Revitalizing Public Space in the ByWard Market

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You've made memories here. Now be part of what comes next!

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William Street and ByWard Market Square street renewal project

The City of Ottawa is seeking your input on the upcoming redesign of William Street and ByWard Market Square, which will begin to reimagine the ByWard Market and strengthen its role as a premier destination within the nation’s capital for many years to come.

Project location: William Street and ByWard Market Square (between George and York Streets).

Timeline:

  • In 2025, detailed design will be undertaken for William Street and ByWard Market Square.
  • In 2026, construction of William Street will take place.
  • In 2027, the ByWard Market celebrates the 200th anniversary of its founding.

Design:

The redesigned public spaces within the ByWard Market will prioritize the visitor experience by creating a destination that is welcoming, safe, comfortable and walkable.

  • William Street is one of the most visited areas of the ByWard Market and, once completed, will be an important corridor between Rideau and Clarence Streets that will draw visitors into the heart of the Market. The street will be designed with the goal of enhancing the visitor experience in the Market core, as a promenade with space for street activations, street trees, extended outdoor commercial areas and infrastructure to support events. Loading and deliveries will be allowed at certain times of the day with controlled access.
  • ByWard Market Square will be reinforced as the heart of the outdoor public market and will be activated with space for seating, street trees, street activations and outdoor commercial areas. Infrastructure will be provided to program the space as an “outdoor living room”. It will be redesigned as a bi-directional street, with parallel parking provided on one side, that can be closed to motor vehicle traffic seasonally and for larger events. Most motor vehicle parking will continue to be offered outside of the Market core on adjacent streets and lots.
  • Safety, security, and accessibility: Accessibility will be carefully considered so that visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy the ByWard Market. The safety and security of visitors will be considered in the design of the public spaces to ensure that visitors feel safe and comfortable at all times of the day and night, including through the use of design principles such as the provision of clear sight lines, good lighting, and “eyes on the street”. Spaces that can be programmed and use flexibly will provide opportunities to support different kinds of activities and events that will draw residents and visitors to the heart of the ByWard Market and provide activation.
  • Businesses and vendors: The newly redesigned spaces will provide greater support to local businesses and will be designed with flexibility in mind. Businesses will be able to extend into the public realm with retail stands, outdoor patios and more. Infrastructure such as water and electricity will be provided to support enhanced outdoor market vending and accommodate the needs of different types of vendors. New market stalls will be provided that can be customized according to vendors’ needs. These improvements will help to attract and retain new vendors to the ByWard Market and enable expanded offerings by current vendors.

Preliminary design concepts:

The City of Ottawa is seeking feedback on the proposed street redesigns based on the preliminary design concepts below. The preliminary designs have been developed in accordance with the directions of the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan, which was approved by City Council in January 2021. Your feedback is important to understand what should be considered in the new designs.

Design concepts to be provided by consultant.

More information on the City’s priority projects and the history of the ByWard Market


  • History of the ByWard Market and interactive StoryMap: Find out more about the history of the ByWard Market and the upcoming public realm projects in the neighbourhood by exploring the interactive StoryMap, which provides a digital model of the ByWard Market district. This innovative technology is one tool to visualize the current public space in the ByWard Market.

You've made memories here. Now be part of what comes next!

___________________________________________________________________________________________

William Street and ByWard Market Square street renewal project

The City of Ottawa is seeking your input on the upcoming redesign of William Street and ByWard Market Square, which will begin to reimagine the ByWard Market and strengthen its role as a premier destination within the nation’s capital for many years to come.

Project location: William Street and ByWard Market Square (between George and York Streets).

Timeline:

  • In 2025, detailed design will be undertaken for William Street and ByWard Market Square.
  • In 2026, construction of William Street will take place.
  • In 2027, the ByWard Market celebrates the 200th anniversary of its founding.

Design:

The redesigned public spaces within the ByWard Market will prioritize the visitor experience by creating a destination that is welcoming, safe, comfortable and walkable.

