Will a new synthetic skating rink be a driving force for ByWard Market revitalization efforts?

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Good Morning! 

December is almost here and Christmas events are in full swing. I’m hoping the rain will stop in time for me to attend the Holiday Market and lighting of the Christmas tree at Lansdowne Park tonight — one of my favourite traditions. I walked by the other day and it looks bigger and brighter than ever!

Also happening today is the official launch of the first-ever ByWard Winter Market. Celebrations will kick off with the lighting of a giant spruce tree as Carollers sing holiday classics and spectators sip on hot chocolate and munch on beavertails. It almost sounds like a Hallmark movie moment. One of the main attractions this year will be a new synthetic skating rink which can stay open no matter the weather. Earlier this week I caught up with the ByWard Market District Authority to talk about their new initiatives and how they are dealing with social challenges. 

A few weeks back, we wrote stories about concerns over the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal and the challenges Glebe businesses were facing on game days. Glebe Businesses Improvement Association executive director Darrell Cox wanted to clarify his comments by saying only some businesses have expressed angst about potential changes to on-street parking and accessibility, and that only some businesses have noticed a negative impact on sales on game or event days.

The Lookout also has two amazing insider stories in the works: One that will answer commonly asked questions about the proposed sprung structures while also looking back at how Ottawa welcomed Vietnamese “Boat People” refugees in the 1970s. The common difference between now and then? This time residents don’t feel consulted. We are also working on a piece about how Ottawa is in a mad dash to build new forms of affordable, community housing.

— Charlie Senack, managing editor 

[email protected] 

X: @Charlie_Senack

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WEATHER

Friday: 7 🌡️ 3 | 🌧️

Saturday: 7 🌡️ 1 | ☁️

Sunday: 3 🌡️ -4 | ☁️

Monday: 3 🌡️ 0 | 🌤️

COMMUNITY

A synthetic rink has opened in the ByWard Market. Will it help revitalize the area?

An upward trend: It’s no secret the ByWard Market has struggled in recent years. A bad rap due to social challenges, a lack of activity, and a changing identity are all to blame. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t help things either. But the community where Ottawa — then known as Bytown — was founded 200 years ago is bouncing back. The stats are there to prove it. 

By the numbers: According to the ByWard Market District Authority, a 10 to 12 per cent increase in foot traffic has been reported year over year and is again approaching pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, 18.9 million visitors toured the market — about 50 per cent locals and the other half tourists. 

Last January, traffic was up 90 per cent — in part thanks to the warm winter temperatures. 

But those winter heat spells are changing how Ottawa enjoys winter activities. The canal was only open a handful of days last season and was closed for over 300 days before that. Those trends are expected to continue due to climate change, with Carleton University students stating winters could see 35 per cent fewer days below -10 degrees by 2050, according to CBC. 

A new way to skate: That, in part, is part of the reason why the ByWard Market decided to install a synthetic skating rink which will open today. The 16-x-88-foot polymer pad can accommodate about 20 to 30 skaters and is located on William Street which is closed to cars. 

It’s funded as a pilot project through the Ottawa Tourism’s Destination Development Fund.  

• “What we are trying to do is invest in the items that will bring people back for a sense of discovery and revitalization. That means putting eyes on the street, and making sure that people feel comfortable in the public space,” Zachary Dayler, executive director of the ByWard Market District Authority, told the Lookout. 

The rink's regular hours will be from 10 am until 8 pm daily. Normal skates can be used and a rental skate kiosk is located nearby.  

How they are made: Synthetic ice panels are a solid polymer sheet material made from polyethylene plastic. These synthetic ice sheets connect using various methods to form an artificial ice skating surface. Sintering allows for lubricant pellets to be added into the polymer and mixed evenly throughout, providing a far superior glide. The feeling is relatively realistic and NHL hockey players use them during their off seasons to practice.

Because the rink is not made out of ice, it can be used year-round. 

• “What’s exciting is it’s modular so it can take different configurations. There is nothing that will stop us from having Christmas in July with a skating rink,” said Dayler. “We need to be aware of the changing climate and the changing landscape in Ottawa. It might be a rink this year, but next year it might be a curling sheet.“

Revitalization efforts go beyond a skating rink: While the market is somewhat bustling during the summer, it slows down in the winter as residents hibernate indoors. The ByWard Market District Authority is looking to change that with the implementation of a three-month-long Winter Market. 

It will kick off at 5 pm today with the lighting of a 20-foot Douglas fir Christmas tree set up in the William Street plaza. Lights, wreaths, and other decorations beautify the area, and there will also be BeaverTails, musical performances, and hot chocolate. 

