Could a ‘Night Mayor’ help Kitchener’s downtown?
Downtown Kitchener may seem quieter than long-time city councillor Scott Davey would like, but there may be a solution seen in some of the major capitals of the world.
Earlier this week, the City of Ottawa gave the greenlight to a plan that would create a new position meant to boost nightlife in the city. It’s dubbed — the Night Mayor. Although, officially known as the ‘Night Commissioner’, it resembles other ‘night mayor’ positions in cities like Amsterdam, Washington D.C., and London.
It’s intrigued Davey.
“I thought it was a bit tongue in cheek in a sense, but probably, maybe, a good way to put a spotlight on something that we’re missing and a way to help some of our downtown restaurants,” said Davey.
In keeping his tongue firmly in cheek, Davey tweeted in April in response to a CTV article on the subject he was “throwing my hat in the ring” for the non-existent position in Kitchener.
Davey says though there are no plans to install someone as Kitchener Night Mayor or create the position, he says there needs to be a renewed focus on the vibrancy of nightlife in the downtown.
“I think a lot of it is getting the word out there,” he said. “I think there’s sometimes a perception that Downtown Kitchener isn’t safe and that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s very, very safe in Downtown Kitchener.”
He’s often discouraged to see many businesses closed at 10 p.m. throughout the week, with some businesses only extending hours until midnight on the busier Friday and Saturday evenings.
“When I was growing up in the city, downtown was maybe too vibrant and had some issues,” said Davey. “The council at the time made some corrections and perhaps over-corrected and then COVID dampened that even further.”
PLANS IN PROGRESS
The Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement Association (BIA) has recognized the sluggish nature of nightlife in the city and is working to bring back more activity.
In an email to CTV News, the BIA says it has a new strategic plan to guide resources for the next three years, shifting the focus of events to the evening hours.
“Most of our activities will be in the evening given the new hybrid model of working from home,” reads part of the statement from Linda Jutzi, the executive director of the BIA. “We still endeavour to provide daytime activity, but the focus is certainly shifting to evenings.”
The pandemic has played a significant role in the subdued atmosphere, shifting habits to remote work from home and hollowing out office spaces as companies decide against renewing leases.
“Many technology companies have closed their offices, or terminated their leases and this has resulted in less foot traffic during the day,” says the BIA.
Events like Kitchener Blues Festival and Cruising on King have helped to reignite energy in Kitchener’s downtown, but Davey points to residential construction as a key pillar of bringing life to the heart of the city.
“Every time a tower goes up, that’s that many more people that can be patrons of our downtown restaurants so, anything we can do to enhance that is something that the City of Kitchener is interested in,” he said.
Because what’s a city, without a little excitement at night?
“We really want a city where people are happy. They’re social, they’re not locked away in their homes or apartments, there’s a place from them to go,” said Davey.
FULL BIA STATEMENT
"The Downtown Kitchener BIA is working on a new Strategic Plan that will guide our resources for the next three years. Two years ago, we made a shift towards more funds being used towards arts and culture, live music productions, and free concerts in fun creative spaces that are inclusive to all, and a focus to include families. Most of our activities will be in the evening given the new hybrid model of working from home. Many technology companies have closed their offices, or terminated their leases and this has resulted in less foot traffic during the day. We still endeavour to provide daytime activity, but the focus is certainly shifting to evenings."
- Linda Jutzi, Executive Director, Downtown Kitchener BIA
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot multiple times in attempted assassination
Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico is in life-threatening condition after being wounded in a shooting after a political event Wednesday afternoon, according to his Facebook profile.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island, officials said.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION Your attention span is shrinking, studies say. Here's how to stay focused: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.