Consignment for the Outdoors
Nelson, BC
We all want a little more free time to recreate and do the things we love. In order to have a good time in the outdoors, you need good gear, but good gear can be expensive (and it also requires a learning curve). There’s no shortage of gear in the recreation wonderland of the Kootenays, where basements and backyard sheds overfloweth (we like to joke that used gear is one of the official currencies here). And, it turns out, when cared for lovingly, well-made equipment can last a lifetime.
The shop (formerly known as OK Gear) has evolved and even moved towns since we got our start in winter 2022, when we found a tiny empty storefront in Rossland’s iconic old OK Store building and decided to give it a go. With the support of the community, OK Gear went, and we outgrew the small space within two winters. In 2024, we found a beautiful new space in a historic brick building and moved the shop to the little city of Nelson in the fall. With the move came a new name: Free Time.
FACES OF FREE TIME
What makes a place is always the people: we like to say, people come first, gear comes second. Free Time has been lucky to have a revolving cast of characters (aka Free Time Friends & Family) who keep the shop running. Sometimes, just like the gear we sell, our staff return from their time away for another visit. Here are some of the faces you might see in the shop!
CAMILLE
Camille has a lot of ideas, and Free Time is the physical expression of one of them. When she moved to the Kootenays, the plan was to raise sheep, grow more flowers, and ski. But she quickly realized what the area actually needed was the kind of store she grew up frequenting as a youngster: a used gear shop. These places invite you to linger. They represent community and access and make you feel like the world outdoors is your oyster. In her free time, Camille loves to ride bikes and skis, hang out with her animals, and write.
TREVOR
Trevor (aka Father Free Time) spent his past lives whitewater kayaking and paragliding. He has now settled into old age here in the Kootenays, where he lives with his dog Eugene (pictured) and his lovely partner Cassie (a fellow Free Time alumni, and maker of the colorful, playful rugs that decorate the shop). In his free time, Trev can be found at Free Time, where he works his magic to help keep the gear flowing and the people happy, or outside on the golf course in the summer, or up at WW skiing in the winter.
DAISY
Daisy grew up in a small Ontario town but followed her love of skiing to the Kootenays. She has been on skis since she could walk and spends every winter chasing as many days on snow as possible. Outside of skiing, Daisy is passionate about graphic design and always has a creative project on the go. She has picked up plenty of hobbies over the years, but skiing, art, and writing are the ones that stuck. When she is not working on something new, you will usually find her deep into the New York Times games. She is an avid player of Wordle, Connections, Sudoku, and the Crossword. Daisy is always up for a good question, riddle, or any excuse to chat about pretty much anything.
WILL
Will doesn’t work at Free Time anymore, but he brought a lot with him when he moved to Nelson to help us build it - including this website, which he built for us by hand. Those were the early days, and those who remember that era will recall that the shop was heavy on Gillian Welch, vintage Patagonia, and, as is still the case, fuelled by lattes from Oso Negro next door.
AVA
Ava has been with Free Time since the winter of 2024 and says it’s been “so nice” working in the outdoor community of Nelson. She is our social media wizard, writing and directing the latest episodes of Free Time TV seen on our IG page. Some things she likes to do in her free time involve hiking, camping, and snowboarding. She’s been lucky enough to camp and explore across Canada, the US, and, most recently, Italy! Lastly, a fun fact about Ava is that her face gets “extremely puffy” in high altitude, and she “wakes up looking like a pufferfish” (please see photo above of her on Mount Whitney for proof).
ASHA
Asha started skiing at three years old. Growing up in Toronto and ski racing in valleys and on little hills, she knew she would end up searching out bigger mountains. Now she spends the warmer months planting trees, and the cooler ones exploring the mountains on her skis. In her free time she also loves to climb, hike and cozy up with her friends to watch a good (or bad) show.
QUINN
Quinn grew up in Aurora, Ontario, and moved from Ottawa to Nelson to fully dive into the outdoors. Her main passion is snowboarding, but she can also be found backpacking, mountain biking, and practicing yoga. She also has a creative side. Quinn DJs, co-founded the GIRLZ collective in town (inclusive dance parties and DJ workshops), and was formerly a competitive trampolinist and coach. She loves exploring new adventures, connecting with people who share her love for the outdoors, and prioritizing fun every day.