A market will be held Friday evenings this summer on Vernon's 30 Avenue. Vendors will be invited to set up tents, like the one pictured, along the street. Photographer: Jennifer Stahn

Vernon night market to proceed despite concerns

VERNON – A Friday night market in downtown Vernon will go ahead this summer, but there’s still some unease among city councillors about the event. 

Coun. Catherine Lord says she’s been contacted by several businesses, some anonymously, wishing to express their concerns about the market.

“We’ve been getting some really upset people with it because it is impacting their business, even onto the point of tears,” Lord said at a council meeting Monday, April 13. “To me, getting those concerns is very upsetting.”

At council’s March 23 meeting, the Downtown Vernon Association was asked to find out how many merchants are in favour of the market. The request came after Coun. Lord brought forth a number of issues local businesses have with the event. Executive director Lara Konkin brought those findings back to council this week, citing 93 per cent in favour of the evening market on 30 Avenue.

Several local business owners accompanied Konkin to speak about their positive experiences with the market. They said it adds vibrancy to downtown Vernon and attracts customers who don’t ordinarily shop there.

Council ultimately endorsed the market for this year. It will run Friday evenings from June 12 to Sept. 18 and welcome vendors to set up booths in blocks of 30 Avenue closed to vehicle traffic.

But before supporting the market again in 2016, council has decided to conduct a blind survey of merchants.

“One of the things that concerns me is there are some people who are confidentially coming to us rather than going to the Downtown Vernon Association and saying this is my concern,” Lord said. “I’m just saying, there’s a problem out there, and you really need to take a look at it and address it.”

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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2 responses

  1. Guy Rutledge

    I would imagine that the merchants concerns are that traffic is blocked off for a couple hours and no-one can park in front of their shops. Well, the chances of getting a parking spot in front of their shop on 30 Ave is slim to non anyhow. This is offset, much to the merchants favor, because people walking past their shop is much better for them than someone driving past it. It would be good to know what their concerns are, wouldn’t it?

  2. Kathryn Quinn MacDonald

    Are the local merchants on the street permitted to put up displays of specials and sell items from their shops as well during the market? If so, this allows all merchants to benefit from more traffic on Friday evenings.

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Charlotte Helston

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Charlotte Helston grew up in Armstrong and after four years studying writing at the University of Victoria, she came back to do what she loves most: Connect with the community and bringing its stories to life.

Covering Vernon for iNFOnews.ca has reinforced her belief in community. The people and the stories she encounters every day—at the courthouse, City Hall or on the street—show the big tales in a small town.

If you have an opinion to share or a story you'd like covered, contact Charlotte at Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230.

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