Lakeview Market Vendors

Situated on Toronto’s waterfront, Harbourfront Centre is renowned as Canada’s foremost facility for contemporary culture. Our year-round operation offers some 4000 internationally acclaimed events ranging from music, literary and theatrical festivals to children’s activities and craft shops. 

During the summer, Harbourfront Centre presents a schedule of music and cultural weekends, some of which are themed around specific cultural communities and presented at the different venues on site.  

The Lakeview Market is home to a diverse range of crafts and goods originating from countries worldwide, representing Toronto’s cultural diversity and hand-crafted items from local artisans. 

The Lakeview Market is a juried arts, craft and emerging goods market. All applications are reviewed prior to acceptance. You may book individual weekends, or the full festival season at Harbourfront Centre. 

We have a 10-acre lakeside setting, FREE weekend festivals all summer long, millions of annual visitors and so much more! We have a team of wonderful staff who look forward to working with you throughout the season. We provide the following to our vendors: 

• A Vendor Coordinator. 
• An Assistant Vendor Coordinator, on site each weekend working to ensure that everything goes smoothly. 
• Three potential types of booths with different related fees are available within the Lakeview Market:
  • Spacious 10′ x 10′ tented CORNER booth with 2 tables and 2 chairs, OR 
  • Spacious 10′ x 10′ tented STANDARD booth with 2 tables and 2 chairs, OR 
  • Spacious tented 1 table space with 1 table and 2 chairs provided. 
• Access to 1 (one) 15-amp power outlet
• Overnight roaming security. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  

Table spaces: The space provided for you to showcase your products is one six-foot table. Under this category, you cannot bring additional displays or tables to position around the provided table. You cannot extend the size of the table. Not complying with this rule will cause you to lose your space without reimbursement. You can only book one table per weekend. If you require additional space or another table, you must book a 10’ x 10’ booth.

After vendors are approved by the jury, corner booths will be given in priority to vendors that book the whole season, and booths and tables will be given in priority to vendors that book the most weekends.

Yes! We encourage new artisans and vendors to apply. 

Vendors must provide their own lighting, booth display, telecommunications, signage and more. If you want to bring any electrical or display equipment, please detail those on the application form and include the wattage. Our booths are located under tents outdoors, so we have limited electrical supply. Parking fees are not covered by Harbourfront Centre and discounted parking passes are no longer offered to vendors. 

Yes. All vendors must submit photos of their products. You can send in up to six photos to represent what you want to sell. Images are important so that we get a clear idea of the quality and workmanship visible in your products. These images are part of the selection process. We may also use them for promotion and advertising opportunities. 

Lakeview Market is currently located on the west side of the Artport Building, Harbourfront Centre’s main activity area at 235 Queens Quay West. The tents house a total 32 vendor spaces divided into 10×10 booths and 8 table spaces. 

Please note that Harbourfront Centre is undergoing capital improvements this summer that may have an impact on vendor locations.

No. It’s not too late for you to apply. All applications are reviewed and considered, even those received after the deadline. Because we have many returning artists and vendors, we suggest that all new vendors submit their applications as soon as possible, as our festivals do sell out. 

No. You may not promote any other businesses or vendors within your working group. No balloting, giveaways, raffles or any form of contests or prizes are permitted. We also do not allow vendors to collect personal information from our patrons. 

1. The vendor must submit the completed application package, including all required additional documentation. 

2. Products selected for the Lakeview Market are juried. After our jury process, and upon acceptance of your application, we will process your deposit fee(s).  

3. All vendors will receive formal notification as to acceptance status in writing by email specified by the vendor in their application. 

1. The vendor must complete the application package in its entirety including all additional documentation requested by Harbourfront Centre. 

2. Your application package will be reviewed for the quality, uniqueness and salability of your product(s) and overall balance of the category your product(s) falls into. 

3. Vendors are accepted based on the items proposed on the application form and may only sell the approved items detailed in the form. 

4. All vendors must submit photo(s) of the product(s) they plan to sell and a product list with price range. Attractive booth display and clear signage are an important part of our selection process. We will be keeping photos on file for future reference. 

