The GOODS from River Market

New Westminster, BC | As the fourth year of New West’s ONE Prize community grant program gets underway, it’s clear that it truly is a gift that keeps on giving. Applications are now open for the fourth year of ONE Prize; the hunt is once again underway for innovative, community-based projects.

“Many of the projects kick-started by the ONE Prize have continued to enrich community life beyond their initial pilot,” explains River Market’s ONE project lead Leslie Shieh. As examples, she points to PopLuck, a series of pop-up potluck picnics, and So Are We Creative, a community event collective, both funded in year one and both still growing.” Amongst the winners are ArtStarts and the Festival of Trees, both of which brought wonderful children’s programming and have received additional sources of funding. “It shows that given seed money and support, a great idea and commitment to one’s community can really have an impact,” says Shieh.

Last year, 19 outstanding projects were submitted to ONE Prize. The winners last year included Hammer and Saw, an organization founded by two technical education teachers who are committed to empowering youths through skills training and community engagement. Seniors Out N’ About is a program by the Seniors Services Society that prevents senior isolation in our community through organized outings. Seniors to the Market Shuttle Program, proposed by the Royal City Farmers Market, provides seniors door to door services to the Farmer’s Market to engage with local farmers and to shop for local produce.

Donald’s Market and River Market launched ONE Prize in 2012 as a community fund for New Westminster. When ONE members shop at Donald’s Market, the grocery store contributes 1% of every dollar spent to the ONE Prize fund. The winners are decided by members who vote for their favourite projects from a shortlist of submitted proposals. Projects can be big or small, but must contribute positively to living, working, or playing in New Westminster.

For 2015, ONE members have collectively raised $6,000 for the ONE Prize. Three projects will be awarded $2,000 each. The project group can be a non-profit organization, a for-profit enterprise, a community group, or an individual. The aim of ONE Prize is to kick start new projects or strengthen existing ones, rather than to fund a group’s ongoing operating costs.

Donald’s Market general manager Eric Siu says it’s a simple idea based on the power of community. “It’s about investing in our own backyard. Through ONE Prize, we can support local projects that contribute to the place where we all live and work.”

Project proposals are submitted online. The deadline for submission is March 22, 2015. Please visit www.rivermarket.ca/oneprize for more information and the submission form. After receiving submissions, River Market and Donald’s Market will shortlist the projects and ask ONE members to vote. Prizes will be announced in early May 2015.

To contribute to the ONE Prize fund, shoppers can sign up for membership through a Donald’s Market cashier at River Market. Members also benefit from ONE Perks: discounts at River Market restaurants, shops, schools and businesses. Get more information at http://rivermarket.ca/one.

DETAILS

810 Quayside Dr. | New Westminster, B.C. | V3M 6B9
Telephone: 604-520-3881
Web: www.rivermarket.ca | Facebook | Twitter

GALLERY

THE PEOPLE

Mark Shieh: Director
Mia Ciric: General Manager
Deana Lancaster: Marketing Manager
Kiran Rai Office: Administrator
Jennifer Lee: Graphic Designer
Leslie Shieh: Project Planner

ABOUT RIVER MARKET

When faced with the task of revitalizing the Westminster Quay Public Market back in 2008, the River Market team wondered: How to reinvent a public market without becoming a mall?

The concept — food-led revitalization centred on local, independent businesses — has proven to be successful since the market opened in November 2010. All of the tenant-partners are founded in the Lower Mainland, if not right in the Market itself. The innovative approach unites people around the activities of food, its emphasis on cultural and communal activities helps distinguish the Market from other retail outlets, and a customer loyalty program reinvests 1% of money spent at River Market into grassroots projects in New Westminster.
The Market’s food precinct, based on a unique “Food 360” vision, celebrates the full circle of food. At River Market, you can grow herbs in edible garden plots, shop for organic produce in Donald’s flagship store or at the Royal City Farmers’ Market, participate in cooking classes, share meals in restaurants and cafes, and enjoy food festivals. The 360 degrees is completed with a Market-wide composting program.

In addition to food for your body on the first floor, River Market feeds your curiosity on the second floor with an Artisan Market, Music Box Music School, The Network Hub and the Vancouver Circus School. The Market plays host to events such as workshops and speakers’ series, to engage and educate the public on a variety of subjects.

The goal is to help strengthen the links between residents and local businesses, and with the local food system.