Kamloops’ Midweek Market has transitioned to its on-the-street setup, with Victoria Street closed between 4th and 5th Avenues every Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October 22.
Drivers are advised to use caution in the area, though nearby parking, including the TNRD Parkade and Plaza Hotel lot, remains accessible.
Now a staple of Kamloops, the Midweek Market has grown steadily over the years, becoming a popular gathering place that highlights local food, artisans, and community organizations.
The market was born from the need to address the issues of hunger in countries outside of Canada that were overproducing crops to maintain the demands from grocery stores in Western countries.
“We put a lot of pressure on those other countries,” said Deanna Hurstfield, social media and special events Coordinator. “They’re not able to grow food, It affects the diversity of crops that they grow, and it affects food security and food sovereignty of those nations and those peoples.”
Another need it met was to support local producers and connect residents with fresh, regional goods. The market continues to play a key role in Kamloops’ vibrant local economy and community life.
The current market was started in 1978 with support from the City Council and the School Board, with memberships required for both attendees and vendors.
“In the last seven years I’ve noticed the market has taken off,” Greg Unger, the Markets Manager said. “The number of vendors that we’re letting in every year grows, so we have to close applications earlier.”
The Market welcomes home producers as well as farmers who want to become vendors. Community artisans, home-based businesses. Special music and other events also find a place at the market.
Attendance has also rapidly grown over the years according to Unger. While expansion is not on the table yet, the board has been looking into making more conscious decisions as to the vendors that take part in the market.
“We don’t have a lot of spaces, public spaces in western cities are necessarily spaces where people of different demographics mix and the farmer’s market is very much that,” Hurstfield said.
As Kamloops’s diversity grows each year, so do the efforts to make the market a safe space for others. Their newly incorporated Welcome sign with dozens of languages, and a built-in ramp are some examples of their growth.
“It doesn’t seem that far-fetched to me to be very intentional about these activities,” Unger said. “For an organization like the Farmer’s Market, it’s in our DNA to be a community, and a community needs to be diverse, to be healthy.”
Bringing higher quality products to the Kamloops Farmers Market is one of the goals for both Unger and Hurstfield in their efforts to showcase the best that this city can offer.
New projects are also in store for the market, such as the Pollinator Festival and the Tomato Festival, both of which are looking for more community involvement.
You can visit the dog-friendly market every Saturday on St. Paul Street in Kamloops from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays along Victoria Street outside of the Thompson Nicola Regional Library from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.