Press Releases

Convenience Stores raise $130,000 for Children’s Wish Foundation

Local retailers mark Small Business Week by celebrating the growing success of National C-store Day

TORONTO, ONTARIO (October 18, 2018) The Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA) is proud to help celebrate Small Business Week in Canada by presenting a cheque for $130,000 to the Children’s Wish Foundation, which was raised during the recent national Convenience Store Day.

August 29th was a record day as convenience stores across Canada celebrated this annual event, bringing over 250 community leaders into 300 convenience stores across the country, and raising $130,000 to help grant wishes to children with life threatening illnesses, up from the $82,500 that was raised in 2017 for the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

“Canada’s corner stores are truly the heart of their communities,” said CCSA president Satinder Chera. “We thank our customers and community leaders for helping us to raise money for Children’s Wish, while joining us in celebrating the contributions of neighbourhood convenience stores.” On the Run/Marche Express operated by Parkland Fuel Corporation was the title sponsor of this year’s event. Along with On the Run/ Marché Express, the following convenience retailers and suppliers also provided generous support for Convenience Store Day in 2018: MacEwen Petroleum, Couche-Tard/Circle K, Needs Convenience, North Atlantic Petroleum, Husky, Gateway Newstands, Wilsons Fuels and Parmalat.

This year’s event included participation from the Prime Minister, Premiers, Mayors and other elected officials and celebrities. The Hon. Mary Ng, federal Minister of Small Business & Export Promotion, visited Q&Q Convenience Store in Markham and released a video, paying tribute to neighborhood retailers across Canada. "Charitable efforts like this one demonstrate how convenience stores, are an important part of our communities in addition to being essential to Canada’s economy. Our government listened to the concerns of small businesses and their owners and because of those conversations, we will again cut taxes on small business to 9%; the lowest of the G7 nations. As the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, I am committed to working hard with small businesses to help them grow and succeed. Thank you to convenience stores, for all you do in our communities," said Minister Ng

Since Convenience Store Day was launched, over $362,000 has been raised by convenience stores for the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada. Chris Kotsopoulos, CEO, Children’s Wish Foundation says that the funds have gone a long way in helping to bring a little happiness to children diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. 

"The funds raised to date through Convenience Store Day have made many heartfelt wishes possible. The power of a wish is both profound and lasting, and its positive effects are felt not only by our wish kids, but also by their families and the larger community around them. We deeply appreciate the generosity of retailers, their staff, community leaders and the Canadian Convenience Stores Association." The average cost of a wish is $10,000.

For more information about Convenience Store Day, please visit www.cstoreday.ca.

About the Canadian Convenience Stores Association

The Canadian Convenience Stores Association is the national voice for convenience retailers. There are over 26,000 convenience stores throughout Canada, which collectively employ over 227,000 people and serve 10 million customers every day in communities across Canada.

Media contact

Satinder Chera, President

Canadian Convenience Stores Association

t: (905) 845-9339 | www.cstores.ca | @CanadianCstores

 

About The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada

The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada is the largest all Canadian wish granting charity dedicated to granting wishes to Canadian children between the ages of 3 and 17 who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.  For more than 34 years, Children’s Wish has worked tirelessly to grant heartfelt wishes to  over 25,000 children and their families.

Media Contact

Wendy Roberts National Senior Communications Specialist

Children's Wish Foundation of Canada | National Office

t: 647-725-6138 | f: 905-839-3745 | www.childrenswish.ca