With Doug Ford attending, Walmart Canada breaks ground for huge distribution centre in Vaughan

The new centre is slated to open in 2024

Yorkregion.com
August 13, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb

A construction jobs boom is expected in Vaughan. It's tied to the Aug. 12 groundbreaking for a huge Walmart Canada distribution centre in the city.

The “state-of-the-art” 550,000 square foot distribution centre is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs in Vaughan and is slated to open in 2024.

The Walmart centre will handle ambient general merchandise and food products.

The ceremony comes after Walmart Canada announced in July that it's investing up to $3.5 billion over the course of five years in "smarter stores."

Condor Properties was behind hosting the official groundbreaking ceremony at 11110 Jane St. where the new centre will be located. Condor Properties is a privately owned Vaughan-based real estate development company related to the Condrain Group of companies.

Premier Doug Ford attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

“As our province charts a path to recovery, we welcome significant investments like the one Walmart is making in Vaughan, which will create more jobs, get more people back to work, and help our economy recover and grow again,” Ford said.

He added, “I want to thank companies like Walmart who are doing their part to keep their doors open, their shelves stocked and their employees and customers safe during these unprecedented times,” said Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario.”

An artist's rendering shows what Walmart Canada’s 550,000 square-foot distribution centre on Jane Street will look like. Steve Somerville/Torstar

Mayor: 'Important' investment

Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said this investment is considered “important” and will “bring innovation and jobs to our growing community.”

With Condor Properties continuing to “play a significant and meaningful role in the development of our city,” Bevilacqua add, “Despite the universal challenges presented by COVID-19, Vaughan's local economy remains competitive, strong and resilient.”

Horacio Barbeito, President and CEO, Walmart Canada said in spite of “these challenge times for everyone,” his company is “investing for growth because we believe in Ontario and Canada’s future and are proud to do business in this great country.”

Angelo De Gasperis, Founder and Principal, Condor Properties, dubbed the project as a “big undertaking.”

“We are excited about the opportunities this distribution centre will bring to the community and we wish to acknowledge the efforts of the City of Vaughan, the Regional Municipality of York and the Province of Ontario for their support in making our shared vision a reality.”

The mammoth Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide, serving more than 1.5 million customers each day.

In September, Ikea’s fourth customer distribution centre in Canada also landed in Vaughan, specifically Kleinburg.

The new 550,000-square-foot customer distribution centre in Kleinburg is an addition to centres in the Vancouver area, as well as Montreal and Toronto.

Vaughan has the lion’s share of York Region’s manufacturing jobs -- in 2019 there were 48,100 jobs in this sector, or 58 per cent of the 82,500 manufacturing jobs in the region.

Its proximity to Pearson Airport and major highways makes Vaughan an ideal location for large distribution centres and warehouses.