Grand & Toy® Partners with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to Support National Conservation Efforts

Natural Partner Legacy Aligns to Grand & Toy's Commitment to Sustainability

TORONTO, June 23, 2016 /CNW/ - Grand & Toy, an affiliate of global office products provider Office Depot, Inc., today announced a three-year partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). NCC is Canada's leading national land conservation organization whose mission is to lead, innovate and use creativity in the conservation of Canada's natural heritage.

This agreement includes a financial commitment to support NCC's conservation efforts, as well as employee volunteer opportunities across Canada. Grand & Toy's support will help NCC's work preserving this country's ecologically important landscapes and the plants and wildlife they sustain.

"The Nature Conservancy of Canada partnership is just one example of our ongoing commitment to corporate citizenship," said Serguei Tchertok, Sustainability Manager at Grand & Toy. "Our associates identified the environment as a top priority for our community involvement efforts, and the NCC is a perfect fit for our organization. It aligns to our core business, provides associate engagement opportunities and offers meaningful work for our 1,000 employees across Canada."

A group of Grand & Toy employees kicked off the NCC partnership by participating in the Not(tawasaga) Your Average Tree Planting event, held over two days (May 26 and May 28), by planting nearly 1,600 maple, birch and other native trees in the Minesing Wetlands. Grand & Toy volunteers worked to plant two acres of deciduous swamp forest, which will help to stabilize and shade the Nottawasaga River and improve wildlife habitat.

"We are very grateful for our partners and donors, who share our passion and vision for protecting our natural spaces, and especially thankful to Grand & Toy's employees for lending a hand, and helping NCC take care of our important natural areas," said Erica Thompson, NCC's Senior National Director, Conservation Engagement & Development. "Volunteers play an important role in taking care of the habitats that NCC protects. Our volunteer events take place right on NCC properties, and are a great way to explore the natural habitats in your community, learn more about conservation, and reconnect with nature."

In 2015, Grand & Toy launched an employee volunteer program called Pause and Affect where every associate is given eight hours each year for volunteer activities. Participation in NCC events will not count towards the eight-hour limit, enabling staff to be more involved in helping care for special natural areas.

For more information about Grand & Toy's commitment to Corporate Citizenship, visit: grandandtoy.com/citizenship.

About Grand & Toy

With a heritage that dates back to 1882, today's Grand & Toy is committed to offering sustainable solutions to Canadian businesses in the areas of interiors, technology, print, office and facility supplies. We are one of the largest B2B office products and services providers, operating one of the country's biggest distribution networks serving customers coast-to-coast via our direct sales force and e-commerce platform. Grand & Toy also demonstrates a firm commitment to corporate social responsibility through a comprehensive sustainability strategy that is manifested through numerous internal and external environmental and social outreach programs. For more information, visit grandandtoy.com.

About the Nature Conservancy of Canada

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the nation's leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962 NCC and its partners have helped to protect 2.8 million acres (more than 1.1 million hectares), coast to coast. To learn more visit natureconservancy.ca.

SOURCE Grand & Toy

Media Contacts: Jenny Maycock, Environics Communications, Inc., [email protected], 1-416-969-2718; Andrew Holland, National Media Relations Director, Nature Conservancy of Canada, [email protected], 1-877-231-4400