Dear Editor,
I personally think an indoor, community market would be a better option for Steveston than an Urban Fare-type grocery store. There are several reasons for that.
A market can become a place for inexpensive and healthy food choices. This could attract younger people to Steveston, since many high school students go to Steveston to buy lunches.
A market usually offers healthier food choices than a supermarket, which carries commercially packaged foods, while market foods are local and fresh. It could also bring more tourists. Other places in Vancouver that have community markets, such as Granville Island and Lonsdale Quay, are big tourist attractions.
It could also be simultaneously a place to eat and a place to buy groceries.
I think that a market would better fit in with Steveston’s heritage as a fishing village. An upscale supermarket would be out place in Steveston village. Having a market could give more character to the village by having it reflect on Steveston’s fishing heritage.
Also, having a local indoor market would attract a variety of local vendors which is better for the community, while an up-scale super market would be benefiting just one company. Vendors from the seasonal artisan or farmer markets could set up permanent shops in the market.
Of course, the best option for Steveston would be the one chosen by the community, and for that a more detailed research will be needed.
Claudia Makhanko-Tang
Richmond
