Leiya Fischer, LJI Reporter

The Chapeau Agricultural Society hosted the official opening of its new farmers market building on Thursday afternoon with live music, refreshments, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by society members and mayors of the upper Pontiac region.

“This sort of solidifies the agricultural society to still be operating and supporting the agriculture that we have around here,” said Gene O’Brien, president of the agricultural society, noting the society was founded in 1879.

The building has been hosting market vendors three days a week since early June, but Thursday’s event offered an opportunity for the community and all those involved in bringing the building to life to celebrate the accomplishment together. “We’re seeing so many people who live on the island that I didn’t even know live here. It’s really being well supported,” O’Brien said, describing the success of the market building so far. “One thing we’ve learned is people do want to support local, they do want to buy local.”

She said the project broke ground last August, and a year later, the building is up and running, hosting a bustling market and showcasing local producers. Various items and agricultural products were being sold by vendors from many places, such as jewelry, lemonade, tomatoes, ice cream, plants, and so much more.

The market building will be open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, even during the winter, when the community will be able to use it as a place to warm up. The construction of the building was made possible thanks to federal and provincial grants, as well as funding from Desjardins bank. MRC Pontiac awarded a provincial revitalization grant (FRR2) to the project.

“It really is a project that brings the community together, it supports local producers, and it’s a venue for the community itself,” said Shanna Armstrong, economic development officer for agriculture at the MRC. “This gives [producers] a space that they can market year-round. It also becomes a central focal point that you can draw people to. Tons of people are coming from Pembroke and Petawawa to the market now.”

At 3 p.m. everyone gathered around for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and for some speeches by the people who helped make this farmers market come to life.

“It provides a space for community engagement, acting like a social hub where like-minded people can network and foster a sense of belonging,” said Allumette Island mayor Corey Spence, also noting the economic and educational value this new building brings to the community. “In short, this farmers market is a vital addition to building a vibrant, resilient, and interconnected community,” Spence concluded.

For more on the vision for this new farmers market building, see our story “Chapeau market building opens ahead of schedule,” published June 18.