Connor Lalande
Chapeau June 9, 2023
The Chapeau Agricultural Society is expecting the last of the needed permits for its much-anticipated market building to be approved in the coming weeks.
The concept for an indoor market venue in Chapeau has been in the works since 2019. Allowing the market to function in all weather conditions and providing a space for educational initiatives, the building will be the culmination of years of fundraising and advocacy work by the . . .
Chapeau Agricultural Society.
Gene O’Brien, President of the Chapeau Agricultural Society, credits funding from CISSO, Economic Development Canada, Desjardins GoodSpark Fund and the MRC Pontiac for making the new market building a possibility.
“Our market is essentially an incubator for small business,” O’Brien said. “We’re farmers. I felt that because we didn’t have the agricultural fairs anymore there wasn’t as much support for the small farmer. We have people moving here from all over and getting into farming. The market allows the small farmer to make a business out of it.”
The new building is set to be constructed next to Harrington Community Hall on Pembroke Street in Chapeau.
Michael Matischuk, owner and operator of Matches Seeds, says he is excited at the prospect of the new building as he expects it to be beneficial to his business. Matches Seeds is a seed store and garden centre on Allumettes Island that regularly attends the Chapeau Market to showcase and sell products.
“Having a building will be great,” Matischuk said. “People will be inside and feel a bit more secure when it is raining or cold, so they will come out to the market even more. I think it will be good for the market’s vendors and for the community.”
According to O’Brien, a date for the ground-breaking ceremony for the new building will be announced soon.
