Le Zèbre Rouge, a social economy enterprise specializing in bicycles, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a family day at Le 405 park in Vaudreuil-Dorion on Saturday, September 21, from 1 to 4 pm. Everyone is invited to take part.

The program, according to director Benoît Bourassa, includes “an ambulatory magician, two make-up clowns, a DG with music, a concert by Big Brother, popcorn, a bike draw, on-site entertainment and more".

As Mr. Bourassa is quick to point out, these 20 years, “It's a big wow! I'd like to thank all the people who have worked here, all those who have come through our doors for a job experience, and all those who use our rental, sales and repair services".

He adds: “The organization is doing well; we have around 25 employees and volunteers".

The organization's founder and first executive director, local writer Jean-Noël Bilodeau, is quick to point out: “I think we can say ‘Mission Accomplished’ after 20 years of existence; it was our dream to ensure that people living with mental health problems could regain their zest for life, feel useful and have the desire to achieve things".

The name of the organization, Zèbre Rouge, comes from a short text that Mathieu, Mr. Bilodeau's son, had written, explaining that he felt like a zebra, the most fragile animal in the jungle, and that he had chosen the color red because he also felt like a target. Mathieu Bilodeau suffered from schizophrenia. 

Rehabilitation employees work a maximum of 20 hours, thanks to various subsidies. “Some have been there for several years,” recalls Mr. Bilodeau. 

Since 2004, Le Zèbre Rouge's community mission has been to offer a program of initial social insertion or reintegration and employment integration, designed to increase autonomy, skills and adaptation to the job market. The program is aimed at young adults with mental health problems, with or without intellectual or physical limitations, who want to improve their living conditions and gradually enter the job market.

To fulfill its mission, Le Zèbre Rouge founded a social economy enterprise in 2011 to provide part of its financing.

The company's economic activity is the recovery, reconditioning and sale of used and new bicycles, as well as repairs and rentals of bicycles of all sizes and categories. Electric bikes are also available.

Also read:

Le Zèbre Rouge: a passion for mutual aid and bicycles