Photo credit: Leah Larocque, CTV News OttawaJune 11, 2024 - Ottawa
This morning, Mathieu Grondin was announced as Ottawa’s first-ever Nightlife Commissioner.
Born and raised in Montreal, Grondin’s experience lies in nightlife governance and management. He is the co-founder and director general of MTL 24/24, a non-profit that advocates for improved nightlife in Montreal. He has also served as a board member of Culture Montréal.
Looking at Ottawa, Grondin expressed his eagerness to begin the work of leading the Nightlife Commissioner’s Office and implementing the Nightlife Economy Action Plan that was voted on by city council. Encouraged by the public’s interest and engagement in his new position and the Plan, Grondin rejected the notion that “Ottawa is the city that fun forgot” rather it is a “city that fun is about to remember”.
“I am excited to take on the new role of Ottawa’s Nightlife Commissioner. Ottawa is a world class city with a nightlife economy framework that is leading the way among Canadian municipalities. I look forward to being a champion of the Nightlife Economy Action Plan and supporting a nightlife culture that is exciting, inclusive, safe and well-managed for all” - Mathieu Grondin, Nightlife Commissioner.
In his opening remarks, Mayor of Ottawa Mark Sutcliffe described there is a global movement recognizing the importance of a robust nightlife economy in generating a better quality of life, drawing more tourism and major events and overall giving cities a competitive advantage. Sutcliffe is confident that Grondin has the expertise and experience to stimulate economic and cultural growth, suggesting the “new nightlife commissioner will be your champion.”
The Ottawa Festival Network is looking forward to working closely with Mathieu Grondin and continue its work with all the industry and community leaders involved in the Nightlife Ambassador Council.
Facts about Ottawa’s nightlife economy, provided by the City of Ottawa
An estimated $1.5 billion is spent annually on nightlife activities in Ottawa. This is approximately 30 per cent of the daytime consumer spend.
Approximately 84 per cent of nightlife spending comes from Ottawa residents and 16 per cent from visitors.
Ottawa’s nightlife-related businesses employ more than 38,000 workers, including more than 25,000 in food services and 5,000 in arts sectors.
Ottawa has approximately 4,600 nightlife-related businesses.
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