History

Renaissance opens its first thrift store outside of the Greater Montreal area at Promenades King in Sherbrooke in partnership with Récupex. The organization also launched its Textile waste reduction pilot project, in partnership with Vestechpro, and subsidized by the City of Montreal.

Renaissance officially rolled out its new brand image and reached 1,000 permanent employees. The organization also opens its first Renaissance thrift store in the West Island, at the Galeries des Sources in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, and moves the Laurentian thrift store.

Renaissance puts an end to plastic bags in all its stores to fight for the environment, and opens two donation centres in Brossard.

Mr. Éric St-Arnaud takes over from Mr. Pierre Legault and becomes Executive Director of Renaissance.

The Renaissance distribution and liquidation centre are moving. The new address of these two establishments is 5900 Ferrier Street, in the Côte-des-Neiges / Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.

Level 2 Recognition “Implementation of the Ici on recycle! program” from Recyc-Québec. Valid for two years, this award recognizes the efforts made by Renaissance to increase reuse and to raise awareness among its teams about the sound management of residual materials.

Renaissance innovates and launches a new concept of bookstore-gift centre on Plateau-Mont-Royal. Two other openings followed during the year. The organization won a Desjardins Entrepreneurs Award in the “sustainable development” category. The award was based on the organization’s effective management of its social responsibility in environmental matters.

Renaissance opens its liquidation centre, where goods are sold by weight. The organization wins a Phénix of environment award in the category of “non-profit organization, waste management”.

Renaissance moves its distribution centre to a 27,500 square foot location on Côte-de-Liesse Road. The organization inaugurates its 10th Fripe-Prix store in Laval, on Des Laurentides Blvd.

Renaissance organizes its first Renaissance Challenge, a public collection of clothing and other household goods, which takes the form of a friendly competition between municipalities and boroughs of Greater Montreal.

Renaissance launched the concept of a “permanent donation centre” where staff members welcome donors. The first concept opened on Nuns’ Island, on Chemin du Golf. Three new centres will follow during the year.

With the help of a loan from the Caisse d’économie solidaire, Renaissance purchased the building where its head office was located, which the organization had been renting for ten years.

Renaissance is officially accredited by Emploi-Québec and is recognized as an insertion enterprise.

Renaissance has 5 stores and is in the process of creating a sorting centre (distribution) in Saint-Laurent.

Renaissance obtains its first financing from Emploi-Québec for insertion activities.

On June 17, 1995, Renaissance inaugurates its first Fripe-Prix store, in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension Borough. Renaissance becomes a member of the Goodwill Industries International network and the Collectif des entreprises d’insertion du Québec.

Renaissance was born in June. The leaders of the Moisson Montreal food bank have developed a unique and independent Quebec model.