seeking vendors

Do you sell homegrown, handmade or locally created products in the Port Hawkesbury area?

Square Roots, a non-profit organization that provides produce at low prices, is seeking vendors at their upcoming monthly Community Market.

They decided to switch from monthly Saturdays to monthly Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre to have a larger market with more vendors.

The Community Manager Michele Tabensky says with other food vendors, people could come before, after, or for dinner and Wednesdays also coincide with a day that they can get the produce delivered.

So far, she says there are vendors bringing pre-cooked food, baked goods, woodworking, clothing, artwork, candles and honey.

Tabensky is excited that more merchants will hopefully increase guests and sales as they were struggling to stay afloat on their own after government funding got cut earlier this year.

“We’re going to have lots of goodies besides the wonderfully fresh, great priced produce. There will other market vendors there and they’re going to have an array of different foods and products that they make, so there’s could be a great variety of something for everyone,” she promotes.

She says the table fees collected from other merchants will ensure permanent funding to keep the produce program going.

“Square Roots is for everyone, so everyone is welcome to come and buy produce at the sale,” she encourages.

They are also planning to have two free tables; one for a youth vendor that’s a teenage entrepreneur, and one for a community service that’s a not-for-profit organization or group that wants to promote what they do within the community.

“It’s great that we have a market back here in Port Hawkesbury because we have a great facility for it, and we have great location for it, and we should have a market to help get that community spirit strong,” Tabensky shares.

The Town of Port Hawkesbury recently approved Port Hawkesbury Square Roots’ request to use space in the Civic Centre for free.

“I’m very appreciative and thankful for them because it just gives us that extra little bit of buffer of not having that added expense. We helped get the market established and helped keep our Square Roots program running, So we’re very happy and pleased that they were able to do that for us, and very thankful to them.”

The Town will be reviewing the market’s books after one year to see if the in-kind venue usage of the space will continue.

Council also approved to help out the Richmond Warriers Boxing Club by donating half of the rental cost for their event on June 20 at the Civic Centre.

The 2026 Community Market dates are set for:

• June 3
• July 2
• August 5
• September 2
• October 7
• November 4 and 18
• December 2 and 16

If you are interested in applying to be a vendor, you can complete the registration form.