Ottawa's Byward Market

[rocketphish]

ByWard Market has a 'ruthless' parking enforcement problem
The fines are not cheap, either, adding an extra $40-$130 or more to your excursion, depending on the infraction.

By Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Published Nov 24, 2025 | Last updated 1 hour ago

Ottawa musician Shawn Tavenier has collected several parking tickets this year while trying to make a living as a guitar-playing singer-songwriter.

It stings every time, especially when the fine eats most of his wage, but the one that felt most unfair happened in the ByWard Market during the Easter weekend last spring.

Tavenier had performed at the Chateau Lafayette, and returned the next day to pick up the rest of his gear. He stopped his car in front of the York Street tavern, activated the hazard lights and popped into the bar to grab the city-issued parking permit designed to allow musicians time to load in or out of venues.

The musicians’ and artists’ loading permit was created in 2018 in response to a litany of complaints from musicians who had been ticketed. To acquire the permit, it’s up to the venue owner to apply online, pay a $50 fee and then loan the paper pass out to musicians.

According to the city website: “Each permit card will allow drivers to temporarily park on-street in a “Loading Zone” or signed “No Parking Zone” with the ability to leave vehicles displaying the musician and artist loading permit unattended and/or inactive for up to 15 minutes at a time, in addition to the time spent actively loading/un-loading the vehicle.”

Tavenier was gone for less than two minutes. But by the time he got back with the permit, a parking-control officer was writing him a ticket.

Tavenier reasoned with him, but the official did not recognize the permit.

“The ticket that he gave me was basically for my whole paycheck the day before,” Tavenier said. “It was ruthless.”

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/byward-market-parking-enforcement

[rocketphish]

City pushes to make ByWard Market a national historic site
Councillors asked to approve nomination in hopes feds grant status

Arthur White-Crummey · CBC News
Posted: Dec 02, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

A campaign is in the works to make the ByWard Market a national historic site to help celebrate its 200th birthday.

City staff are recommending councillors approve the nomination to the federal program managed by Parks Canada.

In a report, staff say the status would have little impact on landowners but could boost tourism to the area. It would also result in a bronze commemorative plaque.

The ByWard Market opened in 1827 after Colonel John By had a dense cedar bog drained to create a commercial hub for workers building the Rideau Canal, according to Heritage Ottawa.

Katherine Spencer-Ross, president of Heritage Ottawa, said the looming bicentennial makes now the ideal time for the campaign. She acknowledged the status offers no legal protection but said the market would gain added “cachet” as a national historic site.

“It makes it a little more important than... for instance, a provincial designation or a city designation as a historic district,” she said.

The city staff report calls the market Ottawa’s oldest commercial area and says it merits recognition as a meeting point of French and English cultures.

The area's architecture is rich and varied, displaying “a range of design, materials, workmanship and setting,” the report adds.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ci...arket-a-national-historic-site-9.6999051

[zzptichka]

What I read is “we don’t want to pay to improve it so let’s upload it to Feds”

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

What I read is “we don’t want to pay to improve it so let’s upload it to Feds”

Sounds about right. Probably for the best, honestly.

[rocketphish]

Private security for ByWard Market part of mayor's public safety plan
Many of the investments had previously been announced as part of the city's $5.2 billion budget last month.

By Aedan Helmer, Ottawa Citizen
Published Dec 04, 2025

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe announced increased investments in public safety that includes $1 million to enhance security in the ByWard Market with private security guards to “fill the gaps” and augment the police presence in the heritage district.

The announcement came as part of the mayor’s public safety action plan that was unveiled Thursday as Sutcliffe was joined by Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs, Ottawa Paramedic Chief Pierre Poirier and Ottawa Fire Services Chief Paul Hutt at City Hall.

Many of the investments had previously been announced as part of the city’s $5.2 billion budget last month, including the hiring of 21 new sworn police officers and four special constables, 23 new paramedics and a $3.6 million investment in new self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighters.

The public safety action plan follows similar campaign-style events at the mayor’s office, with the housing action plan, youth homelessness strategy and primary care action plan unveiled in recent months.

