Microsoft Canada opened its third retail store in Canada last week, on the West Coast in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, BC. It joins stores in Toronto and Edmonton, and a 4th location has been announced for Mississauga, Ont.
All images courtesy Microsoft Canada
New Microsoft Canada president Janet Kennedy shows off her Canadian spirit during the opening ceremonies. Microsoft says seven new locations will be announced soon, but many/most could be holiday season pop-up kiosks.
With each Microsoft store opening, Microsoft Canada has donated hardware and software to support local charities, including this donation worth $250,000 to the United Way of the Lower Mainland.
Making a donation of hardware and software worth $125,000 to Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver are, from left, Microsoft North America president Judson Althoff and Microsoft Canada president Janet Kennedy.
A donation worth $100,000 was also made by Microsoft to the YMCA of Greater Vancouver.
While waiting for the curtain to rise (or fall, actually) on Microsoft’s Burnaby store, Xbox Kinect had them dancing in the halls.
Some product giveaways also generated some excitement from the waiting crowd — here, Microsoft store employees tempt the crowd with an Xbox 360.
Microsoft store employees pumped up the crowd as the curtain on the Burnaby location came down, opening the doors on the first West Coast store, and the third in Canada.
With the curtain down, the crowd quickly rushed in to check out the latest hardware and software offerings from Microsoft and its OEM partners, including the new Surface 2 tablet.
And the prize giveaways weren’t over. Several lucky attendees also went home with guitars signed by Kelly Clarkson, who headlined a concert that evening to mark the store opening.
Recording idol and American Idol Kelly Clarkson finished off the day’s festivities with a Microsoft-sponsored conference down the road at Burnaby’s Swanguard Stadium.
