Best Of Hamilton

Hamilton
THE BEST OF
Celebrating some of
the people, places,
and institutions that
have helped make
Hamilton a
world-class city
THE BAY OBSERVER

CON
TENTS
06 Welcome to The Best of Hamilton
08 Hamilton, where events and attractions
never stop
14 Hamilton’s year-round outdoor activities
are perfect for people on the move
16 Hamilton is a hotbed of theatre!
18 Hamilton, where beauty is a priority
21 Education that attracts students
world-wide
23 Mohawk College students are winning on
the world stage
24 Hamilton supports new
multiple-dwelling construction
25 Vrancor Group
26 LIUNA’s continuing commitment
to transforming communities
28 New Horizon. Redefined expectations are
on the Horizon
30 Designing Pier 8 development had special
meaning for acclaimed Hamilton-born
architect
32 A plan to grow the Hamilton Economy
33 ArcelorMittal Dofasco. An essential part of
Hamilton’s history
34 Hamilton Economic Development:
Developing workforce talent and skills
35 Industry Education Council
36 Reimagining Hamilton’s downtown
37 Winter Magic by Carmen’s Group
38 Agri-Food: a Billion dollar industry
39 Venetian Meat and Salami. Our Passion is
to give our customers the best product
40 Welcome to Locke Street
46 RAHB and HamiltoNEXT
47 Hamilton, the Transportation Hub
48 Fluke Transport
49 Hamilton International Airport
50 Hamilton offers a wide variety of financial
incentives for business
14
24
68
86
4

96
The best of Hamilton
10
The Best of Hamilton © 2022
Editor:
Sales Manager:
Principal photography:
Art Director:
Office Manager:
Printer:
Operations and
Marketing Manager:
40
Published by
The Bay Observer THE BAY OBSERVER
905-522-6000 www.bayobserver.ca
John Best
Hilary White
Dave Gruggen Photography
Catalin Daniel Ciolca
Kaye Best
Dollco Print Solutions Group
Taimoor Jamil
36
51 Effort Trust
52 West End Home Builders Association
53 Dynamic medical research and health
care environment
54 St. Joseph’s Healthcare: Compassionate
care in the heart of Hamilton
56 When every second counts, you can
count on St. Joe’s
58 Hamilton Waste Management. Leading
the way in waste reduction
60 Find the right space for your business
61 Lamont Law: On the leading edge of
evolving personal injury law
62 Taylor Leibow: Reaching Excellence,
Together for 75 Years
64 Hamilton’s Harry Howell was the toast of
the Big Apple
66 Boris Brott. Paying tribute to a cultural
icon
68 History Comes alive at Hamilton
museums
70 Way ahead of his time, Phil Edwards
transcended racism, brought international
glory to Hamilton
73 Choose From 8 Business Parks in
Hamilton, Ontario
76 Experience great food, shopping, and
events in any of Hamilton’s Business
Improvement Areas
80 Hamilton’s many waterfalls have become
an international attraction
82 Hamilton is serious about Arts and Arts
education
85 Public art everywhere in Hamilton
86 Musicians and Music Businesses Love
Hamilton
88 Astrid Hepner: Empowering positive
change through music
90 Hamilton’s Film and TV cluster continues
to grow
92 T.B. McQuesten, the modest Hamilton
man who became Canada’s greatest
builder
96 Sports is a big part of life in Hamilton
5

WELCOME TO
The Best of Hamilton
More than a hundred years ago
American entrepreneurs began
scouting Canada for locations
to establish branch factories, in
order to gain access to the British and
Commonwealth markets. They chose Hamilton
because it had an excellent location with good
access to rail and marine and was close to the
US border. In addition, Hamilton had a skilled
manufacturing workforce. Today the world is a
much different place with globalism replacing
tariffs, but many of the advantages that Hamilton
enjoyed in the early 1900’s still exist … but
now have been greatly expanded.
Hamilton was built around a legacy of
advanced manufacturing, which continues to be
a huge contributor to the local economy, but in
recent years Hamilton has become a sought-after
destination for advanced manufacturers,
technology companies, agri-food producers, life
science providers and research and development
entities. Endowed with excellent transportation
resources, Hamilton companies ship their
products across the world, as increasingly
Hamilton is a global trading destination.
For years Hamilton has been a leader in
developing creative incentive programs to
attract and support business. Its Industrial
6

The best of Hamilton
parks are attracting icon international
companies like Amazon, Stryker, LG Harris,
DHL to name but a few. Hamilton’s industrial
development charges make the city the most
affordable location in the GTHA for that type
of development. The city offers tax increment
support programs as well as loans and grants to
support every kind of economic endeavour
from retail to heavy industry.
Hamilton is also home to world-class
universities, colleges, and research-intensive
companies that have created an ideal environment
for new product development and
innovation. Industry and academia work
together in Hamilton to lower the cost of
commercialization and bring products to
market. Start-ups and entrepreneurs thrive in
this hard working, high-tech city, where the
cost of entry is very competitive with other
tech-centric cities in the region.
Hamilton boasts one of the top hospital
networks in Canada, with a respected teaching
and medical research reputation.
Hamilton has developed a vibrant food and
cultural scene that is attracting international
attention. Every day in Hamilton there are one
or more major television and film projects
underway as producers are attracted to the
available talent and excellent locations—both
natural and architectural-- offered by Hamilton.
Now Hamilton is well on its way to the development
of a major film and production studio
precinct under the leadership of Aeon and its
partners. Workers in the cultural industries find
Hamilton an easy destination to live and work
with a well-developed public transit network
that will soon include Light Rail.
The transformation of Hamilton’s waterfront
area which first began with the development of
parks and scenic trails, is now entering a new
phase with major residential and commercial
redevelopment underway. The waterfront
destination will complement Hamilton’s many
natural attractions that include waterfalls,
hiking trails and a world-class parks system. •
7

Hamilton
WHERE EVENTS AND
The Brott Music Festival takes music
to where the people are
Hamilton’s Supercrawl takes
over James Street North every
September
Canadian folk
icon Buffy
Sainte-Marie at
Supercrawl
8

ATTRACTIONS NEVER STOP
The best of Hamilton
Brott Music Festival
production of La Cenerentola
Festival of Friends: Serena Ryder
There is hardly a week that goes by
where there isn’t a festival, attraction
or event to suit every taste.
From traditional events like the
Festival of Friends, now into its fifth decade
of providing outdoor music, art, and crafts,
to Supercrawl which takes over James Street
North in downtown Hamilton every September,
providing a weekend of compelling and
contemporary musical talent, there is a
festival the whole family can enjoy. There is
also the Brott Music Festival for lovers of
classical, pops and show tunes, and many
other musical and performance events. •
The Red Hill
Valleys
performing
at ArtsWest
in Westdale
Village
9

Hamilton
In addition to the rich musical festival scene
in Hamilton, there are historical and
cultural events like Doors Open Hamilton,
the annual Food and Drink Fest, Locke
Street Sundays and year-round events at the
Royal Botanical Gardens – Pier 8 Pop-Up
events. So many choices…so much to do! •
WHERE EVENTS AND
Royal Botanical Gardens
Rock Garden
Surfrajettes at
Pop Ups at Pier 8.
Scenes from
Food and
Drink Fest
Hamilton Pier 8 is
becoming a popular
venue for pop-up
events.
10

ATTRACTIONS NEVER STOP
The best of Hamilton
The Gage
Park Tropical
Greenhouse
Doors Open at Auchmar
One of the brilliant floral creations at Gage Park Mum Show
11

Hamilton
Starting in late August and heading
into September each year,
Hamilton is alive with old-fashioned
fall fairs and community festivals.
It all starts with the Dundas Cactus Festival
which started in 1975, in the third weekend
in August. Then the next weekend it’s the
Winona Peach Festival, now having
celebrated its 55th year. Come September it’s
the Binbrook Fair on the third weekend of
the month, followed the next weekend by
the Ancaster Fair. The conclusion of the fair
season in Hamilton comes every second
weekend in October with the Rockton
World’s Fair. The three fairs in Binbrook,
Ancaster and Rockton represent a tradition
that in each case dates back to the 1850’s. •
WHERE EVENTS AND
Rockton
World’s Fair
Binbrook Fair
Ancaster
Fair
Ancaster Fair
12

ATTRACTIONS NEVER STOP
The best of Hamilton
Winona
Peach Festival
Dundas
Cactus
Festival
Parade
Winona Peach Festival
Binbrook Fair
13

Chedoke Radial
Recreational Trail
Burlington Bay
from Pier 4 Park
Boat cruise
slider at
African Lion
Safari
Dundas
Valley Trail
Centre
Hamilton’s year-round
outdoor activities
are perfect for people on the move
Living in Hamilton most people are
only a short walk, drive or bus ride
from beautiful natural settings where
they can participate in a wide variety
of outdoor activities. In the summer there is
roller skating at Pier 4 park on the Bay. In the
winter there is ice skating at Dundas Driving
Park, Princess Point or at the Hamilton
Waterfront Trust skating rink. All year,
Hamilton’s many nature trails offer unlimited
opportunities for strolling, hiking or cycling.
There are dozens of public, municipal and
private golf courses in Hamilton including
the Hamilton Golf and Country Club which
has hosted the Canadian Open six times.
For boating enthusiasts, Hamilton has
several marinas, including the Royal
Hamilton Yacht Club which has been in
existence since 1888. The Royal Botanical
Gardens with its iconic Rock Garden,
Hendrie Gardens and tropical greenhouse
is a 12-month must-see attraction. •
14

The best of Hamilton
Photo by McNeil Photography
The fully accessible
Royal Botanical
Rock Garden
Roller Skating on the
trails at Pier 4 Park
Royal
Hamilton
Yacht Club
Family Day at
Winterfest
Skating at the Dundas Driving Park
Photo courtesy Dundas Rotary Sunrise
Teeing off at
the Hamilton
Golf and
Country
Club
View from the Dundas Peak
15

Theatre Aquarius Backstage
HAMILTON IS A
hotbed of theatre!
Theatre has been an important part
of the Hamilton cultural scene since
the earliest days of the city. Before
the advent of radio and television,
Hamilton boasted numerous live performance
venues that showcased the top
theatrical performers from the United States
and Europe. The Lyric Theatre on Mary
seated 2,200 in its heyday—such was the
demand for live performance.
Today both professional and community
theatre is alive and well in Hamilton and in the
communities that make up the city.
Some of Hamilton’s theatre companies have
a long history—none longer than The Hamilton
Players Guild -- Hamilton’s oldest theatre
company, tracing its beginnings to 1875 with
the founding of the Garrick Club, and then
assuming its current name- The Players Guild
in 1929
Hamilton Theatre Incorporated started out
in 1956 with a performance of South Pacific and
since then has always strived to provide the
Hamilton community with an outlet to present
the “Best of Broadway”.
Hamilton Theatre Inc
Players Guild of Hamilton stage
16

The best of Hamilton
Theatre Ancaster
cast of RENT
Theatre Aquarius
Theatre Aquarius began in 1973 under
founding Artistic Director Peter Mandia and is
recognized as a leader in Canadian theatre.
Theatre Aquarius produces work of the highest
quality, premieres new plays, develops the skills
of professional artists, invests in youth and
families and contributes to the quality of life in
this region. Thanks to a tremendous effort of
many committed believers and the generosity
of businesses, private donors and government
agencies, in 1991, Theatre Aquarius opened the
doors of its own theatre centre, now known as
the Dofasco Centre for the Arts.
Village Theatre Waterdown Inc “live theatre
in the heart of Waterdown“- is community
theatre that produces challenging and entertaining
dramas, comedies, thrillers and mysteries
for lovers of theatre and newcomers alike.
Dundas Little Theatre has been bringing
theatre to life since 1960, Its most recent
productions include Doubt (J.P. Shanley) and
Verdict (A. Christie)
Theatre Ancaster has been performing
high-quality musical theatre productions since
1997, welcoming audiences from Hamilton,
Burlington, Dundas, Waterdown, Brantford and
beyond. •
Village
Theatre
Waterdown
Dundas
Little
Theatre
17

Sam
Lawrence
Park
Hamilton
WHERE BEAUTY
IS A PRIORITY
Gage Park Fountain
Sam Lawrence Park
18

The best of Hamilton
Gage Park Swale
Creating beauty is a tradition in
Hamilton that dates back more
than a century.
From the foresight demonstrated
in the creation of Gage Park--drawing on the
creative talents of Canada’s foremost landscaper,
Dunnington Grubb; one of the nation’s
leading architects, John Lyle… and the skill and
imagination of renowned sculptors like
Florence Wyle… the focus in Gage Park and all
of Hamilton’s Parks, has always been on quality.
The vision of these original creators was
painstakingly re-imagined over the last decade
by the City of Hamilton whose horticultural
and arboreal experts sought to connect the
brilliance of the past with the needs of a
dynamic city. And at Gage Park, they have
accomplished it by enhancing the centerpiece
beaux-arts fountain and terrace, improving
access for persons of all abilities and by the
addition of touches like the naturalized swale
on the eastern side of the park that speaks to
contemporary views of environmental preservation.
The newest addition to Gage Park is the
popular tropical greenhouse which is open
daily 9-5, free to the public. Check the website
for info and event closures.
19

