We asked Yvonne Mark, a Megaphone vendor and member of the Speakers Bureau team, to answer this question. Yvonne is a longtime street market seller and customer.

Answer:

The Downtown Eastside (DTES) street market has been a part of the DTES for as long as I can remember—and it is thriving.

It’s a very prevalent part of the community, as there are buyers, sellers, window shoppers and some of us that just enjoy socializing with each other. I personally encourage the marketplace as it’s a means of earning extra cash, a way to downsize, or simply shop for yourself. And the price is right. 

There’s an entire array of sellers from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds who take part in the market for reasons that are immeasurable—mostly for survival to earn extra money as the cost of living is unmanageable for most residents down here, and I’m only speaking about my neighbourhood.

For myself, I sell snacks outside the Carnegie Community Centre and I do it for the love of mingling with my neighbours and friends, as well as potential buyers. I’ve bought and sometimes sold everything, including clothing, toys, jewelry, food, sports/tote bags, linen, antiques, books, artwork, make-up, toiletries (very popular), dishes, coffee makers, microwaves and the kitchen sink (LOL)!

I’m not in dire straits financially, but what I do with the market actually saved my life. I used to be addicted to drugs and alcohol and was homeless for a time. Not anymore, but in my early sobriety I had to stay busy as my mind kept saying, “Why bother? Just give up.”

Now I’m very well known here and I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity to be a vendor.

As for stolen goods, they’ve always been an issue at all types of street markets, not just in the DTES. That’s par for the course. But I’d say that most of the vendors are honest, hardworking, run-of-the-mill people who are participating in a market that has been around pretty well since the beginning of time in Vancouver in one form or another—such as bartering, trading, buying, selling, giveaways and the like. And, as in many other countries, I think it should be legal, encouraged and maintained. 

Happy trails to all.

Yvonne Mark (above) is a Vancouver Megaphone vendor and longtime street market seller and customer.