There was a time when the island's Summer Market was a bustling, thriving social centre. On a holiday weekend in the summer, there could be 30 vendors selling everything from organic pies to jewellery to handknit sweaters to crafts. And islanders and visitors responded by flocking to the market not just to see what treasures were on offer but to socialize while eating homemade goodies.
Basia and Paul Lieske think those glory days can return. But first they need more vendors.
The Bowen Island couple started the Sunday market in 1996. They were making handcrafted cottage-style furniture and needed some place to sell their products. They joined forces with Connie Wright, whose beautiful handknit pieces and custom beadwork also needed a retail audience, as well as four other vendors. (Wright now has her own store.)
But a few things happened to change the market's popularity. One is that the cost of living on the island became too prohibitive for many of the people earning their living doing handcrafts. They left the island and vendors from the Lower Mainland didn't fill their spots. Then there was a decrease in the number of tourists visiting Bowen, with 9/11 having the most tangible influence.
This year, the market opens on the Canada Day weekend. Some popular vendors are returning - including two local jewellery makers and Artisan Eats - but they'd love to welcome more. A table costs $25 for a day or $40 for the weekend. If interested, please call them at 0640 or 0707 extension 2, which is the Union Steamship chandlery.
