Victoria West - VIew Royal and Esquimalt

Some of our better finds have been west of Victoria Harbour, a seemingly-richer place with lots of stock.

Immediately across the harbour in the mall encompassed by Bay, Wilson and Tyee is a small WIN.  It has mainly clothes but some housewares and collectibles.  Free lot parking.

WIN Westside

Heading west on Craigflower just west of Tillicum (NW side) is a Saint Vincent de Paul.  This one seems to have better a selection of housewares and collectibles.  Decent prices.  Free lot parking.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Esquimalt

Continuing onto Island Highway just west of Helmcken is the View Royal Salvation Army which may be the best for collectibles and housewares in Victoria.  It has a lot of stock.  Lot parking.

Salvation Army - View Royal

Also out in View Royal in the mall off Admirals Road and Aldersmith Place (SW corner) is an SPCA though prices are pretty high.  Free lot parking.

Vancouver Island thrft store listings
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/listing-of.html

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.

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

Cloverdale

Cloverdale in the eastern fringes of Surrey has at least two thrift shops.

Both northeast of the 56 Avenue and 176th Street junction. On 176A is the Eversafe Ranch. On 177B is the local SPCA.

Eversafe which assists families has a small but very well-organised shop.  Usual assortment though not clothing heavy. Nice assortment of collectibles with reasonable prices.  Street parking as well as a small adjacent private lot.

The SPCA is small medium and full of the usual things.  Better organisation tan an average SPCA shop but prices here seem rather high.  Parking lot out front.