Almonte spring market highlights Ottawa Valley's entrepreneurship
The Almonte community centre was packed with 106 local vendors Saturday for the 14th annual Cheerfully Made spring market.
- Sign up now for our daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
The market has become known as a showcase for small businesses in the National Capital Region, with about 2,000 people expected to flock to the small town event.
"It's a great chance for us to introduce some new people to Almonte because we really are so accessible to the city,” said Emily Arbour, owner of Cheerfully Made located in downtown Almonte, and organizer of the spring market.
The range of locally made products includes bath and beauty, fashion, food, home decor, kids toys, artwork, and more.
Arbour says businesses from as far as Montreal and Toronto make the journey to Almonte to set up a table at the market, which offers exposure to thousands of new customers.
"Actually, I haven't had anyone so far yet today that has known me,” said Meghan Patterson, owner of Blazing Bombs, a bath and body products company.
“So this is great to see a bunch of new people discovering me and hearing all the positive feedback."
Almonte's Cheerfully Made Spring Market offers the range of locally made products that includes bath and beauty, fashion, food, home décor, kids toys, artwork, and more. (Dylan Dyson/CTV News Ottawa)Carissa McCaig is the owner of Copious, an upcycled clothing company located in Kemptville. She says she has been setting up at the market for the past six years now.
"It opens [customers’] eyes to see what can be made in Canada. Lots of people maybe haven't thought about shopping that way before,” McCaig says.
"I think nowadays, so many of us are flooded with advertisements or different shops that we see. There are big brands and a day like this really shows that there is local entrepreneurs out there every day making a living with Made in Canada options."
Market goer Katrina Cotten made the trip from Ottawa to seek out local vendors.
"It's really nice to be able to talk to the actual makers themselves versus just buying it from a store where you maybe don't get to meet them and hear about what they do, and how they came to create their business,” she said.
Arbour says the turnout and variety of businesses points to the fact that the eastern Ontario region is full of creative entrepreneurs.
"Ottawa has this reputation for being a government town; kind of a drier, maybe less creative. And that's not my experience at all," Arbour said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
With DNA break, police ID victim in decades-old Newfoundland case
A skull was found along a backroad near St. John's more than 20 years ago. Now, police have finally identified the victim of the homicide.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Infant dies in ATV crash, N.S. RCMP says alcohol may be a factor
An infant has died and three others, including another child, were taken to hospital following an ATV crash in Forties, N.S., on Monday.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's housing plan defeated in House of Commons
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's housing bill has been defeated in the House of Commons with the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois voting against the legislation.