Leading Outdoor Activity Retailer MEC Announces First Location in Tri-Cities; Open Spring 2017

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 26, 2016) -

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Active people in the Tri-Cities will soon get a boost, as Canada's go-to place for outdoor gear and know-how, MEC, today announced plans to open an 18,000-square-foot store at 10 Manitou Drive in Kitchener. MEC aims to better serve its 30,000 local members, and to grow and inspire the active outdoor community within the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo metropolitan area and surrounding regions.

Centrally located near Fairview Park Mall and a future ION rapid transit station, MEC's Kitchener store will offer outdoor enthusiasts a comprehensive selection of products for all manner of activities - from camping, hiking, and paddling to cycling, running, yoga and fitness - as well as a host of services and community events.

"The Tri-Cities is one of the fastest growing regions of Ontario, with many millennials among the area's newcomers," said MEC CFO Sandy Treagus. These are young, active tech-savvy individuals who we believe are well-disposed to MEC's unique retail offering.

"We are keen to welcome new and existing Tri-Cities members to MEC's 'tent'," Treagus added.

In addition to a carefully curated assortment of lifestyle and activity products, MEC will offer solid support for popular regional activities like cycling, running and paddling. The new store will cater to novice and experienced adventurers alike, regardless of their age or gender.

MEC members will have access to a full-service bike repair and ski-tech shop as well as an equipment rental program for boats, skis and camping gear. A community meeting room will be available for use by local outdoor clubs and environmental organizations.

To further support the outdoor community in Ontario, every year MEC donates a portion of sales to support outdoor recreation and conservation. Through its Community Involvement program, and as a member organization of 1% for the Planet, since 2013, MEC has contributed more than $1.35 million to over 100 separate projects in the province of Ontario.

The new purpose-built store will feature key elements of MEC's renewed architectural brand, including a distinctive floating canopy to mark the store's entrance, with wood and natural materials to define the space, display merchandise and create an inviting shopping environment.

Following the opening of its new North York store this fall, MEC Kitchener will be the retail co-op's seventh store in Ontario. MEC will also relocate its London store to larger premises. Plans are also in the works to relocate MEC's downtown Toronto flagship store in 2018 to a more accessible Queen Street location.

The store developments are part of an unprecedented period of growth for MEC. The co-op's sales topped $350 million for the first time in 2015, while more than 225,000 new members joined its membership fold.

Work on the new purpose-built store is underway and will continue for approximately nine months. Then, once product merchandising and fit-up are complete, the store will open sometime next Spring (2017).

10 Manitou Road is owned by First Capital Realty.

About MEC

Canada's go-to place for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration, MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) is passionate about enabling everyone to lead active outdoor lifestyles. From city streets and yoga studios to backcountry trails and pristine waterways, MEC matches people with the expertise, experience, enthusiasm and gear they need for camping, snowsports, watersports, cycling, climbing, hiking, running, yoga and fitness. Through our commitment to 1% for the Planet, every year member purchases allow us to donate one percent of sales ($3.4 million in 2015) to Canadian non-profit organizations that help conserve ecologically and recreationally important areas. MEC has over 4 million members across Canada. Become part of MEC with a $5 lifetime membership and visit us at our 18 stores, at www.mec.ca and our Shop MEC iPhone® app.

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