Education and Social Work Menu
ESTR's Market
Brought to you by TRU’s Education and Skills Training (ESTR) program, ESTR’s Market is an on-campus social enterprise featuring local, handmade and sustainable artisan products including clothing, crafts and jewellery as well as meals, snacks and sweets.
Staffed by the friendly and hardworking students of the ESTR program, ESTR’s Market provides students with diverse-abilities with experiential learning opportunities.
By applying the skills they’ve learned in class—in areas including kitchen, retail and trades—to their work in the Market, ESTR students gain valuable work experience and enhance their access to future careers.
Despite the challenges the ESTR program has faced due to the physical and safety constraints of COVID-19, ESTR students continue to gain the valuable e-commerce, photography, social media and technology skills required to successfully develop and run an online retail environment.
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Open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the fall and winter semesters on the second floor of Old Main in room 2425.
We love local and celebrate sustainable handmade products from consumables like heat and eat meals, snacks and artisan treats to plants and outdoor items, stickers, cards and stuff, jewellery, bath and body, cozy home, gift baskets and clothing.
Some of our current local vendors include:
- ESTR Student Made Products
- Rivers Mist
- Deadman Valley Botanicals
- DisDaBomb
- Element Botanicals
- Gifts by Marg
- Wild Hearts Design
- Cindy Hayden's Stained Glass
- Dragonfly Pottery
- Holly's Handmade with Love - Holly Winzey
- Kendyl L. Designs
- Beco Sauce Co.
- Lana Langevin Organic Fairtrade Chocolate
- Unicorn Wishes
- Rosemary Macrame
- Logjam Coffee
- Tiny Timber Designs
- TRUly Honey
- Lauriche Soaps 'n Such
- Bundled Pup
Contact us for more information or if you are interested in becoming a vendor.
ESTR’s Market began with a cart that students would transport and set up on BMO Student Street in TRU’s Old Main building.
In 2014, initial funding for this kiosk project was awarded through a Social Innovation Grant from the Vancouver Foundation. This grant was established to support people with diverse abilities in education or community through a social justice or advocacy project. This initiative provides experiential learning opportunities for ESTR students. At the same time, it promotes a social mission that reflects diversity, inclusion, innovation, sustainability and community.
Later in 2017, support from the Faculty of Education and Social Work along with additional grants, allowed the kiosk project to expand into a small pop-up market that operates out of an existing ESTR classroom and kitchen twice a week.
The ESTR students are involved in many aspects of the enterprise including product development and marketing, along with building relationships with the campus and community. These experiences help to build confidence for practicum placement, future employment and in their professional and personal interactions with diverse groups of people. Students are engaged, proud and take ownership of ESTR’s Market.
During the growth and evolution of ESTR’s Market as a social enterprise—from cart to storefront—there have been many exciting opportunities for student learning and growth, while also supporting the social aims of justice, equity and inclusion.
Contact us for more information or if you are interested in becoming a vendor.
