The owners of The Spaniel’s Tale in Ottawa, Cole Davidson, and company, made a decision to relocate their bookstore to a bigger venue nearby without intending to organize a “book brigade.” Davidson mentioned that the inspiration for this unique event came from their loyal customers who shared stories of similar initiatives by other bookstores. The concept was straightforward: volunteers formed a human chain to pass books one by one to the new location.
The event took place in Hintonburg on a Saturday, starting around noon and lasting until approximately 2:30 p.m. Staff set up two lines along Wellington Street West, spanning from the old store at Carruthers Avenue to the new store at Stirling Avenue, covering a distance of about 80 to 90 meters depending on the measurement point.
Expressing gratitude, Davidson remarked on the overwhelming support from the community, emphasizing the significance of the community’s turnout on that day. Over 300 volunteers, including people of all ages like 12-year-old Harry Turk-Misener and participants like Josae St Laurent, joined in to support local commerce and foster community unity.
The event witnessed heartwarming interactions as volunteers shared book recommendations and comments while passing the books down the line. The seamless relocation effort not only helped prevent physical strain but also ensured that the thousands of books arrived at the new store in alphabetical order.
With the new store offering double the space of the previous location, The Spaniel’s Tale plans to expand its services by hosting more events, including book signings and special shopping nights. By the end of the event, approximately 280 volunteers had participated, moving a staggering 7,400 books in just two-and-a-half hours. The remainder of the inventory is scheduled to be relocated over the following week, with the grand opening of the new location set for October 17 at 1109 Wellington St. W.