The Glebe Garage Sale, Saturday 25th May 2019

Every year, on the fourth Saturday of May, the entire community of the Glebe village in Ottawa celebrates with a giant garage sale, the biggest in Canada, and one of the biggest in the world. Virtually all of the residents participate in this show, emptying their closets, kitchens, garages, computer stations, workrooms and jewellery boxes and vend away what they don't want or need. One person's unwanted material becomes a treasure for others. You can walk away with a bag of Lego blocks or a canoe. The variety is a joy every year.

On the 25th of May this year, I went with Canada Fashion Magazine editor and publisher Shelby Del Franko to the sale. Six blocks north and south, ten blocks east and west, all with a separate sale on each lawn. Everyone, virtually everyone, was cheerful and friendly, and from 7:00 a.m. to noon, it was warm and sunny. At 12:30 the rains came and ended the sale. Good thing, too, as most everything was sold by noon. No one left empty handed, except the vendors. I went with no intention of buying anything, but I did buy two bottles of Chef Carlton's Island Spice Jerk Marinade, the champagne of jerk sauces.

The next Glebe Garage sale takes place on the 23rd of May, 2020. See you there!

 Shelby Del Franko, publisher and editor of Canada Fashion Magazine

Shelby Del Franko