Tuesday morning, Mathieu Grondin, co-founder of the non-profit organization MTL 24/24, invited us to meet at the PHI Center $teven Ra$pa, co-director of the Burning Man event, and Mirik Milan, former mayor of the Amsterdam night.
The first time we discussed the importance of nightlife with Mathieu Grondin was in a completely different context, in February 2021. Our meeting took place in the middle of a deserted Place des Festivals as we approached curfew then in effect.
It was one of the most depressing times of the pandemic. Mathieu Grondin then proposed holding a conference and test services with a bar service that extends after 3 a.m., which seemed unrealistic in a context of confinement.
The time has passed. On Wednesday and Thursday, the PHI Center will host the third Summit of the night while a fourth “non-stop” music pilot project is planned for this weekend in Old Montreal. This time — a first in Canada — 36 hours of dancing are on the program, from 10 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Sunday. “For two nights”, rejoices Mathieu Grondin.
“We have a mayor who was willing to try extensions after 3 a.m. and we managed to demonstrate that it has little impact on public safety…”
“But…, he adds, raising his voice, you need permanent permits. »
Ottawa before Montreal
If Mathieu Grondin is listening to the City, he is starting to get impatient.
Even the Ottawa city council — not particularly renowned for its vie de Nuit — approved an Action Plan for the nightlife economy a week ago, which includes the possible appointment of a commissioner. The case manager, Emmanuel Rey, will take part in a panel on governance during the Sommet de la nuit.
A nightlife policy was among the electoral promises of Projet Montréal in 2017 and Mayor Valérie Plante announced last year a deposit for 2023. “We’ve been waiting for six years,” says Mathieu Grondin.
We want a structure dedicated to nightlife in the municipal apparatus. We need a commissioner who reports directly to the executive committee and coordinates with the various departments.
Mathieu Grondin, co-founder of MTL 24/24
In an ideal world, the person heading the nocturnal governance structure would be a sorteux or even an “elder”. rave »illustrates Mathieu Grondin.
Why not him? He likes his role as an activist and mayor of the night out of spite. “You need someone who understands the reality on the ground,” he says nonetheless.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante at the 2022 Night Summit
For the moment, nightlife falls under economic development, for which the mayor of Plateau-Mont-Royal, Luc Rabouin, is responsible.
The results of a study on Montreal
To support its claims, MTL 24/24 can now count on a new study, the presentation of the results of which will launch the Sommet de la nuit.
The study, called Creative Footprint, was conducted in four other cities in addition to Montreal, namely Berlin, Tokyo, New York and Stockholm, which allows comparisons. First salient fact: the places of diffusion of the central districts of Montreal undergo less pressure real estate compared to other metropolises, teaches us Diana Raiselis, of the box VideLab, which carried out the study.
However, most of the 271 sites listed are concentrated in the boroughs of Ville-Marie and Plateau-Mont-Royal, then in Le Sud-Ouest and Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie. There would be potential for nighttime activities elsewhere.
In terms of diversity and quality of programming, Montreal gets high marks, but it does less well in terms of the “framework conditions” of nightlife. “Small event organizers like the biggest say they do not have a fairly clear interlocutor and regulatory framework”, summarizes Diana Raiselis.
“Data can guide cities in their decisions,” continues Mirik Milan, former night mayor of Amsterdam and co-founder of VideLab.
It is important for cities to have a strategy for vie de Nuit, he argues. If only to attract tourists or students.
community spirit
It’s also important for the residents, adds $teven Ra$pa, one of the co-directors of the legendary Burning Man event.
At the end of the day this Wednesday, he will give a free talk about what “real” cities can learn from the temporary city that forms each year in the Black Rock Desert, in Nevada.
The night is a space, he explains. “And culture is a factor of social cohesion that allows people to create authentic connections and show their vulnerabilities. »
Programming of the event NON STOP 24/24
- When ? 10 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Sunday
- Or ? Grand Quay of the Old Port of Montreal
- What ? A marathon of 36 hours of continuous dance
- With who ? DJ Minx, VTSS, Jacques Greene, Kiernan Laveaux, Tigerhead, ISAbella, etc.