Le Coeur en Fête in 4 Cominar Centers

August 3, 2023

After the memorable success of the first edition in 2022, it's Mail Champlain, Centre Rockland and Galeries de Hull's turn to celebrate. Along with Galeries de Hull, a pioneer of the Fête de quartier, our centers have created a warm and welcoming program with and for their communities. Neighbors and families are invited to let themselves be surprised this summer!

Music, gourmet tastings, discovery workshops and outdoor exercise sessions: everything is in place to ensure festivities that will make you want to do it all over again. "This forward-looking initiative is inspiring and contributes to creating everyday destinations where it's good to live and have fun," explains Karine Rodrigue and Mélanie Castonguay, Marketing Directors, Cominar. "Our block parties are ideal for forging ties and discovering the richness of our communities."

See the program at a Cominar center near you:

• Les Galeries de Hull :August 10 to 12 

• Centre Rockland : August 12 and 13 

• Mail Champlain : August 12 and 13 

• Galeries Rive Nord : August 21 to 25 

Cominar Welcomes the REM at Gare Centrale and Mail Champlain

July 28, 2023

The arrival of the REM propels us all into a new era of transportation, and Cominar is proud to be part of it. The inaugural REM route, officially in operation today, connects two strategically located Cominar properties: Gare Centrale and Mail Champlain.

For Cominar, this arrival signals an even brighter future for its assets and community. Perfectly supporting its strategy of diversifying usage, the arrival of the REM will have positive impacts on its retailers, collaborators, and business partners.  

"We are delighted to support the development strategy of the greater Montreal region" explains Marie-Andrée Boutin, Chief Development and Real Estate Operations Officer. "Especially considering the forecasts that the two stations serving our properties will be among the busiest in the network."    

By encouraging active transportation, the arrival of the REM at the heart of Cominar's properties brings the organization closer to people like never before and prepares it even more for tomorrow.

Coming This Fall: New Avril Branch at Galeries Rive Nord

March 9, 2023

Cominar is very pleased to announce the arrival of Avril at Galeries Rive Nord in Repentigny this fall! This major project – representing an $8 million investment for the independent Quebec-based healthy supermarket chain – embodies the continuity of the relationship between Cominar and Avril, which began with the opening of their branch in DUO Centre Laval in 2018.

Founded in 1995 in Granby, Avril – which is rapidly expanding in Quebec – stands out with its wide selection of healthy, natural, organic, allergen-free, local and eco-friendly products, as well as its unique shopping experience. With a surface area of 25,000 square feet, this 12th branch of the chain will include 100% organic fruits and vegetables, groceries, supplements, and cosmetics all under one roof. In addition, there will be a food court with Avril's own brand of ready-to-eat products, specialty counters (prepared foods, rotisserie, cheese shop, bakery, pastry shop and gelato), as well as a 120-seat bistro and a 44-seat terrace.

“Avril’s arrival at Galeries Rive Nord contributes to making our shopping centres everyday destinations where our visitors can find a variety of products that meet their needs,” said Sébastien Dubois, Vice President, Leasing – Retail for Cominar.

Cominar welcomes Avril with confidence of its success!

The Starlit Terrace Winter Experience Is Back at Centropolis!

November 22, 2022

Once again this winter, enjoy a delicious meal in a one-of-a-kind setting at Centropolis! Discover the second edition of the Starlit Terrace concept, even better and friendlier than ever!  

Winter promises to be more inviting than ever at Centropolis’s Place Centrale with our 3 heated bubble domes on our Starlit Terrace. Live a unique experience by sharing a delicious meal in a bubble dome, while admiring the stars and lit pieces from Illumi’s polar world.

From December 5 to March 5, six restaurants will take turns offering you either a special menu or their regular menu. There are two seating times, at 6 PM or 8 PM, every night of the week. Please note that our Starlit Terrace will be closed for the holidays, i.e., the weeks of December 26 and January 2^nd.  

Our three available bubble domes can seat 4 to 6 people each and are equipped with comfortable furniture and a heavy-duty heater to keep you warm.

Menus and Reservations

Book your bubble dome with the following restaurants and experience an unforgettable evening under the stars! All Starlit Terrace reservations will now be made online.

Juliette & Chocolat
From Monday, December 5 to Sunday, December 11

Jack Astor’s
From Monday, December 12 to Friday, December 23

Zibo!
From Monday, January 9 to Sunday, January 22

Les Enfants Terribles
From Monday, January 23 to Sunday, February 5

Le Balthazar
From Monday, February 6 to Sunday, February 12

Enoteca Monza
From Monday, February 13 to Sunday, February 26

Juliette et Chocolat
From Monday, February 27 to Sunday, March 5

When You Arrive

When you arrive, head inside the restaurant and you will then be taken to your bubble dome.

A friendly tip: dress appropriately to make this experience as pleasant as possible! It would be a good idea to put on a few layers, allowing you to remove some if necessary. Our heaters are very efficient, but winter can always surprise you!

To enhance your bubble dome’s atmosphere, a selection of musical compilations (festive, romantic, etc.) will be available, courtesy of our partner Mouvement Diapason. We invite you to bring your own small Bluetooth speaker for an enhanced experience!

Have an amazing dinner at our Starlit Terrace!

Launch of Mostra Centropolis

November 17, 2022

Cominar is proud to announce the launch of a new real estate project in the heart of the Centropolis complex in Laval, in partnership with Cogir and Divco.

Mostra Centropolis will be composed of two towers of 193 and 170 units, twelve and fifteen storeys high respectively, on Daniel-Johnson Blvd. One of the towers will include commercial space on the first floor, which is in keeping with our vision of innovative mixed-use spaces.

"We are delighted to undertake this first partnership with Cogir and Divco. This Centropolis project is consistent with our mission to develop inviting and enticing communities of the future," said Marie-Andrée Boutin, Chief Development Officer and Executive Vice President, Operations.

Centropolis offers an exceptional range of services that will enhance the daily lives of Mostra Centropolis residents. Close to all amenities, this project is ideally located to meet the needs and lifestyles of a wide range of clients.

Calling All Nostalgia Enthusiasts!

November 10, 2022

On October 8, the Mail Champlain has welcomed Carole, a thrift shop that combines fashion trends with the circular economy. Vincent Legros, Zachary Reffo and Xavier St-Onge-Leduc are three young South Shore entrepreneurs who launched their business during the pandemic. Having been friends since childhood, they share an interest in entrepreneurship and vintage fashion.

Carole was initially just an Instagram page where Vincent, in high school at the time, sold his second-hand clothes. After launching an online store, its popularity quickly took off. It was through a chance meeting with a Cominar representative that plans to open a physical store at Mail Champlain came to fruition. Within three months, the dream of a brick-and-mortar store became a reality for the Carole team. Vincent, Zachary and Xavier all have an entrepreneurial streak and are not afraid to take risks. Despite their full-time academic commitments and personal obligations, they stand out with their contagious enthusiasm and passion.

“The buzz was already building up, so once we had the opportunity to open a store, we figured that was our next step in our entrepreneurial journey,” says Zachary. “The store opening was a huge success – we really didn’t expect it.”

As the textile industry is known for the pollution it generates, buying second-hand clothing is a wise choice that is good for the planet. Younger generations are particularly interested in the issue of climate change, so it’s not surprising to see them choosing an eco-responsible business model. “The goal is also to educate our customers, so that everyone understands the magnitude of the problem,” explains Xavier.

“We are proud to support the new generation of local entrepreneurs,” says Stéphanie Larocque, Director of Specialty Leasing and Partnerships. “It’s through partnerships like this one, with a store whose products are aligned with our customers’ needs, that we illustrate Mail Champlain’s place in the local economy.”

Indeed, Mail Champlain customers have warmly welcomed Carole’s team. Visitors appreciate the eco-friendly mission of this local company, as well as the boutique’s relaxed atmosphere. With a constant flow of new pieces at attractive prices, clients are sure to find items that suit their style and budget. The future certainly promises even more success for the Carole team.

What are you waiting for? Visit them today!

For more information about this store, please click here.

Regular opening hours:

• Monday to Wednesday: 10 AM – 6 PM
• Thursday and Friday: 10 AM – 9 PM
• Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM
• Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM

Get your ticket now

October 25, 2022

We are proud to support Opération Enfant Soleil in its fundraising efforts for its 36th telethon, which will take place on June 4, 2023.

Please help us support this non-profit organization that raises funds to develop high-quality paediatrics for all the children in Quebec, by participating in the Passeport de Rêve Air Canada draw.

For only $10, you have the chance to win the spectacular grand prize for the 4th edition of the Passeport de Rêve Air Canada draw: $104,000 in travel credit or $25,000 in cash. And that's not all: you could win one of 8 secondary prizes that are also offered, including a 9-day trip to Italy for 2 people valued at $6,000!

Please join us in helping sick children and their families by purchasing your ticket HERE*.The draw will be held on March 16, 2023.

Thank you for your support and good luck to you all!

*Full contest rules are available here.

Spotlight on our Recruiting Campaign to Help our Retailers

October 5, 2022

Cominar recently designed and deployed an omni-channel marketing campaign to assist our retailers in their recruitment efforts.

