TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - The Holiday season is fast approaching and for military personnel and their family members coast-to-coast and on missions abroad, it also marks the annual Sears Military Family Discount Program being held this year on December 4, 2016.

This special military discount offers active and retired military personnel, reservists and family members a discount of 15% off most items sold at Sears and is part of the 11th annual Sears Operation Wish initiative that pays tribute to, and honours, our Canadian military, both at home and abroad, and their family members. 

"Sears Operation Wish is a cherished initiative among all of us at Sears Canada," said Becky Penrice, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, and President, Sears Canada Charitable Foundation.  "From its inception in 2006, we have held true to its purpose of honouring and recognizing the often selfless contribution military personnel and their families make to our communities and our country. The annual discount shopping day is just one way for us to show our appreciation at this time of year."

The Sears Operation Wish program will be making wishes come true for youth centre kids at the Winnipeg Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC).  "We asked the Military Family Resource Centre in Winnipeg to send us a wish list of items they would like to receive to help them refurbish and enrich programming offered by their youth centre," added Ms. Penrice.  "We are fulfilling this list and will be making a surprise delivery on Thursday, December 1st.  This initiative compliments our 'Everything Under the Tree' national campaign as we look to bring Canadian families closer together during the Holiday season." 

The family discount shopping day program is a one-day, 24-hour Holiday shop based on Eastern Standard Time from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 4, 2016.  No orders are accepted either before or after this Eastern Standard Time.  This special offer is available through a host of channels:  Sears Department stores, Sears Home stores, Sears Hometown stores, all current Sears catalogues and on www.sears.ca  and provides a 15% savings on apparel, fashion accessories, home and leisure products (Home Electronic products are excluded in this offer).  This offer is on top of non-exclusionary items already on sale.

In addition Sears Canada is donating $10,000 to help support local Military Family Resource Centres' local youth oriented programs along with a percentage of funds raised through sales of its special, limited edition plush bear, Owen. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of Owen are donated to the Sears Canada Charitable Foundation which will donate a percentage of those proceeds to local MFRCs on an equal basis. 

Since its inception, the Sears Operation Wish program has donated more than $180,000 to support both national and local military family youth programs.

About Sears Canada:

Sears Canada is a multi-channel retailer with a network that includes 145 corporate stores, 76 Hometown stores, over 1,000 catalogue and online merchandise pick-up locations, 80 Sears Travel offices and a nationwide repair and service network.  Sears Canada is the #1 retailer of major appliances in Canada with all top ten brands.  The Company also publishes Canada's most extensive general merchandise catalogue and offers shopping online at www.sears.ca

SOURCE Sears Canada Inc.