THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS HISTORY

Feb. 19, 1996 Canada's new $2 coin, dubbed the "toonie," is introduced.

Feb. 18, 2002

Sears said its Eaton’s stores would be closed or converted to Sears outlets, spelling the end of the 133-year-old Eaton’s brand.

Feb. 20, 1959

Prime Minister John Diefenbaker cancelled the Avro Arrow jet program. The decision resulted in the layoff of nearly 14,000 people at the Avro plant at Malton, Ont. Developed by Avro Canada, the Arrow (also known as the CF-105) was an advanced, all-weather supersonic interceptor jet.

Feb. 21, 2007

Torstar and Metro International announced the launch of free Metro daily newspapers in Calgary and Edmonton.

Feb. 24, 2011

In a remarkable financial U-turn, once-bankrupt General Motors posted a $4.7-billion (U.S.) profit for 2010, its first profitable year since 2004. The company lost more than $80 billion in the five years before its bankruptcy in 2009 and needed a government bailout to survive.