Byward Market (Ottawa)

[Bytown]

I was there a few weeks back and wow has it ever gone down hill.Not really a nice family place any more.

[Absolute]

What time were you there at? I've spent allot of time there the past few years, and only noticed that it's not a "family" area during prime bar time. There have always been problems in the area, but with the buskers on Williams Street, the farmer's market, and some of the nice architecture, it's still a nice place.

[Bytown]

It was around 5:00.

[epiphony]

You live in Ottawa, and yet it seems like this is your first time in the market in 10 years or something. It's a nice place for small grocery stores and delis, places to eat, a few places to shop; but it's pretty obvious that after hours it becomes a nightclub area, that is probably not ideal for families with younger children. During the day though, there's nothing wrong with the market.

Care to explain why you think it's gone downhill?

[Bytown]

You live in Ottawa, and yet it seems like this is your first time in the market in 10 years or something. It's a nice place for small grocery stores and delis, places to eat, a few places to shop; but it's pretty obvious that after hours it becomes a nightclub area, that is probably not ideal for families with younger children. During the day though, there's nothing wrong with the market.

Care to explain why you think it's gone downhill?

There is much much more to ottawa then downtown.I live in nepean there is more then enough for the most part in the west.BY the market i mean the farmers buildings it self justa few of the things that i did notice.

1)Building has not been upgraded in years.

2)People making out up stairs.

3)People shooting up in the bathroom.

[epiphony]

There is much much more to ottawa then downtown.I live in nepean there is more then enough for the most part in the west.BY the market i mean the farmers buildings it self justa few of the things that i did notice.

1)Building has not been upgraded in years.

2)People making out up stairs.

3)People shooting up in the bathroom.

I've been here for over 4 years. I keep hearing reports about drug use in Ottawa (especially recently with the crack pipe program being scrapped), but never once have I seen a deal go down, somebody smoking crack, or somebody shooting up. I've seen a lot of joint smoking, but that's about it.

[Bytown]

I've been here for over 4 years. I keep hearing reports about drug use in Ottawa (especially recently with the crack pipe program being scrapped), but never once have I seen a deal go down, somebody smoking crack, or somebody shooting up. I've seen a lot of joint smoking, but that's about it.

These people were shooting up.

[3weddings]

I've been here for over 4 years. I keep hearing reports about drug use in Ottawa (especially recently with the crack pipe program being scrapped), but never once have I seen a deal go down, somebody smoking crack, or somebody shooting up. I've seen a lot of joint smoking, but that's about it.

Over the three years that my husband has working in GOA, everytime we come to GOA, we LOVE going to the market. The kids look forward to it. Toronto's Esplanade doesn't come close to your market.

That being said, while crossing the street into the mall, we actually saw four separate people passing little packages back and forth, right on Rideau!! Where all the bus stops are smells, and is unkempt. Thank goodness once you hit George St, reminds you that the area is actually a pretty market.

It's unfortunate that it's a little run down, and that we are uncomfortable being there at night. It's still a not to miss place to go while in Ottawa, especially since it's so close to the museums etc.

[mself084]

Rideau St is brutal from Dalhousie to Sussex - the whole place just looks dirty. Hopefully with new police officers around the area, and Rideau Centre expanding, it will clear up alot.

But how can you say the whole market sucks? It's always busy with tourists, vendors and Ottawa folk...tons of little stores, restaurants, etc. I've seen people smoke the occasional joint, but never have I seen rampant drug use or people making out (at least not during the day...at 1-2am its different).

What part of Nepean do you live in?

[Bytown]

Rideau St is brutal from Dalhousie to Sussex - the whole place just looks dirty. Hopefully with new police officers around the area, and Rideau Centre expanding, it will clear up alot.

But how can you say the whole market sucks? It's always busy with tourists, vendors and Ottawa folk...tons of little stores, restaurants, etc. I've seen people smoke the occasional joint, but never have I seen rampant drug use or people making out (at least not during the day...at 1-2am its different).

What part of Nepean do you live in?

I never said the whole market places was bad.Its just the farmer building and yes its in a very bad way.I did talk to some friends and they said the drug use and making out does happen a good deal of time.

