HAMILTON CITY Magazine - No. 17 - Winter 2025

N O. 1 7 - T H E H O L I D AY I S S U E

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE! THE ULTIMATE GUIDE for hosts, homebodies, animal lovers, youthful readers and more! scan the qr for even more gift ideas online!

WINTER 2025

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THE BEAT GOES ON

his is issue No.17 of HAMILTON CITY Magazine and we hope you love it.

This is a special edition in a lot of ways.

Our cover story documents the reopening of Hamilton’s downtown arena at TD Coliseum.

It’s a historic moment — a huge investment in our city and a new chapter in the life of a beloved venue.

With this issue, we are thrilled to be embarking on exciting partnerships with Tourism Hamilton on its 2026 City of Music campaign, The JUNO Awards coming in March, and with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce on its many community initiatives.

Also, this is our first “concept” cover, rather than a portrait shot. We are proud that with just one exception, each of our covers has been an original photo of a story subject. And 15 of our covers have been shot by Hamilton photographer Marta Hewson, who is featured in this issue along with her husband Jerrold Hewson. They are opening Revival Art Store in the Crown Point neighbourhood.

They make us think of the risk-taking of entrepreneurs.

It’s often said that small business is the backbone of our economy. This is absolutely true in Hamilton, where, according to Invest in Hamilton data, 55.4 per cent of businesses (8,564) are considered micro — defined as one to four employees, and another 42.5 per cent are small — defined as five to 99 employees.

HCM is in great company in the micro category, joining so many entrepreneurs pouring long hours, passion, and sleepless nights into their businesses. We are proud to showcase such enterprises in every issue of our magazine, from restaurants, to artists and artisans, to boutique retail.

Please support them whenever you can, especially as we head into the crucial holiday season. In this issue, we are highlighting some amazing local gift-giving ideas in our annual gift guide.

We have heard from readers that they did all their holiday shopping last year through our gift guide. What a huge compliment! If we could ask one favour, please tell these local businesses that you read about them in HCM. And if you’re looking for the perfect gift for a friend, relative or neighbour who loves Hamilton and what makes it a fabulous and fascinating place to call home, consider giving them a gift subscription to HCM. You’ll be helping us continue to tell the great stories of Hamilton.

From our HCM family to yours, all the best for the holidays!

— Meredith MacLeod and Will Vipond Tait/ Co-publishers P.S. Our next print issue comes out in March 2026, but you can find plenty of online-only content at hamiltoncitymagazine.ca

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The new TD Coliseum brings world-class entertainment to the heart of Hamilton. This is more than a venue, it is where our city takes center stage.

TDCOLISEUM.COM WINTER 2025 HCM

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ON THE COVER:

Paul McCartney (PHOTO: MJ KIM), Cardi B (PHOTO: BRIAN ZIFF), TD Coliseum (RENDERING: OAK VIEW GROUP)

INSIDE THE HEADLINERS 20/ HAMILTON’S STARRING ROLE Local filmmakers have launched the Hamilton Film Board with the intention of shining a spotlight on the city’s potential as a movie and TV filming hub.

and roles.

Your Ultimate Gift Guide for the Holidays

40/ THE ART OF REVIVAL

Our LOCAL GIFT GUIDE is here to take the

24/ HAMILTON MUSIC MAKERS YOU SHOULD KNOW CITY OF MUSIC: This city is a musical powerhouse. Here are just a few people doing great things in a range of genres

Jerrold and Marta Hewson aim to make their new art store, café, photography studio and event space on Cannon Street

stress out of holiday gifting with curated picks for everyone on your list. From a gracious host to a cozy homebody, a devoted animal lover,

East a hub for ‘creative disruptors.’

a youngster or a fun-loving group — we’ve

46/ OPENING ACT

options to make your gift-giving a breeze.

After a $300-million transformation of a 40-year venue, Hamilton’s downtown arena is re-opening as TD Coliseum, with a little help from Sir Paul McCartney.

60/ PARTY TIME TREATS If you don’t have the talent or the time to whip something up for a holiday potluck, there are some fantastic options from local businesses for creative and delicious party foods you’ll be proud to add to the table.

66/ COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY Rudi Wallace, CEO of the Hamilton Community Foundation, dreams of a city that reaches its potential, while mitigating the worst impulses of gentrification and putting people first over profit.

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gathered locally sourced, personal and practical

28/ THE HOST’S SURVIVAL KIT 30/ GIFTS: CAN’T SOMEONE ELSE DO IT?

32/ PAMPERING THE HAMILTON HOMEBODY

34/ FOR THE LOVE OF ANIMALS 36/ BIG GIFTS FOR LITTLES

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MAIN ATTRACTIONS 7/ CITY LIFE 19/ MADE IN HAMILTON 39/ ARTS + CULTURE 59/ FOOD + DRINK

Today, the City of Hamilton is home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island (North America) and we recognize that we must do more to learn about the rich history of this land so that we can better understand our roles as residents, neighbours, partners and caretakers.

REGULAR STOPS 10/ FOR THE LOVE OF HAMILTON 14/ LIFE IN THE CITY 16/ HOUNDS OF HAMILTON 54/ THE PLAYLIST 56/ HAMILTON READS 66/ CITY VIEW

Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on Sept. 30 and recognize that at least 150,000 Indigenous children from across the country were forcibly separated from their families and their communities.

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The City of Hamilton is situated upon the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas.

This land is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which was an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We further acknowledge that this land is covered by the Between the Lakes Purchase, 1792, between the Crown and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

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CITY LIFE IS SPONSORED BY CHCH – A CHANNEL ZERO COMPANY

25 years harvesting hope GOOD SHEPHERD’S ANNUAL FALL GALA RAISES CRITICAL FUNDS FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROTECTING AND SERVING THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR CITY.

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he Good Shepherd Harvest Gala is a 25-year tradition in Hamilton, raising money for its important work in protecting and supporting the most vulnerable in the city.

More than 700 people gathered at Carmen’s Banquet Centre in mid-October, bidding in live and silent auctions, and pledging donations to deliver a roast chicken dinner for 250 at the Men’s Centre ($1,000), purchase bassinets and cribs for infants at Regina’s Place ($500), provide winter coats and gear to residents of the Barton-Tiffany outdoor shelter ($250), and stock up food shelves at the Venture Centre ($100).

“Today, we gather to not just raise funds, but to harvest hope,” said Good Shepherd CEO Brother Richard MacPhee.

Since 1961, the organization has been there for people with no other place to go, providing the right supports, resources and care to help them transform and make lasting change.

The Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd opened a men’s hostel in Hamilton in 1961. It has grown to become one of the largest providers of health and human services in Hamilton.

Good Shepherd services include emergency food and clothing; daily hot meals; emergency shelters for all individuals and families; transitional housing and education for homeless and street-involved youth; hospice palliative care; community mental health programs; and supportive

housing programs.

In a video presented at the gala, Katherine Kalinowski, chief operating officer at Good Shepherd, says every day in our community, people are waking up homeless, hungry and forgotten.

“We’re not waiting for change. We’re creating it.”

Good Shepherd supports more than 630 beds each night and 16,500 monthly meals at 36 locations across Hamilton, Niagara and Toronto.

Michelle Romano, a resident at Good Shepherd’s Dorothy Day Place, said when she hit bottom, she was referred to Dorothy Day Place.

Her life fell apart due to drug use and she had been living in a tent for three years. She had all but given up.

“That first night in my bed alone felt like a hug; I felt safe.

Dorothy Day not only provided me with a place to live but safety and love,” she says in the video, fighting back tears.

“It was unimaginable all the happiness I felt that day. I finally had the beginning of my new life.”

The gala featured performances by Bishop Ryan choir, Xpression, and Hamilton’s Brian Melo.

Throughout November, Good Shepherd is selling 2025 advent calendars. Each day has a prize and the calendars will raise money for youth services. Visit goodshepherd.ca to find out more. n ED DUNN, HARVEST GALA CHAIR, WITH CATHY WELLWOOD, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AT GOOD SHEPHERD. PHOTO: DONNA WAXMAN

Scan the QR code for an online photo gallery!

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/CITY LIFE

THE HAMILTON

BIOSPHERE

PARK:

A NEW ECO-DESTINATION THERE IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ECOLOGICAL GEM RUNNING RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY. IT’S TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US TO CELEBRATE AND PROTECT THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT. B y PA U L S H A K E R

“T

his is amazing!”

“The views are incredible.”

“It’s so close to neighbourhoods.”

“I never knew Hamilton had this.”

These were just a few of the responses from out-of-town visitors who attended a hike last year. It was during the Ontario professional planners conference, where I had the opportunity to co-lead an outdoor tour that led participants from the top of the Niagara Escarpment, down the rail trail, across Chedoke golf course, through the streets of the Kirkendall neighbourhood, and finally stopping at the businesses of

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Locke Street South. The whole trek took about an hour, but the variety of locations that transition from towering trees in nature to urban storefronts, made it seem longer.

You could feel you were 100 km out of the city, and in a matter of mere minutes, find yourself in the middle of a thriving business district.

The lasting impression from the visitors was that Hamilton was lucky to have this greenspace and that it should not be taken for granted.

Thinking back to that tour, and the genuine reaction of those who experienced it for the first time, revealed how much this part of

the city is taken for granted by those who live here. That’s not to say it’s not loved by many. Whether it’s the trails or staircases, Hamiltonians use this space daily. However, there is a sense that the escarpment is a somewhat overlooked area of the city when it comes to planning, conservation and investment.

First, we need to consider what area we are talking about. In Hamilton, the Niagara Escarpment is the band of green space that divides the upper and lower city. But it’s actually more than just another green space.

It’s a landmark that has been designated a World Biosphere Reserve by the United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). There are a limited number of reserves around the globe that belong to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In Canada, other reserves include Clayoquot Sound on the west coast and Fundy on the east coast. While the full Niagara Escarpment runs from Niagara to Tobermory, what is unique about this biosphere reserve is that it is one of the few that travels directly through the centre of a major Canadian city: Hamilton.

What are biosphere reserves? They are internationally designated protected areas that are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature.

They are learning areas for sustainable development under diverse ecological, social and economic contexts. This definition provides a perfect aspiration for Hamilton in its relationship to nature.

When it comes to repairing and enhancing our connection with nature, Hamilton has adopted specific goals. For example, the Biodiversity Action Plan, passed in 2024, aims to protect, enhance, explore and restore biodiversity in Hamilton. Simply put, biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth.

Hamilton happens to be a biodiversity hotspot with many unique habitats that support hundreds of common and many at-risk species. Biodiversity supports many elements of everyday life, including the cleaning of our air and water and providing spaces for us to explore and engage with nature. Unfortunately, biodiversity is in decline globally and locally due to a growing number of threats, including climate change and habitat loss. The Biodiversity Action Plan will help focus the efforts of the municipality and the local conservation community to work together to enact change, including actions to protect, restore, connect and explore biodiversity in Hamilton.

So, this brings us back to the Hamilton portion of the Niagara Escarpment. Within this biodiversity context, and given the scale of the ecological asset we are dealing with, we need to do more; more to restore, connect and make it easier to explore this area of the city.

As it stands, many parts of this greenspace are not well maintained. Signs are missing or faded, trail entrances are unmarked or overgrown. Garbage is strewn about. Graffiti can be found on some of the ancient rocks.

A MAP OF THE PROPOSED HAMILTON BIOSPHERE PARK RUNNING ALONG THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT.

Perhaps it’s because this strip of land that divides the upper and lower city is squeezed between city wards, so responsibility for the space is somewhat unclear. From north to south, the escarpment continues to travel beyond the city limits so maybe there is a sense that we are just one spot along a much larger route. Whatever the reasons, there is unrealized potential here. Not just on an ecological or biodiversity front, but also from a quality-of-life and tourism perspective.

There is a giant opportunity to make this a new major city eco-destination. To elevate this space to the forefront of city planning and treat it as the defining feature it truly is.

THE H A M I LTO N BIO SPH E RE PARK Much like other greenspaces in Hamilton, this part of the city should be formally designated a park. A unique park, something not found in any other city in this part of the country. Right now, the space lacks any sense of cohesive identity, but making it a park opens the door to proper planning.

Geographically, this park could span the area of the escarpment between the two river valleys on either side: Chedoke and Red Hill.

This encompasses roughly 16 kilometres of trails. There are a number of staircases connecting the upper and lower city that provide a unique opportunity to climb through the biosphere. Adjacent neighbourhoods give tens of thousands of residents quick access to the park. Of course, there are spectacular waterfalls to enjoy, and throughout the journey across the city, countless memorable views.

This park would embody the core goal of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – to demonstrate

a balanced relationship between people and nature. This could mean that there needs to be areas that are protected from use, to allow regeneration. No more free-for-all travel with zero understanding of the potential harm we are doing to the ecosystem. The trail network, including entrances and trailheads, should be clearly marked to avoid the random cutthroughs that exist.

From a tourism perspective, providing unique experiences where visitors can responsibly enjoy and learn about the ecosystem should be the goal. On this front, we should think big and use inspiration from elsewhere as a guide. Vancouver’s Stanley Park offers an example of a natural forested oasis within an urban setting.

Jasper National Park has the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, which allows visitors to walk out on an extended lookout platform to experience fossils, waterfall views and incredible landscapes. Similarly, Dorrigo National Park in Australia offers a Skywalk lookout in the form of a 70-metre boardwalk that soars over the edge of their escarpment, offering a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding landscape. Could something like this be adapted for Hamilton’s Biosphere Park?

To begin to think of ideas like this, we need to first recognize the ecological gem we have here in Hamilton with the Niagara Escarpment. Its beauty is instantly recognized by people who visit, and it’s time we give it the status it deserves through the creation of a Hamilton Biosphere Park. n Paul Shaker is a Hamilton-based urban planner and principal with Civicplan.

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/CITY LIFE

FOR THE LOVE OF HAMILTON THIS REGULAR FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO HAVE EMBRACED HAMILTON AS THEIR NEW HOME.

RICK ZAMPERIN who he is:

Co-anchor on CHCH Morning Live, longtime radio journalist and playby-play announcer for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats interviewed by:

Meredith MacLeod photographed by:

Carole and Roy Timm Photography

scan the qr code: to Read much more from RICK ZAMPERIN

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RICK ZAMPERIN was born in Toronto and grew up in Malton and Brampton. He studied at Fanshawe College’s broadcast journalism program before embarking on a 30-year career in radio. At CHML radio, the award-winning journalist worked as a news anchor, reporter, producer, and morning show host. In 2025, Rick joined CHCH News as the co-anchor of Morning Live and also returned to the broadcast booth with the Ticats on the Ticats Audio Network. He also hosts CHCH’s Newsmakers podcast. Rick lives on the central Mountain with his wife and has two children in their early 20s.

