Old fire hall site chosen as new interim location for Port Moody Farmers Market

The Port Moody Farmers Market has found new digs, though a permanent place to plant its roots will have to wait.

City council has unanimously approved a plan to relocate the market to the old fire hall site as a medium-term solution.

The decision, made at the March 31 meeting, follows months of behind-the-scenes work by staff and council to find an alternative location as mounting parking pressures and competing uses at the Civic Centre forced the market out of its long-time home.

“I’m so happy that it’s a solution that not only the Farmers Market folks themselves support, but also the community at large and staff,” said Mayor Meghan Lahti. “It is a concern that at some point we will be looking for another location, but I don’t think that time is going to come any time soon.”

The Grow Local Society, which operates the market, was informed last August it would need to vacate the recreation centre parking lot – ending an 18-year run at the site – due to increasing demand for parking tied to the library, sports facilities and other programming.

At the time, organizers warned the market’s future in Port Moody was uncertain, citing the difficulty of finding a space large enough to accommodate up to 60 to 70 vendors and as many as 2,000 weekly visitors during the winter season.

City staff ultimately recommended the old fire hall site after reviewing multiple options across the city, citing its proximity to transit, walkability, access to washrooms and parking, and ability to meet the market’s operational needs.

The plan includes a $90,000 investment to convert the existing grass area to packed gravel and installing safety barriers, allowing the site to host both the winter and summer markets while also supporting other uses such as a temporary basketball court.

Coun. Samantha Agtarap described the move as a strong outcome after a lengthy process.

“This has been a long process to get here,” she said. “The fire hall site . . . is a great compromise, and it’s not really much of a compromise because the farmers market is also supportive of moving there.”

She added the relocation will help “activate that corner” of the city and improve visibility for the market along a busy corridor near Newport Village.

Council members repeatedly emphasized the move is not permanent, but a necessary step to keep the market in the Civic Centre area while longer-term solutions are explored.

Coun. Kyla Knowles acknowledged concerns from residents who feared the market could be displaced, noting council had been working on a solution for months after the issue surfaced publicly.

“It’s hard when you think something that is so beloved in our community is in jeopardy,” she said. “But I assure you . . . we were working very hard to find a solution that was going to work for everybody.”

Knowles also defended the use of public funds to support private businesses, stating the market supports primarily local Tri-Cities vendors and drives economic activity in the city.

“It brings so much economic opportunity,” she said. “Any way we can bring visitors to Port Moody . . . is something that we should do.”

Mayor Meghan Lahti echoed that sentiment, noting the market will remain at its current recreation centre location through the upcoming season before transitioning later in the fall.

Several councillors highlighted the broader social and economic role the market plays in the community, from supporting small businesses to promoting food security and education programs.

Coun. Amy Lubik pointed to its expansion during the pandemic and its continued importance as a year-round gathering place.

“The return on investment that we get from our farmers market is incredible,” she said.

Coun. Diana Dilworth described the market as a key community hub, drawing hundreds of people from surrounding neighbourhoods each week.

“I can literally sit in my home and watch literally hundreds of people walk from Klahanie, from Suter Brook Village, from Newport Village to gather down at the farmers market,” Dilworth said. “And it’s not just a place to pick up food. One email from a resident said it was a place they go to chat and meet with the neighbours.”

Coun. Callan Morrison said the new location could increase attendance due to improved visibility at one of the city’s busiest intersections.

“I truly felt like there was never going to be a risk of it leaving the Inlet Centre precinct,” he said. “I also recognize the importance of the location where it is, because we are in the highest density area of the city. There’s so many people . . . that walk to the market and take their families out.”

Staff noted the old fire hall site could also provide future benefits, including potential overflow parking and revenue opportunities, while maintaining the market’s central location within the city’s highest-density area.

For now, council members stressed the importance of managing expectations, warning that another relocation may eventually be needed as the city continues long-term planning for the site and surrounding area.