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Sharebear spring market draws community support

The market included vendors, concession, a dance performance and plenty of fun activities for kids.
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Rhyley Baker

The Sharebear Playschool Society hosted their first spring market this Saturday, April 22 at Stettler Mall.

Vendors tables were set up throughout the mall, and the Evergreen Parent Link Centre also provided a bouncy castle and play area for children.

Most of the vendors were from the Stettler community, while a few came from nearby communities to take part in the event.

With most of the vendors being home-based businesses, this event presented an opportunity for them to meet with people face-to-face and raise awareness about their products or services.

Other activities at the market included spring photos provided by Kosmic Photography, a hot dog concession, and a performance from Danceology school of dance.

The Sharebear group usually holds a winter market, but this was their first time holding such an event in the spring, explained Ruby MacDonell, president of Sharebear Playschool Society.

They decided to hold the event in the mall to bring more awareness to the mall as well as the businesses located there, MacDonell added.

As a not-for-profit society, Sharebear playschool depends on money from fundraisers such as this one to cover their operating costs.

In addition to offering tables for vendors, the Sharebear society also sold 50/50 tickets as part of their fundraising efforts.

Lynn Potter, playschool teacher, noted that Sharebear is “the only family-run playschool” in the area, which means that parents are highly involved in their children’s education.

The school is overseen by a parent-run board, which means that “the parents decide where the money’s going,” MacDonell explained.

Being a not-for-profit organization is part of what makes Sharebear playschool unique, commented Potter; the other unique factor is the school’s location.

Two years ago, the society acquired its own house, which they renovated to use as their playschool.

“We have tons of space and our own backyard,” Potter commented.

This space is where the parents and teachers get to watch all the children grow up, Potter added.