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One breezy summer day while arriving to surf Lake Erie with friends, Antonio Lennert witnessed something startling: over a hundred dead fish washed up along the shoreline. “It was a very scary moment,” he says. “None of us had ever seen that many dead fish on the beach before.” As the group got in the water, they saw [algae all around](http://www.lakeeriealive.org/), but since they’d driven for two hours to find good waves that day, they paddled out and surfed for a couple hours anyways. “Every now and then a dead fish would pop up next to one of us,” says Antonio. “It was pretty gross and terrifying.”

The Brazilian-born surfer and community activist has been noticing more and more changes in the Great Lakes over the years, and the damage is something he desperately hopes to repair. As the founder and Chief Experience Officer of [Surf the Greats](http://surfthegreats.org/), a northern surf culture and community organization and Toronto-based MEC Outdoor Nation collaborator, he leads beach cleanups, educational workshops and meet-ups in hopes of instilling a need to act in the local surf community. For Antonio, Surf the Greats is the manifestation of passion for adventure, exploration and the power of nature – something that was ingrained in him when he grew up by the ocean in Brazil, and when he lived in California and Australia before moving to Toronto in 2009.



“[I’ve] lost count of how many times I saw people putting their lives at risk without fully understanding the dangers of our riptides,” he laments. “And water is becoming a commodity as the years go by. But surfing the Great Lakes puts us in a privileged position, [one where we] witness all the pollution in the water. And that needs to change.”

[Pollution, contamination, debris and harmful algal blooms](http://www.waterkeeper.ca/blog/2016/9/2/lake-ontario-water-colours-what-the-lakes-hue-can-tell-you) are some of the largest threats to Canada’s waterways. The blooms are particularly concerning. A result of rapid algae growth due to the presence of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, they tend to occur in late summer and early fall, and produce toxins as cells die. For surfers, paddlers and swimmers who want to enjoy the water, the health issues that result from contact with the blooms can be wide-ranging and serious: muscle cramps and twitching, nausea and vomiting, cardiac or respiratory difficulty, liver failure and even paralysis.

Antonio has witnessed the blooms first-hand. “Sometimes we leave the water covered in algae or aren’t able to surf at all because of the toxicity,” he reveals. “Although many surfers still risk their health and go in.”



Wanting to enlighten fellow surfers and increase his safety knowledge, Antonio went to Costa Rica to take an open-water rescue course as well as the Surf & SUP instructor course put on by the International Surfing Association. Surf the Greats events, meet-ups and [wave forecasting workshops](/en/article/surf-the-greats-winter-wave-forecasting) are where he gets to pass that knowledge on. At a recent MEC Outdoor Nation and Surf The Greats event in the Toronto Islands called “Castaway,” 100 people gathered at a secret beach to SUP, do yoga, swim and participate in a [beach cleanup](/en/article/10-ways-to-protect-your-fave-paddle-surf-or-swim-spot). “We removed over 100lb of garbage from the beach and more than 10 tires from the lake,” says Antonio. His desire to connect people with nature through surfing goes hand in hand with a drive to care for it; it’s a new wave of thinking that plenty of Toronto-area residents are eager to catch a ride on.

“Next summer we want to expand our offerings to Prince Edward County and other parts of Ontario while growing our programming for Toronto,” says Antonio. Surf the Greats devotees and wave watchers can keep an eye on their inboxes and social media channels for sweet bonuses too, including info on pop-up shops, reggae night dance parties, surf photography exhibits and yoga classes.

*Photos by [Lucas Murnaghan](https://www.instagram.com/lucasmurnaghan/).*

*Want to try surfing and get involved? Check out**MEC Outdoor Nation** and*[*Surf the Greats*](http://surfthegreats.org/)* for the latest events and tag your freshwater Instagram pics with*[*#myhomewaters*](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/myhomewaters/)* to help share the love of Canada’s waterways.*



Meet Ontario's Surf the Greats. These Toronto-based surfers share some serious love for riding waves on the Great Lakes – find out how to join their events, workshops, dance parties and more.

Surf the Greats: for the love of waves | MEC Blog

Surf the Greats: for the love of waves

Chances are, throughout your workday, your left brain does a lot of heavy lifting. You’re setting realistic goals, coming up with unique strategies, and finding logical ways to see your plans through. And if you’re someone who loves the outdoors, you’re likely intermittently daydreaming about your next getaway. That’s when your right brain takes over. This is your free spirit side, full of imagination, keen to seek out sensory experiences, get moving, tap into your feelings and express yourself.

Everyone has a dominant side, and while right-brained types are usually considered more naturally creative, the difference between right- and left-brained is in the approach. Lefties see details first and piece them together to form a larger picture, while righties use visual reference and see a whole before working into the finer details. So, even if you may not consider yourself a “creative person,” you’re actually already tapping into your more expressive hemisphere when you’re out hiking, taking in a meteor shower, or trying not to trip on tree roots on a trail run.

MEC’s Digital Asset Administrator [Jessa Gilbert](http://www.jessagilbert.com/) is a sterling example of letting your creativity flow outside. The New York native moved to Vancouver in 2013 and has been on a constant mission to meld her love of activity with her desire to explore outside, one that saw her transition from figurative painter to landscape artist.



“This place is magic,” says Jessa. “I take my studio outside into the wilderness, bringing along my sketchbook, watercolour paper, pens, brushes – the whole gamut, just on a smaller scale – and try to replicate the feelings and the sentiments of either getting to a peak or being within the environment.” When Jessa gets back into the studio, she works with acrylic paint at a larger scale. “I think about how I show the passing of time on a two-dimensional plane; how I take the trip at large and create something that speaks to how it was, or how we look at the environment around us.”

Another crew taking the studio outside is one of MEC Outdoor Nation’s newest Toronto-based collaborators (they were granted $5000 at the 2016 Think Outside Summit). [Outdoor Studio](http://www.outdoorstudio.ca/) is all about getting young urban creatives outside and connected to nature – the group links interested parties up with wilderness guides, outdoor instructors and creative mentors on multi-day trips and excursions. The studio is run by four creatives with a passion for getting outside: graphic designers Franziska Brand and Sarah Paul, visual artist Sarah Carlson, and advertising and marketing specialist Cherie Tsang.



“Making typically happens in a four-walled studio or in front of a computer screen. As a result, many creatives are unfamiliar with the outdoors and simply don’t have the knowledge to go out and explore on their own,” explains Sarah Carlson. “The great irony is, a desire to be connected to the land is a narrative woven through the creative histories of art, design and film. Outdoor Studio is a space that allows creatives time to meditate, explore and physically reconnect to natural spaces.”

Ready to join Jessa and Outdoor Studio and let your right brain take the reins? Here’s how to get outside and start making:

#### 1. Let go of your work zone
Being creatives themselves, Outdoor Studio was finding their colleagues don’t get outside as much because of a production-focused mentality, project deadlines and a pressure to rise to the top in increasingly competitive fields. “It’s important to merge creativity and recreation because they feed into each other,” explains Sarah Carlson. “Creative blocks are challenging, and it’s important to take a breather and step outside of your work zone to recharge,” adds Cherie.

By getting outside solo, or with groups like Outdoor Studio, you’re fueling your creativity, networking with like-minded people and adding a transitionary layer to your personal practice and artistic work flow.

#### 2. Make it part of your process
“If recreation is defined as what we do when we’re not working, then we absolutely need recreation to fuel our work,” says Cherie. For Outdoor Studio’s artist mentor, Sarah Carlson, recharging outdoors is central to prepping for her next big project or exhibition. She frequents artist residencies in highly natural settings such as Algonquin Park and the Yukon.

#### 3. Tap in to your senses
“I find clouds have such personality, they have this pulsing liveliness, and sometimes they really open up for you,” says Jessa. “I usually look far in the distance so I can see everything.” Here, she details more of her thought process when she’s in making-mode:



#### 4. Streamline your pack list
No matter what you’re doing out in the wild, some practical items should be a given: a [sturdy pack](/en/products/gear/packs-and-bags/c/1326?q=%3Asales-rank) with a [rain cover](/en/products/gear/packs-and-bags/rain-covers-and-pack-liners/c/1344), a [hydration bladder](/en/products/gear/hydration-and-water-bottles/bladders%2c-reservoirs-and-accessories/c/1229) (your cap can be helpful with watercolours), a [headlamp](/en/products/gear/lighting-and-headlamps/headlamps/c/1306?q=%3Asales-rank) if you want to keep at it after dusk, and a warm jacket like the MEC [Spicy Hoodie](/en/product/5037-102/Spicy-Hoodie) or [Commix Hoodie](/en/product/5036-944/Commix-Hoodie).

