New West Farmers Market

You are here: Home / Archives for NWFM News

We’re Hiring an Assistant Market Manager!

September 13, 2023 By Lily Nichol Leave a Comment

We’re hiring for an Assistant Market Manager!

New West Farmers Market Society is a fun and community-centred organization that operates a Thursday farmers market from March to November and a Holiday Market in December around New West City Hall. We focus on environmentally sustainable food production by bringing locally grown and produced foods to the community, thereby contributing to local economic development, healthy eating, and food security while connecting with our heritage of having a vibrant city market. We pride ourselves on creating a community hub that offers children’s programming, live music, workshops, and more alongside our local vendors.

Join our team!

POSITION TYPE: Permanent Part-time (18 hours per week), flexible office and work from home hours, mandatory Thursday markets from March to November, and Holiday Market in December. 

REMUNERATION: $25/hr and health-care spending account

PURPOSE
Reporting to the Market Manager, the primary purpose of the Market Assistant Manager is to provide administrative support for the New Westminster Farmers’ Market (NWFM) and the Market Manager, as well as attend the market each week to ensure its smooth operation. This position will also supervise volunteers, summer hires through the Canada Summer Job Grant, including recruiting, scheduling, training, and ongoing support, as well as act on the Market Manager’s behalf in their absence. This position will also manage social media and newsletters for the organization.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative Support (many duties are seasonal)

  • Create, design, write and post promotional material for social media platforms, such as posts, vendor features, and event and workshop listings
  • Assist with the maintenance of NWFM’s website and social media platforms
  • Composes and distribute weekly market newsletter
  • Assist with invoicing of market vendors
  • Assist with the planning and execution of the market
  • Organize activities and educational initiatives to be held at the market and beyond
  • Develop, plan, and implement special events and workshops
  • Assist with coordinating and recruiting weekly entertainers and community groups
  • Manage the volunteer program
  • Manage membership program
  • Assist with fulfilling supply needs for the market, including but not limited to, market materials, workshop supplies, and other items, as needed
  • Assist with end-of-season market wind down, clean-up, and reconciliation
  • Assist with hiring of summer students and/or practicum students, as needed
  • Assist with planning and executing Holiday Market in December
  • In the absence of the Market Manager, act as the point of contact for City of New Westminster and emergency personnel and oversee market operations
  • In the absence of the Market Manager, become Acting Manager at the Market on Thursdays
  • Other duties as they arise

 

Market Days

  • Between March and November, attend weekly markets (approximately 12:30 to 8:30 pm)
  • Attend Holiday Market, one weekend in December (approximately 7:30am-5:30pm)
  • Oversee the timely and safe set-up and take-down of all market materials, including but not limited to signage, tents, tables, chairs, garbage cans, and decorative items
  • Support vendors with timely and safe set-up and take-down of their stalls
  • Supervise on-site volunteers/summer students/practicum students, including assigning roles, training, and providing ongoing guidance and support
  • Manage community groups and entertainers
  • Respond to public, vendor, and volunteer/summer student/practicum student inquiries and concerns in a positive manner, directing them to the Market Manager as needed
  • Provide information to shoppers and vendors on food advocacy, market operations, and membership
  • Process membership fees, market-money, and other purchases
  • Oversee market-day data collection, including customer counts

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Minimum of one (1) year of experience in event planning, social media, or related field
  • Combination of relevant experience, education, and training will be considered
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work with the community in a social setting
  • Ability to work outside in all weather conditions
  • Ability to lift up to 55lbs (25kg)
  • Proven time management skills and ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and work with minimal supervision
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing
  • Proven ability to utilize, adapt and embrace technologies, including Quickbooks, Google Suite, Canva, Mailerlite, web and social media platforms, and other database/software required by the role
  • Experience and/or an interest in the local food movement, food security, and community, an asset
  • Familiarity with New Westminster, an asset
  • Experience or familiarity with the not-for-profit sector, an asset

OTHER COMMENTS

  • Other duties may be assigned as needed to help ensure the efficient operation of the New Westminster Farmers Market.
  • There may be a need to attend community festivals and events which may require work and travel outside of the regular position hours.
  • No criminal record.
  • Valid BC Class 5 Driver’s license and access to a reliable personal vehicle for work purposes would be an asset.

WHEN AND HOW TO APPLY

Deadline: 4pm Friday, September 29th, 2023

Please send a cover letter and resume (in PDF format) with the subject line “Assistant Market Manager Application” to info@newwestfarmers.ca 

Please note that interviews may be conducted during the recruitment period and only candidates invited for an interview will be contacted. NWFM is committed to be an equitable and inclusive employer with our hiring practices and organizational culture. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds, communities and lived experiences to apply. Thank you very much for your interest in New West Farmers Market.

Filed Under: Blog, Community, New Westminster, NWFM News, Winter Market Tagged With: hiring, job, job posting, market assistant

Pie for Pride 2023!

July 31, 2023 By Lily Nichol Leave a Comment

Join New West Farmers Market on August 17th at 5:30pm for Pie for Pride!

This beloved community pie baking competition is back with a panel of local judges who will determine New West’s Best Pie of 2023.

Think your favourite pie recipe has what it takes to compete for the title? Enter your pie and review the rules here.

Prefer to be a spectator for this sport? Swing by NWFM on August 17th to watch pies being judged (starting at 5:30pm) and then grab a slice (or a few slices!) by donation to New West Pride. This competition is fierce!

Expect to laugh, cry, and eat pie! Only on August 17th at the New West Farmers Market in Tipperary Park next to New West City Hall.

