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Boucherville, Quebec-based RONA, the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, announced the appointment of Michelle Laberge as senior director of communications and public affairs. 

She will report to Claude Bernier executive VP marketing and customer innovations.

Laberge joins RONA from MSL Canada, a public relations agency where she was VP for its consumer division, representing clients such as Procter & Gamble, Indigo Chapters and Fujifilm

Boucherville, Quebec-based RONA posted a first-quarter net loss of C$16.8 million, down C$19.8 million from the same period last year.

First-quarter revenues totaled C$918.2 million, down 4.0% from the year-ago period. Same-store sales were down 12.6%. The company cited a 6.2% decrease in Retail and Commercial segment revenues, offset by a 1.7% increase in Distribution segment revenues as the reason for the decrease.

Boucherville, Quebec-based RONA opened a new Reno-Depot store in Vaudreuil-Dorion. The 102,000-sq.-ft. store is part of the company's "new generation" of stores.

The store is the 17th to carry the Reno-Depot banner. At the center of the store is the Project Space, a consultation area where customers can meet with experienced advisers -- called Project Guides -- to discuss their renovation projects.

Hardlines, the Toronto-based information service for the retail home improvement industry, presented its 2010 Newsmaker Award, and Hardware Merchandising magazine handed out seven Outstanding Retailer awards to Canadian hardware/home improvement retailers during the annual Hardlines Conference in Toronto.