Global Market a familiar part of Brandon’s new normal

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This article was published 07/06/2020 (2190 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Even though the weather was less than ideal, vendors and customers alike were happy that the Community Health and Housing Association’s Global Market was able to return to downtown Brandon this past Saturday.

The inaugural sale of the season featured approximately a half-dozen Westman entrepreneurs who, just like in previous years, used this open-air venue to sell their homemade food, clothing, artwork and other personalized items directly to the public.

Outside of some rain, the only other element that put a slight damper on the proceedings was the noticeable safety precautions put in place because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

While the Manitoba government has been loosening public gathering restrictions as of late, the maximum capacity for outdoor events is still capped at 50 people.

To fall in line with these regulations, local organizers made sure to put up plenty of warning signs on Saturday and rearranged the market’s layout to help maintain social distancing.

Now, the area only features a single entrance and exit, with the east side of the market being boarded up.

“It was a little bit difficult setting up this morning,” said vendor Don Burnett, who spent the day selling vintage T-shirts. “Everything’s blocked off, and you don’t have access, so you’ve got to basically throw your stuff over the side and do it that way.”

However, despite these minor complications, Saturday’s Global Market was still able to maintain an affable atmosphere for customers and provide a public platform for first-time vendors such as Melissa Henry.

The local artist told the Sun that she used her time in quarantine to learn fluid art, which involves pouring acrylic paint on a canvas to create psychedelic pieces that are impossible to replicate.

While Henry has already been selling her work online under the label “Domesticated Neurotic Art,” she said it’s important now more than ever to utilize venues such as the Global Market if given the chance, especially in light of all the economic uncertainty brought about by coronavirus outbreak.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen or what’s going to come in the future, so I think being self-sufficient and making your own income is important right now,” she said. “So having multiple outlets to do so is the best way to go.”

Meanwhile, repeat vendor Leo Demers is using the market to give out more than just his preserves and homegrown vegetables. He said it’s also the perfect location to reconnect with people and share a comforting word, which is a highly sought after commodity amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re all under a little bit of pressure right now, we can’t deny that,” he said. “So I think you have to have an uplifting, positive attitude with everyone you meet.”

Despite the slightly unorthodox nature of their seasonal debut, organizer Erin Coleman said the CHHA’s Global Market is going to maintain its traditional schedule moving forward, running every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

While this summer could be full of surprises, given the unpredictable nature of the coronavirus, Coleman was just happy they got the green light to reopen at all, since she’s been helping build the Global Market throughout the last decade.

“We’ve been here for 10 years and we’re really proud of the space that we’ve created,” she said. “It really is a community, family gathering space. All the vendors are amazing and it’s so grassroots and laid back.”

To book a booth at this year’s Global Market, contact Coleman at 204-726-8865 or erin.chha@gmail.com.

 

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