The St. John’s Farmers’ Market Co-operative (SJFM) has hired Ann Connors as its new executive director.
Connors, from St. John’s, brings many years of leadership in community-based arts organizations to the SJFM. Before relocating to Calgary in 2014 to serve as artistic and managing producer of a 25-day annual arts festival, Connors served as the general manager of the Resource Centre for the Arts (LSPU Hall), managing producer for Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland and executive director of the Canada-wide Magnetic North Theatre Festival.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment that our federal, provincial, municipal and community partners, together with all the vendors and a fabulous volunteer board of directors have realized the shared vision of this new community market in St. John’s,” Connors stated in a news release announcing her hiring.
“This space will shine a bright light on all the parts that make our culture the envy of the country.”
Connors starts on April 9 and will join marketing manager Danilo Gonzalaz Diaz as senior staff.
Joshua Smee, chair of the SJFM board of directors, says they’re delighted to have brought another Newfoundlander home, especially one with her background.
“Ann’s long experience in the cultural sector will be a huge asset in making the new community market a vibrant public space — and we already know that Danilo will do a great job making the markets themselves incredible places to experience and buy local.”
The SJFM will move into its new 14,000-square-foot home at the St. John’s Community Market facility late this summer.
But before making the move to its new home, the market will continue operating out of the Lions Club Chalet on Bonaventure Avenue. Winter markets are scheduled for March 24, April 7, April 21, May 5 and May 19, with weekly Saturday markets beginning June 2.
