Prairie Crocus outgrows Nairn location

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This article was published 09/08/2019 (2420 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An East Elmwood thrift store will be moving to McLeod Avenue at the end of the month.

Prairie Crocus Thrift Shop, currently located at 930 Nairn Ave., opened in April 2016. Following the Labour Day long weekend, the doors at Nairn Avenue will close, and the shop will move to a new location at 919 McLeod Ave.

“We’ve exploded,” said Candy Anaka-Paré, chair of the board for the non-profit organization. “We can’t fit in here anymore. It’s exciting.”

The new location was recently vacated by the Mission Thrift Store, which moved to 701 Regent Ave. W in April. The new space offers approximately 7,000-square feet, compared to the 4,500-square feet at Prairie Crocus’s Nairn location.

Anaka-Paré credits word of mouth with making Prairie Crocus a success.

“Winnipeg is a small city, word of mouth is huge,” she said, adding that the programs the shop supports are programs that have resonated with customers.

The non-profit shop was founded to provide revenue for two charity organizations: Dignity House, a ministry supporting women who are exiting the sex trade, and Finding Freedom, which aids those suffering from addiction, trauma and spiritual brokenness.

“Addiction is such an epidemic in our city, so it’s very relevant,” Anaka-Paré said. “We encourage our volunteers to tell people what we’re here for. When people connect with that, they want to come shop and donate.”

Anaka-Paré also gave credit to the store’s manager, Janice Howard, for making the shop a welcoming space for the community.

“She’s such a cheerleader,” she said. “People come in and she’s very personable, and they want to come back.”

Along with providing funds for Finding Freedom and Dignity House, Prairie Crocus also provides an opportunity for the programs’ clients to re-enter the workforce.

“With addiction, many of them were disconnected from life,” Anaka-Paré said. “So we’re trying to get them back into the routine, with responsibility, so they can feel valued. There’s no judgement here.”

As a non-profit organization, the shop relies on volunteers, which Anaka-Paré admits can be hard to come by.

“We’re still in need of volunteers,” she said. “Most people who come in to volunteer work out, but some don’t. If it’s not for you, it’s OK. We are working with people who have had some rough times. We’re here for the people we’re trying to help.” 

This spring, the shop partnered with Elmwood High School to provide volunteer opportunities for students in exchange for school credit.

“We had two students in the spring, one of whom we kept on for the summer, she was great,” Anaka-Paré said, adding that she expects more schools to come on board going forward.

“That’s great for us, too, because now our base is even bigger, because now the high school teachers and students know about us,” she said.

Prairie Crocus Thrift Shop’s Nairn Avenue location will be closed following Sept. 2, with the McLeod Avenue location opening around Sept. 9. A grand opening is planned for Sat., Sept. 21.

“That gives us a little time to get settled,” Anaka-Paré said.

For more information, visit prairiecrocusthriftshop.ca

Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist

Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca Call him at 204-697-7112

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