GOING LIVE AGAIN What was it like to join CHML in 2000?

CHML was an iconic station. You know, when I started there, Bob Hooper was still there. He was reading news in the morning.

Bob Bratina was hosting the morning show. Paul obviously, being there for many years, was news director. Bill Sturrup had been there for decades. Roy Green, who I worked closely with for a long, long time, all these names that you hear about, and then you step into the newsroom and into the building and think, wow, I’ve got to not only collaborate with these guys, but compete with them as well, because I’m trying to climb the ladder too. And learning from them in the same sense. So it was an awesome experience to pull a little bit of something from each one of those individuals.

Can you take us through the experience of learning that the iconic 900 CHML was being shut down last August?

My show ended at 9 and at 9:30, I get a text from our manager asking to meet. So I walked into the meeting, and there’s the manager and HR individual and envelopes on the desk, and I knew right there that this is it, this is D-day for me and potentially everyone else. And 30 seconds into the meeting, it’s: ‘Rick, not only are you losing your position, but we’re closing the station today.’ And you could hear a pin drop.

It was a very sad day. And, you know, the way the last broadcast audio on the station was not to my liking for a station with that kind of heritage. I thought it would have gone out with more of a ‘Thank you, Hamilton, thanks for your support over the years.’ But that didn’t happen. Ninety-six years of history and heritage and impact in the community, and I still drive by the building from time to time, and it’s a repeated gut punch, thinking what was and what still could have been, and the hole that it’s left in the community.

What’s the transition from radio to TV been like?

I really love it. I knew I would like it. I didn’t know I’d like it this much. It took me a good, I’d say, two weeks to kind of get

the format of TV under my belt. The biggest thing that I had to overcome was being cognizant of what I’m doing in front of the screen. Because, in radio, you can sit however you want. You can literally wear your pajamas, although I never did that. But on TV everyone’s watching, all eyes are on you. So not only do you have to act or you have to look like a person with integrity, who’s professional and who’s dressed accordingly, someone that the viewer can trust, you actually have to deliver that with what you say as well. So I think it’s the best of both worlds in terms of the background that I have in radio, but the challenges that TV instantly brought, and I’ve hit it out of the park. At least, that’s what they tell me.

How would you describe Hamilton to people from other places?

The word loyal comes to mind. If you’re in Hamilton, you’re loyal to city sports teams, the history of the community, from the foundation of the steel industry to the new age kind of health, research, education sector that we have going. When you start living here, you just become, you know, this person that is going to defend Hamilton to the end of time. And then I think you just fall in love with all the things that this city has.

What’s your greatest hope for this city?

If I can be a little self-serving, I would say can we have a Grey Cup championship again, please? Because it’s been too long. I remember broadcasting the Grey Cup in 2013. It was the 100th Grey Cup and the Cats had made it for the first time since 1999.

They ended up losing, obviously. But the fan base that rallied behind that team really gave me a firsthand perspective of how crazy in love this community is with that franchise.

Do you have a favourite meal in the city?

My favourite restaurant is La Spaghett. Its freshly made pasta can’t be beat. So I don’t know if I have a favourite dish there, because every time I go, I want to try something new. I haven’t gone through the whole menu yet. n

IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN FOR THE LOVE OF HAMILTON, PLEASE CONTACT meredith@hamiltoncitymagazine.ca

WINTER 2025 HCM

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/CITY LIFE OPINION:

York Boulevard is a grand vision gone wrong HAMILTON’S GATEWAY ENTRANCE FROM THE WEST WAS ONCE TO BE MODELLED AFTER GREAT EUROPEAN STREETS. BUT INSTEAD OF BEING THE ‘CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES OF NORTH AMERICA,’ THE CITY CAVED TO PRIVATE INTERESTS AND WHAT WAS BUILT IS THE ARCHITECTURAL HORROR STORY IT IS TODAY. THERE IS A NEARLY 50-YEAR-OLD PLAN FOR JUST HOW TO FIX IT. B y B I L L C U R R A N

Y

ork Boulevard is the dramatic entrance to our city, conceived starting with the grand, ambitious McQuesten Bridge of 1932 overlooking Hamilton Harbour, Cootes Paradise and Burlington Heights, over to Dundurn Castle and its park. Then it sputters out. But there was a plan in 1976 to extend the gateway into downtown, inspired by grand European boulevards lined with colonnaded apartment buildings all the way to Bay Street. The reinvention of Copps Coliseum into TD Coliseum as a premiere regional event space demands the completion of York Boulevard. Here is how we can achieve that.

THE V ISIO N In 1976, a visionary architect named Vladimir Matus working in the Hamilton planning department produced a plan dovetailing with the straightening and widening of York Boulevard to complete it as Hamilton’s grand entrance. His plan included lining the street with mid-rise apartment buildings with retail, restaurants and cafés at street level, as with any great European street. He included a requirement for a continuous 10-foot wide

overhang or canopy along the street to shelter pedestrians from the elements and it was adopted by city council, led then by Alderman Bill McCulloch who got the vision. There was to be a gateway or archway at the Highway 403 end and highrises at the downtown end.

The City had expropriated much of the land along York for the widening, and expected to sell the surplus land for private development afterwards (many parcels along York are still City-owned).

505 YORK BOULEVARD IS JUST TWO STOREYS, HAS NO RETAIL AT GRADE, AND BREAKS UP THE STREETSCAPE WITH A SURFACE PARKING LOT. THE LOLLIPOP-LIKE POSTS AND BLANK WALLS WERE THE ARCHITECT’S FAILED IDEA OF COLONNADE-LIKE CITY BUILDING. PHOTO: REG BEAUDRY

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H O W IT FAILE D Soon after, a number of merchants and businesspeople sought to buy land along the widened street, but their vision was certainly lacking. As you’d expect, the visionless immediately sought to avoid the planning rules and build what they knew. As Matus notes today, “the first approved application completely violated the just-approved vision.”

City council caved to the squeaky few’s complaints and let them build some sad and very non-urban buildings instead; one- or two-storey buildings, non-retail uses, with surface parking, and most importantly, few built the pedestrian-sheltering, charactergiving canopy or colonnade, and City public works staff forced the colonnades that were built back far from the sidewalk, so they were useless. A particularly sad Hamilton Spectator article on Nov. 10, 1977 featured realtor Jimmy Wilson’s “expert wisdom” where, lacking any relevant knowledge, he just rejected anything different. Soon after, the plan was dead, thanks to then-Mayor Jack MacDonald, and most anything was allowed to be built.

York Boulevard became the unfinished architectural shitshow it remains today.

The Spec’s Tami Paikin laid out the story in an Oct. 9, 1986 article, bemoaning the massive lost opportunity as a “monument to good intentions turned bad.” Alderman Reg Wheeler “waxed eloquent about the Champs-Élysées of North America” that could have been. York Boulevard was abandoned and left bereft. City planners have never tried to fix it.

I tracked down Matus, a warm, affable nonagenarian, in his bespoke highrise Toronto condo to talk about his Hamilton experiences. He is not bitter at the City politicos past, but sad for the missed

opportunity to build something unique and world-class. York “needs a new justification and purpose for its existence,” he says, and it is “... an exceptional opportunity for an imaginative architect.”

HOW TO F I X IT A solid question is why has the City done nothing since the plan was abandoned in the 1970s? The City planning department has never since put forward a bold vision. Pier 4-7 is an unfinished, windswept, treeless mess of concrete and gravel. Pier 7-8 has a great developer-driven vision that hopefully will get built. The Jamesville redevelopment is a work in progress (I’m part of the design team, full disclosure) but is developer-driven and has potential to be very good. Otherwise, what have we had?

Here is my simple vision for York Boulevard’s rebirth: Go back to the 1970s vision, and double down on it. Incentivize the right things. Just say no to the wrong things.

Go to the right people and support them.

Here are the details of what is needed: Line both sides of York Boulevard from Dundurn to Bay with minimum eight-storey apartment buildings with commercial uses on the ground floor. Allow taller buildings at major intersections like Locke Street.

All buildings must have a minimum 10-foot wide colonnade along their full street frontages to provide a public sidewalk, weather shelter and consistent, powerful character. Wider colonnades make perfect patios.

Require buildings to be built 3 feet from the curb, so the colonnade straddles the sidewalk and does not sit back behind it.

Rezone all properties within 150 feet of York Street to support this, increasing the

values of all these properties. If we do not zone large enough parcels to allow apartment buildings and underground parking garage footprints, they will not be built. The original zoning envelope was too small, out of fear of demolishing more houses. Owners can decide to sell for higher-density development or not.

Money usually talks. You must break eggs to make an omelette.

Write a new zoning bylaw to support all this. Do not allow surface parking. Require buildings to be built full width of the lot for continuity of the streetwall. Do not allow

A solid question is why has the City done nothing since the plan wa s a b a n d o n e d in the 1970s? ground floor incompatible uses like office or residential.

Reward great architecture with more height, density, and City development fee waivers, as allowed under Section 37 of the Planning Act, which is widely used outside Hamilton.

Induce a local hero to make the courageous first step as a demonstration project or precedent. Hey, Hamilton Construction Association, can you go from worst offender with your uninspired building at 370 York Blvd. to a 21st-century hero, showing Hamilton how this is done?

WHY BUILD A BO ULE VARD? TH E PO WE R O F TH E CO LO NN A D E Covered pedestrian walkways were once very common as a public amenity or obligation, just look at old photos of Gore Park and Hamilton Farmers’ Market areas ringed with huge awnings. Toronto has 25 Esplanade, Market Square and the Park Hyatt Hotel as examples.

European cities have many colonnade examples. Paris’s Rue de Rivoli is a great street to emulate. And Place des Vosges is one of the most sublime places, and is lined on all sides with restaurants in its colonnades. The city of Bologna has many colonnades, even on side streets. Pedestrian shelter from rain, snow, sun is powerful, as is the feeling of safety from busy traffic such as on Rue de Rivoli.

A UNESCO World Heritage place, the University of Virginia’s amazing and sublime The Lawn, designed by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, remains one of the most powerful spaces in North America. It is the original UVA campus of classrooms and dorms wrapped with a colonnade around a treed lawn. There are many other colonnades from Krakow to Madrid, Louisville and Vicenza.

‘When I first learned of the decades-old vision, I was saddened but not surprised that it has yet to be built,” notes accomplished developer Dan Gabriele of Marz Homes. “We used to be a city that had ambitions. Wouldn’t it be great to renew that legacy and finally bring Hamilton’s grand boulevard entrance to reality as a bold statement that we are back?”

Colonnades are a memorable, desirable urban amenity, unifying a street to huge positive effect. Let’s finish York Boulevard and make it the grand street it could already be. n

BUYING OR SELLING OUR IS YOUR We are here for you! Call us today!

WINTER 2025 HCM

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/CITY LIFE

LIFE IN THE CITY

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From festivals and films to galas, galleries and gigs, Hamiltonians love to have a good time and these photos are definitely worth a thousand words.

HAMILTON CITY Magazine was there – were you?

photos By brent perniac, Donna Waxman and Bob Hatcher TIFF 1. Ally Pankiw, Sarah McLachlan and Dan Levy, Sept. 13 2. Eugene Levy and Paul Shaffer, Toronto, Sept. 4

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3. Ernie Hudson attends the Ghostbusters exhibit at the Hamilton ComicCon, Hamilton Convention Centre, Sept. 20 4. Mark MacKenzie, Joe Mercanti, Erin Simon and Vince Bozzo at the Good Shepherd Golf Tournament, Sept. 11 Good Shepherd’s annual fall gala 5.

Brian Melo 6. HCM’s Will Vipond Tait and Meredith MacLeod join Cathy Wellwood, Oct. 16

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7. Classified at Supercrawl, Sept. 14 8. Rick Campanelli and Bennie Esposto at the 14th Annual CIBPA awards gala, Carmen’s Banquet Centre, Oct. 9

To check out more photos, scan the qr code

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HCM WINTER 2025

/CITY LIFE EVENTS

NOT TO BE MISSED From brewery holiday markets to abstract painting, and from a pioneer Christmas experience to mocktails in the new year, there are so many ways to enjoy city life in Hamilton and Burlington.

Here are a few of our favourites.

A WESTFIELD WINTER Westfield Heritage Village once again hosts its popular Christmas in The Woods event, inviting visitors to revel in some old-timey holiday magic. Our local resident “living museum” dresses up for the occasion, donning festive touches like greenery and traditional holiday decorations throughout the site, which includes more than 30 restored buildings. As you wander the village stepping back in time, be sure to chat with the costumed interpreters and take part in the family-friendly activities that will get you more in the holiday spirit than a trip to the mall ever could. Advanced reservations required. Dec. 7 and 14. 1049 Kirkwall Rd, Rockton. westfieldheritage.ca

EXPRESS YOURSELF Whatever the opposite of paint by numbers is, we found it at the Expressive Abstract Paint Night at the Cotton Factory.

Hosted by studioK2, attendees are guided on how to create their own concepts to convey a personal idea on canvas and, fortunately for the novice artists attending, there are no wrong answers. After acrylic painting techniques are demonstrated, participants will be encouraged to let loose (abstractly) to see where inspiration takes them. All materials are included, just bring your big emotions and a beverage if you work best fully hydrated. Dip into the website for details and pricing.

Dec. 17, 9 Landsdowne Ave. studiok2.ca

FAIR TRADE

ALL STUFFED UP Some of the best things come in small packages, as evidenced by the offerings at Stuffed Holiday Market which returns this year to Collective Arts. With a focus on stocking stuffable items created by local vendors, the two-day event offers shoppers ample opportunity to power through their shopping list, one small thoughtful, unique gift at a time. Live music will help keep the energy up, while food vendors will keep the hangry at bay. Be sure to buy your ticket in advance for the best price and pick up a little something for yourself with the savings. Nov. 28-29, 207 Burlington St. E. stuffedhamilton.ca

hamiltoncitymagazine.ca scan the qr code Make our Things to Do section your go-to destination for city life and arts and culture events listings!

Arriving just in time for the big day — and serving as a gift to the last-minute shoppers among us — comes the Ancaster Christmasfest Holiday Festival. The event features 70 local vendors offering unique gifts, crafts and holiday treats, but is more than just shopping. The community-oriented event, housed at Marritt Hall at the Ancaster Fairgrounds, also offers food vendors, activities, and a kids zone. If that’s not worth sticking around for and making a day of it, there’s even a rumour that a certain jolly old elf might make an appearance.

Dec. 21, 630 Trinity Rd. S., Jerseyville. ancasterfair.ca

MOCK UP Mocktails are having a moment, and spirit-free doesn’t mean creativity-free. Put the club soda aside to broaden your NA repertoire by joining a hands-on workshop by Mixology

by Jen. In the 90-minute “After the Holidays” class held at Burlington’s TERRA Greenhouses, thirsty students are schooled by expert mixologist Jen Smith on the process of creating both classic and trendy mocktails fit for company.

