Frequently asked questions

Renaissance

Is Renaissance a non-profit organization?

Renaissance is a recognized non-profit organization. This status permits us to offer clothing and household goods at low prices and tax-free across its network of stores. Renaissance customers thus allow the organization to fund itself up to 94%. These revenues are entirely reinvested into Renaissance’s social mission, which is to integrate people back into the workforce.

Is Renaissance a registered charity?

Renaissance is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency as a charity. The charity’s registration number is 89723 3482 RR0001.

Insertion

Are the training programs that Renaissance offers paid?

Yes. Participants are paid minimum wage ($13.10/hour) for 35 hours per week.

Do I have to meet with an Emploi-Québec agent before being accepted into Renaissance’s integration program?

To participate in the integration program, you have to be deemed eligible by Emploi-Québec and meet the training admission criteria. However, Renaissance will take care of your online registration with the government. As such, it is not necessary to meet with an Emploi-Québec agent to validate your participation.

Can I go to school during training at Renaissance?

No. Renaissance training programs require you to be available during the day, evenings, and weekends. Hours are variable. Hours change each week based on the organization’s needs. It is therefore impossible for us to guarantee that you will have consistent availability to go to school.

Can I receive a certificate by taking a Renaissance training program?

Yes. By registering for a Renaissance program, you can also choose to obtain a Training Certificate for a Semiskilled Trade (TCST) for Cashier, Sorter/Labeller, or Public Building Cleaner, issued by the Quebec Ministry of Education. Certification is guided by a teacher who provides additional support on an academic level. The program demands little engagement outside of work hours.

To learn more about certification, consult the Certification section.

Will I receive a sum of money during my training to cover the costs of monthly metro and bus passes?

No. Public transport costs are not covered by Renaissance. However, if you choose an integration program with certification, you will have the right to pay student rates on the STM for trips on the bus and metro.

After the six-month training program, does Renaissance offer an assisted job placement?

No. During training, you receive workshops to prepare you for finding a job (building a CV, interview preparation, etc.) as well as an advisor who supports your independent endeavours into finding a job. Moreover, follow-up support is offered for two years post-training.

Can I be hired at Renaissance after my six-month integration program?

The purpose of the Renaissance integration program is to rejoin the workforce, regardless of the job or place. After your six-month integration program, it would be possible for you to request a permanent job within the organization. You would then be considered alongside anyone else wanting to work at Renaissance.

Reuse

What donations are accepted at Renaissance?

Renaissance accepts all household items and clothing in good condition. As such, we invite you to give “what you would give to a friend”. For a detailed list, consult the What to give on our website.

Will Renaissance pick up donations from my residence?

For logistical reasons, Renaissance cannot offer a pick-up service for donations. If you have clothing or items to donate, we suggest you visit the Where to leave donations on our website to find the collection point nearest you.

What does Renaissance do with donations that are not sold?

Some clothing and other items that are donated to Renaissance are not reusable. We call them “rejects”. Clothing that is not reusable or has not been purchased in-store is sold by the pound to partner businesses, who, for their part, sort the items: part goes towards defibering, becoming padding, rags, or a variety of other uses.
While we have our own recycling network for our leftover materials, we invite you to give “what you would give to a friend”. Donations of clothing and other household items in good condition are the economic driver of Renaissance and support our program for integration into the workforce.

In giving material goods to Renaissance, can I receive a tax receipt?

Renaissance does not issue tax receipts for donations of clothing or goods from the public. In fact, issuing tax receipts requires the time and resources that we unfortunately do not have. Nevertheless, it is possible in the case of large donations (for example hundreds or thousands of clothes) for us to make an exception. In such a situation, it is key to note that the value of the tax receipt would be determined by Renaissance and that a detailed inventory would need to be provided.
For all inquiries, please contact customer service at 514-276-3626 or email us at information@renaissancequebec.ca.

Reinvestment

What does Renaissance do with donations?

Once received, donations are sorted, labelled, and then put up for sale across the network of Renaissance stores. Items are offered at low prices and tax-free, and all revenue is reinvested back into the organization’s social mission, which is to reintegrate people into the job market. These activities allow the organization to self-fund up to 94% of its budget. To learn more, visit the Give article section on our website.

Can I open a Renaissance franchise?

