There’s a new neighbour in town: first Saskatchewan H&M store opens in Regina and begins inaugural partnership with a Canadian university

Posted: March 29, 2018 2:35 p.m.

Erin Limacher, U of R Director of Communications and Marketing, Dr. Julia Siemer, Acting Head, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and Jessica Stasskewitsch, H&M Sustainability Coordinator attended the grand opening of Regina’s H&M where the University of Regina was presented with $10,000 towards the establishment of scholarships for Environmental Studies students. U of R Photography

We’re welcoming a new neighbour to our Regina community.

H&M, the fashion retailer, opened its first store in Saskatchewan today in Regina’s Cornwall Centre. To celebrate the grand opening, H&M reached out to partner with the University of Regina, creating a scholarship program for students in the Environmental Studies program.

On this day of firsts, H&M shared that this is the first time the fashion retailer has partnered with a university in Canada. Erin Limacher, Director of Communications and Marketing at the University of Regina, was on site at H&M’s grand opening to discuss the positive impact of community partnerships.

“Partnerships like this make a difference in the lives of our students,” says Limacher. “Environmental Studies students are the next generation of people who will shape policy and undertake important and timely work in sectors such as environmental sustainability, conservation, and natural resource preservation. By creating the H&M Scholarship in Environmental Studies, they have made a forward-thinking contribution to our local community and beyond.”

H&M is the first fashion company to roll out a global garment recycling program. Through this initiative, H&M customers at Cornwall Centre can help save natural resources and contribute to a reduced environmental impact by bringing in unwanted pieces of clothing and textiles from any brand, in any condition while in the store. In 2017 alone, H&M Canada diverted more than 640,000 lb. of unwanted textiles from landfills.