Farmers’ market draws candidates, leaders

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This article was published 15/08/2025 (263 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DELEAU — Lines of tables with homegrown veggies, baked pies and pastries, and the smell of burgers in the air took over the Deleau Centennial Park on Thursday evening.

About 500 people packed the park on the east side of town for the Deleau Farmers’ Market.

Among the hundreds of community members, tourists and vendors, were the premier, opposition leader and all three candidates of the upcoming byelection in Spruce Woods, as parties continue to gather as much support as possible before polls open.

“This is a great community event with a lot of people,” Premier Wab Kinew said as he spent most of the evening talking with community members.

“We’re campaigning with (NDP candidate Ray Berthelette) and just wanted to come talk to folks here at the Deleau Farmers’ Market. And I’m glad we came, because it’s a beautiful evening, great food, a lot of laughs.”

The annual event, which has been going on for about 13 years according to organizer Scott Phillips, has always been a huge success.

“There’s (just shy of 30) vendors, that’s huge. This is one of the largest outdoor farmers’ markets in western Manitoba. And we’re so proud of our park,” said Phillips, who is also one of the Ward 2 councillors for the RM of Sifton.

The gate and vendor fee collected during the event is going toward upkeep and upgrades at the park. Those include spraying dead trees because of a bug infestation and eventually adding additional campsites.

He said the large turnout is great for the small community.

“It’s huge for us,” he said. “Everyone’s here, and Mother Nature helped us out.”

One vendor at the event who was selling pies, butter tarts, sticky buns, cheesecake crumbles and carrot cakes among other things, said the Deleau market is new to her, but is a good place to set up.

“It’s pretty good, I think we’re about half sold,” Tesa Steinke said about 45 minutes into the two-hour event.

Steinke, along with her mom, often sets up tables at markets in Souris, and were recommended to do the same in Deleau this year.

“Souris markets have been a bit slower this year, so we’re like, ‘let’s try Deleau and see if we sell out,’” Steinke said. “And people that know us and our baking come to us right away. So that’s always a nice compliment.”

Another vendor said it’s also his first time at the market, and he’s getting a lot of interest on his hand-turned and carved wooden products like spinning tops, walking sticks and jewelry.

“It’s been pretty good, really nice people and lots of interest,” said David Smith.

Smith goes to markets around the area, including recently in Deloraine, Boissevain and Lake Metigoshe, and future stops in Souris and Killarney.

He said he sees a lot of interest selling items around the area, especially to Americans.

“This year has been really good,” Smith said. “We have lots of American tourists, and lots of people travelling through the area from Manitoba and from other provinces as well.”

Gail Barre was among the hundreds of people to make the trip to buy food from vendors. She bought a variety of items, including beets, carrots, saskatoon pie and succulents.

“It’s a great market, it has a little bit of everything,” she said while on her way to grab a smokie from a food truck.

Progressive Conservative candidate Colleen Robbins said she comes to the market every year as she lives in nearby Souris.

“It’s wonderful, it brings people together and it gives people the opportunity to show their goods and their gardens and little market,” she said after buying cucumbers.

Robbins spent most of the evening talking with people beside PC Leader Obby Khan, who himself bought a chocolate zucchini cake, among other things.

“It’s important to always connect with community. Whenever you get a chance to connect with community, is the most important thing,” Khan said. “I’m more than happy to come out and see and meet the people here, it’s great.”

Khan drew upon his past as a player for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, signing cards for kids and striking up conversations about the team.

Liberal candidate Stephen Reid, who came with his wife and son, walked table to table talking with people as well.

Reid said going to events around the riding like this one is a great way to meet people.

“I want to get into the community and see as many people as I can and shake as many hands as I can,” he said. “The community spirit is so huge here, so it’s great.”

NDP candidate Ray Berthelette declined to comment while at the event.

On Friday, Phillips said the event drew in just shy of $1,300, describing it as a “home run” and comparing it to Joe Carter’s epic three-run walk-off homer to win the World Series in 1993.

» alambert@brandonsun.com