BOH Edition 2

the best of 

hamilton 

Celebrating some of the people and institutions that 

have helped make Hamilton a world-class city 

THE BAY OBSERVER

Hamilton skyline by day Photo by Sandra Mulder, Banko Photographic Ltd. 

2

contents 

06 Welcome to the Best of 

Hamilton! 

08 Hamilton, a city of boundless 

attractions 

20 Hamilton: Internationally 

recognized education 

22 McMaster: building on a future 

on research and innovation 

24 Investing in our Region. 

Mohawk College 

25 Hillfield Strathallan College: 

Hamilton’s Independent School 

26 Hamilton’s, growing agri-food 

sector 

28 A look back at Hamilton’s 

legacy media 

30 Downtown Hamilton - the 

pulse of the city 

33 Valery Homes - Building luxury 

condos and new homes for 

three generations 

34 Vrancor Group 

36 Hamilton, leading 

the way in life sciences 

38 St. Joseph’s Healthcare, a 

National Leader 

40 Advanced manufacturing: we 

still make things in Hamilton 

42 Driving steel 

44 Liburdi - exporting Hamilton 

technology around the world 

46 Hamilton: the transportation hub 

48 John C. Munro Hamilton 

international airport: a partner 

in growing Hamilton’s economy 

49 Hamilton’s working waterfront 

50 Fluke Transport 

51 Light rail transit is coming to 

Hamilton 

52 Mckeil Marine 

53 Financial services, legal and 

real estate sectors: Hamilton is 

home to top professionals 

54 Taylor Leibow is committed to 

Hamilton and to excellence 

56 Weaver Wealth Management: 

trusted advice with proven results 

58 Lamont Law: proudly serving 

Hamilton for 40 years 

59 Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd. 

Brokerage, Sold on Hamilton 

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78 

16 

31 

20 

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the best of hamilton 

46 

55 

40 

48 

52 

80 

Published by The Bay Observer THE BAY OBSERVER 

140 King Street East Hamilton ON L8N 1B2 905-522-6000 www.bayobserver.ca 

60 Concession Street: Hamilton’s 

Uptown 

61 Ottawa Street: Hamilton’s 

destination for inspiration 

62 Liuna: an important partner in 

Hamilton’s growth 

64 Royal Botanical Gardens: 

Inspiring generations through 

horticulture 

65 Terrapure continues a long 

tradition of supporting local 

community 

66 Hamilton Water: transforming 

Hamilton harbour 

68 Hamiltonians who made a 

difference 

74 The Mercanti family: six 

decades of achievement and 

giving back 

76 The next chapter in the 

Carmen’s group story 

77 Carstar: a Hamilton company 

on the global stage 

78 Margaret and Charles Juravinski, 

showing a community the 

power of philanthropy 

80 Bob Young: preserving nearly 

a century and a half of football 

legacy 

81 Michael Andlauer: 15 years 

of keeping Hamilton on the 

hockey map 

82 Providing the services to build 

a healthy community 

86 Remembering an utopian view 

of Hamilton 

88 Locke Street South 

89 The West Town: for 25 years, 

Locke Street’s living room 

90 Brandon Stanicak, a life in 

hospitality 

91 Alyssa Lai: focused on 

communication and leadership 

92 Laura Tedesco: Artisan 

92 Maria Musitano: 

Personalized Health Solutions 

93 Michael Macaluso - driven to 

success 

94 Hamilton’s next new chapter: 

Waterfront redevelopment 

96 Walters Group: tackling the 

hard-to-do for over 60 years 

98 Effort Trust: proud to be part 

of Hamilton’s growth for five 

decades. 

5

welcome to the best of 

hamilton! 

Hamilton Ontario is finding its stride as one of the fastest 

growing markets in Canada. With its leading edge health 

sciences and research sector, some of Canada’s most advanced 

manufacturing, a rapidly-growing agri-food sector and a vibrant 

network of young professionals, Hamilton possesses one of the 

most diversified economies in Canada. 

Hamilton is located in the centre 

of Canada’s most densely 

populated corridor of economic 

activity. Within a 30-minute commute, 

Hamilton has easy access to a highly-skilled, 

well-educated and productive 

workforce of over 1 Million persons. It is 

uniquely positioned as a transportation 

hub, boasting the busiest port on the 

Great Lakes and the number one dedicated 

cargo airport in addition to an excellent 

road and rail network that connects 

Hamilton to North America. 

Hamilton has been cited by Site Selection 

Magazine and the Real Estate Investment 

Network as a best place to invest. 

Healthcare is the largest employer in 

Hamilton with six unique research-driven 

hospitals and a Cancer centre serving 

Hamilton and the surrounding region. 

Hamilton’s education facilities are among 

the best. McMaster University ranks as one 

of Canada’s top three research-intensive 

schools and Mohawk College is the largest 

trainer of skilled apprentices in Ontario. 

A robust agricultural sector generates 

$1.26 Billion a year for the local economy 

and Hamilton is home to a fast-growing 

food processing sector that is attracted to 

Hamilton’s skilled workforce and excellent 

transportation links. 

With professional development networks 

like Hamilton Hive, Hamilton is nurturing 

a growing young professional sector that 

focuses on the next generation of entrepreneurs. 

Hive and other youth professional 

6


networks focus on developing a talent pool 

of highly skilled employees. 

Quality of life 

For many years Hamilton’s quality of life 

was its best-kept secret but that is rapidly 

changing as people from across the 

Greater Toronto Area discover the relative 

affordability of Hamilton’s housing as well 

as a host of unique cultural, sporting, 

shopping and outdoor activities. 

Hamilton has a vibrant entertainment 

scene with facilities like FirstOntario Centre 

and the FirstOntario Concert Hall (formerly 

Hamilton Place) that regularly host the 

top North American entertainers. The first 

Canadian City to host and televise the Juno 

Awards, Hamilton has hosted the awards 

several times since. Theatre Aquarius provides 

top Canadian professional theatre 

along with several thriving community theatre 

companies. The Hamilton Philharmonic 

Orchestra and the Brott Music Festival have 

earned national and international respect in 

classical music. 

More recently Hamilton is gaining a reputation 

as “Music City” – home to scores of 

contemporary musicians. There are nearly 

100 live music venues in Hamilton and 

several recording studios. With such a 

lively music scene, it is no surprise that 

Hamilton, with events like Supercrawl and 

Festival of Friends, is a popular destination. 

For the sports minded, Hamilton is home 

to the Tiger-Cats—the multiple Grey Cup 

winners and the Bulldogs of the Ontario 

Hockey League. The city also offers dozens 

of arenas, playgrounds and swimming 

facilities. 

With its escarpment and its location on 

Lake Ontario, Hamilton is a setting for 

some of the finest vistas of natural beauty 

anywhere. It is a perfect location for 

outdoor activities—hiking on the Brice 

trail or the Bayfront and lakefront trails, 

along with numerous city parks. Some of 

Ontario’s finest golf courses are in the area. 

We welcome you to explore the Best of 

Hamilton in the pages that follow. We are 

sure you will agree that Hamilton is one 

of the best places anywhere to live, work, 

study and raise a family. 

7

h a m i l t o n t o u r i s m 

hamilton 

a city of boundless 

attractions 

Royal Botanical Gardens 

Hamilton—An ambitious city possessing 

a wide range of amenities and 

attractions has much to offer visitors and 

residents alike. From a convention perspective 

Hamilton has added hundreds of conveniently 

located hotel rooms to the downtown 

core, providing capacity for conventions, 

trade shows and conferences of all sizes. No 

wonder that Hamilton hosts more than 100 

meeting and convention-related events per 

year—a number that will continue to grow 

as word of Hamilton’s hospitality spreads . 

For the visitor Hamilton offers a wide array 

of entertainment, dining, sport, outdoor and 

natural attractions. Hamilton has a vibrant 

creative arts scene with its many galleries, 

workshop spaces and live venues. 

Performers at 

the Dundas 

Buskerfest 

Enjoying an evening skate 

at Hamilton Waterfront 

8


Tony Bennett 

at Hamilton 

Convention 

Centre 

Hamilton 

Convention 

Centre ready for 

another event 

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum 

An exhibit at McMaster 

Museum of Art 

9

The Hamilton Tiger Cats are one 

of the oldest professional sports 

franchises in North America. 


sports 

Hamilton is a city with a passion for 

sport. Hamilton is home to North 

America’s oldest professional football team, 

the Hamilton Tiger-Cats; North America’s 

oldest road race, the Around the Bay; inaugural 

host of the Commonwealth Games 

in 1930; biannual host of the longest running 

international multi-sport event in north 

America, the CANUSA Games; Part of the 

Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Games and 

much, much more! 

Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field 

10


Getting some exercise and 

enjoying the scenery at the 

Hamilton Waterfront 

The Hamilton area is home to many great golf courses 

Hamilton has a vibrant 

food scene 

Aberdeen Tavern 

Whether it’s taking in a concert on 

a summer afternoon in Gage Park, 

Hamilton’s popular oasis in the centre-east 

of the city, or a round of golf at one of 

Hamilton’s many public and private golf 

courses, or simply going for a run along 

Hamilton’s network of waterfront trails, recreation 

opportunities abound in Hamilton. 

Hamilton’s burgeoning food scene is attracting 

national and regional media attention 

with dozens of new eateries ranging from 

casual to formal dining springing up everywhere. 

The surrounding communities that 

make up Hamilton stage annual music and 

cultural festivals like the Dundas Cactus 

Festival; operating for more than forty years 

and rated one of Ontario’s top 100 festivals 

Entertaining the 

crowd at the Locke 

Street Festival 

The Festival of Friends is 

the largest free annual 

event of its kind in Canada 

Taking the kids for a 

ride at the Dundas 

Cactus Festival 

11

Art Gallery of Hamilton 


Hamilton is home to one of the most 

vibrant live music scenes in Canada 

Art Gallery of Hamilton 

hamilton: 

where the 

arts thrive 

Hamilton is fast developing a reputation 

as a hot new arts centre. But for longtime 

Hamiltonians, cultural amenities have 

always been an important part of the local 

scene, and one of the features that makes the 

city so attractive for start-ups, relocation and 

investment. Venues like FirstOntario Centre 

and FirstOntario Concert Hall have been hosting 

the world’s top entertainers for decades. 

Theatre Aquarius has put Hamilton on the 

map for professional theatre along with several 

regional theatre companies. The Hamilton 

Philharmonic Orchestra, and Brott Music 

Festival are mainstays in bringing the very best 

in classical performance to the city. 

What is more recent and equally exciting 

is the burgeoning popular music scene 

involving scores of performers and studios. 

Hamilton boasts almost a hundred venues 

where live music can be heard and 

Hamilton performers are well represented in 

the annual Juno and Grammy nominations. 

It was Hamilton that first showcased the Juno 

Awards to as national television audience 

and in 2015 the Junos returned to where it all 

began with another star-studded show. 

Hamilton offers an exciting lineup of ways 

to experience art, from small grassroots galleries 

along James Street North to the century-old 

Art Gallery of Hamilton showcasing 

works in a wide range of mediums. Artists 

find ample inspiration in the city, evident in 

their boundless creativity. 

12


Hamilton is home to 

one of the most vibrant 

live music scenes in 

Canada 

SuperCrawl attracts hundreds of 

thousands to Hamilton’s lively 

downtown each year. 

13


Hamilton was the 

first city to host a 

nationally-televised 

Juno Awards show. 

Hamilton is home 

to several theatre 

organizations, 

including Theatre 

Aquarius. 

The Boris Brott Music 

Festival provides 45 

events each year. 

14


Lining up a scene for 

Murdock Mysteries 

at Westfield Village. 

filmmakers 

choose 

hamilton 

Hamilton has become a very popular 

destination for Canadian and 

International makers of both feature films 

and television series and the Hamilton 

Music and Film Office is committed to 

further development of this industry. The 

filmmakers choose Hamilton because it possesses 

hundreds of unique filming locations 

that can represent almost any era or genre. 

They also choose Hamilton because of the 

excellent logistical support provided by the 

Hamilton Music and Film Office. 

Filming is an important industry for 

Hamilton because it brings substantial revenue 

to the community and it is part 

of Hamilton’s broader Creative Industries 

strategy. Production companies pay residents 

and businesses for the rental of their 

properties and they use local hotels and 

restaurants. Many of the professionals in the 

filmmaking community are now choosing 

Hamilton as their home. 

Kevin Spacey in a scene 

from Casino Jack filmed in 

and around Hamilton. 

15


Albion Falls 

Photo courtesy cityofwaterfalls.ca 

Grand Falls 

Flamborough 

Photo courtesy 

cityofwaterfalls.ca 

city of 

waterfalls 

To the new visitor to Hamilton an unexpected 

delight is the abundance of natural 

beauty the city possesses. From waterfront 

trails along the shore of Lake Ontario 

and Hamilton Harbour, to the Niagara 

Escarpment—home to the Bruce Trail system—a 

series of trails through forests so 

dense that hikers do not realize they are 

15 minutes away from bustling industry 

and commercial activity, Hamilton is a city 

of Nature. With over one hundred waterfalls 

just minutes from the downtown core, 

Hamilton is believed to have the highest 

number of waterfalls of any urban area of 

its size. The Red Hill trail connects upper 

Hamilton to Lake Ontario. A series of Rail 

trails provides opportunities for hiking, horseback 

riding and cycling. Speaking of cycling, 

Hamilton has an ever increasing network of 

cycling lanes on city streets and there are 

more than 100 SoBi bicycle rental locations 

strategically situated across the city. 

Tiffany Falls Ancaster 

Photo courtesy cityofwaterfalls.ca 

16


parks 

Thanks to the foresight of generations of 

leaders Hamilton is blessed with one of 

the finest parks systems in North America. 

Hamilton has more than 3000 acres of 

Municipally-owned parkland at nearly 400 

locations. The Pier 4 and Bayfront Parks 

are popular year-round destinations for 

strolling, roller blading and contemplation 

of the bay and surrounding area. Beautiful 

Gage Park, with its formal gardens, Beaux 

Arts fountain, rose garden and vast meadow 

is an oasis of relaxation and recreation 

in Hamilton’s east has just undergone 

an ambitious rehabilitation. Further east 

Confederation Park offers water attractions, 

swimming and hiking trails. 

Webster Falls 

17


Top to Bottom: 

Dundurn Castle, 

Hamilton Museum 

of Steam and 

Technology, 

Whitehern 

heritage and 

museums 

Hamilton is home to numerous significant 

privately owned heritage buildings 

and historic sites. In the latter case 

Dundurn Castle situated in Dundurn Park on 

a bluff overlooking Hamilton Harbour is a 

unique 40-room Italianate revival villa built 

in the 1830’s on Burlington Heights; the former 

site of a fortified military encampment 

established by the British in 1813. Once 

home to Sir Allan Napier MacNab, railway 

magnate, lawyer and Premier of the United 

Canadas (1854-1856) and his family, today 

Dundurn Castle tells the story of the family 

who lived above stairs and the servants who 

lived and worked below stairs to support 

their affluent lifestyle. Her Royal Highness 

The Duchess of Cornwall is the museum’s 

Patron and the great, great, great granddaughter 

of Sir Allan MacNab. 

Whitehern 

Whitehern Historic House and Garden 

in Hamilton, Ontario, built shortly before 

1850, is a Late Classical house that is 

now a historic house museum. At one 

time, Whitehern was the home of Thomas 

McQuesten, who, in a local and provincial 

political career that spanned more than 

three decades left a legacy of parks, highways 

and international bridges in his native 

Hamilton and across Ontario. 

The Hamilton Museum of 

Steam and Technology 

Housed in a 150-year-old classical revival 

waterworks, this National Historic Site 

preserves two 70-ton steam engines, perhaps 

the oldest surviving Canadian-built 

engines. The historic Hamilton Waterworks 

is a Civil and Power Engineering Landmark. 

The museum offers various permanent 

and changing exhibits and features special 

events for the whole family, including Live 

Steamer Days from May through October. 

18


Several important 

battles in the War of 

1812 were fought 

around Hamilton. 

Pictured, the annual 

re-enactment of 

the Battle of Stoney 

Creek. 

go wild 

The African Lion Safari first opened the 

gates to the public in 1969 with 40 

lions in 3 reserves; today the park houses 

in excess of 1,000 animals comprised of 

over 100 species. The African Lion Safari’s 

manner of exhibiting animals is completely 

different from the traditional approach; that 

is, the visitor is caged in the car, and the animals 

roam in 2 to 20 hectare reserves. After 

over 45 years African Lion Safari has been 

successful with breeding 30 species that are 

considered endangered and 20 species that 

are considered threatened. The original idea 

of “maintaining self-sustaining populations 

of species in decline” is still the priority. 

Photo by Daniel 

Cocoveanu 

19

internationally recognized 

The City of Hamilton has become an education destination for 

students from all over the world. Hamilton offers a wide choice 

of secondary and post-secondary study options and excellent 

opportunities for study and to live and work after graduation. 

Many of Hamilton’s education 

institutions have an international 

student office to help students 

transition and adjust to living in Hamilton 

and help build connections within the 

community. Hamilton is home to a number 

of outstanding post-secondary institutions 

that have been recognized internationally 

for their research and instructional strength 

as well as providing local area businesses 

with a well-educated workforce. 

