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Chamber hosts final Artisan and Farmer’s Market for 2021

September 2, 2021   ·   0 Comments

The Tottenham Beeton & District Chamber of Commerce (TBDCC) held its final Tottenham Artisan & Farmer’s Market of the season this past Sunday in Keogh Park.

The event featured 21 vendors, two food trucks (Rasmi’s Falafel and Mario’s Ice Cream Kingdom) plus the grand finale of Sunday Music in the Park with four acts filling the park with sweet songs from noon until 4 p.m.

Originally founded by the Beeton–Tottenham Business Improvement Association (BTBIA) seven years ago, the Market was assumed by the TBDCC in 2019.

It was held one year, but was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID–19. Now organized by Robyn Caruana, Chamber president, and the TBDCC board of directors, the event was back and better than ever in 2021.

“The TBDCC is so pleased we were able to hold the Tottenham Artisan and Farmer’s Market this year in person and are incredibly proud of how successful it was,” Caruana told The Times. “Having up to 400 guests come through each week with smiling faces and the vendors having an in-person opportunity to display their products has given us an all around renewed appreciation for gathering in a public venue and having a great time together! Thank you to all the vendors, volunteers and guests who made it possible. We are very proud of this endeavour and are looking forward to summer 2022!”

Over the years, the Market has gown – through both the number of vendors and those in attendance – as well as with the addition of several food trucks. Weekly mainstays at the Market were two farmers Laurenwood Farm and 60 Aileen, plus Pillitteri Estates Winery and the Wee Homestead. Otherwise, vendors took turns attending, allowing for many more businesses to participate.

“Over 60 artisans in total were able to participate,” Caruana confirms. “The food trucks were a huge hit. The Lori Go-Round is well known in Alliston and was a huge draw. Origin Smoothies is a new business starting out with dairy free sundaes and smoothies and they were a huge success as well.”

COVID–19 concerns were also a factor in planning the 2021 Market, something the TBDCC took very seriously, evening mapping “one way” signs through the circle of vendors.

“We planned things accordingly – having signs made up to distance, of course reminding to stay home if you’re feeling unwell,” said Caruana. “We also provided hand sanitizer and masks to guests. The vendors were responsible for the cleaning of their booths.”

Highlights from this year’s Market included:

“Joe Casiello from Fire and Ice Goldsmithing who was there only one day and brought in a huge crowd dropping off jewellery for repair and selling gold; Steve Lang from Meadowood Tree Service was also there for just one day selling Gypsy Moth traps and had a line up across the Park as we opened. Magical Me by Avangeline is an adorable seven-year old entrepreneur who started a Wellness business on COVID with crystals and essential oils, and Sasha’s Sweets and Sprinkle Eat Repeat were big hits too. Everyone loves a treat!” said Caruana.

As for what it takes to plan this event each year, well, it’s a lot, but Caruana says its worth every minute.

“We began taking registrations in the spring but I was continually reaching out to local artisans, inviting them to attend. There have been a ton of online markets to find vendors,” Caruana told The Times. “We began with ten vendors in week one, as we want to be mindful of physical distancing in Stage 1 [of the Reopening Ontario Act]. Once set up, it was apparent we could do 12 vendors safely and did so in week two, gradually increasing as we started to open up more. We ran with 16 for most weeks, with eighteen week seven and twenty-one week nine. The board has taken turns attending each week to set up and man the chamber tent. Ensuring the physical distancing and one-way signs are placed, sanitizer available and encouraging guests to enter our weekly free draws to win prizes from the vendors. I have been there every Sunday from beginning to end helping the vendors get organized in their places and enjoying the market. My husband has also often volunteered his time for setup and take down booths, and stays for the music as we (Trevor’s Roof Repairs) are a Gold Sponsor for Music in the Park as well. It’s a lot of time and effort for volunteers but it’s all done for our vendors.”

The next event for the TBDCC is its annual AGM – planned for September 23 at Woodington Lake Golf Course in Tottenham.

Current board members are: Robyn Caruana President, Jerry Switzer Secretary, Brenda Horan Treasurer, Tonia Salvaterra, Martin Ranby, Peter Barbati, Kiran Mann, and Linda Carr. The Chamber invites interested members of the local business community to attend the AGM (tickets required www.tbdcc.ca or call 905-936-4100 or email: president@tbdcc.ca) and is hoping to attract new board members to join the busy not-for-profit organization during the event.

By Wendy Gabrek

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