Vendors at the Salt Spring Saturday Market are missing one of their main sources of income and Salt Spring Island is missing one of its iconic events.

Not only does the market provide a major opportunity for sales for the vendors, it also benefits the whole community including restaurants, B&Bs and retail shops. 

While BC is now in Phase 3 of its Restart Plan, Farmer and Community Markets have been approved since Phase 2 (28 May 2020). It is clear that for CRD’s PARC*, restarting the Saturday Market is not a priority. 

This despite the fact that the Tuesday Farmers Market has been successfully running with new safety protocols in place and that most other farmers and craft markets in BC have successfully resumed operation following WorkSafeBC guidelines. (Note that the Saturday Market is the only BC market that is run by a government organisation.)

Both Dan Ovington, Manager of PARC, and Gary Holman, Salt Spring CRD Director, have both stated that the Saturday Market and that it will not be started until further consultation and feedback have been collected and a plan for operation has been approved. (https://www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com/news/salt-spring-market-in-the-park-to-resurface-on-alternative-days/

The Saturday Market is a major draw for tourists to the island which in turn supports our local businesses which in turn support all the services available for island residents. Tourism is a major economic driver and the Saturday market is an integral part of that. As the border with the USA is currently closed and travel between provinces limited, visitors will be mainly BC residents.

Please show your support for the many artisans and related businesses on the island who rely on their income from their craft to support their families and to keep the vibrancy of Salt Spring Island alive.

PARC claims there is no community support for the market to resume: “Salt Spring Capital Regional District director Gary Holman said that even though vendors would prefer the Saturday date, he did not believe the rest of the community feels the same way.” (https://www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com/news/salt-spring-market-in-the-park-to-resurface-on-alternative-days/

Please sign this petition to restart the Saturday Market no later than the end of July 2020 (following all safety protocols). This will allow the market to run for at least one of the summer months. BC Ferries has already increased ferry traffic for the summer months and there will be visitors to Salt Spring. As per the BC government: What's Happening in Phase 3 - “People can take part in smart, safe and respectful travel within B.C.”

* The Salt Spring Parks and Recreation Commission (SSIPARC) is a local arm of the CRD and is responsible to the CRD Board. Salt Spring Island is an unincorporated rural Electoral District under the jurisdiction of the Capital Regional District (CRD).