The Bank of Montreal (BMO) wrote a $50,000 cheque in support of the Gibsons Public Market last week, to aid in the creation of the marine education centre.
“I really think it is a terrific idea to be able to create a year-round public market,” said Pat Dejong, BMO regional vice president for the North Shore and Sunshine Coast, during the fundraising announcement held at the market Oct. 2.
“I think what is especially appealing for me about the public market is the marine education component. BMO has education and lifelong learning as one of its pillars of community involvement and we believe that the Gibsons Public Market will become a community hub that’s going to help build a stronger and a more sustainable community through marine education.”
Dejong noted BMO had a long history on the Coast with the first bank in Gibsons being a Bank of Montreal.
She heard about the Gibsons Public Market from capital campaign co-chair Pam Robertson, whose father worked at that original Gibsons BMO. Robertson said she also had a career with BMO for 33 years.
“So personally this is a very satisfying announcement for me,” Robertson said.
The $50,000 from BMO will go towards the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre. Sonntag was a founder of the Gibsons Public Market and worked with Robertson and Gerry Zipursky on the capital campaign before he passed away in June.
“I know that he would be absolutely thrilled to hear this announcement and of BMO’s decision to designate this money towards the marine education centre,” Robertson said.
The $50,000 donation bumped the total raised so far up to $1,506,000, pushing the Gibsons Public Market capital campaign past the halfway mark toward its $3-million goal.
“This is a very special announcement,” Robertson said of BMO’s contribution.
“It’s one of what we hope will become a steady stream of announcements that we’ll be able to share with you over the coming months.”
Once the funds are in place, the Gibsons Public Market will be expanded to create a year-round 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.
Learn more at www.gibsonspublicmarket.com.
