In years past, the opening of the outdoor farmers markets downtown signaled the beginning of summer, the early morning trip down to Third and George, the stroll along George to Sixth Avenue.
With markets in two different locations yet in close proximity it made for a very pleasant shopping experience. Finally a positive step taken to encourage folk to come downtown even if was only a part of just one day a week and it was a start to becoming a tradition. And lots of people came! That whole area became a gathering place: walking along George from one market to the next, meeting up with the same people each week, making new friends and passing along a tip about which vender still has eggs, passing buskers and chatting with a shop keeper or two. A stop at the halfway point - a wonderful pastry shop - the perfect place to pop in, sit. down and over a mug of fresh coffee (with one refill) and one of their delicious pastries to visit with one's "Saturday friends."
Two or three months ago you printed an excellent letter which contained the comment "...having the two markets bookend, it was nothing short of miraculous for downtown... I'm sure the downtown merchants will attest to this..."
So what on Earth was the city thinking by forcing Wilson Square Market out?
Noticed recently the odd Citizen columnist pointing out the need for more reasons for folk to go downtown and the RCMP's stats on a problem area and the city's dilemma over what to do about it. Here we had a great beginning by bringing crowds of people to that very area, which was good for the citizens who actually live around that area to see a different kind of activity and for the shoppers, some of whom fear that part of town for whatever reason, to interact with one another.
There are way more vendors at Pine Centre Market now but the ambience and familiarity of the Wilson Square Market is gone and with no other market destination along George Street, market day will likely be an either/or: Sixth Avenue or Pine Centre.
And this doesn't even consider tourists who stay in downtown hotels.
Having met and visited with a few over coffee in the pastry shop, they spoke of the charm and uniqueness of our dual markets.
It looks like City Hall took care of that uniqueness.
Joan McKay, Prince George
