We're honoured to be taking part in this year's Retail Week, hosted by the University of Alberta School of Retailing in Edmonton. The event takes place between October 4 and October 10, and will will include networking, recruiting and celebratory activities for students and the retail industry.

Alberta is becoming a hot spot for international retailers looking to expand into Canada. Benefitting from Canada's strongest economy, Alberta has seen record-setting retail sales growth from a burgeoning young population with a remarkably high disposable income and low unemployment rate.

Alberta is home to Canada's first Nordstrom store, opening next week (Friday, September 19) at Calgary's Chinook Centre. North America's's largest mall, West Edmonton Mall, is undergoing changes and we're told that several new upscale retailers will join its tenant mix. Improvements are being made in both downtown Calgary and Edmonton, including new retail, office and residential projects.

University of Alberta School of Retailing is at the forefront of retail trends, preparing Canada's brightest retail industry-focused students for careers in the industry. We'll periodically report on what's happening with the School of Retailing, including updates on its spectacular new office which is scheduled to open this November at the university's HUB Mall.

Tomorrow we'll discuss the School of retailing's contest, Nominate Your Manager, where retail store staff may nominate their manager for an award. The winning manager wins a trip for two to Mexico, and the winning store staff wins $500 for submitting the nomination.