Vankleek Hill was about to celebrate the 20th annual town-wide yard sale in 2020 but the popular event was put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic which began in 2020 and although it was hoped that the event would take place in 2021, it has been postponed again.

At a meeting which took place earlier this year, The Vankleek Hill Business and Merchant Association executive members decided against holding the 2021 event due to changing pandemic restrictions, said association president Louise Sproule, who is also the coordinator of the event.

“We don’t have attendance figures for the event, but we know that thousands of people attend each year. We normally put plans in place well in advance, including advertising the event outside of the region, and although we had to pull the plug this year, we anticipate that by 2022, we will be able to host Trash and Treasure once again,” said Sproule.

The town-wide yard sale is a much-anticipated Saturday–always the first Saturday in June– when Champlain Township has traditionally waived the requirement for a yard sale permit. Vankleek Hill residents are encouraged to hold yard sales and to invite friends from out of town to come and set up in their yards, to create a busy market atmosphere, explains Sproule.

Judging from the calls she has had this spring and last year, a 2022 event should be a big one, she says.

“I know people are really anxious to be part of this event again; even our out-of-town vendors, who we have traditionally set up in the Scotiabank parking lot and in the Windsor Tavern parking lot, have been calling to see if the event is going ahead this year. Everyone is disappointed, but this was obviously not the year to bring thousands of people to town,” said Sproule.

You can get tips about hosting your own garage sale and find out more about the next Trash and Treasure event by visiting www.vankleekhill.ca.

“This fun day would not happen without the support of everyone who holds a garage sale and we most certainly appreciate the support of Scotiabank and the Windsor Tavern over the years,” said Sproule, who pointed out that the event began 20 years ago thanks to an idea from Carole Robert, who was a member of the business association at that time and for years, organized out-of-town vendors at Main Street parking lots early on the day of the event.

“I still remember that first year; we were both up early and hoped that people would participate by hosting yard sales. It was kind of an act of faith that first year as we waited to see how it would turn out, but we were blown away by how the entire town got involved and our advertising beyond our little town attracted thousands of people. We have never looked back since then,” summed up Sproule.