The ByWard Market is one of the city’s most iconic destinations, but lately, many say it doesn’t always feel welcoming. The City of Ottawa is now looking to redirect provincial funding for upgrades to make the area safer, brighter, and easier to get to for residents and tourists alike. In January 2025, the province agreed to give the city $10 million to spruce up the ByWard Market and turn William Street into a pedestrian plaza. On Wednesday, city staff proposed that funding be reallocated toward and safety and security instead. “I’m not down here at night. I’m usually on Elgin or I go further over to go out,” says Phil Gore, who lives near the downtown area. Gore says he doesn’t feel particularly safe along the Rideau-Sussex underpass. “It has been uncomfortable at times because there have been people lined up here sitting along there before they blocked off, there’d be a lot of people up there… It’s an unfortunate conjunction of people who are desperate, street people, that sort of stuff.” In April, a stabbing at the Rideau Street and Sussex Drive underpass left a man critically hurt. Now, the city wants to focus on public safety, as it moves to improve the area. On Wednesday, council voted to submit the proposal, using the $10 million of provincial funding toward projects to improve safety and access to the ByWard Market, rather than use it for the initial proposal for beautification of the downtown area. “We’re excited about our plans for the ByWard Market and improving those access points, and improving the intersection at Rideau and Sussex is a priority,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told reporters following Wednesday’s City Council meeting. “We’re in the process of figuring out the funding model for all of that. I expect we’re going to get help from other levels of government and other forms of revenue as well.” The improvements will focus on pedestrian walkways, safety and accessibility, and lighting to key access points in the market including to Rideau Station, the Rideau Street Corridor and to the Rideau-Sussex underpass. Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante says this new proposal is just a start for much needed improvements to the area. “Everything that’s being discussed and proposed as sort of part-time measures or measures that will only last for a year, we need to invest in things like housing, mental health supports, hospitals, etcetera,” Plante said. “We do not have the capacity as a municipality to even build those things.” Deek LaBelle, owner and general manager of Chateau Lafayette in the market, welcomes the move. “Like every other urban center, we all have our struggles,” LaBelle said. “So, the investment I think is coming at the right time. Everybody’s poised to have this happen. We’re ready for it and I think this is wonderful.” Roberto Pacheco, assistant manager of Lapointe Fish, feels like some of the funding should go toward mental health programs to help the area’s most vulnerable people. “It’s not about money. It’s more about having more security. When it comes up to money to make changes, I don’t think it will change...It’s hard to tell, but mental health will always stay.”
