Canadian Tire becomes first Canadian retailer and largest Canadian employer to use Facebook at Work; Company harnesses power of social media to connect employees at all levels

TORONTO, Feb. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC, TSX:CTC.a) announced today the adoption of Facebook at Work, an innovative platform designed to fundamentally change the way employees communicate inside one of Canada's largest companies.

Canadian Tire is the largest company in Canada to adopt Facebook at Work, creating a digital workplace that will give the Corporation's employees across the company a new range of ways to communicate, interact and collaborate. Once fully rolled out, Canadian Tire will be the second largest organization globally to use the software as an internal communications platform for its more than 85,000 employees.

"Canadian Tire's goal is to be the most innovative retailer in the world, and to achieve that goal, we needed a fresh and relevant communications platform to inspire the highest levels of collaboration and interaction," said Michael Medline, President and CEO, Canadian Tire Corporation. "This new platform is a game-changer and we're making it our new foundational hub for internal communications. In the first two weeks of deployment, we have already seen a dramatic change in how our corporate employees communicate with each other at all levels with thousands of employees registered and hundreds of active groups."

A number of the Corporation's retail banners – including Canadian Tire, Sport Chek and Mark's – are already using Facebook at Work to inspire innovation and drive new ideas that will delight Canadian consumers. Designed as a mobile-first platform, Facebook at Work enables employees to check in on news and collaborate from the office or while on the go.

Facebook at Work is a business version of Facebook that allows companies to harness the functionality of the world's most popular social network including posting, sharing, commenting, images, messenger, video and video chat. Totally separate from a consumer Facebook profile, data shared on Facebook at Work is secured within the company's network. Facebook at Work is designed to build more productive, efficient and collaborative workplaces, across geographies, time zones, languages and organizational structures. It is easy-to-use, secure and available on desktop and mobile devices.

"Facebook at Work is the future of workplace communication," said Jordan Banks, Managing Director, Facebook Canada. "The platform will break down barriers by connecting teams across the country to increase agility and decision making. As people shift to mobile, Facebook at Work is a logical next step for any organization that wants to reach employees where they are."

Facebook at Work is a key element in Canadian Tire's investment in the changing needs of its employees. Recently named as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People, the company is taking steps to enhance communication using a platform many of that generation are already familiar with and embrace.

About Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC, TSX:CTC.a) or "CTC," is a family of businesses that includes a retail segment, a financial services division and CT REIT. Our retail business is led by Canadian Tire, which was founded in 1922 and provides Canadians with products for life in Canada across its Living, Playing, Fixing, Automotive and Seasonal categories. PartSource and Gas+ are key parts of the Canadian Tire network. The retail segment also includes Mark's, a leading source for casual and industrial wear, and FGL Sports (Sport Chek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, National Sports, Intersport, Pro Hockey Life and Atmosphere), which offers the best active wear brands. The 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division and the tens of thousands of people employed across the Company. For more information, visit Corp.CanadianTire.ca.

SOURCE CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED