Westminster council hosts successful market

By Toyin Obatusin - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on December 3, 2024.

Herald photo by Toyin Obatusin Leah Heidinger, Independent owner of Color Street, showcased her line of "Nail Polish" at Saturday's Marketplace, hosted by the Westminster Parent Council at the Westminster School.

Saturday was Westminster Parent Councils’ Holiday Craft Show, Vendor Fair and Bake Sale, their second Annual Marketplace with 100 per cent of proceeds going towards supplementing activities and transportation for field trips, hot lunches, as well as fees for table purchase at the market.

“This year we are serving cotton candy, popcorn and other baked goods,” said Nikki Van Eden, pice president of the Westminster Parent Council, who also had her own booth with customizable products, like mugs and keychains.

Van Eden explained one of the most important mission of the council, not just the marketplace:

“Kindness and giving back is extremely important to the Westminster Parent Council, as well as teaching the children how to be self-sufficient, responsible, creative, innovative, and confidence,” she said.

There were plenty of booths filled with arts and crafts like crochet, baked goods, dresses, jams, hair accessories, etc. Door prize ballots were given to all community members who purchased from vendors.

Leah Heidinger, independent owner and Senior Team Builder of Color Street, showcased her wide range of nail polish, a 100 per cent real nail polish. Upon application to the nail bed, the stickers are 95 already dry already and lasts nine to 15 days, she said.

This product is said to be better than liquid polish, and requires no LED or UV lights to cure.

“Soit’s enough to do a full set of hands, and most people can actually do their nails at least twice with them” said Heidinger who was among the vendors on site.

The council encourages young entrepreneurs to showcase their money making skills by allowing them to run their own tables, take payments and talk about their products. Parents who were present stood by while young innovators sold themselves to potential customers.

Brother and sister Abigail Fortier, 15 and Arwin Fortier, 12, pride themselves in their gluten and dairy free baking practices.

This is one portion of the company Arwin focuses on, in addition to sourcing collectible stickers. Abigail takes care of the textile portion of the business, which includes scrunchies in different sizes for different hair densities, hair bands, cotton bowl cozies that are machine washable, etc.

The team brings out different products, depending on the different seasons. With the support of their mother, the accountant, who also assists in purchasing raw materials for them, 100 per cent of proceeds are reinvested back into Sweet Tooth and Baking Crafts, and the young entrepreneurs’ educational needs such as Abigail’s trip to New York with her school choir, and for Arwin’s future choir trips as well.

Abigail and Arwin can be found on Facebook at “Sweet Tooth Baking and Crafts”, and on instagram at sweettoothtreatsandcrafts.

These young entrepreneurs have a long list of items that they’re currently working on to attract even more customers and to scale their business, and are inviting the City of Lethbridge to follow their progress by adding them on either Facebook or Instagram.

Lethbridge Herald staff member Juanita Collins, a proud supporter of the initiatives of the Westminster parent council and fellow entrepreneur, showcased her crocheted animals, toques, hats, hair clips and much more.

Van Eden explained that last year’s success allowed for projections of greater success this year.