Holiday shoppers can break away from stereotypes and find some great buys at a North Vancouver winter market that will allow entrepreneurs with disabilities and neurodiversity to showcase their talents and creations.
Jessica Harris is the community living counsellor for The Summit, a recreation and education program for folks who have disabilities and neurodivergence. Harris helped organize the market to showcase the skills of these entrepreneurs and to create equal opportunities.
“I think it’s just promoting inclusivity and allowing equal opportunity for all folks in our community to have a place to sell their creations,” Harris said. “And we have some really talented folks, so we’re excited to allow them to have that platform.”
The Summit is part of Intellectual Disabilities Society North & West Vancouver, a non-profit organization that supports people with disabilities and neurodiversity across the North Shore to develop skills for active, independent involvement in the community.
The facility is unique because it is non-referral, meaning anyone can join and they don’t have to go through Community Living BC or receive government funding to access the programs, Harris said.
A grant from the District of North Vancouver helped the non-profit get the annual winter market up and running.
Harris said the market is open to anyone, but priority is given to those who identify as having a disability. Just under half of vendors identify with having a disability, she said.
People will be bringing in a variety of hand-made items such as pottery, jewelry, candles, bath bombs, festive decorations like Christmas cards and even dog treats, Harris said.
“I think this is going to be our biggest winter market,” she said. “We hosted them on a smaller scale in previous years. I believe we have more vendors than we’ve had in the past.”
Folks living with disabilities often face stigma that can sometimes lead to less access to opportunities. The Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada says too often people underestimate disabled individuals and do not give them a chance to show their skills and abilities.
Statistics Canada data shows people with disabilities owning their own business has grown over the years. In 2022, 1.4 per cent of private-sector businesses were majority-owned by persons with disabilities, whereas in 2023 that number increased to 2.2 per cent.
Creating these businesses can help people thrive, especially if traditional working hours such as a 9 to 5 don’t work for them.
Musician Jessica Bonini, The Summit's musical therapist, will perform during the market, and there will also be drinks and winter treats for people to enjoy, Harris said.
The winter market will be at The Summit at the Intellectual Disabilities Society at 1095 Churchill Cres. in North Vancouver on Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative. [email protected]
