Mapping the market
By Warren Waters
Last month, I took four journeys through the ByWard Market, thanks to four extraordinary walking tours offered during Architecture Week’s “Mapping the Market.” Presented by the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects (ORSA), this annual festival is an invitation to explore Ottawa’s rich tapestry.
The first tour, “Jane Jacobs 101,” delved into Jane Jacobs’ insights on historic neighbourhoods. Led by Matt Bufton, co-founder of the Institute for Liberal Studies, the discussion emphasized the need for a dynamic blend of diverse people and land uses, coupled with increased density to foster a thriving urban ecosystem. As Jane famously said, “old ideas can use new buildings, but new ideas need old buildings.” Bufton argued that laws designed to preserve old buildings often inadvertently stifle their natural evolution, leading to a loss of diversity and energy. It was ironic when, after praising William Street’s charming small shops, he learned they were a direct result of zoning restrictions on maximum frontage width. His preference for unfettered land use, free from maximums or minimums, sparked a thought-provoking debate on the double-edged sword of market forces – they work, but often with a vengeance!
The second walk was a delightful afternoon of sketching amidst the vibrant chaos of Ottawa’s historic ByWard Market. These views, colours, and sounds, from busy tourist stalls, to the intricate details of heritage façades and cozy café corners, offered endless inspiration. Sadly, produce is now in short supply so still life sketching isn’t easy!
The third walk, “ByWard Market: More Than Façades,” guided by Nancy Miller-Chenier on behalf of the Lowertown Community Association, peeled back the architecture to reveal the narratives woven into the Market. She brought to life some stories that make the Market the cherished place we all inhabit – tales of Indigenous Peoples like Chief Pinesi whose fight for his land the Market occupies is not yet over, the many millionaires who built their fortunes from its bustling sales, the resilient female hotel keepers, the fiery political riots, and the visionary commercial innovators who shaped its destiny. The Market has faced many troubled times before, and its people always find a way forward.
The last tour was “The ByWard Market in Literature,” with Susan Johnston quoting from about twenty readings and discussing various Market settings in fiction and poetry. Susan’s question was: does being in an actual location help tell us about the meaning of a work, or the meaning of the ByWard Market in general, in the past and in the present?
These tours offered a glimpse into the Market’s dynamic character. They celebrated its spirit, and continued conversations about its future evolution. Each step we take shows how the past shapes the future, and how a diverse array of elements must converge to create a Market.
