KORE Makers Market 2022
On Saturday, February 12, 2022, the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE) held the region’s first-ever Makers Market thanks to a grant awarded by Shop Local BC. The purpose of the event was to showcase the craft gear makers of the Kootenays and to draw attention to the importance of shopping locally, including outdoor gear.
The one-day event was held in Kimberley’s downtown platzl and featured 10 makers from both the West and East Kootenays involved in the snow sports and outdoor industries. They included:
- Instinct Skis from Rossland
- Northern Ultralight from Nelson
- Ski Fels from Invermere
- Ash Firewear from Fairmont
- Lynx OGT from Nelson
- Thread the Needle from Golden
- Thoroughbred Skis from Invermere
- WYW Trailers from Cranbrook
- Enercheez from Nelson
- Exegi Boards from Golden
The market took place between 11am and 5pm and admission was free. There were also local bands providing entertainment throughout the day, including the popular Leather Apron Revival. The Maker Market is part of a larger Shop Local BC media campaign that will include photos and video of every member of the KORE collective done by Mountain Culture Group, the creative agency of Kootenay Mountain Culture Magazine. That campaign will roll out between February and April this year.
About Shop Local
Funded by the Government of Canada and delivered through provincial and territorial chambers of commerce, the Shop Local initiative provides grants for programs and campaigns that encourage Canadians to shop local to help businesses navigate through and beyond the pandemic. The BC Chamber of Commerce is delivering the Shop Local initiative in British Columbia, ensuring that the program is inclusive, and funds are distributed equitably across seven economic development regions.
About KORE
KORE is an economic development and diversification initiative managed by the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Society located in Kimberley, BC. It is an industry alliance of outdoor recreation gear manufacturers and designers in the Kootenay region and has brought together a network of 40+ craft gear makers and designers who have organically started up production manufacturing and designing within the Kootenays. KORE’s mission is to foster growth within the alliance through education, collaboration and connecting businesses to resources, grants, financing and capital, and to attract outdoor recreation product manufacturing and designers into the region to relocate or facilitate new entrepreneurial start-ups.
