A small group of Aldergrove artisans are hoping to establish a new market that will promote the homegrown produce of Aldergrove and Langley Township farmers and producers.
Aldergrove resident Ange Eely has led the the West Coast Artisans Collective (WCAC) to develop the Fort Langley Makers Markets as well as the upcoming Country Christmas event in Chilliwack.
Now the WCAC has set its sights on creating a monthly market in Aldergrove that would showcase growers and producers alongside the local homemade crafts.
“In 2019 the team at WCAC would like to host a monthly community evening market in Aldergrove with emphasis on Aldergrove and Langley Township growers and producers — wine, cider, eggs etc. — and offering these fabulous hard working people free space each month to showcase their fruits, veggies, meats and cheeses in their home community,” said Eely.
“With so many young families in the area, it would be great to have a community focused family event promoting local and healthy eating.”
To begin with the market would operate on the first Thursday of each month, from May to September of 2019. This market is not associated with any of the current farmers markets.
“Aldergrove is our home, and we have so many amazing producers in the area. Many of the local producers of wine, cheese, beef, chicken and eggs already participate in weekend markets in the larger towns, so we felt a Thursday evening, say from 4 to 8 p.m., and free of charge to vendors, would help showcase Aldergrove producers to Aldergrove residents,” said Eely.
Vendors from outside of Langley Township would be charged a fee, Eely added.
An Aldergrove location has not yet been chosen, but it would be indoors and ideally in a school gym or church hall near a school so that families could enjoy a playground while they shopped local.
“We began hosting events two years ago because the cost of many events is extremely expensive. Some charge over $1,000 for a space,” said Eely.
“We’re not looking to make money off hosting events. We want to breathe life into our community — all four of us in WCAC are Aldergrove residents — and we want to promote our hometown.”
Eely noted that her oldest son recently graduated from Aldergrove Secondary, and he raised $39,000 for his RSP for further education by baking goodies which he sold at markets over the years.
The WCAC members were among about a hundred vendors at a recent show at a small Abbotsford church, and are now gearing up for the Country Christmas at Chilliwack’s Tzeachten Hall on the December 1-2 weekend. The latter event will be WCAC’s second annual show in Chilliwack, and is a fundraiser for the Basics for Babies charity. They hope to exceed last year’s fundraiser, which provided $1,700 in cash along with 16 boxes of diapers and formula to the charity.
After this year’s Country Christmas is over, the WCAC will put their energies into developing the monthly Aldergrove market.
“We’re not out to compete with other markets or anyone else in business. There are also smaller shops in Aldergrove which we want to feature and boost,” said Eely.
“While we are working out our space, we wanted to reach out now to those local vendors to extend a hand to introduce ourselves, get your input and wants to make this market successful not only for you, but the Aldergrove community as a whole.
“We would also be looking for a few food trucks, musicians, kids’ entertainment and sponsorship to help make a market the Aldergrove community can call their own,” said Eely.
To get on their possible vendor list, find out more information or offer your suggestions please email Ange Eely at Ange@westcoastartisanco.com