At McMaster University, 30,000 undergraduate 

and graduate students and 7500 

faculty and staff are engaged in learning 

and research with a focus on community 

engagement and involvement. Mohawk 

College educates more than 17,000 fulltime 

and apprenticeship students at three 

campuses in Hamilton. Recognized as 

a leader in health and technology education, 

Mohawk has achieved the highest 

student satisfaction scores among all 

20


education 

colleges in 

the Greater 

Toronto and 

Hamilton Area 

for four consecutive 

years. 

Hamilton is served by four school 

boards. The Hamilton-Wentworth District 

School Board teaches approximately 

50,000 students in its 114 neighbourhood 

schools. In addition to the programming 

offered at 96 elementary and 18 secondary 

schools, a number of alternative programs 

focusing on sports, academics, science, 

arts and languages are available. 

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic 

District School Board serves more than 

29,000 elementary and secondary students 

at 55 schools, and another 10,000 

individuals through four St. Charles adult 

and continuing education centres. 

French-language Catholic school board 

in the Centre-South serves over 15,500 

Students in 45 elementary and 10 secondary 

schools in an area extending from the 

Niagara Peninsula to Peterborough and 

from Lake Ontario (Toronto) to Georgian 

Bay. Conseil scolaire Viamonde manages 

the French-language public schools in the 

central south-western region of Ontario. 

French language public school board operates 

two schools in Hamilton. 

Redeemer University College offers 

Bachelor of Arts, Science, and Education 

degrees with majors in more than 30 

disciplines. As a Christian university, 

Redeemer offers its more than 900 students 

the chance to explore the 

relationship between faith 

and learning through a 

Christian perspective. 

Brock University 

opened a satellite 

Teachers College 

in Hamilton. 

The on-campus 

Faculty 

of Education 

encompasses 

a pre-service 

department, 

graduate studies 

in education and 

continuing education. 

Collège Boréal is one 

of Ontario’s 24 community 

colleges and is the only Frenchlanguage 

college in Southwestern Ontario. 

Collège Boréal in Hamilton offers continuing 

education, employability services, 

immigrant integration services and related 

services for local businesses and communities. 

Columbia College, with nearly 2000 

students representing over 70 countries, 

is the largest private junior and senior 

boarding school in Canada. Its Total Care 

Education System ensures that each student 

reaches his or her personal and academic 

potential. • 

21

Canada Research Chair in GeroScience, Parminder Raina, 

director of the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and 

principal investigator of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. 

22


Fraunhofer’s Christopher Oelkrug; MP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, Bob Bratina; Hamilton Mayor 

Fred Einsenberger; the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic 

Development; MP for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, Filomena Tassi; and McMaster’s Vice-President, 

Research, Rob Baker, celebrate the partnership and federal investment in the Fraunhofer Project Centre for 

Biomedical Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing. 

Building a future on 

research and innovation 

Since its move to Hamilton in 1930, McMaster 

University has played a major role in shaping 

the City as a centre of excellence for research 

and innovation. Consistently ranked as one of 

the world’s top 100 universities, McMaster’s 

research enterprise spans across six faculties: 

business, engineering, health sciences, 

humanities, science, and social sciences. 

McMaster has earned a reputation as a global 

research powerhouse and a fertile training 

ground for undergraduate and graduate 

students alike. But it may be the University’s 

multidisciplinary approach to research that best 

defines McMaster. It’s that holistic approach 

to discovery that is embedded in many of the 

University’s renowned research centres and 

institutes. While unique in their themes – 

aging, infectious disease, Indigenous research, 

population health, peace studies, big data, 

healthier environments, transportation and 

logistics, or materials research, to name but 

a few – they all share a similar philosophy 

when it comes to solving problems: work 

collaboratively, leave no stone unturned and 

investigate the problem from every angle. 

capitalized on our community’s inherent 

strengths – manufacturing and health – while 

diversifying our economy to build our 

collective capacity. 

McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) is a case in 

point. After a decade of growth, this brownfield 

site turned innovation hub, is now home to 

world-class facilities like CanmetMATERIALS, 

the United Nations University – Institute 

on Water, Environment and Health, the 

McMaster Automotive Resource Centre, and 

the Fraunhofer Project Centre on Biomedical 

Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing. 

It’s also the headquarters of Innovation Factory 

and The Forge – incubation centres dedicated to 

helping start-ups commercialize. 

MIP is a place where industry and academic 

leaders work side by side; where entrepreneurs, 

scientists and engineers tackle some of society’s 

most challenging issues. It’s where ideas are 

born and technologies developed to drive the 

economy. McMaster Innovation Park is at the 

very core of Hamilton’s innovation ecosystem. 

What sets McMaster apart is its commitment 

to partnerships – be they with industry, 

governments, universities and research 

institutions – both in Canada and around 23 

the world. Working with our partners, we’ve


hillfield 

strathallan 

college: 

hamilton’s 

independent 

school 

Hillfield Strathallan College 

(HSC) develops joyful, 

engaged students who live life 

with purpose. 

As part of Hamilton’s educational 

landscape for more than a 

century, HSC is known as one 

of Canada’s leading co-educational independent 

schools, offering enriched academic, 

art and athletic programs. The 

Montessori, Junior, Middle and Senior 

Schools offer purposefully designed programming 

with robust support services to 

ensure student success. Community is at 

the heart of the College and is comprised 

of strong parent partnerships, alumni support 

and community involvement. 

The school began its life in 1901 as the 

Highfield School for Boys with 52 pupils. 

That institution later became Hillcrest 

School, and in 1929, Hillfield School. In 

1923, a group of patrons founded Strathallan 

School for Girls. Both schools moved to the 

50-acre campus on Fennell Avenue West 

at Garth Street in 1962. The two schools 

officially amalgamated in 1968 and formed 

Hillfield Strathallan College. 

Over 4,000 alumni retain life-long connections 

to the College, and continue to 

come back as mentors, volunteers, advisors 

and role models. A robust philanthropy 

program has resulted in a strong infrastructure. 

Most recently, the College completed 

construction of the 134,000 sq. ft. Michael 

G. DeGroote Senior School and an athletic 

complex with three large gymnasia, a 

multi-purpose athletics studio and conditioning 

room. This complex also features 

state-of-the-art music and art rooms. 

The College has also launched The David 

Tutty Joy and Innovation Fund to support 

ideas proposed by students themselves. 

Approved projects, from a design studio 

to solar panels to an Indigenous wigwam, 

capture the imaginative spirit of the fund 

and promote innovation, responsibility and 

real-world skills. 

Community service opportunities and 

student leadership are highly valued at 

HSC. Identified leadership experiences 

include student council, house leadership, 

peer tutoring and the College’s Prefect 

group. Students also spend time as volunteers 

and fundraisers for local and global 

charities. 

“True learning occurs when students are 

exposed to a variety of different experiences 

in order to fully realize their potential,” says 

Marc Ayotte, Head of College. “Students 

who are the most successful and fulfilled 

are those who are engaged fully in a solid 

academic program, as well as a rich program 

of co-curricular offerings.” 

Hillfield Strathallan College invites you 

to learn more about the College and its 

programs for students from 18-months to 

Grade 12 by visiting hsc.on.ca or calling 

905-389-1367 to book a personal tour. •

hamilton economic development 

hamilton’s 

growing 

agri-food sector 

Food Processing 

Hamilton is centrally located within one 

of the three largest food and beverage processing 

districts in North America. Ontario 

plays host to 3,200 globally recognized 

agri-food companies, many of which call 

Hamilton home. Hamilton’s food industry 

activities include food and beverage 

processing, warehousing and distribution, 

retailing and food service. Hamilton, with 

Fully automated meat processing at Maple 

Leaf foods Hamilton plant 

26


Hamilton’s agri-food sector includes 

its superior land base, central 

location, multi-model transportation 

network, and world 

class talent is in a position to 

take advantage of the many 

new markets and opportunities 

in an industry that continues 

to see annual growth rates. 

Food and Beverage Processing 

is a key component of the 

City’s Economic Development 

Strategy and one of the major 

targets for the City’s newly 

implemented Foreign Direct 

Investment Strategy. Hamilton is 

also a member community and 

current co-chair of the Ontario 

Food Cluster. 

As a demonstration of the 

breadth of Hamilton’s food 

processing sector is the 

“Hamilton Lunch”—consisting 

of Dempster Bread, Maple Leaf 

luncheon meat, Cheese from 

Gay-Lee Foods, with a cup of 

coffee from Tim Hortons and 

a candy bar for dessert from 

Karma Candy. 

Agri-Business 

A recent Agriculture and Agri- 

Food Profile of the Golden 

Horseshoe shows that agriculture 

is a significant component 

of the local economy and 

generates approximately $1.26 

billion in economic activity 

into the City of Hamilton 

on an annual basis. This is 

a direct increase of approximately 

$70 million over the 

impact calculated in the agricultural 

profile from 2008. The 

City of Hamilton developed a 

long term Agricultural Action 

Plan in 2007 that identified 

tasks to support and sustain 

the Agriculture sector in this 

community, and this is largely 

reflected in the City’s new 

Rural Official Plan and Zoning 

By-law. 

All of the City’s policies 

acknowledge the important 

contribution agriculture makes 

to the City’s economy and the 

quality of life for its residents, 

and support activities that will 

promote the industry. Hamilton 

is an area with a strong agricultural 

land base, the majority 

of the 227,000 acres within 

the Hamilton boundaries qualify 

as prime agricultural lands. 

Considering only 5% of the 

Canadian land mass constitutes 

prime land, the importance of 

this resource in Hamilton is significant. 

Statistics show strong 

local production in Nursery, 

Sod and Maple, Greenhouse, 

Cash Crops, Poultry and Egg, 

Vegetable, Mushroom and 

Dairy with a spin-off to food 

processing companies and value-added 

agriculture-related 

business that position Hamilton 

well in this evolving traditional 

sector. • 

Canada Bread 

operates the largest 

bakery in Canada in 

its Hamilton facility. 

27

An early Spectator traffic chopper 

a look back 

at hamilton’s 

legacy media 

CHCH housed in the former 

Southam mansion. Southam 

would partner in the founding 

of CHCH 

An old fashioned newsroom 

scene a la Front Page at the Spec 

The media landscape is one of constant 

change. Everyone with a cellphone 

can now create their own 

news broadcast using social media. In 

essence the technology allows every person 

to be an individual media outlet. All 

this in a single generation! 

Until the turn of the millennium the legacy 

media still held sway, and Hamilton 

was home to some of Canada’s pioneering 

media figures and outlets. Ken Soble was 

introduced to Hamilton to provide professional 

management to CHML—a station 

started as a temperance outlet that was 

floundering under the leadership of the anything-but-temperate 

son of a Canadian senator. 

Gambling all he owned, Soble would 

go on to purchase CHML and then parlay 

that expertise into the formation of CHCH- 

TV—for decades Canada’s most innovative 

and most profitable television station. 

A Ticat parade outside 

the state-of-the-art CHML 

studios on Main Street East 

Ken Soble, the 

broadcasting 

visionary who 

changed the 

way Canadian 

Television 

operated in the 

1960’s 

CHCH Weatherman Bill Lawrence 

(rear) hamming it up as a Camera 

operator

A familiar sight on King 

Street in Hamilton 

for generations—the 

Spectator building. 

An early newscast on CHCH 

CKOC became one of 

Canada’s most listened-to 

rock stations in the 1960’s 

and 1970’s. 

Early control 

room at CHCH 

The Southam Newspaper chain got its 

start in Hamilton in 1877 when William 

Southam purchased the Hamilton Spectator, 

founded by Robert Smiley in 1846. At one 

time Hamilton was home to three daily 

newspapers, but it was the Spectator that 

ultimately prevailed. Some of Canada’s 

best-known journalists passed through the 

Spectator over the years. The Southam family 

also operated a radio staion and were 

investors in the beginnings of CHCH TV. 

CKOC was Canada’s second radio station 

after CFCF in Montreal. CKOC was founded 

by Herbert Slack as a means of promoting 

his automobile parts and radio store. Like 

many radio pioneers Slack started the station 

as a marketing tool to sell radio sets. 

Ultimately Slacks merchandizing empire 

spread to Toronto, Montreal and several 

other Canadian cities—a precursor to the 

Canadian Tire chain which came later. •


downto 

Hamilton has an excellent stock of office and commercial 

space for its growing legal and financial services sector. 

the pulse of the city 

The Templar Flats 

development—a major part 

of the revitalization of King 

William Street 

30


wn hamilton 

Downtown Hamilton 

is home to explosive 

residential growth with 

large condominium 

projects like 150 Main 

West Residential Lofts 

by Vrancor Group 

The transformation of 

Hamilton’s downtown is 

the envy of city planners 

everywhere. 

The Royal Connaught 

condominium development 

by Valery Homes and 

Spallacci Homes is a symbol 

of the renaissance of 

downtown Hamilton. 

Literally thousands of new housing 

units have been opened in recent 

years or are under construction as millennials 

and empty nesters seek the convenience 

and sense of community that comes 

with downtown living. The emergence of 

downtown Hamilton as a vibrant people 

place is the result of multiple factors. It all 

began several years ago when foresighted 

municipal leaders developed a revolving 

residential financing plan that allowed property 

developers to obtain critical equity 

bridge financing. From its modest beginning 

that program has resulted in the construction 

of hundreds of housing units, mainly condominiums—but 

also new rental properties. 

The boom in residential development 

has acted as a catalyst for other positive 

economic indicators for Hamilton’s downtown. 

Office vacancies have dropped as 

Hamilton downtown has become a thriving 

31


Theres a cool vibe on James Street North with its galleries, restaurants and shops 

In just a few years Super Crawl has become one of Hamilton’s largest festivals for locals 

and out-of-towners 

hub for finance, legal and creative businesses. 

The city continues to possess a good 

stock of affordable commercial and office 

space. Increasingly, historic buildings in the 

core are being transformed into residential, 

creative and commercial uses. A burgeoning 

arts scene has turned James Street North 

into a destination for locals, looking for 

interesting restaurants or creative experiences 

and increasingly, for out of towners 

attracted to the ever popular monthly arts 

events. 

With regards to Arts and culture, Hamilton 

downtown has become dotted with galleries 

and craft shops. The annual Super Crawl 

music and Arts festival takes over the main 

north-south artery with music, crafts, food 

and fun and attracts hundreds of thousands 

of visitors from the community and 

surrounding area. Downtown Hamilton 

is home to the region’s major cultural 

venues—First Ontario Concert Hall, First 

Ontario Centre, the Art Gallery of Hamilton 

and Theatre Aquarius. • 

32

valery 

homes 

building luxury 

condos and new homes 

in southern ontario 

for three generations 

Founded by Clemente Valeri in the 

mid 1950’s, Valery Homes gained 

notoriety throughout Southern 

Ontario for their quality of workmanship. 

Today, the task has fallen upon Ted, 

Anthony & Paul Valeri to continue in this 

tradition of excellence. This is a testament 

to the company’s culture of family values. 

At Valery Homes the time honoured principles 

of quality, reliability and value haven’t 

always been a passion; they’ve been 

an obsession. Valery Homes is devoted 

to building communities of excellence 

providing clients with an exemplary new 

home building experience. With a proud 

history of solid success, financial strength 

and high standards of home building 

quality, sharing this heritage with their 

customers is Valery Homes’ mission. 

Now Valeri Homes has plans for a 204 

unit high-end development on the prized 

Chedoke brow lands that would feature a 

mix of townhouses, bungalows and condominiums. 

• 

Building methods have changed 

significantly in the six decades since 

their father started Valery Homes, but 

Ted Valeri upholds its deep-seated 

tradition of quality craftsmanship. 

www.valeryhomes.com 

33

Staybridge Suites Hamilton Downtown 

Darko Vranich 

150 Main Street West & Regency On Main 

It is often said that a journey of a thousand miles 

begins with a single step. For Vrancor Group, that step 

was taken in 1994 when Darko Vranich purchased 

his first hotel. Today Vrancor is a multimillion-dollar 

hospitality, property management and development 

business, with sixteen hotels across Ontario. Hamilton, 

home to Vrancor’s headquarters, remains a key focus 

for development activity. The team at Vrancor, many 

of whom reside in Hamilton, see Hamilton not just 

as an Ambitious City, but one that will rightfully take 

its place as a leading economic powerhouse within 

Ontario and Canada. Fueled by Vranich’s driving 

aspiration to catapult Hamilton’s economy by a 

significant redevelopment of its downtown core, and 

by investing over two hundred fifty million dollars into 

the revitalization efforts, a modern, integrated design 

sensibility is now reflected across an impressive array 

of hotel, residential and commercial complexes. With 

an unwavering commitment to build a lasting and 

prosperous community, a vibrant and transformational 

Hamilton is emerging. 

V ranich, a Croatian-born Canadian, has focused 

Vrancor Group on its mission “to lead in the creation 

of inspiring, award-winning environments for people 

to live, work, stay and play”. This vision stems from 

a deep understanding of essential infrastructure 

elements needed by evolving cities to foster growth 

and prosperity: strong residential communities, 

recognized and respected hotel brands and flourishing 

retail enterprises that support the needs of growing 

populations. While active across Ontario, Hamilton 

is the epicentre of Vrancor’s focus, with hotels that 

include Sheraton Hamilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton 

Hamilton and Staybridge Suites Hamilton Downtown. 

