Fredericton farmers’ market receives nearly $1 million for upgrades

A farmers’ market in Fredericton will be able to do several upgrades after receiving nearly $1 million in government money.

The announcement was made Saturday at the Boyce Farmers’ Market. The New Brunswick government is spending $496,401 through the Regional Development Corporation, and the federal government is spending $500,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

“We’ll be celebrating our 75th anniversary next year,” said Stacey Russell, chair of the Saturday market. “The building is a little bit older and definitely needs some work.”

The money will go toward improving accessibility, reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and modernizing facilities. According to the province, this will include the removal of the raised stage, energy-efficient lighting fixtures and roofing work, along with the installation of solar panels.

Russell says it is too early in the process to share details of what exactly the work will entail.

The province said this will be a multi-year project with work expected to begin in September. Operations will be able to continue throughout the process with a goal of “minimizing the impact on vendors.”

“This market is for residents, the first spot that they go to when they’re starting off their Saturday morning,” says Russell, who is also the manager of Fredericton tourism. “But it’s also for many visitors the exact same thing. This is the spot where they kick off their weekend in Fredericton.”

For 19 years, Katherine Sidenius has been a staple inside the market building selling her mini donuts. She admits the facilities could use some improvements and is looking forward to the much-needed changes.

The timing is especially welcomed as many Canadians are looking to buy local where they can.

“You can’t do that effectively without really good infrastructure,” Sidenius says. “I’m really happy to see the different levels of government come together and provide that funding so that small businesses like ours can really flourish and we can grow.”

During the peak summer months, around 200 vendors take over the market grounds to begin the weekend. Vendors range from local produce stands, crafts and clothes, food trucks and more.

The market has previously been touted as one of the 10 best in all of Canada, many officials stated during the funding announcement.

For Premier Susan Holt, who is an avid market attender, she says the government dollars will extend the life of an “institution” in the capital city.

“We have a buy local strategy where we want to grow more New Brunswick food and we want more New Brunswickers to have access to that food. Markets like these make that access possible for a ton of small farmers and small producers,” says Holt.

“We want folks to spend time with each other and community and help strengthen our society. We want entrepreneurs who have a small business, a place to start to build their clientele. You can do that with local community markets, and we want them to be able to do it in a way that’s accessible so that everyone can participate.”

Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers recalls a lifetime of positive memories coming to the Boyce Farmers’ Market.

Since becoming mayor, she has spent more time speaking with and learning from vendors on changes and improvements they would like to see. Some raised points including washroom quality, energy efficiency, and accessibility issues.

With all of those being addressed in the years ahead, she calls it a proud day for the entire community.

“All of us who spoke, we don’t just come here as politicians and this hasn’t been something that has started in our adult life, we have done this our whole lives,” she says on attending the market.

“The fact that we were successful in getting this funding speaks to how the significance of this of the market resonates throughout, that it’s been acknowledged by decision makers, that this is the right place to make investments for so many of the things that we’re trying to achieve in our city as it grows.”

The Boyce Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday in downtown Fredericton from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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