Renaissance is not a network of franchises. The opening of stores is planned by the head office. The group of stores is managed by staff recruited by the organization. If you would like to work at Renaissance, we suggest you visit the Available Positions page on our website, and submit your application.

Human Resources

How can I submit my application to work at Renaissance?

Renaissance offers exciting positions centred around professional development across its branches and at its head office. For more information about employment opportunities, visit the Available Positions page on our website.
You can also introduce yourself in-person at one of the Renaissance branches to fill out a job application, or send your application by email to recrutement@renaissancequebec.ca or by phone at 514-276-9679 extension 358.

What is the hiring process?

First, an open position is systematically posted internally, as Renaissance believes it is important to offer current employees the chance for transfer or promotion. If candidates already with Renaissance do not fulfill the job requirements, the position is then posted on the Renaissance website and elsewhere. Human Resources analyse all applications and will only contact those candidates whose profiles match the position. After a brief phone interview, preselected candidates are interviewed. Second, or even third, interviews may be necessary before a hiring decision is made.

What is the work schedule of a Renaissance employee?

For different Renaissance branches, an employee’s work schedule may vary each week depending on full-time or part-time work status. An employee’s weekly schedule is spread across the daytime, evenings, and weekends, depending on the organization’s needs. An employee at the head office works Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Does Renaissance have an employment equity policy?

Renaissance provides the equal employment opportunity for qualified persons without discrimination in regards to race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, age, civil status, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social status, or differing physical or mental abilities.

I would like to volunteer at Renaissance. How can I proceed?

To apply to volunteer at Renaissance, get in touch with us by phone at 514-276-3626 or by email at information@renaissancequebec.ca.

Partnership

Does Renaissance accept offers for sponsorship?

If you have a sponsorship opportunity to offer Renaissance, please send the details of your request to marketing@renaissancequebec.ca outlining your needs and deadlines. Since we receive a large number of requests each year, we cannot accept them all. The established protocols are to prioritize projects with links to Renaissance’s missions.

Complaints

Who should I contact to make a complaint about a Renaissance employee or about a company policy?

If the incident occurred in a store, you can immediately ask to speak to the manager so as to solve the problem.

If the incident occurred in a donation centre, or for any other complaint, you can contact us at 514-276-9679, extension 250, or at information@renaissancequebec.ca

Does a Renaissance employee have the right to search my bag?

Upon suspicion of theft, a Renaissance employee or a store security guard may ask to see your opened bag and inspect its contents.

Can an employee at the cash change the price of an item that I want to buy?

Upon suspicion of the switching of price tags, an employee at the cash may suspend the transaction until it can be verified that the item’s price tag was not switched.

Trésors Program

How can I become aTrésors member, and obtain a card?

To enjoy the benefits of the Trésors program, all members must create an online account. When creating your account, you will be asked to enter a card number if you obtained one in store. Otherwise, you must check the “digital card” option. If you get a physical card in store, you can begin collecting points even before creating your online account.

  1. To get a digital card:

If you opt for the digital card, you can get it now by registering online here. Be sure to download your card to your smartphone before your next visit. Simply present your virtual card at the checkout to earn points (Renaissance does not offer wireless internet access in store; make sure you have your own).

By choosing this option, you’ll get 20 points as a gift for your first transaction at the checkout, and 10 bonus points for using this greener alternative within 30 days of your online registration!

  1. To get a physical card:

If you prefer to have a physical card,* you must ask for it at the checkout counter of one of our stores. Exceptions: physical cards are not available at the Liquidation Centre and Librairie Faubourg-des-Prairies (Rivière-des-Prairies).

You will then have to create your online account by entering the card number given in store. Once your online profile is completed, you will receive 20 points as a gift with your first transaction, within 30 days of your online registration.

*Physical cards are made of recycled plastic.

 

Can I have a physical and digital card?

No, you have to choose between the two. The physical card cannot be converted to a digital card, and vice versa.

Is there a registration fee?

No, the program is free.

How do I download my virtual card once my registration is completed?

Click here and follow the procedure described to download your virtual card once your registration is completed.

What are the benefits of the Trésors program?

The basic benefits of the program are:

1) points earned with every purchase: $1 spent = 1 point earned;
2) bonus points on the first purchase after completing ALL FIELDS of your online profile;
3) gift points on your birthday.*

Other exclusive benefits:

Members will enjoy other exclusive benefits. These will take the form of bonus points and/or discounts, sweepstakes, etc. These limited-time offers will be communicated to our members by email.

