Community helps Glad Day Bookshop raise $112,000 to avoid eviction

Toronto’s oldest gay bookstore was on the verge of closing its doors last month after facing eviction, but now it’s back on its feet after an outpouring of community support — and just in time for Pride Month.

On Monday, Glad Day Bookshop, located in the heart of Toronto’s gay village, launched an online fundraiser to appeal to the community to save its business. The store said it needs $100,000 to avoid eviction in July.

Just days later, the business was able to raise more than $112,000 after community members rallied to support the longtime store.

Michael Erickson, co-owner of Glad Day Bookstore, said it feels like a “miracle of pride.

“To have 2,000 people support us in three (to) four days is pretty incredible,” Erickson told CBC Toronto.

The business, which had accumulated years of debt, faced financial uncertainty. With the added impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with inflation, the store has struggled to keep up, Erickson said.

“While things are challenging and scary, it’s also hopeful, all coming together at once,” Erickson said.

While the immediate crisis is avoided, the business needs to raise a total of $300,000 to stay in its current location for the long term.

“Now we can start having those complicated conversations about what’s next,” Erickson said.

Michael Erickson, co-owner of Glad Day Bookshop, said the bookstore was able to raise more than $112,000 in less than a week to save the business from eviction. But he says the store is still fundraising to reach its $300,000 goal. (Ivan Arsovski/CBC)

Toronto resident Daniel Fusca said the bookstore is a really important community space that needs to be protected.

“There’s a lot of activism going on here, the nightlife, it’s a gathering place, a place to get books about queer people and queer history,” Fusca said.

“It’s a space where we can come together as a community and get active.”

Natasha McGregor, visiting Toronto from New Brunswick, said the space is key to maintaining 2SLGBTQ+ safe spaces and keeping the history of the movement alive.

“Having access to (the bookstore) only solidifies the queer movement … and if you don’t maintain the history, you lose the purpose of it,” McGregor said.

The space, which opened nearly 55 years ago, is the oldest queer bookstore in the world, according to its website.

The councilor insists on the creation of a community land trust

cone Chris Moise, who represents Toronto Centre, says he is looking into creating a community land trust for the village, which would be similar to The Kensington Market Community Land Trust. This land trust was established to prevent tenants from being pushed out of their homes and to maintain the vibrancy of the mixed-use neighborhood.

“This would give a non-profit community corporation the power or the money to acquire buildings in the area,” Moise said.

“Glad Day is a good example that if the land and property (are) owned by the community, then we can’t be kicked out of it.”

Moses added that he hopes the store’s story will help “spark action” in forming a community land trust.

In the meantime, the business continues to raise funds as it prepares for Pride Month events and celebrations.