Book market pop-up sale raises thousands for children’s hospital programming

Hundreds popped in and out of St. Vital Centre for the annual Book Market pop-up sale raising funds for Winnipeg's children's hospital.

For 65 years, Winnipeg’s Children’s Hospital has been raising money for programming through its Book Market.

In 2022, it launched a series of pop-up sales in and around the city to help get rid of excess stock, and on Saturday, hundreds of Winnipeggers popped in and out of St. Vital Centre to contribute to the hospital’s cause.

“Last year, the two sales that we had, we raised over $300,000,” said Carol Irving, the event’s volunteer coordinator. “It’s a big whack of money, but we can only do this with all the support of our volunteers and people who have worked very hard to mount this sale.”

According to Irving, over the last 65 years, sales from the Book Market have contributed more than $10 million to the Child Life department.

“We are always looking for volunteers,” Irving noted. “We’re all older people. We have to be very careful, we treasure our volunteers. If you don’t have volunteers, you don’t have anything.”

Those looking to get involved can connect with the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

Book donations can be dropped off at any Dufresne furniture store or a local fire hall.