Kelton loves thrifting because it’s unique. You get to find items you would not see in a store and it’s a bonus because the prices are lower than retail! He also loves that Thrifting helps the environment and reduces waste.
Kelton got into thrifting honestly by just going to a thrift store one day and has been hooked ever since! He's usually in a thrift store 1-3 times a week.
One of his favourite Goodwill finds was a vintage Disney cassette player that was brand new in the box!
Kelton's personal style is a mix of vintage and trendy, as he loves a funky graphic tee, especially if it has Spider-Man on it! His style is influenced by lots of vintage trends as-well as bright fun colours.
As silly as it sounds would be to look around the entire store slowly and not to skip out on any sections… who knows, maybe a treasure has been moved around to an area less looked upon!
On a surface level, the thrill of the chase is what initially got Shelby into thrifting. The treasure hunt aspect of going into a thrift store not knowing what you can find is still fun to this day. The cycle of donating my items that she knows people will get use from while buying other items people donated is a beautiful system. Being able to support the community and non-profits while reducing waste and my carbon footprint is a great byproduct of thrift shopping. She’s also learnt so much through thrifting. Buying unique items that I know nothing about and going home to research and learn about those items has been a lot of fun. Putting in the time to research the history and background of vintage and antique items is something that she would not have done without thrifting. Being able to connect with friends, old and new, around this has been wonderful. Thrifting will continue to be part of her life and something I will always promote.
In November of last year, Jean-Guy found himself at a Goodwill retail store on the south end of Edmonton, purchasing a bag of watches for only $15. Within this bag was a 100 year old Cyma watch, dating back to a soldier from the first world war.
Engraved with H.G. Bessent (Bess-ENT) and a military number, this watch still works to this day, and Charest decided it was best to donate it back to its rightful home. The watch was sent to Grande Prairie, where the soliders son resides, reminiscing the memories from decades ago.
It’s the story that keeps getting better. When he returned the watch to it’s rightful owners in Grande Prairie, it started to get attention. First the local legion wrote a story. Then the local GP newspaper called. Then the Edmonton Journal called and sent a photographer and he was featured in the Edmonton Sun. Then CBC radio called and he did an in-studio interview with Jessica Ng the host of “Radio Active”. After the radio interview, he was blessed with more of their family calling him to share their thanks. Now, he's inducted into a Hall of Fame that all started with this watch.
GOD works in mysterious ways.
His motivation is my lack of cash and trying to find a good deal. He first got into thrifting to look for models to build during COVID. Soon after he realized that there’s treasure in those stores.
If being recognized for this achievement gives Jean-Guy a chance to make a difference. He hopes that more people would be more inclined to be honest.
Charlene started thrifting at a very young age. She grew up in a small town and had limited shopping options, so her sister would take her along to thrift stores with her friends!
Charlene's favorite Goodwill find is a pair of open-shelf nightstands. They were very dated and frankly just u-g-l-y, yet they had so much potential and couldn’t be left them behind.
When thrifting the first thing Charlene looks for is furniture. Anything unique, antique, mid-century modern, and in decent shape. She is also always thrifting for “staging” decor for my furniture pieces. She love's thrifting for artwork, brass figures, vases, wooden items, and milk glasses.
Winning this award means so much to her as she absolutely loves what she does and takes such pride in her work so to have that recognized and appreciated feels wonderful for her!
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A thrift tip I have for someone just starting out would be to go early and go often! New things are put out every day and getting there early gives your first opportunity to find all the treasures.
For Marie, Thrifting just hits on so many of my values and interests. She likes spending less money and is always proud to say “I got this great thing and I didn't pay a fortune!” It’s all about the treasure hunt; the creativity of giving new life to old things, the thrill of finding just the right match or surprise of something she didn't set out to find, but just works so well.
Marie loves to keep stuff out of the landfills and that when she donates, someone else can use things I no longer need, and that proceeds go to non-profits. It feels good. It just makes sense; feeding the treasure hunter, artist, environmentalist, philanthropist, and yes, the cheapskate, parts of her all in one shopping trip!
Marie buys everything second-hand, if she can. For her cabin, she was determined to use as much found and thrifted items as possible, which was nearly everything. She’s extra proud of what she accomplished because shew was able to reuse and refurbish so much and it feels more meaningful.
From Edmonton, Goodwill has played a pivotal role, shaping Kaylee’s professional journey and creative expression. By transforming thrifted purses and dresses into whimsical fairy-tale inspired pieces, her creations are a testament to the endless possibilities thrift stores offer.
As a neuro-diverse individual, Goodwill has been the cornerstone of her ability to inspire others. Through her many upcycled DIY outfits and jackets, she creates masterpieces that belong on movie sets across the world!
She has always loved thrifting because it offers unique and affordable pieces that you can't find in regular stores. Her passion for it deepened when she became aware of the environmental impact of fast fashion. The low quality and unethical practices associated with new clothing made me want to shift towards second-hand shopping to reduce her footprint. It’s a more affordable, fun, and exciting way to shop!
