A peek inside Winnipeg’s Boutique Unique
A Winnipeg charity has come up with a unique way to help people in need while finding homes for items that might be on the shelves for a long time.
Each day, dozens of individual items are dropped off at Centre Flavie. The St. Boniface charity gets a lot of clothing, furniture and other household items, and then gives them away free of charge to thousands of vulnerable and working poor Manitobans each year.
"Last year alone we gave away 2,500 sofas, just sofas! About 2,300 beds," said Centre Flavie executive director Gilbert Vielfaure.
However, not every item can be given away so easily. Therefore, hundreds and hundreds of quirky items are instead brought to a room they call the Boutique Unique.
"I've seen everything here. Everything you can imagine," said Vielfaure. "Ponytails to used dentures. It's unbelievable what we've received."
A pair of frogs are among the items on sale at the Boutique Unique (CTV News Photo Jon Hendricks)
Wooden art pieces are among the items on sale at the Boutique Unique (CTV News Photo Jon Hendricks)
There is a fleet of wooden ships, and cups to wet your lips. They have mugs of different sizes, wooden clogs and an old fondue set.
They even have some medieval chainmail.
"It's heavy, and it's real," said Vielfaure. "You don't want to walk near a magnet with this thing on for sure."
Chainmail on sale at the Boutique Unique (CTV News Photo Jon Hendricks)
Centre Flavie has begun selling off items from the Boutique Unique each month in an online auction.
They're pulling in $8,000 to $10,000 per month, which is all used to help defray the costs of giving away all the other items they get.
The next auction is set for February 5th. You can get more details at the store's official website.
Wooden figures are among the items on sale at the Boutique Unique (CTV News Photo Jon Hendricks)
A spinning wheel is among the items on sale at the Boutique Unique (CTV News Photo Jon Hendricks)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.