The Osoyoos Farmers Market Society is looking for a new market manager for the 2023 season after the current manager resigned.
Marcel St. Louis, who has managed the Osoyoos Market on Main for five years, resigned in the wake of activity during the recent municipal election campaign that “he determined would discredit the society,” the society said in a press release.
The society’s volunteer board accepted the resignation at a meeting held on Oct. 20.
St. Louis was caught on camera multiple times stealing election signs of then-mayoral hopeful Dustin Sikora. An Osoyoos man was arrested, RCMP confirmed on Oct. 13.
Osoyoos First, a slate that ran in the town’s Oct. 15 election, shared a pair of videos via Facebook that showed a man taking the signs and putting them in his vehicle.
Several residents, including Sikora, recognized St. Louis in the footage. He is the husband of Janis St. Louis, the financial agent for incumbent mayor Sue McKortoff. She also is the farmer’s market president.
READ MORE: Osoyoos man arrested after stealing election signs
Marcel St. Louis was the society’s lone employee.
The board declined to accept Janis St. Louis’ resignation. The board determined it would be inappropriate to act based solely on guilt by association, said the press release.
The Osoyoos Farmers Market Society is administered by volunteers and provides a venue for vendors who market grown-local fruits and vegetables, baked goods, wine, cider, beer, and spirits and made-local artisan crafts.
The market runs from May through to October each year at Town Hall Square in downtown Osoyoos.
The society does not receive any funding or other assistance from the Town of Osoyoos.
The Osoyoos Farmers’ Market is a member of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets.
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