Groupe Information Travail

What Groupe Information Travail does

Groupe Information Travail (G.I.T.) is a Montreal-based non-profit social economy organization founded in 1986 under the RAPSIM network (Réseau d'Aide aux Personnes Seules et Itinérantes de Montréal) to address employability gaps for individuals facing social and professional exclusion. The organization serves people aged 16 to 65 in Montréal, including those at risk of or experiencing homelessness, social assistance recipients, people in recovery, newcomers, and individuals with mental health or anxiety barriers. Its core programming comprises two main tracks: the Programme Préparatoire à l'emploi (PPE), a 16-week employability program combining group workshops with individualized job search support, and the Programme Écolo-Boulot, which delivers paid adapted employment experiences (3-6 months, $17/hour) through urban cleaning brigades, a residual materials green brigade, and a social carpentry workshop. The organization is operated by a small team of approximately 15 employees under the leadership of Directrice générale Juli Lefebvre.

G.I.T. operates a hybrid social economy business model funded through multiple streams: Quebec public funding (PAAS-Action subsidies, Services Québec), municipal service contracts with the City of Montréal and its arrondissements, charitable donations via CanadaHelps (charity number 120590187RR0001), and direct-to-consumer sales of handcrafted wood products through a WooCommerce-powered online boutique. Its technology stack is standard off-the-shelf web infrastructure: WooCommerce for e-commerce, Google Analytics, reCAPTCHA, Google Fonts, Microsoft Forms, and PayPal — no proprietary technology or AI capabilities are evidenced. Business services include custom urban and horticultural furniture made from reclaimed Montreal ashwood, mobile concierge and event waste management, and a social impact narrative that public and private clients procure alongside the service. Notable municipal clients include Ville de Montréal, Arrondissements Plateau Mont-Royal, Ville-Marie, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, and Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-Aux-Trembles, Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau, and Quartier des Spectacles. Since 1986 the organization reports having supported 4,791 people, with recent activity (2024-2025) including 100 m³ of waste collected, 201.5 volunteer hours, and the launch of its 2025-2028 strategic plan focused on social and circular economy models.

Name

Groupe Information Travail

Legal name

Groupe Information Travail Inc.

Website

https://groupeinfotravail.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Groupe Information Travail (G.I.T.) is a Montreal-based social economy non-profit founded in 1986 that delivers employability programs, urban cleaning brigades, and a social carpentry workshop to individuals aged 16-65 facing social and professional exclusion, funded through public programs, municipal contracts, donations, and e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development & Social Integration Services

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Professional Organizations (81392), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Services Coordination & Vendor Management (HSACAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Association Maintenance, Vendor & Capital Project Management (BPAJAHAM)

Keywords

• Social economy employment
• Workforce integration programs
• Urban cleaning brigades
• Social carpentry workshop
• Social reintegration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government & Public Funding: G.I.T. operates as a social economy organization relying significantly on public funding from government programs including Services Québec, PAAS-Action subsidies, and employment assistance programs. This covers participant allocations and program delivery costs.
2. Social Economy Contracts (Business Services): Écolo-Boulot generates revenue by fulfilling service contracts for public and private sector clients. Brigades provide urban cleaning and waste management services; the carpentry workshop produces custom urban and horticultural furniture. These are real-market commercial engagements with municipal and private clients.
3. Social & Circular Shop (E-commerce): The atelier d'ébénisterie produces and sells handcrafted wood products (cutting boards, serving boards, coasters, decorative items) through a WooCommerce-powered online store. Revenue is one-time transaction-based from individual and business customers.
4. Donations & Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts individual and corporate donations via CanadaHelps (both one-time and monthly). Donations are eligible for a charitable tax receipt (charity number: 120590187RR0001). Corporate donations such as 206 kg annual from Starbucks are also received.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Groupe Information Travail is a Montréal-based social economy non-profit that delivers employability programs (the 16-week Programme Préparatoire à l'emploi / PPE and the adapted-employment Écolo-Boulot program, which includes urban cleaning brigades and a carpentry workshop) for people aged 16–65 facing social and professional exclusion. Commercial services (urban cleaning, waste management, custom urban/horticultural furniture, mobile concierge) are sold to municipal and private clients to fund the mission and provide paid work placements, and a WooCommerce-based boutique sells handcrafted wood products made by participants.

