The City of Ottawa is hoping to shed its reputation as the "city that fun forgot" by bringing in a nightlife commissioner.
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The City of Ottawa is hoping to shed its reputation as the “city that fun forgot” by bringing in a nightlife commissioner, a gig previously dubbed as “night mayor.”
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The role will involve working to promote citywide participation in Ottawa’s nightlife and is part of the city’s first Ottawa Nightlife Economic Action Plan.
“The Nightlife Commissioner will require a deep understanding of the nightlife economy and the challenges that arise in our nightlife,” said Jamie Hurst, acting program manager media relations and legislative support.
She added that the role requires someone with skills in communication, collaboration, leadership, strategic thinking and problem-solving.
The new position follows major cities, including Amsterdam, New York, Montreal and Toronto, in supporting and developing its nightlife economy. The finance and corporate services committee approved the plan during its meeting on Tuesday.
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Ottawa’s nightlife economy accounted for more than $1.5 billion in spending in 2019, compared to daytime spending of $5.5 billion.
“There’s a reason cities around the world have invested in a strategic plan when it comes to nightlife economies,” said Erin Benjamin, CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, who spoke as a delegate at Tuesday’s meeting.
Benjamin says Ottawa is behind other cities in its nightlife planning, but it now has the chance to learn from what works in other areas.
Under the plan, the city will invest a maximum of $40,000 to develop marketing tools to promote nightlife businesses and experiences.
Establishing a nightlife commissioner role is in part one of two phases outlined in the Ottawa Nightlife Economic Action Plan.
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Phase one, to be addressed in 2023, also recommends the establishment of a framework for a “Nightlife Commissioner Office,” led by the nightlife commissioner, to support the economy between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Another portion of this phase involves considering changes to support the nightlife economy through reviews of city by-laws, policies, procedures and services.
Phase two, to be applied between 2024 and 2026, involves several recommendations, including:
• Establishing a Nightlife Ambassador Council with industry and community leaders
• Developing an annual ‘Nightlife Commissioner’s Report’ that highlights achievements of the nightlife commissioner’s office and nightlife economy developments
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· Collaborating with Ottawa Tourism to promote nightlife experiences to visitors
· Developing a citywide Nightlife Safety and Security Plan for nightlife workers and participants
· Developing a virtual nightlife resource centre of tools and resources for new and established nightlife businesses and events
· Identifying opportunities to support the establishment of new midsize venues with 1,500-2,000 person capacities for events and live music
During the meeting, River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington expressed his support for the plan, adding that there is a clear gap in the promotion of nighttime events in Ottawa.
“I don’t think this (plan) is bold and substantial; I think it’s tying together all the loose ends that need to be tied to help promote what’s going on in the city,” he said.
Funding for the new position will be included in the 2024 budget.
City committee approves plan to bring in 'nightlife commissioner' to boost Ottawa's entertainment economy - Ottawa Citizen
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