*Rendering: CF Toronto Eaton Centre, via Nordstrom*

It's less than a month until Nordstrom enters the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with the first of three confirmed store locations. In anticipation of the opening of its first location at CF Toronto Eaton Centre on Friday, September 16, Nordstrom is hosting a number of initiatives, including an event where attendees can see the Eaton Centre flagship a full week before it officially opens to the public.

This week, Nordstrom launched the 'Nordstrom Traveling Jamvan', with timing and locations changing each week. The van features live video on the exterior, a photobooth GIF experience, and local artist Diana Lynn VanderMeulen on site customizing complimentary tote bags. It will be driving throughout the city during the week and will be parked at large-scale, community events on weekends between August 13 and October 1. Follow @NordstromEaton and @NordstromYKD on Twitter, as Nordstrom will be live tweeting on location each weekend.

CF Toronto Eaton Centre Opening Events:

On Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10 between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm, Nordstrom will be hosting its 'Nordstrom BFF (Beauty + Fragrance + Friends)' event. Attendees will get to see the 220,000 square foot CF Toronto Eaton Centre Nordstrom flagship a full week before the store's September 16 grand opening. Makeup artists will be on hand, and attendees can take a master class and explore some of the special services the beauty department has to offer, experiencing beauty brands including Dior, Fresh, MAC, Charlotte Tilbury, Estee Lauder, NARS, Trish McEvoy, La Mer and Jo Malone. To schedule an appointment, sign up for a class or for more information, you may call 1 (800) 967-0592.

For those athletically-inclined, Nordstrom is hosting its 'Camp Nordstrom' on Saturday, September 10 at Sherbourne Common at 61 Dockside Drive. A 45-minute Nordstrom boot camp class will be hosted by local fitness influencer Sasha Exeter and instructor Mackenzie White. The workout will be both fun and challenging, complete with onsite DJ and dance crew, DLM Entertainment. After the class, you can enjoy refreshments and hop into Nordstrom's mobile social photo booth. There are two classes: Registration is at 9:00 am and 12:00 pm on September 10, with classes being held at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm that day. The first 50 people to arrive at each class will receive a Nordstrom tote with workout necessities, including a complimentary pair of Nordstrom exclusive Zella leggings (one per customer; while supplies last).

On Wednesday, September 14, Nordstrom will be hosting its CF Toronto Eaton Centre opening charity gala between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm (we'll be there). The evening will include fashion, shopping, cocktails, gourmet fare and live entertainment. Attendees will see the latest collections from the top designers live during two tented runway shows in Dundas Square at 8 and 9 p.m. Celebrity DJ Jazzy Jeff, along with local DJ Grand Theft, will be spinning tunes, and there will be performances by local supergroup Dwayne Gretzky, featuring members of July Talk, Born Ruffians and more of Toronto’s top bands. Canadian designers, Wing Yau of celebrity-favourite jewelry line WWAKE and 19-year-old fashion wunderkind (and LVMH prize finalist), Vejas Kruszewski, will make special appearances. There will also be a champagne bar, and you may create a shareable GIF in Nordstrom's social photo booth. Tickets are $150 per person and 100% of tickets proceeds will benefit Covenant House Toronto, Humber River Hospital Foundation, Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), SickKids Foundation, St. Michael’s Foundation and Women’s College Hospital Foundation. Complimentary valet parking will be provided. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit nordstromrsvp.com/Toronto.

On Friday, September 16, between 7:00 am to 10:00 am (prior to the store's official public grand opening at 10:00 am) Nordstrom will be hosting its Opening Day Beauty Bash where you’ll get the inside scoop on new products from the top names in beauty, learn the latest tips and enjoy free consultations. Plus, the first 2,000 customers to sign up for a beauty consultation will receive an exclusive Nordstrom Beauty Bash tote (one per customer; while supplies last). Nordstrom is proud to partner with Rethink Breast Cancer on this event and to support their work on behalf of young people affected with a $5,000 donation.

*Yorkdale store rendering via Nordstrom*

Nordstrom Yorkdale Shopping Centre Opening Events

Nordstrom's 196,000 square foot Yorkdale Shopping Centre store officially opens to the public on Friday, October 21, and the retailer will be hosting some pre-opening events as with the CF Toronto Eaton Centre flagship, as mentioned above.

On Friday, October 14 & Saturday, October 15, Nordstrom will be hosting its Yorkdale 'BFF (Beauty + Fragrance + Friends)' event between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm. Attendees will get to see Yorkdale's Nordstrom location a full week before the store opens to the general public. At the beauty and fragrance event, you can get your makeup done by an artist, take a master class and explore some of the special services the beauty department has to offer. To schedule an appointment, sign up for a class or for more information, you may call 1 (800) 967-0592.

On Wednesday, October 19 between 7:00pm and 10:00 pm, Nordstrom is hosting its Yorkdale opening gala (we'll also be at this event). The gala happens in-store and will feature celebrity DJs Russell Peters, Hannah Bronfman and Brendan Fallis as well as DJs, DJ JazzyJeff and Sophie Jones. Attendees will also be treated to cocktails, gourmet bites, desserts, shopping and a performance by Sean Jones. There will be an immersive in-store fashion show highlighting resort collections from top designers. Canadian designers Aurora James of Brother Vellies and Steven Tai, representing his eponymous line of progressive, luxe sportswear, will also make special appearances. Attendees may also test the latest mixology trends at the store's drinks lab, or create a mini video GIF in a 360° photo booth. Tickets are $150 per person and 100% of tickets proceeds will benefit Covenant House Toronto, Humber River Hospital Foundation, Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), SickKids Foundation, St. Michael’s Foundation and Women’s College Hospital Foundation. Complimentary valet parking will be provided. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit nordstromrsvp.com/Toronto.

Immediately prior to the 10:00 am public grand opening on Friday, October 21, Nordstrom is hosting an opening Beauty Bash between 8:00 am and 10:00 am. Attendees will get the inside scoop on new products from the top names in beauty, learn the latest tips and enjoy free consultations. The first 2,000 customers to sign up for a beauty consultation will receive an exclusive Nordstrom Beauty Bash tote (one per customer; while supplies last). Nordstrom is proud to partner with Rethink Breast Cancer on this event and to support their work on behalf of young people affected with a $5,000 donation.

It's going to be an exciting autumn for Toronto Nordstrom fans. That will continue in the fall of 2017, when Nordstrom opens its third Toronto store at CF Sherway Gardens, measuring about 138,000 square feet.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: August 17, 2016