Service hours may be extended to celebrate Ottawa 200 events

Ottawa restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs have the unique opportunity to extend their service hours to celebrate Ottawa’s 200th anniversary on Saturday, September 26. Establishments wishing to take advantage of this opportunity are encouraged to begin the application process soon.

In Ontario, serving alcohol past 2 am is prohibited without a special permit from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO); however, those hours may be extended when a municipality has designated an event or occasion to be of municipal significance.

Communities across our Nation’s Capital are invited to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of Bytown, which took place on September 26, 1826. What began as a humble logging settlement along the Ottawa River has grown into the industrious and vibrant city of Ottawa that residents and visitors experience today. In recognition of this historic milestone, the City of Ottawa has designated Saturday, September 26 as a day of municipal significance marking the official 200th anniversary. Learn more about what’s happening for Ottawa’s big day at ottawa200.ca. 

Here is a sampling of what is already happening that day in Ottawa:

• A free, family-friendly Ottawa 200 block party at City Hall
• Nuit Blanche at ByWard Market and select locations downtown
• Pique at Arts Court

If you are the owner of a venue that wishes to plan a special event on Saturday, September 26, and you would like to extend service hours, the process is as follows.

To be eligible, the establishment must comply with all municipal and provincial regulations, including holding all required permits and licences.

1. Apply online on the City website to receive a letter of municipal significance.
2. You will receive your letter by email. This could take up to 30 days.
3. Apply online to the AGCO for a special permit. It could take up to 30 days to receive your permit.

To save time, you can open your application at the AGCO – Step 3 - without the letter of municipal significance and complete it once you receive the City letter in Step 2.

Venue owners are advised to submit their applications by the end of June to ensure there is enough time to receive their permits and to make their own plans in time for Saturday, September 26. 

You can reach out to the Nightlife Office if you need help completing your application: nlco-bcvn@ottawa.ca.