non-profit
community
thrift shop!
Squamish's
since
2000
a social enterprise of
Cultivating hope through
inclusive supportive services
and community.
Pearl’s Value & Vintage is a non-profit social enterprise of PearlSpace (formerly Howe Sound Women’s Centre Society). This means 100% of proceeds go to supporting PearlSpace’s programs and services within the unceded traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh, Lilwat7úl First and Lower Stl’atl’imx Nations. Not only do your donations and dollars spent directly benefit survivors of gender-based violence and their children in the Sea to Sky region, but our social purpose store in turn benefits our communities in many wonderful ways!
The proceeds from our store fund programs and services such as PearlSpace Drop-In Centres, PEACE counselling, Gender-Diverse inclusion support, and much more. In addition, operating Pearl’s Value & Vintage also allows us to give clothes and other necessities to people in need, both directly and through other non-profit organizations in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Our inviting, inclusive community store provides a safe, accessible space for all walks of life to come together to support a great cause while fostering community spirit, promoting equality and empowerment in action and encouraging sustainable living!
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Every dollar of profit goes towards support and services for women, gender diverse folks, youth and children in the Sea to Sky region
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Essential goods and supplies will be provided directly to people in need, through our voucher program and via allyship with other local nonprofits
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Tonnes of would-be-waste will be diverted yearly from the landfill by re-use and recycling
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Our community will benefit from an active social enterprise committed to building ties and mutual support for all people regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability or privilege.
Supporting Pearl's means..
We aim to create a space where every customer and donor feels welcome, valued and an integral part of our shared community.
Our social purpose
Our Team
Our store relies on the support of our dedicated team of volunteers and paid staff who work hard to make Pearl’s the destination it is today. Together we are able to continue to grow and better return the support we have enjoyed to our community.
Our team is like no other and their passion for their work and commitment to the ongoing pursuit of a fairer, more sustainable world for all is beyond words.
Our History
In the early 1970s, our namesake Pearl Souster offered up her home in Squamish to women in crisis with nowhere else to turn. Today, Pearl’s Place Transition House carries her torch and her name, as does our store, Pearl’s Value & Vintage.
The Howe Sound Women’s Centre Society (now Pearlspace Support Services Society) opened up Pearl’s Value & Vintage in spring 2000 as a way to raise funds for the drop-in centre and other programs. Originally named Pearl’s 2nds, the first store was entirely volunteer run, occupying previous HSWC office space on 2nd Avenue. Accepting donated items such as clothing from the community, Pearl’s 2nds focused on selling the items inexpensively along with giving them to people in need. The new store also provided work and volunteer experience to people of all ages and backgrounds and opportunities to build community and connections.
In 2006, an opportunity for a more prominent location brought a move to 38130 Cleveland Avenue, with the help of Canada World Youth students to renovate and publicize. Further opportunity for growth arrived in January 2011 when Pearl’s acquired the next door storefront, doubling the store floor space to allow for greater volume of donated merchandise.
Our hardworking volunteer base became aided by the addition of some paid staff. At this time, Pearl’s 2nds was renamed to Pearl’s Value & Vintage to reflect its new and improved shopping experience for bargain hunters and seasoned collectors alike.
Pearl’s continued to grow into the community hub that it is now recognized for, winning the hearts of many, proven by decades worth of the Squamish Chief newspaper’s “Best Place for a Bargain” Reader’s Choice awards as well as Squamish Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award for Non-profit of the Year 2019.
Business ground to an abrupt halt in spring 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the store’s closure for three months. Facing a loss of revenue for the women’s centre and loss of access for the community, Pearl’s staff and volunteers safely rallied behind the scenes, and used this unprecedented closure to bring value to the organization via a bright, fun store makeover. The challenges of this time also brought new ideas and renewed our commitment to serving our community, strengthening our resolve to represent our organization’s values of equality, inclusivity, and empowerment for all people.