Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) is opening a new store in Whistler Village this fall, marking its 25th location nationally and its first in the Sea to Sky corridor. The opening builds on a year of continued investment and innovation across the business.
Since returning to Canadian ownership in 2025, MEC has been committed to building the business for its next chapter while protecting the expertise and trust that Canadians have associated with the company for more than five decades. Under a Canadian leadership team, MEC has been deliberately evolving its retail model, renewing product innovation and expanding how it connects with outdoor communities across the country.
Located at 104 – 4338 Main St. in Whistler Village, the 2,200-square-foot store new Whistler store is the clearest expression yet of that strategy. The smaller format diverges from the traditional larger MEC footprint, introducing a new concept that will feature an assortment of products carefully curated for the world-class outdoor resort, and its unique community of locals and visitors.
“MEC has been helping Canadians get outside for more than 55 years, and as we think about where and how we grow, Whistler is a natural fit,” said Peter Hlynsky, CEO of MEC. “It’s a community that knows the outdoors, expects a lot from its gear and values advice from people who have actually used it”.
“The size of the store is new for us, but what people experience when they walk through the door should be unmistakably MEC. You should be able to talk to someone who knows the mountains, understands the gear, and can help you make a good decision. That expertise and connection are at the heart of MEC. Whistler gives us a chance to bring that experience to a community that lives the outdoors every day, while learning from a format that could shape how we serve other markets in the future.”
A new MEC format built for Whistler
MEC has heard from members for years about establishing a presence in the Sea to Sky corridor.
The store will feature a focused assortment of leading regional and global outdoor brands alongside MEC Label, with products selected for Whistler’s four-season environment. Experienced staff will bring the advice and local knowledge central to the MEC experience, while mec.ca will connect customers to MEC’s broader assortment, including delivery to store for pickup where available.
The location will also introduce more visitors to Canadian-designed MEC Label gear. MEC Label products are designed by the company’s in-house team in Vancouver and tested by MEC staff in real outdoor conditions, including extensively in the nearby Coast Mountains.
MEC is targeting a soft opening for its Whistler store on October 31, 2026, followed by a grand opening celebration around Whistler’s resort opening weekend in late November. Ahead of the grand opening, MEC is also planning a Locals Night to welcome the Sea to Sky community and introduce the new store team.
A year of new ideas at MEC
Whistler is the latest in a series of moves by MEC to bring its core strengths, expert staff, trusted gear and community connection, to new formats and communities. Over the past year, MEC has opened its first standalone Gear Swap Store in Kelowna, reinvested in existing stores including Laval and Kelowna, revived its printed catalogue and accelerated product development through MEC Label, including the award-winning 2Kilo Project. It has also expanded community programming, including Train for the Trails, a free national program that brought thousands of people together at MEC stores to build trail-running skills and confidence.
Together, these investments reflect MEC’s approach to growth: trying new formats and finding new ways to engage with members while staying focused on the expertise, trust and community connection that have defined the company since 1971.
About MEC
MEC has been Canada’s leading outdoor specialty retailer since 1971 and is proudly Canadian-owned. Built on a legacy of expert staff, community connection and a passion for the outdoors, MEC exists to equip Canadians for a lifetime outdoors. MEC brings together trusted advice from experienced staff, leading outdoor brands and MEC Label, its Canadian-designed line of outdoor gear. With more than 5 million members nationwide and 25 stores following the opening of MEC Whistler, MEC is a trusted partner for Canadians at every stage of their outdoor journey.