Through this initiative, we wish to make our services available to retailers, support them in their recruitment efforts, and increase their visibility. The retail labour shortage is a difficult reality that requires a collaborative approach between Cominar and its retailers. In doing so, we also contribute to making our shopping centres dynamic everyday destinations that meet the needs of our visitors.

Because our shopping centres are rallying places, we felt it was crucial to create both a digital and physical campaign. The versatility of our visual materials allowed them to be adapted to multiple broadcasting mediums in both cases. In our centres, visitors will see the campaign’s neo-traffics (digital screens), posters and billboards. Online, users of the main social networking platforms will be informed through a variety of publications that are straight to the point.

We believe that the diversity of our retailers represents a wealth of job opportunities and roles that will suit many age groups at all stages of their career. It is this diversity that we sought to highlight in this campaign. The language used in the campaign is adapted to the three targeted age groups.

Visuals featured in this campaign are used creatively. Stripes on the posters reflect the chevrons of the iconic Cominar logo and symbolize the social ties within the tightly knit communities that our customers belong to. Side by side, stripes on the posters evoke the proximity and accessibility of our stores and services. It was important to the marketing team that the images chosen included represent authentic emotions for our customers to recognize themselves. Our shopping centres are places of interaction, where our customers feel represented.

This campaign contributes to raising Cominar’s brand awareness, but more importantly, it supports its retailers with tailored and timeless tools that they can use at any time. In addition, the range of roles to be filled demonstrates the complementary uses which defines our philosophy.

Ô Dépanneur, Your Exotic Food Destination at Alexis Nihon

October 3, 2022

We invite you to discover Ô Dépanneur, a new store at our Alexis Nihon shopping centre, offering a wide selection of hard-to-find, surprising food products. From imported snacks and exotic drinks to rare cereals and uniquely flavoured chips, you’ll find many mouth-watering options! 

“Ô Dépanneur is a specialty store that significantly enhances the food offering in our shopping centre,” says Stéphanie Larocque, Director, Specialty Leasing and Partnerships for Cominar. “We are confident that this new store will delight our customers and allow them to go on a snacking journey. 

We’re extending our warmest welcome to the Ô Dépanneur team and we look forward to see you in store!   

About the store:

Location: Mezzanine level

Regular opening hours:

• Monday & Tuesday: 10 AM to 6 PM
• Wednesday to Friday: 10 AM to 9 PM
• Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM
• Sunday: 10 AM to 5 PM

Discover LIVOM at the Galeries Rive Nord

September 16, 2022

Come discover LIVOM, a new Quebec brand launched by Groupe Marie Claire, now open at the Galeries Rive Nord (Repentigny).

At LIVOM, you can find various items such as a dining table, dinnerware, a lamp, a footstool, clothes and underwear, all in one Scandinavian and Nordic-inspired space featuring durable, minimalist, eco-friendly and timeless products.

This new 4,687 square-foot store will enhance our local service offering and inspire our customers with a shopping experience that goes far beyond the ordinary.

“We’re delighted to welcome LIVOM to the Galeries Rive Nord,” stated Cominar Senior Leasing Director – Retail Dinah Corriveau. “LIVOM’s human-centric approach fully aligns with our strategic plan to transform our malls into everyday destinations adapted to our customers’ new shopping habits. We wish LIVOM’s team the greatest  success!”

“With LIVOM, we hope to give our customers a relaxing, sensory experience allowing them to envision their dream space, wardrobe or decor,” said LIVOM Art/Marketing Director and Co-founder Paule Lafrance. “At a time when shopping has become more of a chore than a pastime, we want to shake things up with a brand-new model that offers customers a lifestyle grounded in timeless fashion, furniture and decor.”

LIVOM’s location:

Sports Experts aisle, across from the food court
Galeries Rive Nord
100 Boulevard Brien
Repentigny, QC  J6A 5N4

Looking back on 50 years of Galeries de Hull

September 6, 2022

At Cominar, we know that a shopping centre is more than a series of stores. It is a gathering place, where the products and services provided reflect the needs of the surrounding community.

Today, as the shopping centre approaches its 50^th anniversary, we would like to thank our teams for making Les Galeries de Hull an integral part of the community.

The Galeries de Hull consists of loyal retailers who provide for the needs of their community every day. Several of them are also celebrating their 50th anniversary, including Bijouterie Doucet  and Figaro/Figar-Elle hair salon!

 

Suzanne is the manager of Bijouterie Doucet.

“We are really proud to be celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Les Galeries de Hull,” said Serge Rossignol, Vice President, Operations, Cominar. “This is a special occasion that reminds us of the role that shopping centres play in people’s lives. The renewal taking place at Galeries de Hull promises to make it a true everyday destination, with an offering that meets the needs of our customers.”

Indeed, the Galeries de Hull has recently seen several openings, including ÉconoFitness, Dollarama, Aubainerie and Marché Wakim. The diversity of Les Galeries de Hull’s commercial offering reflects Cominar’s philosophy of complementarity of uses and stores. You can find it all: department stores, food, entertainment, events, etc. Today, Les Galeries de Hull boasts close to 50 tenants.

For more information, please visit www.lesgaleriesdehull.com

BFLY Flutters to Centropolis

June 28, 2022

From July 1^st to September 5, come discover BFLY’s magical aviary at Centropolis!

BFLY features over 1,000 free-flying butterflies in a tropical climate aviary. Are you ready for a magical experience as a family? Come learn more about the butterfly life cycle through an interactive course that will delight the senses of little and big kids alike!

Journey through a circuit of seven sunny domes, four of which serve as butterfly aviaries. Have fun as a family and discover a short-animated movie featuring five characters from BFLY’s children’s books: Dreamie (encouraging dreams), Confi (building self-confidence), Acti (encouraging action), Optie (staying positive) and Persie (persevering).  

"We are delighted with this first partnership between Cominar and BFLY," says Karine Rodrigue, Marketing Manager, Laval and North Shore. "This collaboration is in keeping with our strategy of diversifying our shopping centres for everyday needs and entertainment for our clients."

"Centropolis was a logical choice to install our new temporary concept, considering the existing entertainment offer," explains Elie Couture, cofounder of BFLY. "We will be able to welcome families in large numbers throughout the summer for them to enjoy a magical experience!” 

Tickets are available on-site or online at https://www.bfly.ca/en/tickets.

• Dates: From July 1^st to September 5, 2022
• Location: in the Centropolis parking lot, behind Cineplex cinema, near highway 15.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there! 

Tommy Café is opening its doors at Alexis Nihon!

June 23, 2022

Cominar is pleased to welcome Tommy Café at Alexis Nihon.

The opening of a brand new coffee shop is in line with our strategy to improve the foodservice offer at Alexis Nihon.

Having made its debut in Old Montreal, Tommy Café continues its expansion downtown. The seventh location of the legendary Tommy Café will occupy a 1,825 sq. ft. space on the street level of the shopping centre, at the corner of de Maisonneuve Boulevard.

"We extend a very warm welcome to the Tommy Café team at Alexis Nihon. This wonderful partnership will certainly please coffee, pastry, and brunch lovers," said Dinah Corriveau, Senior Leasing Director, Retail.

"Our lucky seventh! We are very excited to add our 7^th Tommy Café location in the heart of downtown Montreal," said Patricia Lacampo, Marketing Director for Foodtastic. "The Alexis Nihon shopping centre will be a great location for coffee lovers to find all their favorites."

A warm welcome to Tommy Café at Alexis Nihon!

Quilicot Opens a New Store in DUO Centre Laval

June 16, 2022

Cominar is very pleased to welcome Bicycles Quilicot to DUO Centre Laval. This century-old Quebec cycling company offers more than 350 brands and 10,000 products, as well as a maintenance shop, a positioning studio and unparalleled consulting services.

As part of our usage diversification strategy, the arrival of Bicycles Quilicot at DUO Centre Laval contributes to making our shopping centres everyday destinations where our visitors can take advantage of a wide range of services.

The store will occupy a space of just under 10,000 square feet at DUO Centre Laval.

“We send our warmest welcomes to Bicycles Quilicot”, declares Sébastien Dubois, Vice President, Leasing - Retail at Cominar. “Bicycles Quilicot's dedicated team will be able to satisfy the needs of our visitors thanks to their wide range of products and outstanding service offer.”

"We are delighted to be moving to DUO Centre Laval and doubling the size of this location," says Evelyne Forget, Vice President at Quilicot. "We believe that the visibility provided by this location will allow us to reach a diversified clientele. In addition, thanks to its unique design by DKA Architects, this store will surely impress with its innovative design and style. The test track and the bike display wall will certainly be elements that will make this new concept a success. We sincerely thank the Cominar team for their enthusiasm and collaboration in this exciting project."

We would like to extend our warmest welcome to the teams at Quilicot!

Cominar donated $60,000 at the 35th Opération Enfant Soleil Telethon

June 6, 2022

Cominar unveiled last night during the Téléthon the amount of the donation granted to Opération Enfant Soleil. 

We would like to thank our marketing teams who designed and deployed several campaigns, including the Opération Enfant Soleil piggy banks and ticket sales for the Enfant Soleil house draw, to raise funds in our shopping centres.

