Walkerville’s Biblioasis bookstore celebrates 25th anniversary during Art Walk

Biblioasis owner and founder Dan Wells says he didn’t start the Windsor bookstore and small publishing house with longevity in mind — which makes reflecting on 25 years of its existence all the more surprising.

“The fact that I’m still doing this all these years later, and it has taken my life in all these interesting directions, is totally unexpected.”

For a quarter of a century now, the Walkerville-based literary press has brought original poetry, fiction, and non-fiction publications into the world, while also offering fine new and used books in a traditional retail setting at 1520 Wyandotte St. E.

Along the way, there’s been critical acclaim, accolades in the Canadian publishing world, visits by renowned authors, and countless community memories.

Biblioasis’s history is so rich at this point that Wells struggles to name favourite moments. “One of the things I’m most proud of with Biblioasis is that it is in a continual state of development,” he muses.

But what about feathers in the cap such as Light Lifting, a Biblioasis-published collection of short fiction by Andrew MacLeod, being short-listed for the Giller Prize in 2010?

Or Bush Runner, a Biblioasis-published novel by Mark Bourrie, winning the RBC Taylor Prize in 2020?

Or Ducks, Newburyport — the “unpublishable” one-sentence, 1,000-page novel by Lucy Ellmann — being published in North America by Biblioasis?

Those are all things Wells can talk about with pride. But he adds: “It’s not so much about individual titles, as it is Biblioasis continuing to expand its mandate.”

“You know, the longer I do this, the less (the awards) matter to me. I realize how much chance is involved in these things. The most important thing for us is to continue to do what we do with care.”

But technology can change a lot in 25 years. Does Wells feel any trepidation for the future, with social media and shortened attention spans afflicting the next generation of would-be readers?

“Actually, I find that a lot of younger people are discovering books,” Wells said. “It’s one of the only ways they can disconnect and engage with a subject or a story in a serious way.

Visit www.biblioasis.com to browse the full catalogue of Biblioasis publications and find out the latest happenings with the literary press. Stay tuned for this fall’s schedule of releases and in-store events.

Bibioasis celebrates its anniversary this week in conjunction with the Walkerville Art Walk, which runs Friday and Saturday in the historic Windsor neighbourhood — from shops and eateries to art displays and activities — especially this coming weekend.

The Walkerville District Business Improvement Association is inviting the public to visit Wyandotte Street East between Gladstone Avenue and Devonshire Road on July 21 and 22 for the area’s annual arts-inspired event.

The roadway will be closed to vehicles so that visitors can stroll around and appreciate vendors of food and artisanal goods, street yoga sessions, live entertainment, interactive painting, a cornhole tournament, team bingo, and more.

Event hours are Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. No admission cost.

Check out www.facebook.com/visitwalkerville/ for more information.