Grenier: Ottawa is systematically killing the ByWard Market – Ottawa Citizen

Dec 12, 2024

The loss of the farmers’ market, and of unique stores and boutiques, is happening because the City of Ottawa won’t fix the ByWard’s basic problems.

Over the past 20 years, the city has systematically implemented initiatives that ensure the decline of the ByWard Market. This has resulted in the loss of a once-thriving farmers’ market; the loss of most food retail stores; and the loss of small boutiques and service retail stores that make a successful 15-minute neighbourhood. In effect, since amalgamation, which gave rural and suburban councillors majority power on council, the city’s lack of progressive leadership has led to a strategy of failure for its downtown.

The ByWard Market is the prime example of this failure. While the Market retains a single outdoor resale food stall, a diminishing number of stores selling food produce, a few local artisans and a small number of good restaurants, it has become mainly a place to buy T-shirts, goods from the developing world, knickknacks, prepared foods and a place with too many bars and restaurants serving pizzas and hamburgers, something you can find anywhere in Ottawa.

Read More: https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/grenier-ottawa-is-systematically-killing-the-byward-market