The success of this edition was also possible thanks to the corporate donation made by Cominar and the generosity of our employees, our clients and our partners who supported such an important cause.

Click here to hear (in French only) Sandra Lécuyer, our Vice President, Talent and Organization, explain why Cominar has been supporting Opération Enfant Soleil for 4 years now.

Many thanks!

Discover the First Marché des petits entrepreneurs at DUO Centre Laval

June 1, 2022

For the grande journée des petits entrepreneurs du Québec, which will be held on June 4, Duo Centre Laval, a Cominar property, proudly welcomes its first Marché des petits entrepreneurs!

Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., 20 young entrepreneurs aged between 5 and 17 will set up shop in DUO Centre Laval’s central courtyard for you to discover their products. 

Here is the list of participating entrepreneurs at the DUO Centre Laval Market:

Ôfil Couture – Bookmarks and hair scrunchies made from recycled fabric;
Flashies – Fun cards and games made in 3 languages;
Lilo Créations – Resin jewelry and accessories;
Confections A&C - Bracelets for men, women and children, and keychains;
Maison nature – Lip balm, candles and volcanic bracelets;
Restaurant Sanchez – Home-made food;
The Kondeas – Chalk making;
Beau Regard Vert (BRV) – Sale of various vegetable plants and indoor plants, grown in an eco-friendly way;  
Création de l'eau lo – Bath products (bath bombs, soaps), and men’s shaving products;
Bougeoirs et Sablés – Small, candleholders and home-made shortbread cookies;
Choucaouete – Sweet surprises;
Brico-Art – Scratch bookmarks and 3D sticker creation kits;
Elias et Emi – Let’s learn with Elias and Emi;
Le Coin de Zeina – Discover a ton of little surprises!;
Rafael Inc. – Several surprises to discover!;
Sucre et Citron – Home-made lemonade and hot chocolate;
sa-BOAT-age – Boat construction and races;
Limonade et chouchous - Lemonade and scrunchies;
Crousties – Healthy snacks;
La fabrique à Lolo – Creation of greeting cards and other personalized items;
Les Super MT- Cookies, cupcakes, chocolate marshmallows, etc.;
Les douceurs de Zara - Sweets;
Les merveilles d'Anais – Cute jewelry items.

These small passionate entrepreneurs will host their booths in a lively and playful atmosphere, to the sound of a young DJ. Play and rest areas are also provided for the young ones and their families.

"We are delighted to welcome members of Quebec's next generation of entrepreneurs to DUO Centre Laval," said Stéphane Richard, Director of DUO Centre Laval. "At Cominar, we believe in entrepreneurial prospects and support this type of activity that encourages the development of such skills as project management, teamwork and leadership among young people. We will contribute to the growth of our community by organizing more activities of this type at DUO Centre Laval."

For more information, please click here.

The Décathlon Sports Festival to Stop by Mail Champlain and DUO Centre Laval

May 31, 2022

This June, learn about a variety of different sports for free during the Festival des sports, held at Mail Champlain and DUO Centre Laval.

The Décathlon Sports Festival is a free event, open to everyone. With family or friends, it's a great opportunity to learn about dozens of different sports: kayaking, golf, archery, basketball, soccer, volleyball, combat sports, and much more! Supervision will be provided by partner coaches and local sports associations. Everything has been arranged for you to spend a friendly, enjoyable time, marked by sharing and emotion.

"We are pleased to host this Sports Festival in two of our shopping centers," explains Jacques Gladu, Senior Director, Property Management, Cominar. "You don't have to be a competitive athlete to attend the festival: this event is designed for everyone so that our visitors can have a memorable time. Our hope is that these two events will create connections with sports associations and energize the regions where we do business."

"It's such a pleasure to launch the Sports Festival," says Lou Oudelet, Sports Festival Leader. "This unique family-friendly event will give everyone a chance to experience a host of new sports with local organizations and coaches. As well, it's completely free! Decathlon's mission is to make sport and its benefits accessible to as many people as possible. In this regard, finding your new favourite sport will be a breeze at the Sports Festival.

Sports Festival schedule:

The Sports Festival at Mail Champlain

• Date and time: Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Location: in front of the Décathlon store

The Sports Festival at DUO Centre Laval

• Date and time: Saturday, June 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, June 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Location: in the parking lot in front of the Décathlon store

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Ken & Jame holds an pop-up store at Mail Champlain

May 10, 2022

Cominar is excited to welcome the Ken and Jame pop-up store at Mail Champlain, from May 16 to June 5, 2022. This new partnership is in line with our project to offer diverse and high-quality services to our visitors.

The Ken and Jame pop-up store will occupy a space of 1,193 sq. ft., facing the food court area in the shopping centre.  

"We are pleased to welcome Ken and Jame, a young Montreal-based company that offers quality jewelry at affordable prices," says Stéphanie Larocque, Director, Specialty Leasing and Partnerships for Cominar. "By showcasing local brands, we are helping to make our shopping centres an everyday destination that meets the needs of our visitors. We are proud to showcase women entrepreneurs and give them the opportunity to reach new audiences."

A Pop-Up Store at Mail Champlain

From May 16 to June 5, Ken & Jame will be holding an pop-up store at Mail Champlain, to showcase its various jewelry collections as well as exclusive items. The company will also present pieces from its sister company Ken & Jame Bébé. A great opportunity to discover the extensive selection offered by Ken & Jame.

About Ken & Jame

The company was founded in 2017 by Kenza & Jamie, two friends who were headed for very different careers, but eventually became united through their shared dream of turning their passion into a business. With this in mind, they set out to design and create unique and exclusive jewelry that stands out, all the while caring about having the best quality possible at the best price. The two friends are very active on social networks, where they share their daily life and are convinced that this impacts the support towards local businesses.

@kenandjame #kenandjame

Welcome to Ken & Jame!

Cominar hosts Pop up crew MTL at three of its shopping centres

April 19, 2022

Cominar is pleased to partner with Pop up crew MTL, a pop-up boutique tour featuring sustainable local clothing and accessory brands BABI Underwear, Les trouvailles de Jen, Candela mtl and Refeshi Cosmetics. The partnership will allow the brands to sell their products in Quebec shopping centres for the very first time.

“We are thrilled to offer local women entrepreneurs the opportunity to sell their quality products to a new audience,” said Stéphanie Larocque, Cominar Director, Specialty Leasing and Partnerships. “We are continuing to evolve and to look for new ideas to align the visitor experience with today’s buying habits. Featuring local brands is part of our vision to create daily destinations that make people’s lives easier.”

Here is some information on these local brands:

• BABI Boutique, also known as BABI Underwear, specializes in women’s underwear made from bamboo fibre. The owner of Chinese origin is committed to promoting cultural and body diversity through its models and size range (XS-3XL). BABI Boutique is aware of the excitement for online shopping and offers 100% compostable and biodegradable packaging, which includes a thank you card containing a seed that will blossom into a flower when planted.
  
  
• Candela mtlsells natural vegan candles made of soy and coconut wax.
  
  
• Refreshi Cosmeticsoffers lip care products with out-of-the-ordinary flavours. 
  
  
• Les trouvailles de Jensells affordable quality jewelry that doesn’t tarnish, as well as hair clips and other trending accessories.

Pop up crew MTL will make its first stop at a Cominar shopping centre at Mail Champlain, April 22-24. Next to host the pop-up boutiques are Galeries de Hull and Alexis Nihon, June 3-5 and June 17 -19 respectively.

Galeries Rive Nord Welcomes gbi

March 9, 2022

Cominar is pleased to welcome gbi's in its new office space at Galeries Rive Nord in Repentigny. gbi is the very first office tenant in this mixed-use shopping centre.

gbi will occupy approximately 2,787 sq. m. (30,023 sq. ft.) of space on the second floor of the shopping centre directly off highway 40.

"We extend our warmest welcome to the team at gbi, a renowned and growing Quebec company," said Marie-Andrée Boutin, Executive Vice President, Retail and Chief Development Officer for Cominar. "We are very proud to welcome our first office tenants to our property, which sets a new standard in the Repentigny market by delivering quality, accessibility, connectivity and sustainability.

gbi has chosen Galeries Rive Nord to house its new offices with the purpose of bringing together all of its services on the same floor and promoting the sharing of knowledge, exchange and collaboration. By responsibly integrating itself into the Repentigny fabric, gbi offers a comfortable, accessible workplace near its employees and numerous services, thus encouraging our retailers.

The completion of gbi's office installations now leaves 20,000 square feet of office space available to be rented by one or more companies. Click here to learn more.

Recap of the Lunar New Year celebrations at Mail Champlain

March 2, 2022

Last Saturday, Cominar had the pleasure of holding Lunar New Year celebrations at Mail Champlain in the presence of Doreen Assaad, Brossard Mayor, Gaétan Barette, MP for La Pinière, Alexandra Mendès, MP for Brossard-Saint-Lambert, Jean Bédard, Mail Champlain Director, and Marie-Andrée Boutin, Executive Vice President, Retail and Chief Development Officer for Cominar.

Shopping centre visitors were able to journey into the heart of Asian culture by attending the traditional Lion Dance.

Did you know?

