Liberation through storytelling: An Interview with Patricia Massy of Massy Books

Massy Books, located in Vancouver’s Chinatown neighbourhood, on the traditional, ancestral, unceded, and occupied territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, is a beloved feature of the city’s indie literary and reading scene. It is so much more than a bookstore; through Massy Arts Society, it has expanded into a performance space and a separate art gallery space. You can attend readings by local authors, participate in book drives, check out exhibitions and performances, and immerse yourself in an atmosphere of inclusion, inspiration, and celebration through the arts.

The woman who founded the eponymous bookstore in 2016, and has spearheaded its expansion through the years, is Indigenous owner Patricia Massy. She is also the co-founder of the Indigenous Brilliance Collective with Room Magazine, and set up the Massy Arts Society in 2019 as a way to provide a platform for artists to tell their stories in multi-disciplinary ways.

With things slowly getting back to a new normal after almost three years of COVID-19, the Massy ecosystem shows no signs of slowing down. Read Local BC had a chance to speak with Patricia Massy about bookselling, community-building, and the transformational power of stories.

Read Local BC: Let’s start with the bookstore. It is at the heart of your other endeavors, which include Massy Arts Society, an annual book drive, and the Indigenous Brilliance Reading Series in partnership with Room Magazine. How did you get started in the bookselling business?

Patricia Massy: One of my first jobs out of high school was at the Chilliwack Save-On-Foods in their now defunct book department. I was only there for a year and a half, and mostly sold Harlequin romances, Louis L’Amour titles, and discounted cookbooks to the dedicated elderly, but it gave me the experience I needed to apply for a position at one of BC’s largest used bookstores, which I was at for 10 years, off and on. I worked there during the throes of my 20s, trying to figure myself out and what I wanted in life, which I now know is not something you figure out, it’s something that happens when you’re making other plans. It truly was a life-altering experience, and when I look back, I realize it gave me all the tools I needed to open my own shop. Books and stories have guided me through some of the most difficult times in my life, and it seems that bookstores draw in those who also see the transformational power of the written word—this is what I envisioned surrounding myself with when I wanted to open a shop.

When we share our stories, we liberate ourselves. We’re in the business of meaning-making, bringing people together, and allowing traditionally over-excluded voices be the guiding light of liberation and change.

Is there something that was instrumental in allowing you to establish Massy Books?

I can’t say there is one thing in particular, but this is such a great question because it prompts me reflect on, and feel deep gratitude towards, the many people who’ve helped me get to where I am today. I’d say there was a universal alignment of opportunities that presented themselves once I made the decision to actually go into the business of bookselling. At the time, it seemed like everyone I came in contact with, wanted to see this dream actualized. And surprisingly, there was never a shortage of books! From acquiring a 10,000-book collection from the late UBC professor Bill Dalby, to my partner who will get in a line-up at 3 a.m. in the pouring rain just so I can be assured we’ll get the best selection of Indigenous titles at a book sale (see Annual Times Colonist book sale), there have been many people who have championed the establishment and success of Massy.

I also think spending a decade working random jobs gave me unexpected skills I didn’t know I needed, until I opened the shop. Working as a mover and travelling across Canada in a semi-truck prepared me for the endless days of lifting heavy boxes while attempting to maximize space with Tetris-like dexterity. And if you aren’t aware, every bookseller never has enough space!

What was the inspiration behind opening up Massy Books to more than just the bookstore?

Stories. Complex, intoxicating, time-travelling stories that alchemize new paths forward, the desire to share them, incite empathy and change, and as Billy-Ray Belcourt says in A Minor Chorus, to “make us less lonely.”

I don’t think Massy Books would have ever been just a bookstore. Partially because I dream big and am excited over finding innovative ways to support various forms of storytelling, but also because I saw the potential for us to contribute to our community and assist others in their dreams to tell theirs. When we share our stories, we liberate ourselves. We’re in the business of meaning-making, bringing people together, and allowing traditionally over-excluded voices be the guiding light of liberation and change, which is what inspired the Indigenous Brilliance reading series, opening our gallery space, and publishing the long out-of-print Conversations with Khahtsahlano with Talonbooks.

Readers can find all sorts of books at Massy, but the store puts local authors and titles at the forefront (not just on the shelves but also with the events and readings you organize). What are some guiding principles you follow when it comes to curating books and collections for readers?

Many of the books we bring into the bookstore and the literary events we curate at the gallery are a product of what the community asks for, what we seek out, and what we dream about. (Keep an eye out for some literary giants coming our way in 2023!)

