Community groups reject fees

Sep 6, 2024 | 9:12 AM

Non-profit Community groups are upset after the city began forcing them to pay vendor fees.

Members of two different Christmas craft fair groups told city council the fees are too much.

Barb Creber from the Glenwood Craft Market said margins are already paper thin.

“Crafters who make things as a hobby come out and sell sewing, knitting, jewellery, and woodwork that they make all year,” she said. “One lady who sews said that with the high cost of fabric it is tough and hope she can cover her material costs let alone her time.”

The city is demaning vendors pay $66 a day, or organizers can pay $220 a day to cover all the vendors at their event.

The Port Alberni Toy Run was told to have a vendor licence to sell their souvenir t-shirts this coming Saturday, even though every dollar goes to helping local children and families.

Salmon Festival organizers were advised of the permit the day before their Labour Day Weekend event, and forced to pay almost $1000.

The city argued the fees have been on the books for many years, they only just started enforcing them.