Carry a sketchbook (you can even get [waterproof ones](/en/products/gear/books%2c-maps-and-dvds/journals-and-writing-materials/journals-and-writing-materials/c/934)), a couple of pens and a pencil (in the winter your ink may freeze). If drawing isn’t your jam, then bring any materials that allow you to explore and make in the wild. Outdoor Studio suggests watercolours, pastels, carving tools and a camera.



“I bring a what is basically a [travel pouch](/en/products/gear/packs-and-bags/travel-pouches-and-packing-organizers/c/1354) with a couple brushes, pens, a pencil, a couple sketchbooks and a disposable film camera,” says Jessa. “Plus secret items like sparklers to mix it up and keep things light.” She also recommends making sure your watercolour set is non-toxic (acrylics are not compatible with Mother Nature), using a mechanical pencil so you don’t have to worry about a sharpener, and grabbing a Moleskine notebook for dry days. “The elastic band keeps the notebook closed and the pouch in the back can hold small drawings,” she says.

#### 5. Get ready to learn
“[Being outside] has taught me to be grateful for the environment I live in,” says Jessa. “Sitting there and really being patient and taking the time to actually *look*. So often we interpret things through our smartphones and devices – we’re just snapping an image and moving on, and I think its important slow things down, appreciate what’s around you and just wait. See what the clouds do, see how the colours change, think about how the environment feels and affects you. It’s also great for keeping your hand-eye coordination going.”

#### 6. Leave your insecurities at the door
Don’t worry about making things perfect. Everybody was an amateur at some point in their life, but it’s through the struggle of making that you find change and growth.

“When people say ‘I can’t paint’ or ‘I can’t draw’ or ‘I don’t know how to look at art,’ – it’s really just about letting go,” explains Jessa. “The way you experience and interpret it is totally authentic. It’s not about how you relate to anyone else’s skill or what’s good or bad. If you’re out there and you want to be creative, you should just do it. There’s no reason not to.”

She adds that it’s important to acknowledge that you even *have* the opportunity to be creative. “It’s freeing to just try to play. Doodle and have some fun; keep it light. You don’t start out creating masterpieces, you start small and build.”



Feel like you can’t put a view into words? Make outdoor art instead. Get tips and inspiration from artist Jessa Gilbert, who brings her studio into BC’s backcountry, and Outdoor Studio, a Toronto-based crew of creators.

How to do anything: Make art in the wild | MEC Blog

How to do anything: make art in the wild

My dad, Gerald Krabbe, has been a long-distance bike tourer for many years – he rode Vancouver to Halifax in the 2000s; his group of friends does a week-long mountain tour each summer; and he led a Jasper to Banff bike ride for students at his school for many years. My grandfather was a road rider too. It’s in our blood.

This past summer, he had planned a massive month-long ride from Waterton Lakes National Park where Alberta meets Montana, through BC and into the Yukon, finishing at the Arctic Ocean in Inuvik ([route map](https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/48.9981749,-113.6607486/Inuvik,+NT/@64.5711881,-140.1206752,7.99z/data=!4m24!4m23!1m15!3m4!1m2!1d-114.9570373!2d50.5528624!3s0x53705cfaf57b940f:0x3d16390c7319d877!3m4!1m2!1d-117.3965548!2d52.4158645!3s0x539d53b2ffc72a03:0x4e57f172b2c1f70!3m4!1m2!1d-139.363867!2d64.040939!3s0x5148e173ea265e6d:0xa83963031b90cdc7!1m5!1m1!1s0x5114923f95f996d1:0x522391a237afb784!2m2!1d-133.7230177!2d68.3607437!3e1)). The trip would total more than 3800km of riding. My mom didn’t want to see him go solo on the last 633km of dirt road between Dawson, YT, and Inuvik, so naturally, I volunteered to join him. I’d ride my motorbike from my home in Squamish to Dawson, where I’d pedal with my father for the last 8 days.

Two weeks prior to meeting him, I wrote down some thoughts:

“[I’ll join my dad at] the part of the trip where he’ll be at his fittest, where he’ll have his patterns of movement dialed and rehearsed into a smoothly oiled drivetrain of efficiency – where he’ll grow more excited every day as the idea and scent of the ocean comes near. Right at the culminating week, a road biking virgin will stumble into his grand tour, ineffectively using mountain bike terminology to try and relate to his experience.”

I was scared of what I should be scared of, but I didn’t take my own self-deprecating humour seriously enough.



My faded red KLR would suffer through relentless days of full throttle road travel. Yes, there are flights to Whitehorse and Dawson, but if this weapon is in your garage, why not make an adventure of it? Half of my ride north was spent retracing the route my dad had pedaled days and days earlier. Along the way I’d describe him to gas station attendants and tourists, and without fail they’d remember and tell me how interesting and amazing his journey sounded. Then they’d look at my bike-on-a-bike and say, “Well, it’s no question where you get your ideas from.”



*Left:* Rain and long haul truckers were my main fear along the first 3000km trek from Squamish to Dawson.

*Right:* There are very few places you’ll find gas, groceries or people in this remarkably varied and stark region. In seeing the Northern Rocky Mountains I immediately regretted my need to pass through them quickly.



The Alaska Highway is teeming with wildlife. From the perch of my jalopy I saw a grizzly and three cubs, nearly 100 indifferent bison hanging out in the ditch, a porcupine that wanted to pop my tires and a moose with a rack bigger than my arm span.



*Left:*Holding your body up on a motorbike can make you feel worse than you may imagine. Luckily, Mother Nature put Liard River Hot Springs on my itinerary as I flirted with the Yukon border.

*Right:*I nearly dropped my camera into the spring after I snapped this and heard some tourists on the far side piping up about a bear lumbering through the woods only 15m from the water’s edge.



News of the worst floods in years reached us shortly after I arrived in Dawson and met my dad. With people and cars stranded and a ferry out of commission, we headed to Diamond Tooth Gerties to watch cancan shows shoulder to shoulder with overly excited tourists.



*The*sourtoe. A questionable right of passage in Dawson: whiskey of your choice, toe in whiskey, whiskey to mouth, toe to lips, shudder, laugh, regret.



*Left:*Twenty-four hours after being told Dempster Highway could be closed for weeks due to flood damage, we pedaled out with low expectations and high hopes.

*Right:*By 8am on the second morning, we had passed the highest point on the Dempster.



*Left:*Camp failure. Due to several poorly-tuned features on my bike-trailer combination, a lack of training prior to the trip and two aggravated knees, I had to give up the ride on day three.

*Right:*Failure didn’t mean entire failure – my goal was to join my dad on his massive journey and help get him to the finish line. Though my bike was heading south in the bed of a truck, I would carry on by thumb, hitchhiking as my father rode his bike.



*Left:*A math teacher’s cycling tour is prone to be a little more digit intensive than other riders. He dubbed his trip “#49to69at59” for riding the 49th parallel to the 69th parallel at 59 years of age.

*Right:*Just after I met my dad in Dawson, he admitted somewhat sheepishly that he was having a ludicrous amount of fun on the journey – so much fun he almost felt guilty and indulgent. This shot is from the last day after he sees me climb out of a stranger’s car and he coasted down to the final river crossing of the entire journey. I have no doubt the same silly smile was plastered on his face for the entire last day, even if no one was there to see it.



Over a couple thousand kilometers, some things will wear out, some things will change, and some things will grow.



