A few "new" ones in Duncan, Parksville and Nanaimo.

Visited a few thrift shops that I've known about but openings times haven't coincided with our visits.

West of Duncan on Gibbins Road - a few hundred meters past the hospital - is Duncan Seventh Day Adventist church's thrift shop.  This one is hard to visit as it is rarely open, just Thursdays and 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month from 11-15.  It is run by volunteers, small but well organised has interesting items at very good prices.  Lots of lot parking.  Proceeds go to local and international aid.

In the old part of Nanaimo on Fitzwilliam Street at Wallace is the St. Andrew's United Church shop. Located in the basement, it also volunteer-run.  Small.  Free lot parking.  Only open M, W, Th 0930-13.



On the south end of Parksville on the old highway, at the strip mall just north of the 1st set of traffic lights is the Second Chance thrift shop where proceeds go to assist rehabilitation and community  reintegration of people with brain injuries. Lots of nice collectibles here as they have partnered with a estate sale/clearance business.  Very good prices for china sets.  Free lot parking.  Only open W-Sa.

Even better than thrift stores....

is the free store!

Cowichan Regional District's waste management programme includes paying to bring items to the transfer station not necessarily for disposal but for re-use.  Pay to leave it there, free to take it away.  I don't know why people just don't take it to a thrift store.  There are two such Free Store, one in Duncan and another in Ladysmith.

We dropped in at the Duncan location today and had to ask where the site was.  Linda thought it was some joke until we got there, and she found something she wanted, but never wanted to pay money for.  Her first thought was, "I forgot my wallet" and the second, "Oh wait, I don't need money here".

Got 11 CDs, a German band dessinee book (not that I can read German), a German poultry shears (just had to bend the handle back, and get a spring),  silver-plated flower holder (needs polish), two oyster knives, an electronic thermometer (need a battery), German asparagus peeler (needs sharpening), a made-in-Brazil Henckels peeler, a German cherry pitter, all for the grand sum of...   $0.

North and Central Saanich

The North Saanich area has thrift shops clustered in Sidney and Brentwood Bay.  There are a couple of church shops spread around.

Near the north end at West Saanich Road (@ Clayton) is St John's United Church.  The thrift shop is housed in a trailer so it's small but it does have nice items.  Very reasonable prices.  Lot parking.

The Sidney area houses over a half dozen shops, all between Beacon and Bevan avenues and spread between 2nd and 4th streets s very walkable. 3 are branches of Beacon Community Services and are divided into 3 shops.  The 4th Avenue shop houses the furniture shop.  On 3rd Avenue, adjacent to each other is the housewares shop and a clothes and other goods shop.   Across 3rd from these two is an SPCA shop.  Prices are quite high though.  On 2nd Avenue is a Saint Vincent de Paul.  Haven't found much of interest personally here.  There's a pet rescue thrift shop across the street and an adjacent private one.

Free street and off-street parking though it gets busy.

Down in Brentwood Bay are spread 3 along West Saanich Road, all within 6-7 minute walk of each other.  At the north end just south of Verdier is a Salvation Army shop.   Small, a bit picked over and not much of interest to us.  Prices high as per SAs in the area.  Lot and street parking.

North of the NE corner of Wallace is a Beacon Community Services shop that specialises in clothes.  The houseware shops is further south on the other side of W Saanich before Le Bure Place.  It's also small but may have housewares of interest.  Free lot parking.

Heading back to the highway on Keating Cross Road, one finds a Saint Vincent de Paul, a new branch to replace the closed one on Quadra in south Saanich (we found it but not sure if it is being renovated or converted into something else).  It's small, and seemingly poor so not much of interest.  free lot parking.

On special days, Saint Mary's Anglican church in Saanichton (Cultra west of E Saanich Road) has a parish sale in late September.  We'll miss it but it's there.

Langford and Sooke

In the western suburbs of Victoria are 6 thrift stores - 4 in Langford and 2 in Sooke.

