By Thida Ith, Senior Manager, Strategic Communications and Events
Marchés d’Ottawa Markets started in our new home at the ByWard Market building in January 2018. We are honoured to have our offices in a heritage building with so much history. Our first year was rich of learning opportunities as we work through the ins and outs of running a historic market and understand the parameters to maintaining and improving a heritage building.
We are now in our second spring and we are ramping up for market season. In 2019, we will continue in that same vein and we hope to keep enhancing the market experience for all, especially for families. We hope to do so by building on our relationship with our different neighbours and partners, such as the Lowertown Community Association.
For example, we have been busy attending different presentations and participating at various workshops about the ByWard Market Public Realm study led by the City. Lots of excellent ideas are floating around to improve pedestrian access and enhance our overall experience at the ByWard Market. We are eager to do our part and to work with the community to create a lively and vibrant ByWard Market.
In November 2018, we launched the Point of View Gallery on the second-floor mezzanine of the market building. It is a great way to showcase the work of local artists and photographers. Currently the exhibition Canadian Nature and People is on display and it features the work of Louise Radmore, Katherine Fulwinder, Jon Stuart, Michael Vuckovic and Sylvie Rabourin.
And lastly, let’s not forget our efforts to keep ByWard Market as the centre for food and unique products. For example, we are currently working on bringing honey bees to the market. At Marchés d’Ottawa Markets, we recognize that we have an important role to protect our food systems, and we keep looking for ways to do our part in that area.
Different plans are still in progress and the details are still being ironed out, but we hope to bring back cooking demos, gardening workshops and other family-friendly activities. Stay tuned for more information!
As we are getting more comfortable in our home that is 55 ByWard Market Square, we hope you can join us this year and enjoy the market experience with us.
Make sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date on our latest news (Twitter: @ottawamarkets; Instagram: @OttawaMarkets; Facebook: @MarketsOttawa). If you have ideas and suggestions for our events and programming, feel free to contact us at: info@ottawamarkets.ca