Relais Plein Air

What Relais Plein Air does

Relais Plein Air is a registered Canadian charity (BN 865297246RR0001) operating an outdoor recreation center inside Gatineau Park in Gatineau, Quebec. Founded in 2002, the organization runs equipment rental (bikes, fatbikes, snowshoes, cross-country skis, and adapted equipment for visitors with disabilities), yoga classes, an event venue service for weddings/corporate events, a café with catering, introductory outdoor courses, and a year-round information/welcome center. It maintains a second seasonal site at Parc des Cèdres (June 20 – August 16) and serves individuals, families, school groups, corporate teams, event organizers, and an inclusive programming audience.

The business model blends earned and contributed income. Earned revenue streams are usage-based equipment rental, yoga and class fees, season/day passes, café sales, and event venue bookings priced via Shopify-powered e-commerce. Contributed revenue flows through CanadaHelps donations and core government grants from the National Capital Commission and Ville de Gatineau. Operational partnerships with circonflexe and Loisir Sport Outaouais enable free youth and adapted-equipment lending programs. Headcount is approximately 10 employees supplemented by an active volunteer team ("équipe de bénévoles").

The technology footprint is intentionally lean: Shopify handles e-commerce, CanadaHelps processes donations, and Google Maps provides wayfinding. There is no disclosed proprietary software, AI/ML system, or mobile app. Strategic posture is community-oriented, inclusive, and grant-supported rather than venture-scale, with growth driven by product diversification (e.g., the 2025 yoga launch) and ecosystem partnerships rather than by capital-intensive expansion.

Name

Relais Plein Air

Legal name

Relais Plein Air du parc de la Gatineau

Website

https://relaispleinair.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Relais Plein Air is a registered Canadian charity running an outdoor recreation center inside Gatineau Park, offering equipment rental, yoga, event venues, and a café to families, corporate groups, schools, and inclusive programming audiences, funded by usage fees, donations, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Skiing Facilities (713920)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nordic & Cross-Country Centers (XC Skiing, Biathlon, Snowshoe Trails) (THAAAJAE), Mountain Biking & Cycling Adventure Centers (Trail Parks, Guiding) (THAAAKAH)

Keywords

• Outdoor recreation services
• Adaptive equipment rental
• Nature-based activities
• Event venue rental
• Guided outdoor programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Gatineau

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental: Rental of outdoor equipment including bikes, fatbikes, snowshoes, cross-country skis, and adapted equipment for people with disabilities. Weekly free rental hour for Accès Gatineau+ cardholders.
2. Yoga Classes: Yoga sessions for all levels offered in accessible indoor and outdoor settings within Gatineau Park.
3. Event Venue Rental: Rental of adaptable meeting and celebration spaces for private events, corporate events, weddings, seminars, and conferences in natural settings.
4. Café and Catering Services: On-site café offering beverages, snacks, and catering services for events, using local, fresh, and flavorful products.
5. Season and Day Passes: Seasonal and daily passes for park access and services.
6. Donations: Charitable donations accepted through CanadaHelps platform. Registered charity status (BN 865297246RR0001).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Relais Plein Air operates an outdoor recreation center in Gatineau Park providing equipment rentals (bikes, fatbikes, snowshoes, cross-country skis, and adapted equipment for people with disabilities), yoga classes, guided outdoor activity packages, introductory courses, and event venue rentals. The center also houses a café offering beverages, snacks, and event catering, and serves as a welcome and information hub for Gatineau Park visitors.

Product overview

Relais Plein Air is an outdoor recreation center located in Gatineau Park offering a diversified portfolio of services organized around making outdoor activities accessible to everyone. The core offerings include an information and welcome center, equipment rental (regular and adapted) at two locations, yoga programming, event venue rental, outdoor activity packages (hiking, cycling, fatbike, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing), introductory courses, a café with catering services, and an inclusive adapted program. The organization operates as a non-profit (charity status 865297246RR0001) and leverages partnerships with organizations such as circonflexe, Loisir Sport Outaouais, Ville de Gatineau, and the National Capital Commission to provide accessible outdoor experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Centre d'accueil et d'information (Welcome and Information Center) Welcome center providing visitors with trail pass sales, trail condition updates, activity recommendations, and personalized answers about Gatineau Park. Staffed to assist individuals, families, and groups planning park visits.
• Location d'équipements réguliers et adaptés (Equipment Rental) Rental service offering regular and adapted outdoor equipment including bikes, fatbikes, snowshoes, and cross-country skis at Parc de la Gatineau and the seasonal Parc des Cèdres location, available to all visitors including people with disabilities.
• Yoga

Quantifiable outcome

• Free first-hour bike rental for Quebec youth 15 and under through circonflexe program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• circonflexe (prêt-pour-bouger.ca)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership enabling free equipment lending programs including free first-hour bike rental for Quebec youth 15 and under, and adapted equipment loans. Summer 2025 initiative making outdoor recreation accessible.
• Loisir Sport OutaouaiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional sports and leisure organization partner contributing to inclusive outdoor recreation programming and equipment accessibility.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edelweiss Ski Resort: Ski area located near Wakefield, QC in the Gatineau Hills, offering downhill skiing, snow tubing, and snow school. Directly comparable for winter activity programming in the same Outaouais catchment.
• Camp Fortune: Alpine ski area located in Chelsea, QC in the Gatineau Hills, directly adjacent to Gatineau Park. Operates downhill skiing plus summer activities (mountain biking, aerial park) for a similar Ottawa-Gatineau catchment, making it the most comparable regional outdoor recreation operator.
• Mont-Sainte-Anne: Large Quebec ski resort near Quebec City operated by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, with downhill and cross-country skiing plus summer mountain biking and hiking. Comparable multi-season outdoor recreation operator with a similar service mix (rental, lessons, events).
• Vorlage Ski Club: Family-run ski club near Wakefield, QC in the Gatineau Hills, offering downhill and cross-country skiing plus ski school. Closely comparable to Relais Plein Air's winter equipment rental and instructional offerings for the same local market.
• Winsport (Canada Olympic Park): Calgary-based not-for-profit operating Canada Olympic Park, offering skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, lessons, and event venues. Highly comparable operating model (charitable recreation facility, multi-season, lessons + rentals + events).
• Le Massif de Charlevoix: Charlevoix-region ski resort offering downhill and XC skiing, snowshoeing, and summer hiking with on-site lodging and event hosting. Comparable multi-season outdoor recreation operator with rental, instruction, and event venue revenue streams.
• Whistler Sport Legacies: Not-for-profit operating legacy Whistler venues (sliding centre, athletes' centre, golf) with community sport and recreation programming. Comparable as a Canadian non-profit sport/recreation facility operator with mixed-use programming and venue rental.
• Stoneham Mountain Resort: Quebec City-area ski resort operated by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies with multi-season activities (ski, mountain bike, hiking). Comparable as a Quebec multi-season outdoor recreation operator offering equipment, lessons, and venue hosting.

Broad incumbents

• SÉPAQ: Quebec government-owned operator of national parks (Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, etc.) offering outdoor activities, equipment rental, and visitor services. Comparable as a broader outdoor recreation provider in Quebec parks, though at much larger scale.
• Blue Mountain Resort: Large Ontario four-season resort offering skiing, mountain biking, lessons, rentals, and event venues. Comparable multi-season outdoor recreation operator, though substantially larger and commercially owned.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RelaisPleinAir
• Instagraminstagram.com/relais.plein.air
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/relais-plein-air

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Relais Plein Air