Ottawa Chinatown is often described as a multicultural village with an Asian flavour. For visitors, the Ottawa Chinatown Night Market provides an exciting window into the community’s rich and diverse culture. The 2022 festival featured an incredible variety of Asian and global food, along with dynamic street vendors and non-stop multicultural performances.

After a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, organizers were enthusiastic about the Night Market’s return. And this year’s event was bigger and better than ever, thanks to a $200,249 contribution from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to support My Main Street. The Ottawa Chinatown BIA received this funding as part of the My Main Street Community Activator program, administered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI).

The Ottawa Chinatown Night Market took place from July 22-24, 2022. Audiences enjoyed more than 160 acts, including musical performances, acrobatics, martial arts, interactive street shows and Indigenous dancing. With more than 40 vendors from both from the local neighbourhood and out of town, visitors could sample just about any type of cuisine imaginable, from flavoured egg waffles to grilled squid to lamb skewers. In addition, the Art Flow Gallery offered a range of family-friendly activities, such as teaching people how to write their names in Chinese and draw their zodiac sign on rice paper.

Organizers wondered how the two-year absence might impact public awareness of the Night Market, but the event’s attendance far exceeded their expectations. In total, more than 33,000 people visited the area and participated in activities. Yukang Li, Executive Director of the Ottawa Chinatown BIA, noted long lines for all the vendors and a general spirit of celebration.

“The reception was phenomenal,” he says. “People just loved it. The street was packed.”

In addition to the lively atmosphere on the street, local restaurant and business owners reported a significant increase in traffic and revenue throughout the three-day event.

Li says the performances stood out this year, with more artists and acts than Ottawa Chinatown has ever seen. One of the highlights was the Chinese dragon and lion dances, which were performed several times a day. The dancers and their colourful costumes, accompanied by musicians banging gongs and drums, enthralled the crowds along Somerset Street.

The event was a huge boon to the artists themselves, all of whom were paid. But the Night Market was about more than money for them—it provided a sorely missed outlet for creative expression and social connection. “By working with these artists, they had the opportunity to be back on stage,” says Li.

The Ottawa Chinatown BIA originally planned a smaller-scale version of the Night Market, without the resources to offer as many activities, hire as many performers or welcome as many visitors as they did in 2022.

“With the funding from the My Main Street program, we were able to make it grand,” explains Li. “This was the best Ottawa Chinatown Night Market ever!”

He notes that hosting a major event provided a much-needed boost in confidence and morale for the neighbourhood. On that note, many people from the community expressed their belief that the Somerset Street area is coming back to life.

“Through this Night Market, residents and visitors in Ottawa had the opportunity to know more about our community, who we are and what we do and about all the restaurants, stores and services that we have to offer in Chinatown.”

Photo Credit: Ottawa Chinatown BIA

Photo Caption: “Crowds and vendors line Somerset Street at the Ottawa Chinatown Night Market"