Ottawa's Byward Market

[SL123]

The Skating rink will be on William Street between York and George Street and should open this Friday

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/synthetic-ice-skating-rink-to-open-in-byward-market-this-week-1.7114500

[rocketphish]

Oooh! Isn't this the kind of rink you can rent for kiddie birthday parties?

[DTcrawler]

I wonder if they'll trim the excess "ice" that extends beyond the boards. But I doubt they'll want to void Canadian Tire's return policy for when they want to get their money back in spring

[kwoldtimer]

They have laboured and brought forth a mouse.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Oooh! Isn't this the kind of rink you can rent for kiddie birthday parties?

Honestly, its a bit small for that purpose. Embarrassing to be honest.

[Richard Eade]

Come-on, People. Be nice. At least they are trying something different, and not simply sitting on their hands, complaining that government isn’t solving their problem. Remember, times have been quite lean of late, so there might not be a huge budget to play with. I at least, applaud that they are making an effort.

[SL123]

its the splash pad version of a skating rink

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Come-on, People. Be nice. At least they are trying something different, and not simply sitting on their hands, complaining that government isn’t solving their problem. Remember, times have been quite lean of late, so there might not be a huge budget to play with. I at least, applaud that they are making an effort.

Fair. But pathetically unambitious attempts at "trying something" really doesn't cut it. Build a proper rink and charge for use. On George St which would require the city to agree to end the cut through traffic but that would be super beneficial as well.

[kwoldtimer]

Sometimes I wonder if the City of Ottawa's motto shouldn't be "Melius quam nihil".

[eltodesukane]

Doesn't compare with
"The Rink At Rockefeller Center" in New York, or
"The Atrium Le 1000 Ice Skating Rink" in Montreal.
But still, we're number 3, just enough for a medal!

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by eltodesukane

Doesn't compare with
"The Rink At Rockefeller Center" in New York, or
"The Atrium Le 1000 Ice Skating Rink" in Montreal.
But still, we're number 3, just enough for a medal!

Doesn't compare with Nathan Phillips Square either, so we're out of medal contention. Again.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Doesn't compare with Nathan Phillips Square either, so we're out of medal contention. Again.

Forget the best in class of larger cities. Kingston has proper ice. Heck even Perth has a nice rink next to their "Market Square" though granted there is a park right there so it's more general outdoor rink rather than an urban one. It's a basic winter Northern climate thing to attract people.

[Richard Eade]

I have to admit, I am finding most of the opinions written here to be confounding.

This is NOT Nathan Philips Square. (See Ottawa’s Rink of Dreams for any comparison to that). Nor is it The Rockefeller Center. This is a neighbourhood that has come together to provide a small rink-like attraction that could give people something else to do when they visit.

Is it a multi-million-dollar installation? Of course not; they were not using public money. If any of you had thrown $50K, into the pot they might have gone with a bigger pad. This was fast, easy, and within their budget. There was no disruptive digging to install an ice-plant. There is no heavy maintenance cost (although there will be some). It is available when real ice is not – and it will be available starting this Friday. It could even still be there during the heat of the summer.

Synthetic skating rinks are not uncommon, and are marketed to shopping malls as a way of attracting customers. They seem popular. Indeed, even the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has added an “Ice Rink” to one of their cruise ships. Skating while cruising in the Caribbean, anyone?

Ottawa is “The Home of the World’s Largest Natural Rink”. The By Ward Marlet’s BIA is not trying to compete with that. But they are hoping that there is a culture of skating in this city. And that people might like to visit The Market with their skates, when the Rideau Canal is not available.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

I think this rink is meant for little kids. Their parents will bring them to Byward to use it and while they are there will do some shopping or eating. If they do, it works for the BIA.

Rink of Dreams is suitable for adults too and it is the one that should be compared to those in other cities, not the kiddie rink on William St.

[Uhuniau]

I'm fine with this baby step. It could inspire and instigate something more ambitious down the road.

[DTcrawler]

I agree that the comparisons to other cities’ flagship rinks is silly. We have the Rink of Dreams, Lansdowne Skating Court, and arguably the most famous rink in the world, the Rideau Canal.

That being said, low effort projects like this don’t help fight the perceptions about Ottawa striving for mediocrity. If this Little Tikes setup is all we were to expect, why get peoples’ hopes up with the announcements they made weeks ago? Need to manage expectations better. I wasn’t expecting a mini Rideau Canal, but I was certainly expecting better than this.

I should finish by saying that as far as budget goes, I’m completely sympathetic to the organizers who don’t have much to work with. Makes you wonder what other cities are doing differently such that they’re able to afford more respectable arts, culture and entertainment installations… different priorities perhaps?

[movebyleap]

Hehehehe....well that's...cute!

[rocketphish]

ByWard Market gets $19M boost from province

Staff Reporter, Ottawa Citizen
Published Dec 04, 2024 • Last updated 41 minutes ago • 1 minute read

The ByWard Market is getting a nearly $20-million infusion as part of the province’s “new deal for Ottawa” announced last spring.

Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy announced the funding Dec. 4 while meeting with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe at the regular Mayor’s Breakfast series. The funding includes $11.8 million over three years to make William Street into a permanent pedestrian walkway and ByWard Market Square into a car-free zone in the summer months. The work is expected to be finished in 2026.

Another $3.85 million is going to be spent improving signage, $1.5 million to help attract new businesses and $1.35 million for marketing and promotion.

Additionally, the funding includes $1.05 million over three years for the Somerset Community Health Centre to support people experiencing homelessness, substance use or mental health challenges and to provide job training.

The Ottawa Board of Trade is also getting $450,000 to establish a new “downtown vibrancy office” to “build business and investor confidence by implementing additional revitalization projects.”

In a statement, Bethlenfalvy said the investment will make the city safer and help attract visitors, businesses and investment to the capital.

“This investment of $20 million from the provincial government is a boost to our revitalization efforts in the market,” Sutcliffe said in a statement. “This important funding will enhance the safety, vibrancy and economic growth of our downtown core.”

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/byward-market-gets-19m-boost-from-province

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

Makes you wonder what other cities are doing differently such that they’re able to afford more respectable arts, culture and entertainment installations… different priorities perhaps?

Some cities in this world aren't cheapskates and aren't afraid to confront the reality that nice, public things cost public money.

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Some cities in this world aren't cheapskates and aren't afraid to confront the reality that nice, public things cost public money.

It was a rhetorical question, but yes, agreed. It should be obvious that nice things cost money but that seems to be lost on many Ottawans who say things like "Why doesn't Ottawa have X?" while also voting for politicians who promise low taxes and efficiencies.