Having only been in Canada since 2019, my first impressions of MEC was similar to REI in the states: generally knowledgeable associates that like the outdoors.
IMO, here in the lower mainland, that has faded in the past year.
We had a very strange experience when we visited the North Vancouver store in ... February? An associate almost stuck to our side (me, spouse, two kids) the entire time and asked multiple times if we were coming in to get Arc'teryx gear or wanted to try some on (we were getting a bear spray/banger kit for a backpacking trip). We politely declined, and even after getting our items and walking up to checkout she basically shadowed us... and then push-activated the door on our way out but didn't say anything. Very strange.
I just visited the Langley store last week with my just turned five year old and was looking to get him his first real backpacking kit. We stopped in specifically to ensure the Osprey Ace 38 would fit his torso, so had previously read the specifications and such. But we couldn't find it on the floor. First associate told me "I'm new, I'm not sure, I'll get someone," the second associate told us almost the same thing, and the third associate with a waxed handlebar moustache twice told me my 45" tall five year-old son would be better served by just using a MEC school backpack. Huh? I said I really just would like to know where this specific Osprey kit is located in the store as I wanted to size that for him, and he tried to talk over me stating "if you need the specifications of any backpacks, we cannot be responsible for that, you should really check the manufacturer website to confirm details." I was kind of dumbfounded. We continued to wander around and eventually found it next to the garage sale/clearance displays (not in or near kids packs or backpacking kits), but the metal torso length adjustment bar was broken so didn't bother.
We've also had the completely regular retail experience at MEC this year, where no one is around and no one offers to help. Which most of the time is fine! But frustrating when mec.ca says in stock or low stock and you cannot find the item or staff to locate it.
Just my personal experience. I kind of feel like the best MEC experience now is their website. Pick, order, ship, deliver. Its hard to screw that up.