The City is holding its first virtual Town Hall meeting on January 17 for those seeking information on the upcoming Nigh Time Economy.
The City is inviting residents to learn about a plan to open bars, restaurants and nightclubs later at night that has been given the green light.
There will be a virtual Night Economy Town Hall meeting taking place on January 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., city officials say.
Residents are encouraged to help shape, plan and create a safe and vibrant Toronto nightlife by participating in the first-ever Town Hall. The program begins in January 2025.
The plan has been met with negative feedback in Long Branch and other communities whose residents claim the longer bar hours will result in more drunkenness, crime and noise. It will also affect residents in New Toronto and Mimico among other communities.
The City says the Night Time Economy is responsible for thousands of workers, tourists and billions in revenue for City coffers.
Bars and other venues will be able to open until 4 a.m., rather than 2 a.m., if they receive a permit.
“Night economy describes the social, cultural, and economic activities that take place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in Toronto,” according to City officials. “A major component is the nighttime workforce, including those who help manage life at night, such as hospitality industry workers, bar owners, shift workers, and emergency services professionals.”
Officials said most of the nighttime action is now centered in downtown and this will bring more revenue to the outlying areas.
“Including the night economy in municipal planning is essential,” according to a City report. “Doing so allows more residents to access City services, run errands, and travel throughout the city at night.”
More jobs and revenue are expected in outlying areas rather than just downtown alone with a Night Time Economy.
The City said bylaws differs in various communities and the plan will bring uniform regulations across Toronto. It will also allow the City to take a proactive approach to nighttime activities as noise and safety.
They hope the Town Hall will help create and activate space and livability for all those who work nights, create strategies that promote safe and enjoyable communities, update rules and licensing for bars, restaurants and entertainment venues and change regulations on how these businesses can operate.
A City report states there are about 8,000 licensed establishments in Toronto, of which 483 are bars, 243 are live music venues and 26 are nightclubs. In 2017, Toronto welcomed over 43.7 million visitors that spent $8.8 billion. A record 15.5 million were overnight visitors.
The Night Time Economy plan has been given the green light by City Council and begins in January 2025.
Officials said the business of nightlife also employs people. The Toronto region’s nightlife employs 64,000 workers in the food and beverage sector, 32,000 employees in the hotel industry and 178,000 workers in culture sector.
“Nightlife activities also commonly drive tourism and tourist spending and Toronto is the leading tourism destination in Canada,” according to the City.
Many City services including Toronto Public Health, Toronto Paramedic Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Fire Services, Toronto Police Service will be involved in the program to actively prevent and respond to health issues at night.
“Because of their excellent work, Toronto is a city that continually ranks high in terms of tourists’ perceptions of safety,” City officials wrote.
Nightlife contributes to the economy by generating jobs and attracting tourists that bring new money into the city’s economy. It also offers social and cultural benefits such as connecting people through live experiences, fostering a sense of community and belonging, creating vibrant scenes and incubating talent.
The event will occur at the Beanfield Centre, Room 200, 105 Princes’ Blvd., Toronto, or you can register for the virtual Town Hall at https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/rf52dc31061a3f89015fee5b56030100f