Daily Synopsis: November 2, 2026

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Welcome to the Daily Synopsis by Retail Insider. We hope you enjoy the 14 articles we published covering key developments in Canadian retail. Here are a couple highlights with a full list of the day’s articles thereafter.

Cadillac Fairview is redeveloping the former Nordstrom space at CF Sherway Gardens by introducing three new tenants: Quebec-based specialty retailer Imaginaire, off-price retailer WINNERS, and entertainment venue Splitsville Bowl, collectively occupying about 100,000 square feet with openings slated for fall 2027. Primaris REIT has secured replacement leases for six former Toys “R” Us stores across Canada, totaling about 145,000 square feet, with new tenants expected to take possession throughout 2027. Urban Barn has expanded its Canadian footprint by opening its first store in New Brunswick, located in Moncton’s Mapleton Centre.

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust reported 5.1% growth in third-quarter Core FFO per unit and raised its 2026 earnings outlook after achieving record retail occupancy of 98.9%, demonstrating strong tenant demand and rental growth. Meanwhile, Walmart launched its Sparky AI shopping assistant in Canada, enabling customers to use conversational queries on Walmart.ca and its app, a tool credited with increasing average order sizes by 35% in the U.S. These developments reflect growing confidence in retail real estate performance alongside AI technology adoption improving customer interaction.

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