Put on by the town’s Knights of Columbus and the Maison de la Famille du Pontiac, the event served as a fundraiser for the two organizations while giving local artisans and entrepreneurs and opportunity expose their products to the community at large.

Spread out in a square pattern inside the hall, over a dozen vendors sold a plethora of locally-crafted commodities, ranging from homemade body care products to jewellery and Indigenous artwork.

At their kiosk, the Maison de la Famille du Pontiac raffled off a number of products, including 50/50 tickets, artisanal goods designed by members of the organization and a festive woven basket filled with products donated by each of the vendors at the event as well as other donators.

With around 25 kids attending the event, volunteers set up a number of games at the back of the building, to keep the little ones occupied as their parents sought out the best deals on the market.

Hungry attendees kept their appetites satisfied, as Knights of Columbus members sold greasy snacks from canteen inside the hall. All the money raised from food and beverage sales went back to the Knights of Columbus, according to the Maison de la Famille du Pontiac’s new Director Lisa Danis

In total, draws held by Maison de la Famille Pontiac raised around $980, which will be used to purchase a smartboard for their facility in Fort Coulonge, according to the event’s main organizer, an intervener with the Maison de la Famille du Pontiac, Sylvie Mohs.

Mohs explained that the first edition of the flea market came as a biproduct of her frustration with the lack of flea markets in her area.

“I don’t understand why there aren’t any during the summer,” she said.

After the Knights of Columbus’ traditional summer event Village en Fête got cancelled due to this year’s floods, Mohs jumped on the opportunity to reach out to the organization with intentions of teaming up on a fundraising initiative.

When she proposed the idea to the organization, they didn’t hesitate to accept the offer and hop on board, Mohs said.

Holding a kiosk of her own at the event, Mohs noted that she and many of the other of the artisans regularly set up shop at flea markets around the region and surrounding areas.

However, there was something more meaningful about running her own in her hometown, Mohs said.

“This one is our baby,” she said. “As a local artisan I’m happy, because I get to sell my stuff too.”

With around 20 volunteers helping coordinate the event, Mohs was very grateful for the effort and dedication they put in to make sure everything went as planned.

Having been with the Maison de la Famille du Pontiac for over 20 years, Mohs couldn’t undermine their constant support as the backbone to the success of the organization’s activities and events.

“They all work so hard,” she said. “They’ve always helped me.”

Drawing in impressive crowds in its first edition, Mohs looks forward to organizing the event for next year. Plus, since the hall can accommodate up to 25 kiosks, she hopes that the market can eventually become a household event in the town.

“We want it to become a family thing,” she said. “Even the one in Luskville started really small. Our goal is that this becomes big and something that’s really viable.”

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