Curating the store is one of those things that comes with time and experience. People always ask me what I’m looking for, and I always tell them, “I’ll know it when I see it!” Truly, when it comes to purchasing used books for the store, it’s what I get lucky finding, and what I know not to buy. I’ve purchased so many books I thought were cool and interesting, like Letter Box, The. A History of the Post Office, but after 5 years, it’s sadly still on the shelf. Some titles I take a risk on and it’s a miss, others I know we’ll sell immediately. If you’re interested in the post office book, please call me!

When it comes to new titles, I strictly buy books based on their cover. Just kidding! Those are trade secrets I can’t reveal.

Massy Books was certified as a living wage employer earlier this year. What was the inspiration and motivation behind this?

The first bookstore in BC to be certified! Paying a living wage was always an aspiration when I established the shop, which can be seen historically with the bonuses I used to give out. When I saw Glass Bookshop in Edmonton had been certified, I looked into the Living Wage BC rate and realized most employees were already at the living wage rate. It was a no brainer to sign up for it and commit to a future of ensuring staff are fairly compensated for the work they do. I started the shop and ran it myself for 3 years with only 1-2 part-time staff, but when we saw a massive increase in sales during the pandemic, we wouldn’t have been able to survive if it weren’t for the staff I hired to carry us through. Paying a living wage, offering lagniappes and other perks, is the least I can do to show my gratitude. All that said, I recognize the current living wage rate is still not livable, and if my rent wasn’t so high, it would most likely be higher.

It’s been a big year for you with other accomplishments as well, such as being named the best bookstore in Vancouver and getting a first major grant for the programming and events you organize through Massy Arts Society. How are you feeling about this string of success? What’s next?

I didn’t know we were named the best bookstore in Vancouver! That’s nice to hear. I’m always curious about these “best bookstore” lists. Who is making these decisions? Haha. No two bookstores are the same in Vancouver, and depending on who you ask, you’ll get a different answer. If you inquire with someone who loves queer lit, they’d say Little Sisters and Massy Books. If you ask someone on the hunt for ephemera or a 1941 catalogue on brooms and brushes, they’d say The Paper Hound.

In terms of the grant, I cried when I opened the email. Up until last month, Massy Arts Society hadn’t received a single grant from any source except Massy Books, our customers who donated a portion of their purchases, and donations from events held at the gallery. I don’t think people realize what we’ve accomplished with seed funding from Massy Books—we funded the gallery for two years while paying a living wage. That’s huge! This is a testament to how a for-profit business operating from a social enterprise model, and gauging its success by its social sustainability rather than its profits, can make an impact in the community. We do the work from the ground up and don’t need B certification, accolades, or awards to know the community feels the significance of the work we do. In total, Massy Books has been able to donate over $70,000 to local charities and causes, and has spent over $100,000 supporting the opening and operation of Massy Arts Society. This grant is only going to allow us to further expand our services while being able to move towards paying all our authors and artists CARFAC rates for their work. This is only the beginning!

Stories help us understand ourselves and our place in the world, and can cause the smallest change within us, or inspire a revolution.

A few of us from RLBC recently attended a fantastic event hosted by Massy Books, and the excitement of the crowd to be back in attendance at an author reading was palpable. How do you see the future of both virtual and in-person launch events?

Yes, it’s been wonderful to gather carefully again! We’ll do so until folks tell us they no longer feel safe. We are guided by the Health Authority and their recommendations, but also by the feedback our community is giving us. At the height of COVID-19, we responded and went online. With our new grant to fund the Massy Voices Salon Series, we’re able to increase staff capacity, and livestream and record events, which increases accessibility for those who aren’t able to attend! Our plan is to prioritize both.

What would you like the public to know when they support an independent bookstore?

Shopping local always means that 60 cents of every dollar spent stays in the local economy. When you shop at Massy Books specifically, you directly impact our ability to pay our staff a living wage, and provide full benefits with part-time hours. According to our BC Buy Local Campaign stats, 85% of our profits were donated in 2021. That’s 85 cents of every dollar! Shopping with us means supporting over-excluded voices in literature and the arts, and indirectly works to end violence through our donations to BWSS, raise legal defence funds for Indigenous people to defend their land through RAVEN, and much more.

You’ve said that a bookstore is not only a place to buy books but can also be a vehicle for social change–what do you mean and envision with that phrase?

Absolutely, and I live and breath that statement. I co-founded Indigenous Brilliance knowing stories have the ability to build bridges between people, generations, and even nations. You see it with art therapy, and you experience it when your own story is reflected back to you. Stories help us understand ourselves and our place in the world, and can cause the smallest change within us, or inspire a revolution.