Sam Lawrence Park is ablaze with the handiwork of City of Hamilton Horticulture crews
www.hamilton.ca/attractions/culture/
gage-park-greenhouse
Hamilton’s escarpment has created many
opportunities for gardens with vistas –the most
popular of these being Sam Lawrence Park at
the top of the Jolley Cut. Currently the subject
of a major redevelopment plan that will see
access improved as well as many new features,
the park explodes every spring with annual and
perennial plantings designed and installed by
city horticulture staff.
Hamilton is renowned for the way it has
softened the busy streets of an industrial city
with dozens of floral traffic islands. Local
organizations and business get to participate
by sponsoring these streetscape oases. •
Tropical greenhouse, Gage Park’s newest attraction
20
Traffic Island

The best of Hamilton
Joyce Centre at Mohawk
College Fennell campus
Education
THAT ATTRACTS STUDENTS WORLD-WIDE
Redeemer University
The City of Hamilton is 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.
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 full-time 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
colleges in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton
Area for four consecutive years.
21

Hamilton is served by four school boards.
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School
Board teaches approximately 50,000 students in
its 97 neighbourhood schools.
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.
The French-language Catholic school board
in the Centre-South serves over 15,500 Students
in 45 elementary and 10 secondary schools
covering much of Southern Ontario.
Redeemer University, a Christian university,
offers its more than 700 students Bachelor of
Arts, Science, and Education degrees with
majors in more than 39 disciplines.
Hillfield Strathallan Collge is an independent,
co-educational day school in Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada. The academic program runs
from Montessori Toddler and Pre-Kindergarten
to Grade 12.
Collège Boréal is one of Ontario’s 24 community
colleges and is the only French-language
college in Southwestern Ontario.
Columbia College, with 2100 students
representing over 70 countries, is the largest
private junior and senior boarding school in
Canada. •
Students at Columbia participate
in a United Nations Day
McMaster University is
one of the top research
universities in Canada
Hillfield Strathallan College
22

Mohawk College
students
are winning on
the world stage
The list of national and international industry awards for Mohawk College
students in creative studies, skilled trades, and engineering technology
continues to grow.
In May, third-year advertising students Catherine Looy and Jan Benavente
won one of the most prestigious student advertising competitions in the
world, earning a Gold Pencil award in the Young Ones Competition, which
attracts schools in 26 countries.
They were among 10 teams-and the only in Canada-to receive Gold
recognition. A second Mohawk College submission received an award of merit
and 10 teams from the College were named as finalists.
Mohawk students dominated the National Advertising Challenge in fall
2021 with gold, bronze and merit awards. 2021 gold winners Ethan Andrews
and Jared Mason also won the competition in 2019. Mohawk followed that up
with another gold by first-year Advertising student Nichole Fazzari in May in
the 2022 competition, which is open to all Canadian colleges and universities.
Mechanical engineering technology student Brittany Gaudet was named
the recipient of both the Co-op Student of the Year award by Experiential and
Work-Integrated Learning Ontario (EWO) and the Student of the Year Award,
College Co-op, by Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning
Canada (CEWIL) in March 2022.
Other awards winners include:
Animation 3D student Livia Ribeiro Fidel is Neto won the Ubisoft
Toronto NEXT Challenge in June 2021, in which college students from
across Ontario compete for an internship at the video game company.
Medals went to four Mohawk students at the Skills Ontario competition
in 2022, including gold and bronze in Graphic Design-Studio
Production, silver in Photography and silver in Auto Collision Repair.
For the second year in a row, Mohawk’s sixth-semester Architectural
Technology students captured the Ontario Association for Applied
Architectural Sciences (OAAAS) 2022 Annual Competition.
Graphic design student Abby Kompare went on to earn a bronze
medal in the 2021 national Skills Canada competition after taking
gold at the Skills Ontario competition.

HAMILTON
SUPPORTS
NEW
multiple-dwelling
construction
Providing housing is a complex
challenge that requires the cooperation
of developers, financers and
government. Hamilton has been an
early provider of incentives to assist in the
development of multi-dwelling housing in
the downtown and other commercial areas.
The Downtown and Barton/Kenilworth
Housing Opportunities Program is intended to
provide financial assistance in the form of a
low-interest Loan to promote the development
of multiple dwelling units that will create new
housing opportunities and support robust local
commercial district populations that add
vibrancy and support demand for local commercial
businesses/services. Activities supported
by this program include:
– The creation of at least 10 new dwelling
units through the development of a multiple
dwelling on vacant land, surface parking
areas or the redevelopment of existing
buildings;
– A building addition containing at least 10
new dwelling units; and/or,
– The conversion of existing non-residential
space into housing consisting of at least 10
new dwelling units.
Approval under this Program may also
qualify the Applicant for additional incentives
with respect to rental units that meet housing
affordability needs, subject to availability.
Additional incentives may include any combination
of Development Charge and parkland
dedication exemptions, capital funding contributions
and any other incentive as may be
available from time to time for the purposes of
encouraging the development of new affordable
rental housing. •
24

The best of Hamilton
Darko Vranich
Photo reprinted courtesy of The Hamilton Spectator
“AS OUR BUSINESS EVOLVES, WE NEED
TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY IN FINDING
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CURRENT
CHALLENGES,” SAYS DARKO VRANICH,
PRESIDENT & CEO OF VRANCOR GROUP.
“WITH RISING COSTS OF LIVING, IT’S
IMPERATIVE THAT ALL RESIDENTS HAVE
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ARE THRILLED TO SUPPORT THE CITY’S
PRIORITIES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THIS NEW PROJECT.”
With housing costs across the country soaring
to unprecedented levels, Hamilton’s Vrancor Group,
is easing the growing burden to provide innovative housing
solutions for the community. Helping to lay the groundwork
for a more affordable community, Darko Vranich’s vision
is one where all Hamiltonians have access to housing that
meets their needs and their budget.
Vrancor Group’s latest planned development includes
approximately 300 units of affordable housing at King Street
and Sanford Avenue in downtown Hamilton.
As a proud Hamilton-based company, Vrancor Group
community. Vrancor’s unwavering commitment to serving
the needs of all community members ensures that
Hamilton remains an economic powerhouse, and a great
city to live, work and raise a family.
To learn more about Vrancor Group,
visit vrancor.com.
25

LIUNA’s
CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO
TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES
The Labourers’ International Union of
North America (LiUNA) is continuing
its tradition of transforming Hamilton’s
downtown. It started more than
20 years ago with the bold decision to re-imagine
the abandoned CNR station into a glittering
banquet venue. It took place at a time
when conventional lenders were shunning the
Hamilton core. This was followed by the
complete restoration of the Lister Block, long
derelict, into its former glory as office and
retail space. Both of these farsighted investments
by LiUNA served as catalysts for the
explosion of development now seen in Hamilton.
Now LiUNA is again leading the way with
several new projects that will provide
much-needed homes for people while transforming
the Hamilton skyline.
Established 50 years ago, The LiUNA Pension
Plan of Central and Eastern Canada (LPFCEC)
26

The best of Hamilton
is one of the fastest growing multi-employer
pension funds across Canada with a diverse
portfolio that is surpassing $11 Billion in
assets. LPFCEC investments have yielded
positive returns for the plan, but also have
advanced great work opportunities for
LiUNA Members. In turn, these investments
have created many needed developments
across North America in the residential,
energy, transit, commercial sectors and
many more.
Not far from another successful LiUNA
project, the 22-story William Thomas Student
Housing building, is rising the much-anticipated
75 James Street South Towers. This new
development by the LiUNA Pension Fund of
Central and Eastern Canada is being built in
partnership SG Constructors, the Hi-Rise
Group and Fengate.
Featuring more than 500 residential units
as well as office and heritage space, including
the LiUNA Regional and local 837 head
office, the 75 James Street South development
will help to address significantly the
growing residential needs in Hamilton from
people of all ages and occupations. This
includes students, millennials priced out of
the Toronto market, and retirees. The site
location is exceptionally transit-oriented and
pedestrian-friendly, offering easy access to
necessities, work, school, and entertainment.
The project will contribute 1.7 million hours
of construction to the local economy
Said Joseph Mancinelli LIUNA International
Vice President and Regional Manager for
Central and Eastern Canada. “The visionary
75 James St. South will continue to further
economic growth and development including
commercial, transit and residential infrastructure
steps away from the long-awaited,
transformative, Hamilton LRT”
The many LIUNA-financed construction
projects create opportunities for the development
of local talent in construction.
LiUNA leads the way in training, outreach,
mentorship and apprenticeship programs.
Recently, LiUNA Local 837, which represents
over 5,000 members across the Hamilton
area, built a new, state-of-the-art training
facility, increasing the opportunity to remove
barriers to entry into construction for
women, indigenous communities, and youth.
King William Cobalt
Residences
At the same time, LiUNA Towers at the former
Delta Bingo and 1930s Kresge’s site on King
Street East at Hughson Street North is transforming
Hamilton’s skyline.
Working together with Matt Stainton of SG
Constructors and the Hi-Rise Group, the two
30 storey towers are nearly two years from
completion. The infrastructure will incorporate
both heritage features and new, fresh,
leading-edge architecture—a LiUNA trademark.
When complete, the project will create
1.6 million hours of skilled construction work.
“It’s not just about the infrastructure, it is
about the people, our communities, the future
of our city and its economic activity.” said
Joseph Mancinelli. The men and women
working on these transformative developments
will look back, for generations to come,
on infrastructure that stands in the city where
they live. There is pride in knowing ‘we built
that’”
LIUNA also invests in the community
through its philanthropic efforts, contributing a
lasting legacy of support for the arts and culture,
health and research, education and training,
and opportunities for marginalized communities.
This includes the De Mazenod Door
Outreach program, which shelters and provides
programs for women, girls and families.
As has always been the case, LiUNA’s reach
extends beyond the traditional concepts of
the construction industry and it is their
foresight and leadership that continues to
invest in a stronger path forward for opportunity,
growth and development. •
27

The best of Hamilton

DESIGNING
Pier 8
development
HAD SPECIAL MEANING
FOR ACCLAIMED
HAMILTON-BORN ARCHITECT
It’s all come full circle for Bruce Kuwabara.
He is one of Canada’s best-known architects
and a founding partner of KPMB Architects,
a firm that has designed some of Canada’s
finest buildings. As a boy he grew up a few
blocks away from the current Pier 8 site that
will soon become a waterfront community
developed by Waterfront Shores Partners,
comprised of Cityzen, Tercot Communities and
Greybrook Realty Partners. There will be 15 new
buildings with 1,645 residential units and
selective commercial space and lots of public
spaces. Now all these years later, Bruce’s team
of architects was selected to design, what will
be a transformative community on Hamilton
Harbour.
“When I was a kid, it was all fenced off and you
were not supposed to go down there, but it’s
really an incredible site,” Bruce says. He points to
the renowned urbanist Jane Jacobs for some of
the inspiration for the city’s plan for Pier 8. “All of
Jane Jacob’s principles are in play—the importance
of small blocks within a grid of streets, the
importance of sidewalks and corners, the
importance of design diversity, and the importance
of having buildings of different generations.”
30

The best of Hamilton
Recalling growing up in the North End of
Hamilton, Bruce knew how he wanted the site
to serve families and the community. “The
North End had a strong sense of community
and when the city’s developer proposal call was
announced, we were invited by Waterfront
Shores. They said—’ you know this place, do
what you think is right.’ Waterfront Shores was
supportive of the idea of creating coherent
diversity with selected designers who we
invited to design different buildings to form a
vibrant waterfront community. What I’m
hoping comes out of this team approach is that
we achieve design excellence in the development
of all the buildings.”
One of Bruce’s favourite buildings that KPMB
is working on, is one he calls the Red Pier
building, a six-story mostly residential space
that is inspired by waterfront shed buildings
of the past. “It evokes the pier buildings
in other places like San Francisco,
London and Melbourne. Here, we
are proposing to use red brick
and it’s going to have an
industrial character on the
lower two floors expressed
with dark steel. The
ground floors have two
storey live-work spaces,
so it’s like having a
studio on the waterfront,”
Bruce said.
Were there other
waterfronts that gave
inspiration to the
Waterfront Shores
approach? “I was inspired
by Copenhagen, where
they’ve developed whole
precincts of their waterfront.
City building there is very much
oriented towards people - everyone is
walking and riding bicycles. The design of
Pier 8 will provide residents and the community
with access to nature and the water, which is
really the tip of Lake Ontario. And the light on
the site is incredible. The city and Waterfront
Shores share the aspiration to make this project
really sustainable and liveable, based on
principles of wellness. This gives us a chance to
make a different world and set higher standards
of design excellence.”
To learn more about the Pier 8 project and to
register, please visit www.pier8living.com •
31

A PLAN TO GROW THE
Hamilton Economy
After extensive consultation with a
wide variety of key stakeholders,
the Hamilton Economic Development
Department developed a
2021-2025 Economic Development Action Plan
that identifies six key priorities.
FACILITATING A SKILLED AND
ADAPTABLE WORKFORCE Focusing on
attracting, training, retaining and enabling the
Hamilton workforce.
ENHANCING DIGITAL
INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES Making
sure Hamilton is in the forefront in expanding
Hamilton’s access to current and future digital
infrastructure.
GROWING BUSINESS AND
INVESTMENTS Facilitating the attraction,
retention and growth of businesses in Hamilton,
maintaining its position as a favoured
business destination.
MOVING GOODS AND PEOPLE Supporting
an efficient and effective mix of transportation
modes built for the needs of today and built with
the capacity to meet the needs of tomorrow.
REVITALIZING PRIORITY AREAS AND
PLACEMAKING Contributing to the recovery
and transformation of key commercial areas
and corridors to create culturally significant
community places over the next 25 years.
BUILDING TRANSFORMATIONAL
PROJECTS Facilitating the completion of
transformational infrastructure and development
projects to catalyse future growth and
community improvement efforts. •
Tiercon Corporation is a Tier 1 & 2 supplier of automotive exterior products and assemblies. Our Canadian
based company is proud to keep manufacturing in Hamilton with advanced automated technologies to drive our
injection molding, paint and assembly processes. Our amazing team of approximately 600 employees drives our
success through a lens of innovation, inclusion, and technology across 4 sites in Hamilton.
32
Come join our team @