It’s a new year, and a perfect time to muddle your way through some new tasty recipes with ingredients that don’t require an ID to purchase. Jan. 10, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 2273 Halton Regional Rd 5. terragreenhouses.com WINTER 2025 HCM

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/CITY LIFE

HOUNDS OF HAMILTON WE A R E SO EXC IT ED TO SH OW C A SE T H E A DOR A B L E , J OY FUL A N D LOVA B L E P E TS OF OU R GR E AT CIT Y !

Photos By FETCHING STUDIOS

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scape the relentless news cycle, doom scrolling and polarizing politics, and find joy and laughter in pets. Hounds of Hamilton is our celebration of local dogs — and honorary dogs — in print and online. Hounds of Hamilton (we couldn’t resist the alliteration) will be the place to find the pets in our fair city just waiting for their brush with fame. We are pairing up with Fetching Studios, the husband and wife team of Geoff Fitzgerald and Vanessa Marion-Merritt, who will help us showcase the animal stars among us!

We know your phone is jammed with pet photos, so, if you live in Hamilton or Burlington, send your best canine (feline, avian, reptile – we don’t discriminate!) candids to hounds@ hamiltoncitymagazine.ca, along with your pet’s name, breed, age, neighbourhood, favourite hiking spots, some information about his/her personality traits, what they love, and any other fun facts we should know. We will feature all submissions online, but to make it into print, please send JPEGs, that are at least 1 MB in size.

MONDO BILLIE JO MOZZIE PIPER

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PET BIOS!

scan the qr code to read each pet’s bio, and see MORE pet candids submitted by readers!

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HCM WINTER 2025

DOLLY & STEVIE

Discover the legacy of Canadian entrepreneur Sam Mercanti.

A story of faith, family, and fortitude.

RISEN NARRATED BY JAMES WOODS

Get your copy of Risen From the Shop Floor at www.sammercanti.com

GET YOUR COPY

THE AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY RISEN IS COMING SOON TO MAJOR STREAMING PLATFORMS. LEARN MORE AT RISENFROMTHESHOPFLOOR.COM

Unleash your pet's inner supermodel WIN a professional portrait session this holiday season!

Email a photo of your pet to win an unforgettable portrait session with Fetching Studios.

Includes: n

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A private session with you and your pet 10 fully edited images per pet, delivered digitally

hounds@hamiltoncitymagazine.ca | fetchingstudios.com

WINTER 2025 HCM

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Lasting legacy HAMILTON ENTREPRENEUR SAM MERCANTI HAS SHARED HIS LIFE’S JOURNEY IN RISEN, WHICH IS NOW BOTH A BOOK AND AN AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY.

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am Mercanti’s life as a man of faith, a man of business, and a man of philanthropy was documented in a book two years ago. It’s now an award-winning documentary, too.

Mercanti grew his auto body repair business from a single location in 1967 into a network of 220 CARSTAR Automotive Canada locations. He sold that business in 2015, but remains president of Mercanti Management Inc., a director of the Sam and Roma Mercanti Foundation, and the founder of Hamilton’s Charity of Hope, which gives back to those in need.

He shares his journey and the wisdom he’s gained along the way in RISEN from the Shop Floor: Lessons from an Entrepreneur.

“I wrote this book as a tribute — to God,

to my family, to my friends — so I could leave a legacy and hopefully inspire others along the way,” Mercanti told HAMILTON CITY Magazine. “If I, Sam Mercanti, could come to Canada with nothing and build a life from the ground up, I truly believe you can, too.”

Mercanti told his story to personal biographer Romy Terkel.

“The process was beautiful. We began the story long before I was born, in Castelli, Teramo, Italy. We talked about my parents, my grandparents, our journey immigrating to Canada, and how we eventually found our way into the collision business. Reflecting on and sharing the lessons I’ve learned over my 50 years in business was a truly powerful experience.”

Hamilton filmmaker Moe Masoudi worked with Mercanti and his business partner and daughter Samantha Mercanti to bring the book to the screen. The documentary has been screened at international film festivals and was a threetime winner (Best Inspirational Film, Best Biography and Best Director) at a world film festival in Cannes that is dedicated to emerging filmmakers.

It was screened at the Hamilton Film Festival in October. The hope is to see it find its way to TV screens, too.

“The documentary made the book come to life. The creativity by our producer Moe was amazing. Moe used AI to make people in the past come alive. Like, my Uncle Eugenio, my parents, my other uncles and my cousins. It was so cool.”

Mercanti is a true made-inHamilton success story.

“I love Hamilton. This city has my heart, my soul and my mind. Hamilton has been very good to me and our family, and I want to repay the city, and I think I have been repaying the city for being good to me.”

All proceeds from RISEN go to Cystic Fibrosis Canada. n SAM MERCANTI AT A BOOK SIGNING. PHOTO: BRENT PERNIAC

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HCM WINTER 2025

/MADE IN HAMILTON

OPINION:

Strength in disruptive times

HAMILTON MIGHT BE AT THE EPICENTRE OF GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY, BUT WE ARE SHOWING, ONCE AGAIN, THAT WE REFUSE TO BACK DOWN.

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By GREG DUNNETT

f there’s one thing 2025 will be remembered for in the business community, it’s disruption. Tariffs and trade tensions have rippled across borders, testing supply chains and confidence alike. Canada — and Hamilton in particular — has stood at the epicentre of global uncertainty. Exporters have faced new barriers, costs have climbed, and long-term planning has often felt like trying to find footing in shifting sand.

And yet, through it all, Hamilton has reminded the world — and itself — what strength truly looks like. We are a city that refuses to back down.

Our story has always been one of grit and renewal. We are builders and makers, innovators and dreamers. Our past, and our people, were forged in steel; our future is being shaped by technology, healthcare, education, culture, and advanced manufacturing. What connects those eras is resolve — the ability to turn challenge into opportunity, to adapt and keep moving forward no matter the headwinds.

The countless conversations I’ve had this year with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community partners have reminded me that our city’s greatest strength is our relentless spirit. Time and again, those discussions moved beyond concern over the economic climate toward something deeper:

a shared belief in Hamilton. A desire not only to succeed in business, but to build a stronger, more connected community along the way.

At the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, we’ve seen that belief in action. Our roundtables on housing, energy, and downtown revitalization have demonstrated how collaboration fuels progress. Across every sector, partnerships are taking root between business and government, employers and educators, anchor institutions and startups. It’s this spirit of cooperation that defines Hamilton today and will shape its

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2

future tomorrow.

This year, that collective strength has been visible in every corner of our economy.

Businesses have diversified. Startups have found new markets. Institutions have united to tackle complex challenges with creativity and compassion. This ability to adapt and overcome is what has allowed us to continue to push forward despite mounting challenges.

Of course, uncertainty remains. The global economy continues to evolve, and the path ahead will have its share of obstacles. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that Hamilton doesn’t just weather the storm, we build through it. We adapt. We lead. We lift one another up.

As we look toward 2026, the call to action is clear: keep building, keep believing, keep collaborating. Let’s continue to shape a Hamilton where business success and community well-being go hand in hand, where every investment, every innovation, and every act of leadership contributes to something greater than ourselves.

Hamilton is more than a place to do business. It’s a community to believe in. And as your Chamber, we’re proud to stand beside you — every step of the way. n Greg Dunnett is president and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. He will be contributing to each issue of HAMILTON CITY Magazine.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Hamilton Convention Centre

PRESENTED BY AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Celebrating the people and organizations who give back to Hamilton!

WINTER 2025 HCM

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/MADE IN HAMILTON

HAMILTON’S STARRING ROLE LOCAL FILMM AKERS H AVE L AUNCHED THE H AMILTON FILM BOARD, WITH THE INTENTION OF SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE CIT Y’S POTENTI AL AS A M OVIE AND T V FILMING HUB.

By MEREDITH MacLEOD

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ho doesn’t get a thrill — maybe even a little burst of civic pride — when they spot Hamilton somewhere in a film or series?

The newly launched Hamilton Film Board (HFB) wants local screen buffs to feel that more often.

Zach Zohr, owner of Hamilton Film Studios, says it has long made sense to launch a film board but about a year ago he started talking to people he knew who also wanted to work to make the city a destination for filmmakers.

Along with local music, art, theatre, and food, it adds to the mystique of Hamilton as an interesting, vibrant place.

“Maybe I’m biased, but I would like someone to prove me wrong. Name a better influx of cash into a neighbourhood other than a movie coming in. They’re going to spend money at the bakery and the coffee shop, the restaurant, the bar, the gas station, the Airbnb, the hotel, it could go on forever.”

After about a year or so of networking, the group incorporated as a non-profit, voted in a board, and developed a proposal to present to the City of Hamilton and potential sponsors.

The Hamilton Film Office has been a strong supporter of the HFB and the two will work in synergy, says president Christopher Giroux, a filmmaker who moved to Hamilton with his wife, actor Ann Pirvu, in 2020.

“We realized that on certain things, it’s better if the City takes the lead, and on other things, it’s better if we take the lead. So, our relationship is really hand-in-hand. We really believe in this kind of Red Rover approach, where we’re kind of all linking arms, we’re a little bit stronger together.”

The City’s film office does some work in 20

HCM WINTER 2025

CHRISTOPHER GIROUX, MATT WATTS, MIKE BRUCE, ANN PIRVU, MAYOR ANDREA HORWATH, CHRISTOPH BENFEY, AND JEFF BOULTON AT THE HFB’S SUPERCRAWL RED CARPET. PHOTO: DONNA WAXMAN

attracting productions but is mainly focused on helping the productions that have already committed to shooting in the city get the proper permits, arrange for road closures, and link with local suppliers, says Giroux.

The HFB will focus on bringing more productions to the city, which will grow the talent base in Hamilton, and provide local work for the wide range of film and TV workers already living here.

Christoph Benfey, owner of Evil Empire Studios, says the HFB will work directly with producers and location scouts who decide where films and TV shows will shoot.

“People who work in the industry know how to guide them and incentivize them to come and film in Hamilton. It’s a board of people who can help the City do a better job of attracting productions to come here.”

The HFB will also offer networking opportunities, host community and industry events, gather feedback from filmmakers shooting locally, and create a talent directory.

W HY H A M I LTO N ?

It’s well known that Hamilton offers a whole range of looks — dense downtown streetscapes, heritage architecture, industrial

landscapes, waterfront, trails, farm land, and small towns. There is an economic advantage here, too. Productions filming outside the GTA, with the boundary beginning in the west at the border between Hamilton and Burlington, get a 10 per cent bonus on Ontario’s film tax credit.

And Hamilton offers less congestion, generally lower location costs, and fewer logistical headaches.

“You can’t close the Sky Dome, but you can close the Ticat stadium,” says Giroux. “You can’t close Yonge Street, but you can close Locke Street. Hamilton is just an easier place to shoot and we can be that overflow for Toronto. We already are that overflow.”

Hamilton is the second-biggest filming hub in Ontario. The list of film and TV productions that have set up in Hamilton includes two Academy Award Best Picture winners in The Shape of Water and Spotlight, blockbusters X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, Cinderella Man, and Resident Evil: Apocalypse, along with acclaimed streaming TV series The Handmaid’s Tale, The Boys, Umbrella Academy, and Reacher, Canadian productions Children Ruin Everything, Murdoch Mysteries, and Strays, and reality programs Canada’s

Drag Race, Drink Masters, and Blown Away. A whole yuletide’s worth of Christmas movies have filmed here, too.

W HY NOW? Benfey, who moved to Hamilton in 2010, says the time is right for the HFB because the local film industry has grown to a size that makes it necessary.

“Everybody used to know everybody but now there are so many creators here. There’s probably like hundreds, if not thousands, of people doing it. It’s just become so much more saturated. And not that that’s a bad thing. I keep meeting people who live here, who’ve maybe moved here in the last five or six years, that do film or video or photography. You can’t even keep track of it anymore, whereas we literally used to fit on two hands.”

Hamilton film producer Jeff Boulton tried to set up a networking series when he arrived in the city in 2012 but it didn’t take off.

“There wasn’t enough critical mass of people living here who work professionally in the industry. There were a lot of hobbyists and a lot of independents that were kind of just operating at very low levels of budget and that sort of thing. There was this really great spirit, but there wasn’t really a realistic economic opportunity,” says Boulton, who launched Crafthaus Ltd., which produces thrillers, horror, and what he calls lo-fi sci-fi.

“You know, Hamilton, at that time, was still fairly busy with film, but it was always very much about ‘We need a place that looks like shit on camera,’ or ‘We need an industrial area on camera.’ So it was Toronto coming down and taking advantage of the not-asimpressive stuff.”

No one was talking about waterfalls, green spaces and beautiful urban buildings then, says Boulton. But as affordability continued to drive industry people out of Toronto, more of them wanted to stay in their new hometown to work. At the same time, more film infrastructure was being established that makes it easier to shoot locally.

Filmmaker and Hamilton Film Festival founder Nathan Fleet thinks it’s important to promote Hamilton within the domestic film industry, especially in the wake of tariff talk from the White House.

“So if production slows from the U.S., there is a strong enough base locally that

we can keep good things going. We need to wave that Hamilton flag. We have the additional regional bonus, and a critical mass of cast and crew, and production resources.

Everything is here, and it’s time to say that we’re here.”

Fleet, a Hamilton native, says it’s been about 10 years since the City campaigned heavily in Toronto to win film shoots. At the time, there were hopes that The Shape of Water director Guillermo del Toro would follow through on his musings about setting up a studio in the city.

Since then, only more film creatives and tech folks have moved to Hamilton, says Fleet.

“Those people want to see a spotlight on the city. They’re really passionate about it.”

W e n e e d t o wav e t h at h a m i lt o n f l a g . W e h av e the additional regional bonus, and a critical mass of cast and crew, and production resources. everything is here a n d i t ’ s t i m e t o s ay t h at w e ’ r e h e r e . ” nathan fleet, filmmaker, founder, Hamilton Film festival

It just makes sense to have people working in the industry acting as ambassadors, says Fleet. They have the contacts, they understand the realities of the sector, and what filmmakers and production companies are looking for in deciding where to shoot.

W H AT’S NE X T ?

Zohr moved to Hamilton eight years ago when he was spending too much time travelling to the city from Toronto for his

projects. He says a decade ago, you couldn’t staff a film shoot from within Hamilton.

That’s all changed now.

“I feel like I know someone who works in every department — costumes, art, props, sets, cinematography, everything — who lives right in my neighbourhood.”

Early on, Zohr saw an opportunity to open studio space where production companies could shoot or build sets. HFS opened in late 2018, then came Green Door Studios, Millworks Creative, Aeon, Digital Canaries, Picture Perfect, and Evil Empire. Other assets include set-builder Hamilton Scenic Specialties, Theatrix Costume House, Cabinet of Curiosities, and Hamilton Prop House.

Zohr’s business has now shifted to film and location equipment rentals and an expendables shop that provides set supplies such as tape, paint, bulbs, cables and cords to local shoots. That kind of infrastructure has been crucial to building a thriving filming presence, say a number of HFB members.

But the next critical step is developing a database of local talent that would make it easy for a producer to greenlight a shoot in Hamilton, knowing a cast and crew would be readily available.

“A registry will help us get our head around who’s here in town,” says Boulton.

“And it will also give us an idea of where we’re shy in terms of the labour force, what departments or skills are missing. From there, we can lobby individuals we know who work in those areas to say, ‘Hey, have you ever thought of moving to Hamilton?’”

Giroux, who has worked on just shy of 60 features in his career, says once a production company has a positive experience in a filmfriendly city, they will come back.

“Filmmaking has consistent hurdles, left turns, and a lot of moving pieces. So anything that can be repeated from a production in the past that has already worked is just taking something off those people’s plates. That’s what they’re looking for.”

Boulton hopes the HFB can promote Canadian productions to the community. For instance, he says indie Canadian filmmakers often get laughed out of locations because they can’t pay as much as a Netflix series.

“It’s about fostering an understanding of the industry and an appreciation for the Canadian side of it, but also a civic pride in like, let’s go and support Canadian.” n WINTER 2025 HCM

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A CELEBRATION OF SOUND

2 0 26 W IL L BE A HI STORY-M AKING YEAR IN TH E CIT Y’S MUSIC SECTOR A ND W I L L CH ART T HE CO URSE FOR AN AMPLIFIED FUTURE.

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amilton is a city of music and 2026 will be a history-making year that will give music lovers plenty of reasons to celebrate.

It all begins with the reopening of TD Coliseum and some monster shows it will host, kicking off with Sir Paul McCartney on opening night.

It continues with the JUNO Awards coming back to Hamilton in March and the recent announcement that Folk Canada’s annual conference is coming to our city in 2026.

And, of course, adding in Hamilton’s great musical traditions of It’s Your Festival, Festival of Friends, the Brott Music Festival, and Supercrawl, the programming of our musical powerhouses in the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Theatre Aquarius, the Bach Elgar Choir, and the Hamilton Children’s Choir, and the emergence of The Music Hall to add to a long list of performing arts venues, and 2026 will be a truly memorable year in music in Hamilton.

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Think of it as Hamilton’s music moment.

To mark this incredible year of music ahead, the City of Hamilton’s Tourism and Culture Division will shine a spotlight on Hamilton’s long history as a city of music, and celebrate the breadth of music and diversity of musicians and industry professionals who call Hamilton home.

“It’s going to be an unforgettable year for music in Hamilton,” says Lisa Abbott, Director, City of Hamilton’s Tourism and Culture Division.

“We wanted to make sure we were recognizing, celebrating, and amplifying all these music milestones to establish a legacy as a city of music that stays with us long past the end of the year.”

2026 will be a celebration of sound, increasing awareness of Hamilton as both a welcoming home for musicians, and a vibrant destination for music fans.

“Hamilton isn’t just a stopover — it’s a launchpad,” says Sherry Sinclaire, a member

of the Hamilton Music Advisory Team (HMAT).

“We’re home to world-class talent, genredefying creativity, and award-winning artists. Visitors might expect steel and grit, but they’ll find soul, innovation, and a music community that’s as bold as it is collaborative. Many — locals and visitors alike — don’t realize how many Hamilton artists are shaping national conversations, from songwriting to festival lineups.”

Music has been woven into the cultural fabric and identity of Hamilton since its founding. Hamiltonians are deeply proud of this musical legacy, which has built a thriving music industry in a city that has revitalized around arts and culture.

You are invited to join in the City of Music fun by hosting your own community concerts, events and workshops, helping to leave a lasting legacy in Hamilton.

Let’s kick things off with a look at what music lovers can look forward to next year!

For more on the campaign, scan the QR code.

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10 REASONS HAMILTON SOUNDS GOOD IN 2026

NEW TD CO LIS EU M After a $300-million transformation, the much-anticipated opening of TD Coliseum will put Hamilton on the map as a world-class destination for music and live entertainment.

The music-first venue now features all-new concourses on three levels with concessions, innovative premium suites, clubs and lounges, and state-of-the-art amenities for touring stars and crews. It opens Nov. 21 with Sir Paul McCartney, followed by tour stops by Andrea Bocelli, Brad Paisley, Jonas Brothers, Rod Stewart, Nine Inch Nails, TWICE, and Cardi B.

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2026 JU N O AWARDS Canada’s Biggest Night in Music returns to Hamilton March 26-29. The 55th Annual JUNO Awards will mark the first time in 10 years that the national music awards are coming to Hamilton and the seventh time overall. The JUNOS, organized by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), begins with the jam-packed JUNO Week, including live music showcases, a songwriter’s circle, comedy, and community events. It culminates in the national awards being broadcast live on CBC TV and CBC Gem from TD Coliseum, and globally on CBC Music’s YouTube. Fun fact: Hamilton has hosted The JUNOS more than any other city outside of Toronto.

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F OLK C AN ADA Folk Canada’s annual music conference will be hosted in Hamilton in 2026 and 2027.

Next October will mark the 40th conference and performer showcase, the largest gathering of the professional folk, roots, and traditional music community in Canada. In addition to panels, performances, mentorship sessions, and professional development workshops, the conference will also include the Ontario Folk Music Awards.

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PUNC H IN G IN EXH IB IT Punching In: The Work Behind Hamilton’s Music, celebrates Hamilton’s vibrant music scene and the people who make it possible.

Curated by Hamilton Civic Museums with the local music community, the exhibit will feature nostalgic gig posters, iconic photos, recording

equipment, and unique memorabilia, all set to a custom Hamilton soundtrack. Events and workshops throughout 2026 will further explore the city’s creative rhythm. It will be on display in the Visitor Experience Centre (28 James St. N.) starting late January and runs all year.

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THE ATR E AQUARIUS Hamilton’s professional theatre house continues to add to its credentials as a hub for musical theatre in Canada. Theatre Aquarius has debuted original musicals by country music star Johnny Reid in Maggie, as well as Beautiful Scars, by Hamilton’s own musical bright light Tom Wilson. That will become a hat trick when It’s a Good Life if You Don’t Weaken, a new musical featuring the music of the Tragically Hip, has its world premiere in Hamilton in April.

Theatre Aquarius has built on that success with the creation of the National Centre for New Musicals and will host the inaugural National Musical Theatre Summit in January 2026.

M USI C A L IN STITUTIO N S Hamilton is home to foundational musical institutions, including the iconic, 140-yearold Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the internationally acclaimed Hamilton Children’s Choir, the 120-year-old Bach Elgar Choir, the Hamilton All-Star Jazz Band, Sinfonia Ancaster, Chorus Hamilton, Musicata, and many community orchestras, concert bands, and vocal ensembles. The Hamilton Music Collective, Tune In Foundation, and the hArt Music Series give access to music opportunities to young and diverse artists.

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HO M E GR O WN F E STIVALS Music is the heart and soul of made-inHamilton festivals, including: the massively popular three-day Supercrawl on James Street North that has featured well over 700 musical performers since it began in 2009; Festival of Friends, which will celebrate 50 years in 2026; It’s Your Festival, the city’s annual Canada Day party; and the Brott Music Festival, founded in 1988 by the late, great conductor Boris Brott, now Canada’s largest orchestral music festival.

Also don’t miss AGH art+music+food Festival, a 21-day arts collision happening in November.

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H ALLS AN D STUDIO S Hamilton’s music industry is built on the backbone of great places to hear and record music. Adding to the well-regarded acoustics of FirstOntario Concert Hall, the renovation of The Music Hall will create a state-of-the-art 1,000seat venue in a historic downtown church.

Magnolia Hall will also host music events in a reimagined church. The Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre, in a repurposed school, is now a thriving hub of music performance. Mohawk College’s McIntyre Performing Arts Centre and McMaster University’s L.R. Wilson Hall bring music to our campuses. On the studio and rehearsal side, the iconic Grant Avenue Studio turns 50 in 2026, producing great music alongside Catherine North, Halo, Threshold, and Boxcar. Main Stage Rehearsal Studios provides crucial practice and performance space for local and touring musicians.

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RE PURPO SE D SPACE S There are plenty of renewed Hamilton places to get your musical fix: Bridgeworks and Mills Hardware; The Mule Spinner in a former stable at the historic Cotton Factory; The Gasworks, The Staircase, and The Westdale all host live music in buildings that have found new life. Add to that Crown & Press in a former Woolworths, Henry’s on James in a historic bank, and The Powerhouse, which once powered trains. And then there are the pubs that have been musical all along: the iconic Corktown Pub, the reborn Cat & Fiddle, and Stonewalls.

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GRO WIN G TH E LO CAL S C ENE This year of music will feature multiple opportunities for career growth and development among professional and nonprofessional musicians and music presenters, both veteran and emerging. Hamilton’s music industry is the sixth-largest cluster of music businesses in Canada, employing close to 8,000 workers and supporting 550 businesses.

Attracting, developing, and retaining talent is a key priority of the City of Hamilton, working in collaboration with the Hamilton Music Advisory Team (HMAT), a collective of industry professionals.

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For more on the campaign, scan the QR code.

HAMILTON MUSIC MAKERS YOU SHOULD KNOW TH I S CIT Y IS A M USICAL POW ERHOUSE . H E R E A R E A F E W LOCA L S TA N D OU TS SH A R ING WH AT THEY LOVE ABOUT TH E P L ACE T HE Y CA LL H OME .

L I SA L A ROCCA

| Director of Operations, Sonic Unyon and Supercrawl

Favourite Hamilton music event or memory? Earth Song. My dad worked for Creative Arts when they organized it, and I think a lot of Hamiltonians have great memories of that festival from the ’90s.

Favourite spot in the city to catch a live show? Mills Hardware. I know it’s one of our own (a Sonic Unyon venue), but it’s small enough to feel like an intimate show with your favourite artist, and right in the downtown core. I’ve seen so many inspiring performances there over the last 10 years!

A local musician (old or new) who inspires you? I always answer this question with Jackie Washington. One of the Hamilton greats. I was lucky enough to know him and consider him a friend as a child!

PHOTO: MIKE HIGHFIELD

JA MES KAH AN E

Conductor/Artistic Director, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Favourite spot in the city to catch a live show? FirstOntario Concert Hall, of course.

A local musician (old or new) who inspires you? Darcy Hepner is a great Hamilton musician!

PHOTO: MARTA HEWSON

Favourite Hamilton hidden gem? The Woodland Cemetery.

I stumbled upon it by accident so from my perspective it’s quite “hidden.” It is surrounded by nature with an amazing view of the bay and the city.

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PHOTO: BRENT PERNIAC

Favourite meal in Hamilton?

Rapscallion. I went for the first time for a full meal recently and the experience was quite extraordinary.

K IL LOTIN E

|

Metal band, represented Canada at Wacken Open Air 2025

PHOTO: RAE CHATTEN

Members: Matt Fraser (vocals and rhythm guitar), Jesse Luciani (lead guitar), James Beck (drums) and James McNeil (bass and backing vocals)

CADEN CE W E APO N

A local musician (old or new) who inspires you? Emma Rush. Emma taught our lead guitarist at Mohawk College, and used to run a classical guitar concert series in Hamilton!

Where do you take an out of town friend or relative when they visit? To any of the LIVE music venues! The Doors Pub, Corktown, Ooey Gooey’s, etc! Oh yeah, did we forget to say, SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC!

| Rapper, Polaris Music Prize winner, poet, author

A local musician (old or new) who inspires you? Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys. He’s very underrated and has produced some of the best electronic music to ever come out of Canada.

Where do you take an out of town friend or relative when they visit? Hamilton Antique Mall. You’ll never know what you’ll find there. People are always amazed when I take them there.

Favourite Hamilton hidden gem? Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology. My son is really into trains so we like to go on Train Days with the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers, this locomotive society that operates a replica train that you can ride on for donations.

PHOTO: BRENT PERNIAC

LU K E B ENT H A M

|

Singer/guitarist in rock band The Dirty Nil; JUNO winner

C H E L SEA McW I L L I AMS Singer/bassist in Americana alt-country trio The Redhill Valleys

Favourite Hamilton music event or memory?

Winning the Country Music Association of Ontario Award for Best Group this past June in Hamilton.

Favourite spot in the city to catch a live show?

The Westdale hosts an amazing convergence of live music events, art and film.

Favourite spot in the city to catch a live show?

Into the Abyss A local musician (old or new) who inspires you? Gord Lewis, David O’Connor, Drew Thompson, Kyle Fisher Favourite Hamilton hidden gem? Nabil’s is my favourite hidden gem. It’s not as flashy as some of the higher-profile restaurants in the city but it’s my favourite.

PHOTO: ANTHONY VITANZA

A local musician (old or new) who inspires you?

Love giving a shoutout to Carl Jennings (Freedom Train) who is an amazing mentor, musician, producer and fellow bassist who has been shaping the Hamilton music scene for over 35 years.

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FESTIVAL SCHEDULE + date

Thursday, Nov. 13

AGH Members: $55 General $65

Saturday, Nov. 15

1:30 PM

Art + Sound with Doug Tewksbury

FREE

1:00 PM

Festival Family Day

2:00 PM

Chamber Music Hamilton: Michael Schulte & Friends Fabulicious @ ACCA

Wednesday, Nov. 19

Thursday, Nov. 20

123 King Street West 905.527.6610 artgalleryofhamilton.com

AGH Members: $20 General $25 Live DJ & Opening Celebration FREE Transforming Sweetness into Masterpieces Workshop

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Art Gallery of Hamilton

8:00 PM

Unique Fashion Show

6:30 PM

Monday, Nov. 17

11 Days. Endless Inspiration.

6:30 PM

+ tickets

Friday, Nov. 14

Sunday, Nov. 16

NOV 13 – 23, 2025

+ event

2:00 PM

AGH Members: FREE General $5 AGH Members: $35 General $40 AGH/ACCA Members: $25 General $30 AGH Members: $55 General $65

3:00 PM

Vine to Vision: Painting with Wine Workshop

4:00 PM

Frame by Frame: A Youth Filmmaking Workshop

FREE

6:30 PM

Keep a Straight Face Art + Comedy Tour

AGH Members: $5 General $10

6:30 PM

Bubble Tea Making – Hands on Cooking Class

AGH Members: $55 General $65

6:30 PM

From Earth To Sky Film Screening and Discussion

AGH Members: $10 General $15

6:30 PM

Keep a Straight Face Art + Comedy Tour

AGH Members: $5 General $10

5:00 PM

Meditation in the Gallery

FREE

Keep a Straight Face Art + Comedy Tour

AGH Members: $5 General $10

Artist Flash Talk: Taking Root Let’s Glow: Fluorescent Paint Workshop Dance Party

FREE AGH Members: $25 General: $35 AGH Members: $10 General: $15

6:30 PM 7:00 PM 8:30 PM

Friday, Nov. 21

6:30 PM

SKETCH Film Screening @ Westdale Theatre

AGH Members: $10 General $15

Saturday, Nov. 22

1:00 + 6:00 PM

3 Hours, 10 Minutes

AGH Members: $10 General $15

Sunday, Nov. 23

12:00 PM Tastes of Comfort: NOON Festival Finale

AGH Members: $20 General $25 Children $20

Thursday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm Friday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 am – 5:00 Special Evening Hours Nov. 17 – Nov. 19: 5:00 – 9:00 pm

Gallery Admission is FREE throughout the Festival thanks to our generous sponsors!

