There are thousands and thousands of clubs around the world and many more that have come and gone but few have the longevity and impact that can be given the label of icon and legendary, The Guvernment in Toronto is one of those clubs. They announced this week that they will be shutting down for good on January 31, 2015. The property will eventually be converted in condo’s with no hope of the club being revived at a later time.
Anyone who has been there will remember it. Anyone who has not been there now has plenty of time to plan a visit. Every major DJ has played the venue in it’s existence. I remember seeing Tiesto there the summer of 2000 on a Thursday night before he really became the mega star he is today. Every popular genre has been played in the club from house, trance, techno, breaks, dnb, trap, electro and the list goes on.
From the rise of the rave scene to the mainstream in the late 90’s to the slowdown of the mid 2000’s to the explosion of EDM over the last four years The Guvernment and attached Kool Haus (formerly RPM) have stayed relevant and packed every weekend. It’s a Toronto institution that has spanned a multiple generations of club and concert goers.
Take a moment to search YouTube and Google for The Guvernment and you’ll find an endless supply of pictures and videos of the place.
The closing events are guaranteed to be huge. Keep an eye on The Guvernment’s Facebook page at facebook.com/TheGuvernment and on Twitter at @the_guvernment so you don’t miss out.
The club has had one main resident DJ for it’s entire 17 years, Mark Oliver.
A big THANK-YOU to everyone for making my weekly sets over the past 17+ years @The_Guvernment magical! C u on Sat. #GuvLife #GuvLuv
— Mark Oliver (@MarkOliverLive) May 1, 2014
Before you close down we have to do it one last time! #Encore @The_Guvernment #Toronto #Marathon
— Steve Angello (@SteveAngello) May 2, 2014
@dancingastro @The_Guvernment this is sad news... 🙁 love that place!
— Armin van Buuren (@arminvanbuuren) May 2, 2014
It's true, after 17 years of being the leader of Canadian nightlife we will officially be closing our doors on January 31, 2015.
— The Guvernment (@The_Guvernment) May 1, 2014
From the clubs official release:
Canada’s largest and longest-running club, the institution of The Guvernment and Koolhaus Entertainment Complex has been a staple in global nightlife synonymous with international talent bookings, playful productions and unprecedented musical programming since 1996. After 17 years of innovation, inspiration, and playing host to Toronto’s most legendary nightlife events, INK Entertainment today announced that The Guvernment will officially close on January 31, 2015. Marking the end of an era, The Guvernment will host a series of sensational finale events with some of the biggest names to have performed at the club and music lovers alike as they reunite, celebrate, and commemorate their favourite party playground in its final year. "It makes me proud to see how far we’ve come," says Charles Khabouth, Founder and CEO of INK Entertainment. "The Guvernment is one of my proudest achievements and after such a long-lasting journey with such fond memories, we want to thank all those who made it possible and shared in our successes."
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