### 

*This was MEC Ambassador [Reuben Krabbe](/en/ambassadors/reuben-krabbe)’s first road ride – his comfort zone is trails on his*[*mountain bike*](/en/ideal-for/cycling+mountain-biking/products/gear/bikes/c/854?q=%3Asales-rank)*. MEC lent him the*[*MEC Provincial Road 222 Bike*](/en/product/5042-832/Provincial-Road-222-Bicycle)* for his Dempster Highway journey with his dad.*



MEC Ambassador Reuben Krabbe joins his dad on a bucket-list bike tour in Canada, including the Dempster Highway in the Yukon.

Dempster Highway: biking, bonding and sour toes | MEC Blog

Dempster Highway: biking, bonding and sour toes

Like many people, Brittany Phelan gets pumped by the experience of speed and facing challenges head on. She also never hides her competitive side, which is essential for her career as a ski cross athlete. But when the weekend arrives, her pro-skier side makes room for her love of the outdoors. Her goal is to make great memories in nature with her good friends and partner, and to do so far away from the stress of performing on the ski hill.

To find out more about how skiing and her life outside connect, we caught up with Brittany by phone in Switzerland, where she’s training.



### Where it all started
Born in Mont-Tremblant, Brittany first hit the slopes at the young age of two. When she was 15 years old, sitting on a chair lift at Tremblant, she learned that she’d been accepted on the Quebec Alpine skiing team. That defining moment in the life of this now 25-year-old skier is just one of the countless happy memories she associates with Tremblant.

She’s been recognized internationally for her skiing, including a fifth-place finish in slalom at the World Junior Championships in 2011 and tenth place in slalom at the World Cup in Zagreb, Croatia, in January 2013. She’s a huge fan of Hermann Maier, Melanie Turgeon and Eric Guay, and skiing’s in her blood.

### Shift to ski cross


In 2015, Brittany made the decision to devote herself full-time to ski cross. A relatively new discipline, [ski cross](http://www.alpinecanada.org/ski-cross/ski-cross-101) is the winter equivalent of BMX racing or motocross, where skiers go head to head on the same course at the same time. The most difficult part of her transition was getting used to skiing with other competitors, but her slalom experience negotiating curves gave her a clear advantage over many of her competitors.

To excel in ski cross, you’ve got to love big thrills, feel comfortable in the air (because there’s no shortage of jumps and rollers on the course) and be fast. You’ve also got to be able to adapt to different weather conditions – and to the manoeuvers of your competition – and have a strong competitive spirit.

In the seconds before the start of Brittany’s races, she visualizes the chosen route very carefully, one last time. At this crucial moment, two words echo in her head: *go* and *fast*.

### Life outside
Life outside is “the way to live,” states the young athlete. So it isn’t surprising to learn that Brittany’s a real outdoor junkie. When she’s not on the slopes, she kayaks, hikes, climbs, skateboards, cross-country skis, and above all, she loves mountain biking. If she weren’t a skier, mountain biking is what she would practice professionally.



In Brittany’s summer months, nothing is better than a weekend with the gang speeding down forest trails. During the winter, cross-country skiing in fresh snow makes her happiest. Evenings around a campfire or fireplace with friends and her boyfriend after a beautiful day outside are as worthwhile to Brittany as the glory she gains through competitions.

She’s also keenly aware that present-day technologies may distract young people her age from playing outside. Leading by example, she inspires others, and explains that that when you get a taste for being active outdoors, you become aware of what is really important – it’s like a refocusing of your values naturally happens, in addition to a feeling of general well-being. Depending on the activities you do outside, the outdoors can also be a great source of adrenaline (she gets a real taste of this through ski cross).



Learning new things, getting out of her comfort zone and facing her fears are what ski cross, mountain biking and getting outside have done for Brittany, the young skier from Mont-Tremblant who’s made a name for herself internationally. She’s been an MEC member since 2010 and is a big fan of getting outside, just like you and me.





Pro skier Brittany Phelan races ski cross, and has come a long way from her beginnings at Mont-Tremblant. Find out what she loves to do when she’s not ripping down the ski hill.

Portrait of a pro: Ski cross athlete Brittany Phelan

The Seeking Nirvana ski crew is back for another series of strange adventures. Watch Canadian skiers Mike Henitiuk, Riley Leboe, Matt Margetts and [MEC Ambassador Joe Schuster](https://meccms.imgix.net/wp-json/ambassadors/joe-schuster) in search of winter, year-round.

#### Seeking Nirvana | Part 4: Towers Above the Sea


There was a time, back in the day, when the ski season had a beginning and an end. When we would pause after a long winter and look to other challenges to occupy our time. This was before the thought and possibility of an endless winter had really entered our mind and heading to the southern hemisphere would be unattainable for most. Follow 4 skiers as they embark on a journey of a lifetime from the highest Chilean mountain regions to the endless coastal waves. From the Towers to the Sea.

@seeking.nirvana

Featuring:
Mike Henitiuk ~ @mikeheni
Joe Schuster ~ @joe_schuster
Matt Margetts ~ @mattmargetts
Riley Leboe ~ @rileyleboe

Locations:
Valle Nevado Ski Resort, Santiago, Chile
Hotel Alaia, Pichilemu, Chile
Ski Arpa Catskiing, Los Andes, Chile
Valparaiso, Chile

Special Thanks:
Valle Nevado - @valle_nevado
Hotel Alaia - @hotelalaia
Ski Arpa - @skiarpa

Co-Director, Editing, Sound Design and Color Grade:
Leigh Powis

Cinematography:
Jamie Tanner
Taylor Laughran

Narration:
Colby James West
Jay Henitiuk

Seeking Nirvana 1.4 - Towers Above the Sea



There was a time, back in the day, when the ski season had a beginning and an end. When we would pause after a long winter and look to other challenges to occupy our time. This was before the thought and possibility of an endless winter had really entered our mind and heading to the southern hemisphere would be unattainable for most. Follow 4 skiers as they embark on a journey of a lifetime from the highest Chilean mountain regions to the endless coastal waves.

Want more backcountry ski radness? Check out [Seeking Nirvana Parts 1 to 3](/en/article/seeking-nirvana-captures-backcountry-ski-radness).

*All videos via****[Seeking Nirvana](https://vimeo.com/user48494445)****on Vimeo.*



Follow 4 skiers as they embark on a journey of a lifetime from the highest Chilean mountain regions to the endless coastal waves. Featuring Canadian skiers Mike Henitiuk, Riley Leboe, Matt Margetts and MEC Ambassador Joe Schuster

Seeking Nirvana Part 4: Towers Above the Sea | MEC Blog

Seeking Nirvana: Towers Above the Sea

At 70°42’25.67″N and 71°29’46.83″W, Baffin Bay is a frozen ocean of crisp white and blue. This land of rock, ice and water was carved and cleaved over two billion years from the Canadian Shield. Our team of three – Marc-Andre Leclerc, Brette Harrington and I – travelled across that same frozen expanse by snow machine toward the eastern fjords of Baffin Island to climb Great Sail Peak.

Several years in the making, our expedition finally unfolded between June 17 and August 5, 2016. The sense of adventure was palpable; with no trip reports or guidebook to direct us, we stepped into the unknown.



The hamlet of Clyde River, Nunavut, is well above the Arctic Circle, so on the summer solstice we were sent off with an endless sunset. Our guide, Levi Palituq – a local outfitter and hunter – and his team navigated us towards the Walker Arm fjord. Though conditions were deteriorating on the ice as summer and the breakup approached, our sleds managed to dodge massive cracks in the splintering ice sheet. For two days we circumvented the open water, sometimes skipping across ice chunks to help bridge the icy waters when the cracks travelled out to sea. As we approached the Sam Ford fjord, the sheer size gave the impression of entering a massive canal with 1400-metre walls. A feeling of insignificance washed over the team as the fjord swallowed us like a great whale.

When we arrived at the southern edge of the Stewart Valley, silence and a low hum settled around us like a blanket. The rising talus, endless ridge lines of granite walls, hanging glaciers and sweeping canyons made the valley seem mythical in scale.



We moved gear toward the windswept beach on the southern edge of Stewart Lake, and spent five days cautiously moving across it, finally arriving at our advanced base camp with a mountain of gear and five weeks of food. We set up our tents in a meadow of moss campion and gazed up at the crown-capped summit of Great Sail Peak. These walls had seen just two ascents until the summer of 2016, and although world-renowned athletes had climbed the face, none had come to free climb.

