McDonald's Canada Plans ByWard Market Return and $100M Charity Expansion

When Michèle Boudria, CEO of McDonald's Canada, sat down with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe over breakfast on November 7, 2025, she didn’t just talk about fries and coffee. She talked about redemption. After two years of silence since the infamous ByWard Market location shuttered, Boudria confirmed McDonald’s Canada plans to return to the heart of downtown Ottawa — when the time is right.

Why the ByWard Market Matters — and Why It Was Lost

The original McDonald’s at 99 Rideau Street wasn’t just any restaurant. Opened in 1985, it became a cultural landmark — and a nightly flashpoint. For 38 years, it served families, students, and late-night revelers. But after bars closed, the crowd changed. Rowdy groups spilled onto the sidewalk. Noise complaints piled up. By 2023, the Ontario government’s Keeping Communities Safe from Crime Act, 2022 (Bill 3), which allowed bars to stay open until 3 a.m., had turned the area into a magnet for post-last-call chaos. The Toronto Star dubbed it the "World’s Worst McDonald’s." The decision to close in May 2023 wasn’t just business — it was survival.

The building itself, the heritage-designated Atwood structure from 1908, is protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. Its lease went to a new Asian eatery in January 2025, but Boudria made it clear: McDonald’s hasn’t given up. "We didn’t walk away because we didn’t care," she said. "We walked away because we couldn’t serve the community the way we wanted to."

Five New Locations — And a Strategic Re-Entry

By November 2026, McDonald’s Canada plans to open five new restaurants across Ottawa, targeting growing suburbs like Barrhaven, Kanata, and Orleans. But the real signal? The company is watching the Ottawa Police Service’s ByWard Market Task Force — formed in January 2023 — like a hawk. If noise bylaws are enforced consistently, if late-night crowds are managed without police intervention, then 99 Rideau Street could reopen. "It’s not about timing," Boudria told reporters afterward. "It’s about trust. And trust has to be earned, not assumed."

That’s not just PR. McDonald’s Canada operates 1,441 restaurants nationwide, with 95% owned by independent franchisees. In Ottawa alone, there are 58 locations. The company’s global push — to hit 50,000 restaurants by December 31, 2027 — means Canada remains one of its top five international markets. But in cities like Ottawa, reputation matters more than square footage.

The Bigger Picture: $100 Million in Kind

While the ByWard Market return hangs in the balance, McDonald’s Canada is quietly building something far more enduring. The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Canada facility at 1235 Smyth Road in Ottawa will expand from 14 to 36 family units — a 57% increase — with construction set to begin in Q2 2026 and finish by Q4 2027. The funding? Not corporate dollars. Not government grants. It’s all from franchisees.

"It’s largely due because our franchisees are raising a lot of money to be able to do that," Boudria said, her voice thick with pride. The 2025 McHappy Day campaign on May 7 raised $8.9 million CAD, bringing the campaign’s total since 1977 to a staggering $100 million. That’s not a number. That’s 100,000 families who didn’t have to sleep in hospital hallways while their children fought cancer or serious illness.

The new RMHC building will be carbon-neutral, aligning with McDonald’s Canada’s 2050 net-zero goal — a target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative in 2022. It’s a quiet counterpoint to the noise of the old Rideau Street location. One building was torn down because it caused chaos. Another is being built to bring peace.

What This Means for Ottawa

This isn’t just about burgers. It’s about how a global brand navigates local pain. McDonald’s Canada didn’t just close a store — it acknowledged a failure. Now, it’s asking for a second chance. And in return, it’s investing deeply in the community’s well-being. The expansion of RMHC, the quiet monitoring of noise enforcement, the patience to wait for trust — these are signs of maturity.

For residents who remember the late-night fights outside the old location, the return might feel risky. But for parents who’ve stayed at RMHC while their kids underwent treatment, it’s a lifeline. And for the franchisees who raised that $8.9 million? They’re not just selling food. They’re building community.

What’s Next?

Ottawa City Council will review the ByWard Market Task Force’s Q1 2026 report in March. If crime and noise complaints drop below 2022 levels, McDonald’s could begin renovations by summer 2026. Meanwhile, the new RMHC expansion is already in design phase. The company says it will host a public consultation in early 2026 — not just to inform, but to listen.

There’s a lesson here: Sometimes, the most powerful business move isn’t opening more stores. It’s knowing when to wait.