The rise and fall (and rise again?) of the ByWard Market (Citizen)
January 12, 2025
If the Market is destined to become an entertainment and dining area — something like Toronto’s Distillery District – then making it more pedestrian-friendly makes sense. But if the goal is to attract fresh food vendors back to the Market, it could prove an impediment.
Zachary Dayler, executive director of the ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA), acknowledges there’s a tension between those two ideas, but he’s convinced improved foot traffic will lift all local businesses, including produce vendors.
Statistics show foot traffic in the ByWard Market has grown in each of the past four years — there were 18.9 million visits in 2023 — but has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Dayler wants to do more to bring visitors back.