Edmonton Downtown Farmer’s Market closes doors at GWG Building

GWG Building, formally known as the Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market (Photo Credits - Daniel Barker-Tremblay)

For the final time, The Edmonton Downtown Farmer’s Market have closed it’s doors inside the Old GWG building, due to a critical financial situation the association continues to face.

The farmers market, which originally was an outdoor seasonal market, moved indoors in 2019, leasing a 113-year-old building downtown.  However, higher utility costs, COVID-19 and safety concerns in the downtown area, resulted in dire financial straits.

Windspeaker Radio Network spoke with Market Manager Elaine Doucette, who says the association needed to fold due to low turnouts and being 30 thousand dollars in the red every month.

Elaine Doucette, marketing manager at the Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market (Photo Credits – Daniel Barker-Tremblay)

Doucette adds that the association is saddened to see a lot of displaced vendors, including many associated with I AM Collective, where many vendors are in need of indoor space for artisans to display their work.

Lorrie Lawerence, executive director of I AM Collective spoke with Windspeaker Radio Network, calling the closure a bitter sweet moment to see the Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market go as the GWG Building is where I AM Collective started back in 2018.

Lorrie Lawerence, executive director of I AM Collective (Photo Credits – Daniel Barker-Tremblay)

Lawerence reflects on the events that I AM Collective has hosted inside the Farmers Market, saying that strong memories where made with Elders, youth and the community.

The farmers market community has been reaching out trying to help vendors and negotiations are underway to find a new indoor space, Doucette said.

“We can find a new way forward to make sure that all of that vibrancy comes back in some way.”