First Pysanka Park Market for the 2020 Season

First Pysanka Park Market for the 2020 Season

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

Four hundred and eleven people attended the first Pysanka Park Market for the 2020 Season at Vegreville Elks/ Kinsmen Park on June 25.

Len Bullock, Director for Pysanka Park Market said these markets will be held every Thursday until the end of August. “There might be more added in September but we have to have a meeting about it. We had 10 local regional vendors attend from within our county and are looking for more Make It, Bake It; Grow It vendors all the time as we are a governmentapproved Alberta, Farmers Market. The Vegreville Agricultural Association sponsors the market. Dwayne Hlady is the on-site Manager for the market and Peter Homeniuk and Bob Carter volunteer. We hold these markets to provide the public with a place to get homegrown, home-baked, and homemade products that simply aren’t available in stores. The market is also meant to provide everyone with a nice evening to enjoy the outdoors. We are following the COVID-19 provincial guidelines set out by the Alberta government which have allowed us to operate,” Bullock said.

Bullock mentioned that he had many good comments about all of the market but the most popular draws were the fresh home-grown vegetables and the home-baked goods. He wanted to acknowledge Vegreville Agricultural Society, Town of Vegreville, and the Senior Citizens Sunshine Club for helping to make this market a success.

Many people attended the market. (Rosanne Fortier/photo)

Some of the vendors gave their stories about the products they were selling.

Roy and Bev Mills along with their grandson, Adam Mills were the vendors for Pie Man. Bev said they have been baking pies for a long time but they just been started selling them for about two years. Their grandson, Aaron Mills also helps them make the pies. They sell apple, raisin, Saskatoon, cherry, rhubarb, strawberry, coconut cream, and chocolate cream. They also sell bumblebee, peach, and blueberry on occasion. “I have always been a cook, so making pies just comes naturally for me. Roy makes as many as I do. Then I am a quilter too so I always get satisfaction from making something and seeing others enjoy it. As well for us, it’s the time we get to spend with our grandsons that make baking enjoyable.”

Toni Saric was the vendor for Woven where she sold purses that each purchase supported women in Nepal by providing a fair wage, stable income, and new opportunities. Also, it was noted that the people who create the purses are dedicated to ensuring the purses have a minimal environmental impact locally and globally. “I started selling these because I was traveling in Nepal and I came across this company and I thought they were doing amazing work so I got to know their owners and tour their factory. I met a lot of their staff and the women they employed and they were all women who did not have their own source of income and they had to rely on someone else; usually, a man in the house who has control over them. So, this is an opportunity for them to have their own money and support themselves,” Toni said.