The logistics of free climbing in the Arctic can be extensive, but after five trips to the eastern fjords, I mapped out a strategy of travelling on the ice in late June and then waiting for the melt, which would give us the best chance of catching summer temperatures. We intentionally trapped ourselves – once the breakup started, there would be no possibility of extraction without a helicopter or icebreaker from Halifax. Our team knew the consequences and recognized the importance of being self-sufficient. We had 30 days to attempt to climb Great Sail Peak.

We hauled bags of gear and food to the wall, established an approach route to the main ledge system 300 metres up, and committed. We free climbed, jugged and hauled our way up the lower wall, free climbing seven pitches of intricate and steep climbing up to 5.12. As we were team-freeing the route, not every member needed to lead each pitch.



We arrived on the ledge that breaks the lower face from the upper two-thirds of climbing. To our surprise, there was a team of climbers already camped there. We knew a pair of Belgians and three Italians were attempting the same wall that summer, but we hadn’t yet met and we couldn’t see them from our camp, so we’d assumed they were farther up the valley. Their team of five had eyed up the same line as us and scooped us in Baffin Island!

So we gathered our thoughts and decided to move down the wall to redirect our energies to a slender turret at the north edge of the wall, away from the main attraction and the belly of the giant.

> Climbing in Baffin Island can feel like travelling to the edge of the earth and falling off – a place where time is hijacked by light and shadow.
>
We mixed free climbing and aid climbing as we moved up, hauling our gear, cleaning the rock and rehearsing difficult moves as we attempted to establish a big wall free climb. In 150 metres, we covered granite, intrusions of diorite, feldspar and mica and even a wall of Precambrian igneous, the ancient core of North America.



The difficult pitches required multiple attempts. A series of discontinuous cracks led to a blank 30-metre traverse. The team free climbed pitches of 5.12 and 5.13 below the traverse, with Marc freeing a bold 12+ crack and a bouldery 5.13 section. We set a portaledge camp below the traverse and morale was high. Then, the storm hit.

A raging south wind blew in off Baffin Bay and mixed with a northern high pressure. With cold air aloft and the rising topography in the fjord, we got slammed. The forecasts had been consistently inconsistent and we were trapped. We hunkered down, tapping into our self-preservation and survival modes. We waited, sure it would pass, but soon any lingering morale morphed into festering. On first few days of the storm, the winds blew any remaining optimism out to sea – then snow and rain arrived and continued for five days. Wall life was desperate; our portaledges acted as sails and my lighter single ledge was buffeted so hard it swiveled 180 degrees numerous times. Snow accumulated below and above, turning the turret into a popsicle. Out of options, we had to make a move: up, or down.



Clad in GORE-TEX and puffy jackets, Brette started us off. She launched across a dramatic traverse above our ledge camp, establishing the team in a faint and shallow corner system. We continued upwards by freeing more difficult corner pitches and leading in blocks, with the leader and second free climbing while the third jugged with a pack. But the free climbing was short lived, as the steepness of the wall gave way to incipient seams and the sky started to transform into drifting layers of fog and rain.

We resorted to mixing aid and free climbing, pushing up tight corners and face seams connected by wet cracks. Brette led an ugly and wet overhanging off-width and handed the sharp end to me. The summit of the turret was guarded by a series of chimneys drenched in snow and a fresh layer of verglas – definitely the team’s psychological crux of the route. We’d been climbing in the rain for hours and were cold, wet and faced with a couple hundred metres of frosted and iced-up chimneys. Morale was low.

This didn’t feel like rock climbing, but more like mixed climbing with rock shoes. I stemmed and pressed up the cracks, and avoided the low-angle ledges covered in ice by climbing the cracks on the side walls. The pitches came together but only because we knew we wouldn’t get a second chance.



The summit of the turret jutted up in three sharp nipples and we extracted ourselves from the chimneys onto a shoulder with easy access to the glacier on the back side. The true summit loomed in the rain clouds above, another couple pitches of wet but moderate climbing. We left it for another day later in the trip. We dropped our gear and peered over the edge, swallowing our stomachs in the process, and reflected on the sheer size and emptiness that loomed below us.

The clouds parted to show the remnants of the storm, snowdrifts overflowing from the glacier, and fresh white on all the peaks. We celebrated with some forgotten food at the bottom of my pack, hugged and watched the sun rise over the black, glistening walls and snowy glaciers to the north.

*Joshua Lavigne’s Baffin Island Great Sail Peak climb was made possible by*[*MEC Expedition Support*](/en/explore/expedition-support)*.*

*In early 2018, Marc-Andre Leclerc and his climbing partner were reported missing in the Medenhall Towers of Alaska. Tragically, the climbing community has lost these two respected and experienced alpinists; they will be remembered and greatly missed.*



Ambassador Joshua Lavigne on the Arctic’s greatest big wall.

Baffin Island: Great Sail Peak Expedition | MEC Blog

Baffin Island: Great Sail Peak

Not so long ago, Anna Pearson woke up at 2:45am, walked 8km up to Cascade Lookout in Manning Park, BC, and watched the sun slowly creep up from behind the mountains, turning the sky shades of gold, rose and powder blue. There’s no doubt that morning’s sunrise meant something special to all 50 strangers who witnessed it as a part of MEC Outdoor Nation and [Chasing Sunrise](http://chasingsunri.se/)’s [Chasecamp](/en/article/chasing-sunrise-36-hours-in-the-unknown) weekend, but for Anna, it meant something different.

As she later recapped on her personal blog, [*Daily Insanity*](http://www.dailyinsanityblog.com/new-blog/2016/5/17/chasing-sunrise), “… taking on new adventures, meeting new people and exploring the world … was my way of showing the monsters that lived inside my head that I was in control of my life and that they would never be able to stop me from pursuing my happiness.”

The Ottawa-based McGill University grad has spent the past five years coming to terms with her clinical depression and generalized anxiety disorder, following what Anna describes as a breakdown and emergency situation over a summer during university. Now, with a healthy routine in place, she bravely chronicles her thoughts on relapse, remission and therapy on the blog, and touches often on a core part of her daily practice: exercise and outdoor activity. “I’ve been doing ballet since I was 4 years old, but I kind of stopped when I went to school,” she says. “Now, being active is hugely important to my daily routine – hiking absolutely has its advantages. My friends say they’ve never seen me so happy.”



It’s a lesson those involved in Canadian charity [Jack.org](https://www.jack.org/) know well. Alexis Lahorra and Jacob Halloran are young leaders with the organization, and help start conversations to end the silence around mental health issues. “I wish people knew that we all have mental health,” says Alexis. “Although 1 in 5 young people will live with a mental illness in their lifetime, 5 in 5 of us have mental health and we all need to care for it.” It’s a sentiment that Jacob echoes. “Just like our physical health, our mental health can fluctuate from well to unwell,” he says. “I’d love for everyone to know that it’s okay to fluctuate across this spectrum.”

Truly, the two go hand in hand. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the [Canadian Mental Health Association](http://ontario.cmha.ca/mental-health/connection-between-mental-and-physical-health/) describe mental and physical health as “fundamentally linked,” further noting that key aspects of prevention of poor mental health include “increasing physical activity, access to nutritious foods … and fostering social inclusion and social support.” A recent [Stanford University](http://news.stanford.edu/2015/06/30/hiking-mental-health-063015/) study also found quantifiable evidence that “walking in nature could lead to a lower risk of depression.”

For Alexis, who has faced depression and anxiety as a result of cyberbullying, being outdoors not only decreases her stress levels, but ups her overall happiness. “There is something so soothing and relaxing about being around trees, mountains and fresh air,” says the Montreal resident. “I like to bring a journal with me. I use that time to disconnect, reflect and enjoy the moment.”

Jacob is adamant that people should not have to suffer in silence because of the stigma that surrounds mental health and mental illness, and sees himself as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. “Love is love, and health is health,” he states. As a marathon runner based in Halifax, he sees activity as his go-to for mental health self-care. “I love distance running because it offers me a chance to lose myself in the moment and let go of daily stresses. Spending time outside helps me keep my life in perspective.”