The best of Hamilton
ArcelorMittal Dofasco
AN ESSENTIAL PART OF
HAMILTON’S HISTORY
From its founding 110 years ago, the history of growth and
success of ArcelorMittal Dofasco is intertwined with the
prosperity and identity of Hamilton. That legacy is thriving today.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco is Canada’s
largest steel flat roll steel producer
and a North American leader in
advanced manufacturing. With
nearly 5,000 employees in the Hamilton area,
it’s the city’s leading private sector employer.
The company offers more than 70 careers and
has been named among Canada’s Top 100
Employers eight years in a row.
The company is dedicated to providing
quality, safe working lives to its people, and to
equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Its culture of innovation and continuous
improvement is the foundation of both its steelmaking
and its philosophy as a business.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco is proud of its longstanding
community partnerships, including
those with local suppliers, McMaster University,
Mohawk College, CANMET Materials Laboratory,
school boards and many other organizations.
The company and its employees have
been contributing to community programs and
services for decades, while Team Orange
mobilizes the company’s enthusiastic employee
volunteers at numerous community events
each year.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco is now embarking on
the most ambitious transformation in its
history, becoming the first integrated steel mill
in North America to transition away from coal
in steelmaking. This commitment to electrify
production by 2028 will reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by about 60 per cent or three million
tonnes annually. That’s the equivalent of taking
almost one million cars off the road.
The approximately $1.8-billion investment in
decarbonization – to meet a net zero-carbon
target by 2050 – will provide a cleaner environment
and help address climate change in
Hamilton and beyond. It will also require an
ambitious reskilling for many of the company’s
highly talented workforce.
The 4.5 million net tons of high-quality flat
carbon steel produced and shipped by Arcelor-
Mittal Dofasco each year is used by the top
automotive, energy, packaging and construction
brands to develop lighter, stronger and
more sustainable products – from cans to cars.
This steel is playing a critical role in the
transition to a carbon-neutral, circular economy,
including green energy generation, electric
vehicles, next-generation high-performance
buildings and infrastructure renewal.
It’s this simple: ArcelorMittal Dofasco is
transforming tomorrow with smarter steels for
people and planet. •
Tom
Dibernardo,
Galvanizing
Team
Member, in
the pulpit
at the No. 6
Galvanizing
Line.

Hamilton
Economic
Development:
DEVELOPING
WORKFORCE
TALENT AND
SKILLS
One of the six key Priorities,
Hamilton’s 2021-2025 Economic
Development Action is
Facilitating a Skilled and
Adaptable Workforce. To achieve that goal
Hamilton Economic Development has
identified 11 action items that will ensure
Hamilton continues to provide the talent to
meet the challenges of the future.
1. Approve and implement the Hamilton
Immigration Partnership Strategy by
encouraging the integration of newcomers
into the city and its workforce
2. Explore expanding CityLAB--an innovation
hub that brings together student, academic,
and civic leaders to co-create a better
Hamilton for all.
3. Design and deliver an annual Local Economy
and Workforce Needs business survey
4. Assign a Workforce Development “lead”
within the Economic Development Division
5. In collaboration with the workforce development
community, create and implement a
Workforce Attraction, Retention &
Development (Talent) Strategy
6. Collaborate with local industry to create an
integrated jobs portal
7. Implement a Future of Work series that acts
as an experiential conduit between learners/
jobseekers and employers to allow local
companies to inform future employees of
job and career opportunities available in
Hamilton
8. Explore the development of a Talent
Pipeline program
9. Implement a Hamilton Collaborative Talent
Zone space where industry and local
partners focus on teaching and closing any
skills gaps in the Hamilton workforce
10. Apply to participate in the Municipal
Nominee Program
11. Partner with the workforce and business
community to identify employment
programs, work development opportunities
and initiatives in Hamilton, focused on
equity-seeking groups, groups
disadvantaged by discrimination and
marginalized communities in order to
recommend future strategies to address
existing needs and gaps •
34

The Industry Education Council of Hamilton (IEC)
is a not-for-profit organization operating in the
Golden Horseshoe, facilitating industry, business,
and education partnerships by promoting
experiential learning opportunities for youth.
We help employers support youth through their career
development journey and pathway planning, while employers
stimulate their own workforce development through the
‘Talent Pipeline’, a unique communications conduit. The IEC opens
the door to understanding local career opportunities for job seekers,
pathway planners, and workforce developers.
Experiential learning has many forms which include mentorship,
classroom speakers, in-person company tours, job shadowing,
cooperative education, internship and unique ‘Virtual Workplace
Experience’ videos, created with our partners at Edge Factor. These
provide an authentic behind the scenes view of the careers offered at
local companies and industries. Experiential learning engages youth
and job seekers to better understand the range and diversity of
career opportunities, while supporting workforce development.
The IEC ‘Talent Pipeline’ connects the education sector with the
broader community. Our educational partners include the Hamilton-Wentworth
District and Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District
School Boards, McMaster University, Mohawk College and Redeemer
University. All our partners are vested in workforce development to
help grow the region’s economy by supporting the training and
career development of educated workers who can fill the skills gaps
found in all sectors. The Economic Development Department for the
City of Hamilton is one champion along with many business and
industry partners.
We welcome new partners! If you are a business which can provide
experiential learning opportunities, the IEC will help you make your
brand and career opportunities known to our city’s youth, your
potential future workforce. Let us help you plant those seeds, your
leadership matters. Retiring Executive Director, Cesare Di Donato
wishes to thank all those partners who have contributed to the career
development of our youth over the years.
Learn more at IEC of Hamilton today!
Reece Morgan, Executive Director
reece.morgan@iechamilton.ca

REIMAGINING
Hamilton’s downtown
with sports, entertainment and elegant living
When the $500-million mixeduse
redevelopment plan by
Hamilton Urban Precinct
Entertainment Group (HU-
PEG) is completed, Hamilton’s downtown will
have an entirely new look and feel .
Much anticipated is the makeover of
Hamilton’s First Ontario Centre—a concept
which will be significantly enhanced with the
addition of the Tim Leiweke and his Oak View
Group to the consortium. In addition to a
completely reimagined façade, the focus will
be on development and activation of street
level commercial operations and opportunities
on the north and west York/Bay street level
retail spaces and the significant predominantly
event level and lower bowl transformation of
the arena.
“We intend to bring the facility up to modern,
world-class standards,” says P.J. Mercanti,
HUPEG president and CEO of Carmen’s Group,
“ Ultimately, we are seeking to enhance the fan
and guest experience with modernized spaces
and improved technological investments.”
The redevelopment plan will also see Hundreds
of new residential spaces in three sites
adjacent to the entertainment precinct,
continuing the fulfilment of a long-held goal in
Hamilton to revitalize the downtown area by
increasing the number of residential opportunities
in the area.
Mercanti says the goal is “to make Hamilton
a destination in Southern Ontario for big
events, which will help to fill beds in our newly
constructed hotels, fill seats in our thriving new
restaurants and fill shops and galleries.”
The walkable downtown will pulse with
energy thanks to an eclectic mix of coffee shops
and restaurants, live entertainment venues and
boutique shopping. •
36

CORPORATE EVENTS
NEW YEAR’S EVE PART Y
CATERING MENUS
LIVE DINNER THEATRE
BACI RISTORANTE PRIX FIXE MENU
WINTER WEDDING
Carmen’s signature festive programs and events are back and better than ever! Our team has curated the
perfect collection to meet all your holiday needs Stressed out by the holidays? Let our team cater to you
with our wide range of catering options! We are also delighted to be able to bring back our Carmen’s live
events for the 2022 holiday season. Join us at one of our Carmen’s dinner theatres and enjoy the sounds of
Elvis, Dreamboats, Abba and Bee Gees! Lastly, to wrap up the holiday season, ring in the new year at our
annual New Year’s Eve Bash featuring Hamilton’s favourite cover band, Reflexions!
We look forward to celebrating with you and your loved ones this holiday season!
For tickets and more details, please visit www.carmensgroup.com
wwww.carmensgroup.com

Agri-Food:
A BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY
Hamilton is home to over 120 food
and beverage manufacturers and
over 9,500 skilled workers across
the agri-business and food processing
supply chain. Located in the centre of one of
the largest regional food processing clusters in
North America, Hamilton is the ideal destination
for food industry investment.
Agriculture is a significant component of the
local economy and generates over a billion
dollars in economic activity into the City of
Hamilton on an annual basis. It’s not just food
processing that drives the Hamilton Agri-food
sector. 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.
More than $200 million has been invested in
agri-food facilities in the past decade. More
than 3 million metric tonnes of soybeans, corn,
wheat and other commodities shipped from
the Port of Hamilton annually — a third of the
port’s cargo, and the second largest shipping
category after steel. •
38

Venetian Meat
and Salami
OUR PASSION IS TO GIVE OUR
CUSTOMERS THE BEST PRODUCT
Venetian Meat & Salami Co. Ltd. Opened in Hamilton, Ontario in 1954. It was
founded by two close friends, both from Northern Italy that wanted to specialize in the
manufacturing of a gourmet line of Italian Dry Cured and Cooked Deli Meats.
From left to
right:
Valentino Dal
Bello, Anna
Dorigiola,
Daniel
Dorigiola,
Mark Dal
Bello, Gino
Dal Bello
Starting out of a backyard
garage, both entrepreneurs
combined
production expertise
with the business skill needed
to expand to a large plant. Now,
sole owner Gino Dal Bello and
family members are operating
Venetian Meat & Salami Co. Ltd.,
serving all of Canada and areas of
the United States. With over 60
years of experience, this family
operated business has successfully
produced a top quality line of products using
traditional family recipes and methods.
Venetian Meat & Salami Co. Ltd. is
inspected by The Canadian Food Inspection
Agency, Agriculture of Canada and is
H.A.C.C.P. approved. The meat is delivered
from Federal Inspected Slaughtering
Houses and is of the
highest quality. The result, a
product RICH IN FLAVOUR.
Products are aged the PURE
NATURAL WAY in several drying
rooms using the Old Fashioned
Method which gives the product a
twelve month shelf life. Our products are
Gluten, Lactose and MSG free.
The company’s success has been attributed
to their commitment to offering all its clients a
superb level of service and a quality product.
Now Venetian Meat and Salami has reached
a new milestone with the opening of its 38,000
square foot retail outlet and plant at 1119
Barton St Stoney Creek. With ample parking
Venetian’s loyal customers can still purchase
their favorite premium products, produced in
the time-honored fashion, but in sparking new
surroundings. •
39

Welcome to
Locke Street
CRAFTED BY COMMUNITY
Locke Street South is one of the city’s best-loved areas,
located in the beautiful tree-lined Kirkendall neighbourhood
just beneath the Niagara Escarpment. It is one of the most
popular destinations in the city for Hamiltonians and visitors from
the surrounding region.
There is a sense of community here that has never been more
evident as it has the past few years, as the merchants and
business owners of Locke Street were challenged by a long road
reconstruction project, and the numerous lockdowns and restrictions
of a pandemic. Businesses are once again thriving thanks to
the tremendous support of the community, and local events that
have attracted many to the area. A variety of new businesses have
opened up and a strong BIA continues to develop, promote, and
support Locke Street as a place people want to explore.
We invite you to enjoy shopping in the many unique and eclectic
shops located in this amazing community. Home decor, jewellery
design, salons and spas, gift shops, toys and hobbies, specialty
food retailers, musical instruments, and professional services are
all part of the mix. Weary from shopping? Take a break and have a
bite to eat in any of the many restaurants, cafes, and eateries.
Some of the events held throughout the year on Locke Street
include Sundays Unlocked, the Easter Egg Hunt, Tour Locke - a
self-guided walking tour, Winter Wellness Wander, and the Magic
of Locke which happens over the holiday season. For many, this
charming spot in the city is one to which they return again and
again.
Come and walk Locke and see what the street has to offer!
lockeshops.com

LOCKE STREET OFFICE
Originally a Bank of Hamilton branch,
designated as Heritage property in
2006. Purchased in 2007 by Judy
Marsales Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage
who is committed to preserving the
heritage of the building and adding to
the vitality of the Locke Street area.
WE WORK, LIVE AND PLAY IN YOUR COMMUNITY!!
Believing that it is important to contribute to the community in which
we live and work, the Judy Marsales team of sales representatives,
brokers, and staff play an active role in local businesses and
community events.
WESTDALE OFFICE
986 King Street West
CALL US OR
DROP IN TO
ONE OF OUR
LOCAL OFFICES
TODAY!!
ANCASTER OFFICE
253 Wilson Street East

