In its first year, the newly revamped Sicamous Farmers' Market has already proven to be an award-winning event. 

Deb Heap, who took over as organizer in 2024, attended the March 12 council meeting where she announced that Sicamous won the title of best Medium Market at the BC Farmers' Market Awards Ceremony and AGM. Sicamous took the title after being nominated with six other communities and making the top three along with Pender Island and Comox. 

Heap said that at the ceremony, the majority of awards were going to the Island so she had thought it was hopeless just as they finally announced Sicamous. 

"So that was kind of cool," she said. "Very excited about that."

Heap explained the market had been declining over recent years so she offered to take it over last year and, after tripling the number of vendors at that time, it's almost 100 per cent booked for this season with more vendor sites added and the number of markets increased to 15.

"It is incredible what you did in a year, and I mean, having a reward after the first year is pretty incredible so I just want to tip my hat to you," Coun. Ian Baillie said, with the rest of council echoing that praise. "I think it was a pretty dramatic difference last year that everyone saw... and that's because of your incredible work and everybody else that had a hand in it. It certainly created a nice vibe down there."

In addition to Sicamous winning best medium market, Heap herself was also nominated for Most Outstanding Community Impact (Farmers' Market Manager) as was Joe Lapinsky with the Chase market, which was also in the running for Best Small Market.