Sutcliffe announced a $1-million investment on Thursday for a two-year pilot project in the ByWard Market that will see private security guards “fill some of the gaps in service hours and at key locations in the Market.”

The announcement comes after multiple requests from the tourism industry and the small business community in the ByWard Market, which has seen an increase in open-air drug use and rising low-level crime.

The historic neighbourhood is well-known as a prime tourist destination with further investments planned for the 200th anniversary of the founding of Bytown next year and similar celebrations for the ByWard Market’s 200th anniversary in 2027.

Sutcliffe said a number of hotels, nightclubs and other businesses in the area already employ private security, and the city’s investment in private security will be “supplementary” and “complementary” to existing police patrols.

Stubbs said the multi-agency Neighbourhood Operations Centre in the Rideau Centre at 50 Rideau Street has made a positive impact on policing the district since opening in June 2024.

The Ottawa Police Service also operates its Market Safe program with dedicated officers posted to the area, and there are plans to expand the OPS mounted unit into the ByWard Market.

Stubbs said 14 more police officers will be assigned to the neighbourhood resource team on Dec. 15 with a focus on “proactive work in the downtown core, more presence, more problem solving, and quicker support for residents and businesses” in neighbourhoods like Centretown, Lowertown and the Market.

“These new resources will make a difference on the ground,” Stubbs said.

“Ottawa continues to grow with more residents, more demands, more density and pressure on the Ottawa Police Service. We see that managing our vulnerable population in regards to social disorder in the downtown core, from the increase in auto thefts, cyber crime, fraud, intimate partner violence, shoplifting and, of course, mental health calls,” he said.

The investment in public safety “recognizes the need to support our first responders, and it recognizes the fact that we need to hire more of them,” Sutcliffe said, “but it also makes room for new approaches to support the community.”

Sutcliffe touted the success of the Alternative Neighbourhood Crisis Response Program (ANCHOR), which handled 4,464 calls in its first year of operations since launching in August 2024. About 93 per cent of those calls were placed directly to the program’s 2-1-1 crisis line and were handled without police intervention.

Sutcliffe said the ANCHOR program “relieves the burden placed on police, firefighters and paramedics to respond to non-emergency situations, and it delivers a more acute mental health and outreach service on the ground.”

The program has received “overwhelmingly positive” reviews from community partners and is set to expand beyond the current boundaries in Centretown with a further $700,000 investment in the city’s 2026 budget.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/private-security-byward-market

[phil235]

I'm not usually a fan of private security patrolling neighbourhoods, but that is usually in the case of a high end residential neighbourhood trying to keep the riff raff at bay. Or in the case of Westmount "police", serving bylaw noise violations at 11:01 pm (not that I have any personal experience with that one).

I think this case is quite different, as the Market is a meeting place for the whole city rather than some kind of exclusive enclave, it attracts large numbers of people, and for better or worse there is a public perception in some (mostly suburban) circles that it is unsafe. A visible security presence, if unobtrusive, can be helpful in dealing with that perception and possibly helping with the general public disorder issues that the broader population has had enough of.

[J.OT13]

We gave the Cops a bigger budget to patrol the Market, we gave them horseys and we gave them a shiny new break room. Market still hasn't improved, so we're now hiring want to be cops to patrol the Market in addition for 60% of what we need to get trains back at running every 5 minutes all day (but that we can't afford).

[eltodesukane]

Rideau Center bathroom yesterday
(and I saw worse at the Rideau Sussex underpass)

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Market still hasn't improved.

Has it not? There seems to be quite a lot of anecdotal and empirical evidence that it is improving. If crime or visitor numbers are the measure, they are both going in the right direction. Definitely less visible disorder as well.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by phil235

Has it not? There seems to be quite a lot of anecdotal and empirical evidence that it is improving. If crime or visitor numbers are the measure, they are both going in the right direction. Definitely less visible disorder as well.

It was my understanding that things had improved.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

ByWard Market has a 'ruthless' parking enforcement problem
The fines are not cheap, either, adding an extra $40-$130 or more to your excursion, depending on the infraction.

By Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Published Nov 24, 2025 | Last updated 1 hour ago

Ottawa musician Shawn Tavenier has collected several parking tickets this year while trying to make a living as a guitar-playing singer-songwriter.

It stings every time, especially when the fine eats most of his wage, but the one that felt most unfair happened in the ByWard Market during the Easter weekend last spring.

Tavenier had performed at the Chateau Lafayette, and returned the next day to pick up the rest of his gear. He stopped his car in front of the York Street tavern, activated the hazard lights and popped into the bar to grab the city-issued parking permit designed to allow musicians time to load in or out of venues.

The musicians’ and artists’ loading permit was created in 2018 in response to a litany of complaints from musicians who had been ticketed. To acquire the permit, it’s up to the venue owner to apply online, pay a $50 fee and then loan the paper pass out to musicians.

According to the city website: “Each permit card will allow drivers to temporarily park on-street in a “Loading Zone” or signed “No Parking Zone” with the ability to leave vehicles displaying the musician and artist loading permit unattended and/or inactive for up to 15 minutes at a time, in addition to the time spent actively loading/un-loading the vehicle.”

Tavenier was gone for less than two minutes. But by the time he got back with the permit, a parking-control officer was writing him a ticket.

Tavenier reasoned with him, but the official did not recognize the permit.

“The ticket that he gave me was basically for my whole paycheck the day before,” Tavenier said. “It was ruthless.”

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/byward-market-parking-enforcement

I found the appeal process pretty straightforward. They reversed a questionable ticket a few months ago with attached photos showing my car location and my unexpired parking receipt. Assuming he accurately described the situation to the media, they would probably reverse it.

[rocketphish]

Committee approves bid to designate ByWard Market a national historic site
There would be no new regulations, no additional permit processes and no transfers of ownership or management

By Aedan Helmer, Ottawa Citizen
Published Dec 09, 2025 | Last updated 1 hour ago

The city is moving forward with a bid to designate the ByWard Market as a federally recognized national historic site ahead of the heritage district’s 200th anniversary celebrations in 2027.

Ottawa’s built heritage committee approved a staff recommendation on Tuesday to nominate the ByWard Market to the National Historic Site program, operated by Parks Canada for sites that meet criteria established by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

In a presentation to the committee, heritage planning staff said the Market “strongly” meets the criteria for sites associated with people, places or events of national historical significance.

If the application is successful, a commemorative plaque would be installed, though there would be no further regulatory requirements for property or business owners within the heritage boundary.

Coun. Rawlson King, chair of the built heritage committee, said the designation would be “honorific” as the Market is already protected as a heritage conservation district under the Ontario Heritage Act. There would be no new regulations, no additional permit processes and no transfers of ownership or management, King said.

“What this designation does provide is both national and international recognition, enhanced tourism appeal and the pride of being part of a National Historic Site,” King said.

“For nearly 200 years, the ByWard Market has been the heart of our city. It predates Ottawa and the country’s existence, and this is where French, Irish and English cultures converged and created the bilingual character that defines our national capital today. This is where generations of immigrants and working-class people first found community and commerce in Canada.

“The Market meets every criterion that Parks Canada has established for National Historic Site designation, and I think it does so exceptionally well.”

King said the upcoming bicentennial presents “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to recognize the Market’s significance and ensure the timeline aligns with the 200th anniversary celebrations planned for 2027.

The ByWard Market was established in 1827, one year after construction commenced on the Rideau Canal, and was one of the first public markets and the city’s oldest commercial area.

“Today, the ByWard Market has a rich cultural heritage and played a significant role in shaping the city as national capital,” said senior heritage planner MacKenzie Kimm in a presentation to the committee.

“It’s comprised of buildings and structures and spaces that reflect a range of architectural styles, but also its evolution over time. It’s associated with nationally important individuals and events, and together it reflects nationally important themes, including Indigenous history, Ottawa as an important lumber town, the commercial hub, French-Canadian culture and history and bilingualism.”

The designation would present an opportunity to conserve the built character of the Market, Kimm said, and would heighten awareness of the significance of the district from a national perspective.

