Gibsons Public Market announced June 18 that Darren Entwistle, executive chair of Telus, has joined the market’s board of governors as honourary chair.
“He will attend meetings as he can, because he believes in what we’re trying to do at the market, and he will provide advice as requested to help us have a successful program,” said Nicholas Sonntag, president of the Gibsons Community Building Society, the non-profit society behind the market.
The society is working to raise funds to renovate and expand the current market location on Gower Point Road from 5,200 sq. ft.
to just over 13,000 sq. ft.
Once complete in 2016, the expanded Gibsons Public Market will become a community hub where throughout the year residents and visitors can enjoy fresh local produce and baked goods, art and entertainment, educational forums, a community kitchen and a marine education centre.
“The Gibsons Community Building Society’s desire to contribute to the social and economic success of Gibsons, and the health and well-being of its residents, is in perfect alignment with Telus’s globally recognized commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen, and our deeply held community giving philosophy to give where we live,” Entwistle said.
“The Gibsons Public Market will be the heart of this community, and I am honoured to support the board of governors in making their vision a reality.”
Chair of the market’s board of governors, Bill Humphries, said he was very excited to have Entwistle join the team.
“Telus has demonstrated their commitment to our community and through this relationship, we will demonstrate how local residents and a national, socially conscious corporation can work together to support the common good,” Humphries said.
“I am honoured to have him join our board, and look forward to the value and strategic direction Mr. Entwistle will bring to our team.”
Telus has also become a platinum sponsor of the upcoming June 27 Gibsons Public Market Gala, where the new capital fundraising campaign will be launched, and has committed to setting up the market with state of the art technology and infrastructure.
“We are entering a partnership with Telus,” Sonntag explained. “The market and Telus both see this as a long term partnership to the benefit of the Sunshine Coast.”
