Greenhouse move for market a hit
Town looking to reinstate Saturday market as well
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 13, 2017
INUVIK
Inuvik's Arctic Market moved to the community greenhouse on Tuesdays this summer instead of the traditional Saturdays in Jim Koe Park, but that hasn't seemed to reduce interest in homemade and handcrafted goods.
Patrick Gesret stands with some of the goods he and Trudy Marks were selling at the Arctic Market in the Inuvik Community Greenhouse Tuesday, July 4. Though the market in the greenhouse has been doing well, the town is exploring reinstating Saturday markets in Jim Koe Park. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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"We weren't really sure if the community would support this activity," said Ray Solotki, executive director of the Inuvik Community Greenhouse, who stressed that the market wasn't switched to Tuesdays in the greenhouse, but the greenhouse instead stepped up to hold the market when the town wasn't having one.
"Our vendors are doing excellently."
The market runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m., but most vendors run out of goods by 7 p.m.
"It's a huge rush," said Solotki. "It's crazy busy from 6 to 7 p.m. and people sell out."
The greenhouse has been averaging 10 to 12 vendors throughout the summer.
Mavis Jacobson and Laura Hicks, two of the vendors at the July 4 market, said sales have been good.
"I've been doing well," said Hicks, who was selling homemade bath bombs. "There's a lot of good stuff here."
Solotki said there's something of a captive audience with the greenhouse, as the facility's 200 members come there on a daily basis to water their plants. Many of them make it a point of coming during the market to get baked goods and dinner in a one-stop shop, she said.
"We were a little worried that it would just be members (of the greenhouse), and we don't want that," said Solotki. "We want this very much to be a community market, everyone welcome. We've noticed a real mix of people coming."
She said it feels like the change of venue has worked out so far. Still, there has been some outcry in the community about the lack of the traditional Saturday Arctic Market in the park.
Jackie Challis brought that issue to council this week and hoped to meet with town staff to reinstitute the Saturday markets.
Solotki was also at the council meeting on Monday, and she said the greenhouse supports the Saturday market as well and wants to be part of the discussions.
Mayor Jim McDonald confirmed that the town would be looking to bring back the Saturday market.
Greenhouse vies for prize
The Inuvik Community Greenhouse could win up to $20,000 if enough people vote for it in a Tangerine contest ending July 26.
The greenhouse is one of a number of community projects in the country up for a cash prize in the company's #Tangerine20 contest.
Solotki said because the greenhouse is a non-profit, every little bit helps.
"When we apply for funding through the government, it always has to be slated for certain things, so it would be nice to get something we could use for whatever comes up," she said.
Potential ideas include turning an old shipping container into a chicken coop, extra programming and addressing repair and maintenance issues in the greenhouse.
Solotki said Emily Mann, greenhouse co-ordinator, found out about the contest. Asked if that meant Mann would split the $20,000 prize should it be won, Solotki said no.
"It all goes to the greenhouse," she laughed. "For her, it would mean probably getting some project she wants to do."
To find out more or vote for the greenhouse, visit Tangerine's website.