5. We welcome vendors who employ social media and marketing tools, and excellent customer service. 

6. Acceptance of any vendor is in the sole discretion of Harbourfront Centre. 

1. If the JUNIOR Festival or Forest of Reading contract is cancelled by the vendor due to any circumstance on or before April 16, 2024, Harbourfront Centre will refund the money paid to date. 

2. If the JUNIOR Festival or Forest of Reading contract is cancelled by the vendor  after April 16, 2024, vendor forfeits all monies paid. 

3. If the Summer Festival contract is cancelled by the vendor due to any circumstance on or before May 25, 2024, Harbourfront Centre will refund the money paid to date. 

4. If the Summer Festival contract is cancelled by the vendor  after May 25, 2024, vendor forfeits all monies paid. 

5. Unless the vendor cancels the Vendor Agreement by the dates set out above, the vendor may not cancel the Vendor Agreement without the written consent of Harbourfront Centre. Unless otherwise agreed by Harbourfront Centre, all fees paid by the vendor shall be forfeited in the event of a cancellation by the vendor. 

6. If the Vendor Agreement is cancelled by Harbourfront Centre due to a breach of these terms and conditions by the vendor, the vendor shall forfeit all fees paid. 

7. Harbourfront Centre reserves the right to relocation and/or deny booth space and/or close a vendor’s booth and request the vendor to leave Harbourfront Centre’s premises if the vendor is not complying with the terms and conditions set out in this Vendor Agreement, including but not limited to a failure of the vendor to comply with all health and safety standards required as part of their vendor services, and/or if the vendor is behaving in an objectionable fashion. 

8. The vendor hereby waives any right to, and releases Harbourfront Centre from, any and all claims for damages or compensation by reason of Harbourfront Centre exercising its cancellation rights under this Vendor Agreement. 

9. Public attendance and participation are dependent upon weather conditions, demographics and a variety of other factors. Harbourfront Centre shall not be responsible or liable for lack of success for individual vendors, poor food sales based on inclement weather, public attendance, or customer preferences. 

1. Vendors are responsible for their own insurance and must be prepared to provide to Harbourfront Centre a copy of the vendor’s insurance certificate listing “Harbourfront Corporation (1990)” as an additional insured. Certificate of Insurance must include the following: 

• Commercial General Liability Insurance with a minimum of $2,000,000 in coverage. 

• Products and Completed Operations, Tenants Legal Liability and Cross Liability should be included in the General Liability. 

2. Harbourfront Centre is not responsible or liable in any way for any claim by a third party made in connection with the Vendor’s participation in the event/festival and their delivery of vendor services. The vendor hereby agrees to indemnify and save harmless Harbourfront Centre, its directors, officers, servants, employees, agents, volunteers and representatives from and against any and all claims or causes of action, loss, costs, expenses, judgement or damage (including legal expenses and costs) on account of injury or loss to any person or property arising out of the vendor’s participation in the event/festival and/or the delivery of the vendor’s services, howsoever caused. 

Harbourfront Centre will take every reasonable precaution to protect the health and safety of their employees and community in which we operate by maintaining health and safety policies, procedures and programs with the support of the Chief Executive Officer and all senior management. In addition, Harbourfront Centre will comply with the Occupational Health & Safety Act, its regulations and all other applicable legislation. 

Harbourfront Centre requires that at all times vendors abide by Harbourfront Centre Health & Safety Policies and Procedures as well as the requirements of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, and its Regulations. 

At the top of every season, we provide a briefing where we cover important Health & Safety information including emergency procedures as well as hazard identification and risk mitigation. In addition to this briefing, it is expected that vendors will read and abide by the following: 

1. Discrimination, Harassment and Violence Prevention Policy 

Harbourfront Centre values the diversity of its workforce, its patrons and visitors and the community in which we operate and is committed to providing an environment where individuals are treated with dignity and respect. It is the policy of Harbourfront Centre to ensure that the community is afforded a safe work and learning space free of intimidation, discrimination, harassment and violence.  

Harbourfront Centre will work to prevent, remedy and eliminate any such conduct in its workplace through establishing a policy and procedure and training program. 

