The Gibsons Public Market is planning to grow, with the community’s help, to become much “more than a market.”
Destined for the building that used to house the Gibsons Yacht Club on Gower Point Road is a six-day-a-week market selling fresh local produce, a restaurant, a community kitchen, a large public gathering space, art displays, entertainment and a coastal marine education centre.
“This is very unusual, what we’re doing. This is not your normal market initiative, and that’s why we call it ‘more than a market,’” said Nicholas Sonntag, Gibsons Public Market Society member and one of the initial investors in the idea.
“All of these elements that are in our plan, which are being received very favourably by the community when we talk about them, are very unusual and something Gibsons can be very proud of. In a way it’s a case study of a different approach to creating public space.”
The idea is to establish a community hub at the Gibsons Public Market, a place where people can come with their children to shop, relax, learn and connect. Ultimately market proponents hope to create a community amenity that helps build a stronger and more sustainable community.
In order to house the larger vision of the Gibsons Public Market, the building will have to grow. Members of the market society are now preparing to launch a campaign to secure the projected $2.5 million needed to expand the space from about 1,676 square metres (5,500 square feet) to just under 3,657 square metres (12,000 square feet).
Before the campaign takes off, however, society members who fronted the money to purchase the former yacht club property back in 2013 will turn their shares over to the society so that the Town of Gibsons and the society will officially own the Gibsons Public Market.
“We’re in the final process of having those private shares transferred to the society because, truthfully, no matter how many times we’ve told people that we’re not getting anything out of it … people still think ‘well why are you doing this? Something’s fishy,’” said Gerry Zipursky, who represents one of three families that came up with a large chunk of the original purchase price for the property.
The Zipursky, Sonntag and Bojm families each kicked in $100,000 toward the purchase price of the yacht club in 2013. The community also rallied around the idea of saving the property for a market and donated $275,000 in trust to the Town of Gibsons.
Zipursky said he and his friends helped front the project because they saw the potential to create a public amenity at the former yacht club and they wanted to act before someone else bought it.
“We thought if there’s a way that we can act as a catalyst and provide, if you will, an interest free loan to the society for this property, then that’s what we would do, as a way of giving back to community,” Zipursky noted.
During 2014 the market opened for weekly Friday farmers’ markets while a committee worked behind the scenes on the larger vision.
Now the committee is ready to present its plans to the public and launch a building campaign, which will kick off with a Building for the Future Gala on Saturday, June 27 at the Gibsons Public Market.
Last year’s gala brought in $75,000 and organizers are hoping for a similar outcome this year. The gala features gourmet food and drinks with live entertainment and silent auctions. Tickets are $125 each, of which $80 is eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
There are 250 tickets available for the gala and they’re on sale now at the Gibsons Public Market, Zócalo and Coast Reporter.
In addition to funds the market hopes to raise at the gala is a $400,000 commitment to the build from Island Coastal Economic Trust. Another large corporate sponsor is considering lending its financial support as well, which has market society members hopeful.
“We can also take pro-bono contributions of people’s labour or take discounts on materials and equipment,” Sonntag noted.
Anyone wishing to give or get involved is asked to contact the market at 604-886-8814.
The Gibsons Public Market is also now selling memberships for $35 for an individual or $50 for a family. Membership fees will help pay for the ongoing costs of running the market and the card comes with some perks. Members receive special deals at the market and discounts at affinity partner businesses.
The Friday farmers’ markets will start up at the Gibsons Public Market again on May 15. The market will be open from 1:30 to 6 p.m. every Friday until Thanksgiving.
Find out more about the Gibsons Public Market at www.gibsonspublicmarket.com or by connecting with the market on Facebook.
