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Oak Leaves Bazaar digs up treasures

Bazaar at Monterey Recreation Centre a bargain hunter's paradise
Oak Leaves Bazaar
Muriel McPherson shows her own smiley face next to a bowl that will be available for sale at the Oak Leaves Bazaar tomorrow (Oct. 22) at the Monterey Recreation Centre. Proceeds from the event go to the Oak Bay Seniors Activity Association.

Monterey Recreation Centre will transform into a bargain hunter’s paradise, as the Oak Leaves Bazaar takes over the seniors’ social hub on Saturday.

Each autumn, donations are brought into the centre by the boxful and volunteers from the Oak Bay Seniors Activity Association sort them into themes that will fill every room in the centre.

“There will be a whole room of books – that’s the No. 1 thing we get donated – and another room with tapes and records, and a big room of knitwear made by the seniors here,” explained Monterey  Rec Centre co-ordinator Lesley Cobus, listing off a few examples.

There will also be holiday decorations, household items and mysterious attic treasures.

“It’s always fun to look through the old collectables from yesteryear,” laughed Cobus. She personally keeps an eye out for new linens and silverware at the bazaar. “There’s always high-calibre goods, things never taken out of the package, that seniors get as gifts and they don’t want.”

Last year’s bazaar brought in $7,000, which goes to funding the Activity Association. It’s one of the association’s biggest fundraisers of the year, on par with its spring rummage sale.

In addition to items for sale, there will be raffle tickets to win gift baskets donated by local businesses. And tea plates, complete with mini sandwiches or scones, will be available in the Fern Cafe.

Oak Leaves Bazaar is tomorrow (Oct. 22), 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Monterey Recreation Centre, 1442 Monterey Ave. There’s no entry fee and patrons are asked to bring their own reusable bag to carry their purchases.

editor@oakbaynews.com