Explore What The
Citizen Kid
Epic Books
Footprints Music
The Acoustic Room
Picks & Sticks Music
Play With Clay
Floorplay Socks
The Jewellery Judge
Laura Tedesco Jewellery
Design
Sundra
Peruviano
Beasley House Bistro
Squire Pub on Locke
Cima Enoteca
Bread Bar
Delirious Burger
Planted in Hamilton
Democracy
Sushi Azuki
West Town Bar & Grill
Burnt Tongue
Pizzaiolo
Matty’s Hot Chicken
Advanced
Orthodynamics
Function 101
Bodega Wellness
The Gym on Locke
Regent Health
& Chiropractic
Locke Street
Medical Clinic
Thrive Physio
Hamilton Centre for
Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy
Locke Street
Antiques
Lulu & Lavigne
Nest Hamilton
Pure Home Couture
Vintage Charm
Textures
The Local Life
Olive’s Oddiments
Forrest and Harbour
DINE-IN TAKEOUT DELIVERY
A Peruvian-Italian restaurant featuring a menu that offers
the best of both worlds and the best Pisco Sours in town!
Outstanding warm and friendly service
Sunday Brunch on Locke Street 10am - 2pm
Daily Features | Open Daily | Call for Reservations
225 Locke Street South | 905.525.0225 | yeoldesquire.ca
A Hamilton Tradition Since 1979
Visit our other locations
1508 Upper James Street 550 Fennell Ave. E.
127 Plains Road W. Burlington
Dine in Take-Out Order Online We also do Event Catering
254 Locke St. South | 289.389.4163 | peruviano.ca

Street Has To Offer
Quills
Amo Gelato
Diced Ice
Bitten Cupcakes
Madam Bonbon
Donut Monster
Starbucks
Goodness Me!
Pasta Mercato
Hammerheads
Locke Street Farmers
Market
Mini Food Mart
Beckett Fine Art
Epoch Tattoo
Cabbage Brothers
Clouded
Al Simmons Gun Shop
Modern Design Studio
Patrick Evan Hair
Designers
Neo Hair Salon
Studio 136
The Barber on Locke
Maddison Avenue Salon
Flo Aesthetics
David Church
Associates
Hairem Salon
Mr. Tony’s
Wildflower Beauty Spa
Wax Lounge
Adesso Design Inc.
Belle Epoque Floral
Dalton Associates
Fenian Films
GSP Group
Gold Stitch
Edward Jones
Webster Financial
Vogue Models
Locke St. Tire and Auto
Judy Marsales Real
Estate
Offering a unique shopping
alternative to those looking
for natural, sustainable,
quality toys and gifts
Shop Online or In Store. Curbside Pickup and
Delivery options are available
OUR ONLINE 230 Locke SHOP Street IS NOW South OPEN!
Shop 905.963.1265 On-Line for Inspired | www.citizenkid.ca
Gifts and Holiday Decor
An eclectic mix of
new and vintage home decor,
lifestyle accessories, and gifts.
View our annual Holiday Ornament Lookbook at lookbook.luluandlavigne.com
See all 150 styles in our 2020 holiday ornament collection!
Shop In Store or Online | 228 Locke Street South, Hamilton
905-522-2627 | shop.luluandlavigne.com
Pasta Mercato offers a tantalizing take-out pasta
experience with all locally sourced premium
ingredients. Select from a menu of small-batch fresh
pasta, meals-to-go, housemade focaccia, cheese, amazing
sandwiches, desserts, coffee and specialty Italian items.
Open Wed-Friday 9-6:30,
Saturday 9-5:30 Sunday 9-4
170 Locke St. South, Hamilton
pastamercatostore.com | 905.777.9724
Fast, Reliable Appraisals done while you watch
We also do jewellery repairs
Appraisals by Appointment Book Online or by Phone
163 Locke Street South | 905.577.4140 | jewelleryjudge.ca
Trusted as one of Canada's favourite jewellery appraisers since 1984

Sit, Play & Enjoy the
Acoustic Room Experience
The Acoustic Room is a unique
acoustic instrument store offering an
environment that is comfortable and
friendly allowing you to see, hear, feel
and "experience" the instruments. We
also offer vintage, pre-owned and new
electric guitars in our "Electric Corner!"
We will buy your acoustic or electric
guitar. Set Ups and Repairs.
Accessories • Amps • Ukuleles
229 Locke Street South
905.524.0101 Closed Mondays
theacousticroom.ca
dicediceAD.pdf 1 19.09.2022 16:50
Launched in 2007, the Locke Street Business Improvement
Area encompasses all businesses on Locke Street South
between Main Street West and Homewood Avenue consisting
of more than 90 retail stores, professional services, cafés, and
restaurants frequented by residents and visitors alike.
The vision of the BIA is to develop, market and support Locke
Street as a vital place people want to explore and where
businesses are excited to invest. The mission is to provide
value to our members through advocacy, beautification,
promotion, development and preservation of Downtown
Hamilton.
Come and enjoy a walk on Locke for the relaxed
atmosphere as you explore an exciting mix of
shopping and restaurants!
DICED-ICE BABY!
Our rolled ice cream is made fresh to order and
customizable. Endless combinations and
toppings makes for a unique experience. It’s a
show where we ‘dice’ your flavour into our ice
cream base and roll up your very own ice cream,
made just for you.
We’re a small team with flavours inspired from our
South East Asian background. You will find Thai
Tea, Vietnamese Coffee along with fan favourites
like S’mores, Cookie Monster and Strawberry
Cheesecake.
We use fresh ingredients collaborating with local
business to provide unique and delicious pairings
to suit your palate. We would love to see your
favourite dessert shop combined with our ice
cream!
Discover new flavours and combinations at Diced
Ice! See how we roll?
FIND US:
hello@diced-ice.com
diced-ice.com
@_diced_ice 289.389.1606
129 Locke St S. Hamilton

PATRICK EVAN
HAIR DESIGNERS
WELCOME
DANNY TO THE
TEAM OF
VETERAN
STYLISTS
Laura Tedesco is an award-winning third generation jeweller whose work is inspired
by life: dreams, travels, nature, emotions and experiences. With over 20 years in the
jewellery industry and her passion for custom design, Laura and her husband John
help clients bring out their own personal expressions through the re-styling of their
heirloom pieces or by creating one-of-a-kind, meaningful jewellery and stunning
custom traditional and alternative engagement rings and wedding bands. Whatever
the reason, occasion, or expression, it will be captured in the design.
By Appointment | 195 Locke Street South, #1, Hamilton
(905) 528-4414 | lauratedesco.com
He is a specialist
in colour, colour
correction,
balayage, ombre,
and highlights.
Book an
appointment and
let him work his
magic! Before After
Patrick Evan
Hair Designers & Technicians
150 Locke Street S. | 905.523.8513
Nest is the Canadian gift shop for animal lovers, offering a carefully curated collection
of talented Canadian artists who craft animal-themed fine art, whimsical prints,
jewellery, kitchenware, clothes, baby items and toys for both kids and pets. Owner
Robyn Allan enjoys creating a positive experience for visitors. Shop with the
knowledge that you are supporting Canadian artists as well as finding the perfect gift.
171 Locke Street South | nesthamilton.com
Shop in-store or online | We ship across North America
Top Quality Hand Made Soy Candles for your Home, Wax Melts,
Bath and Body. We also offer wonderfully unique products from
over 120 vendors of clothing, home decor, jewellery, high quality
crafts, and so much more!
189 Locke Street South Hamilton | 4 Ontario Street, Grimsby | forrestandharbour.ca

Hamilton is growing, and we need leaders with a vision for the successful future of our city.
HamiltoNEXT is a non-partisan alliance of local business organizations committed to helping
our city become a champion for long-term prosperity, growing our economy, and creating a
better quality of life for everyone in Hamilton.
Visit HamiltoNEXT.ca for more information and help us #FrameOurFuture.
Jobs Infrastructure & transportation Public & private sector investment
Housing Respecting your tax dollars Sustainability & climate resilience
Using a local RAHB REALTOR®
is key when moving to a
new community.
SOLD
HAMILTON BURLINGTON HALDIMAND NIAGARA NORTH
46
Empowering RAHB REALTORS® to Succeed
www.rahb.ca

The best of Hamilton
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 provides
Hamilton 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. Goods from Hamilton,
including agri-food and steel reach every
continent. 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,
as well as a link to passenger destinations all
over the hemisphere. 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

Some will say
they always knew,
but I didn’t.
Fluke Transport has been in business for over 102 consecutive years, the Fluke family is still welcome in our office and we continue to
treat them like family. We reflect on how our team has grown over the years. We have evolved to build lasting relationships with our
customers, we provide solutions that fit their unique needs, and we pride ourselves in staying a few steps ahead of the competition.
Our experienced operations staff have successfully become cross border document and clearance experts, traffic gridlock combat
specialists, and compliance and maintenance professionals. Our dispatchers have the same level of reliability as air traffic controllers,
and we assure you they can successfully navigate ground transportation in the greater Toronto, Halton, Hamilton, and Niagara regions.
We have to be responsive, reliable, and reactive to Hamilton and Southern Ontario’s growth and that’s why we have expanded our
LTL, Warehouse, and Logistics divisions. Hamilton is the perfect geographical location as it is central to everything. To be honest, times have
been tough with unpredictable fuel prices and a plague of incidents leaving our highways closed several times this year. But at Fluke
we understand that our customers depend on our ability to communicate and be transparent - these are not state secrets, but issues that
everyone faces. We approach our customer’s solution in real time supported by technology that works for us, not the other way around.
Maintaining our business in Hamilton is an easy choice.
- Kevin Hagen, Steve Foxcroft, Ron Foxcroft
I learned some of my most valuable life
lessons the hard way.
When I bought Fluke Transport over
30 years ago, those first few years were
some of the busiest and most challenging
ones of my life. While I was on the road
travelling extensively throughout North
America, I believed I could run two
companies and be a full-time NCAA
basketball referee. Looking back now,
I realize how hard my wife and sons
worked to fill my shoes while I was
away. But it was this type of family effort
and commitment that allowed Fluke
Transport to grow from 3 trucks to 110
trucks and 500 trailers. In addition,
Fluke has expanded the warehouse and
logistics operations to better serve our
customers.
If you see our slogan on the roadways remember where we call home.
If It’s On Time… It’s A “FLUKE”.
www.fluke.ca

The best of Hamilton
Hamilton International Airport
Hamilton’s newest ultra-affordable carrier
Passengers
enjoy the
ease and
convenience
of Hamilton
International
Many Passenger Choices
Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, John C.
Munro Hamilton International Airport is poised
to offer a diverse roster of affordable travel
options. Hamilton International has become a
popular airport for travellers looking for a
hassle-free experience while reaching popular
domestic and international destinations.
Currently, with Hamilton International’s 2022/23
Winter Program, between Sunwing, Air Transat
and Swoop, snowbirds can reach virtually every
popular sunspot including Las Vegas, multiple
destinations in Florida, Cuba, the Dominican
Republic, and Mexico. That same winter
schedule will connect Hamilton to destinations
in Eastern and Western Canada with services
operated by Swoop, WestJet, and the Airport’s
newest ultra-affordable airline, Lynx.
Cargo Leader
Hamilton International continues to set new
volume records as the largest domestic overnight
express cargo airport in Canada. Its 24/7
operation makes it an ideal partner for key cargo
companies including Cargojet, DHL Express,
UPS, Canada Post, Purolator, and Amazon. 766
million kilograms of cargo was facilitated
through Hamilton International in 2021—a 16
percent increase over the previous year and a
whopping 44 percent increase since 2019.
Land Development
Significant investments and land
developments have been made at Hamilton
International to increase capacity and support
the growth of goods movement activity
including the 75,000 ft 2 Mohawk College
Centre for Aviation Technology built in
partnership with KF Aerospace, DHL Express’
new state-of-the-art 238,000 ft2 Gateway
Facility, and the new 2.4 million ft2 Amazon
fulfillment centre (YHM1) located adjacent to
the Airport.
Economic Engine
Hamilton International continues to be a key
driver of economic activity in the Hamilton
Census Metropolitan Area and broader
Ontario region as demonstrated by its most
recent Economic Impact Study. In 2021,
Hamilton International was responsible
for over 4,700 direct and indirect jobs, and
ultimately, an impressive $1.5 billion in
economic activity in Hamilton. •
In 2018,
Hamilton
International
partnered
with The
Laundry
Design
Works to
introduce a
revitalized
look inside
the terminal
49

HAMILTON OFFERS A WIDE
VARIETY OF FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESS
The City of Hamilton offers a number of programs for property owners and developers
to help offset costs of improvements and conversions of brownfields, heritage
properties, core area properties and buildings and LEED certified buildings.
Hamilton offers financial incentive
programs in the form of loans and
grants to assist with various costs
associated with development in
Downtown Hamilton, Community Downtowns,
Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), the Mount
Hope/Airport Gateway, and the commercial
corridors as identified in the Revitalizing
Hamilton’s Commercial Districts Community
Improvement Project ( for details on the CIP
which authorizes these incentives please visit
www.hamilton.ca/cip).
There are also financial incentives for
properties designated under the Ontario
Heritage Act. The Revitalizing Hamilton’s
Commercial Districts Community
Improvement Project provides the basis
through which these programs are provided. In
addition, municipal Development Charges
(DC) are reduced within the defined
Downtown Hamilton Community
Improvement Project Area.
Developers are also provided the option to
receive an additional exemption of 10% of the
municipal development charges in this area
where a dollar for dollar contribution is made
to the Downtown Public Art Reserve.
Brownfields / ERASE Program
The City of Hamilton’s Environmental
Remediation and Site Enhancement (ERASE)
Community Improvement Plan is a comprehensive
set of programs designed to encourage
and promote brownfield redevelopment. As its
name suggests, the Plan is designed to “erase”
brownfields by providing financial incentives to
clean them up and replace them with productive
economic land uses, thereby improving
both economic opportunities and environmental
conditions in the City.
LEED Grant Program
The intent of the LEED Grant program is to
provide an economic catalyst for sustainable
building and sustainable land development
practices located within the LEEDING the Way
Community Improvement Project Area •
Visit Investinhamilton.ca for details
50