[Absolute]

Rideau definitely needs some cleanup; and King Edward as well, it's disgusting to see.

[Nikita]

I lived in Ottawa for 8 years, the last 4 right in the center of the market area. It rocked. I loved the vendors, fresh food I could pick up each night on my way home from work, the buskers, the shopping, the plethora or restaurants, the night life.....the entire ambiance. I haven't been there in a couple years and I'd be very disappointed if in fact they've let the market get run down. Some areas have always been areas to stay away from, like Rideau... altho when I was there Rideau St. from Dalhousie to Sussex wasn't at all run down, more north was a bit seedy. Sandy Hill and a few residential areas around the market could pose worrisome for the illegal, mostly drug activity. But personally I never encountered any bigger promblems in the area save for the beggers, who were more annoying than worrisome.

[enko]

FYI a ton of veggies the "farmers" sell are just store bought and dumped out of their bags into containers and marked up. I worked in the market for 3 years, walked by every morning when they were setting up.

[rubberband]

I live nearby and probably come through the market 3-4 times per week. Go out to eat down there almost exclusively these days. I agree that Rideau between sussex and Dalhousie is in a bad way, but I have no idea what you're talking about as for everything else though... I've never once seen open drug use (short of the odd joint here and there) anywhere in the main part of the market, ever.

Between the restaurants, grocery stores full of cool stuff, shopping, parliment/museum area, pubs and everything else I can't see how it wouldn't be a good place to spend an afternoon with your family.

[Bytown]

I live nearby and probably come through the market 3-4 times per week. Go out to eat down there almost exclusively these days. I agree that Rideau between sussex and Dalhousie is in a bad way, but I have no idea what you're talking about as for everything else though... I've never once seen open drug use (short of the odd joint here and there) anywhere in the main part of the market, ever.

Between the restaurants, grocery stores full of cool stuff, shopping, parliment/museum area, pubs and everything else I can't see how it wouldn't be a good place to spend an afternoon with your family.


Do you want to have your child see people making out our shooting up i think not.

[3weddings]

As much as I appreciate the sentiment OP. We cannot shelter our children from everything. My dd's are 10, 8 and 6 and they WILL ask when they are curious, and yes I had to come up with a fast answer, I believe honesty is the best policy.

I really don't think from a 'visitors' POV that the area is THAT bad. It's still a great place for the tourists to come to. We love getting henna tattoos, a sandwich and lining up for some Beavertail. It's part of what we do when we come to Ottawa!

Most cities have plenty of negatives, and in Ottawa Rideau happens to be it. I personally enjoy our weekends there, as it is in general a clean city with lots to do.

[Bytown]

As much as I appreciate the sentiment OP. We cannot shelter our children from everything. My dd's are 10, 8 and 6 and they WILL ask when they are curious, and yes I had to come up with a fast answer, I believe honesty is the best policy.

I really don't think from a 'visitors' POV that the area is THAT bad. It's still a great place for the tourists to come to. We love getting henna tattoos, a sandwich and lining up for some Beavertail. It's part of what we do when we come to Ottawa!

Most cities have plenty of negatives, and in Ottawa Rideau happens to be it. I personally enjoy our weekends there, as it is in general a clean city with lots to do.

I am not saying shelter them 100%.However it goes to what the toronto star reporter said is ottawa the worse city in canada in terms of feeling safe and so on.

[Absolute]

I am not saying shelter them 100%.However it goes to what the toronto star reporter said is ottawa the worse city in canada in terms of feeling safe and so on.

Strange, I feel more safer in Ottawa than in Toronto or Montreal!

[Bytown]

Strange, I feel more safer in Ottawa than in Toronto or Montreal!

There are parts of ottawa that are bad granted.Maybe what went down at the market was rare.With that said last weekend a toronto star went on a rant saying ottawa is a national disgarce and she feels safer in ny and la.

[cmge]

I am not saying shelter them 100%.However it goes to what the toronto star reporter said is ottawa the worse city in canada in terms of feeling safe and so on.

o_O ;; .. no way.. i feel safer in ottawa than toronto... not to mention the cleaner air... even the sketchiest parts of ottawa does not compare to the ones in here in toronto...

