Photo: Renaissance inaugurates its first Fripe-Prix store, in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension Borough, on June 17, 1995.
History of Renaissance
2016
Renaissance opens its eighth Bookstore/Donation Centre located at 5872 Bélanger Street in Saint-Léonard.
Renaissance inaugurates its eleventh Fripe-Prix store, in the Montréal-Nord Borough on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard East.
A Renaissance Bookstore/Donation Centre is now located at 2590 De Chambly Road in Longueuil.
The Fripe-Prix Renaissance Liquidation Centre and the Distribution Centre have moved. It’s now located at 5900 Ferrier Street in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough.
2015
A fourth collection point of Renaissance opens its doors in Laval. The Donation Centre is located at 1263 Jolibourg Boulevard, room 111.
The Renaissance Bookstore located at 1310 Mont-Royal Avenue East expanding to make space for a new section of vinyl records.
A Renaissance Donation Centre is now located at 1083 Curé-Labelle Boulevard, room 107 in Blainville.
Renaissance opens its sixth Bookstore/Donation Centre located at 106 Don-Quichotte Boulevard in Île-Perrot.
2014
The Fripe-Prix on De l’Église Street in Saint-Laurent undergoes important renovations thanks in part to a grant offered by Recyc-Québec to increase the volume of reused goods. The installation of a service-elevator meant that the sorting operations could be moved to the basement. The Donation Centre was renovated, and is now more pleasant for the donors to visit than the old loading dock where they previously dropped off their donations. Part of the space which was cleared out was used to enlarge the retail surface of the Fripe-Prix store which went from 7,800 to 8,900 square feet.
Recognition with a Level 2 certification in the Ici on recycle! program of Recyc-Québec. This award, valid for two years, recognizes the efforts made by Renaissance to increase re-use and for raising awareness among its staff of the importance of responsible residual waste management.
The Saint-Jacques Fripe-Prix store becomes Renaissance’s biggest store with its retail area growing from 7,000 to 14,600 square feet.
The Donation Centre on Somerled Avenue in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Borough opens its doors.
A Renaissance Donation Centre is now located at 1615 chemin du Fer-à-Cheval in Sainte-Julie.
Renaissance innovates and develops a new concept of Donation Centre/Specialized Boutique for women on Victoria Avenue in Saint-Lambert.
The Donation Centres on Saint-Charles Boulevard in the Pierrefonds-Roxboro Borough and on Lajeunesse Street in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville Borough open their doors.
2013
The Bookstore/Donation Centre on Des Sources Boulevard in the Pierrefonds-Roxboro Borough opens its doors.
Beyoncé lends her voice to do good. The international superstar joined with Goodwill (which Renaissance is a member of) to sensitize the public to the power of job training. For this occasion, Renaissance held a huge clothing drive at the Bell Centre. For every donation, fans received a chance to win tickets to attend her concert in Montreal.
2012
Renaissance innovates and launches a new concept of Bookstore/Donation Centre in the Plateau-Mont-Royal Borough, on Mont-Royal Avenue East.
Two other Bookstores/Donation Centres also open their doors during the year, one on De Pierrefonds Boulevard in the Pierrefonds-Roxboro Borough and the other on Beaumont Avenue in the Town of Mount Royal.
The Donation Centre on Fleury Street East in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville Borough opens its doors.
Recyc-Québec gives a grant of $165,464 to Renaissance as a part of the financial aid program called “Économie sociale et mobilisation des collectivités”, for the purchase of a large capacity baler as well as the purchase of a truck equipped with a thirty-six foot trailer.
Renaissance renovates the building housing the Head Office on Saint-Laurent Boulevard and created the “Maison Renaissance” which hosts the offices of various community groups and social enterprises.
Renaissance is recognized with an award from “Desjardins Entrepreneurs” in the “sustainable development” category. The prize was given to an enterprise which has sound management, good governance and demonstrates social responsibility in environmental matters as well as a commitment to the community.
