Shopping in Gatineau

With sandals from Naot and walking shoes from Mephisto, The Shoe Inn’s latest collection offers practical choices for a busy day of walking. The Shoe Inn’s experts shun flimsy, support-free footwear, instead striving to clad feet in practical shoes by European designers such as Birkenstock, Rieker, and El Naturalista. Though they champion solid arch support, sturdy heels, and durable materials, their inventory strikes a balance between functional and chic, boasting vibrant patterns, pastel colors, and other feminine flourishes.

With 185 stores, a slate of eateries, and a movie theatre, St. Laurent Centre has something for every visitor. Inside the sprawling confines, shoppers can treat their feet to a new pair of shoes at Aldo, snag custom-fit jeans at Levi’s, and play an interactive trivia game at Guess.

At the age of 14, in the midst of a bike trip, Mathieu Albert realized the true beauty of cycling. And in the many years that have passed since, he’s rarely taken his feet off of the pedals, except for when he’s bathing or polishing his pedals. Mathieu has competed in more than 50 mountain bike competitions and 24-hour races, learned to weld and create his own bike frames, and worked as a technician and salesman at a number of bike shops. Now, as the owner of Vélos des Ronds-Points, he performs tune-ups for cycles and skis and equips fellow cyclists with bikes of all makes and models, including an impressive selection of Cannondale cycles.

The knowledgeable staff at Final Pass Pro Shop caters to both hockey players and figure skaters, stocking its shelves with professional-quality gear, clothes, and equipment. Patrons peruse the walls to find sticks and bags from brands such as Bauer along with NHL jerseys and figure-skating tights and guards. In addition to supplying skates for men and women, the pros keep blades ready to make quick stops and tight curves with professional sharpening, a service recommended if you haven’t used your skates since last winter except for pruning shrubbery.

Greg Best and Natalie Szabo founded The Sassy Bead Company in the early ’90s, creating a sanctuary for more than 3,000 types of beads from seed beads to semiprecious stones. They also fill their shelves with rarer bead types, including Swarovski crystals, Japanese delicas, and freshwater pearls, available individually or as part of finished bracelets, necklaces, or toupees. Along with beads for purchase, the duo accepts beaded jewellery for repair, and crafts custom pieces for special occasions such as weddings and proms.

Champions of battery-renewing sleep bolstered by eco-friendly materials, Obasan's sleep experts have helped customers lasso _z_’s since selling their first mattress upwards of 25 years ago. The company’s dedication to marrying restful dozing with environmentally minded practices is evidenced in their collection of bedroom wares forged from chemical-free and functional materials such as thermo-regulating organic wool, renewable Canadian wood, and natural rubber harvested from free-range bouncy balls. An intricate customization process tailors mattresses to fit personal sleeping styles by varying the amount and distribution of natural rubber throughout the mattress, ensuring that customers can doze soundly without fear of their bedfellows rolling into their dreams. While specializing in the creation of their signature mattresses, Obasan also outfits shoppers with rest accessories such as comforters, pillows, and pet beds to facilitate peaceful household-wide repose.