Product overview

Groupe Information Travail operates as a social economy organization offering a multi-program portfolio centered on professional integration for people aged 16-65 facing social and professional exclusion in Montreal. The core offerings consist of the Programme Préparatoire à l'emploi (PPE), an employment preparation program combining group workshops with individual support, and the Programme Écolo-Boulot providing adapted employment experiences through urban cleanliness brigades, residual materials management brigades, and a carpentry workshop. The organization complements its programs with a social and circular economy boutique selling handmade wood products crafted by apprentices, and business services including mobile concierge and custom urban furniture manufacturing. The portfolio integrates employment support with environmental impact through social economy initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Écolo-Boulot: Social economy program offering adapted employment experiences through urban cleaning brigades and a social woodworking workshop for people in social and professional exclusion situations.
• Programme Préparatoire à l'emploi (PPE)

Products and services

• Programme Préparatoire à l'emploi (PPE) A 16-week employment preparation program (8 weeks of group workshops followed by 8 weeks of individualized job-search support) that develops personal and professional skills for sustainable labor-market integration and employment retention. Targets individuals aged 16–65 in Montréal who are facing social and professional exclusion.
• Programme Écolo-Boulot – Brigades de services (urban cleaning and residual-materials brigades) Adapted paid employment experiences (CAD $17/hour, 3–6 months, 3–5 half-days/week) through urban cleanliness brigades serving Montreal boroughs, plus a residual-materials management green brigade launched in 2024. Functions both as a work-integration program for excluded individuals and as a commercial service line sold to municipalities, public institutions, and event organizers.
• Programme Écolo-Boulot – Atelier d'ébénisterie (Social and Circular Carpentry Workshop) A 3–12-month pre-employability carpentry workshop introducing participants to woodworking within a social and circular-economy model. Eligible participants (including PAAS-Action social-assistance recipients) receive participation allowances, gain skilled-trade experience, and produce both boutique goods and custom urban/horticultural furniture.
• Boutique sociale et circulaire (Social and Circular Boutique) Online WooCommerce storefront selling unique handcrafted wood products made by carpentry apprentices — including cutting boards, cheese boards ("Planche Tes fromages" $35), meat boards ("Planche Ta pièce de viande" $40), apéro boards ("Planche Ton apéro" $30), bread boards, wooden Christmas trees, children's knives ($12) and sets of 4 coasters ($20). Prices in CAD, shipping and taxes extra.
• Services d'affaires – Conciergerie mobile et solidaire (Mobile and Solidarity Concierge) Mobile on-demand service for businesses, institutions, and public organizations: short-duration operational support at events (waste collection, residual-matter management), short carpentry tasks, and light manual labor, delivered via the Écolo-Boulot brigades while generating social-impact mandates.
• Mobilier urbain et horticole sur mesure (Custom Urban & Horticultural Furniture) Bespoke fabrication of urban and horticultural furniture — including hexagonal benches, tree boxes, and tables — made from reclaimed Montreal ashwood damaged by the emerald ash borer. Sold directly to municipalities, cultural districts, and NGOs (e.g., Quartier des Spectacles, Bois Public, Dix2).

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,791 people supported since 1986; 100 m³ of waste collected in 2024–2025 (equivalent to 75 garbage trucks); 987,300 litres of garbage bags collected in one year by all brigades.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered foundational, core, established, notable, minor and supporting.

• RAPSIM (Réseau d'Aide aux Personnes Seules et Itinérantes de Montréal)foundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerG.I.T. was founded in 1986 as part of a RAPSIM concertation, in response to a critical lack of employability resources for people in social and professional exclusion. RAPSIM is the founding community network behind G.I.T.
• Services QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServices Québec is the primary referral pathway for participants entering G.I.T. programs. It also administers PAAS-Action funding that enables participant allowances in the carpentry workshop program.
• PAAS-Action (Programme d'aide et d'accompagnement social)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAAS-Action provides social assistance funding for eligible participants in the atelier d'ébénisterie program. Participants receiving social assistance can access the workshop through this program, which provides a participation allowance.
• CIUSSS (Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIUSSS refers participants from mental health, addiction, and social services programs into G.I.T.'s insertion pathways. Some participants from CIUSSS programs can access the atelier d'ébénisterie workshop with appropriate allowances and legal framework.
• SoverdicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerG.I.T. created an Escouade Nature Urbaine team to support Soverdi in its tree planting and vegetation maintenance actions, providing adapted work experiences for participants.
• Société du Parc Jean-DrapeauestablishedStrategic or Co-development PartnerG.I.T. provides a team for managing residual materials during events at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Services include a green brigade for events such as Lune Noire.
• Ville de Montréal and various arrondissementscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple arrondissements (Plateau Mont-Royal, Ville-Marie, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-Aux-Trembles) contract G.I.T. brigades for urban cleaning, waste collection, and green space maintenance. These are commercial service contracts providing real-work employment experiences.
• MassivArtnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Station hivernale project (2020), which won multiple design awards. MassivArt contributed to the art installation/public infrastructure project.
• AedificanotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Station hivernale project (2020), contributing to the award-winning public art installation.
• Tony BabinskinotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Station hivernale project (2020) as a designer/contributor to the award-winning public art installation.
• Starbucks CanadaminorOthersStarbucks donates 206 kg of food/products annually to G.I.T., supporting participant nutrition and reducing food waste.
• CanadaHelpssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCanadaHelps hosts G.I.T.'s online donation page, enabling one-time and monthly charitable giving. Issues official charitable tax receipts (charity number: 120590187RR0001).
• AXTRAsupportingOthersAXTRA is a Quebec network of social economy organizations. Awarded G.I.T. the 2022 Prix Méritas Communication Marketing for its 'Comment tu connectes?' video campaign.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Renaissance: Quebec social-economy organization operating recycling/second-hand brigades as an insertion-to-employment pathway for excluded individuals; comparable model combining circular-economy operations with employability training.
• Exeko: Montreal-based non-profit deploying creative, cultural, and social-inclusion programs to combat social and professional exclusion — directly comparable mission, geography, and target population to G.I.T.
• Plein Milieu: Montreal non-profit working with marginalized/at-risk youth and adults in the downtown core; comparable outreach, support-services, and referral-based intake model.
• Maison du Père: Montreal social-services organization supporting people experiencing homelessness and exclusion, including tailored pathways back to employment; overlapping participant population and Montreal ecosystem.
• Spectre de rue: Montreal non-profit providing outreach, support, and reintegration services to people in highly marginalized situations including homelessness; overlapping client base with G.I.T.
• La Maison Radisson: Montreal organization combining housing support with employability and social-inclusion services for marginalized adults; comparable mission and combined-program service delivery.
• Carrefour jeunesse-emploi: Quebec-wide network of youth employability organizations offering pre-employment preparation and integration support; comparable PPE-style services and referral-driven intake model.
• INSERTIUM: Quebec network supporting labour-market insertion for marginalized populations; comparable client base and operating philosophy to G.I.T.'s PPE and Écolo-Boulot programs.

Broad incumbents

• Regroupement des organismes communautaires québécois d'insertion socioprofessionnelle (RQuODE): Industry association of Quebec social-insertion organizations; G.I.T. is a recognized member and prior award recipient — comparable at the sectoral level for benchmarking funders, programs, and advocacy dynamics.
• AXTRA, Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité: Quebec network of social-economy and cooperative organizations; awarded G.I.T. the 2022 Prix Méritas Communication Marketing. Comparable as a peer within the broader Quebec social-economy ecosystem and a benchmark for cooperative/cooperative-style operating models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@g.i.t.1986
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-information-travail
• Instagraminstagram.com/ateliergit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Groupe Information Travail