Inside Boundless Books: A Community-Focused Independent Bookstore

There is something deeply reassuring about a bookstore that feels rooted in the community around it. Not shaped by trends or designed simply for aesthetics, but built through care, conversation, and the steady relationships formed between booksellers and readers over time.

Boundless Books in Ladysmith, B.C., carries that feeling naturally.

Opened in July 2025, this independent bookstore continues a longstanding tradition of local bookselling on Vancouver Island, while bringing fresh energy to a familiar space. Owned by Catherine Quaglia and Dana Corbett, Boundless Books took over the former Salamander Books location after longtime owner Frieda Douglas retired. For Quaglia and Corbett, the transition felt deeply personal. The two had worked together for years at Volume One Bookstore in Duncan and had often talked about opening a bookstore of their own. When the Ladysmith location became available, the answer, as they shared with Quill & Quire, was “an instant yes.”

That sense of care is visible throughout the store. Before opening, Quaglia and Corbett spent 30 days renovating the space themselves — painting walls, building shelves, updating the lighting, and reshaping the layout into what they describe as “a welcoming and joyful environment.” The result is a bookstore that invites people to slow down, browse comfortably, and discover something unexpected along the way.

The connection between Boundless Books and the town around it is equally meaningful. Located on First Avenue in historic Ladysmith, the bookstore sits within a community known for its heritage buildings, thriving arts culture, and strong network of local businesses. Quaglia and Corbett have both spoken about their affection for the town, describing Ladysmith as a place where community still feels tangible and deeply valued.

That relationship with local readers is reflected throughout the store itself. The shelves include fiction, mystery, history, fantasy, nature writing, science, children’s literature, stationery, puzzles, and gifts, with the collection continuing to evolve alongside the interests of the people who walk through the door. Shortly after opening, the owners noticed growing enthusiasm for mystery and history titles and expanded those sections accordingly — the kind of thoughtful responsiveness that independent bookstores have long been known for.

A large children’s section stretches from the front of the store toward the back, reflecting both owners’ longstanding love of children’s literature. Quaglia previously worked as a children’s book buyer, and both owners have emphasized the importance of creating a welcoming space for young readers. Boundless Books also works closely with local schools and educators, and Quaglia and Corbett have spoken about the joy of watching children discover new stories while adults reconnect with books they once loved themselves.

At New Society Publishers, we believe independent bookstores play an essential role in cultivating thoughtful, resilient communities. They create spaces where ideas are exchanged freely, conversations happen naturally, and readers are encouraged to engage more deeply with the world around them. Boundless Books reflects many of the same values that shape independent publishing itself: curiosity, community connection, environmental and social awareness, and a belief in the enduring importance of books.

What comes through most clearly in conversations with the founders is their belief that reading offers something increasingly valuable in today’s distracted world. For Quaglia, books provide a way to slow down and engage thoughtfully with ideas. Corbett speaks about reading as an invitation into perspectives and experiences beyond our own. Together, those values shape not only the atmosphere of Boundless Books, but also the role the store hopes to play within the wider community.

Even the store’s name reflects that outlook. In discussing the choice of “Boundless,” the owners have described it as representing openness, imagination, discovery, and possibility — qualities that feel deeply connected to reading itself.

At a time when so much of retail feels increasingly fast and impersonal, bookstores like Boundless Books continue to offer something more grounded and human. They create places where recommendations come from genuine enthusiasm, where conversations unfold organically, and where reading remains connected to community life.

So, next time you find yourself on Vancouver Island, be sure to stop by Boundless Books and say hello.