How public markets in Gatineau are creating community 

Public markets are not only a way to support and buy local, but also a great way to connect with people from your area. From May to October, plenty of public markets can be found in Gatineau, each offering different services and products. 

Djeneba Dosso

When asked if shopping at public markets is a luxury, Lucie Daragon was quick to replace the word luxury with investment. The senior has been attending markets across the Outaouais for more years than she can count and in her opinion, it is clear that when paying for fresh produce, every penny is worth spending.

“It is not a luxury; it’s an investment to encourage our people, our producers; and, it’s important to do it,” she said. “Some people are passionate about it; some people aren’t interested in it; but the goal is finding those people who aren’t interested and making them curious enough to come check it [public markets] out.”

Over the years, Gatineau has amassed an army of markets, each located in different sectors of the city and offering various selections of vendors and products. These markets are made accessible based not only on their location but on their hours of operations as well, which often fall on weekends. Yet, Daragon notes that most markets are frequented by regulars and an older crowd rather than new and young faces.

“People don’t come because they assume it’s too expensive, but we pay for the quality and the freshness,” she said. “Often in grocery stores, it’s a long way off. They travel a long way with it; they arrive here and the next day they put it on the shelves. Here, produce is often picked in the morning and sold that same morning or early afternoon.”

The question remains; besides pricing and freshness, what sets supermarkets apart from public markets? For some, it may be selection, for others, practicality, as most markets are only open once a week. For Marguerite Jarry Suarez, owner of Studio Crudo, what makes public markets unique is community. The entrepreneur has been creating vegan candles and custom tote bags since the pandemic. After refining her work, she began looking for places to possibly sell it and public markets welcomed her with open arms. Now, she displays her work at the Vieux-Hull and Outaouais Creative markets two to three times each month. She’s found that the long or short exchanges with each customer make all the difference.

“I love connecting with people. I am from the Dominican Republic, and we’re known to be warm-blooded,” she said. “It’s great being able to talk with different people and the other vendors who have become great friends. If one day I ever need a necklace, I know who to call and I would be supporting their business.”

Buying and supporting local businesses is “of paramount importance” for Daragon.

“It’s important to keep an eye on the ecology, the environment and our ecological footprint,” she continued. “If anything happens, we’ll have no more farmers, no more market gardeners; we’ll have nothing. You’ve got to support them and buy locally.”

Each market in Gatineau and the Outaouais region will be open throughout the summer until the end of the season in October. Whether it be produce, clothing, artisanal work or local gems, a public market near you may just have what you’re looking for.

Find a public market near you

Vieux-Hull Market (currently seeking more vendors)

1 Wellington Street (Gatineau)

Every Thursday from 930 am to 130 pm

Plateau Market (currently seeking more vendors)

205 de Bruxelles Street

Every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm

Old-Aylmer Market

117 Principale Street

Every Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm

Notre-Dame Market

330 Notre-Dame Street

Every Friday from 11 am to 3 pm

Buckingham Farmers’ Market

390 Buckingham Avenue

Every Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm

Chelsea Market

23 Cecil Road

Every Thursday from 4 pm to 7 pm

L’Ange-Gardien Market

735 Pierre-Laporte

Every Friday from 11 am to 4 pm

Perkins Market

1733 du Carrefour Rte, Val-des-Monts

Every Friday from 2 pm to 7 pm

Wakefield Market

38 de la Vallée de Wakefield Road

Every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm

3 Markets

1102 Principale (Rte 307), Val-des-Monts

Every Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm

Fermier de la Paix Market

267 Notre-Dame Street

Every Friday from 3 pm to 7 pm

Photo caption: Lucie Daragon has been shopping at the Vieux-Hull public markets for years now. Used to seeing the same faces, she encourages young and curious people to come see what each market has to offer for them.

Photo credit: Djeneba Dosso