There are only 21 women’s bookstores worldwide, just three in Canada, and now, one is at risk of closing its doors for good. The Toronto Women’s Bookstore announced yesterday that it is so cash strapped, it may join the list of Toronto independent bookstores like Pages, that have been forced to close because of low sales and high rent. It’s not the first time the 36-year old Harbord Street landmark has had to overcome financial hurdles — among other challenges in the store’s rich past.
TWB started as a cooperative in 1973, and was accidentally destroyed by being in the crossfires of an anti-abortion terrorist firebomb that was meant for Henry Morgentaler’s abortion clinic formerly located beneath the non-profit store. TWB relocated,but was unable to balance its financial books, facing a possible closure on its twentieth birthday. Volunteer efforts made it possible to stay open.
The feminist institution is hoping the same thing will happen this time around. They are asking for donations and hope to raise $40,000 by January.
Donations can be made via their website, and a Facebook group has been created to support the cause.
Digg
Facebook
del.icio.us
seven comments
Thanks, Andrea! I was just about to post something about this and was glad to see you already had. The Toronto Women's Bookstore is so important and I really, realy, really hope there's enough support to keep it open!
Posted by D. Cole
December 17, 2009, 4:12 PM
And so many important feminists have roots and connections to the bookstore, like Judy Rebick!
Posted by Andrea
December 17, 2009, 4:20 PM
For years I've witnessed TWB take a lopsided position against Israel while turning a blind eye to the injustice of it's hostile neighbours to their own civilians. What was once a great bookstore and voice for women has become shrill and biased. I for one will not be sorry to see it close it's doors.
Posted by Rebecca
December 18, 2009, 7:13 PM
Rebecca, just because of this particular disagreement that you may have with TWB, does that mean that *all* of the services that TWB provides are also wrong?
I too disagree with TWB with only 1 aspect of what they preach, and it gets me quite angry.
But *on the whole* they do more good than harm - from the grand perspective of things overall.
So they would indeed be a loss to Toronto's pro-feminist community.
Posted by Daniela Nutella
December 19, 2009, 2:23 PM
Well dang, it's a shame to hear the bookstore is in trouble. Politics aside, there's always a reason to lament the loss of an independent bookstore (unless they are actively promoting hate or something).
When I went to the University of Toronto, I bought most of my books at the Women's bookstore. My professors would support them by making their required texts only available there.
Posted by Steve
December 19, 2009, 2:52 PM
Isn;t the Toronto women's bookstore the only one in Canada ?
Posted by Veronica
December 24, 2009, 8:46 PM
It's not the only one, but I think it might be the biggest. It's certainly one of just three or four.
Posted by Cate
December 25, 2009, 3:37 PM
Leave a comment
This blog post is older than 90 days old. All comments submitted regarding this post will be automatically held for review by the editors before posting. Your comment will not appear on the site until it has been approved.
Our comment policy
Shameless prides itself on the diversity of opinions expressed by our writers, and we encourage and appreciate different points of view. Our intention at Shameless is to foster community and to maintain a safe and positive blogging environment; we do not consider it our duty to give a voice to anybody with an opinion.
Discussion on this site is moderated. We will delete comments that:
(We get to decide what's discriminatory, hateful, attacking, or inflammatory).
In some cases, we will cap off comments on a discussion when we feel they are spiralling out of control and fostering an unwelcoming space for bloggers and readers. Comments will be closed by the Web Editor, unless the post is by the Web Editor, in which case the Editor in Chief will close them.
If your comments repeatedly make the same point, they may be deleted. This also applies to comments made by multiple members of the same organization.
Your comments should be about the topic of the post, not its writer—although we certainly encourage praise for our writers, if you want to say something nice.