Her favorite find is a giant plaster zebra, which sparked my obsession with DIY and upcycling. Another favorite is a Crayola sweater I found at the Goodwill bins for just $1—her husband says it's the one thing he thinks of when he thinks of me, and I wear it all the time. She loves browsing the toy and dress sections, as they bring joy to the kids she teaches or perform for.
For beginners, my tip is to visit thrift stores often and take your time exploring. Having a general plan can also help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Instagram: @kayleerosewray and on Facebook: Kay Rose Creative
College H.U.N.K.S., is a proud partner of Goodwill and a contributor to Goodwill’s sustainability initiatives through donations. Last year, Goodwill in received an all-time record of over 830 thousand donations. This is all thanks to the generosity of Albertans.
College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling has partnered with Goodwill to assist donors in the greater Edmonton area who are unable to bring their donations to a Goodwill donation center. Our hauling partner will not only bring your donations to Goodwill, but they will also clear out your items that Goodwill is unable to accept and take them to another nonprofit or recycler. Congratulations on being our honourary Donor of the Year!
Doreen started donating to Goodwill about 20 years ago, but donated a large amount last year. She shares this award with her mother, Eva who passed away last year. She donated so many of her belongings, and frequented the donation centre so often she feels like she owns a part of Goodwill!
Doreen's mother Eva had a lifetime of treasures and there were things that needed a place and a new beginning, and so off to Goodwill they went.
In addition to donating, she is also an avid thrifter. She loves to find both useful and unique items and she's always looking for a good bargain, and combining old with new!
My thrift tip is to always have an open mind in a thrift shop.
It really is a treasure hunt and I have found many treasures over the years and had some very lucky days. So go once a week!
Elly’s thrifting started when she was a very young single girl trying to find fashionable outfits that cost far less than the prices at retail stores.
When she married, she continued to thrift for clothing but also for housewares as well as sporting goods and toys. Her family learned the value of thrifting.
Their lifestyle involved a number of moves to different locations for employment which meant that every time they moved, they had to first donate many items to thrift, and then they had the opportunity to find new and interesting “finds” for their new house.
Unfortunately, Elly had a stroke in July of 2022. In January of 2023, she made the decision to move into an Independent Living Retirement Community. Again, downsizing was necessary as moving from a house to an apartment was a huge adjustment. Elly made many trips to Goodwill on Macleod Trail to donate, sometimes two trips per day.
She has spent the last months shopping for new décor items for my new residence and still donates any items to Goodwill that are replaced or no longer used.
A sustainably minded professional organizer, Kaytlyn is continually making trips to Goodwill to donate carloads of items from clients. Her team at Sort and Simple love to encourage their decluttering clients to donate their items so that they can have a new life and make a positive impact. She has donated so often that she is on a first name basis with many donation attendants.
As a Professional Organizer everyday she sees how much we already own, and how much stuff is
already out there. She loves to find the items I need second hand, knowing that it decreases waste
and brings new life to items that have already been produced.
Thrifting is a great way for the right items to find you. Don’t be disappointed if it takes time to
find the real gems!
www.sortandsimple.ca | @Sort_and_Simple | Facebook: @Sort And Simple
Emilie loves thrifting because it gets me out of my head and becomes a scavenger hunt for beautiful pieces with history or a unique story. There are no rules when thrifting. She gets in a flow when she thrifts and truly appreciates the full experience - from the sound of the metal hangers on the metal rack to the aisle traffic jams to the discovery of a beautiful 1960s tag that she has never seen before.
Although Emilie did not thrift as a child, in high school, she would go to vintage stores and feel the history. She has always been someone who loves shopping and who loves a deal.
It was only in 2019 that Emilie discovered thrifting through fashion and style podcasts that opened her world up to a more sustainable way of living my dreams. She now only thrifts - from decor in her closet, everything is secondhand and thrifted and I feel rejuvenated and relieved by it.
Go into the thrift store knowing what kind of prints and/or colours you are looking for! You can train your eye to only look at the pieces that fit within those parameters. Bring a measuring tape and compare to your own measurements. But remember, if the clothes don't fit, it's not your body that is wrong, it is the clothing.
As the owner and founder of all things gq. Grace runs her own curated vintage shop and is also a sustainable stylist. Grace has been styling since the beginning of the year and is using only secondhand and vintage clothing, shoes and accessories. She loves bringing life back to pre-loved items because they still have so much wear to them.
She absolutely loves sustainable fashion and being able to help people be more conscious about their wardrobe with her styling services and shop selection. It makes her so happy.
Tiktok and instagram handles are @allthingsgq_
From creating a sustainable, ethical fashion brand to every day wear, Lauren is a massive advocate for circular fashion. Every outfit is different, authentic and on-of-a-kind, found at local thrift stores across the region. She loves the hunt of vintage and thrifted finds and when the mood strikes, she upcycles the outfits into a new personable style, giving her an excuse to use her sewing machine.
