La Cordée

La Cordée is a Quebec retailer of outdoor clothing and equipment. When the company was founded in 1953, it was a cooperative specialized in the sale of Scouting uniforms and camping gear. Noting the growing public demand for these types of products, La Cordée opened its doors to the general public in the early 1960s. Over the years, the company has expanded its product lines to cover more and more sports like climbing, cross-country skiing and kayaking.

In the 1980s, La Cordée became the property of two non-profit organizations, the Fondation scoute La Cordée and La Coopérative La Cordée. Along with this status came a commitment to sending all La Cordée profits—after costs, taxes and dividends—to the Montreal scouting movement, an amount that represents approximately $400,000 a year.

As of 2018, La Cordée has an online store and five stores in the greater Montreal and Quebec City regions with some 400 employees. In addition to selling major international outdoor brands, the company is proud to offer products from over 30 Quebec companies. La Cordée also has its own clothing and equipment brand, which donates 1% of its sales to the development and upkeep of Quebec’s outdoor infrastructures.