PRESENTED BY

TICKETS & INFO AGHFEST.COM

FESTIVE FINDS: Your Ultimate Gift Guide for the Holidays LO O K I N G F O R T H E P E R F E CT P R E S E NT C LO S E TO H O M E ?

O U R LO C A L G I F T G U I D E I S H E R E TO M A K E H O L I D AY G I F T I N G A B R E E Z E W IT H T H O U G HT F U L P I C K S F O R E V E RYO N E O N YO U R L I S T. W H E T H E R YO U ’ R E S H O P P I N G F O R A G R A C I O U S H O S T, A C OZ Y H O M E B O DY, A D E V OT E D A N I M A L LOV E R , A F U N - LOV I N G G R O U P, O R A YO U N G B O O K W O R M , W E ’ V E R O U N D E D U P C R E AT I V E , LO C A L LY S O U R C E D I D E A S TO M A K E YO U R G I F T- G I V I N G F E E L P E R S O N A L A N D P R A CT I C A L .

MORE ONLINE:

scan the qr code for even more gift-giving ideas.

Plus, each item has a direct link to the vendor!

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/HCM GIFT GUIDE

The Host’s Survival Kit WANT TO MAKE A GREAT IMPRESSION AS A GUEST AT A HOLIDAY GATHERING? CHOOSE ONE — OR ALL! — OF THESE GIFTS THAT WILL MAKE HOSTING A DREAM.

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By KRIS OSBORNE

hen it comes to entertaining, our hosts put in a lot of effort. The twinkle of lights, the hum of a curated playlist and good conversation, perfectly prepared food, thoughtful drinks, and the cozy reality of a full and happy house all take planning, care, and endless energy. Plus, they shoulder the monumental task of making it all look effortless. This year, your hosts and hostesses deserve a reward that’s as thoughtful as their appetizer spread. Forget the obligatory bottle of on-sale bubbly; this year, show your favourite entertainer some genuine, local love with a gift that doesn’t just say thank you, but allows them to bask in their love for hosting others.

The Bee’s Knees

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PHOTO: MAYA VISNYEI

Coaster Goals

PHOTO: NORTON CREATIONS

The Heritage Bee Company’s gently flavoured honey is a jar that more than earns its keep. A little dollop can gussy up a charcuterie board, pot of tea, basic slice of toast, or simple cake glaze. This raw, 100 per cent Ontario, wildflower honey is hand-processed near the escarpment by their friendly beekeepers. Whether it’s a jar of lavender for a calming tea, rosemary for a goat cheese pairing, or ginger for a winter cocktail, this yummy gift will elevate anything you seek to sweeten.

X Grab it at Campus & Co., The Casual Gourmet, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and other local retailers, or shop online at heritagebee.com

These coasters are a masterpiece in miniature, and an essential component of a host’s survival kit! For over 20 years, Norton Creations in Dundas has been pouring, painting, and designing these vivid pieces, which are inspired by Hamilton’s own waterfalls, trails, and changing seasons.

Hand-painted with acrylics and finished with a durable, high-heat resin, they’re a pretty and practical solution to keeping your favourite host’s furniture ring-free.

X Buy them directly through the artist’s Facebook page @nortoncreationsdesign

/HCM GIFT GUIDE

Toast of the Town

PHOTO: ETCH & EMBER

Each of Etch & Ember’s unique wine glasses are handcrafted using a chemical etching process and sponge-and-brush application that creates beautifully frosted, one-of-a-kind pieces. The whimsical collection at The Local Life on Locke features garden blooms and their tiny winged visitors (hello, butterflies and bees!). Made for anyone who appreciates beauty and originality, these glasses elevate every occasion from a casual Tuesday night glass of vino to a lavish New Year’s soiree.

X Find them at The Local Life thelocallife.ca or directly from Etch & Ember on Instagram @etch.and.ember

Morning Ritual

PHOTO: THE NEST HAMILTON

Every great party ends with a weary host needing an even better wake-up call, and that’s why there’s Early Bird coffee beans.

Lovingly stocked at The Nest, this small-batch, Woodstockbased roastery focuses on ethically sourced, premium beans, ensuring that every cup results in an excellent cup of joe.

Whether you choose the fruity, sweet Robin Light Roast or the rich, dark Nighthawk, this is the gift for anyone who values a quality morning ritual. Add a handwritten “best enjoyed with leftover pie” note, and you’ve officially extended the party.

X Pick up a bag of whole beans at The Nest nesthamilton.com

PHOTO: SARA HERES

Liquid Gold Hamilton’s Dear Grain crew is famous for world-class bread, so it’s only fitting that they would track down the perfect pairing. Frantoio Terrano olive oil, sourced from Sicily but hand-picked by DG’s bakers, is a full-bodied and fruity extra-virgin olive oil with a signature peppery, arugula-like bite. Destined to be a finishing oil, it adds a luxurious final touch to dishes like pasta, winter soups, or a simple slice of fresh sourdough bread.

X Snag a bottle from Dear Grain deargrain.com

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Gifts: can’t someone else do it?

T I S T H E S E A S O N … TO F E E L TOTA L LY O V E R W H E L M E D BY YO U R G I F T L I S T !

By SUZANNE ZANDBERGEN

T

he holidays can be stressful when you’ve got a gift list as long as your arm that includes your clients, employees, teachers, the babysitter, your hairstylist, massage therapist, and mail carrier. Wouldn’t it be great to find a place where you could pick out all your gifts and have them delivered? Or maybe even have someone else put together some beautiful gifts that you know will be appreciated? This exists! Even better, there are many small businesses you can support right here in your own backyard that offer this kind of service that will save you a ton of time.

Donut Monster e-gift card

| starting at $10

Donut Monster, 246 Locke St. S., Hamilton IG: @donutmonsterhamilton | donutmonster.ca/s/gift-cards

A very simple website page allows you to send multiple gift cards by email with the click of a button. Just copy and paste the email addresses of your clients, choose the amount of the gift card you’d like to give, choose the day you’d like them to receive it in their inbox, add a festive greeting, and you’ve done all your shopping! You’ll love the quick convenience, they will love choosing from the display case of decadent scratch-made donuts with wild flavours like pecan butter tart filled, kimchi fritter, and peach bellini cheesecake.

Chocolate Box (with gluten free and vegan options) starting at $16

Succulent planter starting at $100

Genesis Chocolate Company, 97 King St. W., Dundas IG: @genesischocolatecompany | genesischocolatecompany.com

Westdale Florist, 1041 King St. W., Hamilton IG: @westdaleflorist | westdaleflorists.ca

Local delivery of delicious handmade chocolate confections might be the perfect gift for everyone on your list. There are artisan chocolates in innovative flavours available in a variety of box sizes. Confections include pretzels, licorice and sour keys dipped in milk, white, and dark chocolate. The Thank You bar in either milk or gluten-free vegan dark chocolate would make a great small gift for all the people that make your life a little easier. E-gift cards can be purchased and sent directly to multiple recipients with just a few clicks, in denominations starting at $10.

Send clients a gift they can enjoy year-round — a live succulent garden. The hardy plants are artfully placed in a modern planter, and will be a continuous reminder of your thoughtfulness. Support a local florist like Westdale Florist, which has been in business for nearly 80 years, and you can be confident in your gift, knowing it’s designed by an experienced professional, and hand-delivered. Free same day delivery available.

Coffee Lovers 3 Pack

| $48

Relay Coffee, 27 King William St., Hamilton For the coffee drinkers on your list, locally roasted coffee from a family-owned business that has been caffeinating Hamiltonians since 2008 might be just the thing.

There are two varieties of the Coffee Lovers 3 Pack, one medium roast, and one for espresso fans. Each option gives your recipient a chance to brew and savour three very different flavour notes. Delivery is free within Ontario for orders over $45.

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/HCM GIFT GUIDE

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Pinch Bakery & Plant Shop e-gift card $5 to $100 Pinch Bakery & Plant Shop, 183 Sherman Ave. N., Hamilton IG: @shopatpinch | shopatpinch.com

The online gift card option starting at $5 makes Pinch a very quick and easy way to send small gifts out to multiple people on your list. Pinch is a small business with a big heart, constantly fundraising for various causes and rallying the community. Gift cards can be used to buy both scratch-made food and plants in the cozy café, and they’re even redeemable for custom baking orders.

Sophisticated Gifting gift basket

| starting at $12

The Workshop Sophisticated Gifting, 38 Forestview Dr., Dundas IG: @dundasworkshopgifts | theworkshopsophisticatedgifting.com

If you love the idea of someone putting together the perfect gift and delivering it, trusting that it’ll be a beautiful and appreciated gift, get in touch with Shelley Paikin, who has been running her gift basket business for more than 30 years. Locally made chocolate pizzas are a favourite, along with a signature handmade bow that make the gift almost too beautiful to open. Your budget can be as little as $12, all the way to a $500 gift presented on a beautiful high-end serving piece. Delivery available across Canada.

Weekend gift box

| $100

Everyday’s Friday Custom Box Co. IG: @everydaysfridaybox everydaysfridaybox.com

The Weekend gift box gives your recipient the opportunity to stay in and curl up with a puzzle and hot tea. A perfect choice for a client gift, employee gifting, teachers, or host gift. This local business is online only, and the website is very simple and makes it easy to order a gift and have it delivered.

Flat rate shipping within Canada. Gift concierge service also available if you’d like help creating and shipping custom gifts.

Gift box full of Canadian products

Local artisan-made gifts e-gift card starting at $10 The Handmade House 374 Brant St., Burlington & 71 King St. W., Dundas IG: @thmhshop thehandmadehouseburlington.ca Shop from a curated collection of hyperlocal gifts made by more than 100 artists living within two hours of the shops. Recipients can choose from handmade apparel, food, mugs and glassware, jewellery, bath and body products, and art.

| starting at $25

Canada in a Box at Rustic Daisy’s, 25 Main St. S., Waterdown IG: @canada.in.a.box Each box comes with a handwritten card showing the recipient where the items come from so they know everything is Canadian. Gift box items include gourmet food, teas, books, fun mugs, stationary, and more. Order through Instagram, and shop owner Cat McCrimmon will put together the perfect gift based on your budget and preferences, and will ship it to any address within Canada.

Teachers’ gift box Mela Bath | melabath.com

| $26

Support a small local business making delightful scented handmade bath and body products created with 100 per cent organic products. Choose from scrubs, froths, makeup remover, soaps, and bathbombs. This online shop also offers whimsical themed boxes for teacher gifts, Christmas, and more. Local hand delivery and free delivery is available to the Hamilton/Burlington area with a minimum order, with shipping options for those outside the local delivery area. E-gift cards start at $10 and can be sent directly via email to each person on your list.

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/HCM GIFT GUIDE

Pampering the Hamilton homebody HERE ARE A FEW COZY, CITY-LIVING IDEAS TO HELP YOUR FAVOURITE STAY-AT-HOME FANS RELAX AND INDULGE THEMSELVES.

T

By KRIS OSBORNE

here’s a special breed of person who’s perfected the art of staying home — and we’re not talking about lazy Sundays in old sweats (though those have their place). These are the intentional homebodies, the ones who understand that some of life’s best moments happen in conscientiously curated corners, under impossibly soft blankets, with a good book in hand and something to sip. These are the people who’ve turned their space into a sanctuary, and for whom comfort isn’t just a feeling, it’s a lifestyle choice. This year, whether you’re shopping for your favourite stay-athome enthusiast or treating yourself (and honestly, you’ve earned it), we’ve rounded up five locally made treasures for anyone who knows that “going out” sometimes means moving from the couch to the kettle.

Comfort Zone These microwaveable rice bags from Wrapped In Comfort are the closest thing to a hug when one isn’t available. Made with soft, pretty fabrics and filled with rice, they can be heated in the microwave for soothing relief on sore muscles, tension headaches, or perpetually cold feet, or tossed in the freezer to be turned into a cooling compress. These aren’t like your grandmother’s heating pads (though she’d probably love them); they’re a modern, handcrafted, warm embrace, and they make a perfect companion for anyone who craves comfort and solace in the everyday.

X Pick one up online at wrappedincomfort.ca or shop locally at The Local Life on Locke thelocallife.ca

Wax Poetic These carefully crafted beeswax candles from Candles by Natalia are the definition of tranquility in a jar. Each candle is hand-poured using locally sourced beeswax, coconut oil, and pure essential oils, which creates a soft, clean burn that fills the room with a subtle honey-like warmth. Plus, that cute little beeswax bee on top of the candles — their signature look — is too cute to pass up. For the person in your life who’s serious about ambiance, these candles will transform a quiet afternoon or evening into something rather special — whether you’re deep in a novel, journaling, or simply enjoying the stillness.

X Find them on Instagram @candlesbynatalia or see the display at Dundurn Castle.

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Glitter Era Every Swiftie deserves a little sparkle, especially after a long week. Inspired by Taylor Swift’s latest album release, The Life of a Showgirl, this bath bomb and soap duo from Blazing Bombs is fresh and bursting with the scent of juicy blackberry and bright bergamot. Of course, it’s also topped with a bit of eco-friendly glitter for that just-finished-a-concert glow. Handmade in Ontario, these bath treats turn any tub into a headlining event.

X Shop them online at blazingbombs.com

Steep Dreams If there’s someone in your life whose favourite part of the day involves a kettle and a mug, Lake & Oak’s Tea Gift Box is a trio of sippable treats.

The Hamilton-based company crafts delightful superfood tea blends from 100 per cent organic herbs, fruits, roots, and plants to create a delicious and restorative cuppa. Simply choose any three of their signature teas, and they’ll handle the beautiful packaging.

