Little Sister's

General information

Since 1983 Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium has been serving the adult, (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) communities of Canada. With over 1000 book titles in stock, Little Sister’s has a great selection of current adult and GLBT related literature, with many hard to find titles on our shelves. Our long legal struggle against censorship and our commitment to serve the GLBT community has helped make Little Sister’s a recognizable name around the world.

Little Sister’s was bombed three times in it’s earlier years when it was the only gay and lesbian bookstore in western Canada. More recently Little Sister’s legal battle against censorship and discrimination (Supreme Court Of Canada) continues to broaden and redefine the definitions of obscenity and tolerance in contemporary Canadian society.

Little Sister’s, it’s owners, manager and staff have garnered many awards from Canadian and international associations and organizations over the years. Notably, in 1998 Little Sister’s was presented the Award For The Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada – “In recognition and honour of the leadership and courage shown in defending and promoting the principles of intellectual freedom in Canada.” – presented by the Canadian Library Association.

In 2004 Janine Fuller (manager) was presented an honorary degree (Law) from Simon Fraser University, for her “leading role in a historic legal battle against censorship in Canada”. Dr. Fuller also co-authored Restricted Entry, Censorship On Trial, a history of Little Sister’s battle against censorship and discrimination in Canada. Restricted Entry was the 1995 Editors Choice, Lambda Literary Award winner.

Little Sister’s legal struggle against censorship has been the subject of two books, “Restricted Entry”, and “Forbidden Passages”, and a feature length documentary film “Little Sister’s VS Big Brother” by award winning director Aerlyn Weissman. In addition this same struggle has inspired two more books, “What Right, Graphic Interpretations Against Censorship” and “What’s Wrong, Explicit Graphic Interpretations Against Censorship”, both published by Arsenal Pulp Press as a benefit for the Little Sister’s Defense Fund.

In April, 2005, Little Sister’s and Arsenal Pulp Press published the first two editions in the “Little Sister’s Classics” series of lost and out-of-print classics of gay and lesbian literature. “Song Of The Loon”, by Richard Amory and “The Young In One Another’s Arms”, by Jane Rule.
In 2014, store co-founder Jim Deva passed away unexpectedly. In 2016 the Jim Deva Plaza at Davie & Bute Streets was dedicated in his honour.
In September 2016, surviving store co-founder Bruce Smyth sold the store to the store's current owner, Don Wilson.

For more information please visit our web site at http://www.littlesisters.ca