Canadian Retail Industry Honours Giant Tiger Chairman and CEO Gordon Reid
with Lifetime Achievement Award

TORONTO, May 4 /CNW/ - Retail Council of Canada (RCC) today announces Gordon Reid, Chairman and CEO of Giant Tiger Stores Limited, as the recipient of the 2010 Retail Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented to Mr. Reid at RCC's Gala dinner on May 31 as part of the association's national STORE conference in Toronto.

Mr. Reid was selected for the award by a distinguished panel of retail executives, as well as representatives from the financial, academic and consulting communities.

"Gordon is a man of vision who has forged a company with a family-based culture," says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada. "His honesty, integrity and common sense approach to business has gained the respect of his employees, suppliers and other leaders in the business community. He is a remarkable Canadian success."

Mr. Reid founded Giant Tiger in 1961 and began franchising in 1968. The company now boasts over $1 billion in annual sales from 193 franchised stores that employ more than 7,000 associates across Canada. Under Mr. Reid's leadership, Giant Tiger has also become a community-minded organization that donates more the $2 million annually to more than 700 local associations from coast-to-coast.

The Retail Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes retailers who dedicate their lives to the betterment of retail in Canada. Nominees have no less than 25 years of consecutive service at an executive position in the retail sector.

Mr. Reid joins a notable list of past winners, including Réjean Dionne, President of ALDO Groupe (2009),Walter Hachborn, Home Hardware Stores Ltd. (2007); Herschel Segal, Le Chateau Inc. (2006); Richard J. Currie, Loblaw Companies. Ltd. (2005); Thomas J. Bata and Sonja I. Bata of Bata Shoe Organization (2003); and Harry Rosen of Harry Rosen Inc. (2001).

For more information about STORE 2010 - Canada's Retail Conference, visit: www.storeconference.ca.

About Retail Council of Canada

Retail Council of Canada (RCC) has been the Voice of Retail in Canada since 1963. We speak for an industry that touches the daily lives of Canadians in every corner of the country - by providing jobs, career opportunities, and by investing in the communities we serve.

RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association representing more than 40,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada, including department, specialty, discount, and independent stores, and online merchants.

RCC is a strong advocate for retailing in Canada and works with all levels of government and other stakeholders to support employment growth and career opportunities in retail, to promote and sustain retail investments in communities from coast-to-coast, and to enhance consumer choice and industry competitiveness. RCC also provides its members with a full range of services and programs including education and training, benchmarking and best practices, networking, advocacy, and industry information.

Media are invited to attend STORE 2010.

For further information: or to RSVP, contact Mark Beazley, Director, Communications, at [email protected]