18 Members Named To Nightlife Council
This is a release from the City of Ottawa:
The Ottawa Nightlife Council ( “the Nightlife Council”), established on November 4, 2024, is a recommendation contained in the Nightlife Economy Action Plan adopted by City Council in 2023.
The Nightlife Council is composed of 12 at-large members, and representatives from six organizations actively engaged in Ottawa’s nightlife economy. A department-led working group, the Nightlife Council will provide the Nightlife Commissioner Office with feedback on the commercial and cultural vibrancy of Ottawa’s nightlife economy and the advancement of nightlife management best practices, policies, safety programs, and promotion.
Specifically, the Nightlife Council will:
identify shared objectives for the development of commercial and cultural vibrancy at night;
identify systemic barriers to commercial and cultural growth;
propose actions and initiatives for consideration by the Nightlife Commissioner Office; and
support the implementation of actions and initiatives undertaken by the Nightlife Commissioner Office and contribute to ongoing evaluation and impact measurement.
The Nightlife Council for this inaugural two-year term includes the following volunteer members:
At-Large Members
1. Aidan Kallioinen – Associate Vice-President, University and Government Relations, Carleton University Student Association
2. Alex Sirois – Managing Partner, Ottawa Venues
3. Christopher Wong – Co-Director, Asinabka Film & Media Festival
4. Claudia Balladelli – Co-Founder & Executive Director, Axé Worldfest
5. Eric Vance – Drag Performer and Co-Owner, Glittershaker Events
6. Feza Lugoma – DJ and Co-founder, Pass the Vibes
7. Lisa Zbitnew – Owner & Operator, Bronson Centre Music Theater
8. Mat Beausoleil – Critic and consultant for the food, beverage, and travel industry
9. Michaela Domenico – Founder & Project Manager, Safe Raving
10. Patrick McCormack – Managing Director, Cranium Festival & Capital Rap Battles
11. Rachel Weldon – Director, Debaser and Pique
12. Richard Laplante – Owner & CEO of White Rabbit Events
Economic Development and Cultural Industries Organizations Members
13. Arts Ottawa – Cassandra Olsthoorn, Co-Executive Director
14. ByWard Market District Authority – Zach Dayler, Executive Director
15. Ottawa Coalition of BIAs – Brad Fougere, Executive Director
16. Ottawa Festival Network – Tara Shannon, Executive Director
17. Ottawa Music Industry Coalition – Melanie Brulée, Executive Director
18. Ottawa Tourism – Kelleagh Alexander, Director of Experience Development
Questions should be directed to the Nightlife Commissioner, Mathieu Grondin at Mathieu.grondin@ottawa.ca(link opens email application) and Media should contact the City of Ottawa’s Media Relations team at medias@ottawa.ca(link opens email application) or by phone at 613-580-2450.
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Not a bad group actually
The more the merrier, I guess. But the more people that are involved, the more difficult it becomes to make a decision.
How often will this group meet? Many of the City’s working groups and advisory bodies only meet once every two or three months. If that’s the case, how much input will they really have? More importantly, who sets their agenda and controls their workplan? If the City is doing both, they might as well go home now.
Will there be any written, public records of their meetings? Will their meetings be open to the public? Are there terms of reference that are more expansive than what’s included above? Do they report just to the so-called Night Commissioner or are they also accountable to a political body whether that’s a Committee or Council?