Starbucks, another popular, globally recognized brand, 

graces the lobby of Sheraton Hamilton. Now, with 

over six hundred new or refurbished hotel guestrooms 

in the immediate downtown core, Hamilton’s ability 

to successfully compete and win large national and 

international convention, sporting and entertainment 

events has significantly increased, as evidenced by the 

recent hosting of the Pan Am Games, JUNO Awards

20/22 George Street Sheraton Hamilton Hotel 

and the Vanier Cup. More importantly, the pipeline for 

future tourism events is robust and growing stronger. 

A thriving tourism economy lifts all boats and this can 

be seen clearly in the now thriving restaurant, arts, 

transportation and music scenes right across the city. 

A nother essential ingredient of a booming 

metropolis is high quality residential development. 

By focusing investment in Hamilton, Vrancor has 

cultivated a sixth sense for how Hamilton is evolving 

and how future developments can fit into changes 

that are quickly taking place as a result of population 

growth. The skyline and downtown urban landscape 

is being redefined by four new Vrancor residential 

developments, including the iconic Federal Building 

at 150 Main West that has been transformed into 

one hundred, fifty upscale condominium lofts. Future 

Hamiltonians will also have a number of new and 

exciting residential rental options to choose from. 

T hese developments haven’t gone unnoticed. 

Vrancor’s dedication to revitalizing Hamilton have 

earned the company many accolades including 

“Developer of the Year” awards from both Hilton 

Worldwide and InterContinental Hotels Group, as well 

as the Outstanding Business Achievement Award from 

the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. 

“I believe in Hamilton, a great city with unlimited potential,” 

Vranich can often be heard saying. And fortunately, his 

enthusiasm and passion is contagious as evidenced by the 

renaissance underway right across the city! 

Homewood Suites by Hilton Hamilton 

“I BELIEVE IN HAMILTON, 

A GREAT CITY WITH 

UNLIMITED POTENTIAL” 

Vrancor’s Investments in Hamilton 

HOTELS 

Sheraton Hamilton 

- 301 guest rooms, 18,000 sq. ft. meeting space 

Homewood Suites by Hilton Hamilton 

- 182 extended stay suites, 10,000 sq. ft. meeting space 

Staybridge Suites Hamilton Downtown 

- 129 extended stay suites, 5,000 sq. ft. meeting space 

FOOD SERVICE 

Starbucks, Sheraton Hamilton 

Marquis Gardens Hamilton 

- banquet hall + conference centre 

RESIDENTIAL 

Federal Building, 150 Main Street West 

- 150 condominiums + lofts 

Regency on Main, 140 Main Street West 

- 322 upscale rental apartments 

220 Cannon Street East 

- 100 one, two + three-bedroom rental apartments 

20/22 George Street 

- 224 rental apartments, 7,000 sq. ft. commercial space 

RETAIL 

Shoppers Drug Mart, 1599 Upper James St, Hamilton 

Shoppers Drug Mart, 133 King Street West, Dundas


hamilton 

leading the way in life sciences 

From research to the physical 

production of healthcare 

technology, the City of 

Hamilton is the home of an 

intellectual and physical 

environment for a thriving life 

sciences cluster. 

It is an environment that connects 

researchers, business, healthcare providers 

and education. Hamilton is globally 

recognized for its biotechnology strengths in 

the health sector including drug discovery 

and validation, gene therapy and clinical 

trials. Research in these areas is producing 

life saving drugs and vaccines, medical 

devices, and solutions to current health 

issues. With a focus on the commercialization 

of research and development, Hamilton 

is poised for growth in this knowledge-based 

cluster. The City together with its community 

partners Hamilton Health Sciences, St. 

Joseph’s Healthcare, McMaster University 

and Mohawk College is helping the life sciences 

sector achieve its innovative potential 

by building a supportive business environment, 

connecting research and business 

communities, and marketing its world-class 

strengths in the global marketplace. 

The Synapse Life Science Consortium 

is a global leader within Canada’s biotech 

industry. Hamilton hosts one of 

the world’s top tier life sciences clusters, 

including major research institutions 

and organizations such as St. Joseph’s 

Healthcare, Hamilton Health Sciences, 

36


commercialization and 

research excellence: 

• Centre for Surgical Invention and 

Innovation 

• Stem Cell and Cancer Research 

Institute 

• Bay Area Health Trust 

• Centre for Probe Development and 

Commercialization 

• Imaging Research Centre at 

St. Joseph’s Healthcare 

• McMaster Biointerfaces Institute 

• McMaster Immunology Research 

Centre 

clinical trials: 

• Population Health Research Institute 

• STJHC Clinical Research Healthcare 

Network CR Net 

• Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis 

Research Institute 

• Firestone Institute for Respiratory 

Health 

• Bay Area Research Logistics 

digital health: 

• Mohawk’s Health Development and 

Innovation Centre 

• Programs for Assessment of 

Technology in Health 

• OSCAR Electronic Medical Record 

(EMR) 

• Clinical Connects 

McMaster University, Mohawk College, 

Innovation Factory, The Hamilton 

Chamber of Commerce, and the Bay 

Area Health Trust. IBM is the latest partner 

to locate in Hamilton where IBM’s 

Watson cognitive and analytic software 

will enable researchers to accelerate the 

development and commercialization of 

health care innovations. Together, the collaboration 

between these organizations 

unifies a diverse range of expertise and 

creates a unique platform for life science 

development unlike any other in Canada 

linking life sciences research and innovation 

with business. 

McMaster Innovation Park 

The McMaster Innovation Park houses laboratory, 

office, teaching, training, and conference 

facilities, in support of research and 

development in a number of key industrial 

areas: advanced manufacturing and materials, 

nanotechnology, biotechnology, and 

other areas in which McMaster University 

has recognized research strengths. This 

dynamic research destination offers more 

than a million square feet of premier laboratories 

– including an 80,000 square feet 

biosciences centre, offices, training and 

conference facilities that will become home 

for some 1,500 employees. These facilities 

are helping drive the commercialization of 

research into new and marketable products 

and services, and the creation of new companies 

that will provide high-paying, highly 

skilled jobs in Hamilton. • 

37

In the heart of 

Hamilton is a 

National 

Leader


www.stjoes.ca/heartofhamont 

39

advanced 

manufacturing: 

we still make 

things in hamilton 

In the 20th century, Hamilton 

grew and thrived as host to 

many major manufacturing 

industries. In the 21st century 

advanced manufacturing in 

Hamilton continues to be 

a driving force of the local 

economy. 

In addition, it represents a significant 

provincial impact with an estimated $12 

Billion annual effect or the equivalent of 

4% of Ontario’s GDP. An estimated 85,000 

jobs are attributable to this cluster, with $5.6 

Billion being injected into the local economy 

on an annual basis through salaries and 

wages. 

Steel production and processing, heavy 

and general manufacturing, storage and 

warehousing are key components of the 

40


local advanced manufacturing sector. 

Increasingly Hamilton has become home 

to numerous smaller, high-tech manufacturing 

operations—many with global 

reach, who are attracted by Hamilton’s 

access to trained workers and education 

facilities geared to serve the sector. It’s 

all part of a growing diversification of 

Hamilton’s industrial base where knowledge 

and knowhow are key exports along 

with products. 

In the intense competitive global manufacturing 

climate, Hamilton’s advanced manufacturing 

sector is successful because of its 

focus on constant innovation and creativity. 

Hamilton’s manufacturing industries are 

poised to create thousands of well-paying 

jobs over the next few years. The opportunities 

are endless. Strong leadership, innovation 

and expertise will remain the cornerstones 

of a healthy advanced manufacturing 

cluster within the City of Hamilton. • 

41

driving 

steel 

From their home in Hamilton, Ontario, ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s team 

is working with global colleagues to design and develop steels that 

are transforming the design, performance and sustainability of autos. 

ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s 5,000 employees make more than 100 

grades of steel from the Hamilton operation. 

These steels are used in the automotive, 

distribution, construction and 

manufacturing, consumer and industrial 

packaging and tubular sectors. Each 

ArcelorMittal Dofasco steel coil is designed 

and manufactured to the exacting standards 

of the company’s customers for its intended 

end use, with very tight tolerances. 

Dofasco is part of ArcelorMittal, the 

world’s largest steel and mining company, 

and is Canada’s largest producer of 

flat rolled, or sheet, steel. The company 

produces more than 4.5 million tons of 

steel for customers throughout the NAFTA 

region. 

From Tin Plate Steel for food and industrial 

packaging to Ultra High Strength 

and Advanced High Strength Steels that 

form crucial parts for autos, each coil of 

steel is designed and manufactured to the 

exacting standards of the company’s customers 

for its intended end use. A significant 

amount of the company’s steels are 

used in the automotive sector, making the 

company a crucial player in the NAFTA 

automotive supply chain. 

In 1970, there were 7 grades of steel. 

Today, there are more than 200, with 

Advanced High Strength Steels being the 

fastest growing material in a vehicle. 

42

S-in motion® is a set of steel solutions developed by 

ArcelorMittal for carmakers who wish to create lighter, safer 

and more environmentally friendly vehicles. It includes a 

range of steel solutions launched in 2010 with a set of steel 

solutions for C-segment vehicles. Since then, the range of 

solutions has been expanded and now covers many other 

types of vehicles and vehicle parts, including hybrid and 

electric vehicles, pick-up trucks, mid-size sedans and SUVs. 

“There are hundreds of steel parts on the 

vehicle and they all do a different job. To 

get the best performance and best mass 

reduction, it’s useful to have all these 

grades,” Paul Schurter, the company’s 

Global Technology Manager, Automotive 

Product Applications, says. 

Steel continues to reinvent itself, 

with the development of third generation 

Advanced High Strength Steels. 

This class of steel grades combines the 

strength of Advanced and Ultra High 

Strength Steels with enhanced formability, 

further increasing design flexibility. 

Some of these third generation grades 

are already being used in today’s cars 

and trucks. 

Steel is also the most sustainable choice. 

“When we talk about sustainability, it’s 

more than just fuel economy,” Schurter 

says. “The current focus of fuel efficiency 

regulations is on tailpipe emissions, but 

the production process and disposal of 

a car or truck can account for a significant 

portion of overall vehicle life cycle 

emissions. We need to look at reducing 

greenhouse gas emissions by evaluating 

the whole life cycle of the vehicle – production, 

driving and recycling.” 

In North America, steel has four to five 

times less CO 2 

emissions than aluminum 

during the production phase. Steel also 

offers light-weighting capabilities in the 

driving phase. When you apply steel to 

the vehicle, it supports about 25 per cent 

mass reduction, helping improve fuel 

economy and reduce greenhouse gasses. 

In terms of recyclability, steel is very 

easy to separate from other materials in the 

scrapped vehicle because it is magnetic. 

Unlike alternative materials, there is an 

abundant amount of recycled steel – more 

than 80 million tons per year – available to 

manufacture new steel products. In addition, 

steel can be infinitely re-melted into any 

steel grade without losing strength, while 

other metals must be sorted by grade for 

re-melting to achieve the same properties. 

“No other material has improved its 

fundamental performance characteristics 

for automotive applications like steel… 

and we’re not done by a long shot,” 

Schurter says. • 

43

EXPORTING HAMILTON TECHNOLOGY 

AROUND THE WORLD 

exporting hamilton 

technology around 

the world 

The Liburdi Group of Companies, is another 

Hamilton technology success story. 

With modern plants in Dundas and Stoney 

Creek, it can trace its roots back to the 

Westinghouse plant. 

Joe Liburdi started the company in 1979 

after leaving Westinghouse Hamilton. Although 

Westinghouse has gone, for the last 30 years Liburdi 

has continued and pioneered the development of advanced 

metallurgical processes and technologies to 

solve the challenges faced by the Aerospace, Nuclear, 

Oil & Gas, and Joe Energy Liburdi Industries. started the Through company inno- 

1979 

vation and dedication after to leaving quality, Liburdi Westinghouse has become Hamilton. 

the recognized leader Although in Gas Westinghouse Turbine repair has and gone, life for 

extension technologies the last - as 30 well years as a Liburdi leading has supplier continued 

of welding systems and that pioneered have become the development the first choice of adfor 

many major vanced industries. metallurgical processes and technologies 

to solve the challenges faced by 

A recent example the Aerospace, of Liburdi’s Nuclear, capabilities Oil & with Gas, and 

automated welding Energy systems Industries. came Through with the innovation breakdown 

of the Chalk dedication River nuclear to quality, plant Liburdi - a vital has link become 

and 

in the world supply the recognized of medical leader isotopes. in Gas Leaks Turbine in repair 

the nuclear reactor and needed life extension welding technologies - a job too - dangerous 

for human a leading hands. supplier Liburdi of developed welding systems a cus- 

that 

as well as 

tom automated have precision become robotic the first welding choice system for many 

that got the job major done industries. and the reactor back on line. 

In fact, the company was recently honoured for this 

feat with awards for innovation from both Atomic 

Energy Canada Limited and the Canadian Nuclear 

Society. 

Liburdi now has main production plants and laboratories 

in Canada and the USA and also maintains offices 

and facilities with joint venture partners in Europe, 

the U.A.E., China, Korea, and Russia to better 

The Liburdi Group of Companies is another Hamilton technology 

success story. With modern plants in Dundas and Stoney Creek, it 

can trace its roots back to the Westinghouse plant. 

serve their customers globally. Liburdi does 90% of 

its business globally, giving rise to the question—why 

are you located in Hamilton Ontario? The answer, 

says Liburdi marketing manager Robert Tollett - 

education. 

A recent 

McMaster 

example of 

University 

Liburdi’s capabilities 

material with automated sciences welding and high systems quality came engineering 

with its research 

into 

graduates with the provides breakdown a talent of the pool Chalk for Liburdi River that is 

second nuclear to plant none. - Nearby a vital Waterloo link in the provides world the software 

supply engineers of medical of the isotopes. future. “We Leaks are in always the looking 

nuclear at new reactor alloys, needed and that’s welding where materials - a job science 

expertise too dangerous is needed for human - plus we hands. need Liburdi bright software 

engineers,” developed Robert a custom noted. automated Hamilton precision 

ideally situated 

robotic to provide welding both.” system that got the job 

done and the reactor back on line. 

As In Liburdi fact, the seeks company to grow was through recently innovation honoured 

for Tollett this offers feat with this awards advice for to inno- 

young people 

Robert 

contemplating vation from both their Atomic career path. Energy “If Canada you have a passion 

Limited for engineering and the excellence Canadian come Nuclear see us.” 

Society. 

Liburdi does 90% of its business globally, 44 giving rise to the question - why are you 

located in Hamilton?


Liburdi does 90% of its business globally, giving rise 

to the question - why are you located in Hamilton? 

Liburdi now has main production plants 

and laboratories in Canada and the USA 

and also maintains offices and facilities 

with joint venture partners in Europe, the 

U.A.E., China, Korea, and Russia to better 

serve their customers globally. Liburdi 

does 90% of its business globally, giving 

rise to the question—why are you located 

in Hamilton Ontario? The answer, says 

Liburdi marketing manager Robert Tollett 

- education. McMaster University with its 

research into material sciences and high 

quality engineering graduates provides a 

talent pool for Liburdi that is second to 

none. Nearby Waterloo provides the software 

engineers of the future. “We are 

always looking at new alloys, and that’s 

where materials science expertise is needed 

- plus we need bright software engineers,” 

Robert noted. Hamilton is ideally 

situated to provide both.” 

As Liburdi seeks to grow through innovation 

Robert Tollett offers this advice to 

young people contemplating their career 

path. “If you have a passion for engineering 

excellence come see us.” • 

45

46


hamilton: 

the transportation hub 

Location—the asset that made 

Hamilton the heavy industrial powerhouse 

a century ago, is still the 

reason Hamilton is a desirable location 

for its advanced manufacturing, and 

knowledge-based industries today. 

Situated at the western end of Ontario’s 

Golden Horseshoe, Hamilton offers easy 

access to a network of highways, international 

rail lines, and the Port of Hamilton. 

Local air connections to international destinations 

are close by with John C. Munro 

Hamilton International Airport. 

The Queen Elizabeth Way provides ready 

access to both the Greater Toronto Area, a 

regional market of over 6 million people, 

and Highway 401. Highway 401 is the 

Canadian link to the NAFTA super highway 

connecting Ontario with the I-75 serving 

Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, 

Georgia and Florida and the I-90 connections 

to the eastern seaboard. With the U. S. 

border only an hour’s drive away, Hamilton 

is within half a day’s drive of key major 

urban markets in the United States. 

The Port of Hamilton is the busiest port in 

all of the Great Lakes; Hamilton’s John C. 

Munro International Airport is Canada’s top 

multi-modal cargo and courier airport and 

Ontario’s only 24-hour inter-modal cargo 

hub, Canada’s two national railways, CP 

and CN, provide complete rail freight services 

across North America for Hamilton’s 

industries and the city has a complete highway 

and ring road system to move goods 

throughout the city quickly. • 

47

john c. munro hamilton international airport: 

a partner in growing 

hamilton’s economy 

In the more than 20 years 

since the operation of 

Hamilton International Airport 

was entrusted to TradePort 

International Corporation 

(TradePort) the result has been 

a successful private-public 

partnership. 

