Overlooking Sooke Harbour lies the artisan garden, a serene location now home to a fresh chapter for SookeB次元官网网址檚 literary community B次元官网网址� Terrier Books, a new bookstore setting out to do things differently.  

B次元官网网址淧eople are very happy to see a bookstore in Sooke. IB次元官网网址檝e had a lot of great feedback,B次元官网网址� says Gladys Vallee, the owner of Terrier Books, which is currently SookeB次元官网网址檚 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.  

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 where I realized that I loved books so much. I always read when I was younger, but it wasnB次元官网网址檛 really a passion; I didnB次元官网网址檛 realize I could actually work in the book industry,B次元官网网址� said Vallee.  

B次元官网网址淚 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.B次元官网网址�  

Vallee didnB次元官网网址檛 come from a literary background; she studied geology and other sciences. For her, the environment is top of mind in her life and business.  

B次元官网网址淚n 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 canB次元官网网址檛 do much when youB次元官网网址檙e an employee,B次元官网网址� said Vallee.  

B次元官网网址淚 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.B次元官网网址�  

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.  

B次元官网网址淭his industry compared to other industries like food or fashion, theyB次元官网网址檙e starting to do more for the environment. But in the book industry, itB次元官网网址檚 very slow. TheyB次元官网网址檙e only starting to realize that they are not being very eco-conscious,B次元官网网址� said Vallee.  

B次元官网网址淢y goal with the bookstore is really to create a more circular economy, at least in my bookstore.B次元官网网址� 

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.  

B次元官网网址淚 really want to be a community space, more than just selling books,B次元官网网址� said Vallee. 

 B次元官网网址淢y 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.B次元官网网址�  

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 B次元官网网址� and adults B次元官网网址� of all ages. She hopes to host her first story time in February, and while she hasnB次元官网网址檛 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.