March 28th, 2014 marked the official opening date of the East Hills Walmart Supercentre, located five minutes from Chestermere on 17th Ave.
People who attended the opening ceremony arrived just before it commenced at seven in the morning and gathered around a podium just inside the store. The gathering spot was filled with a bunch of people congratulating the store manager, Ray Wolf.
The ceremony began with the singing of O’ Canada by grade 12 student Sarah Moore who attends Chestermere High School, in which people sang along underneath their breath.
With that, Wolf took the stage and thanked the members of his team, and discussed the future of surrounding development with the new Walmart acting as a catalyst for progress. Walmart Canada said that the new supercenter will employ around 180 people.
At the ceremony, Wolf presented cheques worth $2,000.00 to representatives of the Children’s Miracle Network, The Breakfast Club of Canada, The Calgary Interfaith Food Bank, and Chestermere High School. These funds were raised by Walmart associates over the past few weeks through the Walmart Home Office matching grant program.
An amount of $250.00 was rewarded to Calgary East Little League, and the East Hills Medical Centre donated $1,000.00 to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Instead of a McDonalds at the location, Andrew Marriott was there on opening day for the Tim Horton’s that will be featured in the Supercentre instead. It is fully functioning and will be able to offer whatever customers may need while on their way in or out.
People were allowed into the building to start shopping and be the location’s first customers at around eight in the morning.
Sunday is usually a busy shopping day for families buying groceries for school or for the week in general, and it was no exception at the new Walmart. The store was packed with people finding the best deals and filling their shopping carts to the brim. ”There were a few hiccups along the way,” says Wolf, “but what matters is we are here now.”