X Order directly from shoplakeandoak.com

Cover Story Do you know someone who treats their books like old friends? If so, these handmade sleeves from GarKnitAndPurl will keep their beloved reads (or e-readers) safe and snug as a bug. Each one is artfully stitched with padding and playful prints, offering protection for travel, commutes, or cozy, lazy Sundays on the couch. For the bookworm who always has a paperback within arm’s reach (or three stacked on the nightstand), these sleeves will be a genuine delight.

For a little something extra, pair it with a handpicked novel from a local bookstore.

X Shop them on Etsy or in store at The Local Life on Locke thelocallife.ca

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Those pampered pets WHETHER FOR THE PETS YOU LOVE OR THEIR HUMAN FAMILY, THESE GIFT IDEAS ARE SURE TO BE MET WITH SLOBBERY KISSES.

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By CHRISTINE MacLEOD

et people. We all know the type — you show up at their house for a holiday party and their dog will greet you at the door in an elf costume while the cat is under the couch sulking in a freshly knitted Santa hat. Or maybe you ARE that person and you’re looking for gift ideas for your own furry family. We’re not judging, some of us at HCM are those people, too. So here are a few made-in-Canada gift ideas from local pet stores. (And as a gift to our furry friends, we have NOT included any Santa hats, reindeer antlers, jingle bell collars or holiday costumes of any kind. You’re welcome.)

Something for our feathered friends In the last decade, bird-watching has exploded in popularity. Whether it’s a reprieve from technology, a calming activity to reduce stress, or a way to get some exercise in the warm summer sun, bird-watching offers a beautiful way to connect with nature. But why traipse around in the freezing cold and snow looking for birds when you can bring the birds to you? Designed and made in Canada, these funky birdhouses are environmentally safe, durable, and UV and fade resistant. Birds Unlimited was consulted on the design to ensure a cozy home for smaller Canadian birds while deterring larger predatory birds and squirrels. Choose from the many colourful designs available or you can even send in a photo of a real home and they will make a custom whimsical birdhouse.

X nesthamilton.com

Everybody loves bubbles Remember the bubble wands we played with as kids? Well, they make them for cats now. You’ll have fun blowing the bubbles and your cat will have a great time popping them, because these aren’t your ordinary soap bubbles, these are infused with catnip grown in Canada and made by a Canadian company called Catit.

And after all that bubble-popping fun, your kitty can smack a snack out of the Catit Pixi Cat Treat Dispenser Mouse. Hey, did you know cats can be ambidextrous, but 40 per cent are either left- or right-pawed? Well, now you do. X petmax.ca 34

HCM WINTER 2025

PHOTOS: CHRISTINE MACLEOD

/HCM GIFT GUIDE

Toy Story Toys aren’t just for human kids. Dog and cat toys are comforting, mentally stimulating and used to minimize boredom. In short, they are super fun for our fur babies. BüD’z dog toys, available at Burlington’s FurrMart, are designed to be durable, safe, and affordable and they’re Canadian. Check out the line of adorable Monster dog toys or their floating rubber shoe toy that looks like those Crocs you deny you own. X furrmart.ca

Disgusting Doggy Delicacies Brace yourself if you’re squeamish. JT Pets has its own brand of dehydrated treats made either in its Concession Street store or at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market. From frog legs and salmon heads to octopus and Cornish hen feet, all of these treats are expertly crafted and definitely not your average dog biscuit. The least yucky (to us anyway) are the dehydrated salmon skin strips where “each strip offers a burst of ocean-fresh taste.” Show up with a bag of these, sourced from a local fishmonger right here in Hamilton, and you’ll be a hit with the pups at any holiday party. Don’t worry, the store has veggie and even vegan options, too.

X jtpets.ca

We’re feline good Did you know cats are believed to be the only mammals that don’t taste sweetness? Or that cats rarely meow at other cats? Cats actually started meowing to communicate with humans. Dogs get a lot of the fanfare but those fab felines deserve treats, too. At PetMax on Nebo Road, you’ll find treats by Quebec’s Oven-Baked Tradition, including an oven-baked fillet of tuna with Omega 3 & 6, tuna with crab flavour, and grilled chicken flavour. They look so yummy you might be tempted to try one yourself. (Although if you do, you’ll immediately wish you hadn’t. Don’t ask how we know.)

X petmax.ca

Hold my dog beer Cats have catnip, so why not let our canine pals indulge, too?

After a long day of ball chasing and butt sniffing, our puppers can kick back with their very own can of dog beer made in small batches in Guelph. Don’t worry though, BrüMaster’s Premium Dog Beer, available at Nest on Locke Street, is not actually beer. It’s a delicious can of beef broth, slow-simmered from high-quality beef bones. You can serve it straight up, pour it over kibble or freeze it into a pupsicle that’s sure to get tails wagging. X nesthamilton.com WINTER 2025 HCM

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Big gifts for littles KIDS AND PARENTS ARE GOING TO LOVE THESE CREATIVE — AND ENTIRELY LOCAL — PRODUCTS AND EXPERIENCES!

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By JESSICA ROSE

hen checking little ones off your shopping list this holiday season, you don’t have to look beyond Hamilton for unique gifts that both children and parents will love. Shop the curated collection of one of our local retailers specializing in gifts for kids such as Parkette or Citizen Kid, or visit one of the city’s handmade markets this holiday season — you’re sure to find something you won’t spot in a big box store. Here are just a few suggestions to get your gift giving started!

Girl on the Wing TigerTown stickers Looking for a stocking stuffer that is both practical and nostalgic? Visit Girl on the Wing in the International Village for TigerTown stickers. If you grew up in the ’80s or ’90s, you’ll know exactly what we mean when we describe rolls and rolls of stickers — the fuzzy kind, the glittery kind, and the foil kind. An homage to Sandylion stickers, there are dozens of retro designs to choose from. You’ll also find vinyl stickers and sticker packs from artisans throughout the shop. X girlonthewing.ca

Beyond the Bomb Beyond the Bomb was created in February 2021 by restless Hamilton mom Holly Silenzi. Creating colourful, cruelty-free bath products started as a hobby while on maternity leave during the pandemic lockdown, quickly flourishing into a full-time business. Proudly handcrafted in Hamilton, Beyond the Bomb products are all made in small batches — handmade, hand-painted, and packaged with care.

Bath products are safe and gentle for even the most sensitive skin, formulated with nourishing organic coconut oil, epsom salt, and skin-loving clay. Beyond the Bomb specializes in hand-painted character and toy surprise bath bombs that add colourful fun to bathtime. X beyondthebombbath.ca

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Grumpy Faces A magazine editor and writer by trade, Kristy Woudstra loves to doodle, sew, and create any chance she gets. When she’s not thrifting or travelling, she’s working away in her studio, called Gezellig, in the “beautiful, downtown east-side of Hamilton” making toys and quilts.

Every Gezellig Studio item is handmade with the intention of sustainability, including Grumpy Faces, her whimsical stuffed creatures that encourage pretend play and help boost problemsolving skills and imagination. Made from recycled plastic bottles, their stuffing is made from recycled materials as well. Each felt animal IO C EN M ELLA CLE PHOTO: B is individually hand-sewn, which means no two are alike. X gezelligstudio.ca

/HCM GIFT GUIDE WHERE TO SHOP!

Hamilton is home to a number of independent retailers stocked to the brim with holiday gifts for children.

Here are just a few of them!

AGH Shop (123 King St. W.): Every purchase made at the AGH Shop directly supports AGH artistic and educational programming. Its vibrant children’s section includes books, items made by local artisans, and activities that encourage children to play and create.

Play With Clay You know what kids love? The chance to get a little messy! At Play With Clay, located at 198 Locke St. S., artists of all ages and abilities can explore the art of ceramics, getting a little muddy in the process. A gift certificate is the perfect opportunity to share the love of pottery with young ones on your list, whether they attend a drop-in program or prefer a structured class or workshop. Looking for a team-building experience for the new year? Play With Clay also offers unique pottery experiences for groups. X playwithclayhamilton.com

Live Theatre at Theatre Ancaster We know young theatre-goers will still be spellbound from Theatre Aquarius’s run of Frozen this winter. Keep the excitement for live theatre going with tickets to Theatre Ancaster’s youth series for 2026, which features young performers mounting full-scale musicals and concerts. Students of the theatre’s youth programming in grades 5-12 have their chance to showcase their growing talents in these exciting productions, which include Alice in Wonderland JR. (Jan. 30-Feb. 1), The Drowsy Chaperone (Feb. 20-March 1), and Glee: The Concert (May 15May 17). X theatreancaster.com

Felt and Luxe hair accessories These handcrafted hair clips, headbands, and flower crowns will add some fun and whimsy to any youngster’s festive outfit. Made with felt, designs include flowers, fruit, and lovable bees and lady bugs. A special holiday collection, which includes felted bows, mistletoe, candy canes, and poinsettia hair clips and head bands will be especially popular this time of year. X feltandluxe.ca

Gift an annual pass or membership Looking for a gift that will keep giving? An annual pass to a local museum, gallery, or cultural attraction offers endless opportunities to make memories right here in Hamilton — and they’re easy to wrap! Some ideas include a membership to the Art Gallery of Hamilton (Family membership: $90 for two adults and up to four children), the Royal Botanical Gardens (Family membership: $130 for two adults and up to six children), or the Hamilton Conservation Authority (new membership: $125 for up to six people travelling in the same vehicle).

Citizen Kid (230 Locke St. S.): Citizen Kid is an independent, family-owned, neighbourhood toy store that’s been offering a shopping alternative to those looking for natural toys of quality, integrity, and lasting value since 2009.

Girl on the Wing (221 King St. E.): Started in 2013, Girl on the Wing is a staple in Hamilton’s International Village. It specializes in unique and classic clothing, accessories, and gifts that are inspired by nostalgic items that reference days gone by. Their children’s section includes the Out of Print brand, which features iconic classic kid’s books, and stickers and patches that are perfect stocking stuffers.

Parkette (539 Barton St. E.): Parkette is a thoughtfully curated shop full of products that are practical yet playful, beautiful yet sustainable, and always ethically made. It carries “clothes, toys and treasures that remind us of what it feels like to laugh, learn and wonder, all while proving that fun isn’t just for the young.”

Rivers & Meadows (168 Ottawa St. N.): Rivers & Meadows is a place for creative exploration for all ages, offering art, music, drama classes, crafting workshops, and birthday parties. It also boasts a small storefront selling items like books for sensory kids. You can also consider gifting one of their popular classes.

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Learn More!

Experience Woodland.

Interpreted former Residential School and contemporary exhibitions; Educational programs, language learning resources, and archives; Public events, including National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

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HCM WINTER 2025

52 Things to Do in Hamilton IN THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO FUN IN THE HAMMER, LOCAL WRITER JASON ALLEN SHARES A WEEKLY ACTIVITY FOR THOSE LOOKING TO EXPLORE THEIR HOMETOWN.

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hen Jason Allen first moved to Hamilton nearly 20 years ago, he fell in love with the city, exploring its trails, waterways, and local arts scenes. Now, through his new book, 52 Things to Do in Hamilton: The Insider’s Guide to Fun in the Hammer, he wants other people to do the same, whether they’re newcomers to Hamilton, rediscovering it in retirement, or just passing through.

Compiling a wide range of activities, one for each week, Allen shares his favourite Hamilton places, festivals, and events — a project partly fuelled by social media.

“There has been a huge influx of people moving to Hamilton in the past 10 years or so,” says Allen, who is originally from southern Alberta, and has lived in Calgary, Guelph, Toronto, Buffalo, Los Angeles and Reno. “I found myself spending a lot of time on my neighbourhood Facebook group answering the question — ‘What’s happening this weekend?’” Told in 52 essays, each under 600 words, the book is an entertaining answer to that question.

Asked what makes him an “insider” to Hamilton, Allen credits his insatiable curiosity about the city.

“I’m constantly exploring and wanting to find out new things about the place we call home,” he says.

Hamilton’s polar bear dip, Supercrawl, and Dundurn Castle’s kitchen garden are a few of his picks. He’s also drawn from his experiences as an environmentalist and host of the Environmental Urbanist podcast.

“You’ll notice there are perhaps more nature/ outdoor experiences than you might expect from a city with such a strong industrial history. But we live in a really beautiful part of the world,” he says. “Another thing I tried to do was include as many events that were accessible by HSR as possible. Any opportunity to explore and leave the car at home is a good thing.”

So, with so many options in Hamilton, how did Allen narrow activities down? He had a few rules. Events had to be running for at least three years, and he tried to strike a balance between paid and free events.

Allen, who wrote the book at his home in Kirkendall and the Strathcona Market, says Hamilton has something for anyone, whether they want to play shinny on a pond or dance with stilt walkers wrapped in strings of lights on Solstice.

“If people who live here don’t find themselves engaged or interested in what’s going on, I’d say they just need to grab a copy of this book and make a plan to get out and explore!” n — Jessica Rose

JASON ALLEN IN GAGE PARK. PHOTO: MEREDITH MacLEOD

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MARTA AND JERROLD HEWSON’S NEW REVIVAL ART STORE IN THE CROWN POINT WEST NEIGHBOURHOOD WILL BE A HOME FOR ‘CREATIVE DISRUPTORS.’ PHOTOS: MARTA HEWSON FOR HCM

THE ART OF

REVIVAL

JE R R O L D A N D M ARTA HEWSON AI M TO M AKE TH EIR NEW A RT S TO RE , CAF É , PHOTOG RAPHY STUDIO A ND E VE NT S PACE O N CANNON S T REET EAST N EAR OT TAWA A H UB F OR ‘CRE AT I VE DISRUPTORS.’

By MEREDITH MacLEOD 40

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t might be hard to immediately see the silver lining in being struck by a car while crossing at a stop sign, smashing head first into the windshield, and being left with a brain trauma so severe it meant you had to change jobs.

But for Jerrold Hewson, that has all led to a journey to open an art supply store, café, and arts-focused event space in Crown Point West.

Hewson and wife Marta, a photographer, took possession of two buildings at the corner of Cannon Street East and Grosvenor Avenue North at the end of May. Marta’s studio is located out front, at 1165 Cannon St. E., in a light-filled space with brick walls, a roll-up garage door, and post and beams. It will double as a rentable event space.

The Revival Art Store is located behind, with an entrance that opens onto Grosvenor Avenue.

The property’s new life ties directly into its past as longtime Hamilton streetscape artist Paul Elia’s Crown Point West gallery and studio. Elia, who has moved to Port Hope, Ont., also rented out a large portion of the sprawling two-storey brick building to other artists as studio space.

Marta and Jerrold feel fortunate to have found the property that perfectly suits their two ventures. And Marta, who moved her studio at the end of September after 15 years at the Cotton Factory, has always wanted to own her own space.

She’s significantly cut her commute, too, because she and Jerrold have moved into the loft space on the second and third floors. Their two early-20s children and a few of their friends now rent their central Mountain home.

