Joyceville Institution readies for first-ever Artisan Market

One Saturday this October, Joyceville Institution – a medium-security prison on the northeast outskirts of Kingston – will be hosting its first-ever artisan market, with proceeds going to the local United Way.

According to a representative from the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), staff at the facility first conceived the event as part of the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC).

“The GCWCC is a charitable giving option that was developed for federal public servants. The annual GCWCC takes place during the fall. This year, the campaign runs from September to December. Through the GCWCC, public servants can support United Way, HealthPartners, or any other registered Canadian charity of their choosing anywhere in Canada,” the representative noted. 

While the event is being organized by staff at the federal medium-security institution, the market itself will be located in the “Minimum Unit” of Joyceville Institution. The representative from CSC also confirmed that federal offenders “will not be involved” in the event.

“This artisan market is meant to attract local vendors to sell their goods to benefit the community and the local United Way,” CSC said.

As for how the event will support the United Way, artisans participating in the market must pay a $100 registration fee, with all proceeds going to the charitable organization. Additionally, CSC staff are also able to support charities of their choosing through the GCWCC, with the United Way serving as one of the campaign’s two main philanthropic partners. 

The CSC representative noted, “Each of these [partner] organizations are experts in their respective impact areas and use research, local knowledge, and community partnerships to make informed investment decisions to maximize the impact of donor dollars. Their broad national networks allow donors to the GCWCC to make donations that will help people directly within their own communities, whether urban, rural, or remote.” 

Locally, CSC staff and other federal employees have historically supported the United Way as part of previous campaigns.

“The United Way has routinely been the partner of choice for the GCWCC, as they are actively involved in the local community,” the representative explained. “United Way KFL&A funds a network of local programs that currently helps over 61 organizations and 127 programs, meaning that donations made through them are sure to assist the community as a whole.”

In 2023, the theme for the charitable campaign is GCWCC Matters! — which, according to CSC, “highlights the difference that public servants can make through the campaign.” Employees are encouraged to find new and innovative ways to support community-based programs and initiatives like the United Way, which inspired the first-ever Joyceville Institution Artisan Market. 

With just over a month to go before the event, organizers have already secured a number of local vendors, including Spring-N-Fly Treasures, Beastly Boards, and KJ’s Chip Wagon. Other vendors interested in participating are encouraged to email Pam Kloosterman at [email protected] to apply.

As excitement among organizers and vendors continues to grow in anticipation of the October market, the CSC representative noted that staff hope to make the event an annual occurrence, if the first edition of the market is a success. 

The 2023 Joyceville Institution Artisan Market runs Saturday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Minimum Unit of Joyceville Institution, located at 3766 Highway 15. During the event, staff will be on hand with signs to direct visitors once they arrive at the site. More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page.