Expands this fall to include range of kids’ stuff

Jasper’s annual Baby Bazaar will expand to include items for older children this fall, following suggestions from shoppers last year.

“At the last bazaar we noticed attendance was dwindling and there was some feedback from the public that we should consider expanding it and including older aged children,” said organizer Connie Tiesenhausen.

The newly-named Family Clothing Bazaar will be open to vendors of prenatal to preteen clothing, toys, equipment, gear, and furniture. The bazaar, which has been held yearly for more than a decade, raises money for the Meeting of the Waters Childcare Centre and gives families a chance to pass on used kids’ belongings.

“Because we’re in such a remote area and it’s really hard to get children’s clothing second-hand or new, and gear, and equipment,” Tiesenhausen said. “Generally it’s Moms and families that book a table and sell their gently-worn children’s clothing or their cribs or high chairs.”

The event tends to draw in a number of people – about 30 tables are available – from all over. “There are a lot of Hinton people that drive in, some people from Grande Cache, some from Valemount,” she said. “It appeals to more than just the people in Jasper.”

Sue Catto, program coordinator for the daycare, said this year’s funds aren’t specifically ear-marked for anything yet, but the money raised last year purchased some new outdoor equipment for the kids including ride-on toys as well as items such as shovels and buckets. 

Selling and reusing items like this fits in with green initiatives and is a great way to get more use out of items such as sports equipment, Catto said. “It’s a good time to get skis and skates out before it’s too late.”

The bazaar will be Sunday, Nov. 2 in the multi-purpose hall at the Activity Centre from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. To book a table and/or a clothing rack, contact Sue Catto by phone at 852-4666 or by email at scatto@town.jasper.ab.ca. Tables are $10 and half a clothing rack is $10.