The best of Hamilton
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
51

CE LE BR ATING OVE R
80 YE A R S
O F C O M M UN ITY B UILDIN G
WE ADVOCATE
On behalf of the new housing industry for more
housing supply and choice that is attainable for
renters and aspiring home owners.
WE HELP
Businesses and professionals in the Residential
Construction Industry grow and succeed.
WE SUPPORT
Our local community through
partnership programmes, fundraising
initiatives and volunteerism.
Learn 52m ore about th e W est E n d H om e B uild ers’ A ssoc iation at
w w w .w esten d h b a.c a

The best of Hamilton
Dynamic medical research
and health care environment
Hamilton’s life sciences sector
constitutes an intersection of
innovation, research and business.
The life sciences sector is now the
largest employer in Hamilton with one of the
strongest hospital networks in Canada. Health
care and social assistance is by far the largest
employment category in Hamilton accounting
for nearly one in five jobs and employing 38,000
full and part time workers. As the ambitious
city, Hamilton offers life sciences’ companies
the convergence of research, development and
business collaboration in a unique and vibrant
business setting.
Between Hamilton Health Services, St.
Joseph’s Healthcare, Bay Area Health Trust,
Innovation Factory, McMaster University
Faculty of Medicine and Mohawk College,
among other innovators, a collaborative cluster
utilizes technology to improve healthcare
services. The Synapse Consortium supports the
health sciences cluster by facilitating collaboration,
accelerating commercialization, and
promoting the impact of this valuable sector.
The two major Healthcare networks combined
attract more that $225 Million in research
funding each year, placing both in the top 40
Research hospital in Canada year after year.
At Mohawk College IDEAWORKS, the
mHealth and eHealth Development and
Innovation Centre (MEDIC) helps companies,
start-ups, not-for-profits, and government organizations
develop and implement innovative
digital health solutions to improve patient care.
International investments like the
Fraunhofer Project Centre are building life
sciences capacity in Hamilton and positioning
the city as an international leader. •
Commercializing medical at the
Fraunhofer Project Centre for Biomedical
and Advanced Manufacturing (BEAM)
St. Joseph’s Healthcare
pioneering robotic surgery
Hamilton
Health Sciences
Trauma Unit
53

Compassionate
care in the heart of
Hamilton
For more than a century, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
has been a beacon of healing and hope for residents of
Hamilton and beyond. Known for genuine compassionate
care and a commitment to innovation, St. Joe’s is:
• an Academic Health Sciences Centre
• one of Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals
• the second largest provider of mental health and
addiction services in Ontario
• the largest renal program in Ontario
• a top Robotic Surgery Centre in Canada
54

The best of Hamilton
The best of Hamilton
It’s no secret that St. Joe’s continues to lay
the foundation for the highest standard
of patient care. Health systems across
Canada count on St. Joe’s kidney and urinary
program, one of the most extensive in the
country, to discover and advise on the best
new practices. St. Joe’s progressive mental
health and addiction programs meet the
unique needs of each patient to move toward
healing and recovery. At the same time, St.
Joe’s mental health and addiction research
and clinical teams push boundaries to create
groundbreaking solutions for today and plan
for a post-pandemic future.
St. Joe’s is also home to thousands of dedicated
healthcare workers. Even in the face of ongoing
challenges in healthcare, our 5,000+ staff,
including more than 700 physicians, 2,000
learners and 500 volunteers, continuously
raise the bar to compassionately deliver an
integrated, exceptional care experience. St.
Joe’s culture of legacy and leadership nurtures
ideas that drive innovation, question the
limits of science, solidify interdisciplinary
relationships and collectively move toward a
common purpose: providing the best patientcentred
care. This unified vision has received:
• national attention by Waterstone Human
Capital, awarding St. Joe’s with the 2021 Most
Admired Corporate Culture Award
• and local distinction as one of Hamilton-
Niagara’s Top Employers for 2022
When people walk through the doors at St.
Joe’s, whether employees or patients, family
members or visitors, they are met with
compassion, respect and exceptional care.
Learn how our partners at St. Joe’s Foundation
are working to build a new CT suite in our
emergency department to make sure that
when every second counts, our community
can continue to count on St. Joe’s.
Flip the page to learn more. •
55

Dr. Greg Rutledge, Chief of Emergency
Medicine & Deputy Chief of Staff,
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
When every
second counts, you can
count on St. Joe’s
HELP THE HOSPITAL BRING
A CT TO THE ER
When emergencies happen, our
community needs access to the right
care, right away. That’s why St. Joe’s
is planning to build a CT suite inside
the Emergency Room at its Charlton
Campus.
“The patients we see in the ER are often
fighting for their lives. They may be victims
of a car accident, experiencing a heart attack
or stroke, or having severe symptoms with no
clear cause,” says Dr. Greg Rutledge, Chief of
Emergency Medicine at St. Joe’s. “But before we
can diagnose the symptoms our patients are
feeling on the outside, we need to see what’s
happening on the inside.”
How CT Scans Save Lives
Right now, if it’s not clear what’s wrong with
a patient in the ER, they’re transported to
Diagnostic Imaging for a CT scan. The scan
is reviewed by a radiologist before being sent
back up to the ER to help the doctor to make
a diagnosis. All of this needs to happen before
a care plan is put in place and a patient can be
treated.
“If we put a CT scanner right inside the ER, our
care teams will be able to get the answers they
56 2

The best of Hamilton
need sooner, allowing the right decisions for
care to be made quickly,” adds Dr. Colm Boylan,
the Hospital’s Chief of Diagnostic Imaging. “This
will help save precious time and precious lives.”
Speeding Up Access to Care
A CT scanner inside the ER will speed up the
admission of patients into the Hospital, and
facilitate faster discharges for those who can
receive treatment and return home the same
day. Put simply, the scanner will create more
space at St. Joe’s to care for more people by
addressing a growing concern in the city – the
rising number of “code zeros.”
Code zero is paramedic language for situations
when the number of ambulances available to
respond to 911 calls in the city is limited to
one or zero. It happens when ambulances are
unable to offload patients because all the ER
beds are full. But with a CT Scanner in the ER,
the Hospital will be able to diagnose and care for
incoming ambulance patients sooner, thereby
freeing up paramedics to respond to other lifethreatening
emergencies across the city.
“A CT scanner inside the ER will help save
minutes to hours of bed time every day” says
Dr. Rutledge. “It will make a big difference in
improving patient flow and St. Joe’s capacity to
care for more people in need.”
Benefits Beyond the ER
Having a CT scanner in the ER will also bring the
total number of CTs at St. Joe’s to three, helping
the Hospital catch up on non-urgent scans
that were put on hold during the peaks of the
COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the scanner
will be housed in the ER, it will provide testing
for patients in the Hospital’s Cancer, Urology,
Kidney, Dialysis, Chest and Lung departments,
thereby addressing wait times for diagnostic
imaging procedures across the Hospital.
While CT scanners are considered the new
standard of care in ERs, the cost of retrofitting
St. Joe’s to house one isn’t covered by the
government. The good news is St. Joe’s already
Above: Drs. Rutledge and Boylan with a CT Scanner.
Below: A Medical Radiation Technologist reviews CT imagery.
has a best-in-class CT scanner. The Hospital
just needs help to build the specialized suite to
house it in the ER.
That’s why St. Joe’s Foundation is working with
the community to raise funds to bring a CT to
the ER. The total project cost is estimated to be
$1.8 million and, to date, more than $700,000
has been donated. Help St. Joe’s bring a CT to
the ER, because when an emergency happens,
every second counts. •
To donate, please visit
stjoesfoundation.ca/CTSuite
or scan:
57 3

Hamilton Waste
Management
LEADING THE WAY IN WASTE REDUCTION
Everything we do at the Waste
Management division of Hamilton
Public Works is aimed at reducing
the amount of material that goes
into the Glanbrook Landfill site. Our goal is
only to have items that cannot be recycled or
composted sent to the site and to adopt
practices that will enable the facility to serve
Hamilton for decades to come.
At the Glanbrook Landfill site our focus is on
responsible waste disposal with an emphasis
on the environment. Truckloads of waste are
compacted six times to reduce the volume.
Tarpaulins, screens and fencing protect our
neighbours from wind-borne debris. Neutralizing
mist combats odours.
We closely monitor everything at the
landfill. Leachate water is treated. Surface
water is collected in ponds and becomes
habitat for ducks and turtles. Two pollinator
gardens have been installed to allow pollination
by butterflies, moths and bees. Other
habitats are found around the site for birds,
bats and snakes. Through the wildlife Habitat
Council, the Glanbrook landfill is certified as
a Wildlife at Work site. •
58

The best of Hamilton
Yard Waste Composting
Energy From Waste
At Hamilton Waste Management we are proud of our
energy from waste facility. Landfill gas is collected and
used to power two-20-cylinder engines which power an
electrical generator which contributes enough power into
the grid to feed 2,000 homes.
Blue Box Program
The Glanbrook Landfill
site is also where we
process leaf and yard
waste into usable
compost. After six
months of processing, the
clean compost is now
ready to be used in all
parts of the city. It can be
found in traffic islands,
community gardens and
is distributed to the
public at compost
giveaway events.
Green Bin Program
The blue box program is an important part of our waste
reduction strategy, and it will continue to serve the
community as the responsibility for blue box is transitioned
from municipalities to the producers of waste materials.
Residents can further
assist in waste
reduction by participating
in the Green Bin
and home composting
programs. Hamilton’s
central composting
site produces Ontario’s
highest-grade
compost. In a year the
facility processes
20,000 tons of kitchen
waste and green bin
materials in an
environment that
utilizes advanced
technology to create
compost safely and
minimizes odours.
59

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for your business.
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breach of an existing listing agreement. Colliers Macaulay Nicolls Inc.

The best of Hamilton
On the leading edge of evolving personal injury law
For Erica Lamont, as with her father
Michael before her in the practice of
personal injury law, the focus is on
ensuring the client comes away from
the process with a sense of satisfaction. “We
try to make sure our clients can experience a
measure of healing—that they can still get
on with their lives with dignity,” she says.
“The future can be a scary place after an
injury.” Erica is a conscientious litigator who
advocates for her clients while treating
them, and their families, with compassion
and respect. Her practice includes all areas
of personal injury law including motor
vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents,
pedestrian/car accidents, trucking accidents,
bicycle accidents, slip and fall accidents,
dog bites, dog attacks, and medical
negligence. Additionally, Erica advocates for
individuals who have been denied long term
disability.
Erica is the managing partner in the firm ,
where Michael remains an active and trusted
counsel, “The companies that are successful
are ones who develop succession plans that
assure longevity, stability and the ability to
adapt,” says Erica. “Lamont Law has been
successful because we focused on being a
boutique firm that is nimble and really cares
about our clients.”
“After a serious injury a person has to
adapt to a new way of life. We care about our
clients and telling their stories. Our aim is to
help them navigate the legal world so they
can focus on recovering,” said Erica.
As Lamont Law moves forward it remains
focused on the needs of individual clients—a
strategy the company has followed
since Michael founded the firm more than
four decades ago and will continue with
Erica at the helm. •
61

Taylor Leibow
REACHING EXCELLENCE,
TOGETHER FOR 75 YEARS
Taylor Leibow is one of the largest
and most respected independent
accounting firms in the Greater
Hamilton and Burlington area. At a
time when many of the national accounting
firms moved out of Hamilton, Taylor Leibow
has stayed true to the local commitment
made in 1947 when Sam Taylor and Kevey
Leibow started the firm in downtown Hamilton.
CEO Nigel Jacobs says the company has
grown to 12 partners and over 70 staff by
constantly seeking to implement best practices,
hiring the best talent and providing
excellent client service. Occupying offices
covering two floors in Effort Square, the
full-service firm’s largest service offerings are
accounting and taxation, but it also has
expertise in business valuations 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-profit organizations, auto dealerships
and real estate.
Taylor Leibow celebrated its 75 th year in
business by rebranding with a new modern
logo to better represent the current firm as it
moves into the future including a new tagline
“Reaching Excellence, Together.” The significant
achievement of 75 years can be attributed
to a number of strategic decisions. At a time of
mergers in the accounting industry how does a
CEO Nigel
Jacobs
(pictured 6th
from left)
and all the
Partners at
Taylor
Leibow
62

The best of Hamilton
Sam Taylor
and Kevey
Leibow
founded
the firm in
1947
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 quality
professionals and provide great value-added
services to clients. A number of the mergers
occur in the public accounting industry due to
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 and fourth generation of partners.
It is also important to remain relevant and
adapt to the changing environment and Taylor
Leibow, while maintaining its local expertise,
has expanded its global reach through its
membership in DFK International - an international
global association of independent
accounting, tax, legal and business advisory
firms. DFK International currently consists of
217 firms with 457 offices in more than 100
countries worldwide. Nigel Jacobs was recently
elected as DFK Vice-President of the Americas.
“The value of DFK is that we are independent
and yet we share best practices to learn from
each other which is very valuable for our firms.
In addition, our firms are able to service our
clients across the globe and provide Canadian
expertise to our international members,” said
Nigel.
The sustainability and longevity of an
organization celebrating 75 years requires a
talented and committed workforce. Taylor
Leibow knows one of the keys to attracting and
retaining talent is to live the firm’s core values,
ongoing engagement and community involvement
which appeals to professionals. “We have
team members who have been with the firm for
more than 20 years and many of our current
partners began their careers with Taylor
Leibow as students,” 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 team members to actively participate
in events by volunteering and interacting with
the community whenever we can. We appreciate
the ability to be involved and give back to
the community where we are located.” •
63

