Bringing everyone together
Bridgetown Regional Community School O2 class hosts annual craft expo
It may be a town tradition, but this year’s Bridgetown O2 Craft Expo felt fresh and exciting, as it was the event’s first year at the brand new school.
Held the same weekend, Dec. 1 and 2, as the community’s Moonlight Madness and tree lighting celebrations, the O2 Craft Expo has become a community staple and something to look forward to as the holiday’s approach. This year, 52 vendors gathered in the Bridgetown Regional Community Schools’ cafetorium to sell locally made candles, knitwear, jewellery, woodworks, holiday decorations, and much more.
The new school
“This is my first time here at the Christmas market, and it’s lovely,” said Trudy Inglis, who was there to sell her handmade knitworks. “I’m very impressed with all the vendors, the positive feeling that you get, and the friendliness. You can leave your table and know it’s going to be looked after by your neighbour.”
Inglis, who is also a BRHS alumna, commented on the new facility. “I’m so happy for the children, what a positive school for them.” She and many other community members had only praise for the building.
Jonathan Marshall, head of the Options and Opportunities (O2) program, saw many advantages to the new space.
“The cafetorium is great because of the architecture. The design of space is unique, whereas, in a gym, you’re kind of in a box. It’s not as exciting,” he said, also pointing out that the one-level area, with no stairs, made the event more accessible to the community.
“How could you think that this venue would make it anything but better? It’s gorgeous in here,” said Nancy Price, who has been a vendor at the expo since its inception six years ago. She sells holiday decorations alongside her sister, Judy Marshall. The pair has two very different approaches, with Marshall designing what Price calls “the glitzy, glamorous decorations,” while Price tends to make her products in more of a rustic style.
“We call ourselves the city mouse and the country mouse,” Price explained, laughing.
A success all around
Several hundred people visited during expo’s two-day span, and it was a success for not just the O2 program, but the Bridgetown grads as well. With grad president Kristen Foster at the forefront, the Grade 12s organized a silent auction, with 97 prizes to be won, all donated by local businesses from Annapolis all the way to Greenwood. The silent auction made over $1,000 dollars for the graduating class.
This event doesn’t just benefit students, however. Dawn Thompson, who sells J.R. Watkin’s products, believes that the expo is a great way to make community members aware of their local craftspeople.
“A lot of people maybe don’t know that ‘Gee, my neighbour does this,’ and so it’s a really good way for people to promote themselves locally,” she said.
Bringing people together
“Our community looks forward to this, we have the tree lighting tonight, we have so many things that tie our community together. Everyone pitches in and it’s all good,” Maureen Publow said, echoing a feeling that all the vendors seemed to share: that this event brings the community together.
“It helps craft people who can’t make it to the big city, helps them make a few dollars, and it gets you to meet people you haven’t seen for a long time,” noted Larry Corneal, who was there to sell wreaths for the Lion’s Club alongside Publow.
When Bridgetown Regional Community School was named, it was selected because there were hopes that the building would be a great space for not just the students, but the community as a whole. With another expo come and gone, and many more events to look forward to, it’s clear the school is living up to its name.