The Deleau-Sifton Centennial Park Committee hosted their annual Farmer’s Market last week with a great turn-out of local residents and visitors to the area.

RM of Sifton Councillor, Scott Phillips, says the annual event is a chance for them to share the park and hopefully raise some funds at the same time.

Phillips says the Centennial Park gets used every day throughout the summer months.  “There are people from North America,” he shares.  “Pre-COVID there were people coming from all over the world.  There were people from France, Belgium, Australia, and from all over Canada.  It’s been just been unreal the number of people who stop there!”

Upgrades to the camp site, soccer nets and picnic shelter are more recent additions.  However, there is always a list of things needed, with the baseball diamond back-stops are near the top of the list.  “We’re looking at doing some play structures for the kids, the ones we have there have been there for quite awhile and are still being used.”

“There was a lady in her 80’s who came out here the other day to use the swings that she used to use as a kid!  That’s great to see, but maybe we’ll expand the playground a little bit and also leave the history of the original there too!”

The Farmer’s Market brings in between $500-$600 for park maintenance and upgrades each summer.  “We’re not out there to get rich, but it sure helps to keep the bathrooms clean and stocked, and a few cans of paint here and there,” adds Phillips. “We just have two or 3 little fundraisers that cover it, the RM cuts the grass and it works pretty good!”