SEARS CANADA INC - Cited For Safe Workplace Program

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--

Story Filed: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 11:00 PM EST

Toronto, Ontario, Apr 03, 2001 (Market News Publishing via COMTEX) -- Sears

Canada Inc. has won the praise of its peers in the retailing industry for the

company's ongoing efforts to ensure a safer workplace. Sears Canada's

accomplishments were honoured tonight at Retail Council of Canada's third

annual Resources Protection Recognition Awards, which honour outstanding

crime prevention achievements and contributions at the retail level. Awards

were also presented to Sgt. Andrew Lavery and Ontario's Peel Regional Police

Services, and to Video Solutions Inc., a supplier of security services.

Retailer Award: Sears Canada's resources protection and human resources

departments were cited for researching, designing and implementing a

violence- in-the-workplace prevention and response program. Store management

has been trained to recognize signs of potential violence and how to properly

respond and prevent situations from escalating. Sears has also developed an

extensive Confrontational Management Program to help its team of more than

700 investigators deal with the over 17,000 situations each year that have

the potential for violence.

Police Award: Sgt. Lavery and the Peel Regional Police Services (11 Division)

were honoured for their work to curb professional and organized gangs. Last

year, Sgt. Lavery and his team investigated and arrested a group of

individuals responsible for the theft of merchandise worth hundreds of

thousands of dollars from 42 retailers across Ontario for the purpose of re-

selling and shipping to Vietnam and Vancouver.

Supplier of the Year Award: Richmond Hill, Ontario-based Video Solutions Inc.

(VSI) was cited for its Evidence Retrieval Program, which aims to improve the

quality of print images captured from videotapes, and to shorten the time it

takes for police to receive the prints. VSI has modified a Chrysler PT

Cruiser to include a fully functioning replay centre providing video prints

and tape dubs. When a robbery occurs, VSI can be at the scene within minutes

to make prints that can be distributed to police and the media with minimum

delay. The service is offered free of charge in the Greater Toronto Area.

Retail Council of Canada ( www.retailcouncil.org) is the voice of retail in

Canada. RCC is a not-for-profit industry association representing more than

8,500 retailers of all store sizes and formats across the country.

Collectively, RCC's members account for more than two-thirds of all general-

merchandise retail sales in Canada.