Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) is supporting Alberta’s outdoor community following the closure of Breathe Outdoors, formerly known as Campers Village, by honouring its gift cards and hiring several of the retailer’s staff in Edmonton and Calgary.
For a limited time, customers can redeem or transfer the balance of a Breathe Outdoors gift card to an MEC gift card of equal value at MEC’s Edmonton or Calgary stores. The initiative allows customers to access outdoor gear and expert advice while providing employment for some of Breathe Outdoors’ employees.
Following MEC’s return to Canadian ownership this year, the company has seen “positive momentum, fueled by a strong summer of camping, paddling, and close-to-home adventures,” according to the retailer. That success has placed MEC in a position to support the well-known Alberta business.
“We are deeply saddened by the closure of Breathe Outdoors, an iconic name in Alberta’s outdoor story,” said Peter Hlynsky, CEO of MEC. “As a fellow Canadian outdoor retailer, we know how much passion, resilience, hard work, and community connection goes into building a legacy like this.
“We’re fortunate to be able to step up and support Breathe Outdoors’ staff by welcoming some of them into the MEC family and support their customers by helping them gear up for the season ahead.”
Breathe Outdoors was a family-run business founded by the Bryant family and operated for more than 62 years, with two locations in Edmonton and one in Calgary. MEC said it recognizes the role the retailer has played in Alberta’s outdoor community and is proud to help carry that spirit forward.
“Breathe Outdoors and MEC have always shared the same mission, helping people get outside and enjoy the outdoors. If we didn’t have what a customer needed, we’d send them to MEC, and they did the same for us. Our customers are their customers, and together we’ve served this community for years. We are deeply grateful that MEC is stepping in to honour outstanding gift cards. It’s a gesture that shows their commitment to the people and places we’ve both been proud to serve,” said owners Ron and Terry Bryant.
Customers who redeem or transfer Breathe Outdoors gift cards to MEC gift cards this fall will have access to products from outdoor brands such as Arc’teryx, Patagonia, and Salomon, as well as MEC’s own label brand. MEC staff will provide guidance and advice, while customers can also participate in free clinics, workshops, and events that connect them with other outdoor enthusiasts.
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