(Ottawa) Mathieu Grondin insists that he didn’t need any persuasion to relocate from Montreal to Ottawa. In the federal capital, known for its glamorous reputation, where he recently took on the position of nightlife commissioner, he has found an exciting playground.
Published at 5:00 a.m.
“There are many enjoyable things in Ottawa,” he remarks in a café in the ByWard Market.
He appears ready to take on the challenge and has the support of numerous politicians, business leaders, and members of the artistic community.
PHOTO MÉLANIE MARQUIS, THE PRESS
Mathieu Grondin, Nightlife Commissioner for the City of Ottawa
People are eager to develop Ottawa’s nightlife; they want to shed the label they currently have, which doesn’t make sense based on what I’ve observed over the past month.
Mathieu Grondin, Nightlife Commissioner for the City of Ottawa
“We need to move away from the perception that this is just a city for civil servants. Yes, that exists, but they aren’t the ones who will invigorate Ottawa’s nightlife,” he continues, seated at a table in the ByWard Market—a tourist hotspot that is also regarded as the core of Ottawa’s nightlife.
Addressing Homelessness
In the ByWard Market area, apartment complexes are emerging rapidly. However, amidst these glass and steel structures, there are many homeless individuals, many of whom struggle with substance abuse. The neighborhood frequently experiences incidents of violence.
PHOTO ÉTIENNE RANGER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
A renowned tourist destination in the national capital, the ByWard Market is currently facing security challenges.
“We are not far from the situation in the Village in Montreal,” notes the former director of Montreal 24/24 in his new surroundings.
While it is true that one of the ten recommendations in the action plan given to him by municipal authorities is to create a city-wide security strategy, the reality is that the issue “extends well beyond nightlife,” Mathieu Grondin contends.
His perspective is as follows: “In my view, a busy night is a safe night. A bustling night, as long as there are people in public spaces, enhances the perception of safety. It shouldn’t be framed as a chicken or egg scenario.
Vilnius and Oslo as Inspirations
Although he has taken on the long-term challenge of “encouraging people who travel to Montreal or Toronto to choose Ottawa instead,” the nightlife enthusiast recognizes that, as the capital with a smaller population base, the national capital is not entirely in the same league.
PHOTO EWG3D, GETTY IMAGES
The Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania
He enthusiastically mentions a European capital with comparable characteristics. “When we look at a capital city that has a size similar to Ottawa’s, with an exceptionally dynamic nightlife and currently a night bureau, it’s Vilnius, Lithuania,” he states.
He also highlights that Lithuanians under 30 rank highly in the World Happiness Report 20242.
The three factors contributing to the happiness of young Lithuanians were free education, a thriving economy, and an extremely vibrant nightlife.
Mathieu Grondin
And what about Canadians in the same age group? They come in 58th out of 143. “However, we have studies that should be free [except at the university level], an economy that’s not too bad… perhaps we should enhance the nightlife,” he jokes with a hearty laugh.
Oslo, Norway, another relatively small government seat, also serves as inspiration for Mathieu Grondin, particularly for its recent humorous advertising campaign aimed at promoting the Scandinavian capital3.
A Growing and Exportable Phenomenon
The rise of “night mayors,” sometimes referred to as night czars—as seen in London, UK—is becoming more common; approximately 80 cities around the globe have embraced this approach since 2001, according to a census from the website Nighttime.org.
At the time of publication, Mathieu Grondin’s marker had yet to be transitioned from Montreal to Ottawa on the website’s world map.
PHOTO ÉTIENNE RANGER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Old Hull in Gatineau has numerous bars and restaurants
Nevertheless, the 44-year-old commissioner has successfully made the shift.
“What is occurring in Ottawa is remarkable. People often express their happiness that I’m from Montreal, thinking I can bring a touch of Montreal culture,” he says.
However, he emphasizes that we are still far from the prospect of introducing the concept of 24-hour bars in any neighborhood in the federal capital, stating, “I wasn’t brought in for that; it doesn’t seem to be the main priority either.”
In any case, Grondin aims to broaden his focus beyond just the ByWard Market area.
My mandate includes the entire city, and I’ve always believed it’s important to have nightlife pockets in every neighborhood.
Mathieu Grondin
This initiative should encompass Old Hull, located on the opposite side of the Ottawa River, where Mathieu Grondin currently resides.
But keep it under wraps. This information should not spread too widely in Ottawa, where he has pledged his loyalty. And celebrate.
