New TOTEM store opens in Edmonton Ellerslie

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TOTEM Building Supplies is pleased to announce the opening of a new store in Edmonton Ellerslie. Located at 1003 Parsons Road SW (corner of Ellerslie Road), the new 52,000-square-feet location represents an investment of close to $20 million in the community and will provide more than 50 new local jobs. The store is also the banner's second to apply for LEED certification, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design assessment system for new building construction.

"RONA is proud to be expanding our network in the Alberta market with the opening of this new TOTEM store here in Edmonton Ellerslie," said RONA President and CEO Robert Dutton. "TOTEM has built its reputation based on outstanding customer service, the quality of the building materials it sells, as well as its pre-planned packages. As a truly Canadian corporation, RONA believes in the strength of Canadian business. That is why we are very proud to have TOTEM as part of our network and we are delighted to see it grow within RONA."

"We are happy to open our 19th TOTEM location in Alberta, the sixth in the Edmonton area, and to demonstrate our commitment to better serving our growing customer base. The store is part of the new generation of TOTEMs, with all the advantages that make the banner so popular – the excellent customer service, the highest quality of lumber stocked in Alberta and a wide variety of products in every product category – all bundled into an efficient new shopping environment that our customers enjoy," said TOTEM Vice President and General Manager Dave Carr.

"Our team is excited about serving the Ellerslie area. Our qualified personnel are devoted to serving customers and contractors in their construction and home improvement projects by providing a full range of products and personalized services. Our goal is to offer an exceptional service to local customers," said Dave Hunter, store manager. "We are also very proud to partner with the RONA Foundation to make a donation to the ManCap Foundation, as part of our official opening events."

Everything under one roof
The new 52,000-square-feet building boasts 33,000-square-feet of retail space and a 2-acre drive-through lumberyard as well as dedicated entrance and service areas for contractors.
Each TOTEM retail store carries nearly 14,000 products, including hardware and tools, plumbing and electrical, paint and flooring, kitchen and bath as well as their popular pre-planned packages. Lumber continues to be the core; TOTEM carries a large selection of quality lumber and plywood.
TOTEM's commitment to service, competitive price, and quality has earned the 41-year-old corporation a loyal and growing consumer following. While the corporation has grown, it has not outgrown its approach to knowledgeable, friendly service. It has two training facilities, called 'TOTEM University,' where employees learn about store products and the latest in construction techniques. Varied, in-depth courses ensure that employees are well versed in all areas of the store. Customers can feel confident that all 1,100 employees province-wide have the skills to assist and advise them on all of their TOTEM purchases.

Seeking LEED certification
The Ellerslie TOTEM store was built following the LEED criteria for new buildings and expects to receive that certification. This is the second TOTEM store to apply for LEED certification.
"By reducing the environmental footprint of our new stores, we are keeping TOTEM's impact on the environment to a minimum. The store also offers the residents of the Ellerslie area a building materials and hardware outlet that respects the environment as much as they do," Carr added.
The evaluation criteria include measures to protect air quality, such as using low-emission materials in the construction (paint, adhesives and waterproofing materials), as well as steps to reduce energy consumption, such as an energy-efficient roofing system, additional insulation in the building envelope, T-5 fluorescent lighting, automated controls to adjust the lighting, air conditioning and heating throughout the day, and low-flow sanitation equipment. Moreover, lumber from certified forests and locally manufactured materials have been used to build the stores and bike racks, and changing rooms and showers have been installed to encourage employees to cycle or walk to work.

TOTEM and RONA Foundation donation
During the grand opening ceremony, RONA President and CEO, Robert Dutton, and the store manager Dave Hunter were joined by a number of dignitaries as well as other members of the TOTEM and RONA senior management, employees of the store and, of course, many TOTEM customers.
At the event, the RONA Foundation presented a $2,500 donation to Edmonton's ManCap Foundation, which provides grants in the name of Alberta entrepreneurs to high school students entering a post-secondary institution, in preparation for starting a business.
The contribution was made to celebrate the opening of the new Ellerslie store and to reflect RONA Foundation's efforts to help build better communities. The RONA Foundation was created in 1998 to help young people aged 12 to 30 by supporting local organizations and projects that fight school drop-out and illiteracy or offer training to prepare young people for a trade or occupation.
Grand opening events continued to Sunday, March 20. They included a variety of product specials, how-to demonstrations, giveaways and a free draw for the grand prize Dodge Ram pickup truck. As well, the store will carry on the TOTEM tradition of offering free bags of popcorn to customers all year round.

About RONA
Since 2005, TOTEM Building Supplies has been a regional banner of RONA in Alberta, and operates 17 retail stores and two contractors' yards.
RONA is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and gardening products. RONA operates a network of more than 950 corporate, franchise and affiliate stores of various sizes and formats. With close to 30,000 employees working under its family of banners in every region of Canada and more than 17 million square feet of retail space, the RONA store network generates over $6 billion in annual retail sales. For more information, please visit www.rona.ca.