SAIL Just Announced It's Closing All 4 Sportium Stores In Quebec

After announcing a corporate restructuring earlier this week, Quebec-based SAIL Plein Air has now confirmed the upcoming closure of its four Sportium stores in the province. This was announced on Thursday, May 4 by President and CEO Norman Décarie. Truly saddening news for the Quebecers who would get all their sporting gear from Sportium.

According to a press release sent to Narcity, SAIL, which owns major outdoor stores, made the decision following a "strategic analysis" of its activities.

The Sportium stores in Laval, Saint-Hubert, Quebec City and Kirkland will be closed for good.

This announcement also applies to two SAIL stores in Ontario, namely those in Vaughan and Etobicoke.

The retailer states that "the many upheavals" of recent years in the retail industry and the consequences of the COVID-19 health crisis have taken a major toll on the company. Tuesday, the company revealed its increasing problems to the public. 

All these reasons have forced the Laval company "to make difficult business decisions" to regain its "financial health," Mr. Décarie said in the press release.

In total, close to 500 employees will be affected by restructuring and closures.

But, the company says it will encourage the transfer of the affected employees to other branches or its e-commerce distribution centre. 12 in-person stores remain open. 

With debts in excess of $100 million, SAIL has decided to place itself under the protection of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

Sportium stores in Quebec will close their doors at the end of a major clearance sale that will take place in the coming days, according to the press release.

The sportium.ca website will remain in service for "a while."

This article was originally published in French on Narcity Québec.