1. Read A coffee with… Mathieu Grondin: night bird
2. Check out the World Happiness Report 2024
3. Watch the Visit Oslo advertising video (in English)
Mathieu Grondin: Revitalizing Ottawa’s Nightlife as Nightlife Commissioner
(Ottawa) Mathieu Grondin swears he didn’t have to have an arm twisted to move his home from Montreal to Ottawa. And in the federal capital with its swanky reputation, where he recently took on the role of nightlife commissioner, he’s discovered a playground that excites him.
Published at 5:00 a.m.
“There are a lot of things in Ottawa that are fun,” he says in a café in the ByWard Market. He seems ready to go, and he has an army of politicians, business people, and members of the artistic community behind him.
PHOTO MÉLANIE MARQUIS, THE PRESS
Mathieu Grondin, Nightlife Commissioner for the City of Ottawa
People want to develop Ottawa’s nightlife, they want to get rid of the label they have, which doesn’t make sense, from what I’ve seen over the last month.
Mathieu Grondin, Nightlife Commissioner for the City of Ottawa
“I think we need to get rid of the idea that this is a city of civil servants. There’s that, yes, but they’re not the ones who are going to make the heart of Ottawa’s nightlife beat,” he continues, seated at a table in the ByWard Market – a tourist magnet that can also be considered the epicenter of Ottawa’s nightlife.
Coping with Homelessness
Around the ByWard Market, apartment towers are springing up like mushrooms. But amid these giants of glass and steel are teeming homeless people, many of whom struggle with drug addiction. The neighborhood is also too frequently the scene of shootings.
PHOTO ÉTIENNE RANGER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
A tourist spot par excellence in the national capital, the ByWard Market is today grappling with security problems.
“We are not far from the situation of the Village in Montreal,” illustrates the former general director of Montreal 24/24 in his new environment.
While it is true that one of the 10 recommendations in the action plan entrusted to him by municipal officials is to design a city-wide security plan, the fact is that the problem “goes well beyond nightlife,” argues Mathieu Grondin.
His vision, however, is as follows: “For me, a busy night is a safe night. A night that is busy, as long as there are people in the public space, the perception of security is reinforced. We should not see it as the chicken or the egg.”
Vilnius and Oslo, Inspirations
Even though he has set himself the long-term challenge of “encouraging people who go to Montreal or Toronto to go to Ottawa instead,” the night owl is aware that the national capital, seat of government with a smaller population base, does not really play in the same league.
PHOTO EWG3D, GETTY IMAGES
The Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania
So he spontaneously cites a European capital with similar characteristics. “If we look at a city that is a capital, that is about the same size as Ottawa, that has an extremely dynamic nightlife and that now has a night bureau, it is Vilnius, in Lithuania,” he says enthusiastically.
Lithuanians under 30 are also at the top of the World Happiness Report 2024, he notes.
The three reasons that contributed to the happiness of young people [Lithuanians] were free education, the fact that the economy was doing well, and that the nightlife was extremely vibrant.
Mathieu Grondin
Canadians in the same age group? They come in 58th out of 143. “However, we have studies that are supposed to be free [except at the university level], an economy that is not so bad… maybe we should work on nightlife,” he preaches to his parish, unable to stop himself from bursting into hearty laughter.
There is also Oslo, Norway, another seat of government on a human scale, which inspires Mathieu Grondin – special mention for the recent advertising campaign full of self-mockery aimed at highlighting the Scandinavian capital.
A Growing and Exportable Phenomenon
The emergence of “night mayors”, sometimes called night czarsas is the case in London, UK, is a growing phenomenon – some 80 cities around the world have adopted the approach since 2001, according to a census by the website Nighttime.org.
At the time of publication, the marker identifying Mathieu Grondin had not been moved from Montreal to Ottawa on the site’s world map.
PHOTO ÉTIENNE RANGER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Old Hull in Gatineau has many bars and restaurants.
But the 44-year-old commissioner has indeed made the transition. “What’s happening in Ottawa is exceptional. People often tell me they’re happy that I’m from Montreal, to bring a little Montreal touch,” he says.
However, we are still far from wanting to import into the federal capital the idea of opening the bars of a district 24 hours a day, notes the man who officially took office on June 11: “I was not hired to do that; it does not seem to be the primary issue either.”
Either way, it will cast a wider net than the ByWard Market area.
The mandate I have is for the entire city. And I’ve always thought it was important to have pockets of nightlife in each of the neighborhoods.
Mathieu Grondin
This should include Old Hull, on the other side of the Ottawa River, where Mathieu Grondin has taken up residence. But shush. We must not let this get out too much in Ottawa, where he has sworn loyalty. And party.
Read A coffee with… Mathieu Grondin: night bird
Check out the World Happiness Report 2024
