The Vankleek Hill Farmers’ Market will have to find a new home as of February 21, 2022. Since 2020, market vendors have been setting up shop at 79 Derby Avenue, using the parking lot to create a walk-through market during the summer months but more recently, vendors have set up inside the day care building. The Upper Canada District School Board had refused access to its indoor space due to the pandemic. The weekly Saturday morning market used to be set up outdoors in the parking lot at Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute, moving indoors for the winter.

The relocation of the market to 79 Derby Avenue was temporary, as the day care building was slated for removal to make way for the new Vankleek Senior Citizens Manor expansion.

Farmers’ Market founder Aartje den Boer said that the not-for-profit market board members were aware of the coming need for a new location and have been exploring opportunities in Vankleek Hill.

“We want to stay in the community,” den Boer said, adding that walkability and contributing to the Saturday morning vibe of Main Street is important to the market vendors. Vendors need an indoor location until about May 1, she said, when the market can move outdoors. The Vankleek Hill Farmers’ Market is one of Ontario’s few year-round markets, open every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

A portion of the day care property was sold to the Vankleek Senior Citizens Manor Corporation to allow for sufficient parking at the new building. The township retained ownership of the remainder of the property, where the former day care building is located. The township will now demolish the building after obtaining three information quotations for the demolition. Council agreed to forego the usual formal tender process for this demolition.

In 2018, Champlain Township’s municipally-run day care services relocated to rented premises at Ecole St-Gregoire on Home Avenue, after operating from 79 Derby Avenue for several decades.

To contact the Vankleek Hill Farmers’ Market about becoming a vendor, or for more information, email: [email protected].