give back to communities, have been raising money over the past two months through a chili luncheon, Christmas dinner, bake sale, used movie and book sale, and even pledges for the assistant managers to shave their heads.
The $6,000—$3,000 of which was matched by Wal-Mart Canada— then was split four ways and given to local charities, and organizations, including Friends of Animals, “Community Chest,” the Valley Diabetes Education Centre, and David’s Deli.
This money was handed out during this morning’s ceremony.
“I think Wal-Mart is a blessing to the community,” said Pastor Sandy McEvoy of the Joy of Life Fellowship Church, where David’s Deli is located.
Mayor Dan Onichuk and former mayor Glenn Witherspoon also were on hand this morning to applaud the store’s opening.
“Wal-Mart is going to make a lot of people happy,” Mayor Onichuk remarked.
“We wish you all the best and we welcome Wal-Mart to the district,” he said to the associates and other guests on hand, adding he knows how hard the staff has been working the past month-and-a-half because his wife, Bonnie, works there.
Witherspoon recalled going over the plans for the store more than a year ago when they first came before town council, adding he appreciated all the preparatory work the company and its associates had done leading up to this big day.
“Thanks for coming to Fort Frances. We appreciate it,” he remarked. “I know ‘Wal-Mart,’ ‘Wal-Mart,’ ‘Wal-Mart,’ is all I hear at my business.”^The ceremony also included a ribbon-cutting, free cake and other giveaways, product samplings, and non-advertised specials.
Georges Blanc was the first customer through a checkout—he bought a can of coffee.
The store, which also features photo-processing, a McDonald’s Restaurant, groceries, pet supplies, electronics, and more, is now open weekdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sundays 9 a.m.-6 p.m.