Sisters and Concordia students Iman and Yasmine Kaced, with volunteer event co-leads Jeanne Bisson and Luke Quin, BA 07, and Concordia student Maximilian Colombina.
Avid readers returned en masse to support a bonus edition of the Concordia EPIC Used Book Fair held in the J.W. McConnell Building Atrium on November 5 and 6.
Held to pare down a bounty of donated books, the event raised $26,494 in student support.
With $43,635 in record in proceeds from a previous March edition, the Concordia EPIC Used Book Fair has brought in $70,129 in 2024.
The additional fundraiser marked the first time that two book fairs were hosted in the same calendar year. Since its inaugural edition in 1997, the book fair has raised more than $350,000 for Concordia students.
“Thanks to our many generous customers and donors, we were inspired to deliver a second book sale in 2024,” says event co-lead Jeanne Bisson, a recent Concordia retiree.
“We owe many thanks to members of the Concordia University Pensioners Association (CUPA), including retiree Susanne Dragffy — a steadfast and year-round volunteer — as well as our regular cohort of student volunteers, who gathered weekly to sort through book donations and who worked the fair.”
Some 60 student volunteers helped staff the event, many of whom added the volunteer experience to their co-curricular record.
More than 20 members of the Concordia Stingers men’s rugby team volunteered to set up and tear down the inventory. In addition to books, limited Concordia 50th anniversary merchandise was sold at the event, including more than 100 tote bags.
Stingers rugby team members from left to right: Evan Shibata, Jackson Veinot, Joe Gilbert, Calvin Zullo, Philip Hacala, Tyson Stock, Jaxon Alexander, Nicholas Gagnon, Mason Moffat, Anthony Giannatsis, Tom Landrey and Liam Mansfield.
Funds raised by the two 2024 Concordia EPIC Used Book Fairs will go towards:
The Carole Lavallee Book Fair Bursary was created in 2024 in tribute to Carole Lavallee, 1956 - 2023, a staff member for 21 years and volunteer of the Concordia EPIC Used Book Fair.
Event co-lead Luke Quin, BA 07, senior communications advisor at University Advancement, underscores how the event’s growth increases its impact on students and the community.
“The record year in revenues allows us to add scholarships and increase their value. That includes a new named bursary in memory of a loyal book fair volunteer and longtime Concordia employee, Carole Lavallee,” says Quin.
“With continued support from CUPA and student volunteers, we hope to make 2025 another epic year for Concodia used book fairs.”
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