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Renaissance Quebec celebrates 30 years of social, economic, and environmental missions

Sylvie encourages others to give thrift shopping a try: “There’s a stigma around thrift shops, but Renaissance offers great quality. You might just find what you’ve been searching for.”

Ayushi Singh profile image
by Ayushi Singh
Renaissance Quebec celebrates 30 years of social, economic, and environmental missions
The Renaissance store on St- Laurent boulevard is busy on the Friday afternoon of Nov. 22, 2024. (Erin Seize, CityNews)

Processing 30,000 tons of donations annually, Renaissance has become Quebec’s leading force in reusing consumer goods, now celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Customers like Sylvie and Martin appreciate the variety of treasures available at Renaissance stores. “I found one of my first suits here. I like sturdy, vintage materials and brands like Laura Piana,” said Sylvie. She enjoys browsing through clothes and trying on outfits in the fitting rooms. Martin shares a similar enthusiasm: “Today, I was looking for LPs and vintage records. Sometimes, I also look for old Christmas tree lamps.”

Beyond its retail and environmental mission, Renaissance focuses on social impact by helping individuals enter the workforce. “Most people know Renaissance for its stores and donation sites, but our core mission is workforce integration,” said Eric St-Arnaud, CEO of Renaissance Quebec.

Renaissance employs 1,500 people across the province and supports 3,000 individuals annually through a workforce integration program with an 80% success rate. The 26-week program provides participants with full-time work at minimum wage, guided by a team of managers and social workers. “When you’re independent, it gives you the strength to go back to school, support your family, and claim your place under the sun,” St-Arnaud added.

Pablo, an assistant manager at Renaissance’s St-Laurent location, is passionate about his work. “I love training people, helping clients, and supporting our environmental mission. We recycle batteries, cardboard, paper, and electronics. We’re even setting up a program to recycle clothing,” he explained.

Over the years, Renaissance has faced challenges as a non-profit. “We don’t receive funds as easily as businesses, and we rely on the trust of donors and consumers,” said St-Arnaud. However, thrift shopping has become more mainstream. “Years ago, thrift wasn’t for everyone. Now it’s democratized.”

Denis, another customer, initially hesitated to shop at Renaissance, thinking others might need the items more. But an employee reassured him: “There’s so much to choose from that everybody finds something.”

In 2023, 1.7 million Quebecers donated to Renaissance, and the organization anticipates nearly 2 million donations in 2024. An added perk of shopping at Renaissance is that it’s tax-free.

“Unlike Value Village, which is part of a U.S.-based private organization and charges taxes, Renaissance is a non-profit charitable organization,” explained St-Arnaud.

Sylvie encourages others to give thrift shopping a try: “There’s a stigma around thrift shops, but Renaissance offers great quality. You might just find what you’ve been searching for.”

Ayushi Singh profile image
by Ayushi Singh

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