The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is hoping to breathe life back into the Inner Harbour this summer with a scaled-down version of its causeway marketplace.
Food vendors and artisans will return Saturday for the first time since 2019, with space for 23 people — about half the usual number — to set up in areas spaced out along the waterfront.
“In 2020, we were unable to safely find a way to allow artisans and vendors to interact with causeway users. Thanks to the work between our team and Island Health, as well as a year of understanding how this virus spreads, we have found a way to restructure the activation of this space for this summer,” said Ian Robertson, chief executive of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.
The vendors will be able to set up daily between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. starting Saturday. The program will run through Sept. 12.
All vendors must wear masks and do a COVID safety check daily with the harbour authority as part of a WorkSafeBC plan, while visitors are reminded to maintain six-feet separation from others while browsing and shopping.
Mike Hill, a 20-year veteran of the causeway market, said he’s excited to bring his jewelry back to the Inner Harbour. “I look forward to seeing all the folks who come down and support the local artists.”
The authority is also planning on launching a food-truck space at the east end of Ship Point, closest to the 3-D Canada sign. The group will include Songhees Seafood & Steam, Cup-A-Roni and Bubble on the Run.
Hot Dog Hustling, The Lemon, Elixir, and Empire Donuts will set up stalls along the lower causeway.
Artists from the Songhees Nation will once again set up along the south apron of the causeway, below the Welcome to Victoria flower garden.
Vendors who worked the causeway in 2019 were the first to be approached with the offer of a space for the summer, said harbour authority spokesman Brian Cant.
The authority expects to have 15 vendors confirmed by this weekend and build the rest of the lineup over the next two weeks.
More vendors might be accommodated if they’re willing to alternate, or offerings could be expanded, depending on health regulations and recommendations.
“The entire program will be flexible and if we can fit in more vendors as regulations change, we will do that. It will be in conversation with Island Health,” said Cant.
“The same can be said for any need to contract the event over the next few weeks. Everyone is committed to remaining as flexible as we can be.”
