Target Canada readies to open 21 more stores in Ontario

Brian Beeksma pushes a cart of goods as employees work on preparing the new Target store in Guelph, Ontario. (Dave Chidley / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Target's expansion into Canada is continuing in big way over the next two weeks as the American retailer opens 21 new stores in Ontario.

On Tuesday, Target is opening 17 stores in various communities across the province, while four more will be opened on March 28, adding to the three pilot stores launched earlier in Guelph, Milton and Fergus, Ont.

Overall, Target plans to open 124 stores across Canada throughout 2013.

"The soft openings follow the launch of three pilot stores and will allow Target to continue to engage in volume testing to ensure stores are prepared to deliver the true Target brand experience to guests ahead of grand opening in early April," the company said in a release.

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) operates almost 1,800 stories in the United States in addition to its new Canadian stores, many of which are at being set up at locations formerly occupied by Zellers stores.

Locations opening to the public on March 19 include:

Ajax - Durham Centre

Aurora - Aurora Shopping Centre

Brampton - Shoppers World Brampton

Burlington - Millcroft Centre

Cambridge - Cambridge Centre

Etobicoke - Cloverdale Mall

Hamilton - Centre Mall

Lindsay - Lindsay Square Mall

London - Masonville Place

London - Westmount Shopping Centre

Newmarket - Upper Canada Mall

Orillia - Orillia Square Mall

Toronto - Centrepoint Mall

Toronto - East York Town Centre

Waterdown - Flamborough Power Centre

Whitby - Taunton Road Power Centre

Windsor - Devonshire Mall

Locations opening to the public on March 28 include:

Brampton - Trinity Common

Burlington - Burlington Mall

Mississauga - Square One Shopping Centre

Toronto - Shoppers World Danforth