June 12, 2025
Found in “Community news”
For 50+ years, we’ve been dedicated to giving back to the outdoors. Now that we’re back in Canadian hands, the July long weekend feels like the perfect time to celebrate with our members.
On June 28, MEC is donating 25% of all MEC Label sales to Canadian outdoor organizations who advocate for access, education, maintenance and protection of the Canadian trails where we hike, run, bike, camp, climb, and ski.
“For many of us, this Canada Day feels especially meaningful. I believe it has never been so important to protect what makes Canada unique – our landscapes, trails, and shared access to nature. We are proud to be a company that was founded in Canada, that operates with 100% of our employees in Canada, and that has recently returned to Canadian ownership,” says Peter Hlynsky, CEO at MEC. “MEC has always been more than a retailer. MEC was founded in 1971 as a hub for the outdoor community, known for our staffer expertise, our commitment to sustainability, and our homegrown MEC Label products designed in Vancouver and trusted by you for a combination of quality and value.”
Organizations receiving the funds
We couldn’t do what we do without our network of incredible local and national Outdoor Impact partners. Funds collected on June 28 will go to support both new and longtime partners in the outdoors.
Trans Canada Trail: Our newest partnership couldn’t have come at a better time: we’ll be supporting Trans Canada Trail, the longest multi-use trail system in the world. The Trans Canada Trail organization advocates for, stewards and champions Canada’s nationwide trail system.
“The Trans Canada Trail is a truly national treasure that belongs to all of us. As more and more people look to experience Canada's iconic natural landscape, it is crucial that we all come together to protect the places we love. We’re thrilled to work with MEC to keep Canada's nationwide trail system safe, well-maintained and accessible to all.”
-Mathieu Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Trans Canada Trail
Alpine Club of Canada (ACC): Canada’s national mountain club since 1906. With over 15,000 members, the ACC brings together outdoor enthusiasts and facilitates guided trips, local events and volunteer opportunities on the trails. They also maintain a huge network of backcountry huts from family cabins to remote climbers’ refuges.
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG): A non-profit association that trains and certifies guides and instructors in higher risk activities such as climbing, backcountry skiing and hiking. Many of these folks go on to guide and instruct the public when getting out on the trails.
Avalanche Canada: As Canada’s national public avalanche safety organization, they produce daily avalanche forecasts for mountainous regions across western Canada. They also administer the national standard in recreational avalanche safety training and deliver outreach to winter backcountry users of all types. Trail use doesn’t stop when the snow falls – we rely on these folks to enjoy Canada’s winter backcountry trails safely.
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS): Canada’s only charity dedicated to the protection of public land, freshwater and ocean. CPAWS is also Canada’s leader in conservation and have played a lead role in protecting over half a million square kilometres. If you’ve visited a park or protected area in Canada, they likely had a hand in protecting it.
Leave No Trace Canada: A non-profit organization that promotes the responsible use of outdoor spaces through education, research and partnerships to help people discover the value of natural environments. If you’ve ever hit the trails for a hike, you’ve probably heard of the 7 principles of Leave No Trace.
North Shore Mountain Bike Association: As a non-profit organization dedicated to caring for a sustainable trail network within the community, they’ve been building and maintaining trails on the legendary North Shore since 1997 (not far from our MEC Home Office), and MEC is proud to have been a supporter of their projects for years.
Join us in-store to get set for the long weekend
If you still need to get prepped for July long weekend campouts, bikepacking trips or crag days, swing by your local MEC store for all the gear you need, plus some exciting long weekend specials also happening on June 28 in stores from coast to coast.
We’ll be celebrating with free coffee stations in our Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal stores serving up delicious brews and limited-edition MiiR mugs designed by local Vancouver artist, Spencer Pidgeon, available to purchase by donation. In addition, all MEC stores will have trail-mixology stations, limited-edition stickers free with purchase and Canada flag patches for $2 purchase. All proceeds collected from these MiiR mugs and Canada flags will be donated to our outdoor partners listed above.
Make sure you check it out – some supplies are limited and as we all know, camp coffee goes fast.
MEC Label: Trail tested, everyday value
MEC Label’s everyday value helps bring adventure to all Canadians, and this long weekend it’s also helping to make a difference in the outdoors. Designed in Vancouver, tested coast to coast and now back in Canadian hands, there’s no better time to grab top-quality gear from tents and base layers to packs and bikes – 25% will be going directly to our trails.
In it together
Giving back to the outdoors is always awesome, but what makes it special is seeing our community of members, outdoor partners, staffers and local orgs come together to make a difference. Whether you’ve attended one of our events, purchased tickets to a film screening, volunteered at a trail cleanup day or donated to one of our Outdoor Impact partners, we want to say a great big thank you for showing up and supporting our community, we could never do what we do without you.
If you’re interested in learning more about our Outdoor Impact partners or want to get involved, check out our network of local and national organizations working to make a difference through education, advocacy, access and stewardship in the outdoors.
Terms and conditions: The giveback applies to MEC Label products purchased in-store, online, or by phone on June 28. Donations are calculated on pre-tax sales and finalized within 30 days to account for returns. MEC gift card purchases are excluded.