Hamilton International’s focus on 

building relationships and connecting 

with its community, passengers 

and business partners, allows the Airport to 

better serve the city and surrounding region. 

Investing in infrastructure and operations 

is essential to continuing Airport growth; 

since 1996 TradePort and its partners have 

invested $208.7 million, which in turn has 

created $245.8 million in direct financial 

benefit to the City of Hamilton. Through 

Airport activity, Hamilton International and 

its partners contribute $284 million in gross 

domestic product (GDP), produce an economic 

output of $644 million, and create 

over 2,700 person years of employment 

for Hamilton and the surrounding region 

- approximately 70% of which can be 

attributed to cargo operations. 1 

Hamilton International is proud to support 

several community organizations and 

events through donations, sponsorships and 

gifts in kind, with a focus on the Airport’s 

Community Investment Pillars of: Aviation 

Education, Sense of Place and Employee- 

Driven Giving. 

Hamilton International Airport works with 

a number of cargo airline partners including 

Cargojet, Purolator, Canada Post, DHL and 

UPS, which operate a daily schedule that services 

every major North American market and 

provide the highest level of global connectivity 

for express cargo in Canada. The Airport’s 

investment includes the recently-completed 

Cargo Centre, further enhancing the efficient 

movement and handling of goods. 

Hamilton International is relentless in its 

pursuit of passenger opportunities. In 2015, 

the Airport received satisfaction scores in 

excess of 90% for overall Airport experience 

by its passengers. As airlines increasingly 

turn to secondary airports for efficiencies, 

the airport continues to invest in enhancements 

and amenities to provide an efficient 

hassle-free passenger experience. In 2016, 

the Airport experienced an increase in traffic 

with two new airlines Air Canada and 

NewLeaf Travel Company operated by Flair 

Air starting at Hamilton International, in 

addition to long standing partners WestJet, 

Sunwing, Air Transat and Celebrity Cruises. 

TradePort International is wholly owned 

by Vantage Airport Group—a leading investor, 

developer and operator of airports 

around the world, and one of the first to 

be involved in the global trend of airport 

privatization, investment and management. 

Vantage operates nine airports in two continents 

and recently was selected as the lead 

partner in a $4 Billion project to transform 

New York’s Laguardia Airport. 

Vantage’s approach of implementing 

best-in-class airport operations results in 

airports that are financially stronger, more 

sustainable, and better economic generators 

for the communities and businesses 

they serve. • 

1. Hamilton International Airport Year in Review 2015 

48


hamilton’s 

working waterfront 

The Port of Hamilton is the largest port in Ontario, and critical 

infrastructure for some of the province’s most important 

industries. Each year, about 650 ships travel into and out of 

Hamilton Harbour. 

They carry cargo such as coal and 

iron ore, used in steelmaking; finished 

steel for automaking and other 

manufacturing; consumer-grade gasoline; 

Ontario-grown grain headed for export; even 

Caribbean rum for a summer cocktail. 

In service to these diverse industries, 

the port’s mandate is to provide efficient 

transportation to Canadian businesses, and 

to support regional economic growth. The 

Hamilton Port Authority (HPA) is financially 

self-sufficient, with the profits from operations 

being reinvested back into infrastructure 

in Hamilton. 

While HPA is most closely associated 

with the massive cargo ships that float 

silently on the harbour, a modern port is 

more than marine: it is a robust multi-modal 

hub providing essential connections to rail 

and trucking. From its strategic location at 

the western end of the Greater Toronto- 

Hamilton Area, port users can reach more 

than 100 million consumers in Canada and 

the US. 

With its 47 staff, HPA oversees the port’s 

620 acres on Hamilton’s central-east waterfront. 

This industrial community is home 

to 130 businesses, who together employ 

2,100 people. The port’s team is responsible 

for attracting new businesses, managing 

its portfolio of properties, and acting as a 

responsible steward of the land and water. 

For more than a century Hamilton has 

been a proud port city with a dynamic, 

diversifying economy. HPA has been an 

active partner in facilitating the conversion 

of former shipping piers at the west end of 

the harbour, making way for the City’s new 

recreational and residential developments. 

Hamilton’s working waterfront will continue 

to adapt and change, with a positive mix 

of space for modern industry and manufacturing, 

balanced with spaces for residents 

and visitors. • 

49


light rail 

transit is coming to 

hamilton 

Together with the City of Hamilton, Metrolinx is building Hamilton 

Light Rail Transit (LRT): a new 13-kilometre LRT line that will run 

through downtown Hamilton along Main and King streets, and along 

James Street North to the new West Harbour GO station. 

Hamilton LRT will connect McMaster 

in the west to Queenston Circle in 

the east, and protect for future 

growth through segregated LRT lines. The 

A-line will extend to the Hamilton waterfront, 

budget permitting, and connect to 

the existing Hamilton Centre GO Station 

through a high-order pedestrian connection 

at the James stop. 

The Hamilton LRT is an integral part of 

the Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan 

and will provide residents and businesses 

in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area 

with fast, reliable, convenient and integrated 

transit. With 17 stops, and connections 

with local HSR service, the Lakeshore 

West GO Transit line and multiple GO Bus 

routes, Hamilton LRT will drive economic 

growth and improve connectivity across 

local communities. 

As part of Metrolinx’s Moving Ontario 

Forward plan, the Ontario government is 

investing up to $1 billion and will cover 

100 per cent of the capital costs of building 

LRT in Hamilton. 

Major construction is expected to begin in 

2019 with the LRT in service by 2024. The 

City of Hamilton and Metrolinx work in collaboration 

as they continue to develop and 

refine the alignment of the LRT route, and 

engage various audiences across Hamilton 

in important conversation about the project. 

The addition of new LRT service puts 

Hamilton closer to having efficient, fast 

and frequent rapid transit network needed 

to help the city and its businesses thrive. 

The Hamilton LRT will stimulate economic 

growth and contribute to the ongoing 

revitalization of Hamilton’s downtown, 

while acting as a catalyst for the development 

of high quality, safe, sustainable and 

affordable transportation options for our 

citizens. It will be part of a multi-modal 

network of transportation options throughout 

the city that will attract new investors, 

grow our economy, broaden the tax base 

and bring more jobs to Hamilton. 

This project represents an investment in 

transit but also an investment in improved 

quality of life for the community and the 

surrounding environment, as we move 

Hamilton forward. 

For more information about the Hamilton 

LRT project please visit Hamilton.ca/LRT • 

51

mckeil marine 

Established in 1956 when founder Evans 

McKeil launched a hand-built wooden 

boat in Hamilton Harbour, McKeil 

Marine has deep roots in the Hamilton 

community. 

From that single boat, we’ve grown 

into one of Canada’s leading marine 

companies providing transportation and 

project services throughout the Great Lakes, 

St. Lawrence, East Coast and Canadian 

Arctic. Safety, quality and respect for 

the environment are at the heart of our 

operations. 

Over the past decade, McKeil has 

experienced unprecedented growth by 

creating a niche in shortsea shipping, harnessing 

the efficiencies of Highway H 2 

0— 

the waterways that extend from the St. 

Lawrence Seaway across the Great Lakes. 

We employ our fleet of cargo ships, tugs 

and barges to deliver strategic supply chain 

logistics, with efficiencies in cargo handling 

and flexible load volumes. 

Complementing McKeil’s transportation 

operations are our increasingly 

sophisticated project services in marinebased 

infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, 

bridge construction and repair and offshore 

and Arctic development. 

Today, McKeil has offices in four 

provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick 

and Newfoundland and Labrador. We 

employ a highly skilled shore-based 

and sailing crew of more than 300 

who share our commitment to the 

communities in which we live 

and work. • 

MCKEIL.COM 

The Evans Spirit, winner of the 

International Bulk Journal’s 

2016 Ship of the Year Award, is 

in service throughout the Great 

Lakes and St. Lawrence River. 

McKeil supported 

the construction 

of ExxonMobil’s 

massive Hebron 

Gravity-Based 

Structure near 

Bull Arm, NL. 

McKeil actively supports the 

communities where our crew live 

and work. Pictured: McKeil School of 

Business at Mohawk 

College, Hamilton.


financial services, legal 

and real estate sectors: 

hamilton is home 

to top professionals 

Reflecting the rapid growth of 

Hamilton and the rising prosperity 

of the local economy, the city’s 

legal, real estate and financial services 

sector is a major provider of employment 

and office occupancy. The city’s financial 

services sector includes accounting, banking, 

financial advisors and a full range 

of providers of support services to those 

engaged in financial services. 

With more than a thousand members, 

the Hamilton Law Association is one of the 

oldest county and district law associations 

in the Province. It was created by the hard 

work and inspiration of Britton Bath Osler 

with the purpose to support a law library 

in the Court House, the general interests 

of the profession, and the good feeling and 

harmony of its members. 

Established in 1921, the REALTORS® 

Association of Hamilton-Burlington 

(RAHB) represents more than 2,900 real 

estate brokers and salespersons from 

Hamilton, Burlington and surrounding 

areas. Members of the association may use 

the REALTOR® trademark, which identifies 

them as real estate professionals who 

subscribe to a strict code of ethics. The 

association operates the local Multiple 

Listing Service® (MLS®) and provides 

ongoing professional education courses 

for its members. • 

53

Photo: Carole and Roy Timm Photography 

taylor leibow 

is committed to 

excellence in hamilton


In 1947 when Sam Taylor and Kevey Leibow started their 

accounting practice it was in downtown Hamilton; and 70 years 

later Taylor Leibow is still in the city’s core. 

Taylor Leibow is one of the largest 

and most respected independent 

accounting firms in the Greater 

Hamilton and Burlington area. CEO Nigel 

Jacobs says the company has grown to 12 

partners and over 60 staff by constantly 

seeking to implement best practices, hiring 

the best people and providing excellent 

client service. Occupying a suite of offices 

covering two floors in Effort Square, the 

full-service firm’s largest service offerings 

are accounting and taxation, but it also 

offers expertise in business valuation and 

litigation support, restructuring and insolvency 

services for individuals and corporations. 

In addition, Taylor Leibow has 

developed a number of niche services 

including professionals, not-for-profits, car 

dealerships and real estate. 

“A number of the large international 

accounting firms have left Hamilton’s core,” 

says Jacobs, “but we decided to stay with 

our roots. We believe there is a promising 

future here.” The company also has offices 

in Burlington and a satellite insolvency 

office in St. Catharines. At a time of mergers 

in the accounting industry how does a 

company like Taylor Leibow not only stay 

independent but thrive to the degree it has? 

“The key,” says Nigel “is to have a good 

succession plan and the resources to attract 

good people and provide great value added 

services to clients. We go beyond traditional 

‘bean counting’ to meet our clients’ needs. 

A number of the mergers in the business 

these days are brought about by the lack 

of succession planning. Partners retire with 

no plan in place to transition existing client 

relationships resulting in the business being 

sold or merged into larger firms.” By contrast, 

Taylor Leibow is now managed by its third 

generation of partners. 

While independent, Taylor Leibow 

can access accounting expertise worldwide 

through its membership with DFK 

International—A worldwide association of 

independent accounting firms and business 

advisers. “We meet regularly to share best 

practices,” says Nigel. “It also allows us to 

access service providers for a client who 

may be operating in more than one country 

or region; or sometimes it’s Taylor Leibow, 

from its Hamilton offices who are providing 

assistance to clients of DFK member firms 

with needs across Canada.” 

A talented and committed workforce is 

essential to maintaining a successful organization. 

Taylor Leibow knows one of the 

keys to attracting and retaining a new generation 

of talent is to live the firm’s core 

values, ongoing engagement and community 

involvement which appeals to younger 

professionals. “Our retention of talented 

professionals is very high,” says Nigel. “We 

are also very active in the community,” he 

adds, “not just by providing financial support 

to worthy community organizations 

but also by encouraging our employees to 

actively participate in events, volunteering 

and interacting with the community whenever 

we can. We appreciate the ability to get 

involved and give back to the community 

where we are located.” • 

Nigel Jacobs 

55

trusted advice 

with proven results 

Murray Weaver always knew that at heart, he was an educator. Perhaps it 

was more than that – his real desire was to motivate people to take action, 

thereby allowing them to enjoy a better future. 

56


Fast forward 45 years…. Murray is now 

a Senior Wealth & Investment Advisor, 

nationally recognized financial educator, 

author and speaker. He is “CEO” of 

Weaver Wealth Advisory Group wherein 

Murray and his team educate and empower 

business owners, professionals and retirees 

through their comprehensive wealth planning 

process Wealth With Freedom. 

Born and raised in his beloved Hamilton, 

Murray could pick no better city in which 

to build and grow his business. Murray has 

been an active member of the community, 

lending his expertise and wisdom to several 

high profile community non-profit boards. 

Being Chairman of Hillfield-Strathallan 

College was just one of the ways he contributes 

to his community. 

Murray’s team members at Weaver 

Wealth Advisory Group are daughter 

Alexandra (Alex) Weaver, Sam Hejazi and 

Debra Naphan. 

Prior to joining her father’s team, Alex 

Weaver honed her legal skills as a practicing 

lawyer in commercial and civil litigation 

at one of Hamilton’s largest law firms. 

She enjoys intertwining her multi-disciplined 

experience, training and wisdom 

to show clients how to grow and protect 

their wealth. Alex is committed to promoting 

leadership skills and community causes. 

She is co-creator of Emerging Women 

Professionals (EWP) and is an active member 

of the Hamilton Hive and the Hamilton 

Chamber of Commerce. 

Sam Hejazi, originally from the GTA, 

is now a proud Hamilton resident. He’s 

a member of the Hamilton Tennis Club 

and gives back to the community through 

volunteer work with Big Brothers Canada. 

Sam’s passion has always been the investment 

industry and helping clients reach 

their financial goals. Prior to joining the 

team, Sam participated in one of the fastest 

growing segments of the financial industry; 

exchange-traded funds (ETFs). He worked 

with several hundred investment advisors 

in Southwestern Ontario to build comprehensive 

and risk managed portfolios for 

advisors and their clients. 

Debra Naphan joined BMO Nesbitt 

Burns in 1992 after working almost 10 

years with a major investment dealer. She 

has worked with Murray for approximately 

30 years. Debra is the “logistical expert 

extraordinaire”, responsible for team/client 

administrative efforts and navigating bank 

procedures. 

Through Wealth With Freedom, Murray, 

Alex, Sam and Debra provide a disciplined 

phased approach to planning your wealth. 

Their process allows you to start planning 

for your tomorrow so you can truly enjoy 

wealth with freedom. 

For a copy of Murray’s Special Report The 

Seven Deadly Mistakes the Wealthy Make, 

please contact Debra at 905-570-1782. • 

57

The Lamont team: 

Michael Lamont 

(centre) with 

Erica Lamont and 

Matt Lalande 

proudly serving 

hamilton for 40 years 

After 40 years of helping people, 

Michael Lamont and his team know 

the effects of an accident or injury 

go well beyond the legal outcome that 

follows. “We try to make sure our clients 

can experience a measure of healing—that 

they can still get on with their lives with 

dignity,” says Michael. The future can be 

a scary place after an injury. Since 1976, 

Michael Lamont, a certified specialist in 

Civil Litigation has been protecting the rights 

of victims. Working with Michael and his 

team, victims can focus on their physical and 

emotional recovery. 

No-fault insurance has changed the legal 

and regulatory landscape—it takes a specialist 

to navigate the terrain and keep up with 

the changes. We’ve assembled a top-notch 

team with expertise in accident benefits, tort 

law, mediation, arbitration and civil litigation 

and we’re committed to staying on top of the 

latest in case law and government regulation. 

We know the insurance industry from 

the inside and we’re passionate advocates 

for victims. Personal injury is all we do…and 

it shows. We specialize in success, honesty 

and delivery. We know finances are a struggle 

after an injury. We don’t require you to 

pay us until your case is settled. 

At a time when the airwaves are filled with 

legal firms making outlandish claims and 

offering generic services, it’s good to know 

that accident victims can access expert, personalized 

service from a local team that lives 

in the community and gives back through 

support to the arts and charities. • 

58


judy marsales real estate ltd. 

brokerage sold on hamilton! 

Since opening their doors in January 

1988, Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd., 

Brokerage has carved a special niche as 

one of the area’s few independently owned 

and operated real estate firms. The company 

has earned a reputation for exceptional client 

service, professionalism, strong business 

ethics and most importantly, performance. 

They believe that being independent allows 

the flexibility to choose the best approach 

to serve the real estate needs of their clients. 

Since buying or selling a home or property is 

one of the most important decisions clients 

ever make, it’s important to have confidence 

and trust in your realtor. With three offices 

and fifty salespeople, The Judy Marsales Real 

Estate Ltd. team offers amazing real estate 

expertise across a wide spectrum of knowledge 

and experience. 

