Bookstravaganza surpasses past successes
Concordia EPIC Used Book Fair volunteers Siddhant Bansal, Kendra Heiz, Ehsan Goodarzi and Kamal Maanicshah.
Waves of book lovers descended on the atrium of the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (EV), November 3 through 5, for the 2019 Concordia EPIC Used Book Fair.
Checkout all the pics on Flickr.
From structural engineering to witchcraft, shoppers uncovered an array of reading material, as well as vinyl, DVDs, CDs — all at $2 and up. Now one of the Montreal’s largest used book fairs, the event also offers an opportunity to contribute to an important cause.
“As per our tradition, all funds collected will go towards student scholarships and the Student and Emergency Food Fund,” says lead volunteer Luke Quin, BA 07, a writer with Concordia’s University Advancement. “Every purchase is a gift to students.”
The 2019 book fair was tied to an earlier event — the Concordia EPIC Used Book Giveaway — held on the first day of classes, September 3, in the same location. In total, the events raised $32,643 and redistributed nearly 18,000 books. This brings the fair’s cumulative amount raised to more than $240,000 since 2001.
Quin expressed gratitude to the university and many volunteers who make the fair possible year after year.
“Running a three-day bookstravaganza in a high-traffic university space is no small order. We depend on support from Concordia’s Distribution team year round, in addition to Hospitality and Security.”
Stingers men’s rugby team members Mohamed Almoallim, Luca Rodrigues Milne, Nicolas Tronche, Stanislas Blazkowski and Victor Dion with book fair volunteers Gillian Wise and Luke Quin.
More than 75 students volunteered their time to set up, tear down and staff the fair and giveaway. Many came through the International Students Office and added the volunteer experience to their co-curricular records.
Twenty-five members of the undefeated Stingers men’s rugby team returned to handle the heavy lifting for set-up and tear-down.
Members of the Concordia community may continue to donate books year round at the loading docks of either the Henry F. Hall Bldg. or Richard J. Renaud Science Complex, as well in a large pink book bin in the Henry F. Hall Bldg. Mezzanine.
