Overlooking Sooke Harbour lies the artisan garden, a serene location now home to a fresh chapter for Sooke’s literary community – Terrier Books, a new bookstore setting out to do things differently.
“People are very happy to see a bookstore in Sooke. I’ve had a lot of great feedback,” says Gladys Vallee, the owner of Terrier Books, which is currently Sooke’s only bookstore.
After a brief stint living in Youbou with her partner, after the pair first moved to Vancouver Island from Montreal, they eventually settled in Sooke. Vallee operated Terrier Books online until Dec. 6, 2024, when she transformed Terrier into a brick-and-mortar business.
Originally, hailing from the Caribbean island of Martinique, Vallee got involved in the book industry when she moved to Montreal and began working for Indigo.
“That’s where I realized that I loved books so much. I always read when I was younger, but it wasn’t really a passion; I didn’t realize I could actually work in the book industry,” said Vallee.
“I realized that I was really happy working surrounded by books and doing customer service, and I was a bit frustrated too with the rules. I wanted to have my own thing.”
Vallee didn’t come from a literary background; she studied geology and other sciences. For her, the environment is top of mind in her life and business.
“In almost every job I've had, I was the one to ask questions about recycling and the environmental policy of the company. I realized quickly that you can’t do much when you’re an employee,” said Vallee.
“I really want to focus on having an eco-conscious bookstore, it's more than just having, secondhand books. It's also related to the new books.”
To keep the store eco-conscious, Vallee is spending time vetting publishers, prioritizing books printed in North America, books that use recycled paper and plant-based ink, and overstock books publishers offload at a discount.
“This industry compared to other industries like food or fashion, they’re starting to do more for the environment. But in the book industry, it’s very slow. They’re only starting to realize that they are not being very eco-conscious,” said Vallee.
“My goal with the bookstore is really to create a more circular economy, at least in my bookstore.”
Vallee is embedding her store in the local economy and welcoming everyone, with plans to bring in local authors from Sooke and across Vancouver Island, plus hosting readings and book clubs.
“I really want to be a community space, more than just selling books,” said Vallee.
“My other goal is to educate a little bit, to bring more attention to the environmental impact of the book industry and maybe bring awareness to people.”
Along with bringing attention to the environment Vallee also hopes to use Terrier as a place to foster inclusivity. She plans to fold her love for picture books, and graphic novels, into a series of story times, where she will welcome kids – and adults – of all ages. She hopes to host her first story time in February, and while she hasn’t chosen a story yet she hopes to connect the event with Black History Month.
Until then, Vallee will be focused on stocking her shelves and welcoming new readers.
Terrier Books can be found at 6689 Goodmere Rd. on the bottom floor of the Artisans Garden.
