All-vegan night markets will take place this August in Vancouver

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Canada’s first all-vegan market is returning to Hotel at the Waldorf and Locarno Beach in Vancouver this August. The market will feature plant-based foods, drinks, and sustainable products.

“My goal was to always surround myself with like-minded business owners [and] entrepreneurs,” says Savannah-Rae Furfaro, the market’s creator and curator.

“I think it’s very important for a platform like [this] to be accessible to everybody, where you can learn that there are so many alternatives to more sustainable lifestyle choices when it comes to diet or shopping, and just overall living.”

Furfaro was inspired to create the market because she is vegan herself. She got the idea in 2017 when she came to Vancouver on vacation from Toronto, where she is originally from, and decided to launch the market here.

She then ran markets in Toronto and Vancouver, but when COVID-19 hit, she decided to stay in Vancouver. Last year, she began running the markets biweekly. Each market features around 30 to 40 small businesses.

“It helps put food on the tables for mothers and fathers who are small entrepreneurs, and that’s the core reason why I did it — to give back to my community,” Furfaro says.

“We average about $40,000 in revenue per market, so the money is being kept within these small businesses, instead of being used on Amazon or any other retail company like Walmart or Costco.”

Furfaro says the markets have something for everybody, including gluten-free donuts and food trucks that serve comfort food and cuisines like Indian and Mexican. They also have clothing, art, jewelry, bath and body items, and pottery.

“The market pretty much attracts all demographics of people who want to learn about not just plant-based eating but sustainable lifestyle options.”

To enter the market, attendees can either donate a minimum of $4, canned goods, clothing, or pet food.

Furfaro gives the funds to a different local animal non-profit each market, while she brings the physical donations to WISH Drop-In Centre Society, a charity and shelter for sex workers in the Downtown Eastside.

“I was there two weeks ago, and the woman … was almost in tears,” Furfaro says.

“She was so grateful. She said the only thing they had left in stuff was a pair of pants and a T-shirt. We bring a car full of clothing every other week, and it just reminded me why I’m doing what I’m doing, aside from having this market platform for everyone to have fun.”

The markets, which run from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, will take place at the Hotel at the Waldorf on Aug. 3 and 17, and Locarno Beach on Aug. 31.

Furfaro decided to host the markets at the hotel because a former business partner suggested it to her as a community hotspot. As for Locarno Beach, Furfaro was inspired by her markets in Toronto, which she says have always been based outdoors.

“I like to choose my spots based on energy, if it’s going to flow nicely and people are going to enjoy themselves. I want it to be a very casual, relaxing atmosphere where when you look around, you just feel at peace.”

Through the markets, Furfaro hopes to spread awareness among non-vegans about how the lifestyle addresses animal welfare, climate change, and the environment.

“I want to create a safe space for them to come and learn and feel very comfortable and welcomed.”

The market is a project of Peaces, a sustainable marketplace company that Furfaro founded in 2013. For more information, visit www.peaces.ca.