The Royal City Farmers Market got a recent bounty of support to help it grow.
Vancity donated $10,000 to the local organization.
The funds are from a $250,000 pool to boost 21 farmers' markets in Metro Vancouver through Vancity's Visa enviroFund.
"Our cardholders make it possible to provide funding to the local farmers' markets by choosing to use their enviro Visa card when making daily purchases," said JeanMarc Handfield, vicepresident payment solutions and member services centre. "This initiative is a great example of our philosophy of working together with our members to help build sustainable communities that can prosper and thrive."
"Strong vibrant markets really support farmers in offering fresh local food. Eating locally grown food also encourages the use of local farmland, and keeps the money in the region supporting the local economy," Elizabeth Quinn, executive director of the B.C. association of farmers' markets, said in the release.
Since 2007, Vancity and the Vancity Community Foundation have supported farmers' markets in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley.
In that time, they have provided nearly $600,000 towards initiatives that support expansion, marketing, linking chefs with farmers, helping the Vancouver Farmers' Market Society become a permanent fixture in local neighbourhoods.
Vancity has also supported the creation of the New City Market, a year-round facility in Vancouver that will support the sustainability of local farms.
SALES LEADER
Douglas College is launching a sales institute with the goal of becoming a leader in sales information, research, training and education.
The Peter Legge International Institute for Sales Excellence, named after Peter Legge, CEO of Canada Wide Media and inductee into the inter-national Sales Hall of Fame, will be up and running by late September.
The institute will offer a wide range of educational programs and industry services, events and activities, such as customized industry training, research, seminars, conferences and sales aptitude testing.
The aim of the institute is that it become the premier destination for profes-sional sales knowledge and training.
"Sales is a critical driver of the Canadian economy, but it's often overlooked in terms of advanced training and education," department chair Gail Tibbo said in a press release.
Do you have an item for Movers and Shakers? Send ideas from the business community to Niki, nhope@royal cityrecord.com.
