A new market in New Westminster is popping up this month to bring together local vendors, artists and all types of makers to sell their creations.
Hosted by the Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families, the group's first-ever community market is taking place on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23, at the old Army & Navy building at 502 Columbia St. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
Sydney Andrews, the Purpose Society’s community action team project coordinator, said the idea for the project came from other cities such as Vancouver that host similar markets.
“We thought maybe that we could just bring one into the downtown core of New West, too,” she said.
The event aims to help local artists, businesses and other creators, especially after their struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It's nice to be able to just kind of give people a chance to remind each other that there are so many others like them in the community,” Andrews said.
For booking a table at the venue, vendors must pay a $30 fee for one day or $55 fee for both days. The money raised from vendor fees will be used to support other programs the society runs.
One of the projects that will benefit from the fundraising is the society's digital inclusion program, which refurbishes used electronics such as cellphones, tablets and computers, and redistributes them to those in need.
“We really are just hoping to kind of bring together different members of the community that might not normally interact, as well as just generate some funding so that we can keep our projects going successfully.”
Purpose Society’s New West Community Market
- When: April 22 and April 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: old Army & Navy building (502 Columbia St., New Westminster, B.C.)
- Cost: Free admission
