Though a number of vendors are advertising their goods on the Facebook page, Campbell River’s Pier Street Farmers Market & Artisan Fair might not open this year. The Quadra Farmer’s Market and Bazaar opted to become an online market directory. Cortes Island adopted a different approach and another Cortes public market opens Saturday.
Gorge Market Opens Saturday
In any other year, there would be nothing remarkable about this notice. Gorge Harbour Summer Market traditionally opens in mid to late June. However everyone came to an abrupt halt last March, because of COVID.
Reopening Of Cortes Island Public Events
Cortes Island’s reopening began almost a month ago, with Mansons Friday Market.
This was followed by the reopening of the Gorge Saturday Market, Cortes Museum (July 1st) and the decision to hold the Cortes Island Seniors Society AGM in Mansons Hall at 1 PM on July 7th.
Precautions are being taken at all of these events. Masking tape was laid out at six foot intervals, to help control the flow of traffic through Mansons Hall. A similar one way flow through traffic control has been adopted at the museum. Chairs will be laid out six to eight feet apart at the Seniors AGM.
While the number of visitors to Mansons Friday market is still sparse, there is a steady flow of traffic.
There were initially three stalls inside the hall: Barb Buffington’s bakery booth; Dale Thomas’ delectable treats and Norm Gibbons fermented products. (They all reported ‘sales were great’.) There was talk of increasing the number of booths to five, but I did not check to see if this has been done.
The number of stalls in the parking lot is increasing. There was a single table when the market reopened on May 29th. Last Friday there were three: a produce booth, a plant table for the benefit of FOCI and the Cortes Radio booth. Big Fir Farm joins them this coming Friday with the “sweetest snap peas, freshest young carrots, lettuce, and more.”
Campbell River Restaurants
These steps are not revolutionary, when you consider that Campbell River restaurants have been receiving diners for over a month. The order restricting them to 50% capacity was removed two weeks ago. Now operators only have to ensure that there is a two metre distance between guests.
However the public markets appear to be reopening at a slower pace.
An Alternate Quadra Island Market
Though the Quadra Farmer’s Market is closed, Kevin MacKenzie is trying to set up an alternative at the Cove plaza in Quathiaski Cove. The plan is to set up tables 5 to 6 days a week, with the vendors taking turns looking after them. If everyone does this in turn, this should mean that no one works more than a couple of days in the store.
Similar social distancing protocols to those on Cortes will be adopted.
A hand washing station will be outside.
Vendors who want to participate are encouraged to contact Kevin on facebook at MetalArt ByRavensong.
Top photo credit: Last year’s Gorge Harbour Saturday Market – Roy L Hales