 The three normal thrift stores are located along Goldstream Avenue at Bryn Maur/Claude, well within walking distance of each other. Just off Goldstream on Claude is the Saint Vincent de Paul.  It's a small shop with the usual assortment, with good prices.  Street and lot parking.

On the other side of Goldstream in the back of a parking lot mall is the Salvation Army.  Moderate size, it has the usual SA items. Prices a bit high but there are always bargains.  Free lot parking.

Off in the back of the fancier mall a little bit east (other side of Bryn Maur) is the WIN thrift store.  It's a small boutique with very nice things.  Not much selection but what there is is nice.  Good prices. Lot parking.

There's a small Habitat for Humanity ReStore hidden on Orono at Van Isle.  It's a small store with mainly home reno items, as expected, but also a small assortment of housewares. Lot parking.

The small community of Sooke is surprisingly large (lots of schools) and can support 2 thrift stores.  When we were last there, there was a Salvation Army and a Saint Vincent de Paul.  The SA closed as a result of cost but the community quickly rallied and opened a community thrift shop acorss the road, and even closer to the remaining Saint Vincent de Paul both on West Coast Road.

The Sooke Community store is on the south side of West Coast Road just west of Otter Point/Murray Road (the only traffic light in the village centre).  It's small but still has a nice variety of wares.  Good prices. Free limited lot parking.

A bit further down on the other side of the street west of Shields is the Saint Vincent de Paul.  In an office building of some sort, it is also small and has a variety of wares which seem to reflect a poorer pool of donours.  Limited lot parking.

Crofton, Ladysmith and Chemainus

Three thrift stores in the northern Cowichan valley.

The thrift store at Crofton, a community one on Joan Avenue between York and King, has been in some flux.  Currently it is part of a self-serve laundromat. It's small with a small selection of items. No furniture.  Prices seem to be reasonable.  Lots of free street parking.

Chemainus Hospital Auxiliary

Heading up to Chemainus, one finds a Hospital Auxilliary shop on the corner of Maple and Oak streets.  This store is well-organised but small, reflecting the small community.  Well patronised by the locals.  Free street parking.

Ladysmith Hospital Auxiliary

Up in Ladysmith on the corner of 1st and French is the local Hospital Auxilliary.  They do seem to get whatever the community gives, some of it thrown in the dumpster.  It's on the small side.  Quite an assortment of the usual.  Free street parking.

Cowichan

The Cowichan valley, which I will define as Mill Bay to Ladysmith, hosts a fair number of thrift stores.

Beginning in the south at Mill Bay, there is the Salvation Army store on the Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Road just west of the TC highway.  It's a small store with the usual assortment.  Free lot parking.  Part of the lower mainland and Victoria division, it participates in the promotions of this division.

On Cobble Hill Road near Lovers Lane//Chapman Road if the Hand-in-Hand store of St John the Baptist Anglican Church.  This store is open only on a Friday between 10 and 14h.  Selection is limited to a few collectibles and clothes.  Everything appears to be saved for a Saturday in September (either the 3rd or closest to the middle of the month.  Some special event locally as a lot of thrift stores have sales on this date) when a lot of inventory is brought out for sale.  A lot of nice items at good, marked prices.

Next stop is Duncan which hosts 7 stores.

Right on the highway (east side) are two stores.  At Trunk Road is the Salvation Army while a couple of blocks further north is the Bibles for Missions at Alexander Street. The Salvation Army is a small store with o.k. prices.  Small selection of everything though quality seems to reflect the relatively-poorer area.  The Bibles for Missions is one of the smaller ones and just doesn't have too much.  Seems to be focussed mainly on clothes but has some collectibles and housewares.  O.K. prices but higher than other BFMs in B.C. Both have free lot parking while the BFM also has free street parking.

In the downtown area of Duncan are 5 stores.

