The Mountjoy Farmers Market is halfway to its fundraising goal of $120,000 to build a pavilion at its new, permanent location on Riverside Drive.
On Saturday morning during the second market of the year, Newmont Goldcorp Porcupine presented a $25,000 cheque to Porcupine District Agricultural Society president Rock Whissell and market board members.
Representing Newmont Goldcorp was community relations coordinator Pierre Noel (no-ELL).
“We’re really big on supporting the community initiatives in town here,” explained Newmont Goldcorp community relations coordinator Pierre Noel. “Sustainability is one of our pillars as well, and anywhere and anytime we can support a multi-use facility like this one for the community, we’ll definitely help where we can.”
When not being used for the market, the 60 ft. x 100 ft. pavilion will be available for school picnics, weddings and all kinds of community events.
Construction is expected to start after the final market of the year, Thanksgiving weekend.
The market has already operated twice this season, under tents. Chairman Garnet Wilcox says so far so good in its new, permanent location.
“We are early in the season,” he notes, “so as more produce becomes available, then we’ll have more vegetables and more traffic in the market for that as well.”