The Lion Dance is a traditional Chinese dance, also called 'the lion lantern', performed during festivals and major events such as the Spring Festival (or Lunar New Year). Dressed in a lion costume, dancers mimic the various movements and behaviours of the animal to the rhythm of drum and gong beats. According to popular belief, the lion (symbol of strength, courage and wisdom) is considered a "lucky" animal.

“We are pleased to celebrate the Lunar New Year at Mail Champlain in the presence of members of the Chinese community and local elected officials,” explains Marie-Andrée Boutin, Executive Vice President, Retail and Chief Development Officer for Cominar. “At Cominar, proximity is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to making this great celebration more widely known to our visitors to Mail Champlain in order to promote togetherness in this community.”

Here are a few pictures taken throughout the celebration:

From left to right: Nicole Ménard, Jimmy Chan, Xixi Li, Alexandra Mendès, Gaétan Barrette, Doreen Assaad, Marie-Andrée Boutin, Michelle Hui, Antoine Assaf and Victor Hum

An activity book to support a great cause

February 28, 2022

Spring break is coming up and you're looking for an indoor activity to keep your kids busy between outings?

Cominar has got what you need! 

Until March 15th, get our activity book to entertain your little ones.

Coloring, search and find, stickers, sudoku, and much more: your kids will have fun, whatever the weather. A calm and educational activity that will make them happy for spring break!

The activity book is available at our customer service at Alexis Nihon, Galeries Rive Nord, Rockland, Duo Laval, and Mail Champlain for $5. All profits will be donated to Opération Enfant Soleil, to bring a little joy to the lives of all sick children!

Have a great spring break!

Mail Montenach Will Host the World’s First Light Electric Hydroplane as of February 28

February 22, 2022

The Mail Montenach, a Cominar property, is presenting a great family activity free of charge, just in time for spring break! From February 28 to March 6, come discover the world’s first light electric hydroplane!

Québec Aéronature aviation experts are looking forward to seeing you and introducing this unique hydroplane that will be launched later this year. You will be able to chat with the aviators on-site, explore the aircraft’s cockpit, even take a selfie in the pilot’s seat and much more! We also have large posters to explain this unique project and a mannequin to showcase the equipment of a hydroplane pilot (with headphones, flotation jacket, etc.).

“We are very pleased to welcome Québec Aéronature aviators and the world’s first light electric hydroplane,” says Marie-Andrée Boutin, Executive Vice President, Retail and Chief Development Officer for Cominar. “Our goal is to transform our shopping centres into proximity destinations, where people can enjoy themselves and have fun every day. Our teams in each of our centres nurture this proximity on a daily basis, notably through the organization of special events such as this exhibition.”

To reserve your visit:

In order to avoid wait lines and to ensure everyone’s safety, meetings will be offered by appointment only (limited availability, maximum 10 people per appointment).

• Go to our reservation website (in French only).
• Choose a time slot for your 15-minute appointment.
• Please arrive a few minutes before your appointment time at the exhibition entrance (in the central courtyard, near entrance 2).
• Present your proof of appointment to the hostess who will greet you.

Are the appointments full? No worries! As the hydroplane is on display in the central courtyard, you are welcome to drop by and have a look. However, no gatherings will be allowed and no visits to the exhibition will be made without an appointment.

Don’t wait, reserve your visit today!

Cominar Teams Up With Street Market Boutique To Bring Sustainability and High-Quality Nostalgia To Three Québec Shopping Centres

February 15, 2022

Cominar is proud to partner with Street Market Boutique, a traveling thrifting & sustainable fashion market, to bring sustainability and high-quality nostalgia to three Québec shopping centres for a limited time only.

Cominar will be launching this pop-up initiative at Alexis Nihon, where it will run February 19 to 20. Rockland will host the pop-up store on February 26 and 27, and Mail Champlain on March 12 and 13.

“We launched Street Market Boutique to help change the face of sustainable fashion through an ethical lens, one piece at a time. To offer consumers the chance to build up their own sustainable wardrobe, adding to what they already have, slowly, with consideration. To be a part of the pop-up initiative at three Cominar shopping centres is such an incredible opportunity for us. We are so excited to be able to showcase our collections for the first time in Québec and bring unique shopping experiences to Cominar’s visitors,” says Colette Liburd, co-owner and co-founder of the retailer.

“We are thrilled to be giving inspiring new business leaders like Street Market the opportunity to showcase their offerings in Montréal. Cominar’s shopping centres are evolving, and the past few years have been a catalyst for more rapid change. We continue to welcome new ideas and sustainable business models to ensure our shopping centres remain relevant to visitors and meet changing customer needs. Additionally, bringing our spaces to life with vintage brands that promote sustainability is a step towards our shared vision of creating everyday destinations that make a meaningful difference,” says Sébastien Dubois, Vice President, Leasing – Retail at Cominar.

Date and location of the pop-up store at:

• Alexis Nihon: February 19 & 20 - Mezzanine level
• Rockland: February 26 & 27 - Level 3 next to Sephora
• Mail Champlain: March 12 & 13 - Entrance 1 next to Dollarama

About Street Market Boutique
Street Market Boutique is a traveling thrifting & sustainable fashion market featuring small businesses from across Canada. As a Canadian-based brand, Street Market takes pride in using unique venues to bring sustainable and vintage clothing to customers of all ages and backgrounds - at an affordable price! 

A unique winter experience: Starlit Terrace at Centropolis

January 27, 2022

Winter promises to be more inviting than ever at Centropolis, located in Laval, with the three warm bubble domes on the Starlit Terrace.

Until March 20, 2022, live a unique experience by sharing a delicious meal in a bubble dome, while admiring the stars and bright rooms of Illumi.

"We are pleased to introduce this new concept to our customers at Centropolis," said Marie-Andrée Boutin, Executive Vice President, Retail and Chief Development Officer for Cominar. "This culinary journey will allow them to escape and have a good time, in complete safety, with their loved ones. Cominar continues to innovate to offer a unique experience and services that enhance the customer experience, always in line with their expectations."

How to book a bubble dome:

The following 8 restaurants will take turns to offer you an exclusive menu, to enjoy in a bubble dome in the evening*. Book your seat now!

• Le Balthazar – until January 30
• Juliette & Chocolat – as of February 2 to February 6
• Jack Astor’s – as of February 9 to Sunday, February 13
• Pizzéria No 900 – as of February 16 to February 20
• Enoteca Monza – as of February 23 to February 27
• La Belle & La Bœuf – as of March 2 to March 6
• Zibo! – as of March 9 to March 13
• Les Enfants Terribles – as of March 16 to March 20

For more information on the menu or the booking dates, click here.

To enhance your experience, the Festival Diapason has concocted musical compilations with varied atmospheres.

A friendly piece of advice: dress appropriately to make this experience as pleasant as possible! It would be a good idea to put on a few layers, allowing you to remove some if necessary. Please note that in case of extreme cold, we will have to cancel the experience.

We hope to see you there!

*Limited places. Three (3) bubble domes are available. As of January 31, a maximum of 4 people or the occupants of two residences, are allowed per table (vaccination passport required).

Photo credit: Mouv’image Romain Beauvois

COVID-19 UPDATE - Reopening of stores and boutiques on Sunday and vaccination passport becomes mandatory to shop at some of our retailers

January 18, 2022

Following the latest government's directives, we are announcing the reopening of our stores and boutiques on Sunday as of January 23.

Also, as of Monday, January 24, the vaccination passport will become mandatory to shop at some of our non-essential retailers of 1,500 square metres or more (16,145.85 square feet) in our all of our shopping centres. Please visit the website of your Cominar shopping centre to have access to this list.

Additionally, we would like to remind you of the other measures that are still in effect in our centre:

• Restaurant dining rooms and food courts remain open only for take-out, drive-thru and deliveries.
• The capacity within our centre and all stores remains limited to 50% (or 1 customer per 20 sq. m. of commercial area).
• Please also note that gyms remain closed.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and will adapt our activities accordingly. We thank you again for your understanding and cooperation.

UPDATE – Stores and boutiques will be closed on Sunday for 3 weeks, with exceptions

December 31, 2021

Following our government's most recent directives, our shopping centres are once again joining the collective effort to fight the spread of the virus.

As of 5 p.m. today:

• Stores and boutiques will be closed on Sunday for 3 weeks (January 2, 9 and 16) except for convenience stores, gas stations, and drugstores. Click here for more information.
  
  
• Restaurant dining rooms and food courts will be closed. Only take-out, drive-thru and deliveries will be possible. Click here for more information.

We thank you, once again (yes, again!) for your collaboration. We love to see you, but we love seeing you healthy even more. Together, let’s continue our collective effort to ensure everyone’s safety.

UPDATE – Limited Access to the Shopping Centres and All Stores as of Dec. 20

December 17, 2021

Following our government's directives, we are once again joining the collective effort to fight the spread of the virus during the holiday season. Your safety has always been our top priority and it remains so today.

As a result, we must limit the capacity within our shopping centres and all stores to 50% (or 1 customer per 20 sq. m. of commercial area) as of Monday, Dec. 20 for an undetermined period of time. Similar rules will apply for our food court, which will be limited to 10 people per table, from a maximum of 3 residences.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and will adapt our activities accordingly.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation throughout the year.