On Station Street between Canada Avenue and Craig Street is the local Hospital Auxiliary.  This well-displayed store is small but has a good amount of collectibles, clothes and housewares.  Free street parking though it can be limited.

At the end of Station Street (junction with Government and Jubilee) s is WINGS III which is a abused/battered women's charity.  This small store is more of a boutique with fairly nice quality items and has higher prices.

On Kenneth Street is the Duncan Lions store.  This small store is nicely organised with lots of collectibles, clothes, housewares and furniture.  Prices are very good.  Free street parking.

The local United Church is open on Fridays.  The store is small with the usual clothes, children's ware and collectibles.  Only a small amount of inventory is on show while the rest is saved for the September sale.  Good prices.  Lot parking.

On Canada Avenue (between 1st and 2nd avenues) is the Cowichan Family Life store.  Good amount of collectibles, clothes and housewares.  Prices are o.k.  Lot parking.

Out on is the Seventh Day Adventist on Gibbins Road though the opening hours are not advertised. Will advice when I find it open. Lot parking.

Couple of small, private thrift stores too, one just north of the Bibles for Missions and another across the road from WINGS III.

Kamloops

A large but less affluent than Kelowna, Kamloops supports a far number of thrift stores.

Starting up far north in the Westsyde (Westsyde Road at Mayne) is the Westsyde Fellowship Church shop, only open on a Friday 9-13h.  It's a small shop on the top floor of the church complex with mainly clothes but some housewares, games and hardware.  Reasonable prices but we've seen nothing of interest. Lots of free lot parking.

In the shopping mall complex on Tranquille Road and Desmond is Flutter Buys of the local Hospice.  It has moved to the central building in the complex (facing Tranquille).  Lots of the usual items.  Free lot parking.

Back along Tranquille towards the bridge at Yew is the local Salvation Army.  A medium-sized shop, it has the usual assortment except furniture.  Quite a large housewares section.  Free street parking.

A bit further down on a side street, Briar Avenue between Palm and Wilson is the local Saint Vincent de Paul.  It is a smaller shop with the usual assortment at good prices.  Free lot parking.

Downtown Kamloops has at least 3 thrift shops.

On Victoria between 1st and 2nd avenues is the Thrift Seller shop of the local Hospital Auxilliary.  This medium-sized sho is well-organised and has everything except furniture.  Good prices.  Paid street parking.

On Seymour between 3rd and 4th avenues is Thrift City of New Life Mission.  This larger medium-sized shop has something of everything.  Good prices.  Paid street parking.

On Saint Paul between 4th and 5th avenues is the United Church's thrift shop which has moved into new premises around the corner from the old one on 4th Avenue. This small shop has the usual except furniture.  Paid street parking.

Reports of a Big Brothers Big Sisters on Seymour between 8th and 9th.

Up the hill on Cariboo Place between Hillside Drive and Laval Crescent is the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. In addition to home reno wares, this outlet has a lot of housewares and collectibles.  Free lot and street parking.

The SPCA is supposed to have one but I haven't been able to locate it.

The Central Okanagan

The place where I realised that one can find good items at thrift shops and hence starting my affinity for reusing. With a larger population that apparently is into consumption, and also more affluent, one can find a good number of quality bargains here.

A home base of ours is Rutland which is almost a thrift shop destination with 4 charity shops and one semi (one of two SPCAs) when there were only 3 just a year or two ago. All within walking distance too.

On Rutland Road south of Highway 33 (at gray) are two shops.  The first is the Salvation Army. Occupying a large space, it has a good selection of all items though not as well-stocked as in the past due to reorganisation.  Prices can be somewhat high unless you happen upon a sale. Free lot and street parking.




Across the street is the new premises of the MCC (which formerly occupied where the Kelowna Mission's newly opened shop is). A large shop, it is well stocked (including furniture) and organised.  Lots of collectibles come in. Free lot parking behind.






