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Events, contests and other initiatives by The Tyee and select partners.

This Weekend, Celebrate Your Favourite Indie Bookshop

Love reading and shopping local? Join other readers and writers this Saturday in coming together for Canadian Independent Bookstore Day.

Canadian Independent Booksellers Association 25 Apr 2024The Tyee

A line of bookshelves with a sign that reads ‘Literary magic.’
The carefully curated shelves of Upstart & Crow on Vancouver’s Granville Island. On Saturday, April 27, celebrate your favourite indie bookshop. Photo via Upstart & Crow.

Whether you’re in the market for a new read or a unique gift, independent bookstores make up some of the most vibrant shopping spaces — and community hubs — in Canada. Unlike chain retailers, indies nurture the unique tastes and values of their owners and community, offering carefully curated selections that cater to the interests of local readers.

This Saturday, April 27, the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association is inviting the public to celebrate these bastions of the written word by visiting bookstores in-person or online.

With the Indie Bookstores website, readers in Canada cannot only find all the bookstores closest to home, but discover their websites and social media pages, and learn more what’s stocking their shelves, from books to puzzles, games and gifts.

Then this Saturday, book lovers across the country can look forward to giveaways and product exclusives, including tote bags, pins, posters and even tea and chocolate, as well as an early release of Shashi Bhat’s much-anticipated new novel, Death by a Thousand Cuts — not formally on sale until April 30.

If that’s not enough to convince, the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association is once again holding their Contest for Book Lovers. With this contest, any single book purchased at a locally owned indie bookstore counts as one entry to win a grand prize gift card of $1,000 at your favourite bookstore, or four $200 runners-up gift cards. Get full prize details at the Indie Bookstores website.

More than anything, Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is an opportunity to remember that independent bookstores are more than just places to purchase books. These establishments often host book signings, author readings and community events, and are integral parts of their community’s social fabric as diverse and welcoming spaces for all residents. Plus, they’ll always have an amazing book to bring home.

Join the celebration with Canadian Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 27. To learn more, visit the Indie Bookstores website. [Tyee]

Read more: Books

This article is part of a Tyee Presents initiative. Tyee Presents is the special sponsored content section within The Tyee where we highlight contests, events and other initiatives that are either put on by us or by our select partners. The Tyee does not and cannot vouch for or endorse products advertised on The Tyee. We choose our partners carefully and consciously, to fit with The Tyee’s reputation as B.C.’s Home for News, Culture and Solutions. Learn more about Tyee Presents here.

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