Next month, a new bookstore will be opening its doors in Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Village neighbourhood. Inhabit Books, located at 612 Mount Pleasant Road, will sell books published by Inhabit Media; Inhabit Education, which is being rebranded as Arvaaq Press; and NAC Media, Nunavut Arctic College’s press.

Co-founders Louise Flaherty, Neil Christopher, and Danny Christopher spoke with Q&Q about their hopes for the bookstore.

What led to the decision to open Inhabit Books?

The idea for a company bookstore has been bouncing around for a few years. We have a lot of backlist titles that are not normally carried by southern bookstores. We wanted an opportunity to better represent all our Arctic authors in southern Canada and give everyone’s books a chance to be seen by the public.

Why did you choose Mount Pleasant Village for the location?

The location we chose as our southern office, which is shared by Inhabit Media, Inhabit Education, Arvaaq Press, Taqqut Productions, and Naniq Studios, is close to a place we had been renting for several years. We really enjoy the area, especially Mount Pleasant Village. So, when it became time to find a permanent place, Mount Pleasant Village was our first choice. 

This location came with street-facing retail space, and the neighbourhood was already well known for books. We thought our company store could be a positive addition to Mount Pleasant Village. 

Also, when we decided on the location, there was an Indigenous restaurant down the street that served seal meat. It was a real treat for Nunavummiut staff to be able to order seal at a restaurant. Unfortunately, that restaurant closed down soon after we started renovating the location.

What are your plans for the bookstore?

We want Inhabit Books to be a little slice of Nunavut in southern Canada. We represent authentic Arctic voices and stories, and we feel it is important to make sure these voices and perspectives are shared with Canadians.

We are also hoping to support Nunavut musicians, and even offer some Nunavut arts and crafts for sale. The store will likely continue to evolve as we try to determine what will work in the south.

When will the bookstore be open to the public?

Our official opening is Nov. 25, but we will open the doors as soon as we are ready. Likely around Halloween.

What do you hope the bookstore will mean to the surrounding community?

Our hope is to educate southern Canada about Nunavut’s rich cultural heritage and share traditional perspectives and lived experiences. As with all cultures, Inuit culture is rich in stories. We want to bring these authentic stories, as well as contemporary Nunavut voices, to all of Canada.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Photo Credit: Don McDougall.