North of the highway on Roxby Road is the Kelowna Mission store, newly-opened since the MCC moved.  Very well-organised, it has the usual assortment, including housewares, clothing and furniture at good prices.  30% off sale on Tuesdays. Free lot and street parking.






On Douglas also just north of the highway is the Rutland Hospital Auxiliary which has been operating for many years.  Well-organised, it has the usual assortment of items (just no furniture). Reputedly the best priced place in town. I won't dispute that.  Free street parking.





Just north in the barn formerly housing a sporting goods store is the newer SPCA thrift store.  Rather spacious due to size, it has many items on 3 levels.  A good assortment including collectibles of dubious quality at times. Worth a visit. Free lot and street parking.

Moving towards the main town on Enterprise Way and Cooper is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore housed in part of a huge warehouse.  Though one would expect only home reno items (as we did, until we actually visited), it has in addition sporting goods, furniture, housewares and art among other unexpected items.  Good prices and worth a visit.  Free lot parking.

On the south side of Springfield just west of Spall is the local Bibles for Missions. A larger mid-sized store, it is densely-stocked with a good assortment of everything.  Free lot parking.

On Sutherland Avenue at Birch (SE corner) is the Salvation Army boutique.  Small, it stocks mainly clothing but has a small assortment of housewares. Free lot parking.









Heading west on Sutherland before Gordon and opposite from the mall is the Catholic Knights of Columbus Pro-Life shop.  This shop has a lot of housewares and collectibles.  Good prices. Free lot parking.







Downtown Kelowna has 4 thrift stores.  On Ellis between Queensway and Doyle is the IODE shop. This one is tiny but has a dedicated volunteer all the time with clothes, housewares and collectibles.  Never know what one finds.  Paid street parking which is not easy to find.








Further north, on Gaston between Richter and St Paul is the Kelowna and District SHARE.  A large shop with a good assortment of everything including furniture, clothing, collectibles and housewares, it assists people integrate into the community.  Very good prices.  Free lot and street parking though it can be difficult to park nearby.





On Industrial Way (in what seem to be a small driveway west off and off Ellis) is the Kelowna women's shelter thrift store.  Small, it has clothing, collectibles and housewares.  Good selection, decent prices. Free lot parking.







I haven't been to the First United Church's shop on Bernard and Richter yet due to it being closed in summer.  In the old Tomato King barn on Casorso and Benvoulin opposite from the SPCA is the first SPCA thrift store. I haven't been here since it opened in its current form.  Free lot parking.

Across the lake in West Bank and surrounds are three shops.  The largest is the Salvation Army's shop on Old Okanagan Highway between Butt and Bering.  In a large new building (it was moved from Main Street), it is well organised and has a good assortment of everything.  O.K. prices.   Free lot parking.



On Main Street at Bowen (just off Main) is the local United Church shop hidden in the basement. Usual church thrift items except furniture.  Free lot parking.







Heading back towards Kelowna on Ross Road between Daimler and Bartley (just off the highway) is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  This one stocks mainly home reno items and has very limited housewares. Free lot parking.



There's a thrift store at the United Church in Peachland but I have yet to go there on an open day.

Lake Country Food Bank

North of Kelowna in Winfield are two thrift shops.  Just off and east of the highway on Berry is the local Food Bank shop (only one in B.C. that runs a non-food thrift shop).  Limited opening days and hours.  Small, it has a good selection of everything.  Good prices.  Free lot parking.

Winfield United Church

On Woodsdale by the old rail line is the United Church shop.  Coffee seems to be the main topic of conversation among the staff. Small but well-organised, it has the usual selection of items at good prices.  Check out the shed behind for odd items. Free lot parking.

Chilliwack and surrounds

Chilliwack is a town full of thrift stores, most with religious affiliation.

Working from north to south roughly along Yale Road, one finds:

On Yale and Williams is the Lions Den of the Chilliwack Lions - one of the few service organisation thrift stores.  It's pretty much a jumble here but full of house wares if you are willing to look through the rather-dim and disorganised store. Good prices.  Free street parking and lot parking in the back.