*Renaissance will double your points on the first purchase made within 7 days of the date of birth you entered when creating your online account.

 

I lost my card. What should I do?

Simply get a new card from one of our stores, then notify us of the lost card and the number of your new card by email at clientprivilege@renaissancequebec.ca. Any points earned on the lost card will be transferred to the new card and we will disable the old card.

CAN I EARN AND REDEEM TREASURE POINTS at all Renaissance locations ?

All except the Liquidation Centre and the Faubourg-des-Prairies bookstore.

Will I earn points on each purchase?

Yes, every dollar you spend will earn you 1 point, regardless of the item you purchase.
Purchases made with gift cards do entitle Trésors members to earn points, but no points are earned for the purchase of gift cards themselves.

How do I use my points?

All fields in your online profile must be completed in order to use your points. Before paying, please inform the cashier that you wish to use your Trésors points.

Please note that you must have accumulated 150 points before redeeming points for the first time.

How can I find the number of points on my trésors card?

If ALL the fields in your profile have been completed, your point balance will appear on your invoice. You can also view it online, by logging in to your profile.

Can the points I have collected expire?

Under Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act, points on a card may expire if the member is inactive for a period of at least one year (twelve consecutive months). Inactivity is defined as not using the card to redeem or accumulate points.
In such cases, a notice will be sent to the member 30 to 60 days before the expiry date.

Can I collect points if I forget my card?

Yes, if you forget your card, you must send an email to clientprivilege@renaissancequebec.ca, including a clear photo of your receipt and your Trésors card number. Once the transaction has been verified, points can be added manually.

What do you do with my personal information?

The information provided when creating your account is confidential and is not transmitted to third parties. For further details, please refer to the Renaissance Privacy Policy.

I HAVE COLLECTED POINTS, BUT MY BALANCE IS 0? WHY?

There are two possible reasons. You may have not yet reached the minimum of 150 points required for a first transaction. If you have reached this minimum, but your balance still shows 0, it means your online profile is not complete.  Make sure that you fill in all fields when you log in to your profile.

Can I have two Trésors cards?

No. You may have one card per profile. If you currently have two, simply send an email to clientprivilege@renaissancequebec.ca specifying which one you wish to keep.  If you have accumulated points on the card you are not keeping, they will be transferred to the card you are keeping.

 

Didn't find the answer to your question?

Refer to the Terms and Conditions of the Trésors Program for further information.

Gift Card

What amount can I load on my gift card?

You can choose the amount to load on your gift card, knowing that the minimum value is $5, and the maximum value is $150.

Is my gift card reloadable?

No. You may not add value to your gift card after a purchase. Your gift card will not be functional once it reaches a value of zero.

Where can I buy a gift card?

Gift cards are sold in all Renaissance stores, with the exception of the Liquidation Centre and the Pierrefonds, Chambly-Rémillard, and Faubourg-des-Prairies bookstores.

How do I check my gift card’s balance?

You can find your gift card’s balance on the transaction receipt after making a payment with the gift card. You can also ask the cashier, or call 514-276-3626.

How long is my gift card valid for?

The gift card is valid so long as it has a positive balance. However, it is the responsibility of the gift card’s owner to keep it in good condition, so that it is readable when being used.

Can I use my gift card multiple times?

Yes. The gift card can be used so long as it has a positive balance.

Can I reclaim my money if my gift card is lost, stollen, or damaged?

No. Gift cards are not refundable, exchangeable or redeemable for cash. Renaissance will not be held responsible for replacing or refunding the amount on a lost, stolen, or damaged gift card. The owner must treat the gift card as they would cash.

Didn’t find the answer to your question?

Consult the Terms and Conditions for Gift Card Sales or call us at 514-276-3626.

Return Policy

Are purchases items refundable?

Renaissance allows only the exchange, and not the refund, of items purchased in its network of stores (see our exchange policy).

Exceptions are made for electronics or electric devices, if they prove defective. The customer must bring the device back within three (3) days with the price tag still attached, along the receipt, to receive a refund.

Are all items exchangeable?

No. Jewellery, books, paint, CD, VHS, DVD, cassettes, vinyl, stationery, new items, cosmetics and gift cards are always final sale.

Did you not find an answer to your question?
Contact us at 514-276-3626 or at information@renaissancequebec.ca.