Harbourfront Centre upholds the principles of the Ontario Human Rights Code, which prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, ancestry, ethnic origin, place of origin, colour, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, creed, citizenship, record of offences, or disability. Personal harassment, while not based on one of these prohibited grounds, can be equally demeaning, intimidating or humiliating and is also covered by this policy. 

In addition, Harbourfront Centre upholds the principles of the Occupational Health and Safety Act regarding workplace harassment and violence and will work to create and maintain a workplace free from violence and harassment as required by this Act. 

Any incidents of discrimination, harassment or violence must be reported immediately to the vendor coordinator at Harbourfront Centre. For any incident of violence or potential violence, the most pressing action is for the person to remove themselves from harm or from the risk, as soon as possible. Once removed from the risk, contact Security immediately at (416) 973 4885, (416) 520 8552, or Emergency Services at 911. 

We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment and/or violence of any kind, and we reserve the right to remove a vendor if their conduct is not in accordance with Harbourfront Centre policies and procedures. 

For additional information, please reference HFC002 Workplace Discrimination, Harassment & Violence Prevention Policy, available from the Vendor Coordinator. 

2. Emergency Procedures 

Prior to starting your shift, please familiarize yourself with the area to locate your nearest emergency exit, emergency equipment and security desk. 

In the event of an evacuation, we have three designated assembly points: Stage in the Park, Ontario Square and the south-side of Queens Quay Terminal. Depending on where you exit the building, please head directly to the nearest assembly point. Ensure that you check in with the Vendor Coordinator. 

• Fire 

In the event of a fire, proceed via the nearest safe stairwell or exit to the recommended assembly area. Check in with the Vendor Coordinator. 

In the event that you encounter a fire, notify any person in the vicinity, leave the room or area and activate the nearest manual pull station. Proceed via the nearest safe stairwell or exit to the recommended assembly area. Check in with the Vendor Coordinator. 

• Inclement Weather 

In the event of a severe weather alert and the site has to be evacuated, you need to seek shelter in a permanent building. Do not seek shelter in a tent as this is not a permanent structure. It is the responsibility of the vendor to check whether inclement weather will affect their commute to and from Harbourfront Centre. If it is unsafe to travel, please contact the Vendor Coordinator. 

• First Aid/Medical 

Report all first aid and medical incidents to Security immediately at (416) 973 4885 or (416) 520 8552. Please note that First Aid can only be provided by trained personnel. 

3. Reporting Hazards 

All health and safety hazards must be reported immediately to the Vendor Coordinator. Commonly encountered hazards may include, but are not limited to: 

• Slippery surfaces 

• Temperature and weather 

• Excessive noise 

• Material handling 

• Chemical exposure 

• Stress/bullying 

• Machinery operating unsafely in the vicinity 

• Ventilation 

4. Cold Stress/Heat Stress 

Applies to vendors that may have to work outdoors during the summer or winter months. 

Cold Stress: When the body is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses may occur, leading to permanent tissue damage and even death. 

Heat Stress: Heat stress causes the body’s core temperature to rise. A series of disorders can develop, ranging from discomfort and pain (heat rash and heat cramps) to life-threatening conditions (heat exhaustion and heat stroke). 

Vendors are expected to: 

• Wear required personal protective equipment. 

• Take adequate breaks. 

• Report all incidents of cold stress and heat stress to the Vendor Coordinator. 

• Report any medical conditions that may increase risks of working in cold and hot weather. 

• Monitor the temperature. 

The Vendor Coordinator will determine if risk of working in cold and/or hot weather is too high. 

5. Slips, Trips and Falls 

Harbourfront Centre is committed to reducing or eliminating the risk of injury from slips, trips and falls in the workplace. Harbourfront Centre will take appropriate and reasonable measures to manage its activities and minimize conditions that may cause an individual to slip, trip or fall. 

Harbourfront Centre expects that all vendors: 

• Wear footwear appropriate in the circumstances. 

• Avoid practices and personal behaviours that may cause slips, trips or falls. 

• Report all incidents of slips, trips or falls to the Vendor Coordinator whether or not an injury has occurred.

1. Pricing, facility use, public safety: Harbourfront Centre reserves the right to intervene in terms of pricing, facility use and public safety to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with the terms of this Vendor Agreement. 

