NOTEBOOK: Farmers’ market in the works; Fireworks on August 27

Lots of news out of tonight’s Stittsville Village Association (SVA) monthly meeting, including plans to bring a farmers’ market to Village Square Park next spring.

Sue Bird owns the old log building next to the park, and has been spearheading the efforts to start up a market along with help from a number of volunteers. Last weekend  she launched a petition to demonstrate community support that now has over 300 signatures.

“When I have the door open at the barn everyone stops by and mentions how they’d like to see more at the park,” she said.

Bird says the location is perfect, because of its  history, proximity to the Trans Canada Trail, and the benefit to local businesses.

“I can really see this starting some more walking, biking, and excitement in the core.”

She says organizers from the Ottawa Farmers’ Market are hoping to start a weekly market in the spring of 2017.  They operate the weekly markets at Lansdowne Park, Westboro and Orleans.

“They want to come here. They’ve been looking at our area for quite some time,” she says.

The market would have a strong local food focus, with at least 50% of vendors being local agricultural producers.

Councillor Shad Qadri said he supports the project as well.

There are some great comments on the petition. A small sampling:

“A farmers market at this park would be a central WALKING hub to many Stittsville folks. Not only that, but it would use the park more than it is currently being utilized. With Quitters’ recent success, Main Street is experiencing a rejuvenation. A farmers market is a natural progression & a tip of the hat to the yesteryears of how Stittsville grew – with local farmers,” writes Brian Houle.

“I think the farmer’s market would be a great way to support local businesses and bring people back to main street which in turn will support local business along main street as well. Would love to be able to walk to the farmer’s market,” says Kristen Childerhose.

“I believe in communities remaining communities. With the mass production of box store parks outside of the village downtown cores these places lose the richness a village square used to have. Smaller stores and locally owned shops suffer as the masses are dragged out to the outskirts in to concrete box store locations and massive parking lots. Bringing the farmers market, and more events, back to the village square reintroduces the community to itself. It keeps the square alive, and hopefully thriving,” writes Andrew Salm.

***

SAVE THE DATE: Stittsville’s Canada Day fireworks were rained out, but the SVA hopes to launch the fireworks in an and-of-summer celebration on Saturday, August 27 outside of the Goulbourn Recreation Centre. More details are coming soon, pending permit approvals.

***

QADRI SAYS:

• Qadri is working with the Youth Services Bureau to bring programming for young people to the community. The idea is to partner with the organization to run after-school and weekend activities out of the Frederick Banting Alternative School building on Stittsville Main Street, for a small fee.  Qadri said at one point there was a plan to convert the old firehall into a youth centre but the age of the building made it too expensive to renovate.
• The councillor requested that city staff look into the possibility of a running track in one of the large parks to be built in the Fernbank Area.
• The City is funding a part-time crossing guard at Fernbank and Liard starting this fall.
• The owners of Stittsville Walk the condo development next to the Legion have submitted a new development plan to the city. It’s still in a pre-consultation phase.

(For the record, I’m a member of the SVA board.)