Youth from Jack.org’s national network recently met with their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Victoria, BC, while the couple was on their second Canadian tour; an event that will surely help quell lingering public stigma about mental health.

Continuing the discussion is something that is vitally important to Alexis, Jacob and Anna. “I always knew I wanted to share [my story],” says Anna, who first divulged her personal experience in a McGill student publication before starting her blog. “Total strangers wrote to me, sharing similar stories,” she says. It’s something that happens more frequently now as a result of *Daily Insanity*. “It’s not always about giving advice,” she says of being there for strangers. “I just try and listen and be there as a support. I let them drive the conversation.”

One piece of advice Anna is quick to give, however, is not to introduce activity at a vulnerable time. She admits to initially taking up running as a coping mechanism for her depression and anxiety, eventually developing an eating disorder and an injury. She suggests recreational group activities as a first step because they come with built-in community and support. “When you recover from a downward spiral,” says Anna, “you realize all the little things you take for granted, and the outdoors has a way of really highlighting that.”



Having recently reconnected with a friend from high school who had reached out and said she’d faced similar struggles, the two are back from a hiking and camping trip through Lake Louise, Banff and Field. At home, she donates her time as a karma yogi at her local studio and gets outside often at Gatineau Park, which she calls a hidden gem. The active moments afford her the clarity she needs to see her mental health clearly. “It makes me think about what matters,” she says. “What I really want.”

*MEC was proud to provide youth mental health organization*[*Jack.org*](http://jack.org)* – and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – with*[*MEC Alpine Ally*](/en/product/5042-392/Alpine-Ally-Jacket)* and*[*Hydrofoil*](/en/product/5053-812/Hydrofoil-Stretch-Jacket)* jackets for an official Royal Tour event in Victoria Harbour, BC.*

*Top photo credit: [Ivan Calderon](http://www.ivancalderonphotography.com/).*



Forget the 6-pack – being active has serious benefits for your mental health. Anna Pearson and Jack.org's Alexis Lahorra and Jacob Halloran share their personal stories.

Why being active outdoors matters more than ever | MEC Blog

Why being active outdoors matters more than ever

When you surround yourself with outdoorsy types, your notions of what’s normal become skewed. In the MEC community, it seems like there’s always someone sending a crazy peak, crushing a half marathon or organizing a lunchtime party in the park – you’re pretty much guaranteed to meet people who are into the same good times outside as you are. So, while I might have found the idea of a one-night midweek camp-out crazy just a year ago, now I get giddy at the thought. 



Our crew of five left from the office to summit [Mount Seymour](http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/mt_seymour/) on a foggy Wednesday evening in early August. We grabbed our [overnight packs](/en/brand/mec/products/gear/packs-and-bags/backpacking-packs/multi-day-packs-%2855---75l%29/c/1341) followed the twisting trail up from the main parking lot, and Missy frequently pulled out a GoPro to film the first of many memorable moments as we navigated into the backcountry, the sun peeking through hazy clouds at the top.   



Tents pitched and sleeping bags unrolled, we found a small circling of rocks and set down for a potluck dinner. Local brews, cider and wine washed down our tapas-style hummus and fixings, plus kale and quinoa salads and a bar of [dark chocolate](/en/product/5044-352/Saltry-Sea-Salt%26-Almonds---Dark-Chocolate-Bar) to share. Elyse, Senja and Rebecca brought out [glowy lanterns](/en/ideal-for/camping-and-hiking/products/gear/lighting-and-headlamps/lanterns/c/1307) that lit up our little spot, and we were up till nearly midnight laughing. 

The morning sun softly lit up the sky from under low clouds as we packed up and headed to Mystery Lake. After a refreshing morning dip, we dug into rosemary rocksalt bagels and toyed with the idea of breaking out the [Aeropress](/en/product/5046-862/Coffee%26-Espresso-Maker), but there was no need – we were all wide awake from the swim. 



For 15 sweet hours we’d seemingly had the mountain to ourselves, laughing over dinner, listening to the wind sweep through the trees and snacking on sun-warmed blueberries. I’ve lived in Vancouver for nearly a decade and always saw the outdoorsy stuff as a weekend endeavor – but even if it takes an hour or two to get somewhere, random nights with friends out in nature under the stars are worth the distance, no matter where you are or what day of the week it is. #### What was worth the weight 
**1. A camera
**Missy was our resident videographer, filming a bunch of mini-clips that resulted in a sweet souvenir video of our overnight. While her particularly teeny camera didn’t weigh much, it definitely made me look into a new mirrorless camera for the next one.



Wednesday Warriors: 15 hours in the Wild



**2. Cheers-worthy drinks
**My pack definitely would’ve been far lighter without the few cans I’d stuffed in at the parking lot, but raising some adventure mugs over dinner made it worth it.

**3. Good food**
Or at the very least, some hot sauce or [spices](/en/product/4014-607/Multi-Spice-Pack) to give your dehydrated stuff some zip. Tip: make sure it all fits in your [bear bin](/en/brand/bearvault/ideal-for/camping-and-hiking/products/gear/health-and-safety/bear-safety/c/1207?q=%3Asales-rank&text=) before you leave including toothpaste, gum and anything else with a scent.

**4. Mood lighting** 
From dinnertime to our tent hang later, the [lanterns](/en/ideal-for/camping-and-hiking/products/gear/lighting-and-headlamps/lanterns/c/1307) beat our headlamps for keeping everything dreamily lit. Next time I’d grab [this one](/en/product/5052-448/Firelid-LED-Bottle-Light) that turns your water bottle into a lantern. 

**5. A cushy sleeping pad and pillow** 
For me this is an absolute must-have. Before I got my light [camp pillow](/en/product/5046-842/VectAir-Pillow), I’d bring a heavy airplane memory foam one, and that was still worth it to not have a sore neck. An [insulated sleeping pad](/en/product/5042-420/VectAir-Insulated-Sleeping-Pad) means extra warmth when the sun goes down.

**6. Breakfast and coffee** 
Okay, we didn’t have coffee (the lake woke us up), but if you’re a [coffee addict](/en/article/a-coffee-addicts-guide-to-camp-coffee), it’s pretty essential. Plus the post-swim bagels totally hit the spot. If you’re into big camp breakfasts, don’t forget your [cookware](/en/brand/gsi+snow-peak/products/gear/camping-and-hiking-gear/kitchen/cookware-and-utensils/c/1271).

**7. Swimsuits and camp towels
**That morning dip was definitely one of the highlights of our little adventure. If you’re near a lake on a summer hike, you’ll want your [suit](/en/ideal-for/watersports/products/clothing/swimwear/c/1036) and [towel](/en/products/gear/bath-and-sanitation-products/towels/c/811) handy. 

#### What wasn’t worth it (this time) 
We packed a few extras with every intention of having the most awesome camp-out ever, but when you’re only doing a quick overnight, sometimes there just aren’t enough hours to see all your plans through. We didn’t end up setting up our hammock, I didn’t read the book I brought along, and we didn’t break out the playing cards.

Lesson learned: don’t underestimate the power of good conversation and good company outside. 



There's always room for bagels. Find out what made the cut – and what we could’ve left behind – on our midweek camp-out adventure.

Wednesday night camp-out: 7 items worth the weight

New deals dropping – see what’s fresh

Free store pickup and returns. Find out more

Phone: (514) 788-5878

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).




#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|




Bike shop

Your local MEC store is more than just a place to get gear – it’s a hub for your outdoor community. MEC All Out (our community program) has all kinds of ways to help you get outside:



### Local events
Find [MEC events](https://events.mec.ca/&organization=mec) near you to see what’s happening in store, make connections with interesting people and get active outdoors. Year-round, MEC offers low cost (or even free) clinics and workshops from friendly staff instructors, plus events happening in the larger community – everything from backcountry navigation classes to film screenings.



### Grants and donations
Our community program has given tens of millions of dollars to help people in Canada get active outdoors. Have an awesome outdoor idea? Check out our [community grants](/en/explore/spring-and-fall-grants) and [grassroots product donations](/en/explore/grassroots-product-donations) for criteria and applications.



### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email mon_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.

### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly. *



Community

If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Montreal for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

MEC Montreal opened in 2003, and was our first store in Quebec. It was also the first retail building in Quebec to meet the national C2000 Green Building Standard, and the amount of energy it consumes is nearly 70% less than was required by the Model National Energy Code at the time of construction. Here are some of the green features:

- The wood deck inside the curved roof was salvaged from the Seagram’s distillery in Ville Lasalle. Salvaged wood is also used in the entrance canopy and railings.
- To reduce material waste, the concrete slabs contain 27% blast furnace slag (a by-product of steel manufacturing).
- 50% of the materials used in the building are made of recycled content, by weight.
- Walls are insulated with cellulose fibre from recycled newsprint to cut down on energy consumption (they provide about twice as much thermal insulation as conventional retail buildings from the same era).
- Captured precipitation (stormwater run-off) from the roof is stored in a 45,000L underground cistern, and is used for landscaping and toilet water – this cuts our potable water use in half.
- To keep energy usage down, the concrete floor acts as a thermal reservoir that’s warmed or cooled by fluid pumped through embedded piping. Twelve geothermal wells pump extracted heat in winter and disperse heat in summer.
- There’s mostly natural ventilation with fresh air coming in through underground tunnels. In summer, warm air rises and escapes through roof vents and motorized window openings.
- CO2 sensors keep a good balance of fresh air coming in, so energy isn’t wasted in heating or cooling.
- Lots of daylight reduces the need for artificial lighting. The lights we do have shut off automatically when there’s enough natural light to save energy (for both the lights and the energy needed to cool heat from the bulbs).

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



Green building features

For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance).

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Batteries (no broken or corroded ones please).
- Bike tires (no tubes) – they can get ground up for tarmac or playground surfaces.

Due to safety concerns, we do not accept used flammable goods, including camping gas canisters, stove fuel, flares, bear bangers and bear spray. Please contact your local waste management office to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



Repairs and recycling

Professional ski and snowboard shop services to set you up for the season. Some services may not be available year-round. Call us to set up a visit.

Buy two of the big three – board/skis, bindings, boots – from MEC and we’ll mount your bindings for free. This offer applies to all types of snowboard and ski equipment sold at MEC. If you’re shopping online, take advantage of this deal by calling your store to arrange an appointment to mount your bindings before you visit. Our ski techs get busy, and we don’t want to let you down.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (machine)| $15|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Machine sharpen and wax| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|
| Boot punching (First punch)| $50|
| Boot punching (Additional punch)| $25|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Ski services

Easter Monday

Store Pickup

We are following the advice and guidance of local health authorities to ensure we are providing the safest possible environment to MEC members and staff.

We aim to provide a safe environment that respects everyone’s comfort level and risk tolerance. Thanks for looking out for each other.

Order online and [pick up](/en/explore/in-store-pickup) at this location.

You can [return](/en/explore/covid-19-shipping-and-returns-updates) products to any store.



**MEC is closely monitoring provincial government guidelines to ensure the safety of all members and staff.**

#### Safety measures
- Number of people inside stores is limited and controlled at all entrances.  
- Social distancing guidelines are posted outside and inside stores.
- Lineup areas have two-meter markers on the floor.
- Staff are required to wear personal protective equipment, including masks.
- Hand sanitizer stations are set up for members and staff to use.  
- Staff practice and promote everyday preventive behaviours including frequent hand washing and social distancing.  
- Common areas including doors, staircases, cash desks, and bike fitting areas are regularly disinfected.  
- Cleaning processes are enhanced for the entire store. 
- Restrictions on the type of clothing and gear members are permitted to try on.  
- Plexiglass shields are installed at cashier stations. 

#### Service updates  
- Climbing walls and play areas are closed.  
- Clinics, events and community room bookings are paused.  
- Rental services are paused.  
- Repair shops are open for bike and ski repairs only.

#### Facilities and supply chain
- We are following all government advisories regarding gathering sizes and retail operations  
- We remain committed to our responsible sourcing practices. MEC continues to uphold standards for the health and safety of people who make and distribute the products we sell.   









Welcome

Phone: Call(905) 333-8559

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).




#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|






Your local MEC store is more than just a place to get gear – it’s a hub for your outdoor community. MEC All Out (our community program) has all kinds of ways to help you get outside:

### Local events
Year-round, MEC offers low cost (or even free) clinics and workshops. Find [MEC events](https://events.mec.ca/&organization=mec) near you see what’s happening in store, learn new outdoor skills from friendly staff instructors, and spark ideas for your next outdoor trip.

### Grants and donations
Our community program has given tens of millions of dollars to help people in Canada get active outdoors. Have an awesome outdoor idea? Check out our [community grants](/en/explore/spring-and-fall-grants) and [grassroots product donations](/en/explore/grassroots-product-donations) for criteria and applications.



### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email bur_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.

### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Burlington for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

MEC Burlington opened in 2008, and was designed to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification. Compared to conventional retail buildings from the same period, it was made to be 70% more energy efficient. Here are some of the green features:

- A photovoltaic system generates energy that’s fed into the power grid.
- The structure and envelope are designed to be disassembled and repurposed when the building reaches the end of its useful life.
- There are separate systems for heating, cooling and ventilation to maximize energy efficiency. For heating, there are high-efficiency gas boilers with radiant in-floor heating. For cooling, there’s an ice storage system that uses off-electricity. And for ventilation, there’s a fan-assisted displacement system with heat recovery.
- Many high clerestory windows at roofline reduce the need for artificial lighting. The lights we do have turn down or off automatically when there’s enough natural light to save energy (for both the lights and the energy needed to cool heat from the bulbs).
- The combo of low-flow fixtures and grey water usage cuts potable water requirements by half.
- Captured precipitation (stormwater) provides water for all non-potable uses, like toilets and garden watering. Stormwater gets retained and infiltrated on site and won’t discharge water to municipal storm drains (except under extraordinary circumstances, like an enormous storm).
- Landscaping uses non-invasive species that encourage bird and insect populations.

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance)

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Batteries (no broken or corroded ones please).
- Empty CO2 cartridges used for bike tires and avalanche safety.
- Bike tires (no tubes) – they can get ground up for tarmac or playground surfaces.

Due to safety concerns, we do not accept used flammable goods, including camping gas canisters, stove fuel, flares, bear bangers and bear spray. Please contact your local waste management office to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement – per rivet| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement – per strap| $15/unit|



Phone: 450.688.2712

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).




#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|



### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email lav_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.

### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *



It’s small, but it does the trick. Available for use by local outdoor clubs, environmental groups and NGOs that have a similar mandate as MEC. Please email lav_aa@mec.ca at least a month before your event to reserve the space.

- Space: fits up to 35
- Equipment: wall-mounted TV with HDMI, dry erase whiteboard, MEC guest wifi
- Seating and tables: long tables, office chairs, folding chairs



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Laval for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

The space we are taking over provides great potential to bring the MEC brand to life inside and out.

The design will be in-keeping with the new architectural embodiment of the MEC brand, with extensive use of wood on both the inside and outside of the building. Green building features will include a high-performance building envelope and heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) system.

All MEC facilities are subject to our internal green building program, which establishes minimum performance standards. MEC Laval will be no different.

Two of the most important aspects of green buildings are the building envelope and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (or HVAC) system. The Laval store will provide R40 and R60 thermal performance in the walls and roof, respectively, and feature a best-in-class roof top HVAC system.

Energy efficient lighting will also be used throughout the store. Plus, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) will be purchased for all energy consumed by MEC Laval.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



Professional ski and snowboard shop services to set you up for the season. Some services may not be available year-round. Call us to set up a visit.

When you buy 2 or more of the big 3 items (skis, boots or bindings), we’ll mount your bindings for free. This offer applies to all types of ski equipment sold at MEC, and proof of purchase is required. If you’re shopping online, you can take advantage of this deal by placing your order via phone at 1.888.847.0770 or 604.876.6221.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Machine sharpen and wax| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|



Phone: (250) 448-7637

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).