People who made a difference in Hamilton
HAMILTON’S
Harry Howell
WAS THE TOAST
OF THE BIG APPLE
It was five decades after Harry Howell ended
his NHL career and returned to his hometown
of Hamilton, but when he died in 2019
his passing attracted headlines from the
New York media and former New York Ranger
teammates. Larry Brooks of the New York Post
wrote, “The Rangers franchise lost a man of
royalty on Sunday when Howell passed away at
the age of 86, only a couple of weeks after he lost
his wife, Marilyn. He was one of the most
respected players of the era, one of the strongest
and one of the most accomplished of those
spanning the Original Six and expansion eras.”
Harry Howell won the Norris Trophy for best
defenseman in 1966-67, and wore the Ranger
uniform for more games (1,160) than any player
in franchise history. He was honoured with a
Harry Howell Night at the old Madison Square
Garden in 1967, was inducted into the Hockey
Hall of Fame in 1979 and had his No. 3 retired in
2009. “His presence elevated us all,” former
Ranger star Vic Hadfield told the Post. “He and
Andy [Bathgate] guided us, not so much by
words but by their actions. He taught us how to
be professionals. He was all class. He was all
about the team, never about himself.”
So admired in New York sports circles was
Howell, that the likes of Mickey Mantle, Willie
Mayes, Frank Gifford and Rocky Marciano
would be regulars at Madison Square Garden
as would visit Harry at his locker.
The New York Times in its obituary, again
quoted Vic Hadfield, ““The way he played was
64

The best of Hamilton
just like his personality,” said Hadfield, whose
family to this day has enjoyed a lifelong
friendship with the Howells. “Solid. Dependable.
A man.” The same article quoted Brad
Park. “He may not have been physical enough
for some people and he may not have been a
fighter, but when he hit people he hurt them,”
Park said. “It was always straight up and
honest. He never cheap-shotted and I never
saw anyone on another team cheap-shot him.
He was so strong.“
Henry Vernon Howell was born on Dec. 28,
1932, in Hamilton, where his father was a
furrier. He joined the Rangers’ junior team, the
old Guelph Biltmore’s, at 16, and was called up
to the Rangers after three seasons. In addition
to hockey, Howell played junior football for
Westdale Collegiate.
Soon after playing in his 1,000th game,
in January 1967, he was presented with
the Medal of the City of New York by
Mayor John V. Lindsay and he was honored at
the old Madison Square Garden with the first
“night” ever accorded a Rangers player.
There were two occasions when Howell
almost became a Toronto Maple Leaf. The first
in the spring of 1957 when the Rangers offered
him in a straight trade to the Leafs for Jim
Morrison. That deal was nixed by Leaf owner
Conn Smythe. Then in 1966, Leaf GM Punch
Imlach turned down an offer to swap defenceman
Cal Brewer for Howell.
When his hockey career ended Harry
Howell had 94 goals and 324 assists in the
N.H.L., and 7 goals and 36 assists in the
W.H.A., appearing in 170 games. On Howell’s
selection to the NHL all-star team in 1967,
New York Times sports writer Arthur Daley
summed up Howell’s playing style, describing
Howell as an “indestructible workhorse,”
he wrote, “For 15 years Howell has been
labouring in efficient unostentatious fashion
on the Ranger blue line disrupting enemy
sorties and valiantly crashing into whatever
interlopers try for a breakthrough on the
net.” •
65

People who made a difference in Hamilton
Boris Brott
PAYING TRIBUTE TO A CULTURAL ICON
In April of 2022 Hamilton tragically lost a
local cultural treasure with the death of
Boris Brott in a hit-and-run collision as
he was walking in his neighbourhood.
More than any single individual Boris Brott
put Hamilton on the cultural map in Canada
and internationally. From 1969 to 1990, Brott
was artistic director and conductor of the
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, which
grew from an amateur ensemble to a professional
one with a 42-week season and 16,000
subscribers. The orchestra also gave birth to
the quintet Canadian Brass. A
charismatic maestro, Brott
included visual elements,
ballet dancers, Shakespearean
actors, film,
rock groups, even
astronauts to the
stages of classical
music concerts.
There was a sense of
cultural excitement in
Hamilton in those days
with the Philharmonic
and even an opera company.
In 1988, he founded the Brott
Music Festival, which has since become
Canada’s largest orchestral music festival. It is a
major cultural event in Hamilton and surrounding
areas for the months of July and
August. From that, he created the National
Academy Orchestra of Canada, recognized in
1999 as a National School by the Department of
Canadian Heritage. The NAO pairs music
graduates pursuing a career, with professional
musicians from North American orchestras in a
mentor-apprentice relationship. It is Canada’s
only professional training orchestra and has
graduated about 1,000 musicians.
In 2015 he founded BrottOpera—a professional
training program for emerging professional
opera singers, who are given the opportunity
to rehearse and perform a fully staged
opera and Pop Opera each year with the
National Academy Orchestra. Brott Opera
employs opera administrators, production
teams and established “mentor” artists from
across Canada and internationally.
Boris Brott was one of the most
internationally recognized
Canadian conductors, having
conducted on stages
around the world,
including Carnegie Hall
and Covent Garden. He
was known for his
innovative methods of
introducing classical
music to new audiences.
Over his career, he
commissioned, performed,
and recorded a
wide variety of Canadian
works.
Before arriving in Hamilton Brott directed
the Lakehead Symphony Orchestra (Thunder
Bay Symphony Orchestra) between 1967 and
1972] and the Regina Symphony Orchestra
from 1971 to 1973.
Brott was made an Officer of the Order of
Canada. In 2006, he was made a Member of the
Order of Ontario. He was also the recipient of
many awards in Hamilton. He is survived by
wife Ardyth and three children. •
66

The best of Hamilton
Boris Brott poses with the National Academy Orchestra which he founded.
67

Inside the 160
year old Steam
Museum the
massive
Gartshore
pumps that
supplied water
to a city, are still
functioning.
Re-enacting the War of
1812 Battle of Stoney
Creek
HMCS Haida is a warship
that provided heroic
support on D-Day
Hamilton
Military
Museum
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Home to more than 50 vintage aircraft
including one of only two Lancaster
Bombers in flying condition.
History Comes alive at
Hamilton
Whitehern Gardens, a popular site for
weddings and summer concerts, designed by
famed landscaper Howard Dunnington-Grubb
Dundurn Castle
Westfield Heritage Village where visitors
can experience pioneer life
Dundurn Castle; A fully restored Italianate
villa, once home to Allan Napier MacNab, one
time Premier of the Province of Canada
68

The best of Hamilton
Fieldcote museum
Whitehern,
home to the
McQuesten
Family
Whitehern,
home to the
McQuesten
Family
Kids exploring crafts
at Hamilton
Children’s Museum
museums
Few communities place as much
emphasis on preserving history and
heritage as does Hamilton. Six of
Hamilton’s museums have been
designated National Historic Sites. Many of
the museums and historical sites offer
special programming for children. In addition,
there is an interactive children’s museum,
just for kids. In all Hamilton museums
and historical sites offer more than 150
annual events, immersive experiences,
Curriculum-linked field trip options, birthday
party packages, unique rental spaces,
and much more. For the serious archivist
there is also one of Ontario’s finest local
history repositories in the Hamilton Public
Library Special Collections Department. •
The Hamilton
Museum of
Steam and
Technology – a
fine example of
Greek Revival
Architecture
Battlefield
Monument
and House
in Stoney
Creek.
69

People who made a difference in Hamilton
Phil Getting
ready to
represent
Canada in
1928 as a
member of
the
Hamilton
Olympic
Club.
Way ahead of his time,
Phil Edwards
transcended
racism,
brought international
glory to Hamilton
The Hamilton Olympic Club, the
oldest track and field organization
in Canada, is approaching its 100th
year,. From the beginning the club
has produced many world-class athletes—
but perhaps none more gifted and interesting
than Phil Edwards—in his day one of the
world’s top middle distance runners—and a
lot more. Edwards ended up winning five
bronze medals in the 1928, 1932 and 1936
Olympics. Phil Edwards was born in Georgetown
Guyana, the son of a wealthy magistrate.
At some point Edward’s father moved
the family to New York City to live in the
then fashionable Harlem, where it appears
he prospered in real estate. Edwards enrolled
at NYU and excelled as a track star, becoming
the US half-mile champion. Because he
was a British subject he was ineligible to try
out for the 1928 US Olympic Team. While
taking part in a track meet at the CNE in
1927, he was discovered by M.M.Bobby
Robinson of the fledgling Hamilton Olympic
Club. Edwards was invited to join the
Hamilton Club and it was while wearing
their colours that he was named to the
Canadian Olympic team. Edwards quickly
became a media darling. He was described
70

The best of Hamilton
as a “phenomenon” by the Globe but also
racial adjectives like “coloured” and “dusky”
were ubiquitous in news accounts of the day,
even in a stiff, Christian pro-temperance
journal as the Globe was.
In the lead-up to the 1928 Amsterdam
Olympics Phil shattered records for the 800
meters at the 91st Highlander Games in
Hamilton. It was Edwards’ lap in the men’s
4x400 meter relay that was credited for Canada
winning a bronze medal.
In the 1920’s track and field was a popular
spectator sport, drawing huge crowds. Fans
would know the names and records of their
heroes much as kids today can rhyme off stats
about their favorite pro athletes in team sports.
Phil Edwards was recognized as a star wherever
he went in North America to the almost
endless track meets that were staged then.
Outside of the Olympics he was still on the
NYU track team and raced everywhere for the
varsity squad. So much in demand was Edwards
that in January 1929 he won an 800
meter race in Manhattan and then jumped into
a taxi to compete in a 600 meter race in
Brooklyn which he also won. So busy was
Edwards that In July of 1929, anxious to get
back to Hamilton to take part in Olympic trials
for the 1932 games, Edwards left a track meet
in Denver, took an airplane 1000 miles to Chicago
and from there caught a train to Hamilton.
At those trials Edwards finished first in the 800
meters and the mile.
Throughout all this time Edwards seems to
have enjoyed an unusual amount of acceptance
by Hamilton society, which otherwise would
have possessed the same prejudices that were
prevalent at a time when the Ku Klux Klan was
still a force in the US and Canada. Perhaps it
was his wealth and education that overcame
racial attitudes, plus he possessed an engaging
personality. Participating in a track meet in
New York he won the 600 meter race prompting
a Globe writer to enthuse, albeit with the
racial references that seemed unavoidable in
the journalism of the day; “the appearance of
Phil Edwards the British Guyana Star was the
occasion of an ovation by those present and the
coloured flash wearing the colours of the
Hamilton Olympic Club lost no time in demonstrating
to those present that he is one of the
greatest runners of the world…”
In 1930, when the first ever British Empire
Games were held in Hamilton in the new Civic
Phil’s most successful Olympiad was in Los Angeles in
1932 where he captured 3 bronze medals.
Globe
clipping of
Phil (lower
right) in
Canadian
Olympic
trials.
Houses on
Melrose
Avenue
Hamilton in
background.
71

People who made a difference in Hamilton
When he
wasn’t in
Olympic
mode Phil
was captain
of the NYU
track team.
Stadium, purpose-built for the occasion,
Edwards was able to wear the colours of his
native Guyana. Surprisingly, he finished out of
the medals. By this time Edwards had enrolled
at McGill University to study medicine and
joined McGill track team. Teammate Jim
Worrall described Edwards. “Phil was the
backbone of the McGill team. Phil was an
outstanding human being. I would like to
describe him as a gentleman and a gentle man.
He was not overly modest. But he didn’t push
himself forward. He was a team player.”
When the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics rolled
around, Phil Edwards was back in Hamilton
working out with the Hamilton club. At the Los
Angeles Games Edwards took three bronze
medals, his best showing to date—a performance
that was described by pundits as a “comeback”
after he had reduced his track appearances to
pursue his studies.
Certainly nobody expected that Edwards
would try to compete in the 1936 Berlin
Olympiad, indeed the pundits suggested Edwards,
now referred to as “doctor” in some stories
was over the hill. But Phil still had another big
performance in store, capturing the bronze in the
800m, placing fourth in 4x400m relay and was
fifth in the 1500m. Actually it was something of a
miracle that Edwards was at the games at all. The
Nazi hierarchy insisted “blacks must be excluded.”
Still, the German National Olympic Committee
persuaded Hitler that even a Games that
included non-Aryan athletes could be turned to
Germany’s propaganda advantage. In the men’s
800 the black runners, the US’s John Woodruff
and Canada’s Phil Edwards, took gold and bronze
respectively. Back home Phil’s achievements were
capped, when he became the first winner of the
Lou Marsh trophy, as Canada’s best athlete.
With his running career over, Edwards joined
the staff of the Royal Victoria Hospital in
Montreal, and embarked on a long and distinguished
medical career, becoming an expert in
tropical diseases. He served as a physician in
the Second World War as a Captain. He died in
Montreal on Sept. 6, 1971 and shortly afterwards,
the “Phil Edwards Memorial Trophy”,
was established to be presented annually to
Canada’s most outstanding track athlete. After
a long period of neglect and intense lobbying by
his surviving Olympic teammates, he was
elected into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
Winner of five bronze medals, Phil Edwards
is Canada’s most decorated Olympian and
perhaps the greatest athlete ever associated
with Hamilton. •
72

