The Thomas Haney Secondary student council is being recognized for their hard work and dedication in putting on the largest student-led craft fair in the province.
“It surpassed all expectation of what we thought the event was going to look like,” said Reece Reichelt, coordinator of the event and president of the school’s student council.
More than 9,000 people attended the two-day craft fair that featured 120 vendors and six food trucks.
Premier David Eby wrote a letter to the students congratulating them on their success.
“I would like to acknowledge the Thomas Haney Secondary School Student Council, who are responsible for putting on this wonderful community event,” Eby wrote in his letter.
“Student-led initiatives provide important opportunities to learn valuable skills and for the students to show their innovation and leadership. The ongoing success of this event is a great demonstration of what a committed group of young individuals can achieve when they work together.”
Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows MLA and Education and Child Care Minister Lisa Beare presented the letter to the students during the fair.
“It means a lot not only to me personally but to us as a team to have our progress and hard work recognized,” said Reichelt, who is in Grade 12.
There were 78 student volunteers in total that made the event possible on Nov. 23 and 24, 2024. On Friday, volunteers worked together to set up the area, moving around tables, putting up displays, and programming the cash registers.
During the fair on Saturday and Sunday, volunteers were assigned to various roles, including ticket sales and greeting, parking attendants, child care, popcorn sales, raffle ticket sales, event supervision, guest and vendor relations, and technical support. Students also hosted the Culinary Café, featuring an assortment of food and specialty coffee drinks for purchase.
Several Thomas Haney Secondary teachers and staff members were on-site throughout the weekend as sponsors and administrators to provide support where needed.
“Our students were incredible ambassadors for our school and provided exceptional hospitality to vendors and guests all weekend,” said principal Darren Rowell. “They worked as a team with delegated responsibilities and management to ensure all aspects of the event ran smoothly. The level of detail and planning that went into the event was exceptional.”
The Thomas Haney Happening Arts & Crafts Fair has been a staple event in the community since 1993. It was a teacher-led event up until 2017, when it was cancelled and then put on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reichelt decided to bring it back last year as a student-led event, with guidance and encouragement from staff.
In 2023, the craft fair had about 100 vendors. This year, there were 120 vendors with a waitlist of 97.
The community response, Reichelt noted, has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I got to speak with people who used to come to the craft fair for years before it was discontinued and they were able to come back this year and see the show, see everything we built, everything we worked so hard for, and they truly appreciated it,” he said.
One of the vendors, Tammie Gamble, was so impressed with the students that she wrote an email to the school to express her appreciation.
“As a retired teacher, I was amazed at the keen leadership, ingenuity, and dedication that Reece and his fellow volunteer students exhibited throughout not only this weekend but the past year’s preparation!” she wrote. “This was a massive undertaking, and it went off in a spectacular fashion!”
Gamble says she hopes to be a participant in next year’s craft fair as well.
The students were able to raise approximately $32,000 that will go back to the Thomas Haney Secondary community in student scholarships/bursaries and equipment to support school improvement.
“The most fulfilling thing for me was to get to see all us students work together cohesively and have fun while doing it,” said Reichelt.
