Safety, security and survival: How small businesses are adapting to the ByWard Market challenges

Amer Elali purchased Lapointe Fish in the ByWard Market about two-and-a-half years ago, and he has struggled since. Home to 600 businesses and welcoming 50,000 visitors every weekend during the high season, he said the area is increasingly plagued by crime and neglect.

Beyond just a tourist destination, the ByWard Market is also a gathering place for dozens, perhaps hundreds, of people who battle addictions or face homelessness. 

“It’s just not taken care of,” Elali says. “We have been left alone to fight on our own with the homeless. We can’t wait for the police to come sometimes. It takes like a half hour or an hour,” he says. Elali also owns the neighbouring Maverick’s Donuts, and previously owned a gelato store, which is now leased to dessert restaurant Sweet Puspin, after he had to downsize “because of the issues.”

He says that people who are clearly under the influence or are homeless have shoplifted from his stores and have threatened staff. “They are scaring the customers, families with kids, they are afraid to come to the ByWard Market.” Elali, who employs 10 people, says he is staying put in the Market for the time being, even though business is not great. He hopes for more security in the area, as well as more events. “I’m not giving up,” he says. 

On a sunny, warm afternoon in early September, the Market was relatively busy, although most vendors only had one or two people browsing their wares. Many passersby walked through the area, while people also sat on benches outside of eateries. 

While there were no individuals in obvious distress visible at that time, early mornings are a different story, when people can be seen sleeping on grates or sidewalks, or even smoking crack, according to two vendors who didn’t want to be named. They said they too feel there is little to no recourse from authorities while trying to run their businesses and dealing with challenges from people struggling with addiction or homelessness.

The ByWard Market District Authority acknowledged in an email to Ottawa Lookout that “operating a business in a busy downtown district comes with unique challenges. While we don’t comment on individual frustrations, we work daily with Ottawa Police Services, the City of Ottawa, and community partners to improve safety and enhance the visitor experience in the ByWard Market. When businesses encounter these types of situations, it’s imperative that they report them to OPS so the service can adjust and target these areas and issues effectively. Without this data to inform decision-making, meaningful change is much harder to achieve,” the BMDA said. 

According to recent figures, Ottawa has a homeless population of around 3,000 people, with 1,000 beds and three injection sites in the ByWard Market and Lowertown area. By most accounts, the situation has worsened since the pandemic.

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