Jillian Stewart commended the city for pursuing the designation as she spoke to the committee on behalf of the Properties Group and a group of landlords who own commercial property in the Market.

“We want to continue and thrive as one of Ottawa’s true economic and touristic tools, and so we strongly support the city’s efforts to pursue the designation of the ByWard Market as a National Historic Site, recognizing its unique character and historical significance,” Stewart said. “These properties have been significant in shaping Ottawa’s identity, and we really do think that this designation would help pursue this and preserve this legacy.”

There are currently 26 national historic sites in the National Capital Region, including Notre Dame Basilica on Sussex Drive, Rideau Hall, Château Laurier, Beechwood Cemetery and the Parliament Buildings. Two of the sites — Laurier House and the Rideau Canal — are administered by Parks Canada.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/byward-market-national-historic-site-bid

[eltodesukane]

What work is being done on William Street between Rideau and George,
for so many months already?

[J.OT13]

We want to make the Market look like a disaster for the 200th. Historically accurate maybe?

[sclement12]

They had half the length of the drain grate (with the historical dates and events on it) dug up about 6 feet deep. Unsure of exactly what they did with it all excavated though. They filled it all back in and relay the interlock over the last couple of weeks. I believe they may be prepping to do the second half, at the George end of William soon.

[rocketphish]

Extreme snowmobiling to rev up ByWard Market during Winterlude
Barbegazi is the first Ottawa show produced by Tribu Ex­péri­en­tiel, a Montreal company that brings extreme sports to urban locations.

By Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Published Jan 18, 2026 | Last updated 8 hours ago

A new event called Barbegazi will bring screaming snowmobiles and their carbon emissions to the ByWard Market during the 2026 edition of Winterlude, but it’s a spectacle that’s not ruffling the president of the Lowertown Community Association.

“It’s all about balance,” association president Sylvie Bigras said of the freestyle snowmobile event slated for Feb. 6-8. ”We are excited about the attention and recognition that’s starting to be paid again to the historic ByWard Market. This is Bytown in its original form; it’s one of the oldest parts of Canada. We want people to come here.”

Bigras believes the event offers a good preview of how York Street will work as a pedestrian plaza, a feature that’s part of the ByWard Market revitalization plan and expected to be created by 2027, the year the Market celebrates its 200th anniversary.

“We’ve been very strong advocates in pushing for York Street to actually become a plaza. It’s about making it a people place,” she said, listing the greenery, lighting, walkability and occasional major events as key elements of the revitalization. “We see nothing wrong with that.”

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/extreme-snowmobiling-winterlude

[rocketphish]

Six overlooked ways to make the ByWard Market better
How Ottawa responds to homelessness, traffic, vacant buildings and food culture may decide the Market’s next chapter.

By Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Published Jan 22, 2026 | Last updated 2 hours ago | 4 minute read

In the 12 months since this newspaper launched our Fixing ByWard series, we’ve covered many of the struggles that plague the historic heart of Ottawa.

Our stories have touched on crime, security, addiction and homelessness, as well as the openings and closings of businesses in the area, the perennial debate between cars and pedestrians and the events that bring throngs of people, including tourists, downtown.

Along the way, there’s been no shortage of ideas and opinions on how to reinvent the Market as it gears up for its 200th anniversary in 2027. Some of the initiatives, such as last winter’s mini artificial skating rink, were not well-received, but others, including the revival of Nuit Blanche, are eagerly anticipated.

In between the items that made news in the ByWard Market were a few that didn’t get much attention. Here are six suggestions, from ByWard business owners, community leaders, residents and other observers, worthy of second looks in 2026.

• Take action on homelessness
• Learn to live without cars
• Fill vacant buildings
• Bring back a farmers’ market
• Connect the courtyards
• Develop the fringe

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/life/make-byward-market-better

[J.OT13]

From OBJ based on a quote from Sutcliffe during the NCC Board Meeting:

ByWard Market a priority for city, mayor says
In his municipal update to the NCC board, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said next year could be a “turning point” for the ByWard Market, with more development and increased security, adding that the Market will be a priority for the city in the lead-up to the historic area’s 200th anniversary in 2027.

