Why participate?
- Guaranteed $1,000 Scholarship
- Be part of a select group of 20 companies
- Receive personalized support
- Mise en valeur de votre entreprise
Je relève le défi vert
This is the latest edition of the program. Space is limited to 20 businesses.
Receive a guaranteed grant of $1,000
By participating in the program and taking at least one concrete action to reduce your business’s environmental footprint, you will receive a $1,000 grant to support or reward your initiatives.
In total, $30,000 is available to support participating businesses.
In partnership with Desjardins
- Impact-Driven Action Track
- Retail businesses that sign up for Je relève le défi vert will receive a $1,000 grant upon completion of their challenge(s).
In partnership with Bopaq, powered by Tricentris
- Reduction and Reuse Track
- A program for restaurants, caterers, and cafés looking to reduce their impact from packaging. Access to 200 free reusable food packages and no activation fees (minimum value of $425).
A $2,000 prize will also be awarded to the business that had the greatest impact among all participants (sponsored by Bopaq).
Examples of Eligible Actions
- Waste reduction, strategy for selling imperfect products, reuse
- Local sourcing, procurement policy
- Improvements to facilities and energy efficiency
- Social or community initiatives
You are free to propose your own challenges, which will be reviewed by our team.
How It Works
- Register for the program using the registration form by the deadline of August 14, 2026
- Companies will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis (limited spots available) and based on the relevance of their projects.
- Implementation of initiatives during the summer of 2026
- Monitoring and evaluation: fall 2026
- Closing event in the fall of 2026, presentation of the Bopaq Award and Desjardins grants.
Who is eligible?
- Retail stores with a physical storefront with direct access from the street or restaurants registered in the Quebec Business Register (excluding franchises);
- Located in the Centre-Ouest region (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Saint-Laurent, Ville de Mont-Royal, Hampstead, Côte-Saint-Luc, Montréal-Ouest);
- Willingness to implement concrete actions;
- Commitment to participate in project follow-up.
Partners
This program is produced in collaboration with:
- Desjardins (Caisses du Centre-nord de Montréal et de Bordeaux-Cartierville-Saint-Laurent)
- Bopaq, propulsé par Tricentris, La Coop
- Ville en Vert
- VertCité
- Arrondissement d’Ahuntsic-Cartierville
- Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent
FAQ
Which businesses are eligible?
The program is open to brick-and-mortar stores located in the Centre-Ouest territory (the boroughs of Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Saint-Laurent, the City of Mount Royal, Côte-Saint-Luc, Hampstead, and Montreal West).
To be eligible, your store must:
- have a physical retail location open to the public with direct access from the street;
- be located within the program’s service area.
My business has a retail location open to the public. Can I participate?
The program is reserved for brick-and-mortar stores with a storefront that have a location accessible to customers from the street.
Is this a contest?
No. This is not a contest.
The $1,000 grant and/or reusable packaging are awarded to all eligible stores that complete the program and meet the program criteria.
Since spaces are limited, registrations will be accepted until funds run out.
What can the financial assistance be used for?
Financial assistance is available to support your efforts. You are free to use it according to your business’s needs, but it is intended to help you cover the costs of eco-friendly initiatives carried out as part of the “Je relève le défi vert” program.
Can I participate if I've already taken eco-friendly actions?
Yes. Je relève le défi vert can help you take it a step further or structure your efforts.
Will I receive support?
Yes. Each participating business receives personalized support from an advisor at PME MTL Centre-Ouest. You will be guided in identifying actions tailored to your specific situation.