By Geneviève Gazaille, City of Ottawa Markets Management
Like many people in Canada, every year, us Ottawans live to welcome the warm weather and the first rays of sun. Lowertown in particular sees a drastic change come the month of May with the awakening of the ByWard Market. Restaurants and bars open their patios, tourists make their way back and vendors line up the streets.
Craft, maple syrup and flower vendors are back at it, and food and flower baskets are filling ByWard Market Square. Whether it is pussy willows, fiddleheads, a new line of artisan goods or energetic buskers, their return can only mean one thing: summer is at our doors!
The outdoor market has been an Ottawa institution since 1826. Along the food retailers, distributors and hotels that lined the streets, people from all over gathered at the ByWard Market to buy and sell their goods. Today, the tradition continues but as the landscape is changing, the ByWard Market has to evolve and be ahead of the game.
It is worth mentioning a few initiatives launched recently that will continue this year. The Authors’ Market is one of these. This program allows local authors to promote and sell their books at the Market in a dedicated space at the corner of ByWard and George. Don’t hesitate to stop by their table if you see them. The Demo Corner – launched two years ago – will also continue this year but in a different location. You will now be able to sample fresh Market products on a stand located amongst the agri-food vendors on ByWard.
A novelty in 2016 will be our Movies in the Market series. Starting with the outdoor screening of Grease on May 20th, a different movie will be shown every month at sundown. We look forward to seeing you!