Do your memories of the Guv involve glow sticks, various pills of an illegal nature, or a "post-bass bin exposure" ringing in the ears?

Since the rave scene peaked in Toronto, the Guvernment crowd transformed into a scene of Euro-clubbers expecting Ibiza partying standards and suburban out-of-towners looking to live it up for a wild night in the city (because their town has only 300 people and one stoplight).

Oddly enough, this random smattering of patrons did not kill the clubbing establishment, and the Guvernment has stuck around as somewhat of an anomaly; it has retained its stronghold on the club scene, staying consistently popular, night after night, year after year. While a few random rumours about the closure of Guvernment have made their circuit (selling its space to house film studios was the latest), a major $3-million transformation of the space suggests it will be around for a while yet.

When it originally opened, warehouse chic was hot (remember RPM and the Warehouse?) thanks to the post-grunge scene, so the Guvernment space was kept raw – mostly black surfaces (an excellent canvas for the multi-coloured strobes), open-dance floor (for optimum bump’n’grind), a DJ booth in the corner (because you DO NOT accost the DJ with song requests EVER) and not much else. But now its operating firm "Ink" has fancier clubs to deal with - This Is London, Ultra and Dragonfly in Niagara Falls - and in the company of that roster the Guvernment is like the slightly bloated, older brother in need of an upgrade.

Stepping in to help is Precipice Studios (The Designer Guys). The boys have systematically overhauled the main room that now is not only striking, but functionally makes more sense for today’s clubber. Where before there were no other options than the main glass-windowed VIP area overlooking the club, now there is a generous amount of banquet seating, 15 new bar stations and exclusive VIP stage booths.