Between Fletcher and Nowell, opposite the post office is Ann's Treasures of the Ann Davis society (recovery/counselling for women).  Mainly clothing, it also has some housewares.  Decent prices and nicely organised. Free street parking.  Around the corner on Nowell just before Princess is the 1st of two Bibles for Missions.  Quite a few items in the larger mid-sized shop, mainly clothing but a fair amount of house wares and some furniture.  Good prices.  Free lot parking.

Bibles for Missions - Nowell Street

On Kipp Avenue between Mary and Main is the MCC store.  Usual selection of goods, decent prices.  Fairly well-organised.  Free street parking.

Chilliwck United Church

Around the corner on Main between Kipp and Spadina, one finds shops of the local Hospital Auxilliary and United Church.  Both are small.  The HA store has the usual clothes and housewares.  Well organised and good prices.  The United Church is a bit less organised but seems to have more items.  Good prices again.  Free street parking.

Chilliwack Hospital Auxiiary

On Mary between Hodgins and Bernard is Mother Theresa's Place of the local Catholic church.  A bit dark but it has a good assortment of items at pretty decent prices.  Free lot parking.








Back to Yale Road between Railway and Hocking (accesible only if headed north on Yale) is the Salvation Army shop.  Medium size but a bit sad in organisation.  Prices are o.k. as is selection  Free lot parking. (April 2017 update: This store has closed due to property development.  The local SA intends to reopen the store when new premises are found)

There's a 2nd shop of M2W2 that I have yet to visit.

South of the TC highway along Luckakuck Way are two shops.  East of Vedder opposite the shopping mall is a Bibles for Missions which is medium size and nicely laid out.  A good assortment of housewares, well organised.  Good prices.  free lot parking. On the other side past the Cottonwood Mall just west of Topaz is the local Hospice Society shop.  Smaller but very well organised and laid out.  Good prices.  Free lot parking.

Chilliwack Hospice

Bibles for Missions - Luckakuck Way

On the main and only street in Yarrow is probably the smallest MCC shop.  Small in all terms, selection is limited reflecting community size.  Lot parking behind or street parking out front.

List of Chilliwack and south of the Fraser river thrift shops
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page_3.html

Shuswap

For now, limited to Salmon Arm and Sicamous.

In Sicamous at the junction of the two major highways (SE side) is the local United Church's thrift store (haven't been this year but it's still supposed to be there). Small, it has a small assortmet reflecting the community size.  Free lot parking.

There is reputedly a thrift (or two) store in Chase but I have never been able to find it.

Salmon Arm is where the action is.

In the old town on Hudson Avenue between Ross and 4th is a Canadian Mental Health store.  Very well-organised, it has clothing more than anything else.  A few other items.  Decent prices.  Paid street parking and some free a bit further away.

On Lakeshore Drive near 10th (between the highway and rail track) is the 2nd Kindale store (1st in Enderby and newest in Vernon).  Mainly clothing with some housewares and a decent assortment of collectibles.  Prices for some items can be high. Free lot parking.

On Beatty and Narcisse between these two shops is probably the most interesting one in B.C., the Churches of Salmon Arm shop, which as the name implies, is the collective shop for most of the churches (over a dozen) in town.  There's a clothing section, a housewares and other section, a collectibles and fine wares section, a fine clothing section upstairs and furniture and sporting goods and other wettable stuff outside.  It gets lot of donations and is very popular with the locals.  Very good prices (can depend on who checks you out but you always get a bargain especially on bag sale day  -- Th-Sa about 3rd Saturday of the month -- where you can get all you can put into a plastic grocery bag for $2.  Free lot and street parking.

Southern Okanagan

More properly, it's Summerland and Penticton for now.

Penticton, while a large city, hosts only a handful of thrift stores (4) with the VV apparently sucking in most donations.