Pierre Legault, founder and CEO of Renaissance, is recognized as a “Great Montrealer”, an honour bestowed on him by the Montreal Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized in the “social” category for his contribution to struggle against exclusion and sustainable development. He is also awarded the Medal of the National Assembly, for his contribution to the community, his fight against poverty and his protection of the environment. The medal was presented to him by Mr. Gerry Sklavounos.
The “Collectif des entreprises d’insertion” receives the “Prix de l’économie sociale de Montréal”. An award bestowed by the Comité d’économie sociale de l’île de Montréal (CÉSIM). Renaissance shares this award with the “Collectif” having been a member since 1995. The award was presented during the fifteenth anniversary celebrations of the CÉSIM and underlines the remarkable contribution that the “Collectif” has brought to the social economy over the past fifteen years.
2011
Renaissance opens its Liquidation Centre, adjoining the Distribution Centre: the liquidated merchandise is sold by the pound.
Renaissance is awarded the “Phénix de l’environnement” in the category for a non-profit organization and its management of residual materials.
Renaissance opens a Donation Centre in the Outremont Borough on Bernard Avenue.
2010
Renaissance moves its Distribution Centre to a location with 27,500 square feet, on Côte-de-Liesse Road.
Renaissance inaugurates its tenth Fripe-Prix store, in Laval on Des Laurentides Boulevard.
Renaissance inaugurates two new Donation Centres, one on Jacques-Bizard Boulevard in the Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève Borough and the other in Laval, on Des Laurentides Boulevard.
Renaissance puts its Trailer into service. It is a mobile Donation Centre which operates mainly on solar power.
2009
Renaissance opens three new Donation Centres, one on Lakeshore Drive in Dorval, another on Newman Boulevard in the LaSalle Borough and a third one on Sherbrooke Street East in the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Borough.
Renaissance organizes its first Renaissance Challenge, a donation campaign which is also a friendly competition between the municipalities and boroughs of the Greater Montreal Area.
2008
Renaissance changes its image and launches the permanent Donation Centre concept, where an attendant welcomes donors.
Renaissance inaugurates this new concept by opening its first Donation Centre on Chemin du Golf on Nun’s Island. It is a success from the start bringing in 400-450 donors per week.
Renaissance opens three other Donation Centres, in Saint-Lambert, Beaconsfield and Laval.
2007
Renaissance inaugurates its ninth Fripe-Prix store, in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Borough at the Plaza Côte-des-Neiges.
2005
Renaissance inaugurates its eighth Fripe-Prix store, in the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Borough on Pie-IX Boulevard.
2004
Renaissance inaugurates its seventh Fripe-Prix store, in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Borough on Saint-Jacques Street.
With the help of a loan from the “Caisse d’économie solidaire”, Renaissance buys the building which houses its Head Office, that the organization had been renting for ten years.
2002
Renaissance is officially accredited by Emploi-Québec and recognized as a job training organization.
2001
Renaissance inaugurates its sixth Fripe-Prix store, in the Verdun Borough on Wellington Street.
2000
Renaissance opens its sorting centre (distribution), in the Saint-Laurent Borough on Côte-de-Liesse Road.
1999
Renaissance inaugurates its fifth Fripe-Prix store, in the Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie Borough on Saint-Hubert Street.
1998
Renaissance inaugurates its fourth Fripe-Prix store, in the Saint-Laurent Borough on Decarie Boulevard.
1997
Renaissance inaugurates its third Fripe-Prix store, in the Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie Borough on Masson Street.
1996
Renaissance inaugurates its second Fripe-Prix store, in the Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles Borough on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Boulevard.
Emploi-Québec begins to provide financing for job training.
1995
Renaissance inaugurates its first Fripe-Prix store, in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension Borough. It is located at the Head Office at 7250 Saint Laurent Boulevard.
Renaissance becomes a member of Goodwill Industries International and of the “Collectif des entreprises d’insertion du Québec”.
1994
Renaissance begins in June. Inspired by both European and American models of job training, the leaders of the Moisson Montreal Harvest Food Bank developed a unique model.
