Robin des Bois

For 12 years, Judy Servay ran her own production company with a creative hand in countless music videos, commercials and short films. Each holiday season, directors and ad agency staff would show up for charity events where she and her staff would gather to cook meals for homeless shelters. “It was the only party where you felt better the next day,” Judy jokes.

While running those events, Judy discovered that many people wanted to help those in need, but often found it emotionally difficult. Soon an idea was in the works that would let people volunteer without being in direct contact with tough situations. Judy sold her business and opened Robin des Bois, Montreal’s first socially profitable restaurant.

Pay a visit and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is spacious, the decor lovely and the food absolutely delicious. You could easily enjoy an entire meal there without knowing that nearly all the staff are volunteers and 100 per cent of profits go to charity. To date, Robin des Bois has donated over $60,000 to charities such as Sun Youth, Le Chaînon, Santropol Roulant and Le Refuge des Jeunes.