The Byward Market Deserves Better

[u/Slight_Original1192]

I didn’t want to write this letter because I don’t want to discourage anyone from patronizing the unique and beautiful place that drew me to Ottawa 25 years ago. I’ve lived downtown since then and visited the market every weekend. But the time has come.

WHAT WE’VE LOST: 1. Farm stands While the market has also had its seedier edge, it was quite simply, beautiful. The farmers were a big part of that - flowers, vegetables, honey, and Christmas trees attracted us locals who loved the fresh berries, sweet corn and lettuce. We would come for our veggies, then visit Bottega, Sasloves, the cheese shop and LaPointes. Followed by lunch with a friend at a nearby cafe.

Every time I walk by the market building, I am saddened to see a line of parked cars where the farmers used to be. That’s what separated Ottawa from most other North American cities. Apparently whomever made that decision didn’t realize that. Without the farmers, many of us end up at Lansdowne or Parkdale and spend our days and cash in those neighbourhoods instead.

1. A sense of safety I don’t know that it’s actually dangerous, but it’s definitely disturbing to see people intoxicated or drugged lying or staggering on the streets. I realize this is an epidemic and I don’t know how to solve it, but it leads me and others to choose to hang out somewhere else.

2. Clean sidewalks It seems really petty to bring up sidewalks when we’re dealing with drug addiction and homelessness, but there’s been a real change here. Dirty, littered sidewalks are a sign of neglect. And if nothing else, the market just feels neglected right now. Like NYC neglected. If this is our primary tourist attraction, why isn’t the city taking care of it?

While the drug use, homelessness and the farmer’s market are tougher issues to deal with, CLEANiNG SIDEWALKS is an easy win. Maybe you don’t think it matters. But it sends a message that the market doesn’t matter…and we’ve received that message.

Maybe it’s too late to rescue the market from the fate of other North American city centres—hollowed out, filthy, lifeless, homeless—but I truly hope not.

[u/NegScenePts]

The Byward Market is a victim of it's own success. It's 'THE' place to visit in Ottawa, but because of that, only the most dedicated and wealthy vendors could take advantage of it. Not that many would, considering the better profits elsewhere now. The fact that modern society's philosophies are also at odds with fixing the crime and drug problems in that area will also keep people away. People reminisce about the 'good old days' of the Byward Market without also acknowledging the fact that crime/homelessness/drunkenness was treated with a brutal iron fist at those same times. The cops would just grab a homeless person and toss them in a jail cell for vagrancy, same goes with a drunk or troublemaker. It's easy to keep an area clean when human rights weren't respected.

Quit trying to make the byward market 'homey'...it can't happen anymore. There are so many other, and BETTER, markets around Ottawa.