Elemental Book & Curiosity Shop
My name is Kierin, and I've been friends with Dominique for several years, as well as a regular customer at Elemental Book & Curiosity Shop. I see how Dominique pours her soul into her shop and services, how much she truly cares about her patrons, and how difficult it is when the store is attacked. Everyone should be free to practice their own beliefs without hate directed at them. Elemental fulfills a spiritual need within our community, and our goal is to see the damage to the shop repaired, and see it protected from further harm. The funds raised towards this goal will go directly towards the purchase and installation of new windows for the store, a security system, and video surveillance signage. As a small business owner, Dominique simply does not have the extra funds available for such repairs, and has considered closing instead. We want to keep our neighborhood magick shop in business, and any donation is appreciated. Our spiritual community may not be finanically wealthy, but we have a wealth in kindness!
+ Read More
Final Update!
20 Months ago a client wanted to start a go fund me campaign for Elemental Book & Curiosity Shop Inc. after for the third time having our windows broken because of hate.
I was very hesitant to accept help because I never want to give anyone any fuel to make accusations of impropriety and being a witch and open about it’s a reality that is quite familiar.
After arm twisting and worldwide support wanting to help I relented. I did so because a community of supporters wanted to help and I felt that if folks wanted to do good I should accept it.
For all of this I am very thankful. I am thankful to those who donated. I am thankful to those who showed up to the shop and made purchases in support. I am thankful to those who were outraged that in this day and age that anyone would be subjected to hate crimes because of their religion. It is not lost on me that as I write this that 11 people lost their lives in a synagogue this past week because of exactly that, being faithful in a maligned religion. I write this because of those lives lost, to give thanks to the support Elemental recieved because without it my life (I have been threatened in person numerous times) is also at risk because I too am faithful in a religion that is maligned. I honour those who continue to be outspoken and live thier faith honestly, whatever that may be.
With that said, the money raised with this campaign was used to purchase and pay for a much less than basic security system and its monitoring for the last 18 months. We had glass break and a panic button installed with it after a robbery and a break in within 3 weeks of each other after the Winnipeg Police Service said negative comments about Elemental in the press. After those comments came out we didn’t immediately replace the windows because I knew it wasn’t only a matter of time before emboldened hate reared it’s ugly head again and directed it’s rage towards the shop.
During the first robbery we lost one thousand dollars of jewelry when five people swarmed the shop and threatened and harassed my daughter while I was at a Pagan conference in Calgary. When Jessica called the police, they never showed, ever. I had to call a craft sister to pick up my daughter because she was terrified that the five assailants would return. We closed early that day.
Three weeks later we had a break in, where another (the last one) window was broken out to gain access. The police actually showed up for this one but after more than a year and all three criminals identified the police have refused to do anything other than offer lip service, no charges have been laid.
After the installation of the security system and the extra window broken the remaining funds were not enough to cover replacement of the windows. We therefore reinvested that money in replacing the stolen stock and searching for a new location.
And here is the wonderful news, we have a safe, bigger, beautiful space with a landlord that actually cares about their building and wants their tenants to succeed! Elemental Book & Curiosity Shop Inc. closed eight days ago and from its ashes Elemental Witchery & Conjure Boutique Inc is born at 220 Henderson Hwy. Grand Opening November 1st!
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been a stress free transition, our neglectful drunken slumlord has decided that instead of being happy for us and wishing us well has taken to petty harassment and bullying.
The windows that were broken were originally put in and paid for by me. When Elemental first took over 355 Langside those “windows” were painted plexiglass and thin painted plywood. We have pictures and receipts to prove it. This however, has not stopped the Langside landlord from making unreasonable demands that he is not entitled to. The other great affect of getting the security system was that our landlord could no longer illegally enter our unit without us knowing about it because it seemed that he did so to steal from our space. He purchased a well known building and scavenges from our units to get it to code. I use to have a fire extinguisher that miraculously disappeared and was told I would need to buy a new one. Sigh.
Thankful to be out and looking forward to a new beginning with a new name. As for the new name, I figured that if anyone was going to break our windows that we would know exactly why, no more guessing and no more hiding.
As Elemental closes this chapter, I again want to express my gratitude for the support we have received.
Blessed be.
20 Months ago a client wanted to start a go fund me campaign for Elemental Book & Curiosity Shop Inc. after for the third time having our windows broken because of hate.
I was very hesitant to accept help because I never want to give anyone any fuel to make accusations of impropriety and being a witch and open about it’s a reality that is quite familiar.
After arm twisting and worldwide support wanting to help I relented. I did so because a community of supporters wanted to help and I felt that if folks wanted to do good I should accept it.
