Downtown Montreal bars fighting noise complaints; city offers $2.1 million plan
Downtown Montreal bars fighting noise complaints; city offers $2.1 million plan
With summer-like weather making an early arrival and the easing of public health restrictions, the music is ringing out again at Brutopia Bew Pub on Crescent Street.
And so are the noise complaints.
The small venue is caught in an ongoing battle between people who want to party and nearby neighbours who want to sleep.
"We literally run around at 11 p.m., close all the doors and windows and shush people outside and just cross our fingers that Brutopia can keep offering great entertainment," said the pub's general manager, Jeff Picard.
"They're super miserable, the police hate it. We're just doing what we're supposed to do exactly where we're supposed to do it."
The City of Montreal is trying to find a solution with a new $2.1-million roadmap that to strengthen the nightlife scene. As part of the plan, the Valerie Plante administration is setting aside $1.4 million for a subsidy program to help some music venues soundproof their halls.
"We want people to be able to sleep but we also want to support small venues, which are part of Montreal's nightlife," Mayor Plante said at a news conference Monday.
It's an industry the city is now focused on reviving in the hopes of helping Montreal reclaim its place as a party destination.
"It's part of the DNA of Montreal for years. Before the pandemic, it was the case ... and we want to convince people to come here," said Luc Rabouin, mayor of Plateau-Mont Royal.
LISTEN ON CJAD 800 RADIO: How’s Montreal’s nightlife scene doing now that most restrictions are gone?
More than 20 per cent of tourists who come to Montreal come for the nightlife.
Part of the City of Montreal's plan to revitalize the nightlife industry is a first-of-its-kind event at the Society for Arts and Technology where there will be no last call this weekend. The bar will stay open for 29 hours straight.
Mathieu Grondin, event producer, DJ and co-founder of MTL 24/24, a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of nightlife in Montréal, said organizers will have safety measures in place and first responders on site for the special event.
If all goes smoothly, the city says there could be more overnight events like it.
Meanwhile, Picard said he doesn't want the 3 a.m. last call to change for venues like his and would rather see changes when it comes to zoning.
"Stop building small condo developments on top of big venues or noisy businesses," he said, hoping that his message is heard loud and clear.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Conservative party disqualifies Patrick Brown from leadership race
The Conservative Party of Canada's leadership election organizing committee says it has disqualified candidate Patrick Brown from the race. Election committee chair Ian Brodie says in a statement the party became aware of 'serious allegations of wrongdoing' by Brown's campaign that appear to violate financing rules in the Canada Elections Act.

Assembly of First Nations delegates reject resolution calling for chief's suspension
An emergency resolution before the Assembly of First Nations annual meeting to reaffirm the suspension of National Chief RoseAnne Archibald has failed in Vancouver.
Two young ER doctors quit Montreal jobs, blaming Quebec's broken health-care system and Bill 96
Two young emergency room doctors, raised and trained in Montreal, are leaving their jobs after only two years to move back to Toronto – and they say the Quebec health-care model and Bill 96 are to blame.
Tamara Lich breached conditions by appearing with fellow convoy leader: Crown
The Crown is seeking to revoke bail for Tamara Lich, a leader of the 'Freedom Convoy,' after she appeared alongside a fellow organizer in an alleged breach of her conditions.
Parade shooting suspect charged with 7 counts of murder
A man charged Tuesday with seven counts of murder after firing off more than 70 rounds at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago legally bought five weapons, including the high-powered rifle used in the shooting, despite authorities being called to his home twice in 2019 for threats of violence and suicide, police said.
Woman who was set on fire on Toronto bus has died, police confirm
A woman who was set on fire while on a Toronto bus in a random attack last month has died, police say.
Bank of Canada's rapid rate hikes likely to cause a recession, study finds
The Bank of Canada's strategy of rapidly increasing its key interest rate in an effort to tackle skyrocketing inflation will likely trigger a recession, says a new study released Tuesday from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Canada is the first country to ratify Finland and Sweden's accession to join NATO
Canada became the first country to ratify Finland and Sweden's accession protocols to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday.
Northern heatwave melts records in Yukon, Northwest Territories
A northern heatwave is melting records in Yukon and Northwest Territories, where temperatures climbed above 30 C in the Arctic Circle.