People from all walks of life flock to the Great Glebe Garage Sale which has become the largest annual event of its kind in Canada. Located in Ottawa's Glebe neighbourhood, known for its eclectic and vibrant community, this event is not your average garage sale. It spans multiple streets and blocks, with over 1000 households participating and setting up their stalls. In my five years living in Ottawa, I’d never been to the Great Glebe Garage Sale, so I decided to fix it once and for all. Having equipped myself with a DSLR camera and allocating a modest budget of $10 just in case, I went on a 1000 sq mile photo hunt looking for peculiar subjects. 

The Great Glebe Garage Sale started in 1986 when a small group of neighbours decided to hold a garage sale on the same day to attract more buyers and create a fun atmosphere. 

The sale has become so popular that some locals now plan their vacations around it, ensuring they don't miss out on any great deals or quirky finds. 

The crowd at the Great Glebe Garage Sale is known for its enthusiastic energy. You can witness people haggling passionately over a 25-cent item as if it were a high-stakes negotiation. 

The sale attracts a diverse range of items, from vintage clothing and antiques to bizarre and offbeat curiosities. You never know what hidden gems you might discover.

To keep the atmosphere lively, local musicians often set up on street corners, providing a live soundtrack as you explore the garage sale extravaganza. 

Following an ever-growing trend of buying goods at second-hand stores in Canada, the event also promotes sustainability by encouraging recycling and reusing items instead of throwing them away. 

If you’re curious about what I bought for my $10, I ended up with two mosquito head nets and a 1965 book about the history of steam engines in Canada.