I thought I’d list my favourite Canadian stores for music, film, books and instruments.
My favourite local stores for new and used CDs and vinyl here in Ottawa are Legend Records, The ODDs & SODs Shoppe and Turning Point. But I also like Sunrise Records and HMV, the latter being found in Toys-R-Us Canada stores, and I usually also purchase physical copies of films on DVD and blu-rays from these stores as well.
In Montreal and Gatineau, I shop at Archambault, where one can also find instruments and books in French and English. But for instruments and sheet music in my neck of the woods I shop at Long & McQuade, Granata Music and Steve’s Music.
Indigo offers books and a small selection of new vinyl records at many of their stores, although more vinyl can be found online. And many more Canadian retailers offer goods via Amazon.ca and eBay.ca if you want to do some comparison shopping.
Best Buy Canada stores no longer carry film and music but they do sell them online, some of which come from Canadian retailers. And you should note that Sony Music Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada have their own Canadian shops online.
You might also want to try Saskatchewan chain McNally Robertson and Quebecois chain Librarie Renaud-Bray for books, or Ontario chains The Beat Goes On and Deja Vu Discs for new and used film and music.
Eastern Canadians can also try Taz Records / Backbeat Records for new and used CDs, DVDs, LPs and Blu-rays. And don’t forget that Record Store Day is coming up at many local retailers on April 12th, 2025.
Those are the sources I can think of on the top of my head so I may add some more later on.
Hope this helps.
