Parents from a private college on the South Shore are concerned about the environmental repercussions of changing their school’s uniform supplier. The management of the establishment has announced that, within two years, the old uniform will no longer be permitted. The college maintains that the transition offered is a respectable compromise.
“My first reaction was to do the math: I have one left at school and I’m going to have to dress him up completely in new clothes for his last year of high school,” says Marianne Dodelet. The mother of two boys describes the school’s decision as “horrible” for the environment.
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes college in Saint-Lambert will change suppliers this year. Within two years, current uniforms will be banned. The decision was announced to parents in a press release in March, causing concern among some.
Geneviève d’Amours claims to have experienced a “shock” when she heard the news. The mother of three boys, all of whom have gone to college, would have liked a better compromise, such as keeping pants and skirts minimal. Her youngest son will begin his final year of college next year.
Max Dubois is the father of two daughters who attend college. He also believes that the old uniforms should be able to stay. Every year, the father buys school clothes for his two daughters at the school bazaar, which sells used uniforms at a lower cost. “It’s more ecological and it’s more part of a circular economy philosophy. It’s important to instill that in our children,” he believes.
Geneviève d’Amours is worried about the financial losses that the bazaar could suffer, whose profits of approximately $10,000 are given to student activities. The turnover continued to increase each year… before the announcement of the change of uniforms.
“The bazaar will be able to be held again this year, but if the old stock is no longer recovered, it will take a few years to replenish the number of old uniforms,” estimates Ms. d’Amours, who volunteers at the event. For years.
The new supplier, the company Raphaël U, will offer pieces of uniform with slight imperfections to the bazaar as needed so “that the thrift store can continue,” assures the co-founder and director of the organization, Tammy Hattem. The general director of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes college, Guillaume Olivier Choquette, remains optimistic about the bazaar. He believes there will be a “certain quantity of uniforms available.”
Tammy Hattem points out that the two-year period was put in place based on a “normal” uniform life cycle, due to the growth spurt of young people who need to replenish their uniforms and the natural wear and tear of materials. Yet at school, students still wear the old pink and white uniform that was pulled from stores in 1996.
Mr. Choquette believes that the change of uniforms should be done “on its own”. The chief executive believes you “have to experience” the change of uniforms to see if the school’s gamble is the right one.
Parents, however, criticize a lack of consistency on the part of the school.
For Raphaël U and the college, the coexistence of the two collections is important to minimize environmental impacts. Ultimately, however, the supplier must know how many garments to produce, which is more difficult when two collections overlap.
Many parents are worried about what will happen to the old uniforms. Raphaël U will collect and ship them to disadvantaged countries through World Vision, the organization with which the supplier does business. Photos are sent to show the clothing is worn.
“Who are these communities? Where in the world are they, and how will they upgrade uniforms with NDL logos? “, asks Dominique Lebeau, father of two students who studied at college.
In its press release in June, management states that it is considering “one-off relaxations if necessary”, if several old uniforms are still worn by students in two years.
“I am sure that the administration [of the college] will do the best for the interests of the students and will allow old models of clothes and uniforms to be worn,” says Max Dubois.