Ottawa’s biggest sidewalk sale celebrates 40 years

Ottawa residents turned out in droves for the Great Glebe Garage Sale. CTV’s Camille Wilson speaks with those who partook in the massive bargain hunt.

Ottawa’s Great Glebe Garage sale back for its 40^th anniversary.

The neighbourhood-wide sale runs between Glebe Avenue and Fifth Avenue, and O’Connor Street and Percy Street, with more than 25,000 people attending. Each year, hundreds of residents sell items from their porches, driveways, sidewalks and front lawns.

This is the sixth year selling for Rebecca and Charlie Aur.

“We mostly just sell all of our old stuff. This year, we have a lot of clothes, lots of books and kids’ toys and just miscellaneous stuff. A couple of my grandparents’ old things that they also wanted to sell,” said Charlie.

“When we renovated our house, I asked for a really big cupboard in the basement almost the size of a small room. That’s our garage sale cupboard so anything that we’re done with it just goes in the cupboard. Then this morning, we empty the cupboard and put it all out,” said Rebecca.

Deanna Pinsent and Amanda Ralph say they came looking for luggage but picked up clothing, puzzles, a life jacket and more.

“We found everything we’re looking for and then some,” said Pinsent. “I even found a faucet for my sink for the bathroom.”

“I bought mostly things for my kids,” said Ralph.

Started by the Glebe Community Association, the event is meant to be an opportunity for neighbours to come together and to give back to the Ottawa Food Bank.

“The Great Glebe Garage Sale is a fundraiser for the Ottawa Food Bank. We encourage everyone selling today to donate 10 per cent of their proceeds back to the Ottawa Food Bank,” said Sam Woods, coordinator of The Great Glebe Garage Sale. “If you’re a buyer and you’re just having a fun time, we encourage you to make a donation as well.”

Organizers say the event is increasingly important with food insecurity at an all time high, not only in Ottawa but across the country. Organizers say it’s a privilege to put on the event and give back to the community.

The Great Glebe Garage Sale even draws in people from outside of the capital region.

“[From] Peterborough! Yes. I’ve heard of it. I’ve always wanted to come. It’s exceeded expectations. It’s really fun,” said Patty Campbell, attending the sale.

Campbell’s friend Kim Rogerson lives in Ottawa and attended the event for the first time last year.

“We said, ‘you have got to come.’ So, she came this year and we’re having a blast,” Rogerson said.

Campbell said she came for Terracotta pots, non-electric cooking appliances and a record but she also snagged some stuff for her grandchildren, including a coffee grinder and some stone crocks.

“I’m looking for a specific record album called ‘Grownups’ by Jack Gifford. My brothers and I listened to it. It’s very dated. It didn’t age well, but we have such good memories that I’m trying to source it, but nobody has it so far,” said Campbell.

“I’ve got stuff for my grandchildren, and I found some other stuff,” said Rogerson.

The giant annual garage sale is held on the fourth Saturday in May.

“I hope it exists for 40 more years at minimum,” said Woods.

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