Is the Death of Late Nights Killing Nightlife?

Key Takeaways

• The nightlife industry in Canada is experiencing a decline, with many venues reporting decreased revenue and attendance.
• The rising cost of living, changing work habits, and shifting social preferences are contributing to the decline of nightlife.
• The younger generation is favoring daytime or early-evening gatherings centered on wellness, community, and music over traditional nightlife.
• Cities are looking for ways to revitalize their nightlife scenes, including redeveloping early evening time slots and offering diverse activities.
• The decline of nightlife has significant implications for the social and economic fabric of cities, including workforce retention, quality of life, and community building.

Introduction to the Decline of Nightlife
The nightlife scene in Canada is undergoing a significant transformation. Gone are the days of lively supper clubs, glittering discos, and neon-lit raves that once defined the country’s nightlife. Instead, many venues are reporting decreased revenue and attendance, with some even facing closure. Vas Cranis, the owner of a small underground music venue in Toronto, has seen his business take a huge hit, with earnings dropping to nearly half of what they were when the venue first opened. This trend is not unique to Toronto, with cities across Canada experiencing a decline in nightlife.

The Causes of the Decline
So, what’s behind this decline? According to experts, there are several factors at play. One major contributor is the rising cost of living, which has made going out for a night on the town increasingly expensive. The changing way we work is also having an impact, with many people feeling pressured to be constantly connected and available, leaving little time for spontaneous nights out. Additionally, people are becoming less social, with a Statistics Canada study showing that time spent with friends has declined significantly over the past 30 years. Will Straw, an emeritus professor of urban media studies at McGill University, notes that the new generation is also mingling in different ways, favoring daytime or early-evening gatherings centered on wellness, community, and music over traditional nightlife.

The Shifting Preferences of the Younger Generation
Alana Willerton, a 30-year-old from Calgary, is one example of this shift. She still enjoys going out, but prefers to be home by 10 p.m. to get a good night’s sleep before the next day. This preference for early nights is reflected in the data, with online restaurant reservation service OpenTable reporting a 28% increase in reservations between 5 p.m. and 5:59 p.m. over the past year. This trend suggests that the younger generation is prioritizing wellness and self-care over late-night revelry. As Straw notes, this generation is searching for a more authentic kind of sociability, one that is centered on meaningful connections and experiences rather than just drinking and partying.

The Impact on Cities
The decline of nightlife has significant implications for the social and economic fabric of cities. Mathieu Grondin, Ottawa’s night mayor, notes that a thriving nightlife is essential for boosting workforce retention, improving residents’ quality of life, and providing an important social space. Nightlife also plays a critical role in building community, with people from different backgrounds and perspectives coming together to share ideas and experiences. As Grondin notes, "You meet a stranger at the bar, you start having a discussion about topic X, Y, Z, and you might not have the same perspective on it, but you share those perspectives and you debate them, and that’s how you build your sense of community."

Revitalizing the Nightlife Scene
So, what can be done to revitalize the nightlife scene? Grondin believes that the key is to redevelop the early evening economy time slot from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and fill it with diverse and unique activities. This could include everything from live music and comedy shows to art exhibits and culinary events. By providing a range of options and making them accessible and affordable, cities can encourage people to get out and enjoy the nightlife. Grondin’s efforts in Ottawa have already shown promising results, with the transformation of an unused lot into a thriving social hub that offers everything from DJ sets to pilates classes. As he notes, "We need to give the taste of nightlife to people, give it back to them." By doing so, cities can revitalize their nightlife scenes and create vibrant, thriving communities that benefit everyone.