She has spent so much of her life wanting to be a presence in the fashion world and it just didn’t pan out in the way she envisioned, despite her best efforts, hard work and many years working directly in the industry. To receive this award is truly an honour and she feels it represents her journey in the fashion world beautifully. Her path here was certainly not a straight line and she is so proud of this achievement.
Make sure you’re in the right mindset to be patient and enjoy it. It’s okay to leave and come back at a different time if you’re not feeling it.
Ashleigh and Heather Bit love to thrift for the thrill and to find unique treasures. They try as hard as possible not to participate in buying anything new. Their mom, aka thrift queen, started taking them to the thrift store when they were little and introduced us to the magical world of thrifting, and they have been addicted ever since.
One of their favourite Goodwill finds is their antique Medalta crockpot, it’s beautiful! The duo mostly love to shop for home goods, as that’s where the magic happens! But they frequently shop for thrift clothing as well!
Take your time, be patient, manifest a list of what you would like to find, and go frequently. Some days will be more rewarding than others, but don't give up, keep hunting.
Nancy is the creator behind Simply Styled Inspo where she shares all things DIY, decor and of course thrifting! She is truly passionate about thrifting and finding items to upcycle and integrate into her home decor that add the perfect touch of charm. There’s a thrill that comes with thrift shopping and seeing what treasure comes your way, not to mention it’s kind of therapeutic!
She absolutely loves finding unique pieces, giving them new life and completely transforming them into something else. She has become known for her thrift flips and hope to continue to inspire and be inspired within the wonderful thrift community.
As an interior designer out of Edmonton, Katie sources items from local thrift shops like Goodwill. She shares her finds, tips and transformations to showcase how beautiful second-hand decorating can be. Every week, you can find her in a thrift store supporting her business Reclaiming Home Decorating. Katie is an excellent role model for anyone who wants to source items sustainably to create a beautiful home.
She is greatly inspired by any creative who fully embraces their individual style and showcases it fearlessly. She is deeply influenced by people who don’t just follow trends or care about what everyone else is doing, but instead pursue what they love and what reflects their personal style. They show her that she can be bold in doing the same.
She describes her personal style as cozy, collected, and vintage. She is always drawn to items that look like they have a story to tell.
When you first start thrifting, it can feel overwhelming. A good idea is to create a list of things you need or want on your phone or in a notebook so that you can remember to look for specific things. This will help you focus and not get overwhelmed by looking at all the things you don’t need.
You can follow her on Instagram: @reclaiminghomedecorating TikTok: @reclaiminghomedecorating
Website: www.reclaiminghome.ca
From Edmonton, and part of the morning show team on Kiss 91.7fm, Robbie’s fan base spoke loud and often about having him inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame. As an avid thrifter and donor, he is selfless, passionate and not only thrifts for the deal, but for the betterment of society. His heart of gold resonates with our community and his positivity inspires others to make a greater impact in our province. If you get a chance, definitely support the Robbie fund to help people in Robbie’s community.
Based out of Calgary, Trista’s support team was out of this world! Trista received multiple nominations and many supporters continue to vocalize their support for her in the world of thrifting. She spends most of her mornings during the week at the Goodwill bins and always manages to find amazing pieces. Her local business ‘Ugh its Vintage’ is a staple in the Calgary thrifting community for all things fashion. Her goal is to reduce textile waste by showing others how easy it is to live a second-hand life.
Since middle school she would thrift here and there but during university she went through a huge phase where she hated dressing like others. Whenever she would need a new outfit instead of going to the mall, she began going to thrift stores trying to find one of a kind, eye catching pieces. Slowly her closet became over 90% second-hand.
One of Trista's favourite Goodwill finds was a vintage Burberry wool trench coat at the bins. The tag read “Burberry’s” which was their original name before changing it in the 90s. She loves finding pieces from brands that have been around for ever, being able to see the evolution of the items and branding is so cool.
Patience patience patience. Just like going to the mall or online shopping you’re going to have to look at a lot of items before you find the perfect fit.
Richard is passionate about thrifting! He is also passionate about creating a home that is unique, beautiful and comfortable for those who live in it as well as guests. He has a knack for seeing something at Goodwill and imagining how it could be used to decorate our home. One of his favourite things to do is to go to Goodwill and walk around. He says he sees objects and imagines how they could be used or how they could be altered to become something beautiful.
He has also become the person that others will ask to find them things at Goodwill. In fact, last month he flew to Ontario to see his sister and brought a suitcase full of Goodwill treasures to help her decorate her house. He also really enjoys keeping an eye out for special objects to contribute to others’ collections.
One of Richard's favourite Goodwill finds was an Armani suit that happened to fit like a glove. He wore that suit many times over his work career and loved it!
I would say, it's good to have a list in your mind of things you'd like to look for but don't expect to find what you're looking for right away; be open to possibilities. Some of my best finds have been things that showed up when I wasn't even looking for them. Also, things can be painted if they're the "wrong" colour. Clothes can be altered. Finally, be persistent and patient. Go often and trust that you will eventually find what you're looking for. Have fun!
