Farmers, artisans face uncertainty with looming Aberdeen Pavilion closure

Local farmers and artisans who rely on selling goods at markets at Lansdowne Park year-round are concerned about their futures, as the city plans to shutter the doors to Aberdeen Pavilion for renovations.

The City of Ottawa is planning to begin some much-needed repairs in January to the 126-year-old "cattle castle" — a Victorian heritage building built in 1898 that housed agricultural exhibitions since the turn of the 20th century.

More recently, it's housed the Ottawa Farmers' Market on Sundays, 613Flea market on some Saturdays, along with other events throughout the year.

"The Lansdowne market is critically important to our business. It's become a substantial source of income," said Matthew Mason-Phillips, who co-owns Heart City Farm just east of Ottawa's downtown. 

According to the city, the work is expected to keep the building closed until late 2026.

Mason-Phillips, who sits on the Ottawa Farmers' Market board, said those markets alone have helped embed his farm within the community.

About half the farm's yearly revenue comes from the six months the Ottawa Farmers' Market moves inside the Aberdeen Pavilion beginning in November.

"It's the only location really that we have available to us that allows us to continue to sell our products [year-round]," he said. "It's sort of one-of-a-kind and it's not just crucially important to our own business, but to the whole community of producers."

It's not just the indoor portion of the market that will likely be affected. 

Several vendors told CBC News they've heard the scaffolding will likely encroach on the outdoor space they use beside the building the other half of the year.

New roof, doors needed

It's not the first time the Aberdeen Pavilion has undergone a major retrofit.

Set to be demolished nearly 40 years ago, a grassroots movement pushed to save the building in the early 90s with the help of former mayor Jim Watson, a rookie councillor at the time.

After three decades, the building needs some significant repairs and upgrades, including a new replica Spanish tile roof, along with a new waterproofing membrane, replica wood doors and a new heating and cooling system.

Earlier this month, the city put out a request for pre-qualifications for a contractor who can work with heritage materials.

The city says it's relocating some events like the farmers' market to the Horticulture Building. 

"Staff have connected other event organizers with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group to relocate their events to TD Place," Dan Chenier, the city's general manager of recreation, cultural and facility services wrote in a statement to CBC News.

He added that a list of possible venues have also been given to other organizations who use the Aberdeen Pavilion.

But at about half the size of the pavilion, Mason-Phillips acknowledges the Horticulture Building won't be sufficient to house between 85 and 105 vendors who use that space weekly throughout the winter.

"It is hard to imagine that it won't be sort of truncated or impeded in some significant way," he said, but added he's confident a reasonable workaround can be found.

One of the biggest revenue draws for those small businesses, like potter Diane Sullivan, is the Christmas Market.

"Christmas for a potter, is pretty substantial," she said. "The December market, if that weren't there, that's a huge hit for me."

She's happy the renovations won't begin until after this year's holiday season and has faith the market and city will find a reasonable workaround.

"The pandemic showed us how to be resilient in this world and how to come up with creative solutions," she said.

For 613Flea, it's a similar story.

The upscale flea market is the second-biggest user of the Aberdeen Pavilion twice a month for a majority of the year before it moves outdoors.

Organizer Catherine Knoll said it will be difficult to find another centrally-located space big enough to accommodate the market's 150 vendors.

"It's going to be tough to find something of this magnitude," she said.

Knoll said the Horticulture Building won't fit the market's size, and other spots at Lansdowne are financially out of reach for them.

"It's going to be a major loss of income. For some of these vendors, [the market's] become a primary source of income."