Nightlife Economy Strategy

City Council has approved Ottawa’s first-ever Nightlife Economy Action Plan to develop and promote nightlife activities and experiences between 6 pm and 6 am, and create a more vibrant, diverse, inclusive, viable, safe and well-managed nightlife across the city.  

Ottawa’s nightlife economy accounted for more than $1.5 billion in spending in 2019, compared to daytime spending totalling $5.5 billion, almost 30 per cent of daytime spending. Vibrant nightlife economies improve job creation, attract talent and investment, promote and contribute to economic growth, tourism and city brand building.  

In 2023, the action plan will: 

• Establish the framework for a Nightlife Commissioner Office that will launch in 2024; 

• Promote citywide and neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood participation of residents, visitors and businesses in the nightlife economy; and 

• Consider changes to support the nightlife economy through reviews of City by-laws, policies, procedures and services. 

The nightlife commissioner office will deliver the additional action plan recommendations. An update on the progress of the action plan will be provided by the end of 2024.