• “A city to play in is a city to stay in. The winter market is something that has not existed before. There has never been a winter offering from December straight through Winterlude,” said Dayler. 

Horse-drawn carriage rides, choir performances, and free soup provided by Chef Rick are all part of the Holiday festivities. A full schedule of events can be found here.

Police presence helping with social challenges 

Throughout the year, social service agencies, alongside law enforcement, have been trying to make the ByWard Market a safer place. At the same time, they want to support the vulnerable population who live on the streets or in shelters in the area better. 

Crime statistics: An eight per cent increase in crime rate was reported in Rideau-Vanier between 2022 and 2023. That included a 1.7 per cent increase in violent crime and a 9.5 per cent increase in non-violent crime. There were 42,264 calls for service in the ward in 2023, according to CTV. 

What’s being done: In July Ottawa Police announced visitors to the core would see an increased police presence in both the ByWard Market and in Rideau Street areas. Around that same time a new Neighbourhood Operations Centre opened in the Rideau Centre.  Then, in September, it was announced police would start patrolling the Market on horseback. 

The new measures seem to be creating a positive effect. 

• “One of the challenges for a lot of people is perceived crime. What they see and believe to be a crime is in fact probably not a crime. That puts a lot of pressure on police because what they are seeing is this national stress on our healthcare and harm reduction systems,” said Dayler. “Having the Neighbourhood Operations Centre here has been a real benefit to the area because we had the presence of police officers which of course makes residents and visitors feel safer.”

Other resources: There is also the community engagement team being operated by the City of Ottawa, which helps move trained individuals through the area and connect people with service, and the inner city block program. Dayler said they “help us with a lot of things like waking people up and getting them coffee and helping direct them to where services are.”

Put the misconceptions aside and experience what the ByWard Market has to offer for yourself, says Dayler

When older generations think of the ByWard Market, they thought of the rows of fruit and vegetable stands which lined the streets. But Ottawa has changed since, said Dayler, and that isn’t a bad thing. 

• “We will always have fruits and vegetables on offer. It’s not going to fulfill or be that nostalgia people have. Public space is just that and lots of things need to be hosted here from farmers’ markets and vintage markets to events and activities,” he said. “We are maturing into a public market space. That’s exciting because it’s an international thing that is everywhere. What’s exciting is as we have newcomers come to Canada, even folks from here, they are coming out and rediscovering what it is to be a public space.”

There is plenty of parking: What keeps many people away is the transit system or fear they won’t find a place to park their vehicle —  two issues Dayler said should not be a problem. The Rideau Street Street light rail station is also just a block or two away. 

• “There are about 1000 on-street parking spaces. You might not always be able to park in front of where you want to go, but there are great parking garages down here,” he said. 

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OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🌧️ 55 mm: The amount of rain which could fall in Ottawa over the next two days. [CTV]

📸 39: The number of photo radar cameras to be installed in Ottawa over the next 14 months. Many will be located in rural areas including Dunrobin, Manotick, Richmond and Vars. [CTV]

📬 85,000: The number of passports Service Canada is holding back because of the Canada Post strike. [CTV]

💰 $18.7 million: The number of Canadians set to get a $250 cheque from the Justin Trudeau Liberal government. There will also be a two-month break on GST for some goods and services. [CBC] 

THE AGENDA

🚌 The University of Ottawa has said it will reconsider taking part in the U-Pass program if the city increases fares for students. Plans in the 2025 draft budget show the price going up five per cent — double the 2.5 per cent increase the city initially agreed to. “The UOSU will be auditing student satisfaction with the U-Pass program and will reconsider the program’s continuation if OC Transpo continues to deprioritize services for our members, who collectively contribute $20 million annually to its budget," a letter read. [CTV]

🏡 A bid for funding to preserve affordable housing in Ottawa has failed at committee. College Ward Coun. Laine Johnson’s motion would have seen half of any money the city gets from the vacant unit tax — beyond what's forecast in the budget — go toward preserving existing affordable housing stock. It failed by a vote of eight to four. [CBC]

⚖️ At an inquest into the death of Abdirahman Abdi, first responding officer David Weir said that day's events still impact him and is no longer a member of the Ottawa Police Service. Remembering when the call came in, Weird recalled “an arrest for sexual assault, for assault, for causing a disturbance, for mischief… I'm going to arrest him right away. That's all there is to it. I'm going to put an end to this because he's done enough damage." [CBC]

🛢️ Two Greenpeace activists were arrested outside of Stornowy, the residence where Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre lives. A replica oil pumpjack was placed on the driveway of the home Thursday morning to "draw attention to how Pierre Poilievre's anti-climate agenda would protect polluters over people." [CTV]

🛌 Sprung structures are coming to Ottawa but they are not a new concept. A number are already located in Toronto with varying opinions. The site CBC explored offers little privacy with an open concept, but the ones coming to the Capital would have dividers of some kind. Take a peek inside. [CBC]

💧 Ottawa's Infrastructure and Water Services Department is working to repair the damage from a "critical water main break" near Fairmont Avenue and Highway 417. A no-dig order has been issued. [Ottawa Citizen]

In business news

🍔 McDonald’s made headlines when it closed its Rideau Street location, which was once the scene of a brawl where a baby raccoon was pulled out of a bag. Now McDonald’s president and CEO Michèle Boudria said the fast food restaurant could return to the ByWard Market when the timing is right. [CTV]

🏢 A former Simpsons Department Store, which was recently occupied by Scotiabank, is on the market. There has been a “lot of interest in the 65,000-square-foot building, which is over a century old. [Ottawa Business Journal]

👷 Broccolini has filed plans to build Ottawa’s largest warehouse in Barrhaven East. It could create upwards of 2,500 jobs. It would include 59 loading docks, a yard with room for an additional 482 trailers, and surface parking that would accommodate 1,185 vehicles. [Ottawa Business Journal]

👜 A new luxury goods store is opening on Sparks Street next week and it’s hoping to help revitalize the area. Fheny will offer a curated array of clothes, bags, shoes and accessories from well-known European luxury brands such as Gucci. [Ottawa Business Journal]

EVENTS

European Union Film Festival | Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa | Now until Nov. 30 | 27 films from EU member states plus a special documentary from Ukraine | Ticket $15

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Meridian Theatres | Now until Nov. 24 | Musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic novel | Tickets $37 and up

Sussex at the Ottawa Christmas Market | Lansdowne | Nov. 22, 4:30 pm | Celebrate the holiday season with the Christmas tree lighting, opening ceremony, and the band Sussex at the opening of the Christmas market | Free Entry

Tokyo Police Club | Algonquin Commons Theatre | Nov 22 | High-energy indie rock concert with special guest Menno Versteeg | Tickets

Holiday Market at the Parkdale Public Market | 366 Parkdale Ave. | Nov. 23, 12 pm-6 pm | Celebrate the season with 30+ local vendors to find that perfect gift, holiday decor, warm drinks, and festive tunes | Free

Lansdowne Get Down | The Arena at TD Place | Nov 24, 1 pm | A lively, family-friendly dance party with DJ Psychology spinning tunes, featuring The Flava Factory Crew teaching fresh dance moves | Tickets $27

CBC's Make The Season Kind Night | Sacred Heart Catholic High School | Dec 5, 6:30 pm | A night of music, comedy, and community in support of the Ottawa Food Bank | Free

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - In Concert | TD Place | Nov. 23, 7 pm | See the movie but with a live orchestral accompaniment | Tickets $114

Ukrainian Christmas Market | Ukrainian Banquet and Convention Hall, 1000 Byron Ave | Nov 23, 10:00 am | Enjoy Ukrainian food, arts, crafts, and festive gifts | Learn more

Parkdale Holiday Market | 366 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 1G8 | Nov. 23, 12:00 PM | Shop, sip mulled wine, enjoy carolers, and discover unique gifts from 30+ vendors | Learn more

Messiah by Handel | First Baptist Church, 140 Laurier Avenue West | Nov 24, 2:30 pm | OperOttawa presents Handel's beloved oratorio with a full chorus and orchestra | Tickets $50

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Where is Ottawa’s best Korean restaurants? Our food editor shares his picks.

• Canada’s largest gym opened in Ottawa on Wednesday. [CTV]

• Find out what Ottawa restaurants made the Open Tables top 100 list. [Ottawa Citizen]

• A look back at Ottawa’s former horseback police force. [Ottawa Citizen] 

• SpongeBob Squarepants is coming to the Gladstone Theatre. [Apt613] 

• Ottawa residents are invited to bless children in need with Operation Christmas Child Shoebox gifts. [Stittsville Central]

• A Cumberland studio is offering unique one-of-a-kind gift items for all occasions. [Orleans Star]

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

WORDLE

Think you can guess this week’s Ottawa Wordle? Play it here.