June 24, 1963: Council approves $1.9M civic centre, farmers market
Edmonton city council approved the proposed farmers market, to be located east of 97th Street between 101A and 102nd avenues.
The market and an auxiliary 1,000-vehicle garage would form part of the civic centre.
Ald. McKim Ross opposed the project, accusing council of taking a “sentimental journey from the jet to the horse and buggy age.” Ross felt building the market would be a “misuse of public funds.”
“We have no money for a library, but we can find the money to get rid of cabbage heads.”
Ald. Ethel Wilson countered that the market was “very important. It may be that the coliseum area is not the proper site for a market because of the excessive price of land for that purpose. But we shouldn’t throw out the ideas because this isn’t the best site for it.”
Ald. Les Bodie said the Toronto market had proved successful and recommended that the project be given “further consideration.”
The vote on the proposal was 9-3, with Bodie, Ross and George Prudham opposed.
Estimated cost of the proposed project, including land and parking facilities, was pegged at $1.9 million.