Live music, family events and reliable transit – these are all things that this year’s Forty Under 40 recipients love and would love to see more of after the sun goes down in the capital.
As Ottawa works to shed its “boring” reputation, everyone from business leaders and city officials to community members and influencers have thrown around ideas for ways to bring the city to life at night.
Last year, Mathieu Grondin was appointed as Ottawa’s first nightlife commissioner to get the ball rolling on the city’s Nightlife Economy Action Plan. Since then, he’s consulted with local nighttime businesses and established an 18-person nightlife council to get community feedback.
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Last month, nightlife experts from across Canada and the world gathered in Ottawa for a conference to drum up new ideas for how to activate the city after dark.
But the city’s rising business leaders have some ideas of their own.
The annual Forty Under 40 awards recognize entrepreneurs and professionals from across all types of industries for their business accomplishments, professional experience and community involvement. The awards gala is scheduled for Friday, June 27 at the Casino du Lac-Leamy.
OBJ, which organizes the event alongside the Ottawa Board of Trade, asked this year’s crop of recipients how they would improve the city’s nightlife, from multi-purpose venues and all-age activities, to cultural programming and improved late-night transit.
Here’s what some of the respondents had to say.
Patrick Vice
Vice-President of Engineering, Fullscript
“I’d love to continue to see more venue diversity in Ottawa — too many touring acts skip the city in favour of Toronto or Montreal. With the right spaces and support, we could attract a wider range of artists and build a more vibrant, inclusive nightlife scene. I’d also like to see continued investment in public transit, which is essential for making nightlife and culture accessible to everyone.”
Pamela Lai
Medical Director, ExecHealth
“Create opportunities for common ‘daytime businesses’ (i.e., coffee shops, retail stores) to leverage their space and clientele to offer nightlife entertainment.”
Diana Birsan
Co-founder and CEO, Downpay
“I’d love to see more late-night venues that blend creativity and community — like spaces that host pop-up art, indie film or live music alongside local food and drink. Ottawa has the talent and energy, but we need more spots that stay open late and feel less like bars and more like gathering places for artists, entrepreneurs and curious minds.”
Nadine Atkinson
Partner, BDO Canada LLP
“I love art, food and supporting local businesses/talent so would love more unique pop-up events that showcase these areas.”
Emma Pollon-MacLeod
CEO, NutriChem
“More restaurants and lounges that smoothly transition from dinner to a lively bar vibe as the night goes on.”
Sarah Vandenbelt
Broker and Founder, Paradigm Commercial Real Estate & Brokerage
“I’d love to see more support for live music in Ottawa — small venues, pop-up concerts and outdoor performances that give local artists a platform and bring more energy to the city’s evenings. Creating vibrant music hubs would add culture, community and a reason to stay out past dinner.”
Marry Gunaratnam
Senior Vice-President of IT, Northern Credit Union
“I would create more diverse, all-ages evening venues that blend live music, local food and cultural programming to make Ottawa’s nightlife more vibrant and inclusive year-round.”
Jennifer Beckert
Director of Finance Transformation, Shopify
“I would recommend more diversity in our nightlife scene. Bars are fun – but we should also think about what else we could offer to get people out of their houses after work and after the kids go to bed.”
Idan Scher
Rabbi, Congregation Machzikei Hadas
“Ottawa’s nightlife can be energized by ensuring reliable late-night transit to key entertainment hubs and creatively repurposing our city’s iconic cultural spaces for dynamic nighttime events. In a city as diverse as ours, we should also celebrate that richness by offering culturally driven experiences that attract and engage a wide range of communities.”
Joel Kowalski
Vice-President and River Operations Manager, Wilderness Tours
“Close more streets in entertainment districts to vehicle traffic on select dates. Allow adjacent restaurants/bars to extend special event licensed space into the closed street.”
Alberto Aguilar
Founder and CEO, Plantaform
“Turn Lansdowne into Vegas for one night a week — fireworks, DJs and zero judgment for bad decisions.”
Sébastien Lavoie
Founder and President, La Vie en Bois
“As a lifelong hockey fan and Sens supporter, I’d launch a rotating bar crawl during home games, with shuttles running between downtown bars in each intermission. Paired with team-themed cocktails and post-game events, it would bring the energy of the rink into the city core, boosting nightlife and supporting local venues.
Alexander Caudarella
CEO, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
“Have more places for kids and families to play and enjoy after dark.”
Maximillian Bailey
CEO, Spoonity
“I’d add either a night market on Sparks Street with street vendors or I’d enhance the (Rideau) Canal to be a destination in the summer (restaurants, bars, etc.).”
Tori Waugh
Founder and CEO, Conservation Ag
“Invest in enabling organizations (like Debaser!) and promoters. Collaborate with traditional community and event funders on public-private partnerships to coordinate support.”
Mary Anne Carter
Principal and Partner, Earnscliffe Strategies
“I’d prioritize revitalizing Sparks Street and developing Ottawa’s waterfront into a true destination for nightlife — think patios, live music and cultural programming that bring people together after hours. We have untapped potential in these areas to create vibrant, walkable spaces that keep the city alive well into the evening.”
Tessa Kampman
Senior Project Director, BBB Architects Ottawa
“I would look to attract exciting events that bring the city downtown and invest in creative landscape design, furnishings and lighting within the downtown core.”
Matthew Brown
Vice-President of Customer Success, Solink
“Invest in creating multi-purpose entertainment districts that blend late-night dining, live music venues and cultural hubs. Make these areas accessible by multi-mode transportation to attract a broader demographic to the downtown core.”