Believing that it is important to contribute 

to the community in which we live and 

work, Judy Marsales and her many colleagues 

play an active role in local affairs 

and community events. Judy has been 

an outspoken champion for the City of 

Hamilton as President of both the Realtor’s 

Association of Hamilton Burlington 

and Hamilton & District Chamber of 

Commerce, has sat on many boards of 

directors is a respected public speaker 

and a strong supporter of the arts. She 

is a former MPP for Hamilton West and 

2011 Inductee in the Hamilton Gallery 

of Distinction. Currently Judy serves as 

a member of The Business Executives 

Organization and on the Hamilton Music 

Strategy Team to promote Hamilton as a 

City of Music. • 

Three locations to serve you 

Westdale 

Ancaster 

Locke 

www.judymarsales.com 

59 

Judy Marsales 

Broker of Record

concession street: 

hamilton’s 

uptown 

Photos by 

Terrance Geissler 

There is something special 

about Concession Street. It 

could be because it is one of 

the oldest shopping districts in 

Hamilton. It could be because 

of its uptown location. 

It’s a beautiful backdrop – anchored by 

Sam Lawrence Park and Mountain View 

Park - and it boasts some of the best 

views of our city. Every season has its beauty 

– and on any given day the views extend 

clear across the water all the way to Toronto. 

The walking path along the mountain brow 

attracts many who stop to enjoy these views 

every day. The Wentworth stairs still have 

remnants of the old East End Incline Railway 

of the 1920’s. Part of the Bruce Trail, the 

stairs welcome hundreds of fitness enthusiasts 

throughout the year and they compete 

against themselves to climb all 570 steps. 

The street itself has seen many changes 

over the years. The Concession Street 

Business Improvement Area (BIA), has truly 

undergone a transformational change in the 

last couple of years. We now boast new 

urban braille sidewalks that are clean and 

accessible by all members of our community. 

Even with all these urban upgrades 

attention and care was made to respect 

the historic features of the street – like the 

Hillcrest Restaurant sign that is now embedded 

into the corner of Upper Wentworth. 

It was a tough road to get here – but the 

Concession Street team made it – and now 

the revitalization of our BIA grows stronger 

everyday. 

Concession is being recognized for its 

festivals - and more specifically its music 

scene – with live music throughout the 

summer at Sidewalk Sounds and its iconic 

Streetfest that will see its 21st year in June. 

Cooler months don’t slow down this BIA 

with Fallfest and Winter Solstice that offers 

fun for the whole family. 

At the heart of this BIA are its merchants. 

Small business owners offer an eclectic mix 

of shopping, eating, health, beauty and 

professional services. The Concession Street 

BIA proudly represents more than 100 different 

shops and services – and we are still 

growing. 

At its core, Concession Street is a friendly 

community “where neighbours meet”, 

where you immediately feel welcomed and 

part of something special. Walk your dog, 

enjoy the views, enjoy good food, shop 

the shops. It is a place where merchants 

remember your name. Neighbours smile 

as you pass on the sidewalk. If you haven’t 

lately we recommend you make a trip up 

the mountain to (re)discover what the buzz 

is all about. • 

6060


Ottawa Street is 

one of Hamilton’s 

trendiest tourist 

attractions 

A quiet resting 

place for shoppers 

on Ottawa Street 

ottawa street: 

hamilton’s destination 

for inspiration 

Ottawa Street, in many ways, was 

Hamilton first destination shopping 

district. Its collection of textile shops 

was a tourist attraction for decades. Textiles 

are still a significant part of the Ottawa Street 

attraction but in more recent years Ottawa 

street’s offerings have broadened out to 

include over 100 shops, featuring great food, 

fantastic fashion and fabulous finds. Ottawa 

Street will inspire even the most novice Do-It- 

Yourself enthusiast. There are endless creative 

combinations of antiques, fabric, furniture, 

food, art and collectibles as well as many 

home services and great restaurants. Ottawa 

Street’s retail mix is dynamic, unique and 

eclectic which reflects the spirit of Hamilton 

and its customer base comes from all over 

Ontario and New York State. 

The Ottawa Street Business Improvement 

Area stages a large number year round 

events, street fairs, sidewalk sales, and the 

ever more popular Sew Hungry—the annual 

signature foodie event that features a vast 

array of gourmet food trucks. • 

Ottawa Street’s 

trademark salute 

to its heritage as 

a textile centre 

Sew Hungry is Ottawa Steet’s much 

anticipated annual food fair. 

61

liuna: 

an important partner 

in hamilton’s growth 

Dating back to the turn of the last century Hamilton has always 

been at the forefront of the labour movement. In those early days, 

the city’s voters bucked the two-party political system; regularly 

sending labour MP’s and MPP’s to the federal and provincial 

parliaments. It was around that time that the Labourers’ 

International Union of North America was first chartered. 

The initial driving force behind the 

organization was to improve pay and 

working conditions for large numbers 

of immigrant workers. That struggle was 

joined in the 1950’s by Enrico Mancinelli, a 

recent arrival from Italy, who brought thousands 

of immigrant workers into organized 

labour. A key feature of that organization 

in addition to improved wages and a focus 

on health and safety, was the first Labourers 

Pension Plan, now approaching its 50th 

anniversary. 

With Enrico’s passing ten years ago the 

mantle of leadership has been passed 

to Enrico’s son Joseph Mancinelli who 

is LIUNA’s Regional Vice President and 

Regional Manager for Central and Eastern 

Canada. Joe is proud of the progressive 

organization that LIUNA has evolved into. 

LIUNA takes a cooperative approach in its 

relations with its employers. Says Joseph, 

“We find solutions without a strike. We 

are now focused on cooperation to ensure 

the things that our members and contrac- 

62

The 

restoration 

of the Lister 

Block was a 

catalyst in 

Hamilton’s 

downtown 

revival 

The LIUNA Station and 

gardens –a key landmark in 

Hamilton’s north end 

tors care about, especially training, are 

addressed. We have nine training centers 

across Canada.” 

A unique feature of LIUNA’s approach 

to community leadership is in its use of 

the Labourers Pension Fund in financing 

construction projects which in turn create 

employment opportunities for LIUNA 

members. A key catalyst in the renaissance 

of Hamilton’s downtown was LIUNA’s decision 

in 2000 to restore the abandoned 

CNR station to its former glory—this time 

as a banquet facility called LIUNA Station. 


The iconic Doric revival building was the 

anchor for what would much later become 

the vibrant James Street North district in 

Hamilton. Similarly LIUNA saw the possibilities 

for the historic Lister Block in 

Hamilton’s downtown; faithfully restoring 

the brick and terra cotta structure as offices 

and retail space and removing what had 

been a local eyesore for decades. Now 

LIUNA is bringing a similar approach to 

the William Thomas block next door to the 

Lister Block with construction now underway 

on a 22-story student residence that 

will house 300 students. LIUNAs focus on 

restoring historical structures extends to its 

headquarters on 44 Hughson Street—the 

1903 Canadian Canners office building. 

While the Pension Fund has fueled development 

in Hamilton and elsewhere its 

primary function remains providing for 

a secure retirement for LIUNA members, 

who spend their working lives 

doing hard work in often adverse 

weather conditions. “They want 

good health care for their family 

and a good pension at the end of 

the day,” says Joseph. “We’re not 

relying on the Canadian Pension 

Plan (CPP) for a good quality of 

life after retirement,” says Joseph. 

“We have been leaders in our 

pension plan and are using our 

financial strength in the economy.” 

This spirit of entrepreneurship both 

in making investments in infrastructure 

and in it’s cooperative approach to its 

employers sets LIUNA apart from other 

labour organizations. 

“It has changed the perception of a 

union like LiUNA, and now the community 

sees us as a partner in community 

development.” says Joseph. “The business 

community in Hamilton are now our partners 

because they understand the value of 

a safe workplace. We’re doing our part, 

especially in Hamilton, and we’re proud of 

the role we’ve had in the gentrification of 

the downtown.” 

LIUNA Local 837 was first chartered on 

June 18, 1950, today the local represents 

4,000 workers in the Hamilton-Niagara 

Region. • 

63

p r o ht ae c mti i ln lt g to n ot h n re e tecn orve uiar to iin som ne n t 

royal botanical 

gardens: 

inspiring generations 

through horticulture 

Established in 1930, the Royal Botanical 

Gardens encompasses nearly 1,000 

hectares of forest, shoreline, gardens 

and trails in Hamilton and Burlington. The 

RBG mission and vision is to dedicate its 

expertise in horticulture, conservation, science 

and education – together with its 

unique gardens, facilities and natural lands 

– to inspire and nurture society’s commitment 

to the environment. Royal Botanical 

Gardens is a global leader in how plants and 

the natural world are used to connect people, 

place and sustainable behaviors. 

Charitable donations enable 

the RBG to: 

• Protect and restore 2450 acres of nature 

sanctuaries containing environmentally 

sensitive habitats, where approx. 50 listed 

species- at-risk have made their home; 

• Teach the public and educate school 

children about the importance of plants 

and nature, and how to be environmental 

stewards in their community; 

• Create display gardens which beautify 

our region landscape and teach people 

how to transfer best practices into their own 

backyard; 

• Host events that celebrate our landscape 

and highlight our conservation activities 

(Fishway demonstrations, nature sanctuary 

guided tours, children’s winter exhibits); 

and 

• Engage in research projects and networks 

to pursue environmental sustainability; 

One of the earliest features of the Royal 

Botanical Gardens, constructed in the early 

1930’s was the iconic Rock Garden—a 

grotto of beauty and relaxation in what had 

been a worked-out gravel pit. That 80- year 

old feature has just undergone a spectacular 

$20 Million restoration, including a new 

restaurant and visitor centre making it a 

year-round attraction. 

To make a donation or to become a member 

visit RBG.ca • 

64


terrapure continues long tradition 

of supporting local community 

Some recent 

Heritage Green 

Community 

Trust (HGCT) 

recipients. 

The HGCT is 

generously 

funded by 

Terrapure. 

Terrapure Environmental’s Stoney 

Creek Regional Facility has been a 

fixture in the community of upper 

Stoney Creek since 1996. The company 

and its approximately 50 Hamilton-area 

employees partner with local industry to provide 

innovative environmental services and 

environmentally responsible management of 

industrial by-products. 

Over the course of its history, the Terrapure 

facility has contributed over $22 million 

dollars to community groups, sports and 

recreational programs, charitable initiatives 

and local infrastructure projects in upper 

Stoney Creek through the Heritage Green 

Community Trust and a royalty program 

with the City of Hamilton. This includes $2 

million towards the new East Escarpment 

Conservation Area, almost $1 million to 

create a new leash-free dog park on First 

Road West and $45,000 to Mount Albion 

Elementary School to transform the school 

library and gym. 

But the company’s support of the local 

community does not end there. The facility 

has also provided funding to groups such 

as the Good Shepherd, the Neighbour-to- 

Neighbour food bank, Glanbrook Home 

Support Services and the Dr. Bob Kemp 

Hospice. In addition, Terrapure’s local 

employees have raised over $625,000 for 

the United Way of Burlington & Greater 

Hamilton over the past eight years. 

“Terrapure and its local people in Stoney 

Creek are incredibly generous in supporting 

the local community,” said Lorenzo Alfano, 

District Manager at Terrapure. “We live and 

work in Stoney Creek, so we believe it’s 

important to be an active member of the 

community and to invest in its health and 

well-being.” 

“As the community around us grows, we 

are committed to continuing safe, environmentally 

responsible operations and 

making a better place to live for current 

and future generations of Stoney Creek 

residents.” 

For more information on the Terrapure 

Stoney Creek Facility, visit the Terrapure 

CLC website at: http://terrapureclc.org/ or 

call 905.561.0305. To learn more about 

Terrapure, visit www.terrapureenv.com. • 

65

p r o ht ae c mti i ln lt g to n ot h n re e tecn orve uiar to iin som ne n t 

hamilton water: 

transforming hamilton harbour 

Over 25 years the water 

quality of Hamilton Harbour 

has undergone a major 

transformative improvement. 

We all tend to take clean water and an efficient wastewater 

system for granted. At Hamilton Water efforts are made every 

year to communicate how complex and important these systems 

are in our day to day lives. 

The health of the community in 

Hamilton has been the foremost 

objective since the first steam-powered 

waterworks was installed more than 

a century and a half ago. But in addition 

to supplying efficient and safe water and 

wastewater services to a city of more than 

half a million; Hamilton Water has been 

focused on the mission of improving the 

water quality in Hamilton Harbour to a 

point where it can be de-listed from the 

areas of concern in the Great Lakes. Great 

progress can already be seen. 

Consistently supported by successive 

Hamilton councils, Hamilton Water has 

been working with stakeholders like the 

Bay Area Restoration Council and other 

Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan 

partners to improve the quality of sewage 

effluent entering the harbour and to reduce 

the impact of urban runoff, both necessary 

for the improvement of water quality. 

Remedial Action Plan Coordinator John Hall 

praised the progress that has been made. “As 

stated in the RAP vision, the Harbour should 

be a vibrant centrepiece in the community’s 

life. The City of Hamilton has embraced 

the RAP vision and invested enormously in 

terms of political energy, staff commitment 

and finances in bringing back the Bay.” 

66


Some of the specific measures that have 

led to the remarkable improvement in water 

quality and will continue the march towards 

environmental delisting include: 

• Major upgrades of Hamilton’s Wastewater 

Treatment plant which will see 

$320 million spent over a four year 

construction phase. This will allow an 

additional level of collection and treatment 

for wastewater before it enters the 

harbour. 

• through the Hamilton Harbour Remedial 

Action Plan, urban runoff task groups 

will define measures to improve surface 

water quality; 

• a similar rural runoff task group will 

develop measures to reduce phosphorus 

runoff from agricultural lands;Development 

of public access trails and parks to 

allow recreational access to the water. 

In addition, the ongoing work to cap and 

contain toxic industrial sediments at Randle 

Reef will remove this part of Hamilton 

Harbour from a list of Great Lakes toxic 

“hot spots.” 

In the past 25 years, thanks to consistent 

leadership and investment by the City 

of Hamilton and other partnering agencies, 

the quality of water in the Hamilton 

Harbour has improved by leaps and 

bounds. Aquatic plant life essential for 

fish habitat has returned. Looking to the 

future, the largest challenge will be the 

ongoing issue of stormwater runoff, especially 

when extreme weather events seem 

more commonplace. But Hamilton Water 

looks forward to attacking the storm water 

issue with the same determination that has 

brought Hamilton Harbour water quality to 

its present level of quality. • 

The return of aquatic plant life has resulted in the return 

of gamefish like this walleye to Hamilton Harbour 

Remediation of Water Quality 

issues caused by storm water 

runoff has been identified by 

Hamilton Water as the next big 

challenge. 

Hamilton’s water treatment plant is undergoing 

$320 Million in improvements that will bring 

water quality to a new level of purity. 

67

g a l l e r y o f d i s t i n c t i o n 

hamiltonians who 

made a difference 

68


Lincoln 

MacCauley 

Alexander 

Lincoln MacCauley 

Alexander was 

born in Toronto, on 

January 21st, 1922. 

His life has exemplified 

dedicated service 

to his country in the Royal 

Canadian Air Force from 1942 to 

1945; in the House of Commons from 

1968 to 1980; as Chairman of the Workers 

Compensation Board from 1980 to 1985; 

and as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario 

from 1985 to 1991. 

A graduate of McMaster University with a 

Bachelor of Arts in 1949 and the Osgoode 

Hall Law School in 1953, he was called 

to the Bar in 1953 and appointed Queens 

Counsel in 1965. Honorary degrees have 

been conferred upon him by several Ontario 

universities including his alma mater, 

McMaster University. In 1991 he became 

Chancellor of the University of Guelph. 

The Honourable Lincoln Alexander was 

an advocate and tireless worker for fairness, 

education, justice and peace for all. Among 

his many honours was his appointment 

as an Officer of the Order of Ontario and 

Companion of the Order of Canada. 

Elizabeth Bagshaw 

Among the first crusaders 

for birth control 

rights in Canada, Dr. 

Bagshaw was one 

of Hamilton’s most 

popular doctors, 

spending over 70 

years in local medical 

circles. 

Despite strenuous 

opposition, Dr. 

Bagshaw was involved 

with the opening of Canada’s 

first birth control clinic in 1932, 

and worked as the clinic’s medical director 

for 30 years 

Dr. Bagshaw received the Order of Canada 

medal, was Hamilton’s Citizen of the Year 

in 1970, and a Hamilton public school 

was named after her in 1979. In 1979, 

Dr. Bagshaw was awarded the Governor 

General’s Persons Award for her efforts to 

advance the status of women in Canada. 

Victor Kennedy Copps 

Victor Kennedy Copps 

worked at the radio station 

CHML, first as an 

announcer (1945- 

1950), then in the sales 

department (1950- 

1960). In 1960 he ran 

his first political race 

for Hamilton controller 

and won a stunning electoral 

victory. In 1962 he 

was elected Mayor and served 

until 1976. He was responsible 

for the construction of many new facilities 

including Hamilton Place (First Ontario 

Concert Hall), Jackson Square and the 

Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Felled by 

a heart attack he left politics but not the 

hearts of the people he had served. One of 

his enduring dreams had been of an arena 

for Hamilton. In 1985 an 18,000 seat arena 

opened bearing his name. Copps Coliseum 

is a lasting tribute to the Mayor of the 

People and his love for his city – Hamilton. 

Harry Crerar 

Historians identify Hamilton’s 

H.D.G (Harry) Crerar as “the 

most important Canadian 

soldier in WWII”. After 

working at the Canadian 

Tungsten Light 

Company on Cannon 

Street, he joined 

Hamilton’s 4th Field 

Battery for WWI; escaping 

death at Ypres and 

helping secure victory at 

Vimy Ridge. A quiet and modest 

man, he was tasked with raising 

and leading the greatest army Canada has 

known. As General Officer commanding 

the First Canadian Army during WWII, his 

force of 500,000 allied troops was legend; 

with Dwight D. Eisenhower citing Crerar’s 

69


exemplary skill and valour. Returning from 

battle in 1946, 20,000 Hamiltonians turned 

out to give him a thunderous welcome. He 

retired to Ottawa soon thereafter, and died 

there in 1965 his place in Canadian history 

well-earned. 

Ellen Fairclough 

Ellen Louks Fairclough, trained as an 

accountant, began her own business 

in 1935. Entering politics 

in 1946, she held aldermanic 

and Board of Control offices. 

As the Federal Progressive 

Conservative candidate for 

Hamilton West, she became 

the opposition Labour Critic. 

Her continual argument for 

women’s rights, equal pay and 

equal opportunities bore fruit in 

many new laws and changed attitudes. 

The first woman appointed to Cabinet 

and Secretary of State, she was later named 

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, 

and Postmaster General. Ellen became the 

first woman on the Hamilton Hydro Electric 

Commission and has a provincial government 

building named after her. 

John Gibson 

Sir John Gibson conducted a well 

respected legal practice in 

Hamilton for over sixty years. 

Gibson was active in the business 

community as well. He 

was instrumental in bringing 

hydroelectric power to 

Hamilton with the formation 

of the Dominion Power and 

Transmission Company which 

in 1896 built the first hydroelectric 

plant in Canada. He was a 

founding member of the Wentworth 

Historical Board. 

Elected to the provincial legislature to 

represent West Hamilton in 1879 as a member 

of the Liberal Party. Appointed Attorney 

General of Ontario in 1899. He was appointed 

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in 1908. 

It was an honour that he held until 1914. He 

was President of the Canadian Red Cross 

from its inception in 1896 throughout the 

Boer War, for a total of fourteen years. For 

these services, he was created a knight of 

the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in 1914. 

Lloyd Jackson 

Born on a farm near Sarnia, 

Ontario, in April 1888, 

Lloyd D. Jackson lived to 

become one of Hamilton’s 

longest serving mayors. 

In addition to politics he 

charged into the bread 

business in Hamilton with 

dedication and toughness. 

A dynamic leader and man 

of vision, it was he who pushed 

for a Canadian Football Hall of 

Fame, the Art Gallery, Macassa Lodge 

and Confederation Park. It was his vision 

of a Main Street West site for City Hall that 

opened up the downtown area for urban 

renewal. Co-winner of the first B’nai Brith 

Humanitarian Award, he and his wife were 

also joint recipients of the Distinguished 

Citizenship Award. 

John Lyle 

John Lyle designed more than 

one hundred of the most 

beautiful and most historic 

buildings in and around 

Toronto, as well as 

across Canada. He was 

born in Belfast, Ireland, 

and raised in Hamilton 

where his father founded 

the Hamilton Art Gallery. 

After Beaux Arts training in 

Paris and New York, he opened 

his office in Toronto in 1906. He 

designed the Toronto Union Station, the 

Royal Alexandra theatre, many banks across 

Canada, a church in Hamilton where his 

father was a Presbyterian minister, houses, 

libraries and parks. John Lyle was a 

man passionately committed to helping 

Canadians design Canadian buildings in a 

Canadian way, not just copies of the latest 

American or European fad. He began later 

70


evolving a style which might be called 

Canadian Deco. He was elected to the 

Royal Canadian Academy in 1925 and as 

a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British 

Architects in 1928. He was awarded the 

Gold Medal of Architects in 1926, and a silver 

medal for civilian relief work in France 

during World War I. 

Jack Macdonald 

Born in London, Ontario in 1927, 

Jack and his family moved to 

Hamilton in 1942. A year 

later he joined the Royal 

Canadian Navy at the age 

of 16. Jack MacDonald’s 

political career began 

in 1950 when he was 

elected Alderman, the 

youngest ever, at age 22. 

He was elected Controller 

in 1953 and served in this 

capacity during various terms 

through to 1970. In 1977 Jack was 

elected Mayor of the City of Hamilton 

and held the chief magistrate post to 1980. 

In addition to his great contribution to 

the City through his political career, Jack 

MacDonald has demonstrated outstanding 

volunteer community service by his leadership 

in a number of local organizations. 

Ever a passionate Hamilton booster, he 

was honoured as Hamilton’s Distinguished 

Citizen of the Year in 1973 and was recognized 

as the Outstanding Kiwanian in 

Eastern Canada and the Caribbean in 1983. 

Mr. MacDonald was chairman of the United 

Way Campaign, a founding director of 

Wayside House, chairman of the 

Grey Cup Festival and a member 

of the National Parole 

Board. 

T. B. McQuesten 

Born in Hespeler, 

Ontario, T. B. McQuesten 

attended public schools 

in Hamilton before graduating 

from the University of 

Toronto with a degree in law. 

Mr. McQuesten was elected 

as a Hamilton alderman for the years 1918- 

1920. 

From 1920, until his death in 1948, T.B. 

McQuesten served on Hamilton’s Board of 

Parks Management. With his involvement, 

over 2500 acres of park lands were added in 

Hamilton. These parks included Gage Park, 

Civic Golf Course at Chedoke, Inch Park and 

King’s Forest Park. 

Mr. McQuesten was heavily involved with 

the beginnings and development of the 

Royal Botanical Gardens and the Queen 

Elizabeth Way. 

As Ontario’s Highways Minister from 1934- 

1937, and as Minister of Public Works from 

1934-1937 and 1942-1943, McQuesten’s 

accomplishments were province-wide. 

Under his tenure, three international bridges 

were built - the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara 

Falls, the Blue Water Bridge at Sarnia and the 

Ivy Lea Bridge across the St. Lawrence River. 

During this time he also oversaw the construction 

of the Queen Elizabeth Way and 

thousands of miles of other highways. 

Frank and Cliff 

Sherman 

Clifton and Frank 

Sherman were 

sons of an 

American blast 

furnace and 

steel mill superintendent 

and 

they were drawn 

into the steel business. 

They became 

aware of the development 

in the Canadian 

steel industry and moved to 

Hamilton in 1912 to begin a small foundry. 

The Dominion Steel Foundry Company 

was capitalized at half a million dollars 

with about 100 employees and a daily 

steel-making capacity of 80 tons. The company 

expanded during the Great War and 

renamed itself Dofasco and the brothers 

won reputations as innovators in the area of 

steel production. 

Their feeling for people led to the profit 

sharing plan and other programs that have 

71


fostered a sense of community among the 

company and employees. The Shermans 

contributed in many ways to Hamilton. 

Now, ArcelorMittal Dofasco the company 

founded by Frank and Clifton Sherman is 

one of the most successful steel operations 

in the world. 

Ken Soble 

Kenneth Soble was a radio actor, a 

programme packager and manager 

of CHML, and director of 

the Canadian Association of 

Broadcasters. He brought to 

Hamilton a new radio centre 

and frequency modulation 

and was the founder of CHCH 

Television. 

He developed the Amateur 

Radio Hour, the first audience participation 

broadcast and on-the-spot 

programmes. 

He turned Barton Arena into The Forum, 

and made a success of broadcasting hockey 

games and staging trade shows. 

In 1961, he disengaged CHCH TV from 

the CBC chain of stations. Encouraging a 

strong local image helped competition with 

other networks. 

At times in the early days of television, he 

was offered and declined both the presidency 

of the CBC and CTV. Prior to his death 

Ken Soble was active in urban renewal in 

Hamilton. 

William Lyon Somerville 

He was born in Hamilton and 

educated there and in New York, 

where he practised architecture 

before World War 1. He started 

practising in Ontario in 1919. 

Among his projects were 

most of the original buildings 

of McMaster University, 

Hamilton, which he designed 

“ in what is commonly called 

Tudor or Collegiate Gothic”. 

During his career he was a consultant 

for the Rainbow Bridge and designed 

the Peace Tower and the bridge’s Canadian 

Plaza at Niagara Falls. He assisted with the 

restoration of Fort Henry in Kingston, Fort 

George at Niagara-On-The-Lake and Fort 

Erie. He also designed the Lion Monument 

which was sculpted by Francis Loring and 

Florence Wyle and originally located at the 

east entrance of the QEW (opened in 1939 

by Queen Elizabeth) 

In the mid-1920’s he was among a group 

of Toronto architects which met every day 

at lunch in the Diet Kitchen restaurant on 

Bloor Street. Out of these meetings came a 

movement entitled “The Diet Kitchen School 

of Architecture”. The Diet Kitchen School’s 

intention was to “stimulate awareness of 

the high standards of Canadian design and 

craftsmanship and encourage cooperation in 

the various branches of the arts. In essence, a 

distinctive style for Canadian artistic designs 

was being fostered.” 

Arthur Weisz 

Arthur Weisz was born 

in Hungary and 

survived World 

War II and the 

Holocaust to 

escape postwar 

Communist 

rule 

by fleeing to 

an Austrian 

Displaced 

Persons camp 

with his wife and 

young son. He immigrated 

to Canada in 1951 

and for the first two years found work as 

a labourer and a salesman. Arthur began 

his career in real estate, founding his own 

company within two years of arriving in 

Canada. Today, The Effort Trust Company 

encompasses real estate brokerage, asset 

management, property development and 

financial services and is the largest landlord 

in Ontario outside of Toronto. Arthur 

has been recognized for significant contributions 

to the betterment of the housing 

industry and community. Recently, 

McMaster University recognized Arthur’s 

contributions by awarding him an honorary 

doctorate in the spring of 2004. 

72


Charles Bell 

Charles Bell was a man 

of many talents. He 

began his career as 

a lawyer in Toronto 

before returning to 

Hamilton where 

he joined his 

father’s law firm 

and later became 

senior partner in his 

own firm, Bell and 

Yates. Bell was a top-flight 

criminal lawyer, but public 

service called in 1925 when Charles Bell 

ran for office in the 1925 federal election 

as a Conservative. Bell won by an astounding 

majority of 12 thousand votes. He 

was re-elected to the House of Commons 

in 1926 and again in 1930.Despite the 

demands of his busy careers in both law 

and politics, Charles Bell always found 

time to pursue his passion for the theatre 

and play writing. His most popular work 

was, “Parlour, Bedroom and Bath” written 

in 1917. The farce ran on Broadway and in 

1931 it hit the big screen as a movie starring 

Buster Keaton. 

Nora Frances 

Henderson 

Nora Frances 

Henderson was born 

in Hampstead, 

England in 1913. 

After moving to 

Hamilton in 1917, 

was hired by the 

Hamilton Herald. 

Starting as a reporter 

in 1921, she was 

made Womens Editor. 

She urged local women 

to take an active interest in 

community political affairs. In 1931, 

she ran for alderman and became the first 

woman ever elected to Hamilton’s City 

Council. In 1934 she became the first 

woman in Canada elected to a city Board of 

Control. Elected sixteen consecutive times, 

she headed the polls for Board of Control, 

becoming Acting Mayor during the mayor’s 

absence.In 1947, she retired to become 

Executive Secretary of the Association of 

Children’s Aid Societies of Ontario. On her 

death in 1949, she was lauded for pioneering 

a place for women in civic government 

and for her stand on their right to equality 

in public life. 

John Munro 

John Munro was one of Hamilton’s most 

famous politicians. At the age of 

23 he began his political 

career with the distinction of 

being the youngest alderman 

elected in Hamilton 

and went on to serve as 

the MP for Hamilton East 

for 22 years. He boosted 

Hamilton throughout his 

career, securing federal support 

to establish McMaster 

University’s medical school, 

the expansion of Hamilton 

General Hospital, the modernization 

of Hamilton Harbour, and the expansion 

of Hamilton (now Munro International) 

Airport. 

Henry George Thode 

Recognized as one of Canada’s premier scientists, 

is a specialist in physical chemistry 

and especially the study of heavy or radioactive 

isotopes. In 1939 he accepted a 

position with McMaster University. 

During the Second World War, 

Dr. Thode was a member of 

an international team which 

did pioneering research into 

atomic energy. 

Dr. Thode actively en - 

couraged the expansion 

of scientific education and 

played an important part in 

the University obtaining an 

atomic reactor, the first located 

on a University campus in 

the Commonwealth. As President of 

McMaster, from 1961 to 1972, he presided 

over much of its physical growth, including 

the construction of the medical complex. • 

73

The Mercanti family in the mid 

1960’s l-r Morris, Peter, Iolanda, 

Rosanne, Giuseppe and Sam. 

the mercanti 

family: 

six decades of achievement 

and giving back 

When Giuseppe and Iolanda Mercanti and their three young 

sons boarded the ship, the Vulcania in Naples in 1956 for an 

arduous 12-day trip to Canada, they took little with them except 

their hopes for a better life and a capacity for hard work. 

The Second World War had left the 

economy of Italy, and the Mercanti’s 

town of Castelli in Abruzzo in a 

shambles. Arriving in Hamilton where two 

brothers had settled earlier, Giuseppe found 

work in an auto body shop owned by his 

uncle and life in the new country began for 

the Mercanti family. Born in 1960 Rosanna, 

joined older brothers Peter, Sam and Morris. 

As the boys grew up it was Sam who first 

went to work in the family body shop – 

launching what would eventually become 

an outstanding career in the collision repair 

sector, culminating in the establishment of 

the CARSTAR chain of nearly 250 franchisees 

across Canada. Later Morris and his 

uncle Carmen Mancini started Carmen’s 

bakery, in partnership with Sam, Peter and 

74


Tony Depaulo. That was the beginning of 

what became the Carmen’s Group; which 

today includes the iconic banquet centre 

on Stone Church Road, the C Hotel, and 

more recently, the Hamilton Convention 

Centre. Carmen’s has grown into the leading 

hospitality and entertainment brand in 

Hamilton. Later Morris, despite battling ill 

health much of his adult life, branched out, 

establishing the successful Edge Hospitality 

Group which includes Oakville Conference 

Center, Harbour Banquet and Conference 

Center and Yolandas Spuntino Casa. Morris 

passed away in 2014 aged only 61. 

Despite the demands of managing 

growing businesses, from early days the 

Several generations of the Mercanti’s at a 

family Thanksgiving dinner at the Southbrook 

Golf and Country Club in Binbrook, Ontario. 

Mercanti’s found time to give back to the 

communities where they found so much 

success. Tracing its beginnings to a bunch 

of guys who met regularly to play handball 

at the Downtown ‘Y, The Charity of Hope 

is a non-profit organization dedicated to 

giving hope to children and youth in need. 

Since 1999, the Charity of Hope has 

helped hundreds of children, youth and 

their families. Together, with its partners 

the Charity of Hope has raised over one 

million dollars for those in need. When 

distributing funds, three quarters of the 

funds raised are distributed to children’s 

charities within Hamilton, Halton and 

the Brantford community. The remaining 

quarter is granted to specific children or 

families that need immediate and unique 

support. 

In 2015 Peter and Gabriella decided To 

pass ownership of The Carmens Group to 

PJ and Joey. Sam recently sold the CARSTAR 

chain, and Lynn Mercanti continues to 

operate the Edge Hospitality Group started 

by husband Morris. Sam and Peter are 

not riding off into the sunset just yet, both 

have set up offices where they explore new 

business opportunities. The official motto 

of the Mercanti family homeland, Abruzzo, 

is Forte E Gentile –Strong, yet gentle. The 

same might be said for this family who have 

contributed greatly to the communities in 

which they made their mark. • 

Sam, Morris and 

Peter at their 

induction into the 

Hamilton Gallery of 

Distinction. 

75

the next chapter in the 

carmen’s group story 

When our father Peter and Uncle Morris started Carmen’s 

Bakery in 1978 on Concession Street they never would have 

imagined the longstanding influence that their brand of 

hospitality would have on the City of Hamilton. 

The Mercanti Family has always been 

passionate about good food and 

making new friends so a life in 

hospitality was destined. Today, Carmen’s 

Banquet Centre has become a destination 

and it has paved the way for the creation 

of the region’s most beloved establishments 

including the Best Western Premier C Hotel, 

Baci Ristorante, The Lakeview, the Hamilton 

Convention Centre and our newest operation, 

Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club. 

This same brand of courage and visionary 

foresight will be harnessed as the next 

chapter of our company’s story is written. 

Over the past 10 years many have rallied 

around the comeback that is Hamilton 

and the hospitality industry has helped to 

anchor this renaissance. Hospitality pioneers 

have helped to build this city one 

street corner at a time, one neighbourhood 

at a time, one district at a time. We sometimes 

don’t acknowledge that homemade 

food and authentic hospitality are at the 

core of Hamilton’s DNA - and that Canada’s 

very own calling card, Tim Horton’s Donuts 

- started as a neighbourhood shop on 

Ottawa Street in 1964 (ironically, one block 

from where our father and uncles grew 

up). The fact that one of the world’s largest 

hospitality companies has its roots as a 

gritty, blue-collar establishment, created by 

Hamilton’s finest, is no coincidence. 

