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Once a gem in the centre of the nation’s capital, the ByWard Market is losing its place in Ottawans’ hearts. Longstanding businesses have closed. A rash of high-profile violent crimes — including a brazen daytime shooting — and rampant opioid abuse have increased calls from locals for help. The attempts to revitalize the area — from the addition of a $50 million neighbourhood police station to installing an undersized fake-ice rink — vary widely. But what say the people who are still there? We interviewed folks who live, work and play in the ByWard Market. These are their stories, in their own words.
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Jean-Francois LaPierre has performed as a busker in the Byward Market consistently for 14 years, weather permitting, with his violin, drums, saxophone and more, often accompanied by his dog, Rio.
If you look on Google Street View, in 2012, you see me on the street corner with my saxophone. I’m forever.
I keep coming back to the Market because I’ve done this all my life. I used to play on the metro in Montreal. It was tougher and tougher, then I moved in with a girlfriend down in Hull. The girlfriend left; we sold the house.
There are always new customers here because of the tourists, but the people who live nearby, I know they appreciate it too because they stick around and have a meal. They applaud. I feel very appreciated. And people love dogs.
I wish they gave us a bit more room. Over the years, they’ve cut out some spots.
You see today, I went over here, because I’m usually on other the side. But when I arrived, there was a food stand. I think the food stands should take more care not to take our spot. I have lots of friends who have told me the same thing, buskers and musicians.
I miss the old days. We used to get to know each other. Now it’s too random. I’m lucky, I do good, but it’s very tough for new buskers to work and play. They get pushed around.
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I wish they were proud of us buskers. I was on CTV like three years ago. It was good for ByWard and good for me. You see posters talking about salsa dancing and so on, but nothing mentioning buskers. They could say, we feature the best buskers in Canada. Be proud of it!
If they want to raise the quality, you have to take care of us. They have to talk about it.
As told to Marlo Glass. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
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