“Right now in this pandemic and this time it is an opportunity for us to show how great Vancouver is as a book town,” says Atleo. “There is such an incredible diversity of independent book stores and the sorts of things we specialize in. So Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, I think, is really important as an idea. As an idea of how much book shops contribute to our communities and how much we are places of organization, of gathering and networking with each other, and of ideas.
Hilary Atleo of Iron Dog Books in Vancouver is one of nine store owners in Vancouver who are joining forces to offer special promotions for this year’s Canadian Bookstore Day on April 24.Indie stores, of which there are about 100 that sell new books in B.C., built websites, improved websites, offered curbside delivery and home delivery, plus some hosted online events.
“Coast to coast, the annual day is an opportunity to celebrate how important books are in our lives and, more and more, a reminder to encourage people to shop local when it comes to books, ” said Jesson. “Everyone rallying together on one day is a powerful reminder to carry the support through the rest of the year.”