Night Ambassador Program

City of Ottawa Nightlife Office

&

ByWard Market District Authority


Launch Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Schedule: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 9:00 PM – 3:00 AM
Location: ByWard Market District, Ottawa

Overview

The ByWard Night Ambassador Program is a successful initiative funded by the City of Ottawa’s Nightlife Office in partnership with the ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA). This program is part of a growing suite of city-supported efforts to enhance public safety and promote a positive, welcoming nightlife culture in the ByWard Market.

This program is modeled after successful initiatives in Vancouver (Good Night Out) and Montreal (Les Veilleurs de nuit) and is tailored to meet the unique needs of Ottawa’s most active nighttime district.

Objectives

  • Improve the sense of safety and well-being for all nighttime visitors

  • Offer proactive, on-the-ground support to individuals in need

  • Reduce the burden on first responders through early intervention and redirection

  • Encourage respectful nightlife through consent education and community presence

Roles & Responsibilities

Night Ambassadors are uniformed outreach workers who:

  • Offer support to intoxicated or vulnerable individuals

  • Distribute essential items such as water, snacks, phone chargers, and hygiene products

  • Use de-escalation and bystander intervention techniques to prevent harm

  • Promote consent culture and respectful social interactions

  • Serve as a connector between the public and emergency services when needed

While they are not a substitute for first responders, Night Ambassadors are designed to work in complement with existing emergency services, helping to create a more coordinated, compassionate nightlife experience.

Visibility & Deployment

The Night Ambassador Program is designed to offer a visible and accessible presence throughout the ByWard Market District during high-traffic nighttime hours.

  • Deployment Model: Two-person teams will patrol the district on foot, covering key pedestrian areas and nightlife hotspots, and an additional team of two will be stationed at a central kiosk located at York Street and ByWard Market Square, serving as a fixed point of contact for the public.

  • Uniforms: All Ambassadors will wear lime green uniform shirts, making them easy to spot and approach for assistance.

Whether you're in need of directions, a bottle of water, or immediate support, Night Ambassadors will be present, approachable, and ready to help.

Recruitment & Qualifications

Night Ambassadors are selected based on experience in:

  • Medical services, social work, community outreach, and harm reduction

  • Trauma-informed care and conflict resolution

  • Multilingual communication (bilingualism preferred)

  • CPR and First Aid (certification required)

Training

All Ambassadors receive professional training in:

  • De-escalation, harm reduction, and bystander intervention (led by Ottawa Public Health (OPH))

  • Enhanced First Aid and crisis response (led by Holmes Training)

  • Party Safe, Stigma and Overdose Awareness (led by Ottawa Public Health (OPH))

  • Ottawa Police Service (OPS), which will provide an orientation session covering:

    • Their role in the ByWard Market District

    • Appropriate situations for police contact

    • Strategies for collaboration between Ambassadors and OPS to ensure a coordinated response

This approach ensures Night Ambassadors understand when and how to involve police while prioritizing non-violent, community-based interventions.

Equipment & Supplies

Ambassadors will be equipped with:

  • Naloxone kits

  • First aid kits and hygiene supplies

  • Water and snacks

  • Phone chargers

  • Tablets for reporting and incident logging

  • Cell phones for real-time support

They will be easily recognizable in lime green uniforms and stationed in high-traffic areas.

Interested in Joining the Team?

We’re always on the lookout for new team members interested in occasional, flexible work. While experience in social services or mental health is a plus, it’s not a requirement—training is included. If this sounds like a good fit for you, we invite you to email info@bmda.ca.

Media Contact

For media inquiries or interview requests:
Olivia Gninhi
Sr. Communications and PR Office, ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA)
olivia@bmda.ca

City of Ottawa Nightlife Office
medias@ottawa.ca

How to Identify the Night Ambassadors

Night Ambassador FAQ

  • The ByWard Night Ambassador Program is a joint pilot initiative from the City of Ottawa’s Nightlife Office and the ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA). It aims to improve safety, promote respectful nightlife, and support vulnerable individuals in the ByWard Market during high-traffic nighttime hours.

  • The program launches on Friday, June 27, 2025, and runs every:
    Friday & Saturday | 9:30 PM – 4:00 AM

    This is a pilot project running through early November 2025. Its outcomes and community feedback will help inform whether the program is extended or expanded in future years.

  • Teams of two Night Ambassadors will:

    • Patrol the district on foot, focusing on busy pedestrian and nightlife areas

    • Staff a central kiosk at York Street and ByWard Market Square, offering a consistent, visible point of contact for the public

    Ambassadors will be easy to identify in lime green uniform shirts.

    • Harm reduction, bystander intervention, and de-escalation techniques (facilitated by Good Night Out)

    • Enhanced First Aid and crisis response

    • Orientation from Ottawa Police Service on collaboration and public safety protocols in the ByWard Market

    Ambassadors are recruited based on experience in:

    • Medical services, social work, harm reduction, or community outreach

    • Trauma-informed and inclusive care practices

    • CPR and First Aid certification

  • Night Ambassadors are trained outreach professionals who:

    • Offer support to intoxicated or vulnerable individuals

    • Provide water, snacks, phone chargers, hygiene supplies, and more

    • Use bystander intervention and de-escalation strategies to prevent harm

    • Promote a nightlife culture based on consent, inclusion, and safety

    • Act as liaisons between the public and first responders when needed

    They are not security guards or enforcement officers and do not replace police or paramedics.

  • Each team is equipped with:

    • Naloxone kits

    • First aid supplies

    • Water, snacks, hygiene products

    • Phone chargers

    • Cell phones and tablets for communication and reporting

  • The Night Ambassador Program complements—not replaces—first responder services. Ambassadors are trained to assess situations and contact Ottawa Police Services (OPS), paramedics, or other emergency personnel when appropriate.

    As part of orientation, the OPS provides guidance on when and how to engage with law enforcement and how to collaborate effectively in the District.

Night Ambassador Operational Boundary