Best wishes!

December 15, 2021

Thank you for growing with Cominar this year.

Click here to see our video!

Let’s support our retailers this Holiday shopping season

December 7, 2021

The pandemic has had a severe impact on our retailers. While treating your loved ones this Holiday season, support our retailers and contribute to the Québec economy. Encourage our retailers by prioritizing them during your holiday shopping and help promote their financial health!

Need some ideas for gifting your loved ones? We have a solution: the Cominar gift card. This card is accepted in over 1 200 retailers from Cominar’s 18 shopping centres. You can order it online and have it shipped by mail or email. Click here for more information.

Thank you for supporting our retailers.

Holiday Schedule – Cominar Shopping Centres

November 26, 2021

As the holiday season approaches, we would like to remind you of the opening hours across Cominar shopping centres so that you can complete your shopping with peace of mind.

Holiday Extended Hours:

This year, extended holiday hours will begin on Monday, December 13.

We recommend that you visit your local Cominar shopping centre’s website to confirm its opening hours during the holiday season.

Schedule of our shopping centres, starting on December 24:  

• December 24, 2021 – Schedule varies by centre
• December 25, 2021 – Closed
• December 26, 2021 – Open from 1 PM to 5 PM
• From December 27 to 31, 2021 – Schedule varies by centre
• January 1^st, 2022 – Closed

The health and safety of our visitors, our tenants and their employees and customers remain our highest priority. Cominar is doing everything in its power to limit the spread of the virus throughout its properties and will adapt its protective measures as the situation evolves.

We wish you a wonderful visit in our shopping centres!

Cominar Announces New Dollarama Set to Open at the Galeries de Hull

November 8, 2021

Cominar is pleased to announce the official opening of a new Dollarama at the Galeries de Hull in Gatineau. This store will offer a broad assortment of affordable consumable products, general merchandise and seasonal items.

Set to open by early 2022, this store will enhance our local service offering as well as the customer experience at the Galeries de Hull. This is the 14^th Dollarama to open in a Cominar shopping mall. 

“The Galeries de Hull is an active and dynamic shopping mall that has seen several new retail stores open since the start of the year,” stated Cominar Vice President,  Leasing - Retail Sébastien Dubois. “We are delighted to welcome Dollarama at the Galeries de Hull and wish them every success. This new store supports our commitment to diversify our service offering and meet our clients’ needs.”

“We are proud to announce the opening of a new store at the Galeries de Hull. We continue to extend our presence in key markets across Canada, and are pleased to contribute to the development of the City of Gatineau by offering customers with compelling value for every dollar spent,” commented Dollarama Real Estate Senior Vice President Jeff Boyd.

Store address:
320 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Gatineau, Quebec  J8Y 3Y8
2nd floor, near entrance 8

Cominar Announces New SAQ at the Carrefour Lachenaie

October 13, 2021

Cominar is pleased to announce the official opening of a new SAQ branch at the Carrefour Lachenaie in Terrebonne. This 3,240-square-foot store stocks some 1,100 products selected for the local market.

The space features a new store concept that includes a sales area and optimized retail furniture, as well as greater use of ecoresponsible materials in keeping with SAQ’s environmental criteria. This branch is the first of its kind in Cominar’s retail portfolio. 

“We are delighted to have completed a ninth project with the SAQ,” stated Cominar Leasing - Retail Vice President Sébastien Dubois. “This branch will enhance our local service offering and inspire our customers with a shopping experience that goes far beyond the ordinary.”

“Every year, we make sure to review part of our real estate holdings to improve customer experience. We are happy to offer our customers a new location at the heart of a vibrant retail hub,” said SAQ Property Development Director Lilli Prud’homme.

Branch address:

302 Montée des Pionniers
Terrebonne, Quebec  J6V 1S6

Regular branch opening hours:

Sunday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Monday: noon – 8 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the SAQ teams in their new branch!

Cominar announces new Avril set to open at Place de la Cité

August 30, 2021

Cominar is pleased to announce that a new Avril Supermarché Santé will be opening at Place de la Cité. The 37,000 square-feet store will occupy a prime space and feature an organic produce section, a grocery section, a supplement section and a cosmetics section as well as indoor and outdoor dining areas with seating for more than 150 people.

Set to open in summer 2022, this supermarket will enhance our local service offering while inspiring our customers with a shopping experience that goes far beyond the ordinary.

a It will be the third Avril to open within Cominar Retail portfolio, after Espace Bouvier in 2016 and DUO | Centre Laval in 2018.

“We are very pleased to complete yet another project with Avril, Quebec’s largest independent organic food and natural products grocery chain,” said Marie-Andrée Boutin, Cominar’s Executive Vice President, Retail and Chief Development Officer. “Avril’s human-centric approach fully aligns with our strategic plan to turn our malls into everyday destinations adapted to Quebecers’ new shopping habits. We are delighted to welcome Avril to Place de la Cité and wish them every success.”

“Our mission is to help Quebecers on their path to healthier lifestyles. With our vast organic and natural products offering and personalized pieces of advice from natural health experts, we want to give as many people as possible access to an inspiring shopping experience. This project will allow us to continue developing the relationship we’ve had since 2015 with people in the Quebec City area,” said Avril cofounder Sylvie Senay.

Our Commercial Spaces in Support of Montreal’s Visual Arts

July 22, 2021

Cominar is proud to be part of the partnership between the visual arts and commercial real estate communities by supporting Créer des ponts, an art initiative created by Art Souterrain in collaboration with the City of Montreal.

Starting today and until October 15, the Alexis Nihon and Rockland shopping centres will be converting vacant areas into creative spaces, featuring exhibitions and meetings with emerging artists.

For the next three months, customers and all contemporary art lovers will have the opportunity to discover the creative workshops and works of Yamina Sekhri at the Rockland Centre; and Delphine Kim Thériault de Carufel, Camille Lescarbeau, Dana Edmonds, and Florence Gagnon at Alexis Nihon.

Throughout the Créer des ponts event, close to 40 activities will be offered to the general public and to artists in downtown Montreal. Discover the exhibition locations and the complete schedule here.

We hope that our involvement in this initiative will bring contemporary art to a wider audience while contributing to the revitalization of downtown Montreal. 

Enjoy your visit!

State-of-the-art Medical Complex to Open at Rockland Centre

July 16, 2021

Montreal-based ELNA Medical, the largest network of medical clinics in Canada, and Cominar, one of the largest real estate investment trusts in the country, announce the opening of a brand-new medical complex at Rockland Centre in the Town of Mount Royal, by end of 2021.

The result of a first-ever agreement between ELNA and Cominar, the new healthcare facility will occupy 24,000 square feet in the shopping centre, serving the entire local community using leading-edge medical technology. It will include a family medicine group (FMG), urgent care, several specialty medical services with appointments covered by the RAMQ, as well as lab services, a private corporate medicine clinic, as well as esthetics and physical therapy clinics. As with other ELNA Medical operations, in-home and telemedicine services will also be available.

This new complex will maintain ELNA Medical’s signature experience of easy and timely access to quality care, including preventive and personalized medicine, while leveraging advanced technology. 

Laurent Amram, President and Founder of ELNA Medical said, "The addition of this new clinic to the ELNA network offers a greater range of high-quality care services to populations in the vicinity of Rockland Centre, in an ultra-modern and high-tech setting. Situating a medical complex within in a shopping centre is a thoroughly innovative concept; as there is a tendency today for such venues to redefine themselves, we are very proud to participate in our own way to a transformation that is beneficial for the population.”

“We’re really excited to bring ELNA Medical and Rockland Centre together. ELNA is Canada’s largest network of primary and specialty healthcare clinics,” affirmed Sébastien Dubois, Vice President, Leasing - Retail at Cominar. “We are certain that this new offering within Rockland Centre will enhance our guest experience while ensuring another successful operation for ELNA Medical in Quebec. This new medical complex will definitely be a highlight of our work to diversify use and turn our shopping centres into everyday destinations. In fact, this additional service will give more than 25,000 visitors a year the opportunity to take advantage of other services, retailers and restaurants at Rockland Centre.”

The new clinic will join ELNA’s 56 other facilities across Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, where 800 professionals provide in-person and telemedicine care to more than 1 million Canadians and 1,500 organizations every year.

Complete Reopening of Our Shopping Centres Starting February 8

February 5, 2021

We’ll be able to welcome you again in our shopping centres starting on Monday, February 8! We are delighted about this great news and we’re looking forward to seeing you again for your daily shopping.

UPDATE – Essential stores and services | Curbside pick-up service

January 8, 2021

Following our government's directives, we are once again joining the collective effort to fight the spread of the virus. Your safety has been paramount over the past year and it remains so for this new year.

As such, only our essential retailers and services will remain accessible through our shopping centres during the authorized business hours until February 8, 2021 inclusively. During this time, before your visit to the shopping centre, please review their opening hours on our website of your Cominar shopping centre.

Please note that as of January 9, our non-essential stores and services will be able to establish a curbside pick-up service, if they wish to do so, in a dedicated area outside of our shopping centres. For any information about this service, we invite you to contact your retailer directly.

We continue to follow the situation as it evolves and will adapt our activities accordingly. 

We thank you for your understanding and collaboration.

