Saltspring Island visit, finally

 I've been aware of the two non-profit thrift shops located in Ganges, Saltspring island for a few years now.  Finally got over to visit them this week.

The first is the Transitions shop located in the centre of Ganges, adjacent to the Salt Spring Coffee shop in the back.

The shop has a boutique feel to it.

There is what appears to be a private (and for-profit) thrift shop in an adjacent building.

The other and older shop is the Lady Minto Hospital Auxiliary.  It is the bigger shop and offers a larger variety of items.

Impending Closure: Maple Ridge Economy Cottage/Hospital Auxiliary Thrift

The Maple Ridge/Ridge Meadows Hospital Auxiliary's Economy Thrift Shop on Dewdney Trunk Road will be closing at the end of June.  This is the third permament closure of a thrift shop in Maple Ridge in the past year or so.

List of Health Care and Hospital Auxiliairies

A list of health care and hospital auxiliaries.  Not all operate thrift stores but (some of) those which do are listed below which make them the most numerous for a given type of organisation:

http://bchealthcareaux.org/about-bcaha/member-auxiliaries/

Kamloops (Royal Inland)
Rutland (Kelowna General)
Merritt/Nicola Valley
Revelstoke
Nakusp/Arrow Lakes
Kaslo
Cranbrook
Summerland
Penticton
Powell River

Campbell River
Comox (St Joseph's)
Nanaimo
Chemainus
Ladysmith
Duncan/Cowichan Valley
Gold River
Port Alberni
Port Hardy

Vancouver: VGH, and BC Women's and B.C. Children's
New Westminster (Royal Columbian)
North Vancouver (Lions Gate)
Maple Ridge
Port Coquitlam
Richmond
Delta
White Rock
Surrey (Surrey Memorial - the shop is actually in North Delta)
Langley
Mission
Chilliwack

Victoria reportedly had a good thrift shop but it closed recently due to high rent.

Powell River

It's been over 3 years since we were last there but there are two thrift shops in Powell River, conveniently adjacent to each other hidden in the SE corner of Joyce and Alberni (access on Quebec Avenue, if it is marked as such, off Alberni).

Our favorite of the two is the MCC shop which has good prices.  Just north of it is the Health Care Auxilliary Economy Shop which seems to have more clothing.  Both have good prices.  Free lot parking.

As Powell River is a poorer community with limited shopping, these two shops are very popular and well-supported by the community.

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.

New Westminster and SE Burnaby thrift shopping

We're spending a lot of time in New West and have had time to find and visit the thrift shops in the city and nearby.

New To You

The first one we visited was New to You of the NW Hospital Auxilliary's which is on E Columbia up from Royal Columbian Hospital. Small, well-organised thrift shop. Street parking but it is all pay.  Last Thursday of the month promises 50% off everything.

Treasure Chest

On 6th Street @ 5th Avenue is Treasure Chest of the local/Fraser branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association .  Nice small shop which is well laid out. Street parking, pay and free.

Thrift shop in the basement of St Barnabas

Down 5th Avenue (south side @ 10th Street) is the St Barnabas Anglican church shop.  It's in the basement.  Well laid out.  Lots of housewares, great prices in books, some clothes.  Quite good prices. Street parking (free)  Watch the hours.  Not open on Monday but it is open more frequently than the sign says  Depends on volunteer availability.

SPCA New West

On 12th Street, there's two thrift shops north of 6th Avenue.  East side is the SPCA (the SPCA licenses its name to privately-owned/operated shops in return for a cut).  Small very crammed shop.  Not well organised.  Prices, due to private ownership, can be high.

Sugar Shack

On the opposite side of 12th Street is the Sugar Shack that supports a Pentecostal church in Manila in the Philippines.  Very small, not much stuff but worth a drop in if you are visiting the others.  Paid street parking for both here and the SPCA.

New West Salvation Army

The big presence in New West is the Salvation Army on the south side of Columbia at 8th Street.  Huge shop with a lot of stuff.  Best to come when it is 1/2 price sale, of course. Prices are high as befits the SA. Paid street and off street parking.









There are 4 shops in the south and eastern fringes of Burnaby

Edmonds Street on the north side of Canada Way has two interesting shops, both on the north/west side.

At the end of the block is Orphan Aid.  Medium-sized, it is stacked to the gills and has a lot of stuff.  Prices are fairly good, and below average for the most part. Quite dense in housewares and cloths.  Some furniture too downstairs.

BASES

Closer to Canada Way is BASES which supports many causes in Burnaby.  Very well laid-out shop and nice to shop in. Lots of housewares, not very clothing heavy.  Parking in it own adjacent off-street lot.  Free street parking too but check for restrictions.

Burnaby Hospice

On Kingsway (north side) west of Griffiths is the Burnaby Hospice shop.  Medium size, o.k. lay out.  Prices a bit high and seemingly picked over for housewares.  Free street parking.  There's furniture upstairs.







On Cameron (north side) off North Road in Burquitlam is the basement thrift shop of Saint Stephen the Martyr Anglican church.  The shop may be open only monthly.  We just happened to be here on the 3rd Saturday where excess stock is displayed in the church's parking lot (so there is some parking).  Not too bad selection but a lot of stuff may not be out.  Prices seems quite reasonable.