This is what Ottawa’s night mayor is working on to boost the nightlife economy

Bill Carroll from The Morning Rush shares his thoughts on what the Night Mayor has been up to.

Ottawa’s night mayor is developing a “branded website” to promote nightlife venues and attractions, preparing a “nightlife safety plan” and working with Bylaw Services to relax rules on food trucks, all-night dance parties and noise exemptions for festivals during severe weather.

A report for the finance and corporate services committee provides the first glimpse on what Mathieu Grondin has been doing since being appointed Ottawa’s new Nightlife Commissioner last June. The Nightlife Commissioner is part of the new Nightlife Economy Action Plan approved in 2023, designed to support the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. economy.

“It’s a bureaucratic job,” Grondin said on the City of Ottawa’s new podcast series called “OttaTalk” that was released earlier this month.

“I’m not organizing parties, I’m not opening new clubs, and I’m not the official emcee for the city of Ottawa, either.”

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Grondin described his position as a liaison between external partners and city council, working to help event organizers and business owners navigate bureaucracy.

“I’m the middle of all these different sectors and my job is to help them kick off new projects, to see if there’s different red tape—you know, there’s always red tape to get rid of. I have discussions with the community to see what can the city does to make their life easier to do business after dark more easily,” Grondin said.

Ottawa’s Nightlife Economy Action Plan outlines a list of actions to take between 2023 and 2026.

The report on the Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan Implementation Update says Grondin has visited most of Ottawa’s 18 Business Improvement Areas and met with 110 groups and individuals invested in the nightlife economy since being hired last June and has attended more than 30 economic development and cultural industries events at the request of organizers. A new Nightlife Council has been established with up to 18 members to support the Nightlife Commissioner’s Office.

A new website will be launched this summer to “promote nightlife venues, attractions and experiences,” according to the report.

“Increasing the visibility of nightlife product for residents and visitors,” staff say. “The website will also host a resource centre for nightlife businesses, organizations, and participants that will include tools related to the new Nightlife Safety Plan (i.e., training modules, downloadable signage, links to external resources, etc.) as well as information on City processes (i.e., business licensing, permit applications, etc.), and more.”

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Grondin is expected to table a nightlife safety plan over the summer.

“The purpose of the plan is to ensure that everyone involved in Ottawa’s nightlife economy can engage in healthy, responsible, and safe nightlife experiences,” the report says.

“One important element of the plan will be the availability of online and in-person training tools, workshops and resources to prevent substance abuse and workplace violence and harassment, ensuring everyone, regardless of age, cultural background, gender or sexual orientation, can enjoy a positive nightlife experience.”

Reviewing city bylaws

The new Night Mayor is looking at ways to cut red tape for events and organizers at City Hall, according to the report.

The report says Grondin is working with Bylaw Services and staff as part of the Special Events Bylaw review to allow flexibility for food trucks and mobile vendors during special events, and exploring amendments to noise exemption regulations to “provide flexibility for outdoor events impacted by weather delays.”

The Nightlife Commissioner is recommending an amendment to Ottawa’s All-Night Dance Event regulations in the Licencing Bylaw, with plan allowing a venue operating under a temporary extension of hours of sales licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario not requiring a licence from the city.

“Should this recommendation move forward, it will significantly reduce administrative burden for the City and venue operators, restaurant owners and event producers delivering extended hours programming,” the report says.

Working with new partners

While some people on social media have questioned what the new night mayor has been doing, the report suggests he has been supporting organizations and entrepreneurs working to establish “new nightlife attractions and experiences.”

“For example, a group of event producers has developed a business plan to create an outdoor activation space downtown to contribute to neighbourhood and commercial vibrancy,” the report says. “The Nightlife Commissioner has provided significant guidance, helped the proponents identify and secure a site, made introductions to potential funding partners and suppliers, and helped identify potential support available through the City’s Right of Way, Heritage and Urban Design service area related to downtown public realm interventions and placemaking.”

The report adds Grondin has also “facilitated introductions between City Service areas and several local and national businesses” involved in event activations.

The report says the Nightlife Commissioner is working with Ottawa Tourism to develop and enhance opportunities to promote and grow the city’s nightlife.

The Nightlife Commissioner’s salary is $112,000 a year.