UPDATE- Holiday Season: Essential Stores and Services

December 21, 2020

Following our government's directives, we are once again joining the collective effort to fight the spread of the virus during the holiday season, which we all know will be very different this year. Your safety has been our top priority throughout the year and it remains so today.

Thus, from December 26 to January 10 inclusively, only our essential retailers and services will continue to operate and will remain accessible through our shopping centres. Before your visit, kindly check their status and opening hours on the website of your Cominar shopping center.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and will adapt our activities accordingly. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation throughout the year.

We wish you happy holidays and all our best wishes for a very happy New Year. We’re looking forward to seeing you healthy in 2021! 

Yellow Signs to Continue our Efforts Against COVID-19

December 14, 2020

We have recently deployed a new colourful and playful signage campaign across our properties. This initiative aims to reinforce our COVID-19 messaging, by (gently) surprising people who were getting used to see our previous signage, installed last spring.     

Together, let’s continue our efforts to fight against the spread of COVID-19.

Cominar is proud to showcase Quebec-based technological solutions to empower retailers

December 10, 2020

Cominar is partnering with the Centre québécois d'innovation en commerce (CQIC) to help retailers take part in the API (Achetons.Plus.Ici) initiative.

This initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of Quebec-based technological solutions by retailers in order to improve their appeal and thus revitalize shopping centres.

Initially, teams of students go meet with retailers to capture data and present them with various technological solutions to help them in their digital transformation.

A living lab have also been established at Centropolis to offer both a new gift shopping destination for consumers and a hub of innovative solutions for retailers. This living lab includes:  

• A smart pop-up store featuring Quebec-based products,
• A full showroom of Quebec-based technological solutions made for retailers,
• A live shopping studio*,
• Connected lockers to retrieve online orders,  
• A drop-off point for express deliveries, and
• Training on-site.

"We are proud to support our retailers in their digital transformation," said Jean-Marc Rouleau, Vice President, Retail Operations, Cominar. "By putting them in touch with CQIC and their local purchasing initiative, they will have access to the tools and resources they need to tackle this important shift.”

* Live shopping is a concept similar to Facebook live events, where people present or test various products that can be purchased in real time by consumers.

Together, let’s support our retailers

November 17, 2020

The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted our daily lives and brought considerable impacts on many businesses. Retailers are on the front lines of this crisis, and they were unable to open their doors for several weeks last spring. 

As the holiday season approaches, we can support them by choosing to shop in their stores.

To Avoid Nonessential visit, Santa Claus Won’t be Present in Cominar Shopping Centres

November 16, 2020

As the situation pertaining to COVID-19 continues to evolve, Cominar has decided not to hold physical experiences with Santa Claus in its shopping centres, in an effort to limit nonessential visit.

Special activity programs to do at home will be made available to customers, to help preserve the magic of the holiday season.  

Décathlon Opens a New Store in DUO Centre Laval!

November 5, 2020

We are very happy to announce the opening of a new Décathlon store at DUO Centre Laval.

A Halloween Rally as an Alternative to Traditional Trick-or-Treating

October 30, 2020

As Halloween dawns, Cominar shopping centers have joined forces to offer a fun themed activity as an alternative to traditional candy picking.

Four New Openings in our Commercial Portfolio

July 27, 2020

We would like to welcome Mayrand Food Depot and Boulangerie Ange at Mail Champlain, as well as IGA Extra and SAQ at Rockland.

Opening of our Shopping Centres

July 6, 2020

Following the government of Quebec’s announcements allowing shopping centres to reopen in the greater Montreal area as of June 19, we have been able to welcome our customers back in our 18 centres across the province. All our food courts and restaurants have been open as well since Monday, June 22.

Our commercial recovery plan, based on accountability, included every aspect of the customer experience in order to meet the following objectives:  

• Enforcing social distancing and manage risks pertaining to gatherings
• Ensuring our seniors’ safety
• Creating a safe and secure environment, both for our customers and our employees

Remarkable efforts were achieved to make sure that everything was in place to promote a safe and inviting environment, while ensuring the strictest compliance with government requirements in the following aspects:

Traffic and distancing

• Security guards posted at every entrance and circulating inside the premises to limit the number of occupants and promote distancing between people
• Restricting the duration of visits to the minimum necessary to carry out purchases
• Separately entrances and exits at designated access points and traffic “lanes” inside the centres
• Clearly marked locations dedicated to package pickup
• Planning of delivery and reception routes to minimize contacts with customers
• Promoting the use of stairs instead of elevators

Cleaning and hygiene measures

• Making hand sanitizing mandatory for every visitor prior to entering the centre
• Installation of hand sanitizing stations at various locations throughout the shopping centre
• Increased frequency of cleaning procedures for all contact points, to every hour
• Eliminating furniture and vending machines in common areas, as well as certain services and equipment such as coat check and consignment services, breast-feeding rooms, locker rental, public phones, water fountains, children’s rides and play areas, photo booths, and lending of portable chargers, baby carriages and wheelchairs
• Eliminating cash handling for gift card purchases

Mechanical systems and personal protective equipment

• Increasing the influx of fresh air in HVAC systems and ensuring that all air filtration systems are working properly
• Installation of acrylic panels and other physical measures to ensure distancing with customers
• Personal protective materials available for customers upon request

Communication and support

• Creation of a signage and display communication toolkit for use across our properties
• Reopening guide posted on every one of our centres’ website
• Communication on every centre’s social media pages redirecting the audience to the reopening guide
• Signs posted in the parking lot, at every entrance, at delivery docks and other locations throughout each shopping centre
• Stickers on the mirrors in public restrooms promoting proper hand-washing procedures
• Broadcast of the visitor’s code of conduct messages on digital screens in common areas
• Employee training on new customer service protocols, the visitor’s code of conduct and new cleaning procedures
• Close collaboration with our leading housekeeping and security partners

Our shopping centres reopened with an enthusiastic response from our retailers and our customers, with respect of safety instructions put in place. Almost all retailers have now reopened their doors and their respective schedules have been posted and are regularly updated on our shopping centres’ websites.   

We are incredibly pleased to see that shopping centres are still at the heart of our communities’ purchasing habits and we will continue to ensure that their shopping experience is positive and safe.   

We would like to thank our employees, our retailers, and our customers.

Physically distant – but more united than ever.  

Cominar Announces the Marilou Design Tour!

March 6, 2019

We are thrilled to announce that the exclusive tour of the Québec-based online company, Marilou Design, in several of our shopping centres.

Alexis Nihon – March 13 to 17

Galeries Rive Nord – April

Galeries de Hull – August

Les Rivières – September

Mail Champlain – October

Rockland – November

Place de la Cité – End of November until Christmas

Marilou Design features local fashions that are both accessible and durable that transcend the notion of apparel. The styles are well-thought-out, trendy, encourage smarter shopping, and reflect the true needs of women. The fabrics are carefully selected to maximize comfort. What’s more Marilou Design are entirely designed and made in Québec.

During each stop at our shopping centres, designer Marie-Lou Boucher will be on hand to present her creations and meet with her customers.

We are proud to encourage local entrepreneurs and give our clients the opportunity to discover emerging brands on the web.

Make sure you check out the Facebook pages of our shopping centres to find out the exact dates of the Marilou Design tour.

Bamboo is not just on the Internet anymore

December 18, 2018

We are thrilled to announce that Bamboo Underwear has chosen Cominar to meet its fans! Exclusively on December 20 and 21, the company’s four founders, including world-renowned influencer Élisabeth Rioux, will welcome their customers  in their first-ever pop-up store at Place de la Cité.

Bamboo Underwear is an underwear brand for men and women made using bamboo. Several high-profile influencers are associated with the brand thanks in part to the exceptional quality, comfort and softness of its underwear.

Bamboo Underwear is now part of a group of Québec-based companies, including Womance, AllCovered and Plantzy, that have entrusted Cominar with their pop-up stores in one of our shopping centres.

Read the press release.

Unveiling of the 7 creators of the 2nd Tournée éphémère FMD

December 3, 2018

We are thrilled and proud to announce the seven designers that have been selected to participate in the 2^nd edition of the Fashion & Design Festival Pop-up Tour, which will be organized collaboration with the Montréal Fashion & Design Festival.

The selected companies are: Birdz Children, Caprice & Co, Rue St-Patrick, DDD and

Kanevas. Along with hese first five companies, Kemmi Collection and Gipsea Bags, which both won the hearts of many when they won the Pop-up Coup de Coeur Contest, will also be featured. Nearly 1500 festival-goers participated in FMD 2018.

The Fashion & Design Festival Pop-up Tour’s goal is to give up-and-coming retailers the opportunity to showcase their products in several of Cominar’s shopping centres across the province of Québec thanks to pop-up stores.

Over the course of the next year, Cominar will create unique window displays for each business in its shopping centers. By doing so, Cominar is offering an exceptional means to raise brand awareness of these great Québec designers and create closer ties between emerging companies and the general public.

The winners will benefit from support from Cominar’s team throughout the entire Fashion & Design Festival Pop-up Tour. They will also participate in a mentoring sessions with entrepreneur Andréanne Marquis, who achieved amazing success her store,  Womance,  in all four corners of Québec.