On the south end of town on South Main and Skaha Lake Road junction is the larger Salvation Army.  A volunteer-run place, it is a smaller operation housed in some former retail space.  Small, it has the usual assortment of items though one say of lower quality overall (reflecting community wealth or lack of).  Free lot parking accessed from South Main Road.

Heading up Main to the north end between White and Padmore, one comes across the local Hospital Auxilliary's Care Closet shop. Housed in an old double front, it has a small but good selection of items at very good prices.  Street parking.

A block north is one of the few IODE thrift store (two others in Kelowna and Nelson).  Small (but larger than Kelowna's), it has a good selection of items at moderate prices.  Free street parking.  Seems to be open 13-16 but 12-16 in winter.

A block off north and east on Ellis between Wade and Nanaimo is the other Salvation Army thrift store.  Smaller than the southern one, it has the usual plethora of items but not of very good quality, again reflecting the lack of wealth in the community.  Street parking,

Heading up to Summerland, one finds two thrift stores in this community which seems to serve to stock the numerous second-hand collectibles store in town.  Both are located in Victoria Road between Main and Jubilee.

The smaller of the two is CritterAid (which obviously is an animal assistance charity).  Small but well laid out, prices are o.k.  Free street parking.  Next door, and very popular (expect lines before opening time on the 1st opening day of the week), is the local Hospital Auxilliary.  Well-stocked, it can have a lot of items but these seem to go pretty fast when the store is opened for the week.  Very good prices.  Free street parking.

Abbotsford

Abbotsford is home to several thrift shops, most with religious affiliation.  It's homely here so lots of housewares and a good selection of everything.  Working from west to east, one first finds


Life's Second Chance which assists those with severe addictions (drugs).  Located on the south side of Fraser Way just north/east of the TC highway (can't get off/on the highway here).  Medium-large shop with a good assortment of everything.  Decent prices.  Free lot parking.

MCC Clothing Etc.

Less than 1 Km east on Fraser Way @ Countess is the original MCC thrift shop.  This one gets lots of contributions and has a good selection of everything.  Very good prices in general. Across the street is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore which, like Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island stores, mainly have home reno wares. Both  have free lot parking.  Ample is the case of the ReStore.




On the east side of town straddling the rail track are 4 thrift stores.  The smallest and most obscure is Hidden Treasures, operated by M2W2 which offers one-to-one peer counselling and support to prisoners ready for release and want to be rehabilitated.  Small store with a good assortment.  Free lot parking. Located on West Railway @ George Ferguson




There's Abbotsford Bibles for Missions on south on West Railway (opposite the tracks from the 2nd MCC and Salvation Army) which is affiliated but not grouped with the others in B.C.  Well-organised store, prices not as good as others but decent.  They price stuff that is good at a decent but not bargain price. Free lot parking.

MCC Centre

Across the tracks on Gladys Avenue is the 2nd MCC store which occupies a huge premise - probably the largest of any thrift store in B.C. along with a Ten Thousand Villages outlet, quilting workshop and a casual restaurant - all MCC activities, and the MCC's HQ offices in BC. It is spaciously laid out so not as densely stocked as one would expect.  Prices are good but again, not a bargain.  The volunteers search for prices on auction/resale sites and offer it at 1/3rd the going/asking rate. Lots of free lot parking.



A bit further south is the Salvation Army store.  Housed in the basement of a SA housing/shelter building, it is a bit dark.  Medium sized, prices not so good and selection is o.k.  Free lot parking.







There's a small thrift store which I will report on when visited.
(Update April 2017: There were actually two - Healing Grounds an Missions without Borders  but the former has since been closed and the latter sold to a private operator)


List of Abbotsford and south of the Fraser river thrift shops
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page_3.html

Back after a long absence

Been busy travelling up to the Okanagan and back down to the Lower Mainland then Vancouver Island.  Blog continues