Books on sale ranged from $50 to $250,000 as vendors showed off their rarest finds.

The 50th annual Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair was held this past weekend at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Rare book vendors from across North America gathered together to showcase their best merchandise and collectible items. 

The fair returned after a two year hiatus and was missed by booksellers, said Aimee Peake, the owner of Bison Books in Winnipeg. “It’s nice to return to the community after the pandemic and to be around people who appreciate the things that you do,” she said. 

The Scribe Bookstore is located in Toronto and specialises in rare and antiquarian books according to the owner, Justin Wood. He said book focused events are a great way for interested people to begin their own collections. 

“Rare books are a representation of art; ideas that have shaped and influenced our lives in so many different ways,” said Wood. “These books in their first edition forms are the start of an idea that has gained momentum in culture and in history.”

Approximately half of the 19 vendors are located in Ontario, while others visited from different provinces, countries, and continents. 

Liber Antiquus, a bookstore outside of Washington D.C., displayed works by Galileo, Martin Luther, and dozens of other historical texts. “People become intimidated and have a misperception that the only question you can ask is ‘who do I make the check out to?’ I’m here to talk to people about anything that interests them,” said Paul Dowling, the owner. 

Organisers estimated over 1,500 people attended the fair over the weekend. “I saw an ad on Instagram and decided to attend,” said Natasha Paul. “I would rather buy books that have some character than a new one. This was my first time attending but I’ll be coming back next year and making it an annual thing.”

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By Racine Bebamikawe

A new exhibit is challenging people to live more sustainably. Time Scale, a site-specific intervention created by Montreal-based artist Kelly Jazvac, is bringing attention to the climate crisis by exploring sustainable ways of making art.

The exhibit opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto in September. It comes after the city has vowed to be net zero by 2040.

Jazvac created the exhibit from large-scale billboard images. Her goal is for viewers to examine their relationship with images, consumerism and plastics.

Anne Sankovic, an exhibit attendee, said people must start changing their habits to protect the environment.

“The whole world should be recycling, taking care of our earth,” said Sankovic. “We should never let anything go to waste or in the garbage or landfill.”

Sankovic said the exhibit made her think differently about reusing and recycling products.

“I enjoyed how the artist used the plastic materials in a really innovative way to make us start thinking more about what we do with all these things that we just throw away.”

Brenda Platt, director at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, said there are many ways to reduce waste and our carbon footprint.

“If you’re going out to eat, bring a container for your leftovers,” said Platt. “If you have a reusable water bottle, that’s cheaper to fill up than to buy single-use water.”

In May, the City of Toronto won the Environment, Climate and Energy Award for their TransformTO Net Zero Strategy. The strategy includes a net zero carbon plan, expanding the existing cycling network and a move toward green infrastructure.

The public can view Time Scale at the Museum of Contemporary Art until January 8, 2023.

Animated infographic created by Joelle Staropoli:

By: Abbie North

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair returned to Toronto’s Exhibition Place early November to celebrate its 100-year history. 

After a two-year hiatus, the Exhibition is back as the largest indoor agricultural and equestrian event in the world. 

The Royal featured a special display this year, designed to show off its history.

Tori Masters, historical curator of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, was brought onto the project to create the display and help commemorate 100 years of exhibitions.

“It’s not an archive that’s open to the public so this was a chance to really showcase some of the pieces that most people don’t get to see,” said Masters.

There were 309 commercial exhibitioners this year to provide entertainment for everyone, ranging from food and lifestyle items, to horse shows and farming essentials.

Celebrating a century of Canada’s best, Shelley Barfoot O’Neill, owner of O’Neills Holsteins Shad Livestock, has been an exhibitioner at The Royal for the past 50 years.

“It’s a really proud moment, and to watch my son show at this one… its a pride in your hard work, in you genetics, in your breeding, it’s also the camaraderie… it’s a very small community even though it’s across Canada,” she said.

Since 1922, farmers have come from across the country to exhibit their best agricultural products and livestock.

Sheep competitions at this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on Nov. 10, 2022. (Jack Eckert/J-SCHOOL)

Sheep competitions at this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on Nov. 10, 2022. (Jack Eckert/J-SCHOOL)

Sheep competitions at this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on Nov. 10, 2022. (Jack Eckert/J-SCHOOL)

This year, over 300,000 people attended the event to celebrate 100 years of bringing the country lifestyle downtown.

“I think that it’s a great year this year to be able to come back after two years not being here because of COVID and celebrate the 100^th,” said Masters.

If you missed the celebrations this November, the fair will be back in 2023 to mark the start of a new century.

The timeline encompasses important and interesting events at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair over the past 100 years. (Gabby McMann/J-SCHOOL).