Take a #WelliWander with Ottawa Centre MP, Yasir Naqvi
If you’re a local resident, you won’t have any trouble recognizing Yasir Naqvi. In addition to being our local Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, Yasir’s smiling face has been a long-time feature at local bake sales, community events, and BIA ribbon cuttings. That’s because he just keeps getting elected to represent this area – provincially in 2007, 2011, and 2014, and most recently as our federal MP since 2021.
But what you may not know is that when he’s not on Parliament Hill or behind the griddle at a pancake supper, you can often find Yasir in his local office – inside a BIA member building on Somerset West in the Eastern part of Hintonburg,
Which is why we hear he’s often spotted playing a (non-partisan) role as a customer in our local shops. We asked Yasir to tell us where he would like to stop on his ideal #WelliWander route through Hintonburg and Wellington Village.
Here are the five places he mentioned:
Maker House Co.
987 Wellington Street West
Yasir tells us he believes that “the unique and locally-sourced inventory and incredibly kind staff makes Maker House in Hintonburg a great place to shop for gifts for friends, colleagues, or family members.”
”Maker House is an incredible business, empowering artists and artisans across Canada to make a living through their passion to craft. Every time I am in need of a ‘Thank You’ gift, Maker House is my first stop.”
The Merry Dairy
102 Fairmont Avenue
With our recent taste of summer weather, Yasir has ice cream on his mind:
“What began as a simple ice cream truck idea has now grown into an Ottawa institution. The Merry Dairy is my favourite spot in Hintonburg to cap off a beautiful summer day with a delicious scoop of locally-made ice cream, available in vegan, gluten-free, and soy varieties. What can I say, I love ice cream!”
Marché Hintonburg Market
1059 Wellington Street West
Supporting small local business is a high priority for Yasir and grocery shopping is no exception:
“A staple of our community, the Hintonburg Market continues to be a go-to location for me whenever I am out grocery shopping. Their fresh fruit baskets, along with their specialty cheese menu, make Hintonburg Market a can’t miss location for any shopper looking to support local.”
The Spaniel’s Tale Bookstore
1131 Wellington Street West
Yasir celebrates the addition of a bookstore to Hintonburg:
“The Spaniel’s Tale bookstore is a favourite of mine. In a time where it is becoming more and more difficult to find independent bookstores around our city, The Spaniel’s Tale offers a uniquely inclusive and Canadian collection of fiction and non-fiction works that all ages can enjoy!”
Ottawa Bagel Shop and Deli
1321 Wellington Street West
Yasir appreciates more than just the bagels at this long-running Ottawa favourite in Wellington Village:
“The Ottawa Bagel Shop and Deli has been serving up their famous Montreal-style bagels, with a local Ottawa spin, since the 1980s, and I am happy to report that I have indulged in their cream cheese goodness more times than I’d like to admit. While bagels are the main event here, I’d also recommend giving their delicious hot soups a try on a brisk Ottawa morning!”
#WELLIWANDER CONTEST ALERT! Every Friday, we share a #WelliWander contest post on Instagram where you can comment your favourite Hintonburg and Wellington Village stop and be entered into a draw to win a $50 gift card from that business!