#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|





### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Kelowna for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

Located in the heart of the city, MEC Kelowna is a prime location for Okanagan residents and visitors. The store opened in 2016 after doing extensive renovations to an existing building, which included updates to make the space more energy efficient. Here are some of the green features:

- Moved into an existing building, which saved on construction materials and the embodied energy costs.
- Significant updates to the roof insulation, since that’s a major spot to cut down on heat loss (just like people, buildings can lose a lot of heat through their highest point).
- Rooftop solar system pre-heats the hot water for the building to cut down on energy required.
- Upgraded to a high-efficiency HVAC to reduce energy use, and a heat recovery ventilator reduces the amount of energy required to heat the building.
- Furniture is certified by Level, a third-party sustainability certification program that looks at environmental and social impacts.
- To cut down on materials required, there are minimal floor coverings.
- To reduce energy consumption, we use predominately high-efficiency LED lighting controlled by auto dimmers and occupancy sensors in some areas, and on automated schedules elsewhere.
- Landscaping uses non-invasive species that encourage bird and insect populations, and doesn’t need irrigation except for in drought conditions.
- Low-flow fixtures such as toilets, urinals and shower heads reduce overall water consumption.

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance).

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Batteries (no broken or corroded ones please).

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Alpine| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Phone: (902) 421-2667

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).



#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|






### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email hal_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Halifax for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

MEC arrived in the Atlantic region in 2001 with our Halifax store. We moved into an existing building and used as many of the on-site structural elements as possible. While this store wasn’t built from the ground up, we still found ways to make small changes that add up to energy savings over time. Here are some of the green features:

- Moved into an existing building, which saved on construction materials and the embodied energy costs.
- To cut down on materials required, there are minimal floor and ceiling coverings.
- We’re replacing some of the conventional lighting with energy saving LED fixtures.

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement| $15/unit|



Phone: (613) 729-2700

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).




#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $20 – $25|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|




If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Ottawa for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

MEC Ottawa opened in 2000. Before we started construction, there was a 40-year-old building on the site. We carefully dismantled it and then reused as much material as possible for our store. In the end, about 75% of the existing building (by weight) was incorporated into our store. To add to that accomplishment, this was the first retail building in Canada to comply with Canada’s C2000 Green Building Standard. Here are some of the green features:

- 80% of all the material travelled less than 500km to the site, which cuts down on transportation emissions. For example, rock excavated from the site was used in cladding.
- The floor is made from timber reclaimed from the St. Lawrence River and the previous building.
- During construction, we used panelized material and screwed connections, so the building can be taken apart, reused and recycled more easily when it’s reached the end of its life.
- One of the walls on the upper floor is infilled with bailed straw, a natural, renewable resource. (Check it out in the viewing portal.)
- Rock Wool insulation in other walls have 50% recycled content.
- The heating system uses a 94%-efficient natural gas hydronic boiler system to heat water.
- CO2 sensors keep a good balance of fresh air coming in, so energy isn’t wasted in heating or cooling.
- A skylight and roof monitor means we don’t need as much artificial lighting.
- To keep landscaping looking good, the irrigation system uses non-potable rainwater that gets gravity-fed to plants.
- Electric vehicle charging stations have reserved parking spots.

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance).

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Batteries (no broken or corroded ones please).

Due to safety concerns, we do not accept used flammable goods, including camping gas canisters, stove fuel, flares, bear bangers and bear spray. Please contact your local waste management office to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



Recycling and repairs

| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Downhill| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (machine)| $15|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Machine sharpen and wax| $35|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|
| Boot punching (First punch)| $50|
| Boot punching (Additional punch)| $25|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Phone: (604) 872-7858

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).





#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $


More than just a place to get gear – this store is a hub for your outdoor community. As a flagship, it’s home to a couple of cool extras, like a bouldering wall and a special space for events.

*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all community events for the moment. We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings.*

### Local events
Basecamp is our open-concept community space.  Year-round, MEC offers low cost (or even free) clinics and workshops from friendly staff instructors, plus events happening in the larger community – everything from backcountry navigation classes to film screenings. Find [MEC events](https://events.mec.ca/&organization=mec) near you

### Outdoor impact
This year, we’re  donating $1 million to Canadian outdoor organizations to teach outdoor skills, protect wild spaces and grow the communities of people getting active outside. Funding  supports groups across Canada with avalanche safety training, outdoor programs for youth, conserving wilderness and more. [Learn more about community partnerships](/en/explore/outdoor-impact)

### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email van_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Vancouver for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

MEC was born in Vancouver in 1971. Over the decades, we’ve moved through a number of spaces, and our current flagship store in Olympic Village was designed with sustainability from the ground up.

Here are some of the green features:

- **Wood is good**. In fact, when it’s a mass timber superstructure like this flagship store, wood is great. The timber is a composite, which means it doesn’t use old-growth sources. It’s also a renewable building material, stores carbon, and can easily be reused at the end of its life.
- **Drip, drip, drip**: It rains 150+ days a year here, so we make the most of it. The roof captures rainwater that funnels into an underground cistern to provide up to 80% of the water used for flushing toilets.
- **Less is more**: 30% less s’mores around the campfire? Not so good. 30% less energy used by a building? Brilliant. This space is designed to use almost one-third less energy than the standards set out by the national energy code for buildings.
- **A renewable day in the neighbourhood**: We’re connected to an innovative energy system that recovers heat from untreated urban wastewater (a sanitized way of saying sewage). It’s renewable and doesn’t rely on fossil fuels.
- **Behind the scenes**: Some of the biggest energy savings come from things you can’t see: heating and cooling systems. The building envelope has more insulation than most and the HVAC units are high-efficiency.
- **Carbon neutral**: Like all MEC buildings, this space is operationally carbon neutral. We buy renewable energy certificates (wind and low-impact hydro) to match the electricity we use in this location.
- **Safe for salmon**: It’s official: this building is certified as Salmon-Safe, thanks to its progressive water management practices. It’s only the second Salmon-Safe urban site in BC – [MEC Head Office](/en/explore/head-office) was the first.

MEC aims to minimize environmental impacts and make our buildings healthy, inviting spaces. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance).

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Household batteries (no broken or corroded ones please)
- Bicycle tires and tubes
- Climbing rope – it could become dog leashes, acoustic insulation or stuffing

Due to safety concerns, we do not accept used flammable goods, including camping gas canisters, stove fuel, flares, bear bangers and bear spray. Please contact your local waste management office to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (machine)| $15|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Machine sharpen and wax| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Canada Day

Labour Day

Thanksgiving

Remembrance Day

Christmas Day

We are following the advice and guidance of local health authorities to ensure we are providing the safest possible environment to MEC members and staff.

We aim to provide a safe environment that respects everyone’s comfort level and risk tolerance. Thanks for looking out for each other.

Order online and [pick up](/en/explore/in-store-pickup) at this location.

You can [return](/en/explore/covid-19-shipping-and-returns-updates) products to any store.


Phone: (416) 340-2667

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).



#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $20 – $25|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $20 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|






### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *





If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Toronto for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|



| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Friday

Sunday

Thursday

Christmas Eve

Boxing Day

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

New Years Eve

New Years Day

**MEC is closely monitoring provincial government guidelines to ensure the safety of all members and staff.**

#### Service updates  
- Climbing walls and play areas are closed.  
- Clinics, events and community room bookings are paused.  
- Rental services are paused.  
- Repair shops are open for bike and ski repairs only.

#### Facilities and supply chain
- We are following all government advisories regarding gathering sizes and retail operations  
- We remain committed to our responsible sourcing practices. MEC continues to uphold standards for the health and safety of people who make and distribute the products we sell.   









Phone: 519.896.4972

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike Fitting services are temporarily paused.

## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).



#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|





### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *



It’s small, but it does the trick. Available for use by local outdoor clubs, environmental groups and NGOs that have a similar mandate as MEC. Please email at least a month before your event to reserve the space.

- Space: fits 15–20, large windows, natural light
- Equipment: Wall-mounted TV with HDMI, projector with HDMI input, mobile projector display, dry erase whiteboard, MEC guest wifi
- Seating and tables: long tables, office chairs, folding chairs



MEC Kitchener is a new purpose-built store that has been constructed to our specifications. The store will join the co-op’s growing portfolio of high-performance green buildings.

