Julie Bertram
Special to the Tribune
From June to September, West Nipissing becomes a cultural hub of local producers and creators, offering residents and visitors a chance to connect among the vibrant sights, sounds, and tastes of the season.
Marché Sturgeon Falls Market, located at 204 King St, has two incarnations this summer, August 16 and September 13. The Field Farmer’s Market – Marché Fermier Field is held once a month (June 21, July 12, August 23, September 20) at the covered rink on Jarbeau Rd in Field.
Gayle Primeau, who runs the Sturgeon Falls market, says “visitors can expect a variety of vendors with music played all day long. The best time is the morning for fresh produce or if you want a certain item.” There are food items, arts and crafts, jewellery, clothing and more. The market runs Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm. “Every year seems to bring an increase of people. The market has grown over the past years and it’s easier to find vendors as it has a good reputation,” Primeau adds.
However, there are challenges, which is why the market only has two dates this summer. “What hasn’t grown though, in any organization or event, is the volunteers. That’s a problem. Planning starts in January. Lots of hours booking the vendors and musicians. Then once the market approaches, cleaning and spraying the lot, mapping the placement, communication of volunteers, the worry… endless!” It has meant scaling back this year, and hoping to find more volunteers to keep it going next year.
Primeau’s favourite part of running the market is “seeing people visit and seeing the downtown alive. It brings the community together; it’s a social event and a way to showcase local talent. It’s a chance to promote products and businesses. Some businesses have started with this market and have become very successful, same for musicians.” Proceeds from the market all go toward Sturgeon Falls Beautification, which Primeau also heads.
Aimée Hodgins and Andrea Sacchetto head the Field Farmer’s Market, now in its second year. “Visitors can expect local handmade and homegrown vendors selling a variety of items like flowers, honey, maple syrup, soap, crafts, jewellery, pottery, on site photography (…) shoppers can also expect to find a wide variety of in-season foods that can grow here (…) as well as value-added farm products like canned goods, seeds, bread, meat, teas and more. There will also be food vendors and live music. We have a main focus on makers and farmers here in Field and West Nipissing. The exact number of vendors varies from each market date but approximately 20 vendors each date and we are still gladly accepting new vendors for incoming dates,” explains Hodgins.
“We have improved some of our processes to make things smoother for vendors, things like access to Wi-Fi and volunteer support. The event is organized by the FRED (Field Regional Economic Development) Committee and all proceeds from the market go back into making Field a great place to live,” she adds. Hodgins points out that the FRED committee has contributed to beautification in Field and getting a roof over the rink that serves as the venue for the market, all through fundraising.
“We have worked to make our venue more environmentally friendly by adding recycling and trash bins to help keep things clean and green. There is a porta-potty on site and lots of parking available.” she adds. “We want our market to be successful and not take away from other community events, but there is only so many dates on a calendar. My favourite part of running the market is seeing all the familiar faces that come out to support our local vendors and how satisfied attendees and vendors are at the end of the day. It really creates a strong sense of community.”
Local firefighters in Field set up at some of the markets to sell hot dogs and do fire truck demos for the kids. There are return vendors like Luc’s Beeotchees, Vezina and Son Farm, Kaila’s Flower Farm, Restless Ravens Homestead, Vicky Laforge Photography, Liane Longfellow pottery and Sucrerie Desjardins and Fils, and some new vendors like Watt’s Weiners, Soap and Seed, Sweet ReTreat and more. “The Market supports local farmers and small businesses by giving them an avenue to sell and market their products and business. At our first market last fall we attracted a large size crowd, leaving vendors happy with a successful market day. We hope to continue that trend each month. It helps to shine the spotlight on our amazing community of local makers, farmers and small businesses. It also gives locals something fun to do and access to local, fresh, healthy food and handmade items,” Hodgins continues.
Andrea Sacchetto commented during the first summer market held last Saturday, June 21, “We have some of the same amazing, beautiful vendors that were here last year, and we are still working on getting our information out there. Today, North Bay is having a market and other local events here honouring local people, so we kind of have to spread the wealth around. But here we have our FRED booth seeking memberships, volunteers, vendors, and performers for upcoming markets. (…) We also learned a few things last year, taking a survey, so we’ve been able to get a Wifi booster, appropriate garbage and recycling bins from the municipality, and more signage than last year. There’s also a cornhole game set up that some folks are enjoying, and the next markets will have performers!”
Market season is much more than full baskets — it leaves a stronger, more connected community. In a place where summers are shorter and winters long, the markets are more than just a place to shop; it’s where stories are shared, traditions renewed, and neighbours become friends.
