More local vendors will be part of the upcoming spring season in the ByWard Market in an effort to spur downtown revitalization, the ByWard Market District Authority said this month.
The curated vendor village initiative will start in mid-May, featuring local vendors selling a variety of products including giftware, gourmet foods, artisan crafts and florals.
“This initiative reflects an intentional approach to how we manage and animate the public realm
in the ByWard Market,” said Victoria Williston, executive director of the BMDA, in a news release. “Through curated vending, thoughtful placement, and a focus on quality and diversity, we’re enhancing the visitor experience while supporting economic resilience for local businesses.
“At the same time, we’re designing these spaces to encourage movement across the district, ensuring that increased activity benefits not just one location, but the area as a whole. This is a foundational step in our broader work to strengthen the district’s long-term vitality.”
Created in alignment with the ACE (arts, culture and entertainment) district, which will launch in July, the vendor village will animate areas along George and York streets to drive foot traffic and encourage visitors to explore surrounding streets.
According to the release, vendors will be grouped around key areas within the district, positioned to “activate spaces” while intentionally not placed directly in front of the Heritage Hall building on George Street. Another vendor area will be located on York Street, between William and Dalhousie streets, along the north side.
Alex Sirois, partner at Ottawa Venues, a company that operates several restaurants in the Market, said the initiative will help draw people further into the Market. “Bringing activity to York Street like this helps support nearby businesses and adds to the overall energy of the district,” Sirois said in the BMDA release.
In addition, vendors with fresh market-style offerings will be moved to highlight existing brick-and-mortar food businesses in the Market. The “grocer-focused zone” will span a section of ByWard Market Square and York Street near the Irving Rivers store, complemented by floral vendors located outside the Moulin de Provence.
The vendor village initiative is part of a number of upcoming projects meant to attract residents and visitors to the area to celebrate the city’s 200th anniversary in 2026 and the ByWard Market’s 200th anniversary in 2027.
“The ByWard Market is one of the most important and recognizable parts of our city. It’s where local entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life and where residents and visitors come to experience the energy of Ottawa. This (vendor) initiative adds something fresh and exciting while building on what already makes the Market special,” said Mayor Mark Sutcliffe in the release.
