The summer farmers’ market in Southeast Edmonton’s Ottewell community league won’t return this summer due to construction in the area.
The annual market which supported about 30 local vendors will not operate for safety reasons while the construction goes on, the organization announced Thursday.
“It’s a busy little area when you’ve got big trucks and construction happening,” said Corinne Olson, director, Ottewell Farmers’ Market.
“We just felt that, for the safety concerns of our residents and our community, we wanted to put a pause on it,” Olson added.
Sign at EPCOR site where construction is underway for flood management on March 19, 2026 (CityNews)
The announcement comes after getting a construction notice from EPCOR to upgrade the stormwater pipelines in the area.
Vendors said even missing it one year could impact their business.
Bob Washington, co-owner of Ruamjai Thai Food, who will be losing his Thursday market day said, “You lose the farmers’ market, and then people might find another one to go to,” Washington said. “It’ll be a hard time getting them back.”
In an email statement EPCOR said the neighbourhood has a high risk of flooding and that it needs to construct a dry pond to reduce floods and sewer backup during rainfall.
Trucks seen at EPCOR site where construction is underway for flood management on March 19, 2026 (CityNews)
“EPCOR met with the Ottewell Community League in January to discuss the impacts of this work and mitigate impacts to the community league where possible,” a spokesperson for EPCOR said.
The impact of pausing operations will be felt beyond just the vendors.
Funds from the market helped to operate programs and facilities like playschool, basketball courts and ice rinks in Ottewell.
“How do we generate those funds to keep this going? Because that farmers’ market did subsidize a lot of programs here,” Olson said.
Organizers said they hoped to re-open when the work is done, but that they will miss this summer.