“We are working hard to improve the ByWard Market. We have a couple of properties in the ByWard Market that we are excited about and could be candidates for redevelopment in the future,” Sutcliffe said.

In 2021, the city approved a $129-million plan to revitalize the ByWard Market by adding pedestrian plazas and a new “destination building” at 70 Clarence St., currently a parking garage. The city also approved plans to rehabilitate the historic ByWard Market Heritage Hall at 55 ByWard Market Sq.

In 2024, the province announced $20 million in tourism and downtown revitalization funding, of which $11.8 million was earmarked to turn William Street into a permanent pedestrian street. Construction is set to start this year.

https://obj.ca/ncc-ceo-gives-update-on-lebreton-flats-project/

[rocketphish]

Mayor unveils short-term and long-term plan for ByWard Market, including pedestrian streets

By Josh Pringle, CTV News
Updated: February 19, 2026 at 1:26PM EST | Published: February 19, 2026 at 10:21AM EST

The City of Ottawa is going to pedestrianize streets in the ByWard Market, revitalize the historic ByWard Market building and eventually convert a parking garage into a “mixed-use destination,” as part of a multi-million-dollar, long-term makeover of the tourist area.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe unveiled the ByWard Market Action Plan during the Downtown Ottawa Forum on Thursday, outlining the city’s plan to revitalize public spaces in the tourist area. The ByWard Market turns 200 years old in 2027.

“The ByWard Market is such a vital part of our city’s history,” Sutcliffe said in his speech.

“When people think of Ottawa, the market is one of the first things that comes to mind. It’s a symbol of Ottawa.“

Sutcliffe said the ByWard Market Action Plan provides “clear and specific steps to build on the history” of the market area and “restore the Market to its vital place as the heart of the city.”

The mayor announced several short-term measures to boost the ByWard Market, including:

• Sutcliffe says the city will “do more to animate the ByWard Market,” including introducing new outdoor dining terraces.”
• Enhancing lighting, adding public art and increasing cleaning and beautification efforts.
• Converting the municipal parking garage at 70 Clarence Street to three-hour pay and display “to encourage turnover and increase the availability of short-term parking,” Sutcliffe said.

The three long-term opportunities the City of Ottawa is exploring are:

• Reimagining the ByWard Market Building at 55 ByWard Market Square. “This building is the symbolic heart of the market. It’s bustling and well used. But it could use a big refresh,” Sutcliffe said. The city will add a second-floor outdoor patio on the south-side of the building.
• The Transformation of York Street as part of work to replace sewers and water mains in 2028. Sutcliffe said there could be a “big plaza” to host cultural programming and major events on York Street.
• Sutcliffe said the city is proposing creating a new destination at 70 Clarence Street, calling it a “vibrant hub for culture and the arts, a gathering space for residents and tourists.”

Sutcliffe said he would be “pushing for underground parking” to replace the parking garage at 70 Clarence Street.

The ByWard Market Revitalization Plan also calls for a William Street and Market Square redesign, saying it will improve “key corridors to encourage visitors to explore and stay longer, including the roll-out of the animated Market Square redesign.”

Sutcliffe says the ByWard Market Action Plan will “increase compassionate supports and solutions,” including dedicated paramedics stationed in the area for “rapid response and outreach.”

Council approved the $129 million ByWard Market Public Realm Plan in 2021, with the city saying it would “guide the evolution of the market’s public space.” The plan pledged to have “pedestrians come first,” with pedestrian spaces on George, York and Clarence streets.

In December 2024, the Ontario government announced $20 million for revitalizing downtown Ottawa, including $11.8 million to enhance the ByWard Market and transform William Street into a pedestrian-only street.

City staff say the full report on the ByWard Market Action Plan will be released on Friday as part of the agenda for the March 3 meeting of the finance and corporate services committee.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ma...ard-market-including-pedestrian-streets/

[rocketphish]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ma...ard-market-including-pedestrian-streets/