Beaurepaire Village to host giant community garage sale
Take the biggest garage sale ever held in the West Island, add some live music, and you'll get the inaugural edition of the Big Beau Garage Sale.
The street party-style event is set for this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event is organized by Les Amis de Village Beaurepaire, a local residents association that was formed a few years ago with the goal of promoting a sense of community in the Beaurepaire neighbourhood of southern Beaconsfield.
“The idea of giant garage sale has been percolating for a few years, but with COVID it obviously wasn't the time till now,” said Brain Miller, president of Les Amis de Village Beaurepaire.
But the idea of staging a giant community garage sale has taken off. There are 126 garage sales planned for Saturday, rain or shine. And temperatures are forecast to reach highs of 28 C, which will certainly boost front-yard lemonade stand sales.
Adding to the community vibe, seven musical performances are also taking place at various residential locations throughout the neighbourhood.
The performances will feature local artist and bands who will play music at “host homes” where garage sales are taking place.
For example, Miller is hosting the Black Cadillacs rock band at his home garage sale on Doric Drive.
Miller said the Big Beau Garage Sale concept borrows from community garage sales and musical porchfests he's seen held elsewhere. He figured a hybrid event would be a good fit for Beaurepaire.
“I've lived in Toronto, but I am from Beaconsfield. What I love about Beaurepaire is that it's got a little soul to it and it's got a village. It's got a core. A lot of people complain about what's there or what's missing, but it does have a lot versus suburbs that are just streets onto streets,” said Miller, 42.
“One of the key things is to add energy to the village and the way to do that is to motivate residents. We have the popular Beau Market on Fridays from May to September, but we loved the idea of the annual Great Glebe Garage Sale in Ottawa which is nearly 40 years old.
“That was our inspiration, plus we always loved N.D.G. and Hudson porchfests, which are sort of organized but are really about people having some fun in their own places. So that was the genesis for us.”
Miller and local city councillor Dominique Godin are the driving forces behind the community group.
“We did a few events before COVID but our crown jewel is a farmers' market (or Beau Market) we started in Beaurepaire.” The market is set to open May 27. Miller said the city of Beaconsfield has also been cooperative by granting a garage sale permit for the Beaurepaire area.
There is a local charity angle to the garage sales. Les Amis de Village Beaurepaire is asking anyone holding a garage sale to contribute a portion of their sales to NOVA, which is supported by a thrift shop in the Beaurepaire Village.
“NOVA does some great work in the community with providing health care. So we thought it would be a great way of giving back to the community if NOVA received some of the proceeds. Local homeowners all seem happy to do so,” Miller said.
Miller hopes the first Big Beau Garage Sale will become an annual spring event.
He said the community event is aimed at bringing people together for a good time and a good cause, just as Montrealers are itching to get back outside and enjoy the warm weather with the worst of the pandemic hopefully behind us.
A website (lesamisbeaurepaire. com) has been created to provide information on where to park, as well as the location of garage sales and live musical performances.