Canadian Tire closing head offices Friday to celebrate Jays playoff game

If you're a fan of the Blue Jays who happens to work at Canadian Tire's corporate office in Toronto, you don't need an excuse to play hooky Fridayto watch the team'splayoff game.

The companysaid Tuesday night itwill close its corporate offices including its head office inToronto, SportChek'shead office inCalgary,and Mark's Work Wearhouse's head office inCalgaryon Friday, giving approximately 5,000 employees the chance to watch the game.

• Blue Jays to play afternoon playoff games to anger, dismay of fans

Earlier this week, it was announced that the baseball team's long-awaitedplayoff games were officially slated forinconvenient afternoonstarts.

The timing came as a blow to many who've watched the team make anexhilarating second-half push to the post-season for the first timesince 1993.

Game 1 on Thursday is set to begin between 3:37 p.m. and 4:07p.m., while Game 2 on Friday starts even earlier with opening pitchscheduled for 12:45 p.m.

For Samantha Valters, who couldn't take a vacation day at shortnotice, the times meant she had to put her prized tickets up forsale.

"This is the moment I've been waiting for over 20 years for, soit's a real bummer," said the 31-year-old. "It kind of ruins thathigh and excitement in the city when you can't all get together androot for your team."

Calling in sick wasn't an option for Valters either becauseeveryone in her office knows just how much of a Jays fan she is.

"I'm a super fan. I'm dressed in Jays gear right now. I havelittle bobble-heads at work on my desk," she said with a laugh.

"I've been at the World Series games when I was a kid and I've beenlooking forward to this for so long."

Valters hopes she'll be able to go to other playoff games, butnotes she'll likely only be able to make it if they are after
regular working hours.

"At least they're in the playoffs, and that makes me incrediblyhappy," she said. "But you'd love to be there in that moment andfeel that camaraderie."

Like Valters, Josh Elijah definitely wants to experience thegames with friends.

The London, Ont., resident doesn't have tickets to the games inToronto but is determined to find a way to watch them on televisionwith his buddies.

'I'm going to try to get out of work somehow'

He has plans to leave work early on Thursday, but is stillcontemplating what he'll do for the Friday game.

"I'm going to try to get out of work somehow," he said, addingthat he hoped his boss would be sympathetic. "I want to be with myfriends to watch the game. This is the moment, this is the time allBlue Jays fans have been waiting for."

The 30-year-old, who describes himself as an "avid baseball fan" said he'd certainly be burning a sick day for future games inthe coming weeks if they are scheduled during the day.

Jacob Robinson is also considering time off work if more playoffgames land in the middle of the afternoon.

The Delhi, Ont., resident will be at Friday's game thanks to awell-timed day off, he and his wife won't be able to make it to Game1 a situation that's left him frustrated.

"It's a bit of a gut punch to not be able to go to that firstgame, and having spent that much money to go," he said. "It wasthe one I was really excited about because it's the first time in 22years."

If future games are slotted for more afternoons, Robinson plansto ask his boss about possibly using some vacation time to go watchthem because he feels the experience is worth it.

"This is kind of the one team I feel everyone rallies around, nomatter where you're from in Canada," he said. "It's not only justthe team, but the excitement around it. I really just hope that theafternoon games don't take away from that."