One of Toronto’s few French-language bookstores will close its doors in the coming weeks, much to the dismay of some members of the community who depended on the location to obtain French-language books.
A text from Sarah Tomlinson
The bookstore Toronto Children’s French Book Corner has been open since 2017. Its owner, Lynda Grimard-Watt, cherished the dream of allowing children, whether French or English speaking, to master the French language by reading.
I learned that there were a lot of children who dropped out when they learned French, because they found it boring, because they didn’t like books, because there weren’t any for them. level. I wanted to try to reduce this dropout
she remembers.
Lynda Grimard-Watt opened her bookstore to offer French resources to children and their parents. (Archive photo) Photo: -/Ramin Pezeshki
However, current economic conditions make his dream more and more difficult to realize.
In all honesty, financially I should have closed long before, but it’s hard to let go when you have a passion
explains Ms. Grimard-Watt.
My in-person sales slowed down a lot in 2024. I realized I couldn’t keep the bookstore open because I still have pretty expensive rent and everything went up. I accept my reality.
To read and listen:
Less access to French books
Lynda Grimard-Watt recommends that parents spend time with their children and use reading time as an opportunity to communicate with them. Photo: getty images/istockphoto/gpointstudio
Daphne Dufour has been a customer of the bookstore since its opening. The place is not far from her home, so she goes there to buy books for her daughter and for children’s parties in the community.
The closure of the store represents, for her, a loss of access to books in French.
Other places in Toronto have a couple of French books, but not the selection that Lynda offers
she explains. These places have books translated into French, while she chooses so much a variety of books written by French-speaking authors.
This is a loss of access that is really targeted at the French-speaking community. There are other bookstores, but not one that only targets children’s books in French.
Nancy Martin also has difficulty finding quality books in French in Toronto. For her, who is English-speaking, the bookstore was the main place to buy books for her niece and nephew. She now feels out of options.
There is nothing. I’m looking at the Indigo store and can’t find anything. This place is the only one in Toronto where as many French books are sold as in a Montreal book store. This is a big loss for the community.
More than a bookstore
The Toronto community found a wide variety of books by French-speaking authors at the bookstore. Photo: -
In addition to offering a good selection of books in French, the bookstore is also a gathering place for the French-speaking community.
Ms. Dufour notes Ms. Grimard-Watt’s desire to choose books that children like to ensure that they will want to read in French.
She always gave us great recommendations based on the interests and level of the reader.
says Ms. Dufour.
She also highlights Ms. Grimard-Watt’s participation in events organized in French-speaking schools in the Queen City.
She is truly part of the French-speaking community in my neighborhood
she said.
She recognizes us all the time. She asks about our children. It’s not just about the transaction. She really tries to promote and encourage a love of reading.
Not enough demand
Despite the disappointment of customers, Lynda Grimard-Watt maintains that the demand for books in French is not high enough to allow her type of business to survive in a minority environment.
You can’t just have a family who comes once or twice a year to buy books in French. It would take thousands of customers to support a full-time bookstore
she believes.
She doesn’t believe that people are losing interest in French-speaking literature. According to her, most are not in the habit of supporting local bookstores.
I was surprised, over the years, how many French speakers told me, whether French or Quebecers, that they buy books from them
she says.
This point also greatly affected the development of my bookstore. I had more customers from the community of children learning French as a second language who came to my bookstore than French speakers.
Another factor at play could also be road congestion, according to her.
Traffic in Toronto is so bad that people no longer want to drive an hour to pick up two or three French books for their children.
she notes.
What future for French-speaking bookstores in Toronto?
Lynda Grimard-Watt dares to believe that other French-speaking bookstores will set up in Toronto, but she doubts the survival of these establishments.
Ottawa’s Le Soleil bookstore opened in Toronto, then it didn’t work out
she cites as an example.
I hope I won’t be the last. But if those who had to close share the same points as me, it will be very difficult for the next ones.
For the moment, the only other French-speaking children’s bookstore in the region is in Oakville. The owner of Once Upon a Time, Nathalie Vincke, is also worried about the future of French-speaking bookstores in Toronto.
It remains a problem. Anyone who tries to open a French bookstore in Ontario keeps shouting from the rooftops. So, if nothing changes to support independent bookstores, whether French or English, it will never change.
she fears.
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