[Diamondog]

I am not saying shelter them 100%.However it goes to what the toronto star reporter said is ottawa the worse city in canada in terms of feeling safe and so on.

Grow up.

[mart242]

FYI a ton of veggies the "farmers" sell are just store bought and dumped out of their bags into containers and marked up. I worked in the market for 3 years, walked by every morning when they were setting up.

That happens a lot. I bought a bunch of raspberries and blackberries from the parkdale market a year or two ago because it said "local"... The week after, I noticed that they were simply opening the plastic containers (from the grocery store) and putting them in little cardboard baskets with the wood handles... as if they had been fresh picked. I stopped buying from them.

Now, I go to the Acorn Creek Farm in the west-end (Carp). It's MUCH better and everything is grown at their farm.

[mself084]

There are parts of ottawa that are bad granted.Maybe what went down at the market was rare.With that said last weekend a toronto star went on a rant saying ottawa is a national disgarce and she feels safer in ny and la.

Could have swore it was the Toronto SUN - maybe I'm wrong?

Anyways that type of writing is to sell newspapers... do you think the crime/drug use in Ottawa is worse than LA?

Sorry dude but basing your opinion on one building in the Byward Market is crazy - the market is what.... 3-4 blocks wide, and 5-6 blocks deep? I used to work at a restaurant on York St (was there 5-6 days a week) for 2 years and I never saw rampant drug use, run down buildings, and people making out everywhere... maybe you need to take another trip.

PS You never answered me about where in Nepean you live.

[Nikita]

FYI a ton of veggies the "farmers" sell are just store bought and dumped out of their bags into containers and marked up. I worked in the market for 3 years, walked by every morning when they were setting up.

That happens a lot. I bought a bunch of raspberries and blackberries from the parkdale market a year or two ago because it said "local"... The week after, I noticed that they were simply opening the plastic containers (from the grocery store) and putting them in little cardboard baskets with the wood handles... as if they had been fresh picked. I stopped buying from them.

Now, I go to the Acorn Creek Farm in the west-end (Carp). It's MUCH better and everything is grown at their farm.

I didn't say they were local, just fresh. That they were bought from a store doesn't mean they're not fresh. That's the thing about fruits and veggies, you can tell my looking at them if their fresh and if they're not, I don't buy them. My point was the convenience of having these foods available just walking through the market and not having to drive to grocery stores for them.

[rubberband]

Do you want to have your child see people making out our shooting up i think not.

Do you have a point?

Mine is that I've lived in Ottawa for over 2 decades, and spend time in the market regularly for most of that, and I've never once seen what you're complaining about. As a result I have a hard time labeling one of my favourite places to go out as seedy or "bad".

What was your point again?

[Talamasca]

I really liked the Byward Market when I visited Ottawa during Canada Day. I had a great little breakfast in this cafe. Can't remember the name of it but the staff were all Francophone and the hot chocolate was phenomenal. I didn't see any of the bad behaviour described in this thread. I will say though that Beavertails is really overrated. All that hype over a flattened hot donut?

I did find the condition of Rideau Street to be appalling, especially considering that Parliament Hill immediately to the west was immaculate. If the government can maintain the Hill in its impeccable condition, then they can afford to keep its surrounding area to the same standard. Those underground crosswalks, while a good idea in theory, were also filled with lots of sketchy characters.

[epiphony]

There are underground crosswalks in Ottawa?

All of Rideau St. needs to be revitalized. It's a major gateway in this city, and unfortunately is home to many rundown, shoddy looking buildings and "less desirable" retail shops. It's prime real estate that has so much more potential (some goes for Bank St north of the Queensway). There were talks a while ago about giving Rideau a facelift, and expanding Rideau Centre - whatever happened to that?

Anyway, good thing the OP hasn't visited Vanier yet... :cheesygri

[Bytown]

There are underground crosswalks in Ottawa?

All of Rideau St. needs to be revitalized. It's a major gateway in this city, and unfortunately is home to many rundown, shoddy looking buildings and "less desirable" retail shops. It's prime real estate that has so much more potential (some goes for Bank St north of the Queensway). There were talks a while ago about giving Rideau a facelift, and expanding Rideau Centre - whatever happened to that?