All MEC facilities are subject to our internal green building program, which establishes minimum performance standards. MEC Kitchener will be no different. Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store will be operationally carbon neutral.

The building incorporates key elements of MEC’s renewed architectural brand, including a distinctive floating canopy to mark the store’s entrance and wood-infused interiors to define the store and display merchandise.

Green building features will include:

- A high-performance building envelope and heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) system
- A high R-value thermal barrier, allowing for superior insulation and energy savings.
- Energy-efficient LED lighting and low-flow fixtures throughout the store.

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) will be purchased for all energy consumed by MEC Kitchener. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/). Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



(418) 522.8884

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



Welcome back! MEC in Quebec is open with limits to the number of people inside, plus reduced hours and services. We are following the advice and guidance of local health authorities to ensure we are providing the safest possible environment to MEC members and staff.

Note, we are not yet accepting returns in person. For the safety of MEC staff, we are accepting returns by mail only.



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Québec City for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

The space we are taking over provides great potential to bring the MEC brand to life inside and out.

The design will be in-keeping with the new architectural embodiment of the MEC brand, with a distinctive floating canopy to mark the store’s entrance and wood-infused interiors to define the store and display merchandise.

All MEC facilities are subject to our internal green building program, which establishes minimum performance standards. MEC’s new Quebec City store will be no different.

Two of the most important aspects of green buildings are the building envelope and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (or HVAC) system. The new Quebec City store will provide R40 and R60 thermal performance in the walls and roof, respectively, and feature a best-in-class roof top HVAC system.

Energy efficient lighting will also be used throughout the store. Plus, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) will be purchased for all energy consumed by MEC’s Quebec City store.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance).

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Batteries (no broken or corroded ones please).
- Bike tires and tubes – they can get ground up for tarmac or playground surfaces.
- Climbing rope – it could become dog leashes, acoustic insulation or stuffing.

Due to safety concerns, we do not accept used flammable goods, including camping gas canisters, stove fuel, flares, bear bangers and bear spray. Please contact your local waste management office to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|
| Base cleaning| $10|
| Base binder application| $10|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Phone: 519.668.6657

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC London for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

The space we have taken over provides great potential to bring the MEC brand to life inside and out.

The completely refurbished building incorporates key elements of MEC’s renewed architectural brand, including a distinctive floating canopy to mark the store’s entrance and wood-infused interiors to define the store and display merchandise.

Our new architectural design is featured in the building and improvements include a new roof with R40 thermal protection and a high-performance heating, cooling and ventilation system.

As part of MEC’s extensive green building program, the store operates on renewable energy.



Phone: (416) 221-0030

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



Bike services

Every purchase at MEC supports your community. From helping people get to Rouge National Urban Park, to leading nature walks and teaching families how to plan their first camping trip, these local organizations and programs make getting outside just a little bit easier. MEC works with many groups in the North York community, including:



Never camped before? Don’t know where to start, or just want a refresher before your next trip? With support from MEC, [Parks Canada’s Learn to Camp program](https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/serapprocher-connect/ltc-dlc) introduces you and your family to the basics of camping in Canada’s beautiful natural settings. Through overnight experiences and daytime workshops, you’ll learn camping skills like how to set up a tent, plan a camping menu and cook outdoors.



MEC and the Canadian Wilderness Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) are working together to create community support for conservation in Rouge National Urban Park and around the GTA. As a chapter of CPAWS, [Wildlands League](https://wildlandsleague.org/)’s mission is to protect the natural world that supports us with a connected network of wild lands and protected natural areas, and to promote recreation and resource use in ways that are sustainable for nature, communities and the economy.



MEC partners with [Parkbus](https://parkbus.ca/index) to help thousands of Canadians visit national and provincial parks from major cities across Canada – including a free shuttle from Toronto to Rouge National Urban Park. From day trips and family camping weekends to wilderness expeditions, Parkbus offers accessible transportation options to help city dwellers connect with nature.



[Healing in Nature: Bereavement Network](http://bereavementnetwork.ca/) (HNBN) is a non-for-profit project that provides grief support for youth and young adults through nature walks. They host walking groups on local trails for youth and young adults who are grieving, including newcomers to the community and refugees.



### Grants and donations
Our grant program has given tens of millions of dollars to conservation and the outdoor community in Canada – everything from product donations and advocacy projects to activity funding and land acquisitions. Find out if your community project is eligible and learn [how to apply for support](/en/explore/apply-grant-support).



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC North York for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

Events

MEC North York is part of the co-op’s growing portfolio of high-performance green buildings. All MEC facilities are designed to meet these performance standards as part of our internal green building program.

The building incorporates key elements of MEC’s renewed architectural brand, including a distinctive floating canopy to mark the store’s entrance and wood-infused interiors to define the store and display merchandise.

Like all MEC buildings, MEC North York is operationally carbon neutral. The store is designed to be almost 50% more energy efficient than a comparable commercial building, based on Model National Energy Code for Buildings [MNECB] 1997.

Green building features includes a high-performance building envelope and heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) system, as well as extensive LED lighting. In addition:

- The high-performance building envelope includes structural insulated panels (SIPs), which allow for superior insulation and energy savings.
- The HVAC system features a heat recovery ventilator with underfloor air distribution, and energy-efficient heat pumps for heating and cooling.
- Energy-efficient LED lighting is installed in 80% of the retail areas.

MEC North York is spread over two floors, with a feature stairwell connecting the two levels. The space is marked by a saw-tooth roof lined with clerestory windows that flood the retail floor with natural light.

MEC North York meets the Tier 1 level of the Toronto Green Standard (TGS).

We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/). Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in all our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Downhill| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (machine)| $15|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Machine sharpen and wax| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|



Phone: (403) 269-2420

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).




#### Basic Tune-up $120
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $160
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $240
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $20 – $25|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|




### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email cal_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.

### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly. *



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Calgary for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

When we build a store, we try to recycle or reuse buildings and/or building materials wherever possible. There were fewer opportunities to do this at our Calgary site than at our other stores, but we’ve found ways to improve where we can. Here are some of the green features:****

- To cut down on materials required, there are minimal floor and ceiling coverings.
- To let in as much natural light as possible, we have energy-efficient double-paned windows.
- Since there’s not a lot of natural light in this building, we use energy efficient fluorescent tubes for base lighting and have replaced some of the accent lighting with energy saving LED fixtures.

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Downhill| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (machine)| $15|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Machine sharpen and wax| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|
| Boot punching (First punch)| $50|
| Boot punching (Additional punch)| $25|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Victoria Day

Phone: 705.792.4675

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused



### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email bar_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.

*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Barrie for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

Located on the way to northern Ontario’s outdoor playgrounds, MEC Barrie opened in 2010. Compared to a conventional retail building about the same size, it was made to be 70% more efficient than those built during the same period. Here are some of the green features:

- A high-efficiency building envelope reduces the amount of energy needed, and has significantly more thermal insulation than conventional buildings.
- The wood, concrete and steel structure is designed to be disassembled and repurposed when the building reaches the end of its useful life.
- To cut down on the amount of energy required for heating and cooling, a concrete slab floor acts as a thermal reservoir which is warmed or cooled by a geo-exchange system that pumps fluid through embedded piping.
- The sawtooth-shaped roof is oriented so the less-intense northern light can help naturally light the store. The more-intense southern light hits the long side of each “tooth” and gets captured by a photovoltaic array.
- Many high clerestory windows at roofline reduce the need for artificial lighting. The lights we do have turn down or off automatically when there’s enough natural light to save energy (for both the lights and the energy needed to cool heat from the bulbs).
- A solar thermal collector on the roof preheats hot water used in the kitchen and bathrooms. The residual heat from this grey water is partially captured and used to preheat other potable water.
- The combo of low-flow fixtures and grey water usage cuts potable water requirements by half.
- Captured precipitation (stormwater) provides water for all non-potable uses, such as toilets. Stormwater gets retained and infiltrated on site and won’t discharge water to municipal storm drains (except under extraordinary circumstances, like an enormous storm).
- Landscaping uses non-invasive species that encourage bird and insect populations, and doesn’t need irrigation except for in drought conditions.

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Phone: (204) 943-4202

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Winnipeg for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.