Byward Market Building
55 ByWard Market Square
Written by Bytown Museum
on
03/Dec/2009
Stalls heavy with the season’s produce, colourful flowers and the scents of mouth-watering cuisine – who doesn’t love the sights and sounds of Ottawa’s Byward Market? But did you know that the Byward Market is Canada’s oldest continuously operating farmers’ market? Opened in 1827, less than one year after Bytown (early Ottawa) was founded, the market takes its name from the By Ward, an early voting district named after Lieutenant-Colonel John By, who oversaw the construction of the Rideau Canal.
Today’s market building, built in 1926, is in its fifth incarnation – three of the previous buildings were destroyed by fire. The early Byward Market thrived in part because of the Bywash, an open sewer than ran through the community and also created a natural navigation route for barges transporting goods.
Once home to slaughterers, saddlers and candle makers, today’s market is still relied upon by local residents for their weekly groceries.
What's your favourite shop in the Market?
Neighbourhood
From its very beginnings in 1826, Bytown (early Ottawa) was divided geographically, with Uppertown to the west of the Rideau Canal and Lowertown to the east. Lowertown, then ... read more
