By Ruby Pratka

Local Journalism Initiative

The East Bolton public market will soon have a permanent home in Terrio Park. Construction is scheduled to begin this week on a permanent pavilion with a steel structure and wooden roof to replace the seasonal tent used to house the market in past years. The new pavilion, set on a 12×18 concrete slab and 6.6 metres high, should be finished by mid-July, according to the municipality.

When the market is not in session, the pavilion can be used for public events, concerts and family reunions, Mayor Vinciane Peeters explained. Although it won’t be heated, it will be accessible year round and set up close to an existing parking lot.

The pavilion is expected to cost $330,000, with more than half of that amount funded by grants from the MRC de Memphremagog and the Quebec ministry of agriculture, fisheries and food (MAPAQ). Le Rucher Boltonnois, the food security and arts and culture nonprofit which coordinates the public market and a concert series in East Bolton, took steps to have it installed, Peeters said.

The Saturday morning public market began in 2018 in a small gazebo in the park and has kept growing ever since. Peeters said the municipality has been trying to have a permanent structure for the market built for the past several years. “The market is doing well, but it costs a lot to put the tent up and take it down again, and [the tent] will reach its expiration date at some point, so we thought it would be better to have something permanent,” Peeters said. The structure could be expanded with added awnings if needed, she said. The market will begin in June under the tent before moving to the pavilion when it’s ready; the tent will eventually be sold.

Peeters said by building the pavilion, the municipality hopes to encourage local farmers and “create a living community space” used for events and public gatherings. “We don’t have a big community hall in East Bolton, so we’ll hold public events there [weather permitting],” she said. Residents who are planning events such as family reunions will be able to call the municipality and book the pavilion, although priority will be given to town events.

“Our municipality sets itself apart by using its park to encourage inclusion and vitality in its

community. It wants to make it a place that fosters the creation of links between people of all

backgrounds in order to encourage at the same time the local and proximity economy, culture,

family and community life in nature and in a pleasant outdoor setting,” Peeters said. An official opening ceremony should take place later this summer.