The Old Strathcona Farmers Market is looking to refresh their facility and change their business practice, all while celebrating their 40th serving Old Strathcona and the Whyte Avenue area of Edmonton.

The market began operations in 1983 in a parking lot on the corner of 83rd Avenue and 103rd Street. It was outdoors with only 10-15 vendors selling a small variety of garden products, baking and crafts. In 1986, the market moved inside to the historic Edmonton Bus Barns, where it is housed to this day, and operated on Saturdays.

With a goal of completing renovations by early 2024, the market is looking to incorporate more elements to provide locals and tourists an experience that goes beyond a regular farmers market. Keith Persaud, the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market manager, said they hope to increase capacity as a primary objective.

"After 40 years, for us to be more involved in the community, we would like to open the building seven days a week," he said.

"Our vendors in the market, who make it, bake it, and grow it all can't do it seven days a week," Persaud added. "What we've decided to do is open the market, once renovations are completed, on Fridays and Saturdays. We want to change the building and set up the Old Strathcona Farmers Market to eventually call it the 'Old Strathcona Farmers Market Community Hub.' We'll have a general store, a café, international markets, cooking classes, concerts, recitals - it will be an events hub. People will always have something to do when they come."

Since the Edmonton Bus Barns is an old building, Persaud said there's quite a few things they have to do before making the renovations.

"Our architect firm and our contractors are busy poking holes into the ceiling, to look at structural loads and weights because we have to get a number [before we proceed]. After that, we'll finalize the plans, and secure our funding," Persaud said.

After working in the community for the past 40 years, Persaud believes that "[with these renovations], it will become a thing for the City of Edmonton, bigger than what the market is."

Any further information can be found on the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market website.

Listen to the full CFWE interview below with Keith Persaud: