Proposed cannabis shop ditches ByWard Market name

The people behind a proposed cannabis store in the ByWard Market have decided its name will not to refer to the historic neighbourhood.

Instead of ByWard Market Cannabis,the shop would be called Fire & Flower York Street Cannabis.

The change comes after the group managing Ottawa's ByWard Market called forthe proposed store on York Street to keep "ByWard Market"out of its name.

• Market manager wants to keep ByWard brand off cannabis shop

The arms-length municipal body Ottawa Marketsmade a submission to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)asking to protect the brand of the nearly 200-year-old heritage district.

Its executive director said there was concern about how a store called ByWard Market Cannabismight affect the area'sfamily-friendly image.

Michael Patterson, one of the retail lottery winners, said in an emailThursday that "concerned parties have all expressed their approval of the new name."

The AGCO has approved the new name pending the change being registered byService Ontario, Patterson added.