For over two decades, Pages has endured as Calgary’s most prominent independent bookstore and remains as much a fixture in Kensington as its neighbour, the Plaza Theatre. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, Pages is dedicated to stocking the best, with a particular focus on Canadian authors. The shop’s ownership has changed several times since it was founded by Calgary author Peter Oliva in 1994, but it has stayed with that vision and maintained its devoted clientele.
“I feel like the store has a bit of a ghost to it and you have to honour it,” says current owner Ben Falconer about maintaining the Pages tradition since buying it in 2007. “My job as owner is to respect the guidelines that were set up here. When Peter started it, it was a lot different than it is now. There was no Amazon and digital downloads. What matters is that Pages continues to fulfill its mandate, which is quality over quantity.”
Serious readers will find their fix at Pages, now with three floors of books containing the best of nearly every genre. The main floor features new literature and fiction for adults, teens and children along with staff picks and vintage collectors’ editions. Upstairs, past a wall of photos featuring prominent writers, one delves into the thought-provoking worlds of history, science, art, science fiction and much more. Pages’ comfortable atmosphere makes it easy to get lost perusing the shelves, checking the back-cover summaries and reading sample chapters. Recently, Pages opened its basement as a second-hand and discount books room.