Le Zèbre Rouge is a Vaudreuil-Dorion-based non-profit community organization and social economy enterprise that sells, repairs and rents used bicycles.

Its main mission is to increase the autonomy and employability of adults living with mental health problems, as well as physical or intellectual limitations. The aim is to improve their living conditions and enable them to enter the job market.

Le Zèbre Rouge and its director

The organization was founded in 2004 by Jean-Noël Bilodeau, who is still on the Board of Directors, and whose son suffered from schizophrenia. Executive Director Benoit Bourassa joined the organization in 2013, after a difficult period following the discovery of a particular eye condition: retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive vision disease. 

At the time, he had been summarily dismissed by his employer in the construction industry, for whom he had worked for several years. He was completely unaware that he suffered from this condition, and believed that his eyesight was normal. Three years later, he arrived at Le Zèbre Rouge, where he held a variety of positions before becoming general manager.

Néomédia met him. Benoît Bourassa tells us that, on a recurring basis, two student positions are created during the summer for 6 weeks, and that five permanent employees work there year-round: 2 full-time and 3 others part-time.

"I love my job. I wouldn't work anywhere else. Some of my employees are graduates and choose to stay here, even though they could find better-paying jobs. The pressure can be much greater in other companies," explains the manager.

600 bicycles

Six hundred bikes are circulated at Le Zèbre Rouge every year, entirely donated, for all ages from 3 to 77 ++.  Bikes of all categories are accepted, including electric bikes.

Bikes are repaired whenever possible. If not, we dismantle them and sell the parts as well.  Mr. Bourassa works with various government agencies for subsidies, including the Service de développement d'employabilité de la Montérégie and a regional work integration committee, as well as Emploi Québec.

It also receives support from the CLSC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Services de Réadaptation du Sud-Ouest et du Renfort (SRSOR). 

Summer student contracts are made available through a federal government program.

Le Zèbre Rouge offers bike repair, sales and rental: "I think my prices are good, considering the rent and salaries to be paid to employees."

Pillows too

The company has also added another string to its bow in the last two years: it makes pillowcases of all colors for people with scizophrenia, who salivate a lot at night. These pillows are ordered by a pharmaceutical company.

The store will open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, starting next week. The summer schedule is available on the website.

For information, visit their website and Facebook page: https://www.zebrerouge.org/;

https://www.facebook.com/lezebrerouge/?locale=fr_FR.

Le Zèbre Rouge is located at 115, route De Lotbinière, Local No. 100, Vaudreuil-Dorion.