Ottawa’s Nightlife Council is selected. Here’s who they are

Ottawa’s first Nightlife Mayor, Mathieu Grondin, has picked the first-ever Nightlife Council.

On Nov. 4, the city said the council is composed of 12 at-large members and representatives from six organizations who actively participate in the city’s nightlife economy. Grondin was hired in June and was tasked with selecting people to make up the council and spearheading the Nightlife Economy Action Plan.

The new department-led working group will help provide feedback on the commercial and cultural vibrancy of the city’s nightlife and help manage best practices for policies, safety programs and promotion.

City of Ottawa statistics suggest residents and visitors spend about $1.5 billion on nightlife activities each year. The municipality’s nightlife economy includes 4,600 businesses, which employ 38,000 workers.

“We want to create new initiatives and grow the ones we have, and eventually we want to be able to promote the city as a nightlife destination for night tourists,” Grondin told The Canadian Press.

More than 500 people applied for the positions before the applications closed Oct. 11.

Ottawa’s Nightlife Council 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

Industry organization 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

With files from The Canadian Press’s David Cummings.