Canada Goose switches to hospital clothing from luxury parkas

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This article was published 25/03/2020 (2046 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the time being, Canada Goose will switch from making $1,000 parkas to making scrubs and patient gowns, which it will donate to hospitals as they deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week, the Toronto-based luxury outerwear manufacturer started closing its manufacturing facilities — including three locations in Winnipeg — in an effort to help deal with the pandemic. The company said it will be closed for two weeks and then reassess its plans.

The company said that beginning next week, it would start producing medical gear at two of its manufacturing facilities, starting with one in Toronto and one in Winnipeg.

Canada Goose has not disclosed which Winnipeg location will engage in that work, but it indicated each location would employ about 50 people.

It has said it may extend production to additional facilities as needed. The initial goal is to produce 10,000 units of scrubs and patient gowns, which are in short supply across the country.

The company has about 1,700 employees at three production facilities in Winnipeg. The most recent one opened in September 2018.

The company is working closely with federal, provincial and local health authorities and would follow the recommended protocols to ensure a safe work environment for it employees, including implementing social distancing protocols, limiting the number of employees in specific spaces, and increasing sanitation measures at facilities to ensure the health and safety of team members.

Last week it announced it would temporarily close its North American retail locations until March 31, and then would reassess relative to the evolution of the global health crisis.

Dani Reiss, president and CEO of the company said, “Across Canada, there are people risking their lives every day on the frontlines of COVID-19 in health-care facilities, and they need help. Now is the time to put our manufacturing resources and capabilities to work for the greater good. Our employees are ready, willing and able to help, and that’s what we’re doing. It’s the Canadian thing to do.”

‘Our employees are ready, willing and able to help… It’s the Canadian thing to do’– Canada Goose president and CEO Dani Reiss

Reiss said he would donate his salary for at least the next three months to a support fund for Canada Goose employees who are hurt by store and manufacturing closures but are not eligible for government assistance.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca