Mother’s Day Market Blooms with Community Spirit

Celebrating moms and community through creativity, care and spring spirit

On Friday, May 10, the WIC Main Entrance was transformed into a vibrant hub of community, colour, and creativity for our second annual Mother’s Day Market. From student-led booths and live music to handmade gifts and stunning spring plants, it was a joyful celebration of everything growing - at WIC and beyond.

We loved seeing so many families, including grandparents who had visited the Greenhouse during Grandparents’ Day. Their arms full of flowers, it’s safe to say a few Calgary gardens will be especially beautiful this season.

The Greenhouse: Where It All Begins

At the heart of our Market is the WIC Greenhouse, where students have been hard at work growing, propagating, and preparing a vibrant selection of plants. From seed to sale, this hands-on learning experience helps students build skills in sustainability, entrepreneurship, and horticulture - while creating something beautiful for the community to enjoy.

This spring's selection featured:

• Herbs like oregano and rosemary
• Colourful succulents, orchids, and annual flowers
• Strawberry baskets and white alpine strawberries
• Heirloom plant varieties, gooseberries, peppers, and more
• Coneflowers, both native and non-native

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just adding your first potted plant to a windowsill, the Greenhouse had something for everyone - and it was, as always, a major draw for guests.

A Showcase of Local Vendors

Guests also explored a vibrant marketplace of thoughtful gifts and handmade goods, with contributions from local businesses:

• Growing Smiles – Flower baskets and greenery grown with care
• The Candle Box – Hand-poured candles in beautiful seasonal scents
• Jenna Archer Studio – Beautiful handmade pottery and homeware
• Tamara Gardener – Unique botanical-dyed art and printed textiles
• Hopeful Heart Design Co. – Affirmation prints, cards, and meaningful gifts
• Pappiianok Beadwork – Handmade beaded jewelry and accessories
• Le Chien Collars – Stylish collars and gear for your pets
• Cochu Chocolate – Artisanal chocolate treats made locally
• Donkey and Lion – Stationery and stickers with whimsical, hand-drawn designs
• Script Pharmacy – Heartfelt gifts and wellness items by local merchants

Student Involvement Makes the Market Shine

WIC student groups brought heart, creativity, and charm to the afternoon.

The Book Club returned with its much-loved mystery books - wrapped in brown paper with only a short description as a clue, these hidden literary gems flew off the table and sparked great conversations.

The Francophone Council brought a delicious sweet treat, while our talented student bands performed live music, creating the perfect springtime soundtrack as guests shopped and connected.

And new this year, a Grade 11 student introduced his own line of CNC-designed garden signs, made possible through his Pathway Grant. With a combination of design thinking, digital fabrication, and business savvy, he turned a creative idea into a tangible product that quickly became a customer favourite.

Behind the scenes, WIC students also helped keep the Market running smoothly - helping with payments, assisting guests with their Greenhouse purchases, and offering a warm, welcoming presence throughout the day.

Our students helped bring this market to life, and we are incredibly proud of their initiative, leadership, and community spirit.

Thank You for Supporting This Special Tradition

Thank you to everyone who helped make this community tradition such a success. From the students growing plants and running booths to the volunteers, vendors, and families who showed up to support, this event was a true celebration of what we can grow - together.

Our next event will be the Holiday Market, coming this December. Stay tuned!

Contributor

Cyrus Mirshahi-Moreau
Dean of Student Life