It has taken the work of a business plan and market research company and creative financing to pull it all together. They’ve also relied on the advice of Matt Kershaw and Erin Dunham at The Other Bird about operating the café.

In the aftermath of Jerrold’s accident in April 2024, he could no longer withstand the flashes of light in Marta’s photo studio where he worked as a studio assistant. And his previous career as a restaurant server was out of the question, too.

“I just can’t manage chaos anymore.”

But he’s long been a visual artist and after Curry’s Artists’ Materials on King Street West closed last fall, he started to think about

THE TEAM BEHIND REVIVAL ART STORE AIMS SELL GOOD PRODUCTS, PROVIDE PERSONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND BUILD A COMMUNITY.

opening his own shop. He pitched the idea to Marta and then started looking for rental space. It proved difficult to find something suitable.

Then he found an expired listing — on page 58 of a real estate website — for the Cannon Street property. It became the perfect solution in a great neighbourhood.

The store will include a café serving coffee and alcohol, and Marta’s studio will double as rentable event space for parties of up to 60 people. There is also outdoor space that will have seating.

“People are always looking for places for breakfast meetings, or cute weddings, and we want to do paint and sip nights and life drawing classes,” says Marta.

“We want this to become an artist hub, and that’s why our tagline is: The headquarters for creative disruptors.”

The Hewsons have purposely designed the art store in such a way that it doesn’t have aisles and won’t cage up products. They want to encourage conversation and trust.

“This won’t be big brother,” says Jerrold.

“This is a family run, community business.

We want to make sure that it’s a place where people come and are comfortable to hang out.”

That could mean taking a sketchbook into the backyard or sitting with a coffee from the café while reading a coffee table art book.

Jerrold has spent many months connecting with art suppliers from around the world.

“We’re trying to buy as much Canadian as possible and then as much European as possible. We’re not boycotting stuff from the U.S., but we are already getting tariff receipts.”

He had a company in China ask him to be its North American distributor, even before he opened for business.

There have been plenty of challenges, including managing the allocation of the bank loan during the extensive renovations, getting permits, and receiving supplies. That has all delayed getting the art store open.

And without any retail experience, they could only qualify for a high-risk mortgage.

Then there are the realities of renovating a 125-year-old building that actually takes up three city addresses. It opened as a bakery in 1900 and was a bakery again in the 1970s.

Along the way, it was also a factory for air conditioners, a car dealership, and a garage.

Marta and Jerrold know from the people who stop in to ask when the store will open, that there is pent-up demand. It’s certainly the case that, in addition to Hamilton’s thriving professional arts community, many hobbyists have turned to art as a means of expression, relaxation, and escape, especially during and after the pandemic.

Even so, the easy narrative is that online retailing is killing brick-and-mortar art shops. Curry’s, which was founded in Toronto in 1911 and grew to at least 10 stores in southern Ontario, was locked out of its Hamilton store in November 2024 for failure to pay rent. It was the chain’s last location and the business entered bankruptcy in July.

But the Hewsons feel confident that with good products, personal customer service, and a focus on building a community, they will succeed.

“The market research shows that artists

want physical things. They want to touch a brush; they want to feel it in their hand. They want to see the colours of paint, how they look under the light. And they also want to just come and get inspired by new products,” says Jerrold.

Add to that being located within a stone’s throw of the eclectic, artsy Ottawa Street and an overall surge in buy local and buy Canadian sentiment, and the Hewsons feel they are on the right track.

“It just feels like the whole corporate shopping experience has become awful,” adds Marta. “You can go in and never see a (staff) person. No one is paying attention to you. And you go to self-checkout and they’ve got a camera on you.”

Big-box may have buying power but they don’t have product knowledge or provide a personal experience, adds Jerrold. And the nearest dedicated, independent stores for serious artists are in Guelph or Oakville.

When we visit Revival in early October, construction is still happening in the art store and café. Box upon box of art supplies are neatly stacked in what will become office space for Marta and Jerrold. She has just vacated her Cotton Factory space and is getting the studio set up for her first shoot the following week.

They’ve had to move back a projected opening date several times, so they’ve decided to concentrate on getting the art store up and running first, followed by the café.

They are waiting on a large sign for the front of the store and plans are in motion for folk artist Lewis Mallard to paint a mural on the east wall of the building facing Grosvenor Avenue.

In all things, they are going for a rebel and throwback vibe. They’ve left brick exposed and a concrete floor was painted with a stencil to look like tile.

“We want it to be like a revival of how art stores have been, but a new thing, too. And it’s a headquarters for creative disruptors, because we don’t want just pretty stuff. If you’re different, you belong here. So we’re kind of going for a bit of a retro punk kind of thing,” says Jerrold.

“We’re also reviving my ability to work again. Revival is also a play on words for renaissance, but that would have been too cliché to call an art store. Revival is perfect.” n WINTER 2025 HCM

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INTO THE GROOVE I N S I D E H AM I LTON’S VI BRANT IN DEPEN DENT RECORD STORE SCEN E.

By DYLAN HUDECKI

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| Photos by MIKE SCHYMKIW FOR HCM

amilton is home to an active network of independent record stores, each offering a mix of new and used vinyl, box sets, CDs, and turntable gear. These shops cater to both dedicated audiophiles and casual music fans, and are run by people who live and breathe music. Below is a list of some of the city’s standout stores, along with a little of their history.

BRAD GERMAIN AT INTO THE ABYSS, AN INDIE CULTURAL HUB ON KING STREET EAST.

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In the centre of Hamilton’s indie music scene and the downtown core, Into the Abyss (267 King St. E.) has carved out its place as much more than just a record shop.

Originally launched on Locke Street by local musician Brad Germain and now thriving on King Street East, the store has grown into a hub for music lovers, show-going audiences, collectors, and curious passersby alike.

Step inside and you’ll find an eclectic mix of new and used vinyl, carefully chosen to span eras and styles – rock staples, deep-cut indie, international gems, and the kind of offbeat discoveries that keep crate-diggers coming back. Beyond the records, the shop carries vintage clothing and music merch, and hosts several live performances a month, along with pop-up events, and the occasional listening party that transforms the space into a mini-venue.

What sets Into the Abyss apart is this community atmosphere. It’s a cultural hub for up-and-coming bands – many of which are under the drinking age – to play some of their first public intimate shows. Germain and his team greet visitors with genuine enthusiasm, whether you’re hunting for a rare pressing or just flipping through to see what catches your eye. The shelves are well-organized, the prices fair, and the mood inviting.

More than a store, it feels like a gathering place, somewhere that champions Hamilton’s music community while keeping the ritual of record-shopping, and record store shows alive. Into the Abyss is a must-visit for any music lover.

Dr. Disc (20 Wilson St.) has been at the heartbeat of Hamilton’s music community for over three decades, standing as both a record store and a cultural landmark.

Opened in 1991 by Mark Furukawa – known to many as DJ Mark – the shop has become a trusted destination for everyone from casual browsers to serious vinyl collectors and working DJs. Housed just steps from the city’s underrated and charming Jackson Square

MARK FURUKAWA AT DR. DISC, A CULTURAL LANDMARK IN DOWNTOWN HAMILTON.

and bustling James Street North community, Dr. Disc offers a vast selection that spans new releases, used gems, imports, and hard-to-find pressings across nearly every genre. Vinyl is the main draw, but the store also carries CDs and other media, making it one of the most comprehensive shops of its kind in the region. For those searching for something specific, Dr. Disc’s special-order service has long been a reliable lifeline.

What sets the store apart is its versatility.

Beyond records, Dr. Disc also rents and repairs DJ gear, including turntables, mixers, speakers, and lighting setups, making it an invaluable resource for the city’s thriving underground and live-music scenes. The buy-and-trade counter, meanwhile, ensures the stock is always fresh, with customers regularly cycling treasures in and out of circulation. Furukawa and Aaron Sakala and the rest of the staff are known for their welcoming energy and deep knowledge, qualities that have earned the store a loyal following and a reputation as a cornerstone of the city’s creative life. For Hamilton music lovers, Dr. Disc isn’t just where you go to find an album, it’s where you go to feel connected to the community that music creates.

On Ottawa Street North, Revolution Records (166 Ottawa St. N.) has carved out a reputation as one of Hamilton’s most inviting and well-loved east-end record shops. Since opening its doors in 2015, the store has become a hub for vinyl collectors of every stripe, thanks to owner Scott Bell’s deep knowledge and long history in the city’s music community. Bell, who worked at the legendary Cheapies Records (RIP) for nearly

SCOTT BELL AT REVOLUTION RECORDS, WHICH HAS OPENED A SECOND STORE IN DUNDAS.

two decades, brings both credibility and an obvious passion for connecting people with great music.

The space itself feels warm and vibrant, with a playful retro aesthetic that sets the tone for discovery. Though the room is on the smaller side, the bins are stocked with a thoughtful balance of new pressings, recent releases, and well-kept used records and CDs across nearly every genre. Whether you’re hunting for classic jazz, soul, punk, hip-hop, or something more experimental, the selection makes it easy to spend an afternoon digging.

For collectors chasing something harder to find, the staff is known to go the extra mile, sourcing rarities, handling special orders, and offering genuine, enthusiastic guidance.

Customers consistently highlight the friendliness of the staff, who strike the right mix of knowledgeable and approachable.

It’s a place where first-time buyers feel just as welcome as seasoned crate-diggers.

On Record Store Day (the next is April 18), Revolution shines even brighter. The shop leans into the celebration with extended hours, deals, bargain bins, and a festive vibe that draws crowds from all corners of the city. But even on a quiet weekday, the store feels like a mainstay of Hamilton’s vinyl and CD culture, a gathering place built on passion, community, and the simple joy of music discovery.

And in new exciting news, Revolution Records is expanding into Dundas, taking over the old Records on Wheels store on 32 King St. E., that was a mainstay in Dundas for 39 years. Be sure to visit either store soon.

The Beat Goes On (1550 Upper James St.) has carved out its place in Hamilton as a reliable stop for music and movie lovers looking for both nostalgia and convenience.

For the Mountain folk, it’s conveniently located on Upper James to visit while you do your shopping and errand-running. Though it is, in fact, a franchise, the store feels like a hybrid between a traditional record shop and a media exchange hub. The shelves stretch well beyond vinyl, carrying everything from used CDs and DVDs to Blu-rays and video games, making it one of the city’s broader media outlets.

What makes the store stand out is its tradein model. Customers can bring in their old music or movies and swap them for either store credit or cash. That revolving door of items means the stock is always shifting.

Sometimes you’ll find common bestsellers, and other times you’ll stumble across an overlooked gem or an out-of-print release. The hunt is part of the appeal, even if the prices can occasionally feel inconsistent. The atmosphere leans retro, with a casual, easygoing vibe that invites browsing. For longtime collectors, it sparks memories of flipping through racks in the ’90s, while younger visitors get a chance to discover physical media in a way that streaming can’t replicate. Staff knowledge and engagement can vary, but for most customers, the joy is in the digging.

One of the store’s more useful perks is its wishlist service: if you’re searching for /continued on next page WINTER 2025 HCM

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/ARTS & CULTURE something specific, the system can pull it from another location and have it sent to Hamilton. Other locations include a great venue in Burlington (3350 Fairview St.), as well as Brantford, Guelph, Cambridge, Kitchener, London and Waterloo. Combined with its extended evening hours (until 9 p.m. most days), The Beat Goes On is both a practical and nostalgic resource. It’s less of a boutique record shop, and more of a sprawling media library with plenty of surprises in the bins.

Beyond these city anchor shops, Hamilton is also home to a handful of smaller, equally worthy record stores where crate-diggers can uncover both hidden gems and essential releases. Hamilton Record Store, inside Where Heads Meet (150 Ottawa St. N.), has become a favourite among collectors for its eclectic selection that spans classic rock staples, jazz rarities, and newer indie titles. Flashbacks (411 Concession St.), true to its name, leans into nostalgia, with shelves packed full of vintage vinyl, cassettes, and memorabilia that transport shoppers back to earlier eras of music culture. Stardust Records (124 Ottawa St. N.) is a local treasure trove that rewards patient digging with its unpredictable mix of used records, DVDs, and collectors items. The Antique Mall (233 Ottawa St. N.) is a hidden gem for record lovers, featuring several small stalls devoted entirely to vinyl. Each random stall can offer a mix of vintage LPs, rare finds, and eclectic music treasures, perfect for crate-diggers seeking something unexpected.

Browsing here feels like a hunt through a curated treasure trove, where every visit can yield a new discovery.

Smaller independents like Out of the Basement (335 Ottawa St. N.) embody the grassroots spirit of Hamilton’s music community. Both places are known for their no-frills approach and ever-changing stock, creating a sense of discovery with every visit. Collectively, these shops help sustain Hamilton’s reputation as a city where music lovers can always find something worth spinning. Burlington has Looney Tunes (91 Plains Rd. E.), a long-running shop packed with classic vinyl, CDs, and music memorabilia, and Oddspot (480 Brant St.), a newer spot that mixes carefully curated used records with comics, collectibles, and oddities, making both stores reliable digs for music hunters. n 44

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SHARRON SMITH AND MARK PANOPOULOS AT STARDUST RECORDS ON OTTAWA STREET NORTH.

BUYERS GUIDE FOR MUSIC LOVERS

In an age of streaming, there’s still nothing like flipping through racks at a local shop, letting the records find you. I picked these albums because they balance variety, character, and something for everyone in your life. Visit one of these stores and find the perfect album to add to your own collection, or to surprise the music lover in your life. — Dylan Hudecki N E W A N D N OT E W O RT HY Nation of Language Dance Called Memory Mum History of Silence Mappe Of Afterglades Mac DeMarco Guitar Hand Habits Blue Reminder Kathleen Edwards Billionaire Max Richter Sleep Circle Neko Case Neon Grey Midnight Green Cate Le Bon Michelangelo Dying Baxter Dury Allbarone Tame Impala Deadbeat Patrick Watson Uh Oh Jay Som Belong The Besnard Lakes Are the Ghost Nation Danko Jones Leo Rising VETERANS STILL MAKING NEW GOOD MUSIC Sloan Based on the Best Seller Chrissie Hynde Duets Special Big Wreck The Rest of the Story The Lemonheads Love Chant Superchunk Songs in the Key of Yikes Finger Eleven Last Night on Earth

Robert Plant Saving Grace Ron Sexsmith Hangover Terrace Jeff Tweedy Twilight Override Deftones Private Music Sarah McLachlan Better Broken Suede Antidepressants David Byrne Who is the Sky? H A M O NT Lee Reed Pitchforks & Torches Golden Feather s/t Atomic Birds Pissing off the kids The Vaudevillian Selling Jelly CQ Eternal Dawn Duckai Future Vision Ginger St James Told Ya Drew Smith Leaf by Leaf Drones Over Dufferin Grievous Landscapes Georgia Harmer Eye of the Storm Žuto Kiss before Make Up Doctor Tongue – 3D House of Mayhem Public Health Minamata Superstar Crush Way too Much The Dirty Nil The Lash

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/ARTS & CULTURE AFTER 18 MONTHS AND $300 MILLION IN RENOVATIONS, H AMILTON’S DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX WILL RE-OPEN AS TD COLISEUM ON NOV. 21. IT’S GOING TO FEEL FAMILI AR — AND ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. B y M E R E D I T H M a c L E O D

OPENING

ACT

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n many ways, TD Coliseum is a completely new, unrecognizable place.

