For 27 years, Oak Bay's annual Garagellenium has been a beloved fixture on the Greater Victoria calendar, drawing crowds and creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the neighbourhood.
Held on Saturday, July 19, the event once again proved to be more than just a giant garage sale; it's a celebration of community, a chance to recycle memories and an opportunity to support worthy causes.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the streets of Oak Bay buzzed with activity as residents opened their garages and front lawns to bargain hunters.
But beyond the eclectic assortment of items on offer, Garagellenium is defined by the stories behind the items and the heartfelt reasons why people participate.
Karen Nelson, a first-time Garagellenium participant on Sylvan Lane, was excited by the early turnout, having already welcomed 30 visitors within the first half hour.
For Nelson, the event wasn't primarily about profit.
"It's more about recycling," she explained. "Time to give it up, because I know someone else will love it.”
As she glanced at a table filled with children's clothes, Nelson picked up a small red beret and a navy blue duffle coat.
"The boy who wore this coat and hat is now 41 years old, my son,” she shared, a touch of nostalgia in her voice.
Garagellenium, for Nelson, was a chance to give these cherished items a new life and a new home.
Down on Guernsey Road, a couple on their eighth garage sale stop was securing two lawn chairs up on their car roof, a bargain they picked up from Trudy Pauluth-Penner, who was happily reminiscing about her spontaneous first Garagellenium experience last year.
“We just woke up in the morning and saw the neighbourhood was bustling with people and items all over and so we ran downstairs and grabbed a few items in the basement and put them out,” she recalled, her blue eyes twinkling with a smile.
This year, however, Pauluth-Penner took her participation a step further, choosing to donate all proceeds to a long-term care organization for the elderly.
This spirit of giving back resonated throughout the community, with close to 90 households participating in Garagellenium and nine of them donating all proceeds to various charities.
One family on Hampshire Road, choosing to remain anonymous, channelled their grief into a powerful act of support for Project Hope, an initiative by the ALS Society of BC dedicated to finding a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and enhancing care for those affected by the disease.
Fighting back tears, they explained they had lost a family member to ALS earlier this year.
"It was time to be done...this is a perfect tribute for our loved one," they said.
While they had previously donated items to charities and recycling centres, this was their first time hosting a garage sale specifically for Project Hope, transforming their personal loss into a meaningful contribution to a cause close to their hearts.
Four blocks away, on the corner of Hampshire Road and Smythe Street, a group of women from the Kiwanis Pavilion Foundation was busy raising money for the complex care unit at Cedar Hill Road.
"This is a joint effort – the Kiwanis Pavilion Foundation's fundraiser and this is our third year joining Garagellenium," said chair, Leslie Johnston. “We've had a really good response and so far, we have over $1,000 at this point."
The event drew hundreds of people, with cars and bicycles creating a lively atmosphere throughout the day.
"We have people that come back year after year because they know we have good stuff," Johnston added, highlighting the event's consistent popularity and reputation for quality finds.
Meenu Glavina, a relative newcomer to the neighbourhood, was among the many shoppers navigating this year's event.
Armed with her mobile phone and the Garagellenium listings map, she was determined to find the next hidden treasure.
Sam Hadfield, who recently relocated from Terrace, B.C., enjoyed the experience with his family, stopping by Brian Neumann’s table of household knick-knacks.
"This is our 20th stop and we've been kind of just making our way through, walking to each house," Hadfield said. "It's much better, much friendlier than being on Facebook Marketplace.”
Neumann, a first-time Garagellenium participant, sat behind his table with his dog, soaking in the friendly atmosphere.
He too, was a newcomer to the community and saw the event as an opportunity to declutter and downsize.
However, parting with certain items proved to be more challenging than expected.
"I would say the jewellery I had from my mother would have been the hardest thing to part with," Neumann said.
"You won't realize it for the first 40 years or so of your life, but when you're in your 70s, you need to start downsizing," he added, highlighting the emotional connection people often have with their belongings and the process of letting go.
Ultimately, Oak Bay's Garagellenium is a testament to the power of community, where neighbours connect, memories are shared and valuable items find new homes, all while supporting local charities and fostering a spirit of giving back.