For all of this I am very thankful. I am thankful to those who donated. I am thankful to those who showed up to the shop and made purchases in support. I am thankful to those who were outraged that in this day and age that anyone would be subjected to hate crimes because of their religion. It is not lost on me that as I write this that 11 people lost their lives in a synagogue this past week because of exactly that, being faithful in a maligned religion. I write this because of those lives lost, to give thanks to the support Elemental recieved because without it my life (I have been threatened in person numerous times) is also at risk because I too am faithful in a religion that is maligned. I honour those who continue to be outspoken and live thier faith honestly, whatever that may be.
With that said, the money raised with this campaign was used to purchase and pay for a much less than basic security system and its monitoring for the last 18 months. We had glass break and a panic button installed with it after a robbery and a break in within 3 weeks of each other after the Winnipeg Police Service said negative comments about Elemental in the press. After those comments came out we didn’t immediately replace the windows because I knew it wasn’t only a matter of time before emboldened hate reared it’s ugly head again and directed it’s rage towards the shop.
During the first robbery we lost one thousand dollars of jewelry when five people swarmed the shop and threatened and harassed my daughter while I was at a Pagan conference in Calgary. When Jessica called the police, they never showed, ever. I had to call a craft sister to pick up my daughter because she was terrified that the five assailants would return. We closed early that day.
Three weeks later we had a break in, where another (the last one) window was broken out to gain access. The police actually showed up for this one but after more than a year and all three criminals identified the police have refused to do anything other than offer lip service, no charges have been laid.
After the installation of the security system and the extra window broken the remaining funds were not enough to cover replacement of the windows. We therefore reinvested that money in replacing the stolen stock and searching for a new location.
And here is the wonderful news, we have a safe, bigger, beautiful space with a landlord that actually cares about their building and wants their tenants to succeed! Elemental Book & Curiosity Shop Inc. closed eight days ago and from its ashes Elemental Witchery & Conjure Boutique Inc is born at 220 Henderson Hwy. Grand Opening November 1st!
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been a stress free transition, our neglectful drunken slumlord has decided that instead of being happy for us and wishing us well has taken to petty harassment and bullying.
The windows that were broken were originally put in and paid for by me. When Elemental first took over 355 Langside those “windows” were painted plexiglass and thin painted plywood. We have pictures and receipts to prove it. This however, has not stopped the Langside landlord from making unreasonable demands that he is not entitled to. The other great affect of getting the security system was that our landlord could no longer illegally enter our unit without us knowing about it because it seemed that he did so to steal from our space. He purchased a well known building and scavenges from our units to get it to code. I use to have a fire extinguisher that miraculously disappeared and was told I would need to buy a new one. Sigh.
Thankful to be out and looking forward to a new beginning with a new name. As for the new name, I figured that if anyone was going to break our windows that we would know exactly why, no more guessing and no more hiding.
As Elemental closes this chapter, I again want to express my gratitude for the support we have received.
Blessed be.
Elemental Book & Curiosity Shop does have an online store which is getting its bugs worked out. If you would like to place an order I am happen to help you with one over the phone. I'm currently out of town but I will be back in the shop on Tuesday and I can also take payments by CC by phone. Thank you all for the support!
I am part of an online Wiccan community. I shared the story on our page "The Celtic Witch Clan". The response and support is overwhelming. Many ask if there is an online shop that they could patronize and support. The go fund me has also been shared. Best wishes. BB
Donated! I'd hate to see Elements disappear from the city, and it would be wonderful to know the crimes have stopped!
Shared with Lightworkers of the World Facebook group, with 199,925 members... Blessing to you sister...
I'm not able to donate, but I will happily make sure this makes it's rounds on my social media pages. Much luck in the coming days.
I wish I was in a position to give money, I'm not right now, but I will share this link on my facebook, my blog, twitter, reddit, etc. I'm glad to see so much support from the community for your store, and I hope everything works out for you. May all the Gods, spirits, and ancestors smile on you and your work!
Glad to know the campaign is coming along. Also, glad to read there is an online store. I'll have to stop by.
A super easy option for security cameras is to use cell phones. Even if you sourced two working ones from pawn shops near by. Get Wifi for your business. Install Motion sensitivity or trail cam app on phone. Set it to email each picture to an account. All you need then is a power source. Set timers on phones. During business hours you can have jango or Spotify play loreena mckennit.or Blackmores Night. Funds are tight but experience I can share. Best of luck. Don't forget barley under your door mat
You guys should consider a thick plexiglass or shatter proof/bullet proof glass for your next window. Throw a brick or rock at it and it'll bounce right back at them, hitting them in their hypocritical faces with any luck! LOL With the new cameras, you'll finally be able to shame them all publicly, too!!! Brightest Blessings!!!
Blessed be, How much would it be to replace those windows with steel glass, I work in security it is glass like they have in front of bank tellers and other high crime areas, it is super thick and would require a sledge hammer to break and even then it would be one pane not the entire window. Just something to think about, Blessed be and hope the donation helps.