The Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale in Peterborough is back for another year on Saturday, May 24 — although without two of the annual sale’s longtime participants.
Held on the Saturday following the Victoria Day weekend, the Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale sees residents along the entire length of Gilmour Street, from Park Street to Monaghan Road, participating in the sale, along with residents on neighbouring streets.
The sale begins at 9 a.m. (although some people have been known to show up early) and runs until 1 p.m. While the weather for the sale has traditionally been excellent, there’s always a chance it will be rained out. The rain date is Sunday, May 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Along with residents selling regular and unique items at bargain prices, many non-profit organizations also set up shop during the sale to raise funds, and there’s often some live entertainment as well.
First held in 1990, the Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale is one of the biggest events of its kind in Peterborough and very popular. 2025 marks the 33rd year of the sale, which was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
This will be the first year of the sale without Vivian and Bill Heinmiller, two of the event’s founders and longtime participants who regularly hosted a plant sale in support of local charities — although the couple hadn’t been involved with the sale in recent years due to illness.
Both former teachers at Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School, Vivian and Bill used their front lawn to raise funds for the Peterborough chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women, the Mother of Twins Club, and then Parkinson Canada after Bill was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1996. Vivian was also president of the Peterborough chapter of Parkinson Canada and organized their annual SuperWalk fundraiser for many years.
Vivian cared for Bill as his Parkinson’s progressed, even though she herself was later diagnosed with the disease, and Bill passed away on January 12, 2024 at the age of 81. After the progression of Vivian’s own Parkinson’s affected her ability to walk, cook, garden, and do the things she loved, she applied for and was approved for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).
She passed away peacefully with her family by her side on October 14, 2024 at the age of 83.