Filed Under: Blog, NWFM News

Season Opener Block Party

March 17, 2023 By Emily Gaudette Leave a Comment

  We are just 2 weeks away from our Season Opener Block Party! 

 

We are so excited to kick off this season in style! Join us on March 30th in Tipperary Park from 3-7pm.

  • Free cookies from Homemade By Harris for the first 100 guests!
  • 3:30- Opening remarks from Stacey Ferguson from QayQayt First Nation and City Councillor Tasha Henderson
  • 4:00 and 5:00- Tot and Mini Music Classes with Music Box
  • 4:00-6:00- Face Painting and balloons from Michelle’s Cheeky Face Painting
  • Live music from Sue Breton
  • A human statue!
  • Lawn games and a craft table
  • Member Appreciation Day deals!
  • Food Trucks- Bread and Cheese and Crema Ice Cream and Desserts (find them on Queens Ave)
  • Enter our Instagram contest by tagging @newwestfarmers in your Market Haul pics for your chance to win $20 in Market Money!

Don’t miss out on this awesome event. Come welcome back all your favourite vendors and discover new ones too!

Our market will run every Thursday until November 2nd.

Can’t wait to see you all again soon!

Filed Under: Blog, NWFM News

2023 Season Vendor Update

January 12, 2023 By Lily Nichol Leave a Comment

As we start to get ready for our 2023 season, we wanted to draw your attention to a few vendor updates.

Anne’s Kitchen/Anne’s Gallery

We are excited to announce that much loved Anne will be joining us again this season for a few dates. Anne and her husband, Michael, have been a mainstay at our market and have kept New Westminster supplied with jams, pickles, and gorgeous sweaters since we opened nearly 15 years ago. At the end of our regular season last year, Anne let us know that she was ready to retire her business. However, this was a false alarm! Anne has let us know that her winter break gave her the rest she needed and she has had so many people reach out to her to express their sadness that she has decided she is not quite ready to retire after all. Though we are just starting to get organized for our 2023 season, she has let us know that she intends to come back for a few dates. Keep an eye out!

 

Plantbase

We are very sad to share that beloved long-time vendor, Plantbase, are slowly closing their business. They’ve contributed so much to our market and community and been with us for many years. We are excited to see what the future holds for this talented team but they will be so missed at NWFM. Please make sure you reach out to them to let them know how much you love and appreciate David and his team, and buy their products to help them wind down!

Please watch this video to learn more about the closing of Plantbase and look here to see how you can support this wonderful business as they wrap up.

We reached out to David Isbister, co-owner of Plantbase, and he had a few words for New West:

It has been such joy to come to know you all over the years. New West Farmer’s Markets were my first farmers markets and remain so special to me because of the beautiful setting, the diverse communities we get to serve in some small but impactful ways, and really just all the special folks (and their non human companions) who pass through. I have truly enjoyed every minute so much. I am sure you will see me pop up some way or another in the future 😉 – so keep checking up on what I get up to and say hello any darn time. Let’s make sure it’s not goodbye!

Please support local producers, enjoy existence wherever it’s possible, and offer compassion to humans and animals. 🙂 I’ll see you all soon..or is it …tune?

David

What’soup

What’soup, owned by past chef of El Santo, Bella Almeida, is sadly closing their doors. You can see Bella’s post here about the closing of her business. Her last market will be Port Moody on January 15th (this Sunday) so make sure you go and stock up on her delicious creations. We are extremely sad to be losing Bella and her soups, but look forward to what the future has in store for this talented chef.

We reached out to Bella and she had a few words for New West:

Dear friends,

There is no easy way to say this but I am closing What’Soup. I have no words to say how much I appreciate every single one of you for all your support throughout those 2 intense, challenging and wonderful years. Being at the markets was not only a great experience as a business owner but it also gave me the chance to connect with amazing people and learn a lot from them. Closing was a very hard decision to make but the right one for this moment. I hope that you all could feel the passion and caring in every soup you tried because that’s how they were always made. Thank you, NWFM, for being such an amazing community! Hope you all have an amazing 2023 and keep supporting local! 🙂
With love, Bella Almeida.


Applications for the 2023 market will be released soon. We are excited for another season of fresh local food, but Plantbase and What’soup will be so missed. We are incredibly saddened by this loss. We hope you take the time to connect with the vendors you love and stock up on your soups and vegan foods. Make sure to continue to support local and come visit Anne! 

 

We will see you in Tipperary Park beginning March 30th, 3-7pm.

Filed Under: Blog, NWFM News

3rd Annual Holiday Market

December 5, 2022 By Emily Gaudette Leave a Comment

We’ve missed you since our regular season ended but we’ve been hard at work planning for our 3rd Annual Holiday Market!!! 

We’re excited to bring you over 90 local vendors this year including many of your usual favourites as well as a bunch of new faces! 

We’ll have 8 great food trucks for you, live music, a special performance by the Music Box, and our Sprout Club tent will have crafts and activities for kids. This market is pet friendly so bring your fur babies along too (on a leash please) 

Rain, snow, or shine- this market will be an excellent chance to shop local this Holiday season.  Whether you’re shopping for last minute gifts or looking for fresh ingredients for your Holiday Dinner, we have it all!

We will be outside New West City Hall December 10+11, from 10am-4pm
Entrance is by a recommended $5 minimum donation to be split with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

 

Can’t wait to see you there!!! 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, NWFM News

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 19
  • Next Page »

Supported By

Newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

We’re Social

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

@newwestfarmers #newwestfarmers

Search

Copyright © 2023 New West Farmers Market