Information/Blog - Canadian BJD Collectors

Every hobby has its joys and its shadows. For many of us in the ball-jointed doll community, collecting is a source of creativity, friendship, and expression. But if I’m being honest, it can also stir up a surprising amount of insecurity.

 A Message to the Doll Community

Whether you're just discovering ball-jointed dolls or you've been in the hobby for over a decade, every collector experiences a unique but oddly familiar path. These phases don’t always happen in the same order, and some people cycle through them multiple times—but most of us have been there, one way or another.

So, you’re thinking about attending your first BJD meet but your stomach’s doing flips, and your brain’s racing with questions like:

Because the only thing worse than waiting for a doll is realizing it’s never coming.

Because sometimes, they get it wrong — and you don’t have to just accept it.

One of the most common challenges in the Canadian BJD community is simply finding each other. The hobby can feel quiet here—not because we don’t exist, but because we’re scattered and often hidden in plain sight. If you’ve ever felt like you're posting into a void, this guide is for you.

Being a BJD collector in Canada can feel incredibly isolating. For years, I watched the vibrant and active communities in the U.S. and across Asia—frequent meet-ups, endless shops, online spaces filled with conversation and creativity. Meanwhile, here in Canada, everything felt scattered. Meets were rare and often far away, and it was hard to even find other collectors nearby, let alone feel part of a real community.

Because nothing says “collector rite of passage” like that dreaded CBSA invoice…