Celebrating 30 Years in 2019 – Blue Heron Books

In bookselling, 30 years is something worth celebrating. Small business is tough and bookselling even tougher. But Blue Heron Books succeeded! And the future is looking very bright indeed.

To mark this auspicious occasion, Blue Heron Books inaugurated The Book Drunkard Literary Festival in 2019. A longtime dream of owner Shelley Macbeth, the festival embraces all things dear to booklovers – great books and authors, great theatre, great food and drink and great music. You can count on being impressed by the depth and breadth of the festival. There truly is something for everyone!

In addition, 30 Random Acts of Book Kindness was Blue Heron’s way of acknowledging this milestone by giving back to the community that supported the store through thirty years of ups and downs. Blue Heron committed to undertake 30 acts of book kindness – big and small –to initiate or enhance the reading life of many. One of these projects, spearheaded and still implemented by the amazing Lucy Black, was establishing a read-aloud program at local nursing homes.

As well, a Facebook campaign to nurture indie bookseller love across the country was ushered in to encourage Canadian readers to continue supporting the indie bookstore in their neighbourhood.

And finally, what’s a milestone without a party? Blue Heron Books opened its doors to former staff and all customers during the fall of 2019, where an anniversary scrapbook was on display with LOTS of memorabilia. Stories were shared – a common occurrence at Blue Heron Books – and guests came armed with theirs!