River Market at Westminster Quay was named a Land Champion at last week's Real Estate Foundation of B.C. Land Awards.
The awards recognize initiatives by non-profit organizations, private companies and government bodies that demonstrate leadership, innovation, and collaboration in sustainable land use in British Columbia. The awards celebrate dynamic, forward-thinking people and organizations that help create more resilient, healthy communities and natural environments, and that make B.C. a great place to live, said a River Market media release.
The winners were announced at a gala celebration in Vancouver on Oct. 26. River Market, developed by Take Root Properties, won in the private company category.
River Market is a brand-new model for a market. In 2008, company co-founder Mark Shieh and his team embarked on a "food-led revitalization" of the Westminster Quay Public Market, aimed at strengthening the local food economy and on reintroducing the public market as a focal point of community life.
"This award is a huge gust of wind in our sails," said Shieh, when accepting the award. He added that it's a group effort. "We share this honour with River Market tenants, who are our partners, and who are B.C.'s leading chefs and tastemakers, making our city more interesting and more delicious."
The market, which reopened late in 2010, sets itself apart from other retail outlets by welcoming the community to engage in cultural and communal activities, and by highlighting food-related activities such as growing, making, distributing and serving. River Market has also introduced a customer loyalty program, which reinvests one per cent of money spent at the River Market into grassroots projects in New Westminster.
