Canadian Wal-Mart stores begin 24-hour operations December 1 to Christmas Eve

    Wal-Mart responds to customer time crunch with "more stores, more hours,
    and more convenience than ever."

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 26 /CNW/ - Wal-Mart Canada today announced that
beginning December 1, more than one in four Wal-Mart stores Canada-wide will
open around the clock, allowing time-starved customers to do their holiday
shopping whenever they are able, during the busiest retail period of the year.
Stores will open their doors on December 1 and not close until Christmas Eve,
a full 576 hours later. In total, 80 stores will begin around-the-clock
operations in the next week. Customers are advised to check with their local
store to confirm participation and hours of operation. Information will be
available December 5 at www.walmart24hours.ca.
    "One way to get into the holiday spirit is to take the stress out of
shopping," said Sylvain Prud'homme, Wal-Mart Canada's senior vice president of
operations. "We hear again and again, the single most meaningful change we can
make for holiday shoppers is to deliver convenience. What's more convenient
than a store open whenever you're ready to shop?"
    Wal-Mart Canada has tested extended hours during holiday and
back-to-school periods since 2005, and recently began operating one store 24
hours a day year-round in Winnipeg. The company believes the demand for
extended hours has never been greater. Convenience is consistently one of the
top three demands of Wal-Mart shoppers in customer survey results.
    The company's plan for extended hours has substantially increased for
2007 with 25 per cent more stores participating and more than three times the
number of extra shopping hours compared to 2006. Last year, 59 Wal-Mart stores
opened continuously from December 18 and 24. This year, 80 stores will operate
continuously starting December 1 and concluding on Christmas Eve, the year's
busiest retail day. In selecting which stores would operate around the clock,
Wal-Mart used sales data, market information and local by-laws.
    "We initially introduced extended hours thinking it would be a novelty,"
said Prud'homme. "However, we find it's becoming a very mainstream convenience
for some customers and a necessity for others. With a growing record of
positive feedback in hand, this year we're offering more stores, more hours
and more convenience than ever."
    Wal-Mart Canada serves more than one million Canadians each day in 298
outlets nationwide. With more than 70,000 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.
    Unless otherwise noted, the following stores will open 24 hours a day
beginning December 1 and concluding December 24, Christmas Eve.

    Alberta
    -------
    Calgary, Westbrook
    Calgary, Marlborough
    Calgary, Deerfoot Mall
    Calgary, Shawnessy
    Edmonton, 40th St. NW
    Edmonton, South Common
    Edmonton, Capilano
    Sherwood Park
    St. Albert

    British Columbia
    ----------------
    Abbotsford
    Kamloops
    Kelowna
    Langley
    Nanaimo
    Prince George
    Victoria

    Manitoba
    --------
    Brandon (24-hours start Dec. 3, and are modified for Sunday bylaw)
    Winnipeg, Crossroads Shopping Centre (24-hours start Dec. 3, and are
    modified for Sunday bylaw)
    Winnipeg, Empress St. (24-hours start Dec. 3, and are modified for Sunday
    bylaw)
    Winnipeg, Unicity Mall (24-hours start Dec. 3, and are modified for
    Sunday bylaw)
    Winnipeg, McPhillips St. (24-hours start Dec. 3, and are modified for
    Sunday bylaw)
    Winnipeg, St. Vital (24-hours start Dec. 3, and are modified for Sunday
    bylaw)
    Winnipeg, Kenaston St. (24-hours start Dec. 3, and are modified for
    Sunday bylaw)

    New Brunswick
    -------------
    Moncton, Champlain Place
    Moncton, Wheeler Blvd. and Mapleton Rd. (24-hours start Dec. 3, and are
    modified for Sunday bylaw)

    Newfoundland
    ------------
    St. John's, Kenmount Rd.
    St. John's, Mount Pearl
    St. John's, Stavanger Dr.

    Nova Scotia
    -----------
    Dartmouth
    Halifax, Mumford Rd.

    Ontario
    -------
    Barrie, Highway 400 and Molson Park Dr.
    Barrie, Bayfield St.
    Bolton
    Brampton, Highway 10 and Bovaird
    Brampton, Highway 7 and Airport Rd.
    Brantford
    Burlington
    Cambridge
    Chatham
    Cornwall
    Fort Frances
    Guelph
    Kingston
    Kitchener, Ottawa St. S.
    Kitchener, Fairview Park Mall
    London, Clarke Rd.
    London, White Oaks Mall
    London, Fanshawe Park Rd. W.
    Markham
    Mississauga, Meadowvale, Winston Churchill and 401
    Newmarket
    Niagara Falls
    North Bay
    Orangeville
    Orillia
    Oshawa
    Ottawa, Orleans, Innes Rd.
    Ottawa South, Bank St.
    Peterborough
    Pickering
    Richmond Hill
    Sarnia
    St. Catherines, Lincoln Mall
    St. Catherines, Vansickle Rd.
    Thunder Bay
    Timmins
    Toronto Stockyards, St. Clair and Runnymede
    Toronto, Agincourt Mall
    Toronto, Keele and Lawrence
    Toronto, Scarborough Town Centre
    Toronto, Scarborough West Hill
    Toronto, Scarborough, Eglinton Ave. E.
    Vaughan
    Welland
    Whitby
    Windsor, Tecumseh Rd. E.
    Woodstock

    Saskatchewan
    ------------
    Prince Albert
    Regina, Rochdale Blvd.
    Saskatoon, Preston Ave.

For further information: Kevin Groh, Corporate Affairs Director,
Wal-Mart Canada, (905) 821-2111 x 8012