Written By David Gomez, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
STRATHROY-CARADOC – Council has voted to continue operating the Downtown Strathroy Market under municipal oversight, opting to retain the popular night markets and explore new locations, including Mount Brydges.
At its September 15 meeting, councillors debated the future of the long-running community market after a staff report recommended ending the municipality’s direct involvement and issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a third party to operate it.
Community Services Director Rob Lilbourne told council that municipal staff had run the market for four seasons “with varying amounts of success,” noting ongoing challenges in attracting produce vendors. “Particularly this last year has been a challenge,” he said. “Staff do see the benefit of transitioning this back to being a community-led endeavour, such as it was prior to the municipality’s involvement after the pandemic.”
The staff report, presented during the meeting, outlined four options, the most significant being Option 4—ending the market as a municipal event while retaining night markets and issuing an RFP for an independent operator. However, after a lengthy discussion, the majority councillors rejected that approach in favour of Option 2, which maintains municipal management but introduces an advisory committee and opens the possibility of new market locations.
Councillor Steve Pelkman voiced concern that moving too quickly toward an independent model could leave the market without the structure it needs to survive. “There’s still a lot of benefits to having a market,” he said. “To throw it on a bunch of volunteers… is daunting. I think if you get some volunteers, we’ll be looking at possibly not having a market at all next year.”
He pointed to vendor recruitment as the key issue: “The securing of the vendors is why the number of people downtown have dropped. I heard it for the first four weeks— ‘Where are the produce vendors?’—and then those people didn’t come back.”
Several councillors shared that sentiment. Councillor Donna Pammer highlighted both the economic and social impacts of the market. “People want to live in a place where they feel part of a community, where they can socialize and meet people,” she said. “Although it’s not easy to put a dollar figure on that, it shouldn’t be forgotten.”
Pammer also noted that the 2025 operating cost—$19,500, largely covering wages for a summer student—is modest compared to other municipal expenditures. “We spend money on many things that don’t benefit everyone,” she said. “This is a small investment for something that’s generally well received.”
Councillor John Brennan agreed, saying he would not support ending the market. “There is an economic impact, but also the social impact is something not to be underestimated,” he said.
Others, including Councillor Brian Derbyshire, questioned whether continuing municipal support was sustainable. “We can’t keep the vendors,” he said. “Why don’t we let someone else run the market? Why are we subsidizing a market that doesn’t benefit a majority of the people here?”
The majority of councillor eventually voted in favour of Option 2, directing staff to form an advisory committee, retain the night markets, and explore expanding them to Mount Brydges.
According to data provided to council, the Downtown Strathroy Market generated approximately $157,900 in visitor spending and contributed $99,000 to local GDP in 2025, based on the Ministry of Tourism’s economic impact model. The report also noted the event’s role in supporting downtown businesses, arts and entertainment, and food services.
While the market’s future structure will be reviewed, the decision ensures that downtown Strathroy will continue hosting its Saturday tradition—at least for now.