Carmen’s Group feels privileged to be a 

part of a movement that is changing the 

image of Hamilton through inspired hospitality 

and showcasing to the world the 

character, the passion and the authenticity 

of Hamilton and its people. We have developed 

a team of hospitality champions who 

focus intensely on delivering on our mission 

and brand promise, who chase our vision, 

and who embody our core values at every 

opportunity. A signature element of the new 

Carmen’s Group is our Phoenix logo, which 

has become our calling card and the symbol 

of our next chapter. 

Why is our new brand logo a Golden 

Phoenix? Like a phoenix, we seek to represent 

purity, clarity, creativity, resurrection, 

re-emergence and transformation. 

And much like the City of Hamilton itself, 

Carmen’s Group has experienced a transformation. 

We have learned that we need 

to harness the best of our past while reinventing 

ourselves to achieve success for 

tomorrow. We will spread our wings in a 

quest to make an impact and build up our 

great city. Walt Disney once said, “We keep 

moving forward, opening new doors, and 

doing new things, because we’re curious 

and curiosity keeps leading us down new 

paths.” • 

(l-r) PJ, Peter and Joe Mercanti. 

76

carstar: 

a hamilton company 

on the global stage 

For anyone who has lived in Hamilton for the last couple 

of decades, watching our ‘ambitious city’s’ post-industrial 

reinvention has been nothing short of inspiring. 


With an educated population and 

culturally thriving community 

that rivals any Canadian city, 

Hamilton is now a community that embraces 

our gritty manufacturing history, while celebrating 

a diversified and optimistic future. 

For CARSTAR Collision and Glass Service, 

Hamilton’s continued evolution mirrors their 

own. From a humble beginning in Hamilton’s 

North end, the collision franchise brand has 

grown to over 260 locations in Canada and 

is the envy of collision brands worldwide. 

“I travel all over the world for different trade 

shows and symposiums,” says Hamilton 

native and CARSTAR North America president 

Michael Macaluso, “and it’s still surprising 

when competitors from around the world 

are asking for our secret.” 

What is the secret? “We’re a company 

with Hamilton in our veins,” says Macaluso. 

“I think we are humble, in that we put the 

needs of our business partners, customers 

and communities first, but we are also relentlessly 

ambitious to be the best at what we do, 

and to never stop improving.” 

People 

One of the keys to success for CARSTAR is 

people. With just over 50 corporate employees 

working out of CARSTAR’s Vision Park 

on Stone Church Road East, CARSTAR has 

access to thousands of recent college and 

university grads and an experienced workforce. 

Macaluso comments, “One of the things 

that is changing lately, is more and more 

people are either choosing to stay and 

work in Hamilton when they finish university 

or college, or they want to come 

back to Hamilton after working in Toronto. 

We’ve been able to attract the brightest 

minds in our industry, from right here in 

our backyard.” 

Acquisition 

Like Hamilton, a lot changes with time. 

In January of this year, CARSTAR Canada 

was acquired by Driven Brands, North 

America’s largest automotive aftermarket 

brand based in Charlotte NC. 

For Macaluso, leaving 

Hamilton was not an 

option. “When we were 

acquired, Driven Brands knew 

they were buying a company that 

was one of the best performing 

collision repair brands in North 

America, if not the world. It didn’t 

take anyone very long to see that 

that our roots and talent pool in 

Hamilton were a massive ingredient 

for our success and they were ultimately 

happy to leave the CARSTAR headquarters 

here in Canada. In fact, we are now the 

head office for CARSTAR North America and 

Canadian head office for Meineke, Pro Oil 

and Maaco in Canada.” 

With continued growth plans across 

Canada, Hamilton remains at the spine of 

CARSTAR’S operations. Each of CARSTAR 

location is a family-owned businesses which 

shares the vision their Hamilton based 

founders. 

What is the greatest similarity between 

Hamilton and CARSTAR? “That’s easy. We 

dream big and we work hard” • 

77

Margaret and Charles Juravinski in front of 

the statue honouring their contributions to 

the Juravinski Cancer Centre. 

78

margaret 

and charles 

juravinski 

showing a community the 

power of philanthropy 

For all their long and productive lives Margaret and Charles 

Juravinski have exemplified the virtues of hard work, 

straight-shooting and thrift as they operated first a successful 

construction business and then the Flamboro Downs Harness 

race track and casino gaming venue. 

Those qualities enabled Margaret and 

Charles to succeed in business and 

after the sale of the race track, have 

allowed them to set a standard of philanthropy 

in health care that will be hard to 

match anywhere. Starting in 2006, at the 

time of the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary, 

Margaret and Charles Juravinski 

have donated more than $55 Million to 

Hamilton Health care facilities, most notably 

to the regional cancer centre that bears 

their name and the Margaret and Charles 

Juravinski Centre for Integrated Healthcare 

at St Joseph’s West 5th campus. Their 

generosity has also been demonstrated in 

substantial donations to the St Joseph’s 

Innovation Centre, the St. Joseph’s Villa 

Residence, McMaster Medical Centre, 

Hamilton General Hospital, and St Peter’s 

Hospital. Their donations which spearheaded 

the Juravinski Hospital reconstruction 

project, removed tens of thousands of 

chemotherapy and radiation patients from 

waiting lists. The plain spoken Charles sees 

their gifts as a way of thanking all the people 

who contributed to their success since 

he came to Hamilton from Saskatchewan 

at the beginning of World War Two subsequent 

to the Great Depression. “How 

can you touch their lives and say thank 

you?” he told a reporter a few years back, 

It’s almost impossible, but there’s one way 

that you can, and that’s through health 

care. “The most rewarding part of making 

such contributions, he said, “is hearing 

how we have helped individual patients. 

“It is something that is unbelievable.” We 

have touched many people’s lives through 

health care and the satisfaction we feel is 

overwhelming.” What advice do Margaret 

and Charles have for others thinking about 

giving back? “Donate anything you can— 

you will like it and you will be rewarded 

with a sense of gratification.” 

79

ob young: preserving nearly a 

century and a half of football legacy 

Bob Young admits it was an 

“emotional decision” when 

he purchased the Hamilton 

Tiger-Cats in 2004. 

He did it in part to honour the 

wishes of his late brother who 

was a super fan of the team. 

Since then Bob Young has poured a 

fortune into the team and weathered 

many storms—on and off the field. But 

now he can look at an organization 

that is profitable for the first time in 

over 40 years, housed in a state-of-theart 

stadium, attracting sell-out crowds 

of fans. Without Bob Young it is likely 

there would be no CFL presence in 

Hamilton. 

Looking ahead Bob Young sees the 

stadium as a catalyst for much more 

than football. “We have the opportunity 

to run not just football profitably 

but also concerts and potentially soccer 

teams, in Hamilton where without 

a modern stadium it simply wasn’t 

possible to do it.” It is part of his view 

of the role of sports in the cultural 

fabric of a community. “Sports falls 

into the category of entertainment. And 

entertainment is culture. We sometimes 

think that art galleries are culture and 

movie theatres are not culture, but in 

fact they are all culture. The entertainment 

sector—getting ourselves out of 

our houses—and into the community 

is the very definition of community and 

culture and I think this city should be 

very proud of what they’ve achieved 

with this stadium and the community is 

dramatically stronger for it. I think the 

Tiger Cats will continue to contribute 

to the culture of Hamilton for another 

almost 150 years.” 

With long-term stadium and corporate 

sponsorship deals in place, the 

Tiger-Cats have fulfilled Bob Young’s 

goal of making the team self-sufficient, 

but Bob continues to be in for the long 

haul. “This is very much a long term 

project…none of us—not ourselves… 

Tim Hortons… the team …nobody is 

going anywhere for a long time. The 

reason I use the moniker ‘caretaker’ is 

that I’m only going to look after it for 

a few years…somebody else is going 

to have to look after it for most of the 

next century and a half.” 

Coors Banquet Bar 

Enercare Caretaker’s Club 

Tim Hortons Field 

80

michael andlauer: 

15 years of keeping hamilton 

on the hockey map 

Since 2002 Michael Andlauer has been the driving force behind providing 

top notch hockey for Hamilton fans. 

It started when Montreal-raised 

Michael, a successful national 

transportation and logistics operator, 

stepped in with a group of local 

investors to secure an AHL Hamilton 

Bulldog franchise in Hamilton after 

the Edmonton Oilers moved the first 

version of the Bulldogs to Toronto 

and changed the team name. Two 

years later Michael was the majority 

owner of the franchise, now affiliated 

with the Canadiens, and by 2008 he 

was the sole owner. In the meantime 

Michael, a lifelong Habs fan, 

in 2009, became a part owner of the 

Canadiens. He currently serves as an 

alternate member of the NHL Board 

of Governors. For a businessman who 

likes to be in charge of his own destiny, 

operating an AHL franchise can 

be a challenge. Essentially the owner 

pays the operating costs of the team 

but control of the on-ice product 

rests with the parent team. So in 

2015 Michael sold the AHL Bulldog 

franchise back to the Canadiens who 

would move the team to St. Johns, 

and purchased the Belleville Bulls 

of the OHL and relocated them to 

Hamilton as the Bulldogs. 

But for Michael Andlauer, as great as 

is his passion for hockey, he also is committed 

to making the community a better 

place. Growing up with his mom in 

Montreal Michael experienced what it 

is like to go without. He established the 

Bulldog Foundation to help less fortunate 

youth in Hamilton. Now in its tenth 

year the Foundation provides funding 

to various local charities and has spearheaded 

a successful school breakfast 

program. With an OHL franchise, unlike 

the AHL there are better opportunities 

for the players to become part of the 

community. The young Bulldogs, mostly 

teenagers, are frequently seen lending 

their support and encouragement at 

numerous charitable, school and hospital 

events in the Hamilton-Burlington 

area. Despite the huge personal investment 

Michael Andlauer has made in 

keeping hockey in Hamilton for the 

past decade and a half, he shuns the 

limelight saying simply, “I’m grateful to 

be part of the Hamilton landscape.” It 

is the mark of a great sportsman and 

selfless community leader. 

81

h a m i il lt to n o n r e tc or eu art ii so mn 

providing the services 

to build a healthy 

community 

The first facility built by the 

City of Hamilton’s Recreation 

Division was the Municipal 

Pool, now known as the Jimmy 

Thompson Pool. It was constructed for 

the swimming competition of the 1930 

British Empire Games (Commonwealth 

Games). Those were the very first 

international multi-sport games to ever 

be hosted in our country and it all 

started in Hamilton! Several generations 

have since then learned to swim 

at many City pools, including Jimmy 

Thompson. Today, the division offers 

programming at: 24 recreation centres, 

19 arenas, 10 outdoor pools, 5 

older adult centres and 7 seniors clubs 

across the City. 

82


With over 4.8 million yearly participant 

visits, which translates to 13,000 daily visits 

in various programs offered by Recreation, 

the division’s mission has always been to 

provide quality programs and services to 

support a healthy population and promote 

an active lifestyle for all ages. The division 

is committed to the inclusion of persons 

with disabilities by offering a variety of 

programs, staffing support and specialized 

equipment to ensure recreation services are 

accessible to everyone in the community. 

Hamilton Recreation’s Affordable Access 

Strategy strives to make recreation services 

available to citizens of all income levels 

and offers free recreation programming at 

various facilities across the City. 

83

h a m i il lt to n o n r e tc or eu art ii so mn 

In 2016, the City of Hamilton’s 

Recreation Division achieved HIGH 

FIVE ® Accreditation, which is the quality 

standard for children’s recreation and 

sport programming. Hamilton is proud to 

be the largest municipality in Ontario to 

obtain accreditation status. 

SUPIE, the division’s free supervised 

park program, recently celebrated 105 

years of service! During the summer 

months, this program is offered at 

91 parks across the City for children 

ages 6-12. Another summer recreation 

highlight is Camp Kidaca offered 

at 7 locations across the City. This 

year, Camp Kidaca achieved accreditation 

status by the Ontario Camping 

Association. 

Hamilton is designated as a platinum 

level youth-friendly community, confirming 

that the City of Hamilton’s assets and 

opportunities actively support the growth 

and development of youth ages 13-19. 

The division promotes staying active 

both indoors and outdoors as well with 

the introduction of the Quick Response 

(QR) Fitness Trails. With 15 QR trails 

across the City, citizens can exercise outdoors 

using a smartphone to scan codes 

and watch instructional videos as they 

follow the trails. 

In all of its services and program offerings, 

the Recreation Division strives to 

align with the City’s vision “to be the best 

place in Canada to raise a child and age 

successfully”. 

84


FirstOntario Centre is Hamilton’s 

premier large concert and 

event venue. It has hosted the 

Juno Awards, and concerts by 

international stars like Elton 

John, Garth Brooks and Paul 

McCartney to name a few. 

BC based 

band 

Hedley at 

FirstOntario 

Centre 

Photo by 

Brandon 

Taylor 

A Backstreet Boys show at FirstOntario Centre 

Photo by Brandon Taylor 

85

emembering 

an utopian 

view of 

hamilton 

Many years ago the vista seen 

from Hamiulton’s High Level 

Bridge was declared one of 

the best in north America with 

the tree-lined Cootes Paradise 

stretching for miles to the 

west and similarly Hamilton 

Harbour to the East. 

The bridge and the surrounding lands, 

including the recently-renovated 

Rock Garden are the remaining 

features of a grandiose development plan 

launched in the late 1920’s by the Board of 

Parks Management, and its visionary works 

chairman Thomas Baker McQuesten. 

It was the end of the roaring 20’s and 

economic optimism was everywhere when 

the Parks Board boldly advertised for a 

competition for proposals to develop the 

area. The contest attracted a dozen bids 

from landscapers, architects and engineers 

from Toronto, Hamilton, Brantford 

and Montreal. The top three bids included 

one from John Lyle, a Hamiltonian who 

had achieved architectural renown for his 

design of Toronto Union Station and the 

Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto; and 

Howard and Laurie Dunnington-Grubb 

who were pre-eminent in the area of landscape 

architecture. The first prize, however, 

went to a lesser known Swedish landscape 

artist, Carl Borgstrom who teamed up with a 

firm of civil engineers for his proposal. 

Borgstrom’s proposal was to cut the causeway 

down by 15 feet and use the resulting 

fill to widen the narrow road into the 

impressive landscaped avenue that exists 

today. He was also the only bidder to propose 

building what is today’s Rock Garden. 

His proposal for the bridge, however, did 

not impress the judges and instead they 

entrusted that part of the project to Lyle, 

whose original concept was a monumental 

colonnade-lined beaux-arts structure. The 

onset of the Depression forced the developers 

to scale back the bridge design but the 

bridge that remains is nonetheless iconic 

in its own right with its streamlined four 

granite pylons which reflected the trend in 

architecture to a more modernist motif. • 

86


The T.B. Mcquesten 

bridge shortly after 

its opening 

Borgstrom’s water 

colour concept 

drawing of the 

Northwestern 

Entrance facing 

towards Hamilton. 

The Rock Garden 

after its 2016 

renovation 

John Lyle’s original 

design for the high 

level bridge. Only 

the 4 corner pylons 

survived cost-cutting 

measures during the 

Depression. 

87

www.lockestreetshops.com 

Over the last 10 years Locke Street 

has experienced a revival. What 

was once a quiet street with a 

few antique shops and local restaurants, 

has now become one of Hamilton’s hottest 

commercial districts with world-renowned 

restaurants, local and global 

shops and thriving businesses. A collection 

of eclectic independent shops 

with curated clothing, toys, home decor, 

antiques, books, musical instruments and 

jewellery line the street. New and longtime 

merchants are dedicated to their 

customers and the continuing success of 

this historic neighbourhood. 

The Locke Street Festival is a free 

neighbourhood event that has been happening 

the second Saturday of September 

for the past 16 years. The festival is one 

of Ontario’s largest one-day street festivals, 

attracting people from all over 

the region and provides an opportunity 

for the community to come together in 

support of local musicians, artists and 

artisans. There is something for the entire 

family including a variety of unique 

vendors, live entertainment on separate 

stages and a children’s area with organized 

activities. The event continues to 

be a fun and exciting way for people to 

get involved in the community and it’s 

this sense of community that defines the 

area and continues to drive business on 

the street. From coffee shops and restaurants 

to salons and fitness, from everyday 

essentials to gifts and special occasion 

shopping, you can come and enjoy a day 

on Locke Street. • 

The Locke Street 

festival draws 

large crowds 

every year 

88


the west town 

for 25 years, locke street’s living room 

In a business where dining fads and 

restaurants come and go, the one 

constant for a quarter of a century in 

Hamilton is the West Town Bar and Grill 

on Locke Street. When Joe Stanicak opened 

it in 1991, Locke Street was not the trendy 

destination it has become, but Joe had a 

good feeling about the location. He had a 

background in the hospitality industry and 

liquor and beer sales and he envisioned a 

blend of great food and a comfortable neighbourhood 

pub atmosphere. In the beginning, 

Joe bravely offered only draft beer from small 

craft breweries and no bottles. He installed 

17 draft taps, an idea that eventually was 

emulated all over the region. He opened for 

breakfast at a time when most restauranteurs 

advised against it. He sourced his produce 

from local farmers before it was trendy and 

still does to this day. He sought out top quality 

products for the menu which then as now 

is a cut above the usual pub fare, made from 

scratch in house by 3 red seal chefs. Joe’s 

instincts proved correct and the restaurant 

was a success from day one. 

