Canada Population Distribution by Age Group

Statistics Canada has released the age distributions by market from the 2011 Census. Below are some summary tables while we crunch the numbers.

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Bramalea City Centre Holiday Opening Allowed by OMB

Bramalea City Centre, one of the largest shopping malls in Canada will now be allowed to open on certain holidays following a decision by the Ontario Municipal Board.

The OMB accepted the position that Bramalea City Centre caters to "Internal Tourists" who are local residents that visit with a main reason other than shopping. Other Ontario shopping malls that cater to a large number of Internal Tourists will be able to use them as a basis for holiday shopping applications.

Brampton Guardian Article

Details of the decision are below:

Government of Canada To Review Target Canada Heritage Impact

Bottom line - will not impact Target expansion plans, may affect assortment vs. US in certain "Cultural" categories like books.

This notice of a Heritage review was posted on the Government of Canada Privy Council Website

It is important to note that this review is not a Competition review (section 20) and hints that the government has concluded that no such review is necessary as section 15 is limited to an investment that "would not otherwise be reviewable".

"His Excellency the Governor General in Council, considering it in the public interest, on the recommendation of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, pursuant to section 15 of the Investment Canada Act, hereby orders that the investment by Target Canada Co. to establish a new Canadian business carried on by Target be reviewed." (Source)

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Major Retailers Respond to Target's Canadian Expansion

Sears:

• Introducing online point redemption for Sears cardholders (Canada Newswire)
• Confirmed renovations to over 30 stores in Ontario and Quebec over the next 18 months (Montreal Gazette)
• Has launched an app that allows customers to browse Sears products and make purchases from their mobile devices (Canada Newswire)
• Has partnered with savvymom.com to gain a larger share of the baby goods market (Globe and Mail)

 Loblaws:

• Introducing a loyalty card in 2013 to supplement the current credit card (Globe and Mail)
• Has aquired the prescription files to over 95 Zellers Pharmacies, while preparing to roll-out updated pharmacy technology and increased processing time (Canada Newswire) 

 Canadian Tire:

• Paper "Canadian Tire" money to be replaced with card based rewards in a Nova Scotia pilot project (St.Albert Leader)
• Focus on growing the number of Canadian Tire's credit card holders (Globe and Mail)

 Walmart:

• Walmart announces plans to complete 73 locations by January, 2013. 39 of these locations will be leases aquired from Target (Canada Newswire)
• Has increased the number of baby products and related sales to maintain a large share of the baby goods market (Globe and Mail)

Shoppers Drug Mart:

• Increase focus on the aging baby boomers & seniors segment by increasing their frequency & crossover shopping through a number of initiatives including; $ 2.00 reduction in co-pay in Ontario, more seniors days & events, increased emphasis on med check, OTC counselling, physician interaction 
• Continue market share growth in cosmetics by meeting unmet needs and adding brands - not releasing details of planned changes to beauty boutiques yet (Canada Newswire & April 26th earnings call)
• Have introduced a "VIB - Very Important Baby" rewards card for parents to promote baby products (Globe and Mail)