Local, Local, Local: The Market at the Western Fair

These days, with growing economic pressures both at home and on the national scale, shopping locally is more important than ever. Right in the heart of Old East Village, the Market at Western Fair District puts a focus on connecting with its community. “77% of everything you can get here is made right here in the Market and the balance is all locally sourced,” says Carole Sceli, the Business Development Manager at the Market. “It has over 100 permanent and pop-up shops, all locally owned, all unique, all pretty much one of a kind.” 

Located in the historic Confederation Building in the Western Fair District, the building was built in 1927 and has been used as a market since the early 2000s. “The Confederation buildings original purpose was to bring the agricultural community together, a place for them to meet and do business as well as celebrate during the annual Western Fair. It was used a lot like a convention center 100 years ago,” Sceli says. “This building was built for people to come together, for community events, to have business dealings, where they could essentially exchange ideas, goods and services.” The first floor of the market is home to local food producers, bakers, butchers, and chefs, while the second floor is made up of artisans, award winning designers & artists, who use the Market as a place to make and sell their wares.

For over 10 years, the Market at Western Fair District has been voted London’s Best Farmer’s Market, as well as holding a platinum status with Community Votes London. That praise is warranted; the market makes sure that everything it has to offer is high quality and locally made. “When you talk about the local shop owners here too, they employ people who live locally, who walk to work from this area, and there's a lot of pride for the people that work here. That’s what our shoppers want,” Sceli says. The passion that shop owners take in their work at the Market is reflected by the people that shop there; people come from all over the region, from Hamilton to Windsor to take a stroll through the Market. 

As for its place in the wider community of Old East Village, the Market at the Western Fair wants people to come and enjoy the whole area, not just the market. “We are the sum of our parts. That's what makes us so great, is this community of shops, services, not for profits, all together in this beautiful area that has challenges, but we see the best.” Sceli says. She adds that with the Market’s ample free parking, any weekend market visit is a great chance to go see what OEV has to offer in addition to the market. “Come and stay, walk around, eat great food, there's great people.”

So what’s in the future for the Market? Obviously, the Market needs to be sustainable with business owners finding success within the historic building, but more than that, the Market is a community hub. Over 45 community groups, from the arts to service organizations, used the market as a gathering space last year, with Sceli saying the Market is always open to hosting more. “There's a lot of barriers for them to be in the community, so we're really proud that we can give them the space.”

The Market at Western Fair District is open Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. & Sundays 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

📍 900 King Street

☎️ (519) 800-3831 

🌐 www.themarketwfd.com