The mayor of Antigonish says it’s nice federal officials recognize the value of the local farmers’ market.
Sean Fraser, the MP for Central Nova, announced $700,000 toward a new market on the exhibition grounds on James St. on behalf of officials with the federal government Saturday morning.
After July’s regular town council meeting Monday night, Laurie Boucher, Antigonish’s mayor, said the market promotes food security, economic development, shopping local and community spirit.
“It’s getting people out on a Saturday morning, so there’s a big social aspect to it all as well,” she said. “It’s so nice to go there and see everybody talking, laughing, and just mingling with one another and socializing.”
Antigonish Co. officials and reps with a local insurance company are each providing $200,000 toward the roughly $2.1 million project, town officials are providing $150,000, and market association members have raised another $102,000.
Boucher said the new 11,000 square foot facility will be a much-needed expansion.
“Some weeks it’s very crowded- we even have some vendors that are outside (who) can’t get in,” she said. “It’s going to be able to allow people to have a bigger space.”
Boucher said another positive is the new building will allow the market to remain open year-round, and more than the current one-day-a-week.
Market reps say the goal is to start construction in early September, following the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition, and finish early in 2020, which would allow them to open a winter market.