2. Interference with performances: Vendors are asked to respect ongoing performances at Harbourfront Centre. No audio or video devices are allowed in the booths (i.e., portable stereos, radios, CD or DVD players, etc.). The vendor shall cooperate with all reasonable requests by Harbourfront Centre to reduce noise levels to accommodate ongoing performances and programming. 

3. Vendors are responsible for removing their own garbage from in and around their booth(s). All garbage must be disposed of as frequently as required. When taking trips to the garbage area, vendors are not allowed to carry their garbage through the building. All boxes must be flattened when disposed of in the disposal unit. 

4. No balloting, giveaways, raffles or any form of contests or prizes are permitted. No collection of information from any of our patrons is allowed on-site. 

5. Hours of operation: Vendors must keep their booths open and staffed for the entire duration of the operating hours of the Lakeview Market. The Lakeview Market operates rain or shine. Vendors must be in attendance and booths must remain open during the designated hours. The vendor must be ready for business at the designated start time and close promptly at the designated close time. Hours of operation will be strictly enforced. Failure to comply with the operating hour requirements may result in the cancellation of the vendor’s booth with no reimbursement. 

6. Closing early due to weather: If weather conditions call for early closing, an inquiry will be made among all vendors on-site. The consensus to close due to weather will be determined on the majority of vendor consensus or as otherwise may be required by Harbourfront Centre in accordance with its operating policies and procedures. All vendors will be required to comply with the determinations of Harbourfront Centre as set out herein. 

7. Product sales:  Lakeview Market vendors may only sell merchandise that has been agreed upon in advance by Harbourfront Centre. The vendor must provide the products that were approved in the application form and can make no changes or additions. Harbourfront Centre will require vendors to remove items that have not been approved. If the vendor needs to change the product lines from the original application, these new items must be approved by Harbourfront Centre at least one month in advance, before they are displayed to the public. 

8. Booth vendors agree to accept full responsibility for all materials and goods which they use or display in the booth area. 

9. Harbourfront Centre strictly prohibits the sale of the following at the Lakeview Market: 

• Beverages of any kind.  

• Flags of any kind.

• Knock-off designer merchandise (i.e., handbags, jewelry, clothing etc.).

• Mass-produced novelty items/toys/giftware/electronics (i.e., Bubble guns or light sabers).

• Spiritual or religious-themed products. 

• All counterfeit merchandise. 

• Mass produced T-shirts and any type of CDs or DVDs. Harbourfront Centre retains the right to sell these items and also retains the right to allow its festival partners to sell this merchandise. 

10. Staffing and sales tax: The vendor is responsible for booth staffing, collection and remittance of all sales taxes and required Ontario business licenses and all other aspects of running their booth. 

11. Return policy: Booth vendors must post their refund or return policy clearly on their booth. 

12. Any ownership change of business, at any time, requires a new application form. 

1. Parking is the responsibility of, and at the cost of, the vendor. 

2. Harbourfront Centre no longer offers discounted parking passes for vendors. 

3. Vendor agrees to adhere to the load-in and load-out schedule provided by Harbourfront Centre. This schedule will be sent the week of the festival by e-mail with the number and location of the booth. 

4. Vendors are required to be escorted by security personnel while accessing and exiting Harbourfront Centre premises. Cars moving without security escort will be fined. 

5. Load in/out access will be allowed for a short period of time for the purpose of delivering and re-stocking food and/or equipment only. Vendors are allowed a maximum of 30 minutes to park and unload their goods on Harbourfront Centre property. Due to ongoing construction, property access may be limited. Vendors who exceed the time permitted may be issued a parking ticket. 

1. Harbourfront Centre expects each Vendor to decorate their booth(s) and present their merchandise in an attractive manner. Backdrops for booths are not supplied. Please bring your own backdrop for your booth(s). Items such as tablecloths, carpeting, racks and shelving are the responsibility of each vendor. Harbourfront Centre does not provide nails, tape, staples or backdrops, or display lighting for booths. Harbourfront Centre reserves the right to close a booth if its appearance and presentation is deemed not appropriate. 

2. Hanging a flag of any kind is not permitted. 

3. Backdrops, signs and decorations can only be hung from the vendor’s grid system and must be kept within the allocated space. Vendors are not permitted to hang anything from the metal tent frame. 

