Come to the Gibsons Public Market this Friday, Oct. 2, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for a chance to win prizes and celebrate a special funding announcement by the Bank of Montreal (BMO).
Fundraising for the $3 million needed to expand the market in Lower Gibsons has been going well with about $1.5 million raised so far, and Friday’s announcement from BMO is expected to help boost the coffers considerably.
“Community support continues to build and move the public market toward reaching its funding goal by year end, with plans to begin construction in early 2016,” said Nancy Grenier, marketing director with the Gibsons Community Building Society, which oversees fundraising for the public market.
“Donations of all sizes – big and small – are important to making this new community space a reality.”
The amount of BMO’s donation is being kept a secret until the announcement scheduled for 2:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2.
A BMO spokesperson said that supporting the Gibsons Public Market was very appealing to the bank.
“What was especially appealing, since BMO has education and life-long learning as one of its pillars of community investment support, is that this community hub will help build a stronger and more sustainable community through marine education,” said Laurie Grant, a BMO communications officer.
“BMO’s gift will go toward the campaign in general and the marine education program.”
The expanded Gibsons Public Market aims to create a community hub that features a marine education centre, a public market, community kitchen, a rentable commercial kitchen, a café and a community amenity space for performances.
“More than 70 per cent of the 13,500-sq.-foot building will be dedicated to community amenity space,” Grenier said.
The market is already being used weekly by farmers market vendors on Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Vendors range from farmers to canning cooperatives to wineries. The public has two more chances to visit the farmers market before its last day this year on Oct. 9.
Grenier invites the public this Friday at 1:30 p.m. to visit vendors and collect stamps on a market passport that can then be entered into a draw to win a basket of goodies that includes donations from BMO, a local artist and market vendors.
The draw will be made at 2:30 p.m. following the BMO announcement.
Find out more about the Gibsons Public Market at www.gibsonspublicmarket.com
