Sourced from 3 news outlets · most facts from Staples Canada · 1 point in dispute. How we sourced this
Staples Canada is preparing to put toys, balloons and party supplies alongside its usual retail offering through a new exclusive partnership with Next Century.
Key facts
- Staples Canada will open dedicated Toys “R” Us and Parties “R” Us shop-in-shop departments inside close to 300 Staples locations across Canada as part of an exclusive partnership with Next Century.
- The first shop-in-shop will open at a Staples store in Richmond Hill, Ontario, at 45 Red Maple Road, with a launch date of Nov. 14.
- The Toys “R” Us departments will feature a curated selection of toys and exclusive products, while the Parties “R” Us departments will sell balloons, party supplies, seasonal essentials and licensed party merchandise.
- Next Century Ipco Can (including Next Century Ipco Can ULC) acquired the Canadian Toys “R” Us trademarks and related intellectual property, enabling the Staples partnership to relaunch the brand in Canada.
Dedicated Toys “R” Us and Parties “R” Us departments are set to open in close to 300 Staples locations across Canada, giving the brands a broad new retail presence without a return to standalone Toys “R” Us stores.
Richmond Hill Opens First
The first shop-in-shop is scheduled to open Nov. 14 at the Staples store at 45 Red Maple Road in Richmond Hill, Ont.
That location will introduce dedicated areas for both brands. The Toys “R” Us department will carry a curated selection of toys and exclusive products, while Parties “R” Us will offer balloons, party supplies, seasonal essentials and licensed party merchandise.
The Richmond Hill opening will be the first step in a national expansion.
Brand Returns Under New Ownership
The arrangement follows a difficult period for the former Toys “R” Us Canada operating company, which sought creditor protection in February 2026 and later entered bankruptcy after its store footprint shrank.
Next Century Ipco Can, including Next Century Ipco Can ULC, acquired the Canadian Toys “R” Us trademarks and related intellectual property. That acquisition enabled the Staples partnership and the brand’s relaunch in Canada.
“We’ll be in more stores than ever before,” Next Century CEO Joel Weinshanker said in source reporting.
Toys, Parties and Online Shopping
Staples also plans to offer a digital shopping experience for Toys “R” Us and Parties “R” Us through Staples.ca, adding an online option to the in-store rollout.
How outlets covered it
- insauga — “Toys “R” Us will return across Canada in a very different way”, Nov. 3, 2026. By stevepecar. Led with a Toys “R” Us shop-in-shop return in Staples stores. Not in the other reports here: Staples’ approximately 11,000 Canadian employees.
- The Canadian Press (carried by CTV News) — “300 locations for Toys ‘R’ Us in Canada to open by the end 2027”, Nov. 3, 2026. Led with the brand’s revival through dedicated Staples shopping areas. Not in the other reports here: Next Century’s purchase of 150 Toys “R” Us trademarks; Next Century’s affiliation with Ad Populum.
- Connect CRE — “Toys“R”Us Returns To Canada Through Nearly 300 Staples Stores”, Nov. 3, 2026. By Joel Bowey. Quoted Next Century CEO Joel Weinshanker. Not in the other reports here: the July $27M trademark and intellectual-property acquisition; Jumbo taking over a former Vaughan Mills location.
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Support The Canada Report →How we sourced this story
| Most key facts come from one source, Staples Canada, as reported by 3 news outlets. They differ on 1 point. |
7 key facts · 2 independently corroborated · 5 from statements or releases · 1 disputed
Where sources differ
When Next Century acquired Toys “R” Us trademarks and for what price.
The Canadian Press: Next Century bought 150 of Toys “R” Us Canada’s trademarks earlier this year, when the retailer filed for creditor protection.
Connect CRE: Next Century Ipco Can acquired the Canadian trademarks and intellectual property in July for $27M.
Why some reports were counted once
insauga.com (1) and insauga.com (2) — the same report, published near-identically, counted once.
Also used
- Nearly 300 retail stores across Canada to get a major new addition — insauga, Nov. 3, 2026
How we put this together: we compare reporting from the outlets above, draft with the help of AI tools, and an editor checks every story before it's published. Our methodology.