Cominar Announces the Allcovered Tour!

October 29, 2018

We are proud to announce that Quebec-based company Allcovered will participate in an exclusive tour of our shopping centres that will begin as soon as November 1^st at Place de la Cité.

Much more than a pop-up shop, Allcovered will offer an experiential store, including an interactive journey as well as a tailoring service.

Here are the tour dates:

• Place de la Cité: November 1 to 11, 2018
• Mail Champlain: March 13 to 17, 2019
• Les Rivières: April 10 to 14, 2019
• Les Galeries de Hull: May 8 to 12, 2019
• Galeries Rive Nord: September 4 to 8, 2019

Cominar Unveils its New Kiosk!

October 15, 2018

From October 1 to 3, we participated in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) convention in Toronto and used this opportunity to test out our brand new kiosk!

We were delighted to meet clients in this lounge-type atmosphere that is both welcoming and open, in the image of the new Cominar 2.0.

Launch of Central Station’s New Website

October 3, 2018

The Central Station Complex launched its new website today and revealed its new signature and brand identity. The website will serve to promote this Cominar property as well as the overall offer in terms of transportation, food and other services. The Halles de la Gare’s shops and restaurants and the Station's many transportation options (long-distance or commuter train, Metro and bus) will be promoted to facilitate customers’ daily activities.

Discover the brand new website here.

Centre Laval to Welcome Quebec’s First Lee Valley Store

August 30, 2018

Centre Laval is pleased to announce the upcoming arrival of Quebec's first Lee Valley store. The 25 000 square-foot store, which is set to open on October 3, 2018, will offer an extensive array of woodworking, gardening, hobby, hardware, gift and seasonal merchandise.

"Lee Valley will enhance the retail mix at Centre Laval, alongside recent additions Sportium and Avril Supermarché Santé. Marshalls and HomeSense are slated to follow in their footsteps in September. We are very proud to be home to the first Lee Valley in the province" said Manon Larose, Cominar's Vice President, Leasing – Retail.

To read the full press release, click here.

Cominar presents the Pop Up Coup de Cœur Contest at the Fashion and Design Festival

August 23, 2018

From August 22 to 25, Cominar participates in the Fashion and Design Festival by presenting the Pop Up Shop Village, a gathering of approximately forty boutiques and fashion trucks. 

Festival-goers will be able to vote for their favorite shop as part of the Pop Up Coup de Cœur Contest. The public's choice will automatically recieve a spot in the Tournée Éphémère FMD. Furthermore, a mystery jury established by Cominar will select the other stores that will be part of the Tournée. 

The winners will thus benefit from an incredible platform by taking part in this shop that will visit four of Cominar's shopping centres. This will be a second edition for the Tournée Éphémère FMD after a great success last year. 

IKEA Opens in Quebec City

August 22, 2018

More than 3 000 people attended IKEA’s much-awaited opening in Quebec City’s new Ilot Mendel development on August 22. Gift cards and other prizes were given to some lucky clients, many of whom were waiting for at least a couple of hours in the queue surrounding the 340 000 square-foot store.  

This new store remains faithful to the brand’s concept, with more than 10 000 Scandinavian-inspired articles, a restaurant and a children’s play area.

By 2021, approximately thirty retailers should settle in the Ilot Mendel commercial hub, which will combine innovation, art and architecture.

Cominar Presents the Pop-Up Shop Village at the Fashion & Design Festival

July 27, 2018

Cominar is proud to partner once again with the Fashion & Design Festival to present the Pop-Up Shop Village, a gathering of more than thirty boutiques and fashion trucks showcasing local designers, jewelry, eco-friendly fashion, accessories and decoration. These pop-up shops will be located in Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles from August 22 to 25.

The Fashion & Design Festival, which will be held from August 20 to 25, offers activities including fashion shows, live creative sessions, design showcasing and musical performances, as well as conferences with international fashion icons.

For the complete program, click here.

IKEA to Open in Quebec on August 22

July 25, 2018

Quebec City’s new IKEA located in the Ilot Mendel development will officially open on August 22. In addition to the shopping area, the store will include a showroom, a children’s play area, a Swedish market, a bistro and a 600-seat restaurant.

Approximately thirty local and international retailers should settle in Ilot Mendel’s commercial hub by 2021. Among those who have confirmed their presence is the French sporting goods company Decathlon, whose first Canadian branch opened last April in Brossard.

Galeries Rive Nord Walmart to Undergo Major Remodel

July 24, 2018

Cominar recently announced the start of important construction work in order to modernize the Galeries Rive Nord Walmart, which will be made into a Supercentre. This remodel represents a major investment of over 15 million dollars and is set to last until 2019.

In addition to these important investments, new stores such as Optik Farhat, Miniso and Bodyskin will soon be opening. According to Manon Larose, Vice President, Leasing – Retail, "Galeries Rive Nord is located in a dynamic and rapidly evolving region, both on a population growth level and a commercial and cultural growth level, which represents a promising future for our current and future retailers."

To read the full press release, click here (in French only).

Place de la Cité Welcomes La Voie Maltée

July 18, 2018

La Voie Maltée officially opened on July 12 at Place de la Cité. Offering more than a dozen beer varieties as well as beer-based cuisine, Place de la Cité’s branch will mainly focus on happy hour with its 250-seat restaurant, including a large terrace facing Laurier Boulevard.

This is the fourth branch of the Saguenay-based microbrewery, which already has locations in Quebec, Jonquière and Chicoutimi.

Avril Supermarché Santé to Open on June 7 at Centre Laval

June 1, 2018

Avril Supermarché Santé, an independent Québec-based chain of specialty grocery stores, will be opening on June 7 at Centre Laval, allowing local workers, students and residents to enjoy a wide array of affordable health food options. Avril Supermarché Santé will include a 178-seat bistro including a terrace, a café, juice and smoothie bar, and a raw food and vegan counter.

The Centre Laval location spans over 44 000 square feet and will be the largest retailer of health food and natural products on Montreal’s North Shore.

Cominar Announces the Plantzy Tour!

May 18, 2018

It is now Plantzy’s turn to participate in an exclusive tour of our shopping centres all year long!

Here are the tour dates:

- Galeries Rive Nord: May 24 to 27

- Les Rivières: June 7 to 10

- Mail Champlain: June 28 to 30

- Promenades Beauport: August 2 to 5

- Les Galeries de Hull: September 20 to 23

- Mail Montenach: October 11 to 14

- Place Longueuil: November 8 to 11 

Cominar Innovates in Commercial Real Estate

May 14, 2018

Sylvain Cossette, President and CEO of Cominar, has a unique mission for the company: to innovate, get things moving, improve employee engagement and create a healthy, energizing workplace.

Profiled in the recent edition of Immobilier Commercial magazine, Mr. Cossette unveiled new offices in Montreal, which were designed to foster collaboration and contact with colleagues. With an open-plan concept, varied common areas, refreshing new colours, and stunning windows and lighting, these offices will inspire employees and unleash their creativity. Cominar hopes to lead by example and show its clients they can build better work environments for their personnel.

To read the full article (in French only), click here: https://lnkd.in/g2W8Dg3

Cominar Reveals its Ilot Mendel Project

May 2, 2018

Cominar's Ilot Mendel project was unveiled today. This new commercial and eco-friendly hub will be located in Quebec City's Duplessis sector. 

Two major players have already confirmed their presence: Swedish giant IKEA and French sporting goods company Decathlon. 

The entire project will be revealed shortly, including a number of environmental initiatives.

Find out more in Le Soleil's article (French only).

An interactive shopping experience at Galeries Rive Nord

May 1, 2018

From April 6 to April 29, Galeries Rive Nord, a CIETECH Smart Retail and Experiential Technologies Innovation Hub partner, collaborated with companies Stefanka, MOOV Activewear and Sports Experts to offer clients an interactive shopping experience.

During the event, Sports Experts clients could experience a unique shopping trip thanks to a new technology that allowed them to identify the ideal sizing of certain clothes without having to try them on.

The tool will be available on MOOV Activewear’s online store this summer.  

Cominar receives 5 nominations for ICSC’s Visual Victories Awards

April 24, 2018

Cominar received five nominations for the prestigious ICSC Visual Victories Awards, a visual merchandizing competition that recognizes the outstanding visual presentations of cart, kiosk, and temporary in-line retailers. Pop-up shops Kanevas (Place de la Cité), Literie Fine Bigarade (Mail Champlain) and Tournée Éphémère Festival Mode & Design (Rockland) were all nominated in the "Most Creative Pop-Up Store Design" category.

Mandy’s food truck (Rockland) was also nominated in the "Most Creative Promotional Cart or Kiosk" category. Maison Elama (Rockland) received a nomination in the "Most Creative Temporary Store" category.

Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony, which will be held in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018 .

Decathlon Opens at Mail Champlain

April 20, 2018

Cominar and Mail Champlain are proud to welcome the first Decathlon store in North America. The Quebec branch of the French chain will open this Saturday, April 21, and will reveal its innovative concept, which includes in-store testing stations as well as a free gym reserved for the sports community.

The retailer will occupy an area of 60 000 sq. ft. in the shopping centre.

For more information about Decathlon, click here.

