Dorval residents donated 92.44 items per 1,000 residents during the challenge, which ran from Sept. 25 to Oct. 22, nearly doubling its next-highest competitor, St. Lambert, which brought in just over 50 donations per 1,000 residents.
Other West Island municipalities in the competition were Beaconsfield (which finished third out of 14 competitors with 48. 28 donations per 1,000 residents) and Ile Bizard-Ste. Genevieve, which finished sixth with 24.1 donations per 1,000 residents.
It marked the fifth straight year that Dorval has won the per-capita aspect of the challenge, a testament to both Dorval residents’ generosity and a council that has emphasized environmental initiatives, Rouleau said.
“I think that as a council, we’ve made a very conscious decision to take on environmental projects such as this one and composting, and the annual Dorval treasure hunt (where residents leave unwanted items on the curb for pick-up by anyone who comes along) have all had that type of impact,” Rouleau said, while admiring an antique rocking chair that had been dropped off at the Dorval Renaissance branch in Dorval Village.
Renaissance CEO Pierre Legault said Dorval’s success has inspired the organization to seek out more donation centres in the West Island, with Sources Boulevard in Dollard des Ormeaux standing out as an area of particular interest to Legault.
“We’re trying very hard to find a location in that area for a donation centre,” he said, adding the organization has no plan to open a thrift store in the West Island before the end of 2012 at the earliest.
“It will be probably more like 2013,” he said.
Legault, though, was pleased that his non-profit organization has done so well in Dorval that the donation centre will move across the street late this winter.
“We will close in late February and re-open March 1,” Legault confirmed. The donation centre will move from 660 Lakeshore Dr. to the old Quincaillerie Boyer store located at 707 Lakeshore Dr.
The current building will be demolished and replaced by a mixed- residential/commercial building, Rouleau confirmed, thereby creating “four corners,” of attractive retail spaces coupled with residences.
