Communities are the big winner with National Convenience Store Day

The second annual national event grows with proceeds going to Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

TORONTO, Aug. 29, 2018 /CNW/ - "C-Store Day is an opportunity for community leaders to have fun and volunteer at their local convenience store to greet customers, pump gas, learn a little about the retail business, and assist in raising funds for Children's Wish," says Satinder Chera, president of the Canadian Convenience Stores Association. "It's our way of recognizing our customers and the contributions that convenience store managers and employees make in their communities."

Chera says that participating stores really get into the spirit of the event with staff dressing up and organizing giveaways like balloons, cake and barbequed hot dogs and hamburgers. And suppliers are getting more and more involved with specials as well. Both Ontario Lottery, and Atlantic Lottery, are offering promotions on Lotto649 tickets at participating c-stores.

According to Chera, more and more community groups want to be part of the C-Store Day fundraising effort. One example he gave is in Hamilton, Ontario where eight former players with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football club and members of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Alumni Association will be participating.

Rea Ganesh, National Director of Development at the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, is holding her breath in anticipation of C-Store Day 2018: "We were amazed and immensely grateful when C-Store Day last year raised $82,000 for our cause. And that was with 150 or so stores, participating, so who knows what's possible this year with hundreds of more stores participating. Many Canadian children with a life-threatening illness who will benefit from this event with wishes we can fulfill."

Convenience retailer On the Run/Marché Express returns in 2018 as the lead national sponsor for C-Store Day. Other retail and supplier sponsors include Couche-Tard/Circle K, MacEwen Petroleum, Needs Convenience, North Atlantic Petroleum, Husky, Gateway Newstands, Go! Store at Wilsons Gas Stops and Esso outlets, and Parmalat.

"On the Run and Marché Express is pleased to once again take the lead sponsorship role with C-Store Day," says Eli Mail, director of Merchandising at Parkland Fuel Corporation. "Our roots are in the communities we serve across Canada, we have huge respect for the work that our managers and employees do in their communities, and Children's Wish is a very worthy cause to be associated with."

The names and locations of all participating retail stores can be found online at cstoreday.ca. 

About the Canadian Convenience Stores Association

The CCSA is a national, not-for-profit and non-partisan association that works with its affiliated partners - National Convenience Stores Distributors Association, Ontario Convenience Stores Association, Atlantic Convenience Stores Association, Quebec Convenience Stores Association, and the Western Convenience Stores Association - to represent the interests of Canada's 27,000 convenience retailers.

SOURCE Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA)