Ottawa — Bytown, Parliament & the Rideau Canal
ByWard Market
Listen at the stop, then read the transcript and follow the sources behind the story.
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Transcript
The ByWard Market dates to the canal-building era and takes its name from John By. It supplied workers and residents with food and goods as Bytown grew.
Unlike Parliament Hill, the market preserves the city's everyday economic origins.
The surrounding Lowertown area became home to French Canadian and Irish communities and later to many other immigrant groups. Language, religion and class shaped neighbourhood boundaries more strongly here than in the ceremonial capital uphill.
Today the market is both a tourist destination and a real nightlife and food district.
Heritage districts work best when they remain useful to locals. ByWard still does.
The market reminds you that capitals require groceries, rent and entertainment. National symbolism may dominate postcards, but ordinary urban life has always been the larger business.