What is the "ByWard Market Overpriced "Local Artisan" Goods" scam in Ottawa?

Question

Accepted Answer

In and around the ByWard Market building on Clarence Street and York Street, vendors selling items labelled as "Canadian-made" or "local artisan" souvenirs — including Inuit-style carvings, maple-leaf embroidered items, and Indigenous-inspired art prints — are frequently mass-produced imports from overseas. Prices are set at artisan levels ($40–$200 CAD) for goods that retail elsewhere for a fraction of the cost. The Ottawa Tourism Authority does not certify or curate vendors in the outdoor market. Look for the Authentic Indigenous mark or certificates of authenticity for any Indigenous art. Ask vendors directly where and by whom the item was made. Certified local artisan goods are more reliably found inside the ByWard Market building at permanent stalls or at the Ottawa Farmers' Market at Brewer Park, where vendors sign authenticity agreements.

Other Tourist Scams in Ottawa

ByWard Market Overpriced "Local Artisan" Goods

Experienced a scam here?