Today is Independents' Day - part of the Canadian Bookseller Association "Independents Matter" grassroots campaign designed to promote the importance of a locally owned business to communities.Today, across Canada, is the perfect time to pop into your local bookshop and check out all they have to offer.
Hundreds of booksellers across the country are hosting special Independents' Day events, some of them featuring authors, some featuring special sales and promotions, some featuring special activities. Others will simply just doing what they always do every Saturday afternoon - offering customers a chance to step into a magically world when they cross the threshold of their bookstore.
Yesterday, Quill & Quire did a feature spot on this day, highlighting events at 6 different stores in four different provinces:
Burlington, ON: A Different Drummer
Edmonton, AB: Audreys
Saskatoon, SK: McNally Robinson
Sarnia, ON: The Book Keeper
Ottawa, ON: Collected Works
Sackville, NB: Tidewater Books
These are just 6 great locations where something fun is going on. The Free Press also did a nice bit on Polar Peek Books in Fernie, BC, the activities they have planned as well as a bit more about the store and owner.
If you live near any of these seven locations, they're certainly something to check out. If you don't, check out the bookstore(s) in your local community so you can see all they have to offer and take the time to celebrate your independents.
Last year for Independents' Day, I made a point of visiting a few different stores that were doing Independents Day activities in the Toronto area. It was part of a mini Celebrate Independents tour I did with Toronto Mayor David Miller, who was signing copies of his book Witness To A City. We visited Another Story Bookshop and Mables Fables.
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| David Miller, Eleanor LeFave and me |
This year, my schedule prevents me from having the time to do something as fun as visiting a few different stores; so I'm making a point of doing a special "Indie" celebration errand.
Later this morning, when Francine gets back from her Saturday morning run, I'm heading down to Locke Street in Hamilton, buying some bagels at an independent bagel and coffee shop, Locke Street Bakery - then I'm going to pop in to Epic Books on Locke Street and purchase one of the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize shortlisted books.
How will you be celebrating the great local bookstores in your neighbourhood?
2 comments:
So? Which book did you buy??
And how were those bagels?
(I knew I wouldn't be going into town again today so I bought my books yesterday.) :)
I picked up HALF BLOOD BLUES at Epic Books. I love that store! She had a great sign near the front cash listing the shortlisted Giller titles and lovely little shelf-talkers under each of the books on the lit wall. Made it really easy - of course the fact that she's read most of them and could easily discuss them also helped. Love that! :)
And we ended up heading down to Locke Street as a family. I had a pumpernickel bagel with cheddar jalapeno cream cheese. Mmmmm. Alexander ate two whole bagels - I think he's going to have a growth spurt....
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