Where It All Began: A Parking Lot and a Dream
This blog post is the first in a four-part series celebrating 30 years of Vancouver Farmers Markets. Over the next few months, we’ll take you through the key phases of our journey—from a single grassroots gathering in East Vancouver to a citywide movement shaping food access, policy, and community resilience.
Each post will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the milestones, market openings, civic partnerships, and bold ideas that helped build one of Canada’s most vibrant local food networks.
We begin, of course, at the very beginning
In the spring of 1995, a small group of East Vancouver residents gathered in Cedar Cottage with an idea that would quietly, then boldly, change the city: what if people could buy local food directly from the people who grew it—right in their neighborhood?
The result was a few umbrellas and tables in a parking lot, a handful of farmers, and a simple idea—connect people to their food
Opening day was a gala event, and the beginning of a new neighbourhood tradition. Approximately 500 people attended the first day. The vendors included eight farmers and fourteen craft vendors. There was space for community groups to share their projects, backyard gardeners to sell their extra produce, and local musicians to busk.
At first, some farmers were skeptical. Would people really show up for this kind of market? But word spread quickly after that opening Saturday. Twice as many farmers came the next week. That first season ran for 11 weeks. Prepared foods were introduced halfway through. Sales reached nearly $40,000, and weekly attendance grew to 800–1,200 people. The community loved it—and made it clear they didn’t want it to end.
There were signs of what was to come
“The following year, the market grew rapidly. With the help of a $20,000 grant from VanCity’s Community Economic Development fund, the first paid market manager was recruited. That year also saw the launch of seasonal cooking demonstrations, nutrition tours, and even a salsa-making contest, which became an annual favourite. A Toy Exchange was created to encourage reuse and family connection. Volunteers increasingly pitched in, helping with set-up and supporting vendors.” – From a report published in December 1999
By 1997, the market had secured a location at the Trout Lake Community Centre parking lot. That year, VFM also held its first Winter Market at Heritage Hall, drawing around 1,000 people for some last-minute holiday shopping. It became an annual tradition that continued for a few years.
In 1998, the momentum took a big leap. That summer, with support from VanCity and the VanDusen Fund, the market team tested a West End market at Lord Roberts Elementary School. The staff and principal welcomed the initiative, and from July to Thanksgiving, the West End Market offered a vibrant new connection point for downtown residents. That same year, customer traffic at Trout Lake surged, with weekly attendance reaching 2,000 to 5,000 people and total season sales hitting $414,799.
What started as a small, hopeful experiment had quickly become a thriving community institution—one shaped by neighbours, nurtured by local farmers, and loved by thousands.
In next month’s blog, we’ll explore the 2000s—when farmers markets multiplied across the city and began shaping Vancouver’s food policy from the ground up.
