Curating a community and creating connections
January 12, 2025
By Isabella Disley
The first 613flea of 2025 brought the capital’s businesses and local community together in the Aberdeen Pavillion on Jan. 11.
613flea is the largest market in Ottawa and hosts multiple monthly events with over 100 vendors in the Aberdeen Pavilion.
Elsa Vital (left) and Alex Johnson (right) enjoying the first 613flea event of 2025 in the Aberdeen Pavilion on Jan. 11. (Photo credit: Isabella Disley)
Elsa Vital and Alex Johnson appreciated the welcoming environment of the market community.
“I think you see familiar faces if you come to multiple events. It makes you feel like you’re a part of it. If you buy from vendors, they’ll remember you sometimes. You can build relationships, it’s pretty cool,” said Johnson.
Vital and Johnson planned to go to Value Village but decided to go to 613flea instead.
“I would say I prefer coming here than going to the Value Village. You get to actually follow up with the vendors if there’s anything more, they want from them. I really like shopping from local vendors,” said Vital.
Johnson highly recommends browsing throughout the market.
“I think there’s a range of things for sure. But I think there’s kind of something for everyone. It’s fun, you meet cool people, and you see things that you might not see like different types of stores or different retail places,” said Johnson.
When finding more information about the 613flea, social media was the key for Vital.
“After I came the first time, I did look them up on social media. I ended up following them to keep up with the dates and I’ve met a lot of local vendors. I usually ask for their contact information so I can also follow them online,” said Vital.
Johnson mentioned that free admission plays a role when choosing where to go in Ottawa.
“Especially if you haven’t been to an event before and you don’t know what to expect, you’re more inclined to go if you don’t have a barrier to entry,” said Johnson.
Kirsten Torres agreed that free admission is more appealing when it comes to activities.
“I find that with certain events you have to pay to get in. It’s nice to have free admission events. That allows people to be in a free space and look at things,” said Torres.
Torres said that social media presence helps illustrate what there is to do in Ottawa.
“I find that it allows for more people to realize that a lot happens in the city because people always say that Ottawa is boring, which I can agree with sometimes. But when we have events like this going on every so often, I find that it helps to see what Ottawa can offer,” said Torres.
Jesse Lockyer, owner of The Gus, uses Instagram to interact with the local business community.
“We all connect through Instagram, but doing stuff like this, you kind of get to meet them and put a face to the name of people. The vintage community is also pretty tight, and we all help each other so it’s cool,” said Lockyer.
Torres was eyeing the jewelry and noticed the communal support of local businesses.
“It’s nice to see everyone get together. Bringing people from everywhere, just coming in here and meeting others,” said Torres.
Each 613flea event hosts a wide range of vendors from vintage trinkets to homemade products.
Lockyer named his business after his son and has been a vendor at 613flea since last July.
“There’s so many different people here and so many different aesthetics and products that you can find, and things that you’d never thought you’d see again or see before. It’s just a fun time,” said Lockyer.