Ottawa deserves a great nightlife, and it’s building one

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When I was appointed Ottawa’s first-ever nightlife commissioner in June 2024, my role was clear: to implement the City of Ottawa’s council-approved Nightlife Economy Action Plan, with a target completion by the end of 2026. But this is just the beginning: transforming a city’s nightlife is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s also a lot of detailed work at City Hall; it’s not just about attending events and going to parties.

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Right now, there’s an undeniable buzz surrounding Ottawa’s nightlife, and my job is to amplify that energy and support the creativity behind it.

Consider the exciting news from Live Nation. It has announced a partnership with global icon Drake to open HISTORY Ottawa, a 2,000-person performance hall in the ByWard Market. This venue will bring artists who once performed only in Toronto and Montreal to our city. Additionally, Ottawa Tourism has launched a “Nightlife in Ottawa” section on its website to showcase our after-dark attractions, festivals and experiences to both locals and visitors.

Just last month, alongside the owners of City At Night, we announced the opening of another live performance venue in the space formerly occupied by Mavericks on Rideau Street. Ottawa is truly becoming a hub for dynamic nightlife.

Later this year, during Capital Music Week (May 20 to 25), Ottawa will host delegates from across Canada for Canada After Dark. This event will focus on sharing best practices for managing night-time activities — an opportunity to inspire cities nationwide. We’re also seeing momentum at City Hall. Last fall, when I established the Nightlife Council, we received more than 500 applications, demonstrating the excitement and engagement from both the nightlife industry and residents alike.

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Ottawa is truly becoming a hub for dynamic nightlife.

The Nightlife Council includes a wide range of economic development and cultural organizations, event organizers and venue owners. These individuals and businesses are the ones who keep the pulse of Ottawa’s nightlife alive, week in and week out. By creating the Nightlife Council, we’ve built a platform for meaningful dialogue between stakeholders and city services to identify and address barriers to nightlife growth.

Since I began this role, I’ve met with more than 110 groups invested in the nightlife economy, attended more than 30 events, delivered numerous speeches, and given more than 40 interviews with local, national and international news outlets, all to advance the conversation about Ottawa’s nightlife future.

I am actively working with all city departments to develop a “nightlife reflex.” Whether it’s new condo developments, zoning bylaws, transit routes or recreational facilities, every aspect of city planning needs to account for the needs of the nightlife sector. These considerations are now critical for creating a sustainable, vibrant night-time culture.

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Currently, the Nightlife Office is building a website to highlight spaces where night culture thrives, boosting visibility for residents, visitors and newcomers. You can expect an update later this year.

This fall, we’ll introduce a nightlife safety plan, designed to ensure that everyone involved in Ottawa’s nightlife — workers and participants alike — can engage in healthy, responsible and safe nights out. This will include resources to prevent substance abuse and harassment, ensuring that people of all backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations can enjoy a safe and inclusive nightlife experience.

Like many cities across Canada and the G7, Ottawa’s nightlife faces challenges such as shifting consumption habits, inflation, a rising cost of living and a housing crisis — factors that can slow down growth in the nightlife economy. The Nightlife Economy Action Plan as well as other city plans will tackle these issues step by step, benefiting residents who go out, artists who perform and the workers who make our nights memorable and safe.

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With major developments such as a new Ottawa Senators arena, Lansdowne 2.0, the Downtown Ottawa Action Agenda, and the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan, the face of Ottawa’s nightlife will be vastly different over the next decade. My hope is that all stakeholders in the nightlife ecosystem will feel empowered to embrace creativity and boldness, as we develop a sector critical to our city’s economic vitality and quality of life.

In a city of a million people, there are a million ideas on how to improve nightlife. My role in implementing the high-level policies of the Nightlife Economy Action Plan is essential, foundational work and must be achieved brick by brick. Through this work, I hope to foster an environment where those million ideas can be unleashed, and where everyone has the opportunity to help create a vibrant, inclusive nightlife that reflects the spirit of our city.

Bonsoir, bonne nuit!

Mathieu Grondin is the City of Ottwa’s nightlife commissioner, appointed in June, 2024.

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