ST. JACOBS, ON, Feb. 26 /CNW/ - Paul Straus, Vice President and CEO of
Home Hardware Stores Limited and Rob Shields, Vice President of Partnerships,
Aeroplan (TSX: AER.UN), today, officially launched a dynamic new partnership
between Home Hardware, Canada's largest independent home improvement retailer
and Aeroplan, the country's premier loyalty marketing company. Mr. Straus and
Mr. Shields marked the partnership launch, held at Canada's first Home
Hardware location in St. Jacobs, Ontario, by completing the first transaction
to earn Aeroplan Miles while shopping at Home Hardware.
    The exclusive multi-year partnership allows Aeroplan members to earn one
Aeroplan Mile for every $2 spent at the more than 1,000 Home Hardware, Home
Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture stores
across Canada. Additionally, Aeroplan members can redeem Aeroplan Miles for
Home Hardware Gift Cards.
    "To launch this important partnership with Aeroplan at the site of our
first Home Hardware Store speaks to how far our company has come since our
inception in 1964, and how far we will continue to go, as we build on our
ongoing commitment to bring value to our customers shopping experience," said
Paul Straus, Vice President and CEO, Home Hardware Stores Limited. "Our
customers have access to more than 100,000 quality products and services to
help with all of their needs from decorating to renovating and we're excited
that this new partnership with Aeroplan will provide yet another great reason
to shop at Home Hardware."
    "With Home Hardware store locations in more than 1,000 communities across
Canada, staying active with Aeroplan is even easier with yet another shopping
destination where members can earn valuable Aeroplan Miles on everyday
products and services," said Rob Shields, Vice President, Partnerships,
Aeroplan. "Our partnership with Home Hardware, an outstanding Canadian
national retailer, capitalizes on the growth trends in the home improvement
category and caters to those consumers who want an extra benefit for their
home improvement spending."
    Home Hardware also marked the launch of the partnership with a one
million mile donation to Kids' Horizons, a partner in Aeroplan's Beyond Miles
program. Kids' Horizons supports paediatric hospitals across the country
including SickKids Foundation, one of Home Hardware's three national
charities. One million miles represents up to 66 flights for children in need
of care, and their families.

    About Home Hardware

    Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada's largest independent hardware,
lumber and building materials and furniture retailer with more than 1,000
stores across Canada, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home
Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners. Dealers have access to
100,000 quality brand name and private label products and the company has
annual retail sales of $4.6 billion. The cooperative was founded on January 1,
1964 by 128 independent hardware Dealers.

    About Aeroplan

    Aeroplan is Canada's premier loyalty marketing company, dedicated to
developing and executing programs designed to engage the loyalty of its
prestigious membership.
    Aeroplan's millions of members earn Aeroplan Miles with its network of
more than 60 world-class partners, representing more than 100 brands in the
financial, retail and travel sectors.
    Miles earned may be redeemed for Aeroplan's industry-leading
ClassicFlight Rewards, innovative ClassicPlus Flight Rewards and global Star
Alliance Flight Rewards, offering travel to more than 850 destinations
worldwide. In 2006 alone, more than 1.4 million round-trip flight rewards were
issued. Aeroplan's roster of non-flight rewards includes more than 400
exciting specialty, merchandise and experiential rewards, as well as hotel and
car rental rewards.
    For more information about Aeroplan, please visit www.aeroplan.com.

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