He has managed to create a place that 

can be a family destination and also a busy 

bar. Many customers relate it is their child’s 

favourite, and others that it is their senior 

parent’s choice. Many senior customers are 

regular daily customers. One time, when a 

senior customer missed a couple days, an 

employee who knew his address from daily 

chatting with him, walked to his house to 

check up and called 911 when she heard 

moaning. He had fallen and broken his hip, 

and because of that he recovered. 

For the regulars at the West Town a key 

feature is the friendly and loyal serving staff, 

including many with between ten and 25 

years. In one case, a mother and daughter 

have both worked there. 

The West Town has hosted many notable 

celebrities ranging from Dan Lanois, 

Doug Gilmour, many generations of Tiger 

Cats, and many local musicians like Tomi 

Swick, Gord Lewis, and Harrison Kennedy 

to name a few. 

Now as the West Town enters its 26th 

year, plans are underway to renovate the 

well-worn kitchen and restrooms, to further 

accommodate the thousands of patrons 

who pass through its doors each week. 

Commenting on the volume of business, 

Brandon Stanicak, Joe’s son and current 

West Town manager says, 

“the brass push plate on the 

door was getting worn out, 

and when the locksmith 

came to replace it he 

told me he had never 

seen a door plate wear 

out before.” That’s the 

West Town. • 

89

g ya ol lu enrg y eonf t rd ei ps rt ie n ce tu iros 

n 

brandon 

stanicak 

a life in 

hospitality 

Brandon Stanicak says he was born 

into the hospitality business. His 

father and grandfather owned and 

operated The Park House Hotel at King and 

Locke and the family lived upstairs. His 

father went on to open three more restaurant/bar 

businesses, worked as a liquor sales 

rep and then a beer rep and then opened 

The West Town. 

With this role model, it seemed inevitable 

the path Brandon’s career would take. 

Brandon earned an Economics degree at 

McMaster University, where he was on 

the varsity swim team and the water polo 

team. A good athlete (like his father). While 

a student at Mac he started his first entrepreneurial 

venture, The Thirsty Camel, in 

West Hamilton, a combination of pizza bar/ 

laundromat to meet the needs of hungry, 

thirsty students with no laundry facilities. 

He then worked as a bartender at two of the 

busiest bars in the city at the time, Fever in 

the basement of the Right House and Billy 

Bob’s on Rifle Range Road. 

He and a partner established Elixir, a 

successful bar in Hess Village. Then as his 

father had, he became a liquor rep and 

then a wine rep. 

Throughout he maintained 

involvement in The West 

Town. As it grew from 9 

employees at the start to fifty 

odd today, and the restaurant 

business became 

more technology/computer 

based, Dad needed 

his help more and 

it became his full-time occupation. His 

fathers influence and his own experience 

created good instincts for the business. As 

West Town heads into its 26th year they 

are getting ready for some renovations to 

replace well worn facilities. The restaurant 

continues to be a destination morning, 

noon and night, 7 days a week, 364 days a 

year. Joe loves his customers and continues 

to greet them, while with a second-generation 

management emerging Brandon 

welcomes his wide circle of friends and 

acquaintances to the establishment, including 

many fellow young entrepreneurs and 

professionals that are making their mark on 

the Hamilton business scene. 

On the longevity of the West Town, which 

is now serving second and third generations 

of loyal customers, Brandon is philosophical 

about its success. “Most restaurants/ 

bars have to reinvent themselves every two 

or three years or they are out of business. 

But at the West Town, having created the 

relaxed feel of home, which never goes out 

of style, is our secret to success.” • 

90


alyssa lai: focused on 

communication and leadership 

Imagine how it would feel for 

an 18-year old Malaysian girl 

to board a 24 hour flight on 

her own to settle in Hamilton 

to get a Canadian education. 

That was Alyssa Lai in 2008. She had 

set her sights on getting a degree 

in Canada and prior to leaving 

Malaysia she enrolled in a Canadian Pre- 

Matriculation program to obtain her Grade 

12. The instructor was a Mac graduate 

and even though Alyssa was accepted by 

several Canadian Universities she selected 

Hamilton and Mac. Four years later 

she graduated from the Communications 

program having also studied history and 

theatre arts. Alyssa is grateful for the opportunity 

provided by studying at McMaster. 

“McMaster shaped my core values. It has 

been a real privilege to live and work in 

Hamilton,” says Alyssa. 

“I took theatre to force me to learn how 

to work with groups of people in a team 

setting,” says Alyssa. And working with 

groups and teams is what Alyssa has been 

doing ever since. After school like many of 

her generation it was a series of freelance 

jobs for Alyssa; including a stint with CBC 

Hamilton and a job acting as stage manager 

for a dance troupe. “My goal always 

was to work in communications in a notfor-profit 

organization,” Alyssa says. And 

she realized that ambition staring in 2013 

when she worked with the Immigrants 

Working Centre, Information Hamilton, 

Hamilton Community Foundation and the 

Hamilton Children’s Choir. In 2016 Alyssa 

became Digital Marketing Coordinator for 

the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation. 

Alyssa loves the fact that she can bike to 

work in 10 minutes, while some of her 

friends spend up to three hours a day commuting 

to work. At the same time Alyssa 

was pursuing her career she has been active 

as past chair of the Hamilton HIVE—founded 

in 2011 with a mandate to serve as a 

go-to resource and network for emerging 

leaders and young professionals under 40. 

HIVE seeks to enhance personal and professional 

outcomes for young professionals 

and foster community engagement. And 

now Alyssa has joined a select group of 

two dozen young professionals to receive a 

DiverseCity Fellowship which will provide 

participants with 100 hours of intense leadership 

training. 

“I am interested in leadership as a way of 

constantly challenging myself,” says Alyssa.. 

Eventually I would like to see myself in a 

leadership position where I bring together, 

through communications, the needs of the 

organization I represent with the needs of 

society.” She adds that in her Canadian 

adventure she was supported and mentored 

by many people, and now she hopes to pay 

it forward. • 

91

g ya ol lu enrg y eonf t rd ei ps rt ie n ce tu iros 

n 

laura tedesco: 

artisan 

Laura Tedesco, creates beautiful things. 

She is a jewellery designer, who travelled 

to Florence, the cradle of art and 

design in Italy, to take courses in her craft. 

She helped run the family business, 

Venetian Jewellers—a mainstay of King 

Street for decades. It was Laura’s dad Dino 

who started selling imported Italian gold 

and Jewellery, quickly making the store a 

favourite with Hamilton’s large Italian population. 

Laura, who now has her own boutique, 

Laura Tedesco Jewellery Design on 

Locke Street, received her diamond grading 

certificate from the Gemological Institute of 

America, and won first place in the Diamonds 

Category in the Canadian Jeweller 2010 

Excellence in Design Competition. “When 

people ask for 

something we 

don’t have in 

the store, I can 

custom design 

it,” says Laura. 

She also is busy 

restyling old jewellery 

that is out 

of fashion, removing 

the gemstones and 

placing them in new, 

modern settings. Where 

does she get her inspiration? “I 

get it from my travels, people, nature 

and my love of designing pieces with 

meaning or that tell a story,” Laura says. • 

maria musitano: 

personalized health solutions 

Maria Musitano, is a compounding 

pharmacist who graduated 

from the Massachusetts College 

of Pharmacy in Boston, MA. She started her 

career at Shoppers Drug Mart, before opening 

her own successful pharmacy, and now 

joins her brother Patrick to make Concession 

Medical Pharmacy (CMP) the preeminent 

place for all health related concerns specializing 

in compounding medications and 

functional medicine. Maria’s philosophy 

is the recognition that each person in the 

world is unique- their physiology is as singular 

to them as their fingerprints. Her goal 

and that of her colleagues is to treat patients 

as individuals, wherever possible avoiding 

mass produced medications and focusing 

instead on unique treatments for a variety of 

medical issues. This approach to pharmacy 

emphasizes the well being of the whole 

person. CMP strongly believes in a multidisciplinary 

approach to help our patients 

live their lives to the fullest. The pharmacy 

works in conjunction with licensed physicians, 

nurse practitioners, naturopaths, 

chiropractors, osteopaths, and RMTs in 

order to ensure that the treatments are 

as effective as possible. They look 

closely at their patients’ medical 

histories and review 

practitioner-prescribed 

lab test results if 

necessary. These 

include saliva and 

serum testing, 

as well as hair 

and nutritional 

analysis. • 

92


michael macaluso 

driven to success 

Michael Macaluso admits that 

as a Thomas More student and 

later when he studied business 

at Western, he wasn’t exactly a 

“car guy,” but he is now. 

Michael is now the president of the 

entire Carstar North American 

operation with over 400 locations 

across the continent. Michael’s introduction 

to the world of business began 

when, as a student he worked weekend 

and summers at Carmen’s, owned by Peter 

Mercanti. After graduation he was hired 

full time at Carmen’s. Within a couple of 

years, Sam Mercanti, Peter’s brother and 

owner of the collision repair giant, Carstar, 

approached Michael to join him in marketing. 

From there Michael quickly rose 

through the ranks. In February of 2016 

Driven Brands, of Charlotte North Carolina, 

purchased Carstar and invited Michael to 

head up the North American operation—a 

remarkable achievement for a young professional 

in just eight years. 

Michael sees a bright future for the collision 

repair business despite the trend 

towards collision avoidance technology and 

driverless cars. “Collisions will probably 

decrease by about four percent but because 

of all of the sensors and cameras built into 

vehicles, the repairs will be more costly,” 

he predicts. One of the big challenges for 

the business is attracting skilled workers. 

“It’s a skill-based trade like plumbing or 

electrical. Candidates have to go through 

school to obtain their apprenticeship and 

get licensed. It’s a very high skilled labour 

force and these people can make a very 

good living from a young age.” 

What perhaps separates young entrepreneurs 

like Michael Macaluso from an 

earlier generation of business leaders is 

their focus on achieving balance and in 

community engagement. “It’s balance with 

our families, balance with our personal 

time, its exercise, its having the right rest so 

we can clear our minds on weekends, and 

part of that balance is connecting with the 

community which in my opinion means a 

giving back in causes you believe in. It’s 

not just money—it’s serving on a board, for 

instance. That’s something we believe in 

at Carstar and Driven Brands.” In keeping 

with that philosophy Michael serves on 

several boards—the Hamilton Chamber of 

Commerce, Fesitalia, and the company’s 

designated Hamilton charity—St. Joseph’s 

Hospital. “That’s one way I can give back. 

I was born there, my kids were born there, 

generations of my family have been served 

at St Jos,” says Michael. “I think it is important 

that a business or an individual gives 

back into something they truly, truly love. • 

93

hamilton’s next 

new chapter: 

waterfront 

redevelopment 

What may seem like an overnight opportunity to the casual 

observer has been in the making for 30 years—the redevelopment 

of Hamilton’s Waterfront. 

Photos by Carole and Roy Timm Photography 

Starting with the development of 

Bayfront Park and Pier 4 Parks in 

the 1980’s, and the associated trails 

and recreational amenities that came later; 

Hamilton has been on a steady trajectory 

of bringing the people and the waterfront 

together. The next big advance will be the 

redevelopment of Pier 8, as a mixed use 

residential, recreational and commercial 

site, housing 1,600 families. 

In developing this last major waterfront 

opportunity from Oshawa to Niagara on 

Hamilton’s waterfront, the City is taking an 

innovative approach in securing a development 

partner. It is called a “partner first,” 

rather than a “transaction first” approach; 

meaning it is looking for a quality development 

partner who can prove their capability, 

financial capacity, and willingness to 

work with the City over the long term to 

make the vision a reality. 

What is that vision? Hamilton looked at 

existing waterfront developments in the 

GTAH over the years and determined that 

the Hamilton development must be “rightsized” 

for what is an existing and sought 

after residential and recreational district. 

The City’s vision for Pier 8 is for a mostly 

residential community of up to 1,600 

units housed in mid-rise buildings ranging 

in heights from 3 to 8 storeys, with retail 

and commercial space on the street-facing 

94


Northeast view 

Aerial view 

West view 

ground floors. One of the most impressive 

place-making features at Pier 8 will be a 

30-metre-wide public promenade on the 

water’s edge, and connects with the existing 

waterfront trail system that extends to 

Coote’s Paradise and Princess Point. 

The city has already invested $60 Million 

in remediation and servicing of the land, 

demonstrating its commitment to the project, 

and removing a significant element of 

risk to the potential developer. The ideal 

development partner will be one who can 

bring innovative solutions to the table, who 

can bring the vision to fruition and who 

possesses a proven track record of executing 

complex projects that require patience 

and creativity and a commitment to excellence 

over speed. 

As this development opportunity unfolds, 

Hamilton will be in the spotlight with 

its citizens, the development industry and 

other municipalities who will be eagerly 

watching to see how Hamilton achieves its 

ambitious plan. It will showcase Hamilton 

to investors who might not have otherwise 

known about the city’s potential and could 

stimulate further investment opportunities 

in the city. One objective arising from this 

exciting Pier 8 development project is for 

the City of Hamilton to earn a reputation 

as an innovative, fair-dealing municipality 

that strikes a creative balance between 

protecting the public interest while working 

cooperatively with the private sector. 

“We’re now at that critical stage that will 

result in the transformation of the area,” 

says Chris Phillips, the project head, “It will 

be the ability to partner with the private sector 

for their expertise, vision and innovation 

that will help the city fulfil its long-standing 

vision for the waterfront.” • 

The Project by the numbers 

5.44 Ha of development on 9 

development blocks 

124,000 sq.m. floor area 

1260-1600 residential units 

13,000 sq.m. leasable commercial and 

institutional space 

1400 parking spaces 

$600-$700 Million in residential sales 

$15-$22 Million commercial space

walters 

group: 

Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg 

tackling the hard-to-do for over 60 years 

It has been 60 years since Walter Koppelaar Sr., started a small 

ornamental ironworks and welding shop in a 24 x 30 feet shop 

in Hamilton. 

Since then, Walters Group has grown to 

become an organization of vertically 

integrated businesses employing more 

than 600, which has designed, fabricated 

and erected some of the most complex 

steelwork projects in every sector across 

North America. One thing that has remained 

constant from those early beginnings is a 

pride in taking on complicated, challenging 

projects. The vision might be for an architecturally 

complex building or an industrial 

mining headframe, but the approach will 

remain the same: a deep collaboration with 

clients, taking on their vision and helping 

them turn that vision into reality. 

The handiwork of Walters can be seen 

across the continent. Whether it is Tim 

Tim Horton’s Field Hamilton 

96


Horton Field in hometown Hamilton, The 

Canadian Museum for Human Rights in 

Winnipeg, the BHP Jansen Potash Mine 

in Saskatchewan, with the world’s tallest 

potash head frames, the 60 Story Brookfield 

Place tower in Calgary, or a massive high 

rise tower project in Manhattan’s West side, 

Walters Group brings to bear creativity and 

imagination to solve the problems and turn 

every project into a “can do.” 

Clients come to Walters with complex 

plans for buildings that make a statement, 

that become landmarks, that push the envelope 

of what people think is possible. Or 

plans for industrial projects that break the 

mould for traditional design and build. 

Walters starts by determining whether the 

project is even doable. And if it turns out 

it’s impossible, Walters’ next step is to find a 

way to make it possible. Nothing lights a fire 

under the talented people at Walters Group 

like someone saying, “It can’t be done.” 

The key to Walters’ success is its talented 

workforce. Walters Group is a family-owned 

business and it views its employees 

as members of the Walters family. The 

company fosters a collaborative environment—letting 

people’s talent shine. From 

the detail engineer, to the fabricator on the 

shop floor, to the ironworker in the field 

everyone is encouraged to feel a sense of 

ownership at every stage of the project. 

Deloitte Canada has named Walters 

Group one of Canada’s Best Managed 

Companies in 2015 for excellence in business 

performance. The Best Managed program 

recognizes Canadian-owned and 

managed companies with revenues over 

$10 million who demonstrate strategy, 

capability and commitment to achieve sustainable 

growth. 

With its international reach and reputation 

one might ask why Walters Group 

remains firmly loyal to Hamilton, where it 

just invested in an expansion of its facilities. 

The answer for CEO and Chairman 

Walter Koppelaar is simple, “Hamilton is 

our hometown, it has a great workforce, 

proximity to major Ontario and North East 

US markets and it’s a great area to live. 

We’ve been here for 60 years and have no 

intention to leave.” • 

BHO Jansen Potash mine, Saskatchewan 

Brookfield tower on Manhattan’s West Side 

97

CIBC Place, 1 King St. West, Hamilton. 

Proudly managed by Effort Trust 

effort trust 

proud to be part of 

hamilton’s growth 

for five decades 

At Effort Trust we are specialists in real estate financing and development, 

with expertise in mortgages, commercial and residential development, 

property and asset management. For more information www.efforttrust.ca

Hamilton’s Bayfront 

Park—a focal point 

of the revitalization 

of Hamilton harbour

Price: $12. 95

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