On June 7th, I was finally able to celebrate the release of The Record Keepers: Digging for Stories in Canada’s Record Stores, at a launch party held at the Wellington Gastropub (The Wellie) in Ottawa. The event exceeded every expectation. With more than 60 guests filling the space, the room buzzed with supportive energy from family, close friends, fellow vinyl collectors, and the owners of three local record stores that I feature in the book and who have become good friends. It was a true community gathering, rooted in a shared love of music and storytelling.

The event was expertly hosted by my good friend and fellow vinyl collector Chad Clost, whose warmth, openness, and generous remarks set a perfect tone. The Wellie, owned by Shane Waldron, provided an ideal venue—not only for its inviting atmosphere but for its deep ties to Ottawa’s music scene. As the home of The Wellington Record Club, Shane has cultivated a unique listening culture, where guests gather monthly to experience two albums by a single artist in full on a high-end stereo system powered by Tetra speakers, accompanied by canapés from the restaurant and beer from local brewery Beyond the Pale. All for a modest $40 contribution which goes directly to charity.

That same spirit of community carried through the launch. Guests were treated to delicious canapés and beer from Beyond the Pale, alongside live readings from the book. In keeping with the community focus, a portion of proceeds from the event was donated, in partnership with Shane, to support youth mental health.

I want to extend a thank you to local vinyl collector Julian Luckham, who I’ve met at the Record Club a few times. He attended the event and wrote up a generous review that you can read here.

In all, it was a great day for celebrating not only the book’s release, but the enduring connections between music, place, and people.