Nightlife Commish Flops On ByWard Market Woes
Businesses in the ByWard Market are struggling. Where are you, City of Ottawa nightlife commissioner Mathieu Grondin?
The ByWard Market is the go-to by thousands of seasonal visitors but yet the area remains riddled with serious crime. There appears to be little done to clean it up. Why?
Hundreds of addicts or those who are homeless seek refuge in the streets, sleeping in doorways or on sidewalks. Inviting? Not much.
Many business owners feel neglected and on their own to safeguard their premises. Shoplifting is a common occurrence and, despite there being a recently opened Ottawa Police Services kiosk in the Rideau Centre, it can take upwards of an hour to respond to a call. Why? Businesses are encouraged to call police but response times offer small comfort to those targeted. Perhaps the Rideau Centre wasn’t the ideal location for OPS to call home?
There are three safe injection sites in the ByWard Market and Lowertown areas. Let that sink in.
What exactly is nightlife commissioner Mathieu Grondin doing to clean up the market area, beyond his feeble night ambassadors program, to make business owners and visitors feel safe?
Donna Mulvihill is a community activist and former hospital coordinator.
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The market was once a vibrant place where farmers would bring product and Ottawa residence showed up. Slowly, but surely the farmers stop coming. There were fewer buyers and restaurants took over. At the same time, homeless shelters sprang up and crime and homelessness began to characterize the market. An area that one served Ottawa well is no longer.’; the effort to turn into it.in to a vibrant night spot is a failure.
Donna. City council needs to get serious about prioritizing the need to have, the nice to have, and the ludicrous projects currently sitting on the table, noting that any project can be justified by someONE. It’s time to move the ultra-expensive projects off the table and put taxpayer dollars to use where they’re going to provide benefit to the greatest number of residents, the police force.
There’s a larger question. The job should not be limited to just one small area. I’d argue the city needs programs and policies for the city as a whole if the desire is to rejuvenate night life. What about Elgin? Bank? Chinatown? Sparks?Our wonderful Italian district? And do our suburbs and outlying areas not need a shot of evening enthusiasm? The whole thing seems very limited and short sighted to me.
Robert, I remember that market you speak of … used to go there every Saturday morning with my father and grandparents. The farmers’ stalls were plentiful and filled with the freshest local produce.
The market was like a timeless meet and greet where neighbours saw each other for a catch-up on families and events.
Alas, times did change but it seems not for the better.
David. Your point is well taken. If the commish focuses his entertainment efforts on one area, residents in other parts of the city who don’t want to make the trek downtown, will be denied a “proximity night out”. Let’s spread the joy around.