The best of Hamilton
CHOOSE FROM
8 Business Parks
IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO
Hamilton offers 8 business parks
featuring different properties across
the city. Options are available for
retail, industrial, and other commercial
uses, providing established supply
chains for multiple key sectors. Learn more
about the business park that best suits your
company’s needs below, or book a visit with the
Hamilton Economic Development team, to
investigate in person.
AIRPORT EMPLOYMENT
GROWTH DISTRICT
The Airport Employment Growth District is
Hamilton’s largest business park geographically
with 555 hectares (1,300+ acres) of employment
lands near the John C. Munro Hamilton
International Airport- ranked as Canada’s
busiest overnight express cargo airport and is
open 24/7, 365 days a year with no curfew.
ANCASTER BUSINESS PARK
The Ancaster Business Park is situated between
Shaver and Trinity Church Roads north and
south of Wilson Street. There are a total of 660
gross site acres of employment land within the
Ancaster Business Park that features industries
in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, food
and beverage production and commercial
warehousing.
BAYFRONT INDUSTRIAL AREA
The Bayfront Industrial Area is located in the
north end of the City bounded by Queen Street
in the west, Nash Road to the east, north of
Barton Street and south of Hamilton Harbour
73

and the Queen Elizabeth Way. The total area is
approximately 3,700 acres is the heart of
Ontario’s heavy manufacturing sector- particularly
large-scale steel production. Slate Asset
Management has announced its plans to
purchase and transform around 800 acres of
industrial land once dedicated to steelmaking
into a revitalized commercial district.
EAST HAMILTON
INDUSTRIAL AREA
The East Hamilton Industrial Area is located in
the north-east end of the City adjacent to the
Red Hill Valley Parkway and Queen Elizabeth
Way. The area is approximately 560 acres and is
bounded by Nash Road in the west, Grays Road
in the East, Barton to the south and Queen
Elizabeth Way to the north.
FLAMBOROUGH
BUSINESS PARK
The Flamborough Business Park is located
above the Niagara Escarpment. This location
includes approximately 630 acres of land within
the boundary of the Park. Major employers
include advanced manufacturing, life sciences
and defence imaging systems.
RED HILL BUSINESS PARK
NORTH AND RED HILL
BUSINESS PARK SOUTH
The Red Hill Business Parks are 1,552 acres
(in two distinct parcels- Red Hill Business
Park North, and Red Hill Business Park
South), zoned industrial, and located at the
south end of the city. The Parks reside within
the urban boundary of the City and are
strategically located at the junction of the
Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway and The Red
Hill Valley Parkway, and only minutes from
the Queen Elizabeth Way and Highway 403.
Home to Canada’s largest commercial
bakery, major life sciences employers, and
international auto manufacturing distribution
centres.
Bayfront
industral area
Stoney Creek Business Park
Flamborough
Business Park
East Hamilton
Industrial Area
74

The best of Hamilton
West
Hamilton
Innovation
District
McMaster
Innovation
Park
STONEY CREEK
BUSINESS PARK
The Stoney Creek Business Park is situated
generally between Grays Road and Fifty Road,
south of the Queen Elizabeth Way, north of
Barton Street. There are a total of 1,856 gross
acres of employment land within the Stoney
Creek Business Park and many employers focus
on advanced manufacturing and metals and
materials finishing.
WEST HAMILTON
INNOVATION DISTRICT /
MCMASTER INNOVATION
PARK
The West Hamilton Innovation District Special
Policy Area is a regional technology node that
functions as a centre of innovation for corporate,
academic and government research in
science and technology and is recognized as a
major entry point into the City.
It contains Canada’s pre-eminent materials
testing laboratory, an internationally renowned
auto resource centre, focusing on vehicle
electrification, autonomous vehicles and hybrid
technologies and a major Fraunhofer Institute
from the European Union. •
Red Hill Business Park
Ancaster Business Park
Airport Employment
Growth District
75

EXPERIENCE GREAT FOOD, SHOPPING,
AND EVENTS IN ANY OF
Hamilton’s Business
Improvement Areas
Hamilton has 13 unique business
improvement areas (or BIAs).
BIAs improve the look, feel, and
financial success of the area, by
introducing planters and benches, a distinctive
style, or improving signage/facades, and
helping to attract shoppers and diners to the
area.
There are over 1,000 businesses in Hamilton’s
BIAs, with a commercial assessment of over
$400 million. Employing well over 1,000 people,
small businesses are big business in Hamilton.
Ancaster Village
76

The best of Hamilton
Ancaster BIA
The third oldest community in Canada,
Ancaster Village is home to many charming
shops, restaurants, an Inn, and beautifully
maintained historic buildings. Its unique
character and charm is dominated by heritage
architecture.
Barton Village
Where creativity, community, and the entrepreneurial
spirit are alive and well. Explore Barton
Street from Ferguson Avenue to Sherman
having never lost its ‘Small Town’ feel.
Concession Street offers a variety of retail,
professional, and health care services, great
eateries and a spectacular view over the
Niagara Escarpment.
Downtown Dundas
This vibrant shopping area, defined by
historic,19th century buildings, boasts a
fabulous array of merchants. Arts, culture,
Avenue and discover a thriving mix of dining,
retail, services, and community organizations.
Concession Street
Concession Street is the oldest commercial
district on Hamilton Mountain and remains a
strong commercial district with a special touch
recreation, and over 100 shops, restaurants and
services are nestled in the heart of the Dundas
Valley. Enjoy summer festivals and special
events happening throughout the year.
Downtown Hamilton
The Downtown Hamilton BIA represents over
480 businesses and 170 property owners within
an area surrounding Gore Park. It organizes
many events to attract people to the downtown
77

including the Gore Park Summer Promenade
and Christmas Holidays in Gore Park. The BIA
welcomes over 24,000 employees who work in
the core as well as conventioneers, theatre
goers and guests of the local restaurants and
cafes.
International Village
International Village is located on Main St.
East, King St. East and King William St., from
lively bars, cozy coffee shops, unique shops and
personal services.
Locke Street
The Locke Street BIA is nestled amidst a
beautiful tree lined neighbourhood beneath the
Mary St. to West Ave., in Downtown Hamilton.
Progressive and creative, the diverse membership
offers a vibrant mix of businesses from
cafes, restaurants, and retailers, to world-class
productions at Theatre Aquarius. Dine, shop
and explore the arts – celebrated with an
‘international flair’
King West
The vibrant neighbourhood of King West,
located on the western boundary of downtown
Hamilton has a wide selection of cultural foods,
Niagara escarpment. Explore an exciting mix of
shopping and restaurants in one of Hamilton’s
best-loved and most popular destinations with
a wonderful diversity of people, businesses and
experiences. Walk Locke and explore what the
street has to offer.
Ottawa Street
The Ottawa Street BIA in the heart of
Hamilton’s East End is made up of more than
78

The best of Hamilton
100 businesses offering a unique mix of retail,
goods, and services. It is Hamilton’s destination
for inspiration and a recent influx of antique
stores, eclectic retail offerings and eateries
continue to keep Ottawa Street a popular
destination.
Downtown Stoney Creek
Hamilton’s historic downtown Stoney Creek is
home to unique shops and destination restaurants
that line walkable and bikeable streets.
and creative business and property owners and
residents. Located in the heart of Flamborough,
it retains the quaint charm and ambiance of a
small town while offering the amenities,
services, and conveniences of a modern-day
village. There’s lots to explore, see and do.
Westdale Village
Nestled next to McMaster University and
McMaster Medical Centre and close to hiking
trails and canoeing at nearby Cootes Paradise,
Nearby, visitors will find Battlefield House
Museum & Park National Historic Site, home to
the pivotal War of 1812 Battle of Stoney Creek
and the Devil’s Punchbowl waterfall. The BIA
sponsors many events including the Canada
Flag Day Parade and the Santa Claus Parade.
Waterdown Village
Waterdown Village is a vibrant and
family-friendly community made up of unique
it’s a go-to for nearby university students, locals
and visitors alike. The Village is a thriving and
diverse shopping district featuring a variety of
cafes and restaurants, boutiques, old-style
bakeries, and an art deco movie theatre, The
Westdale.
Main West Esplanade
The Main West Esplanade is located on Main
Street West, between Dundurn and Hess, in the
western portion of Hamilton’s Downtown core.
The BIA offers a range of services, unique
boutiques and restaurants. •
79

Webster Falls
at Spencer
Gorge
Hamilton’s
many waterfalls
have become
an international
attraction
Lower
Chedoke
Falls
Albion Falls
Borer’s Falls
Devils Punchbowl
80
Felker’s Falls

The best of Hamilton
Tews
Falls
Hamilton is known to have over
100 waterfalls. They are so
popular that Swoop Airlines
advertises them in their promotional
literature.
Webster Falls is one of the most famous
waterfalls in the Dundas area, the curtain
waterfall flows over tiered rock formations with
beautiful panoramas.
Tews Falls, at a height of 41 metres, is at the
beginning of a hike towards the Dundas Peak,
famed for its beautiful valley views.
East of Hamilton is the Devil’s Punchbowl
Conservation Area with an upper and lower fall.
Known for its unique rock formations and
plunging depths.
Albion Falls. The water trickles and falls into
natural rock steps and shelves at one of Hamilton’s
most popular waterfalls.
Sherman Falls is another ribbon waterfall
located in the woods, it is also known as the
Fairy or Angel Falls. The streams of water rush
down from Ancaster Creek.
Visitors are advised to obey all parking
regulations and to observe safety regulations
posted at the sites. •
Sherman Falls
81

Classical music and fine arts got
their foothold in Hamilton many
decades ago and they continue
to flourish and evolve in the
modern era. The Hamilton Philharmonic
Orchestra enriches the cultural life of the region
through high-calibre performances. Performing
at FirstOntario Concert Hall, Internationally-acclaimed
Music Director Gemma New and
the professional musicians present dynamic
orchestral performances ranging from standard
classical repertoire to world premieres by living
composers.
The Hamilton Philharmonic’s core of professional
musicians are mainstays of the southern
Ontario music industry; many are frequently
engaged by the National Ballet of Canada,
Canadian Opera Company, Stratford Festival,
Shaw Festival, and professional orchestras and
ensembles across the country.
The Art Gallery of Hamilton is the oldest and
largest art museum in the region with a permanent
collection that is recognized as one of the
finest in Canada. The collection includes works
by Alex Colville, Tom Thomson, the Group of
Seven, Emily Carr, James Tissot, Jean-Léon
Gérôme, Gustave Doré, Norval Morrisseau,
Keith Haring, Edward Burtynsky, and Kim
Adams, to name a few. The AGH is renowned
for presenting outstanding exhibitions and
complementary programming for visitors of all
ages.
The Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts is
the oldest arts institution in Hamilton, tracing
its beginnings to 1897 as a music conservatory.
It now offers training to young people in dance,
theatre, visual arts and music.
Housed in the historic former Carnegie
Library, the mandate of the Carnegie Gallery
(Dundas Art and Craft Association) is to
promote and encourage the appreciation and
production of Canadian art and artists, especially
from the region, in both the visual arts
and fine craft. The Carnegie Gallery welcomes
over 20,000 visitors annually.
HAMILTON IS
SERIOUS ABOUT
Arts and Arts
Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts
82

The best of Hamilton
McMaster Museum of Art
Art Gallery of Hamilton
education
Hamilton
Philharmonic
Art Gallery of
Hamilton
Hamilton
Music
Collective
The McMaster Museum of Art is a non-profit
public art gallery at McMaster University in
Hamilton. The permanent collection, one of the
finest University collections in the country,
consists of over 7,000 objects. The MMA is also
home to the Bruce Brace Coin Collection,
which consists of coins and medallions from
Rome and Greece.
The Hamilton Music Collective’s mission is to
invigorate the music scene in Hamilton through
professional live performances, education,
events, workshops and exhibits. A key initiative
of HMC is An Instrument for Every Child, a
musical education program that introduces
young people, including many disadvantaged
children, to creative and improvised music, with
instruction provided by professional musicians.
HMC operates from the Gasworks, a cultural
hub and collaborative space for the arts in
Hamilton’s downtown core committed to
enabling and accelerating the valuable work of
the foundation’s partner organizations.
83

For nearly 60 years the Dundas Valley
School of Art had been providing
professional-grade art instruction
Dundas Valley School of Art was founded in
1964 by two visionary women, Marion Farnan
and Emily Dutton, who recognized the need for
professional-level art instruction in the region.
The school grew rapidly, and in 1967 DVSA
incorporated as a non-profit organization.
By 1970, the school had outgrown its small,
rented premises on Melville Street and the
board purchased the present building on
Ogilvie Street. Built in 1836, the DVSA building
underwent significant renovations in 2010 and
now offers 27,000 square feet of studio space, an
extensive library, community art gallery,
technology lab, refurbished entry, and a large
loft space with beamed ceiling suitable for large
events and performances. The School is now
fully accessible with an elevator to all floors.
Over the decades, DVSA has never wavered
from its mission to provide high quality,
accessible and affordable visual arts education
that encourages excellence and personal
fulfillment for children, adults and those
pursuing a career in the visual arts.
The True North Gallery (also known as The
Music Gallery of Fine Art), founded in 2016 by
Geoff and Brooke Kulawick, is an art museum
and gallery in downtown Waterdown. Dedicated
to showcasing visual art by professional
musicians, it claims to be the only art gallery of
its kind. It is located at the head office of True
North Records and Linus Entertainment. The
gallery is privately owned and offers free
admission.
Painting by Joni Michell at True North
The Carnegie Galley in downtown Dundas
Painting by Kenny Tobias at True North
The True North Gallery in Waterdown
84

Public Art
EVERYWHERE IN HAMILTON
Since its installation at Battlefield Park in May 2014 David M. General’s “Eagles
Among Us” Public Art piece has been an important site of healing and
education on Rotinonshon:ni and Anishinabek cultural traditions
The James St. South mural “Gateway” by Vivian Rosas & Vesna Asanovic
serves as a platform to celebrate Hamilton and to highlight the rich,
vibrant cultures that inhabit it.
Created by Toronto based artist, Bacon, this striking Mother Nature at 21
Rebecca Street features light hues of green, purple, pink, and orange surround
the face of a strong woman, who is meant to represent a new Mother Earth.
As part of a Public Street Art Project supported by the City of Hamilton, six
artist and artist teams were selected to bring colour to the barriers and
columns on the Keddy Access Trail. The artists are Dan Bergeon & Gabriel
Spector, Clear Eyes Collective, Janet MacPherson, Kayla Whitney, Nereo Zorro,
Sowl
All Our Relations is a legacy public art commission through the City of
Hamilton and Hamilton Waterfront Trust created by Cree-Métis artist Angela
DeMontigny, Dundas glass artist Paull Rodrigue, LaFontaine Iron Werks and
Cobalt Connects. 7700 hand-made glass beads were used to evoke the
Indigenous cultural practice of bead work, into five 40-foot-tall works that
depict key elements of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving address. It will be
installed in 2023 on the lands of the Hamilton Port Authority
Photo by Kathy Renwald
Hamilton is home to one of only two airworthy Lancaster bombers left in the
world. Thanks to local artist Scott McDonald the aircraft can be enjoyed on
this incredible mural near Barton and Queen Streets.
Local muralist Lester Coloma was commissioned to paint this portrait to
highlight Hamilton’s claim to fame as “The Electric City”. In the late 1890s,
Nikola Tesla helped establish a hydroelectric power plant in the city.

