A sure sign of the Christmas season in Yellowknife is the start of the holiday market season.

Mildred Hall School hosted a market of its own on Sunday in the school鈥檚 gymnasium. It was the first market hosted by the school since 2019; the pandemic had forced the cancellation of it between 2020 and 2022.

Elizabeth Brace, the school鈥檚 principal, said it鈥檚 a way for people to do holiday shopping, but there鈥檚 a fundraising component to it also.

鈥淔unds from the tables that people pay to rent the tables go towards our school funds,鈥� she said.  

Around 30 vendors were at the market to sell such items as arts and crafts, paintings, carvings and baked goods.

Brace said many of the items were homemade.

In addition to the market, there was a bake sale with the proceeds going towards Christmas hampers for families in need. Fees from the table rentals will also be donated to the hamper total.

Brace said the school works with Adopt-a-Family to help give out the hampers.

As well, there was a blanket raffle to support a school family affected by the fire at Garden Town Homes last month. All funds raised from the raffle will be used to help the family furnish their new home.

James Wedzin, an artist from Behchoko, was one of the vendors at the market.

He said Christmas is a big part of his business for the year.

鈥淲e try to do most of the Christmas stuff because we get a lot of clients asking to see us at Christmas, so we try to make some of the shows like this one,鈥� he said.

Wedzin鈥檚 artwork includes a four-season painting that depicts winter, spring, summer, and fall. He also creates paintings of the 快盈v3 lights that glow in the dark.