With this appointment of a new nightlife council, Ottawa’s inaugural nightlife commissioner says he’s ready to get to work — and he says that while Ottawa won’t be the next Montreal, it’s about to become “the city that fun remembered.”
Montreal-born Mathieu Grondin was named Ottawa’s first nightlife commissioner in June as the city seeks a boost to the nightlife and entertainment scene. He previously worked as founder and director general of MTL 24/24, a non-profit organization that advocates for improved nightlife in Montreal.
Earlier this week, Ottawa formed its first-ever Nightlife Council. The Nightlife Commissioner Office appointed 12 members selected from more than 500 on-line applicants. They join representatives from six organizations already actively engaged in Ottawa’s nightlife economy, including the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition and Ottawa Tourism, and include local business owners and community leaders.
A common criticism of Ottawa is that it’s the “city where fun went to die.” But Grondin said he doesn’t see it that way.
“I don’t buy into all that, that Ottawa is boring — not at all. I think people who say that don’t go out…When I go out in the Market, for instance, I see a lot of vibrancy,” he said. “I don’t see it as being so bad; not at all.
“I wouldn’t say it’s having that much of a hard time. Everywhere around the world, nightlife is struggling. So let’s put it into perspective,” Grondin continued. “I think people are used to saying that nightlife is struggling here in Ottawa because of the reputation the town has.”
Rather than being known as a city of public servants and government officials, Grondin said he wants to tap into Ottawa as a city of students.
“Of course, it’s never going to be Montreal or Toronto,” he said. “These are cities of very different sizes and a very different history, but I think we can find what makes Ottawa’s nightlife identity.
“I think this is where the nightlife council members will be able to give me a bit of help there, about how we position Ottawa as a nightlife destination.”
Grondin’s plan involves nightlife hubs throughout the city so that people can find restaurants, bars and entertainment near their homes and workplaces, and find ways to tap into the city’s waterways. He also wants to examine public safety and “perception” of public safety, both of which he said are important aspects of the nightlife economy, as well as transit and the needs and desires of Ottawans.
“We talk about safety to get to a venue, inside the venue, and back home. If you can’t get back home, that’s an issue, especially if you’re a young woman at 2 a.m. who’s got to wait for her bus,” Grondin said. “If the bus doesn’t show up and you need to walk, she’s not going to want to go out.”
When Grondin first took office, he was often referred to as the “night mayor”, but he said he prefers “commissioner” so that he can “manage people’s expectations” about the role.
The term “night mayor” suggests he might have more power than he does, he said. While he can work to streamline communications and advocate for Ottawa nightlife, he is “at the end of the day, a member of city staff.”.
“I can’t just go out and say, ‘we need more transportation at night’ and snap my fingers,” he said. “It’s not going to be me opening these new businesses. I’m not the one who’s going to be organizing these new cool parties and festivals. I’m not the one who’s going to be opening a new concert venue.
“This is the private sector that needs to engage with these issues,” he said. “I’m there to facilitate the private sector’s initiatives.”
The nightlife council will meet for an introductory session at the end of this year, then conduct its first work session in the first quarter of 2025. Grondin says his plan is to form teams that will address various issues affecting nightlife and report in sessions, which will not be open to the public.