The Trews
Harrison
Kennedy
Musicians
AND MUSIC
BUSINESSES
LOVE HAMILTON
Arkells
Rita
Chiarelli
Tom
Wilson
86

The best of Hamilton
Monster
Truck
Iskwē
Terra Lightfoot
Ginger St.
James
Diana
Panton
LTtheMonk
Valerie
Tryon
Bach Elgar Choir
Did you know, Hamilton is recognised
as seventh in the world
for independent musicians per
capita? The Hamilton Musicians’
Guild has more than 700 active members
and is the fastest growing local of the
American Federation of Musicians. The city
has over 20 recording studios, 150 live
performance venues and an average of 70
live music shows across the city each month.
A survey in 2016 found nearly 7,000 people
were employed in music in Hamilton, with
the sector accounting for 42 per cent of all
creative industry occupations. More than 540
musical businesses are known to operate in
the city.
Today, the city boasts three of the most
successful Canadian touring bands. The Arkells,
Monster Truck and Dirty Nil fill stadiums
around the continent. •
87

MUSIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
Astrid Hepner:
Empowering positive change through music
The Gasworks
performance
auditorium
Young
musicians
who have
participated
in a summer
music camp
It’s hard to imagine what Hamilton would
be like without Astrid Hepner. In twelve
short years she has brought music instruction
to hundreds of often disadvantaged
children—not only instruction—but musical
instruments through the program, An
Instrument For Every Child (AIFEC). Since its
founding in 2010, AIFEC has provided
elementary school children in Hamilton’s
challenged neighbourhoods with the opportunity
to learn to play an instrument. Lessons
are provided for free by professional musicians,
on an instrument of the child’s choice
which is provided on a free-loan basis.
Classroom instruction for over 650 inner-city
school children is enhanced by featured guest
performers from Hamilton’s art community
and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
during weekly Grade 1 AIFEC classes. AIFEC
is an outgrowth of the Hamilton Music
88

The best of Hamilton
Collective which Astrid founded in 2008. The
organization has taken over and refurbished
an inner city building and transformed it into
performance space as well as studios and
classes for music,
At the end of every school year, AIFEC
organizes concerts for students to proudly
present their accomplishments to parents,
teachers and program supporters.
The AIFEC program is a completely free
program for the schools, parents, and students.
It is offered to grades 1-4 in one of its
partner schools, or at a community centre
such as the Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club. The
program has grown to reach sixteen schools
as of 2022.
Born in Germany, Astrid studied saxophone
and played in an all-female band playing a
mixture of funk, dance/pop music with jazz
elements all around Germany and getting
some interest from record companies like
BMG. She moved to New York City in the
1990s, playing saxophone and working in the
city’s busy recording industry for various
companies, including the famous jazz label
Blue Note Records. In 2005, she immigrated
to Canada, settling in Hamilton with her
daughter and her husband Darcy, a musician
who teaches music at Mohawk College.
“Music has been a big part of my life since I
was young,” Astrid said in a profile in the Bay
Observer. “It has taken me places that I would
never have imagined,” It has connected me
with incredibly inspiring and interesting
people and has broadened my horizon in
many ways. But most importantly, music -
playing it, hearing it, studying it - has always
given me a tremendous amount of joy and
has kept me centered in difficult times.
I hope that through initiatives like the
An Instrument for Every Child program, I am
able to share some of these experiences by
introducing our children and youth, who
otherwise might not have the opportunity, to
the magical power of music.” •
89

Nightmare Alley
– Guillermo del
Toro directed
with Cate
Blanchett
HAMILTON’S
Film and TV cluster
CONTINUES TO GROW
Hamilton’s reputation as a prime
location for making film
continues to grow. The city’s
unique geography and diverse
architecture make it a location scout’s
dream. The city is already Canada’s
third-largest film cluster and is approaching
10,000 people who work in the film industry
and nearly 1,000 film businesses. Films shot
in Hamilton include The Handmaid’s Tale,
Umbrella Academy, Murdoch Mysteries, the
Oscar-winning The Shape of Water, Designated
Survivor, and It: Chapter Two.
Adding to Hamilton’s diverse film locations,
Aeon Studio Group plans to build a regional
hub for film, TV and digital media production
as part of a large mixed-use development on
former industrial lands on Hamilton’s west
harbour. The proposed 200,000-square-foot
facility will have six modern sound stages,
post-production offices, animation, special
effects, music and game design studios, crew
training and back-lot shops, all catering to
full-scale productions. “Hamilton is undoubtedly
the single best possible place in the province
to build a big production hub,” said partner Jeff
Anders.
The AEON development will be in addition
to Hamilton Film Studios and Skylight
Steelworks who also provide studio facilities. •
Departure II – Global Suspense Drama
90
Man From
Toronto
– Netflix film
with Kevin
Hart and
Woody
Harrelson

The best of Hamilton
Sex/Life – award-winning
Netflix romance
Clarice – The
CBS series
about Clarice
Starling of
Silence of the
Lambs fame
Handmaids
Tale – HULU’s
award-winning
dystopian
drama from
the Margaret
Atwood novel
Blown away II
-- The popular
Netflix series
showcasing
the art of
glassblowing
Nurses – Global hospital drama
Murdoch
Mysteries
– beloved
CBC
mystery
now in its
14 th season
Frankie
Drake
– Popular
CBC
mystery
series
91

T.B. McQuesten
THE MODEST
HAMILTON MAN
WHO BECAME
CANADA’S
GREATEST
BUILDER
From its first conception to completion,
Hamilton’s Red Hill Expressway took
50 years to complete. That is an outlier,
but most major infrastructure projects
in Ontario have to go through an
environmental assessment process that
can easily take 10 years.
Then there is Hamilton’s Thomas
Baker McQuesten, who as Highways
and Public Works Minister in
seven short years accomplished the
following public works:
Queen Elizabeth Way—built and paved
Canada’s first superhighway from Toronto to
Niagara Falls, and graded the highway to
Fort Erie.
Hundreds of miles of conventional highways
throughout Ontario.
Three international bridges, Rainbow at
Niagara, Bluewater at Sarnia and Ivy Lea at
the Thousand Islands.
Formally established the Royal Botanical
Gardens 1941
92

The best of Hamilton
McQuesten’s
architect of
choice was
William
Lyon
Somerville,
whose Art
Deco
influence
was on
display in
projects
such as the
Niagara
memorial
arch, the
Carillon and
plaza at the
Canadian
end of the
Rainbow
Bridge, and
the
spectacular
Oakes
Garden
Theatre, but
his touches
can also be
seen on the
bridges and
structures
on the
Queen
Elizabeth
Way.
93

McQuesten about to introduce his brother Calvin and sisters
Mary and Hilda to the Royal Couple in 1939 at Niagara.
The June 1939, visit by King George and Queen Elizabeth was in many
ways the pinnacle of McQuesten’s career. They dedicated a portion of his
Queen Elizabeth Way and the Rainbow Bridge, both under construction,
as he escorted them around his Niagara Works, but with war only two
months away much of McQuesten’s work would be curtailed.
McQuesten is credited
with insisting that the
Queen Elizabeth Way be
built with separated
carriageways with a grass
median. It became one of
the world’s first superhighways,
contemporary with
Hitler’s Autobahns and the
Pennsylvania Turnpike.
McQuesten dedicated the
road in 1940 at a Ceremony
at the Henley Bridge in
St Catharines.
94

The best of Hamilton
McQuesten
pushed through
the construction
of the
Rainbow
Bridge, even
though it, as an
international
bridge, would
require the
approval of the
Canadian
parliament. The
project was tied
up in Ottawa
and was a
source of
irritation
between
McQuesten and
Prime Minister
Mackenzie
King. Finally
McQuesten
convinced the
Governor of
New York to
allow the bridge
to proceed and
it was
ultimately built
without federal
approval.
Major developments at Niagara Parks—
Oakes Garden Theatre, 50 kilometres of
decorative stone walls along the Niagara
Parkway, School for Apprentice Gardeners.
Rebuilt Historical Forts –Ft. George, Ft. Erie
and Ft. Henry.
In 1937 there were plans on his desk for the
Burlington Skyway, which was finally built in
1959.
If he had only built the QEW—80 miles of
controlled-access highway in seven years it
would have been a remarkable accomplishment,
but with all of the other works, arguably
McQuesten—a Hamilton lawyer-- may hold
Canada’s record for the sheer volume of public
works that were completed under his watch,
and probably rivals the career of the controversial
Robert Moses in New York, whose public
works were accomplished over decades—not
seven short years. When McQuesten died in
1948, eulogizers compared him to Pontifex
Maximus for his bridge-building, and no less a
personage than Henry Ford praised his Art
Deco-inspired QEW. For all of his accomplishments,
McQuesten was essentially forgotten by
all but a few within five years of his death. •
Through his association with Architect Somerville, McQuesten incorporated the work of many of Canada’s bestknown
artists into his project. Relief panels on the now defunct Nagar Memorial Arch were sketched by C.W. Jeffreys
(the man responsible for many of the artistic recreations of historic events in old Canadian history textbooks) and
executed by Toronto sculptors Emmanuel Hahn and Louis Temporale. The Lion statue at the Toronto end of the QEW
was the creation of noted Canadian sculptor Frances Loring and Loring and her partner and fellow sculptor Florence
Wyle were also commissioned to execute the sculptures on the Henley Bridge in St Catharines.
95

Sports is a big
part of life
IN HAMILTON
The name Hamilton has
always been synonymous
with sports—both amateur
and professional. At one
time in the 1920’s it even had an NHL
team—the Tigers. A highlight of
Hamilton sports history came in 1930
when Hamilton hosted the very first
British Empire Games, and now looks
forward to hosting the 2030
Commonwealth games, as they are
now known.
The Hamilton Tiger Cats can trace
their history back to the 1870’s when they were
named the Tigers and played their games at the
HAAA grounds. The Tiger Cats have won eight
Grey Cups under that nickname, and previous
Hamilton football teams have won another
seven.
In the first seven seasons in the Ontario
Hockey League The Hamilton Bulldogs, under
owner Michael Andlauer have finished first
twice and gone on to the Memorial Cup. The
Bulldogs are well represented with at least 10
alumni now in the National Hockey League.
With the growing popularity of soccer in
Canada it was only a matter of time before
Hamilton would welcome pro soccer. Forge
FC competes in the Canadian Premier
League, the top tier of Canadian soccer. The
club won the first two championships of the
Canadian Premier League, in 2019 and 2020.
Forge was the first CPL side to compete in a
continental competition when it qualified for
96

The best of Hamilton
the 2019 CONCACAF League, and the first to
compete in the highest tier of continental
competition in the 2022 CONCACAF
Champions League.
The Hamilton Honey Badgers are the local
entry in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
The Honey Badgers who started play in 2019,
are the 2022 Champions in the 10-team
league. The CEBL commissioner is former
Hamilton Ticat star Mike Morreale.
They are called the Toronto Rock for
branding purposes, but the National Lacrosse
League team plays its home games in Hamilton
at First Ontario Centre to large appreciative
crowds. The Rock got their start in
Hamilton before relocating to Toronto. They
were the Eastern Conference finalists for
2022.
The Hamilton Cardinals Baseball Club is a
member of Canada’s best league, the Intercounty
Baseball League. The over 100-year old
summer league is one of the oldest baseball
leagues in the world, established in 1919.
The McMaster Marauders football club has
finished first in the OUA six times since the
year 2000, and won the Vanier Cup in 2011,
Hamilton is well represented when it comes
to Senior hockey, and the competition for the
Allan Cup which has been emblematic of the
sport since 1909. The Dundas Real McCoys
captured the cup in 2014, and the Stoney Creek
Generals took home the trophy in 2018. •
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Coin and Stamp Company
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97

4

The best of Hamilton
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