Mar 1 • Jo Cox-Brown

Edmonton Nighttime Economy Strategy – Edmonton, Alberta


We partnered with the City of Edmonton Council to deliver a comprehensive Nighttime Economy Strategy, aimed at supporting a safe, vibrant, and inclusive evening and night-time economy across the city. Edmonton's growing night-time sector presented opportunities to attract visitors, boost local businesses, and enhance cultural offerings, while also highlighting the need for safety, accessibility, and sustainability.

Write your awesome label here.

What it focussed on:

Our work involved a structured, multi-stage approach:

  • Stakeholder engagement: We conducted interviews and workshops with city officials, hospitality operators, cultural venues, transport providers, and local residents. This helped identify key challenges and opportunities in Edmonton's night-time economy, from safety and accessibility concerns to programming gaps and underutilised spaces.
  • Consumer and visitor research: Surveys and focus groups were carried out to capture the experiences and perceptions of people who live, work, and socialise in Edmonton at night. This included insights on safety, diversity, inclusivity, and overall satisfaction with the city’s evening offerings.
  • Policy and operational review: We analysed existing city policies, licensing regulations, and operational procedures to understand how the night-time economy is currently managed and identify areas for improvement.
  • Place-based observations and audits: On-the-ground visits and nighttime audits were conducted across key districts to assess footfall, public space usage, accessibility, safety measures, and cultural activity.

Based on this research, we developed a tailored Nighttime Economy Strategy, providing:

  • Evidence-based recommendations for short-, medium-, and long-term actions to grow and sustain Edmonton's night-time economy
  • Guidance on safety, inclusivity, and community engagement to create welcoming environments for all residents and visitors
  • Recommendations for events, street programming, and cultural initiatives to increase dwell time, footfall, and spending in the evening economy
  • Strategies to strengthen partnerships between public agencies, businesses, and cultural organisations to deliver coordinated and sustainable night-time offerings.

The strategy helped the City of Edmonton to understand how to balance economic growth with community wellbeing, improve perceptions of safety, and unlock the full potential of its night-time economy.
Write your awesome label here.

Looking ahead

Could your city or town benefit from a bespoke Nighttime Economy Strategy?

Our team specialises in research, audits, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning to help local authorities, BIDs, and stakeholders create safe, inclusive, and vibrant night-time environments.

Contact us at hello@nighttimeeconomy.com to explore how we can support your next project.