The Camosun College Student Society (CCSS) is hosting its first Christmas Pop-Up market on Monday, November 28 from 3 pm to 6 pm for Camosun students and faculty, as well as the general public. This market has up to 40 tables to house Camosun students’ creations, allowing them to hone their entrepreneurial and artistic skills.
CCSS Indigenous director Katie Manomie got the idea for this holiday pop-up market after being a frequent attendee of local Indigenous pop-ups. After seeing all the talent at these markets, she wanted to give Camosun students a platform to share their talent.
“I attended a lot of Indigenous pop-ups and I thought, ‘Wow, there’s so many amazing artists at Camosun. Let’s try and showcase them’” says Manomie. “I have so many artist friends in the Indigenous Studies program, and I thought there’d be more students out there with amazing gifts to showcase.”
Other CCSS members instantly supported Manomie’s Christmas Pop-Up market idea. With the newly renovated Wilna Thomas building now open, plans for the market quickly fell into place.
“We have that new beautiful Wilna Thomas building, and I thought, ‘This hall seems like the perfect spot.’ I brought it up with Michel [Turcotte, executive director] from the CCSS, and we just went from there,” says Manomie. “We had a CCSS meeting, and everyone seemed super supportive.”
Manomi recognizes that it can be nerve-wracking for students to sell their creations to the public for the first time. Therefore, she hopes the market will help students become more confident with this idea and sell more of their art and creations to the community in the future.
“Sometimes it’s really intimidating to go to the pop-up outside the community, so I was thinking that Camosun would be great as maybe an entry-level for those who are kind of scared to go out into the community,” says Manomie.
Students must register for a table ahead of time and describe what they will sell. From the current submissions, Manomie is excited about the variety of things students are selling at the market, such as prints and Indian tacos.
“[There’s] a lot of beadwork and prints,” says Manomie. “Someone is going to be selling bead supplies. There’s going to be lots of treats and baked goods. Someone wrote that they’re going to be selling dog sweaters, which is super cool because it’s getting cold outside… Also, beaded jewellery, tote bags, crochet art, someone is going to be selling Indian tacos, which I’m really excited about. Gift baskets, like with bath salts and ornaments. It should be a lot of fun.”
There are 40 available vendor tables for students, and a certain number are reserved for BIPOC students. Half of the applicants who already applied identified as BIPOC, and Manomie is happy to provide a platform for these students.
“We have about 40 available tables, but half of those are taken up by people who’ve applied already,” says Manomie. “Our application process is open until Friday [November 4] at noon, so I’m hoping we fill up the room. Otherwise, it’ll be more intimate.”
Manomie hopes the Christmas Pop-Up market is a fun and safe environment for students to get comfortable selling their creations. From Santa to hot chocolate, it will be a festive day to celebrate local student artists and entrepreneurs.
“It’s just going to be a fun, safe environment for students to sell their creations,” says Manomie. “We’re hoping Santa’s going to be there, so, hopefully, Santa stops by. We’re going to have hot chocolate and hot apple cider. It’s just going to be a lot of fun.”
Camosun Christmas Pop-Up Market
3 pm to 6 pm Monday, November 28
Wilna Thomas Building
camosunstudent.org