Ottawa Street Markets began as a community gathering spot on Beechwood Ave, in the City’s east end. In the early days, a few vendors, live music and a doomed bouncy castle attracted people from neighbouring communities. It became immediately apparent that people were after a small, local farmers’ market that was close to home. A market that could be reached easily on foot, a weekly attraction for families and a place to connect with local businesses.
The Beechwood Market was born.
The Beechwood Market has continued to grow and both the onsite and online markets have become a staple in local residents’ weekly agendas. With the advent of Covid 19, the decision was made not to open up the onsite market for the 2020
season. Instead, all vendors were moved to an online platform. Locals rallied to support the effort. It went well enough that both the onsite and online markets were able to open up for the 2021 season.
While the success of the Beechwood Market continued, work was being done with the Centretown Community Association to introduce the Elgin Street Market. Centretown’s first farmers’ market. Things got off to a rippin’ start in the Summer of 2021. The Elgin Street Market has since retained its own Online, year round pickup location at Haus of Plants, a local plant shop & cafe, right in the heart of Centretown.
Riding the Beechwood and Elgin wave, Ottawa Street Markets will open up its third Onsite community market in the Alta Vista neighbourhood, on June 25th 2022. The Alta Vista online pickup location has already proven that residents are keen on supporting local and having a great source for local products to be available to them throughout the year.
In January 2022, we launched our FIFTH pickup location in Carlington, at Carlington Coffee House. Working in association with the Carlington Community Association, we are hoping to bring more of the market experience to the neighbourhood.
In July 2022 we will launch the Richmond Road night market. Working in partnership with the Westboro Village BIA, we will bring our brand of community market to 339 Richmond Road for the best months of summer.
The long term vision for Ottawa Street Markets is to have Onsite and Online pickup locations in at least a dozen neighbourhoods by 2025. The future is in our communities and Ottawa Street Markets is here to help create something exciting, accessible and sustainable.