  • William Street is one of the most visited areas of the ByWard Market and, once completed, will be an important corridor between Rideau and Clarence Streets that will draw visitors into the heart of the Market. The street will be designed with the goal of enhancing the visitor experience in the Market core, as a promenade with space for street activations, street trees, extended outdoor commercial areas and infrastructure to support events. Loading and deliveries will be allowed at certain times of the day with controlled access.
  • ByWard Market Square will be reinforced as the heart of the outdoor public market and will be activated with space for seating, street trees, street activations and outdoor commercial areas. Infrastructure will be provided to program the space as an “outdoor living room”. It will be redesigned as a bi-directional street, with parallel parking provided on one side, that can be closed to motor vehicle traffic seasonally and for larger events. Most motor vehicle parking will continue to be offered outside of the Market core on adjacent streets and lots.
  • Safety, security, and accessibility: Accessibility will be carefully considered so that visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy the ByWard Market. The safety and security of visitors will be considered in the design of the public spaces to ensure that visitors feel safe and comfortable at all times of the day and night, including through the use of design principles such as the provision of clear sight lines, good lighting, and “eyes on the street”. Spaces that can be programmed and use flexibly will provide opportunities to support different kinds of activities and events that will draw residents and visitors to the heart of the ByWard Market and provide activation.
  • Businesses and vendors: The newly redesigned spaces will provide greater support to local businesses and will be designed with flexibility in mind. Businesses will be able to extend into the public realm with retail stands, outdoor patios and more. Infrastructure such as water and electricity will be provided to support enhanced outdoor market vending and accommodate the needs of different types of vendors. New market stalls will be provided that can be customized according to vendors’ needs. These improvements will help to attract and retain new vendors to the ByWard Market and enable expanded offerings by current vendors.

Preliminary design concepts:

The City of Ottawa is seeking feedback on the proposed street redesigns based on the preliminary design concepts below. The preliminary designs have been developed in accordance with the directions of the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan, which was approved by City Council in January 2021. Your feedback is important to understand what should be considered in the new designs.

Design concepts to be provided by consultant.

More information on the City’s priority projects and the history of the ByWard Market


  • History of the ByWard Market and interactive StoryMap: Find out more about the history of the ByWard Market and the upcoming public realm projects in the neighbourhood by exploring the interactive StoryMap, which provides a digital model of the ByWard Market district. This innovative technology is one tool to visualize the current public space in the ByWard Market.

  • Get involved - Join us in person or online for a public engagement session

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    Thank you for your interest in the City’s revitalization of public spaces in the ByWard Market.

    Your feedback will be critical to the project’s success.

    There are several ways you can provide feedback.

    In-person public engagement booths

    Visit us at:

    Online public engagement session

    Attend our online public engagement session June 24, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

    Register in advance by filling out the registration form.

    Online survey

    Complete the online survey from June 16 to July 16.


  • Background

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    The ByWard Market Public Realm Plan was approved unanimously by City Council in January 2021, after over two years of planning and public engagement that included feedback from more than 2,300 people. The public engagement process was extensive and various engagement techniques were used to reach as many interested parties as possible. The feedback received during that study is summarized in seven “As We Heard It” reports. Through this public engagement the City heard that:

    • The ByWard Market building and its surroundings were identified as a favourite place in the district due to its heritage, shops, food options, and liveliness.
    • The desired vision for the ByWard Market’s future is one that is people-centric and prioritizes pedestrians. The dominance of motor vehicles and the amount of space they occupy within the Market was consistently cited as negatively affecting visitors’ experience of it. Specific examples of how to achieve this included: introducing wider sidewalks, more seating, more shade, beautiful pavers, narrower streets and more space for people.
    • There is a strong desire to create a lively environment that includes more events, vending, seating, and places of relaxation.


    City Council reaffirmed its commitment to the revitalization of the ByWard Market and Downtown recovery through the City of Ottawa’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan and the Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan. The ByWard Market is designated as a Special District under the City of Ottawa Official Plan. In addition, in 2023, City Council approved the creation of the ByWard Market District Authority as a Municipal Service Corporation with a mandate to steward the ByWard Market and its public spaces.

    This iconic gathering place is where residents and visitors from around the world connect, explore, shop, and celebrate the heart of our city.

    As one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Ottawa and the hub of the city’s commercial and tourism industries, it will be important that the new public spaces authentically reflect Ottawa’s history, culture, and aspirations, and that the ByWard Market remains a source of pride for Ottawans and Canadians.

Page last updated: 16 Jun 2025, 03:41 PM