What to know
- Toronto City Council is considering a proposal to extend bar and venue hours until 6:00 a.m., potentially letting residents party until sunrise.
- Supporters believe longer nightlife hours could boost community connection, bring more joy, and support local businesses.
- Concerns include noise in dense neighbourhoods, safety late at night, and a shortage of venue spaces as more buildings become condos.
- The proposal follows temporary extended hours for the FIFA World Cup, which allowed bars to stay open until 4:00 a.m.
Toronto’s nightlife might see extended hours, with venues allowed to stay open till 6:00 a.m. if a councillor’s proposal passes, and Toronto residents are supporting the idea.
Scarborough-Guildwood Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Toronto for Scarborough, Paul Ainslie, has proposed that Toronto bars, clubs, and venues with arts and culture activities be allowed to stay open until 6:00 a.m.
This proposal comes after Toronto’s existing extended bar hours, with bars permitted to stay open until 4:00 a.m. during the FIFA World Cup, which runs through July 19.
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Toronto resident Gavin M. is fully supportive of the idea, having previously lived in countries with a more prominent club culture.
“I lived in Australia for many years, and they have a club culture that goes 24 hours a day in certain zones,” he explained. “I think it can be managed effectively. I think it brings a lot of connection and joy for people.” he said, adding that it also stops people from flooding the streets at 2:00 a.m. and causing disruptions.
He believes the party shouldn’t stop at 2:00-3:00 a.m.
“People should go home, go to the park, go to the beach, hang out,” Gavin added, sharing that he thinks this proposal can be implemented safely, as long as the community holds itself accountable.
“I think it’s a matter of self-accountability, and I know that sounds pretty wishy-washy, but I think that most people who are there are there for a good time,” he explained.
“They’re not there to cause angst and struggle. There’s actually more connection and community that comes from these events than anything negative.”
Despite supporting the idea, he admits that the concept definitely comes with challenges.
“We have a very dense city, so it’s challenging to have the intensity of the sound and the gatherings when people are living right next door,” he said, adding that city planning is a balance of trying to create a livable city where people can live, work, and shop while also partaking in entertainment and other leisure activities.
Another issue he foresees is a lack of venue spaces to keep nightlife in the city active, as many areas are being developed into condo buildings and shopping complexes.
Toronto resident Kelvin Y. thinks it would be a win-win for those who enjoy a night out and local businesses.
“I know [other] cities do it, so it’d be interesting to see how it would look in Toronto,” he told Now Toronto.
Despite only being about to stay out until 2:00 a.m. in Toronto, Kelvin shared that in the past he has enjoyed staying out until 4-5 a.m. in other countries, with his latest being 6 a.m. in Korea.
Despite the excitement, he’s worried about safety.
“My only concern would be how rowdy some people might get past certain hours,” Kelvin said.
Toronto resident Shantia C. says she has no problem with this proposal, as long as “people know how to behave themselves.”
She’s personally partied until later than Toronto’s standard last-call time while visiting other countries and believes it could be a cool way to bring back Toronto’s fun spirit.
“I used to go to school here about 10 years ago… It feels a lot more boring than it was before,” she told Now Toronto. “There were a lot more spaces to go to, a lot more spaces to chill at. Now, everything’s a condo.”
