It has grown over the past twenty years into the largest single concentration of nightclubs in the City. Though by no means the only nightlife area it gets a lot of attention for its density, specificity and ability to attract, primarily younger, people from across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Below is the text of an email that I wrote to colleagues at the Centre for Social Innovation, in ‘reply’ to the ciruclation of Vaughan’s notice (qutoed below). Also, below, I have quoted an email from Newsoundspace also sent out in repsonse to the Councillor’s notice.

[NOTE: I am alone repsonsible for the opinons herein expressed. ]

Friends:

Given some of Councillor Vaughn’s recent comments in the media it’s refreshing to see that a full spectrum of stakeholders are being included; and it is a credit to the Councillor’s skills in bringing people together to work on solutions. It goes almost without saying that violence and guns are completely unacceptable and must be opposed and prevented to the extent possible and some of the incidents in the last few years in ‘clubland’ are disturbing.

However, as a long time habitué of Queen West (since it’s formative years some 27 years ago) and a former resident of the area, and current business tenant, it saddens me when “nightclubs” & “nightlife” are sometimes, let’s say it, demonized rather than constructively criticized. The advent of nightlife made the area desirable in a way not unlike the influx of artists to Queen Street West in the late 70s made the strip from University to Spadina a magnet for live music joints, retail and restaurants.

It’s worth remembering that the area between University & Spadina (and even more so toward Bathurst) between Queen & King, was an empty wasteland of underused industrial buildings that was dark, empty and lifeless before the club & café culture of Queen and to a lesser extent King West moved into the “in-between” zone beginning about 20 years ago.

This was followed in 1996 by the King/Spadina Secondary Plan which eliminated zoning controls (but not built-form controls) in the area in order to spur redevelopment. Just as artists and the café & bar culture that came with them, spurred the revitalization of life on Queen West from about 1979 on, so to in their own way, nightclubs actually made the blocks between King & Queen come alive in the late 80s & 90s.

Since the King/Spadina Plan opened the area to residential development, its true that obvious conflicts have emerged between nightlife culture and residents who have bought into the vibe but–understandably–object to some of the ‘negative aspects’ of that culture. Still it would be a false statement to suggest that nightclubs, as some have, were in some way foisted on unsuspecting residents. The clubs were there first. They City made a decision to support the creation of the area as an Entertainment District long before most of the condos were built.

The idea too that somehow our culture has outgrown nightclubs (as suggested recently by Councillor Vaughn) may perhaps be true of a certain demographic (Gen X is ageing after all) and true of a certain geographic region: such as “clubland.” Mind you this too can evolve and shift. In the late 70s and early 80s St. Lawrence Market’s Esplanade strip, anchored by Brandy’s (now a Fionn McCool’s) was a mini-club/pup land. It transformed over the years to pubs only but in tail-end of this past decade, the combination of live music at Fionn’s, dancing a the adjacent Bier Market, and with the redoubtable Reservoir Lounge on Wellington, joined by Pravda next door and link to Esplanade by the Foundation Room on Church, St. Lawrence Market is again a mini club/pup area. Now of course it is far more retrained and smaller than the Entertainment District; and it may be indeed closer to the model of what the Entertainment District is becoming. A model that would likely be more in keeping with Entertainment District residents. Still, it is by no means true to think, though, that younger people are going to stop wanting to ‘go out dancing’ and that somehow, just because our political leaders are not ‘hanging out’ any more, that clubs are somehow a relic of the past.

E-mail on of Behalf Of Newsoundspace

Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 3:20 PM
Subject: Nightlife Violence Summit Tuesday (Reg. ends 2moro) – make our voice heard!

As you may know, Adam Vaughan, Toronto city councillor for Ward 20, has been
an enemy of nightlife since his election.

He wants to enact policies that would make going out and having fun in Toronto much more difficult. This includes forcing nightclubs and bars to close down. He was a vocal opponent of CiRCA getting its liquor license and if he had his way, it never would have opened.

On Tuesday, there is a conference about nightlife and drinking called “Raising the Bar,” but if it was up to Vaughan it would be “Razing the Bar” we’re sure.

Anyway, free registration ends tomorrow, make sure our community is represented; this could have a very negative impact on nightlife in Toronto.

*****

Registration:  Please provide name, organization, mailing address, e-mail address,
telephone, fax  and dietary needs
E-mail: michelle_tortolo@camh.net
Fax: 416-595-6033 (Attention: Michelle Tortolo)
For more information, phone 416-535-8501 x 6173

Councillor Adam Vaughan’s Letter to Ward 20 Residents:

Dear Residents,

Please see the attached invitation to Raising the Bar: Toronto Summit on
Nightlife, Drinking and Violence. I will be speaking at the beginning of the event.

Feel free to circulate this invitation to neighbours, colleagues or other interested parties. A poster for the event is attached, and a text version of the invitation is below.

The registration deadline for the event is Friday November 14 at 12 noon.

Best regards,
Adam Vaughan
Councillor, Ward 20 – Trinity-Spadina

*****

Raising the Bar: Toronto Summit on Nightlife, Drinking and Violence

Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Location: Montana, 145 John Street, Toronto
Time: 9am to 4pm
Admission: Free, registration is required

Refreshments and lunch will be provided

Themes:

• Nightlife – What is Toronto’s nightlife like?
  
• What kinds of violence and other problems are associated with nightlife in Toronto?
• Prevention – A discussion of issues, strategies, experiences and approaches

Speakers include representatives of bar and club customers; owners and
operators; security staff; AGCO; the City of Toronto; police and researchers

Those invited to attend include:
- owners, staff and customers of Toronto bars and clubs
- Toronto Police Service
- City of Toronto
- elected public officials
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)
- Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area
- researchers
- health and policy experts
- students
- residents associations
- other interested stakeholders

Sponsored by: CAMH, AGCO, City of Toronto, Montana, Toronto Entertainment District BIA, Toronto Police Service