1WamMart grand opening celebrated By MELANIE HENNESSEV The Champion Retail giant Wal-Mart officially opened its doors at the new Milton store yesterday mommng. Dozens of Milton residruts lined up oulside the store at the comer uf Steeles Avenue and James Snow Parkway su, be the flrst customers 10 ser the facility that's noted to, be uniqur t0 thse chain in Canada. -Today is an important mitestone in thse history of Wal-Mart Canada, manager Damia Raymond said 10 the large crowd that gathered for the pre- opening ceremomes. "I knew that this store would be very special. As a tram, wr brought lite tu ibis rmpty box'" Ms Raymond was joinrd by many other Wal- Mart officials tu celebrate the grand opining ut the store that features a pharmacy. one-hour photo centre, portrait studio. auto parts area. Tire/Lube Express car service centre. Vision Centre, refiger- ated grocery section, SmartStyle hair salon and McDonald's restaurant, in addition to the usua goods Wal-Mart carnies. "Six wreks ago, wr walked in here and it was an empty store. You've made this store what it is." Tom Dowling, store planning set-up supervisor, told the store's employees. Wal-Mart Senior Vice President of Operations Roland Boudreau said the t 33,000-square-foot Milton store is unique in that it has a different fluor and décor than other WaI-Marts, a gift registry and subtle changes in the fluor plan. "Wr basically neyer huitd the saine store we're always trying to improve," hie said. Milton Mayor Gord Krantz, who was also at the opening, said Wal-Mart has created empînymnent opportunities for Mitton residents and given them another shopping choice as wrll. "I pushed relativrly hard on making sure that they (Wal-Mart> got here," he said. He went on teo joke thal Wal-Mart is now a "con- flict of interrst" for him because his granddaughter is an employer there. 'Me store employs more than 250 local residents. ail of which demonstraîrd exuberance for their new positions during the Milton Wal-Mart "store cheer" just before the duors opened yrsterday. Ms Raymond said her associates have bren busy holding fundraising events for the past few werks. such as a barbecue, pot luck and dress-down day, and managed 10, raise thousands of dollars for local groups and a \chuol. -We're proud tube part of the conxmunity.- Melaie Hennesses% can be ,eached at mjhen- nessev(dnxltonicanadianc-hanpion.coni. Inside Comment .........6-7 Datelino .......... 20 Real Estate .........20 Classified ........25-29 6 FMOYWTUIUI3 17 - CAO -ow* .LUuffibs11. JIa www.miltontoyota.com