4. Bringing additional equipment requires Harbourfront Centre’s approval. Unapproved items will not be allowed on-site. 

5. As a mandated fire control measure, absolutely NO halogen lighting is allowed.  

6. You will be provided with 1 (one) 15 amp power outlet.  

7. The use of cord converters is prohibited. Any power / extensions cords must be safe for outdoor use and have surge protector switches on them. 

8. Signage: All signage must be professionally and/or creatively prepared. Management retains the right to remove inappropriate and/or unattractive signs. Samples of the creative must be submitted to Vendor Coordinator for approval. 

9. All grid wall systems must be uninstalled after each weekend. Harbourfront Centre does not allow vendors to keep their grids over the week, even if they’ve booked several weekends. 

1. Harbourfront Centre will assign all booth(s) locations. Locations must be accepted as assigned. Harbourfront Centre also reserves the right to re-assign tent(s)/booth(s) at any time. Vendors are not permitted to change their location without prior approval of Harbourfront Centre. To do so will result in immediate disqualification from the Lakeview Market. 

2. Booth vendors must install, arrange and conduct their exhibits only in the location allotted to them in a neat and orderly manner. Public access routes MUST be kept clear at all times. 

3. Booth vendors are required to confine their exhibit and all exhibit activities within the limits of their allotted space. Products and displays are NOT ALLOWED to be outside the limits of their booth. Salespeople and demonstrators are prohibited from operating in the aisle or in any other location other than that specified in the contract. 

4. Booth vendors are required to confine their exhibit and all exhibit activities within the limits of their allotted space. Products and displays are NOT ALLOWED to be outside the limits of their booth. Salespeople and demonstrators are prohibited from operating in the aisle or in any other location other than that specified in the contract. 

5. Any booth vendor that exceeds their booth boundaries by one foot will be given a written warning. If a booth vendor violates this space agreement more than twice, they will be fined $50 every time thereafter for any further violation. Vendors will not be allowed on the premises until they have paid all fines. Continued disregard may result in cancellation of contract. 

6. If you require more space than the one you booked, please consider purchasing a second booth (this is not allowed for tables) and contact the Vendor Coordinator for more information and availability. 

7. Only vendors in possession of a valid, signed Vendor Agreement from Harbourfront Centre may occupy space at Lakeview Market. 

Vendors are not allowed to sell products in packaging made of single use plastic or Styrofoam. Failure to do so will cause the closure of your booth.

Security will be provided overnight in the Lakeview Market by Harbourfront Centre, beginning at the official closing time of the market, through to the designated opening hour of the following day. Harbourfront Centre will not be responsible for any losses or damages. 

1. Vendor agrees to comply with all laws, regulations, guidelines and directives issued by local, regional, provincial and federal health authorities or such other bodies, as applicable, in the delivery of its services. 
2. Vendor agrees to comply with all COVID-19 related protocols and procedures that may be implemented by Harbourfront Centre from time to time to access its facilities and venues. Harbourfront Centre reserves the right to revise its COVID-19 protocols and policies at any time and the Vendor agrees that it will comply with such revised COVID-19 protocols and policies as may be introduced by Harbourfront Centre. 
3. All risk associated with COVID-19 is assumed by the Vendor. The Vendor agrees that Harbourfront Centre assumes no responsibility or liability with respect to COVID-19 arising from the Vendor’s operations. 
4. If, in the sole discretion of Harbourfront Centre, the Vendor or any member of the Vendor’s personnel fails to comply with the venue access protocols, policies and procedures described above, Harbourfront Centre may, in its sole discretion, terminate this Agreement with no further recourse or obligation. 

1. Harbourfront Centre reserves the right to change, cancel or add any rule or rules at any time for any reasons whatsoever, and to move, relocate, suspend operating privileges or immediately terminate this agreement without prior notification to vendor. 

2. Any violation of the terms of the Vendor Agreement may result in: a written warning and/or loss of booth(s). Loss of booth(s) will result in all monies being forfeited. All decisions made by Harbourfront Centre are final. Vendors will not be allowed on the Harbourfront Centre premises until all fines have been paid.