Les Rivières Welcomes Shaker Kitchen & Mixologie

April 5, 2018

Les Rivières shopping centre’s restaurant offer is now better than ever with the arrival of Shaker Kitchen & Mixologie, an already well-established player in Quebec City. The restaurant, located in Sports Experts’ former store, includes a 54-seat central bar as well as three private lounges. It also has an 80-seat terrace. The Trois-Rivières branch is the 9^th of the franchise, which has plans for even more locations in the future.

Learn more about Shaker Kitchen & Mixologie.

Cominar Partners the Jeux de la communication 2018

March 22, 2018

On March 9, Cominar participated in the 22nd edition of the Jeux de la communication as a partner of the Digital Strategy challenge. Representatives from the communications and marketing department judged the eight teams from different universities on their presentation of an innovative digital strategy applicable to a shopping centre environment. Our sincerest congratulations to all participating teams and especially to the delegation from Université du Québec à Montréal, who came out victorious!

For more information about the Jeux de la communication, click here (in French only).

Agility. Creativity. Connection. Introducing the new Cominar 2.0

March 13, 2018

On March 8, Cominar announced its results for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2017, as well as introducing its transformational "Cominar 2.0" strategy.

According to Sylvain Cossette, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cominar, balance sheet stabilization, refocussing on core Quebec markets and governance are key drivers in this initial transformational phase.  

Learn more about "Cominar 2.0"

Cominar to Present the Mandala Nomad Tour

March 12, 2018

Cominar is pleased to announce that Mandala Wear will be organizing an exclusive Mandala Nomad Tour in Cominar's shopping centres all year long. "Pop-up boutiques allow us to create major events in places where people gather together, such as shopping centres. Thanks to our partnership with Cominar, we are proud to present our first tour across Quebec." said Maryse Gagnon, Mandala Wear's Co-owner.

The tour will kick off in Quebec City at Place de la Cité in March. It will then travel to Les Rivières, Galeries Rive Nord, Galeries de Hull, Carrefour Rimouski, Centre Laval and Mail Champlain.

Hop! Le Sommet du Commerce de Détail 2018: Cominar Among the Speakers

March 5, 2018

Cominar is pleased to announce its participation in Hop! Le Sommet du commerce de détail 2018, which will be held on March 20 and 21 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. Guy Charron, Executive Vice President, Operations – Retail, will be part of the panel of experts who will answer the question: what will make up the shopping centre of 2028?

Hop! is the most important annual event in the Quebec retail sector and brings together 1,300 participants, 70 speakers, 85 exhibitors and hundreds of retailers from across the province.

For more information or to purchase tickets, click here (in French only).

Cominar Invests to Revitalize Rockland’s Food Court

February 23, 2018

Cominar is proud to announce an investment of over 10 million dollars to revitalize Rockland Centre’s food court, which will welcome a unique concept inspired by the latest trends in design and food service starting next fall.    

The new food court will host culinary demonstrations where professional chefs will present unique gastronomic events. A wide selection of food trucks will set up for periods of three months, whereas a central bar will offer a fresh visual and tasting experience.

For more information, click here.

Cominar Featured on Télé-Québec

February 19, 2018

Cominar was recently invited to share its vision on the future of shopping centres during a report broadcast for the TV show Ça vaut le coût on Télé-Québec. Manon Larose, Vice President, Leasing – Retail, chatted with reporter Myriam Fehmiu about the renewed offer and the experience proposed by shopping centres. 

To view the TV report (in French only), click here.

L’USINE Arrives at Place de la Cité

February 6, 2018

The furniture and decoration store L’USINE officially opened on January 23 at Place de la Cité, in Flash bistro’s former premises.

Keeping with the company’s concept, the boutique presents a unique and wild design with a store on two floors connected by a huge slide. The large bar found in the former Flash bistro was also preserved to add a touch of warmth to the decor.

This is a second branch location for the Quebec-based company, which specializes in manufacturing custom furniture.

More about L’USINE (in French only)

Cominar Offers a Showcase for Emerging Designers

December 1, 2017

Starting today and over the next few months, the Fashion & Design Festival Pop-Up Tour will travel to the cities of Montreal, Trois-Rivières and Quebec to allow five winners of a contest held during the 17th edition of the Fashion & Design Festival to showcase their achievements.

This initiative, created by Cominar and in collaboration with the Fashion & Design Festival, supports future entrepreneurs and designers by giving them opportunities to prom

Decathlon Settles in Québec

November 22, 2017

The French sporting goods retail chain Decathlon will open in the Cominar’s new commercial area, near of the future IKEA store. It will be the second point of sale in the province of Quebec for the French giant, which will open its store at the end of the summer 2019.

The first store, located at Mail Champlain, will begin its activities at the beginning of spring 2018. It will be the first store of the chain on North American soil.

More about Decathlon (in French only)

Centropolis Welcomes Café Ricardo

November 20, 2017

Successful chef Ricardo Larrivée begins the roll-out of his innovative café-boutique concept by adding a second store, this time at Centropolis in Laval.

Espace Ricardo, which occupies an area of almost 9,500 square feet, has 80 seats on the coffee side, allowing customers to come and enjoy various meals, all of which can be found in its magazine and on its website.

Learn more about Café Ricardo

Mandy’s Food Truck Now at Rockland

October 27, 2017

Mandy’s Gourmet Salads’ food truck is newly installed right in Rockland’s Central Court. Rockland innovates by becoming the first shopping centre to welcome a real food truck. This is also a first for Mandy’s restaurant, which has five locations in Montreal and whose ʺCreate your own saladʺ concept is already attracting a large customer base.

This December, Mandy’s will also take part in La Forêt d’étoiles Cominar: for each salad of the month sold during the month of December, $1 will be donated to Opération Enfant Soleil, in collaboration with Rockland and Cominar.

Womance Celebrated at eCommerce-Quebec 2017

October 10, 2017

The 4th edition of the eCommerce-Quebec event, organized by the Conseil québécois du commerce de détail (CQCD), took place on October 4 and 5. The organization took the opportunity to highlight the engaging marketing initiatives of six Quebec companies, including Womance. The young company, founded by Andréanne Marquis, was recognized for its Web strategies and its tour of Cominar’s shopping centres across Quebec, which helped Womance to substantially increase its notoriety and its online store's visibility.

The tour is still underway and will conclude in spring 2018.

Cominar Shines at the ICSC’s Maple Leaf Awards

October 8, 2017

On October 4 was held the highly anticipated Canadian Shopping Centre Awards ceremony during which the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) rewarded the industry’s best and brightest.

Four of our nine finalists had the honour of being presented with a Maple Leaf Award.

Gold Maple Leaf:

• Centropolis: The Eco-Gourmet Event (Cause-related marketing category)
• Dixie Outlet Mall: Virtual Reality Adventure Lounge (Multi-channel marketing category)

Silver Maple Leaf:

• Carrefour Charlesbourg: “The Giving Tree” campaign (Cause-related marketing category)
• Centre Rockland: “Le Banquet” (Public relations category)

Decathlon at Mail Champlain

August 15, 2017

Mail Champlain is very proud to announce the upcoming arrival of the French sporting goods retail chain Decathlon, which will open in the spring of 2018. It is going to be its first Canadian store, also the first in North America. The company was born in France in 1976 and has more than 1 100 stores in 28 countries, with more than 78 000 employees.

This retailer will occupy an area between 35 000 sq. ft. and 45 000 sq. ft. in the shopping centre.

More about Decathlon (in French only)

Coco Rocha (Rockland) at Global News

July 24, 2017

L’Usine in Place de la Cité

July 19, 2017

L’Usine, an extremely successful custom furniture store with great decor finds, will open a second store in Quebec, near the bridges in Place de la Cité. The changes and improvements made to the premises will create an atmosphere of proximity with the customers, while being at the cutting edge of technology. The store is expected to open next October.

More about L'Usine (in French only)

Méga Centre Saint-Jérôme Welcome a Mega Amusement Center

June 30, 2017

"The Megamaze will be the largest in Canada in terms of square space, but also in terms of game diversity" (source: Le Mirabel)

Fun for the whole family:

• Area for 0-5 year olds
• Labyrinth
• Trampolines
• Restaurant
• Candy bar
• And more

Opening: Summer 2017

More about Megamaze (in French only)

Womance on Tour Exclusive

May 25, 2017

Womance sort du web! The online store specializes in made-in-Quebec designer fashions and accessories. The one-year tour will be coming to Place de la Cité, Carrefour Rimouski, Alexis Nihon, Les Rivières, Galeries de Hull, Centre commercial Rivière-du-Loup, Mail Champlain, Place Bathurst Mall and Galeries Rive Nord.

"We are daring to step outside the box and rethink the traditional owner-tenant relationship by putting additional emphasis on consumers and female entrepreneurs in our strategy," said Manon Larose, Vice President, Leasing-Retail.

H&M at Les Rivières

May 15, 2017

Les Rivières is proud to announce the upcoming opening of H&M, a Swedish fashion concept for men, women and children. The company, created in 1947, is now recognized worldwide.

This retailer will occupy an area of ​​more than 24,000 sq. ft. in the shopping centre and the store is expected to open in fall 2017.