Shipyards Night Market returns to Lower Lonsdale with new food trucks—and a dedication to its late founder

Ingrid Doerr was a beloved member of the local mountain-biking community

by Gail Johnson on May 14th, 2019 at 12:56 PM

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North Vancouver's Shipyards Night Market is back for the 2019 season, with new features and foods by the water every Friday evening.

This year’s event is especially poignant, as it’s being dedicated to the event’s late founder, who was a legend in the local mountain-biking community.

Ingrid Doerr, who passed away last fall at age 50, founded the Shipyards Night Market in 2011.

Legacy.com

Eight years ago, Ingrid Doerr launched the North Vancouver market, which takes place at the historic Shipyards Plaza, not far from the SeaBus terminal.

Doerr passed away in September 2018 at age 50. A former bike courier, she started Roach Apparel & Armour, through which she’s known as the woman who forever changed mountain-biking clothing and gear.

Roach Apparel & Armour founder Ingrid Doerr circa 1993.

Kerri Holmes.

"In the 90s, while the cycling world at large was wrapped in Lycra and chasing podiums, the Vancouver scene didn't really have its own identity yet," an article published in the Squamish-based mountain-biking website Pinkbike said. "But that changed with Ingrid—if you rode on the 'Shore back then, you knew of her and her company, Roach Clothing.

"She was far more than Roach, though, with countless stories of her helping friends in need, her cantina [Five & Dime], and of course the Shipyards Night Market," it continued. "Her impact on mountain biking is incalculable, but that's dwarfed by her contribution to the community of Vancouver.

An avid skier and hiker, Doerr was also an animal lover, and she made sure to make the Shipyards Night Market dog-friendly.

“Since 2011, Lower Lonsdale has been the place to be on Friday nights,” says Monika McLachlan, Doerr's older sister and the market’s new manager. “We will continue to operate as Ingrid would have wanted and will keep her dream alive to unite and celebrate our community.”

This year, the market hosts more than 150 food and artisan vendors and has a 350-person beer garden along with live music by local acts, all with Vancouver Harbour and the city skyline as its picturesque backdrop.

Buddha-Full's new vegan double-decker Buddha Bus will be at this year's Shipyards Night Market in Lower Lonsdale.

Buddha-Full/Instagram.

The market’s “hot food alley” has about 30 food trucks and stations. New this year Buddha-Full’s vegan double-decker bus, the Buddha-Bus, as well as the Chowdery and Truckin BBQ, while returning favourites include Reel Mac & Cheese, Rolling Cashew, and Tacofino. There’s also gelato, kettle corn, pocket pies, crepes, Slavic rolls, and more.

New to the indoor/outdoor artisan marketplace is a used book trailer. Also on offer are baked goods, spirits, ciders, preservers, chocolate, and candies, as well as jewellery, clothes, plants, and soaps, and other locally made goods.

The Shipyards Night Market runs every Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. until September 27. More info is here.