Atlanta-based package delivery and logistics giant United Parcel Service Inc. on Dec. 1 opened an expanded distribution facility near Toronto that company leaders said will boost Canadian trade. 

UPS broke ground on the $70 million expansion two years ago in response to increased demand from Canadian companies shipping goods to domestic and international markets. 

The company's top executives from the U.S. and Canada attended a ceremony opening the facility. The expansion more than doubled its package processing capacity and brought the total building size to about 463,000 square feet.

Along with small packages, the facility will also handle freight shipments. It is located in the city of Vaughan, north of Toronto. 

To date it has generated 300 new jobs, and the company will evaluate future staffing levels based on economic conditions. In total, the hub facility employs more than 2,200 people.

The fact that UPS undertook such an expansion during a recession shows its commitment to Canada and the country's continued promise as an economic powerhouse and a hub for global trade, said UPS CEO Scott Davis in a statement.  

“UPS sees the same kind of possibilities in Canada that we saw more than 30 years ago when it began operations here," Mr. Davis said while attending the opening event. "What we see is amazing potential – a strong and resilient Canadian economy, the unstoppable force of global commerce and a nation of companies ready to emerge stronger from the recession into a new era of global growth.”

For more information, visit www.ups.com. 

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