You may have read an article in the PQB News regarding an event scholarship we received to help with some of the costs of organizing the CHRISTMAS NIGHT MARKET event scheduled for Friday, December 5th, 2025 from 4:30 PM until 8:30 PM. We are working to clarify some information from that article and have sent a letter to both the journalist and the PQB News editor.

A bit of an explanation regarding the Qualicum Beach Farmers Market.  The QBFM is a registered non-profit organization focused on promoting local agriculture and food security. Our operational structure consists of 70% farm and food vendors and 30% artisan vendors, as outlined in our Bylaws, with a priority on local Vancouver Island food.

As a non-profit, we strive to keep vendor fees low, with minimal or no increases, allowing our small local businesses to focus on growth and expansion. Our artisan vendors play a crucial role in adding variety and ensuring our market remains open during the off-season, helping us serve our community, attract visitors, and make a year-round economic impact.

We are grateful for all our visitors, whether you come weekly, occasionally, or while on vacation. This Christmas Night Market would not be possible without our dedicated vendors, local businesses that recognize the value of our contributions to the community, volunteers, and the support of the Town of Qualicum Beach whether this is granting a special event licence or a event sponsorship.

Important Information:

• The Qualicum Beach Farmers Market holds a licence of occupation to operate our Saturday farmers market, we rent the community hall from mid-October through until April.
• The Town of Qualicum Beach does not provide extra staff for the Farmers Market. We operate as a self-sufficient entity, fully responsible for our setup, including barricades, signage, market equipment, and portable toilet rental. While we rent the Community Hall from the Town at the established user rate, Town staff cleaning services apply to all hall renters, not just us.
• The Town does provide water and power kiosks on Veterans Way for groups holding a license of occupation, which we utilize for five vendors’ freezers during our Saturday market.
• The Qualicum Beach Farmers Market does not receive a fee for service or funding from the Town of Qualicum Beach.  In the event that we receive a grant or scholarship from the Town of Qualicum Beach we must apply for the funding, meet all requirements, and submit all required documents.

It is also worth mentioning that Councillor Jean Young is a paid member of the QB Merchants Collective Society, raising a potential conflict of interest regarding her vote on the sponsorship, as her business benefits from these funds. The QB Merchants Collective Society collects membership fees, raising questions about how this differs from our vendor fees. Additionally, the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce receives funds as part of their Fee for Service from the Town of Qualicum Beach to host Moonlight Madness, which raises concerns about the QB Merchants Collective Society seeking additional sponsorship when the Chamber is already receiving funding for the event.

The motion for sponsorship passed with a vote of 4 to 1, with Councillor Young being the only dissenting vote. Mayor Westbroek did originally second the motion made by Councillor Young, stating that “the market appears to be doing well,” and ultimately voted in favour of the sponsorship to all five applicants.  If you are curious about the discussion please watch the Wednesday, September 17th Town Council meeting as the PQB News article is a bit confusing.

While the Farmers Market does collect fees, it’s important to clarify that the Christmas Night Market operates separately from the annual Saturday market budget, categorized as a “special event.” Unlike the downtown core, which is beautifully decorated with Christmas lights by Town staff, we start with a blank street only minimally lit by two street lights. It is our responsibility to transform Veterans Way into a vibrant community event.

The Christmas Night Market incurs significant expenses, including hall rental, generator costs (which may require an electrical permit and electrician), lighting, heaters, Santa, music, insurance, an entertainment license, scavenger hunt prizes, and more. The Qualicum Beach Farmers Market submitted an application for sponsorship that included a detailed budget and met all eligibility criteria. After the event, we are required to submit eligible receipts and a final report to receive reimbursement from the sponsorship funds.

Additionally, Town staff assist the QB Chamber of Commerce and the QB Merchants Collective Society with signage, barricades, and garbage management, while the Farmers Market is solely responsible for these aspects.

We moved the date of our Night Market this year due to feedback from some merchants regarding our previous alignment with Moonlight Madness. Consequently, our Christmas Night Market is no longer called the Moonlight Madness Night Market. We were proud to receive the 2025 PQB Readers’ Choice Award for Best Community Event for the Moonlight Madness Night Market in the past.

I would like to address the perception that this situation is becoming an “us against them” scenario among some merchants. We live in a fantastic community, and it is essential to celebrate our successes with community events that bring people from near and far together to showcase our charming village.

The Farmers Market has been a vital part of our community for nearly 29 years. In 2023 alone, we generated an economic impact of $8.4 million and attracted over 156,000 visitors to our village. This demonstrates the significant benefits that a weekly Farmers Market, operating for 3.5 hours each week, brings to our community.

It is important to foster collaboration and support among all local businesses and community members as we work together to enhance our vibrant community.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to celebrating with you!