Within the almost ten months since Ottawa employed Mathieu Grondin as its first-ever nightlife commissioner, what has he been as much as?
It is not clear to Jason Laurans, proprietor of Absolute Comedy on Preston Avenue. He is by no means heard from Grondin, and has no concept what he has completed.
“In the event that they’re doing one thing, it is nothing that I’ve seen,” he mentioned. “I definitely have not seen the numbers enhance right here due to it.”
A number of different nightlife spots contacted by CBC had been at the hours of darkness about his work, from the Rainbow Bistro within the ByWard Market to Irene’s within the Glebe and the Cheshire Cat Pub in Carp.
Paul Granger of Home of Targ, who was amongst those that beforehand utilized for Grondin’s job, mentioned he hasn’t heard from him both.
“I do not really feel like there’s something in any respect that has modified or occurred other than some pleasure about the truth that someone could be attempting to do that, after which simply form of nothing after that,” Granger mentioned.
The identical sentiment has proven up within the Ottawa Citizen, the place a column urged that Grondin has been “invisible since getting the job.”
It has additionally emerged on social media, with a well-liked Reddit put up stating that nothing has come of his work. Greater than 300 individuals commented, with some calling the job “idiotic” or accusing the commissioner of doing “nothing in any respect” to earn his six-figure wage.
Thys Boer, chair of the Dutch metropolis of Rotterdam’s nightlife council and sometimes called its present night time mayor, got here throughout these posts and could not imagine them. He referred to as it “actually the meanest” Reddit thread he had ever learn.
Rotterdam is the town that pioneered the night time mayor idea. Boer has met with Grondin, in Vienna and in Rotterdam, and had a really totally different evaluation of his skills.
“I’ve recognized him to be a really severe and onerous working man,” he mentioned. “So yeah, I used to be form of shocked by this Reddit put up.”
An ally inside the paperwork
Those that’ve had an opportunity to work with Grondin since he took on the Ottawa job agree with Boer — and do not share the criticism floating round social media. They are saying he appears to be listening, whereas quietly working inside the paperwork to tear down boundaries that maintain Ottawa’s nightlife again.
“He is been a voice, a supportive voice on the metropolis, and that is one thing we’ve not had in a very long time,” mentioned Mark Monahan, government director of Ottawa Bluesfest.
In his view, a few of the griping about Grondin stems from a misunderstanding of what he was really employed to do.
“He was introduced in to make the town a greater place to placed on occasions, to not put them on himself,” Monahan mentioned. “I feel he is been working behind the scenes, and at Metropolis Corridor, to deliver suggestions ahead.”
As Grondin himself said on the town’s personal OttaTalk podcast, the nightlife commissioner is “a bureaucratic job.”
He mentioned he is not “Ottawa’s official emcee,” however a liaison who seems to be at whether or not reducing pink tape may make it simpler to do enterprise after darkish.
Does Rotterdam’s Boer take a look at his position the identical approach? Is he a facilitator? A intermediary?
“Ultimately, sure,” he mentioned.
Metropolis taking a look at loosening bylaw’s grip
Town would not make Grondin out there for an interview with CBC. However the first updates on his work have simply proven up in a report back to council’s finance and company companies committee, which can think about it subsequent week.
In response to the report, Grondin has met with greater than 110 teams and people concerned within the nightlife economic system, attended greater than 30 financial improvement and cultural business occasions, and visited most of Ottawa’s enterprise enchancment districts.
It particulars how he is supported entrepreneurs opening new venues, like Metropolis Gridwrks, which moved into the previous Mavericks web site on Rideau Avenue. That venture got here from Farid Dagher, proprietor of Metropolis at Evening, who instructed CBC that Grondin has been “of nice assist.”
The report says the commissioner is now engaged on a nightlife security plan and a branded web site to advertise nightlife venues and sights.
However a lot of the report is dedicated to how Grondin is lobbying metropolis employees engaged on bylaw critiques, as they take a look at loosening guidelines on the whole lot from meals vehicles to noise to licensing for all-night dance events.
That is welcome information for Deek Labelle, basic supervisor of the Chateau Lafayette, Ottawa’s oldest bar. Talking in her capability as chair of the enterprise advisory committee of the ByWard Market District Authority, Labelle mentioned Grondin appears to be “heading in the right direction.”
She mentioned “overticketing” is a serious headache for companies out there. She’s inspired that Grondin’s crew is taking a look at a venue allow that may assist bars protect performers from parking tickets whereas they load or unload tools.
“I imagine that that stuff is occurring and it is within the works, nevertheless it’s gonna be a gradual course of it doesn’t matter what,” she mentioned. “And that is on the metropolis, not on the nightlife crew.”
Labelle mentioned she’s “grateful” for Grondin’s position — and has discovered him straightforward to strategy.
“I’ve discovered that he is there, he is current and open for dialog,” she mentioned.
Let Snoop Dogg play
Monahan has had his personal battles with an rigid paperwork. In 2019, when Snoop Dogg was booked to play at Bluesfest, a thunderstorm delayed the present. Monahan instructed CBC that he requested for an exemption to the noise bylaw, so the rapper may play till 11:30 p.m.
He needed to combat for each minute. Town would solely give him till 11:20 p.m., Monahan remembers. However Snoop Dogg performed effectively over that point, and Bluesfest acquired caught with a wonderful.
“The challenges we face aren’t at all times understood by the town,” he mentioned. “You recognize, we’re risking large quantities of cash to deliver artists right here.”
Monahan mentioned he mentioned his challenges with Grondin throughout their first assembly.
“He is sympathetic,” he mentioned. “I feel he will get it.”
In response to the report coming to council, the bylaw critiques embrace “really useful amendments to noise exemption laws to offer operational flexibility for outside occasions impacted by climate delays or different unexpected circumstances.”
‘Higher late than by no means’
Grondin formed a volunteer nightlife council in November to play an advisory role. Members who spoke to CBC had been optimistic concerning the high quality of the discussions.
Chris Wong is co-director of the Asinabka Movie & Media Pageant. He mentioned the council’s conferences have so-far centered on points like permits, noise bylaws, accessibility and security.
He shares the identical concern about rigid guidelines getting in the way in which of occasions. Like Monahan, Wong places on outside music occasions and finds there’s “not a lot leeway” within the noise bylaw.
“We’ve got to close it down proper at 11,” he mentioned.
He is pleased to listen to the town is contemplating loosening up. In his view, Grondin is doing a superb job at bringing individuals collectively to speak by means of their issues and kind hyperlinks that would strengthen Ottawa’s nightlife.
“He is prepared to work with the neighborhood and with the paperwork to bridge that hole,” he mentioned. “I feel he is doing a superb job thus far.”
However he accepts that reworking Ottawa’s nightlife economic system will take time.
“It may take years, however higher late than by no means,” Wong mentioned. “I am glad that the seeds are being sown now.”
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