Anyway, good thing the OP hasn't visited Vanier yet... :cheesygri

Oh i have been to vanier but thats is expected.This was not expected in the heart of ottawa.

[killuminati]

I gotta agree with some of the comments on durgs, etc.
I live in the market and have for the past couple years... I've seen
things most people probably never will or want to see. Both during
the day and afterhours. But never once have I felt unsafe in the area. Any
shady things going on usually happen in their own space, they never bother
with people around. The police presence is huge in the area and the amount of great things going on is what you see more regularly. The inner part of the market is great but its the shady stuff that goes on just outside closer to cumberland and king edward -- north of rideau(direction of quebec incase that isnt north lol) mainly cuz of all the shelters in the area which I'm sure cant last in that area for much longer. There are so many condos going up right beside the sketchy shelters. Rideau is definetly in need of a facelift as well -- its always packed with people but being only 2 mins from parlament it looks totally rundown.

[Absolute]

There are underground crosswalks in Ottawa?

Anyway, good thing the OP hasn't visited Vanier yet... :cheesygri

I think they're talking about the link between Rideau and Sussex, that goes up to the old train station. It's what they were trying to fill in earlier this year, but the squatters wouldn't leave it in protest. I really wish they would fill it in, I hate using it as it is quite unattractive down there.

And yes, Vanier is the joke of Ottawa :D

[mself084]

There are underground crosswalks in Ottawa?

All of Rideau St. needs to be revitalized. It's a major gateway in this city, and unfortunately is home to many rundown, shoddy looking buildings and "less desirable" retail shops. It's prime real estate that has so much more potential (some goes for Bank St north of the Queensway). There were talks a while ago about giving Rideau a facelift, and expanding Rideau Centre - whatever happened to that?

Anyway, good thing the OP hasn't visited Vanier yet... :cheesygri

Rideau Centre expansion is a go... the city wants them to keep the look of that abandoned heritage building so they had problems with that... but as far as I know there is a waiting list to get into Rideau, even with the planned expansion.

Ever since it became a bus mall that street became dirty... there are plans to plant more trees, and with the new condos going up it should brighten the area. increased police presence hopefully deals with the rest, and hopefully the front of the mall along there will be brighter.

[fiscal-rick]

I've been here for over 4 years. I keep hearing reports about drug use in Ottawa (especially recently with the crack pipe program being scrapped), but never once have I seen a deal go down, somebody smoking crack, or somebody shooting up. I've seen a lot of joint smoking, but that's about it.

you must be blind as well as dumb,

here are some fun spots to check out.

Majors hill park - anytime after dusk, the tween/teen goth set of baseheads are there doing whatever their allowance/begging was able to buy them. Usually crack.

behond puerto del sol, anytime of day, bums smoking crack.

behind the Mission/ Daly ave, and the parking lot of the Saw gallery - older bums mostly doing crack.

the whole east side of king edward street - this is a new "hot spot" this summer as the dealers in front of the Sally-Anne have mostly moved here. everyone is flaked out or doing the junky shuffle - or freaking out - NOW were into what you can call the METH ZONE. - and this drug is scary.
go down the east side of king edward to the park along the rideau (by the white minto bridges) and this is where the bums have thier drug picnics during the day. - usually older and sadly, some natives frequent this spot.

Cross the street and and then you are at the sheppards, hard to tell who is crazy and who is a junkie, but the shepherds is a good organization for dealing with the worst mental cases in the homeless community.

go further up the other side (west)of king edward to the evangelical church and there is usually someone doing crack.

Now my favorite... the young bums on meth. (and crack)

go in front of the Sally-Anne (salvation army) any time of day. or the alley between it and the beer store. there is always crack and meth smoking going on. you can see them twitching and flinching and the usual walking all spaced out staring at the ground.

enjoy your walking tour .. you must really be stupid to be here for 4 years and not recognise the problem.

FR

[Bullseye]

Do you want to have your child see people making out our shooting up i think not.

I can't believe you put making out and shooting up in the same sentence! People making out in public is hardly something I'd not want my kids to see.