OPEN FOR BUSINESS

/

Little Sister’s owner Don Wilson, books section manager Aaron Low, and author Eddy Boudel Tan with Tan’s new book, After Elias, which you can read about in this month’s “Artists Among Us” feature here.
(click photo to expand)

LITTLE SISTER’S BOOK & ART EMPORIUM

There are few, if any, West End businesses as legendary as Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium. Opened in 1983 in the upstairs of an old house at 1221 Thurlow by Bruce Smyth and Jim Deva, and managed for many years by Janine Fuller, Little Sister’s (named for Bruce and Jim’s pet cat) was Vancouver’s first gay business that wasn’t a bar or a club. 

Since those early days, Little Sister’s has survived nearly four decades of challenges ranging from years of government harassment to three anti-gay bombings, not to mention the usual ups and downs of the retail book business.

In 1996 the store relocated to its present location at 1238 Davie.  

The bookstore is famous for its legal battle with the Canada Border Services Agency over the Customs seizure of what the agency had labelled "obscene materials, nearly all dealing with male-male or female-female sexuality.” The case made it all the way to victory at the Supreme Court.

Little Sister’s story has been fictionalized as a subplot of the film Better Than Chocolate and was a feature-length documentary film by Aerlyn Weissman, Little Sister's vs. Big Brother (2002). Janine Fuller was also a co-author of the book Restricted Entry: Censorship on Trial, a non-fiction account of the Little Sister's battle.

After 33 years of service to the community, Bruce decided to pass the torch to a new owner, Don Wilson who had been the store’s manager since Jim Deva’s passing in 2014. Bruce passed away last year, leaving the business and legacy that he, Jim, and Janine had created from scratch in good hands.

The digital age has taken its toll on retail book sales, but Little Sister’s has stayed in the game and books section manager Aaron Low promises that the selection of queer literature and erotica will continue to grow. 

“The goal now is to bring Little Sister’s back to its former position as a literary and social hub for the community,” Aaron says. “When the pandemic has passed we have plans to begin holding book-readings again, and other events.”

With a great selection of queer reading for all ages, an award-winning greeting card section, and quality adult toys and supplies (including transgender needs), Little Sister’s is ready to move forward in the post-COVID era as a beloved West End and LGBTQ community institution.