Goodwill closes Ontario stores citing ‘cash flow crisis’

TORONTO – Goodwill Industries announced Sunday that it will close more than a dozen stores across Ontario, throwing over 400 employees out of work.

Goodwill abruptly shut 18 stores Sunday as workers in Belleville, Brockville, Orillia and the Toronto area came to work to find locked gates and hand-lettered signs saying the stores were shuttered “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

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Lawyer Dennis Ellickson, who represents the store employee union, said he learned of one closure Saturday night, but was not told of the reason why.

On Sunday, Goodwill released a statement saying it will close operations in several cities.

“Due to a number of factors affecting the retail environment, Goodwill is facing a cash flow crisis. As a result, 16 stores, 10 donation centres and 2 offices in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Newmarket, Barrie, Orillia and Brockville are closed effective today.”

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More than 430 employees will be affected by the closure, it said.

The statement added that the move is restricted to those cities, and does not impact operations elsewhere in Canada or the U.S.