‘Pretty upset, pretty confused’
Some vendors unhappy with new site for downtown market in Charlottetown
The Downtown Charlottetown Farmers' and Artisans' Market will have a new home for 2024 in front of Founders’ Food Hall and Market. But Luther Lather shaving cream will not be there.
The city announced on social media on April 10 that the market would move after concerns from city staff.
Olin Penna, who runs the shaving cream company with his father, Doug, says moving the market is a mistake, and the vendors were not consulted.
“It was a communication that was kind of just thrown on our lap: this is how it’s going to be. We were never engaged or consulted in this process,” he said in an April 11 SaltWire interview. “My initial feeling was, ‘Oh my God. My business is screwed.’”
He is hoping to secure a permit from the city to continue running his shop on Queen Street during summer weekends.
If that doesn’t work, he doesn’t want to think about plan C. Penna estimated the 13 Sunday markets make up about 30 per cent of his revenue, and lead to many of his online sales.
Penna isn’t alone in his frustration. He shared the news on his social media and heard a lot of outrage from his peers, he said.
“Everyone that has posted something or commented was kind of in the same boat as myself – pretty angry, pretty upset, pretty confused.”
The lack of communication leaves him wondering who made the decisions, he said.
LETTER
On March 24, Charlottetown’s event management and tourism officer Laurel Lea sent a letter to Downtown Charlottetown Inc., which runs the market, to say the city would no longer support the Queen Street location.
Lea outlined several
concerns from the fire, police and public works departments.
These included using electricity in a way that strained public works resources, blocking an important north-south emergency vehicle route and an increase in police responses to addiction-related incidents in the downtown.
“While the city’s emergency services personnel are amenable to a balanced and co-operative approach between event hosting and operational needs, the market’s frequency over a 13-week period, coupled with its size and the duration of the associated road closure do not make Queen Street a suitable location going forward,” Lea said.
Downtown Charlottetown Inc. emailed vendors this week to say the event would re-locate, with a few changes. The new site will not supply electricity, and vendors can no longer sell hot food. Tables will also be first come, first served and cost $40.
SaltWire reached out to DCI to speak with executive director Dawn Alan, but did not hear back by deadline.
LOCATION
Penna says the new location presents several issues, many related to setting up on grass instead of asphalt.
Some vendors, including himself, have heavier equipment that could get bogged down in soft grass.
“I don’t just set up a table. I actually have a retrofitted snowmobile trailer that’s retrofitted into a shop. … To drive it around on the grass is probably going to become an issue.”
He also pointed out the new setup will not allow hot food vendors and said the grass makes accessibility a concern for people using a wheelchair.
Looking ahead, he worries that moving the market will set a precedent that threatens similar events such as Farm Day in the City or the Victorian Christmas Market.
COUNCIL
The market also came up at city council on April 9, where Coun. Mitchell Tweel questioned the process staff had followed.
“It was not advanced to the parks and recreation committee, and for the life of me I don’t know why.”
Coun. Norman Beck asked who had authority to make the decision, given that the market began as a council resolution in 2011.
Lea explained that there was no permanent agreement to hold the market every year, and the last pedestrian mall agreement had expired in 2017.
Lea’s staff report on the market suggests that, if council drafts a new agreement, it should be stronger.
An April 11 email from a city spokesperson said that the parks and recreation committee will discuss the market issue at a joint meeting with the department of economic, tourism and cultural development.
“The city is unable to provide further comment but will continue to work with DCI towards a satisfactory location for this staple summer initiative.”