But for many Hamiltonians, it’s also a beloved and familiar building full of memories.

It’s also one of the biggest private sector investments downtown Hamilton has ever seen, and is expected to become a much-needed economic catalyst, and a key venue in the Golden Horseshoe in an era of large-scale arena tours.

So for all those reasons, Nov. 21 will be a historic day in this city.

That’s when Sir Paul McCartney takes to the stage as the first performer in the reopened 18,000-seat venue where $300 million has been pumped into making this a modern concert venue, with plenty of premium experiences, a full-scale restaurant and multiple concession options, enhanced sound technology, and a much better flow of people through the building.

“Anytime you can have a Beatle open your building, I mean you say yes all day long,” says Nick DeLuco, general manager of TD Coliseum for developer and venue operator Oak View Group (OVG).

“You move up your opening three weeks to make it happen. To have someone of Sir Paul’s stature come to Hamilton again, to really kick off the retrofit and the renovation and a new era for the live entertainment world in Hamilton, it couldn’t be better.”

There’s excitement, of course, about the talent coming to the stage, but there’s also plenty of buzz around the transformation of the arena that has sat at the corner of Bay Street and York Boulevard since 1985. And after about 18 months of construction, the grand unveiling is around the corner.

“The TD Coliseum has always been more than a venue — it’s a cultural touchstone for generations of Hamiltonians,” Mayor Andrea Horwath tells HCM. “I still remember the energy and excitement of big shows at Copps Coliseum, moments when the whole city seemed to come alive. I can’t wait to feel that energy again, and to see how the redeveloped space brings new life to our downtown at

TOP: PAUL McCARTNEY. PHOTO: MJ KIM MIDDLE: JONAS BROTHERS. PHOTO: ERIK DROST BOTTOM L TO R: BRAD PAISLEY. PHOTO: SUPPLIED CARDI B. PHOTO: BRIAN ZIFF MATT RIFE. PHOTO: HANNES VAN DER MERWE

night. I’m especially looking forward to seeing Hamilton’s own Arkells perform there — it would be a perfect way to celebrate this incredible new chapter for our city.”

At the time of this writing, about 20 events have been announced and more are coming each week. They include Rod Stewart, Nine Inch Nails, Brad Paisley, Big Wreck, The Offspring, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the opening of the Toronto Rock season on Dec. 13, and Cardi B and the JUNO Awards next year.

There has been no news on the hockey front, but OVG has said it’s actively exploring options.

In some cases, including renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli and Indian singer Sonu Nigam, Hamilton is the only Canadian date yet announced. This is the first time the Jonas Brothers have ever come to the city.

The venue will be music-first content wise, with Live Nation as booking partner, though the Toronto Rock will be a tenant and a hockey franchise is expected to come down the road. ‘ GA ME -CH AN GE R’ The Denver-based Oak View Group manages about 400 sports and entertainment venues around the world. It has also led the new builds or renovations of a number of facilities, including the music-first venues in the new Co-op Live in Manchester, and CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, a $200 million renovation.

The demand for stadium and arena shows is growing, driven by superstars and touring veterans but also by hugely popular international acts, says Wayne Zronik, president of business development at Live Nation Canada.

But sports tenants at Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena mean the broad regional market risked missing out on some tours entirely without secondary venues.

“This is going to be an extraordinary world-class facility and it’s a game-changer in the local market,” says Zronik, who grew up in Brantford and saw many shows in downtown Hamilton, including his favourite, The Tragically Hip. “Copps Coliseum has a special place in my heart,” he says. “Hamilton is what I call the downtown of the Golden Horseshoe. It’s an area of 10 million people and it’s only been serviced by one major arena, and that hasn’t been enough.” /continued on next page

TD COLISEUM

BY THE NUMBERS TOTA L I N V E S T M E NT:

$300M CAD TOTA L S Q U A R E F O OTA G E :

463,300 sq. ft.

C A PA C IT Y:

18,000+ S U IT E S :

24

including 9 floor suites WA S H R O O M S :

67

C O N C E S S I O N S TA N D S :

29

GRAB & GO MARKETS:

9

BARS:

18

FULL-SERVICE R E S TA U R A NT:

1 (Iron Cow

Public House) P R E M I U M C LU B S / LO U N G E S :

5

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FROM LEFT: PREMIUM SPACES INCLUDE UNIQUE FLOOR SUITES, THE PEARL CLUB, AND THE LOGE CLUB. RENDERINGS: OAK VIEW GROUP

“It’s hard not to be impressed by the musical acts booked to open the remodelled TD Coliseum,” says Graham Rockingham, the now-retired music editor at The Hamilton Spectator. “Paul McCartney and Andrea Bocelli are two of the biggest draws in the world. Brad Paisley is a top-level country, Trent Reznor fans will flock to the Nine Inch Nails and Twice will bring in the K-Pop kids.

It seems Live Nation is making a big push to show they intend to book the big acts at the former Copps Coliseum across all genres.”

Tickets for McCartney and Bocelli sold quickly and overall sales have been brisk, says DeLuco. OVG is promising 90-plus concerts a year in the arena, along with family shows, and sporting events. Among announced shows, Hamilton is among the highest-selling shows on the tours for mgk, Jonas Brothers, and Nine Inch Nails.

“We’ve got a great mix of shows, different genres and age demographics, whether that is country, classic rock, heavier stuff, or family shows like Disney on Ice,” says DeLuco. “You want everybody to be able to come to the building and see something they want to see again. Always a big part of what we do is diversifying content. We are getting as many big names as we can, but also making sure we touch as many bases as possible.”

DeLuco says those who have been visiting the venue over the last decades will no longer recognize it.

“You’re honestly going to walk into a new building. And I think that’s what people will say. I hope it is.”

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W H AT’S NE W ?

Gone will be the long hikes up or down from your seat to a single concourse to get a drink or go to the washroom.

“This is one of the greatest stories of this building,” says Paul Young, senior vicepresident of project management for OVG. “When they built this building, it was a 17,000- or 18,000-seat stadium. It was on par with all the other NHL and NBA buildings.

It’s a big building, a full-size building in the bowl, but it had one concourse. That was the third floor, and so everybody from the upper bowl came down to that concourse, everybody from the lower bowl went up to that concourse.”

The street level and below-grade concourses were blocked off from public access from the time the building opened.

OVG officials have said it’s unclear why that was the case but it could have been built that way for future expansions that didn’t happen or to accommodate large-scale conventions.

So all kinds of space was unlocked in areas that previously were either entirely empty or used for storage. There’s now a concourse for those with floor seats, and a completely new concourse on the second level.

“So in theory, you’ve distributed the top floor to the third floor, the middle bowl to the second floor, and the floor seats to the first floor. And on every single one of those levels, we’ve added food, beverage, more bathrooms and amenities for each of those levels.”

In order to give access to the concourses below-grade and at street level, openings with the evocative name of vomitories had to

You’re h o n e s t ly g o i n g t o wa l k into a new building. And I t h i n k t h at ’ s w h at p e o p l e w i l l s ay .

I hope it is.”

Nick DeLuco, general manager, TD Coliseum

be cut into the concrete bowl.

The food options at TD Coliseum are getting a major upgrade.

A collaboration with celebrity chef Matty Matheson includes The Iron Cow Public House, a 185-seat full-service restaurant and speakeasy-style pub. It will have a separate street entrance off York Boulevard, to the east of the new box office, and will be open regardless of whether the venue has an event. Matheson’s restaurant group Our House H.C. will also design and curate the

menu for three concession stands featuring items from Matty’s Patty’s and Rizzo’s House of Parm.

Matheson has also been involved in developing food and drinks being served in premium suites.

A much more hidden aspect of the venue is state-of-the-art tech infrastructure hidden in giant closets on each floor that connect ticketing systems, point-of-sale, security cameras, and the lighting systems that are preprogrammed for when crowds are coming in, for show blackouts, and for exits.

“The building has the same tech system as the new UBS Arena for the New York Islanders and the Seattle Kraken arena,” says Young. “It is the same companies. It’s the same system, it’s the same processors, it’s the same switches, the Cisco switches. And so this Hamilton arena is on par with the newest, most modern arenas in the industry.”

At any given time, there have been between 350 and 380 people working on the project, which has been managed by construction contractor EllisDon. The subcontractors and workers in the Hamilton area have been great to work with, says Young.

“They are taking a lot of pride in the project. We see that they are proud of the building so many of them went to their first concert there or they have a story about a Bulldogs game.”

When HAMILTON CITY Magazine gets a tour of the arena exactly one month before opening night, speakers are being lifted to the rafters, final sections of seating are being

installed in the concert bowl, banquettes and other furniture is being installed in premium suites, lounges and artist dressing rooms, and exterior lighting is about to be lit up.

Soon point-of-sale systems will be installed and testing of major systems will begin, such as the lighting controls, fire and smoke alarms, ventilation and air handling, and health inspections will be completed for all areas preparing food.

The sleek floor-level suites will have a tremendous view of the stage, as will premium lounges at the opposite end of the bowl. The north end of the building, where once there were expansive staircases out to York Boulevard — used only to exit the building — has now been converted into a massive restaurant and lounge space for those holding club-level tickets.

What stands out almost immediately as we stand on the floor level and look up into the bowl is the absence of colour. Gone are the 1980s-have-called red, orange and yellow seats. No more orange press box or red ceiling. Everything is black now.

Outside, the building has been painted a palette of gray, including a steel colour that seems appropriate for this city, replacing an off-white and orange colour scheme. The box office has been moved to the corner of York and Bay, right at the base of the large electronic sign.

It’s worth noting that when Copps opened in 1985, its entire price tag was $33.5 million.

This renovation, which kept the exterior shell, the concrete concourses and the bowl, has spent nine times that amount.

‘PUN CH E D ABOVE ITS WE IGHT’ With the reopening of Hamilton’s venue, there are only two 18,000-seat venues in the GTHA. The one in Toronto is tough to book.

Scotiabank Arena is home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors, both of which have 41 home games a season.

“Most major acts want to play Toronto because it’s Toronto, but sometimes they can sell two or three or four shows in this market, but they can’t get the dates in Toronto,” says DeLuco. “So, we can be complementary to that. You want to play two in Toronto and come down the road to Hamilton to do one?

We’ll do that all day.”

Despite its limitations, Copps Coliseum and then FirstOntario Centre has long been successful when it comes to attracting big shows and selling tickets. It was consistently ranked by industry trade magazine Pollstar among the top 100 concert venues in the world by tickets sold in the 1990s and early 2000s. It even broke into the top 50 in 2008, the first time Bruce Springsteen appeared at Copps.

“I think Hamilton’s always kind of punched above its weight, which I think is why this is such an appealing project to us, too,” says DeLuco. “There is a proof of concept there.

And I just think the venue and the upgrades and everything we’re adding to it, you know, gives people more reason to come to play.”

And as the GTHA grows and congestion continues to plague the highways, coming to downtown Hamilton becomes a more attractive option over going into Toronto for /continued on next page WINTER 2025 HCM

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/ARTS & CULTURE those in Peel, Halton and to the west and north of Hamilton, says DeLuco.

The 10 floor-level suites that are lined up in the lower bowl are a unique feature and will offer a fantastic experience, says DeLuco.

They are sold out. There are a dozen more suites on the 100 level, and then a range of premium club and lounge spaces, too. Most of them are sold out, too.

Suites have been so popular that there are conversations about adding additional suites, says DeLuco. “Everything we’re doing sales wise in the premium areas, whether it’s clubs or lounges, we’re trending ahead of schedule.”

Behind the stage on the lower level is what has been dubbed The Compound, featuring five luxury hotel-like private dressing rooms, each with exposed brick and expansive washrooms, and a large lounge area for performers. There are also four show-day production offices for promoters and tour managers, a meet-and-greet lounge, and dedicated lounge space for crews. None of this is hockey locker rooms, which is often the case in sports stadiums. Two sets of home and away locker rooms are in separate spaces.

These tour amenities will make TD Coliseum stand out to artists, agents and promoters, says DeLuco.

“Anytime you can tell them that they have dedicated spaces, and we’re not putting pipe and drape up in dressing rooms or bringing in awful furniture in rooms that are not really designed for them, it’s different and unique.

So you send them the photos, or people come in for tours too, and they’re super impressed. It’s a big selling feature. Anything that can differentiate you from other venues and elevate the experience and give them a reason to think of Hamilton as something different and better, that’s why we spent the money, and that’s why that’s important to all the projects we do. Because artists first, and artist focused is very important to us.”

TD Coliseum will also get huge touring productions in and out quicker, with improved loading areas that have been opened up so that equipment can be rolled right off a truck and onto the stage.

“That’s very appealing to the modern touring rock band. They might be coming from Toronto, they go to Hamilton, and they’ve got to be in Detroit the next morning,” says Paul Young, senior vice-president of project management for OVG. 50

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SHANIA TWAIN REHEARSED HER UP! TOUR AT THE FORMER COPPS COLISEUM. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

There are also new sound-absorbing baffles and a bass trap to prevent echo that improve the sound in the bowl, says Young.

“The bands will like it, but more importantly, the fans will notice that the sound in the bowl is better. So the whole experience for a touring act is greatly improved.”

C ATA LYS T F O R DO WNTO WN TD Bank announced it would buy multiyear named rights for the building in June.

The company has a strong presence in music events, including sponsoring the JUNOS. “We are proud to take part in the revitalization of this iconic landmark,” Raymond Chun, group president and CEO, TD Bank Group, said at the time. “By securing

the naming rights to TD Coliseum, we are not just investing in bricks and mortar – we’re investing in the heart of the Hamilton community. TD Coliseum will be a catalyst for community growth and an inclusive space that brings people together. It’s an honour to be part of that vision.”

The arena is the anchor, along with the Hamilton Convention Centre and the FirstOntario Concert Hall, of a vision for The Commons, a downtown entertainment district, similar to what’s found in Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Toronto. The future of The Commons, led by local partners HUPEG (Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group), also calls for $450 million in residential development, alongside related commercial and office spaces.

“I am absolutely thrilled about what the transformation of the TD Coliseum means for Hamilton,” says Mayor Andrea Horwath. “This project is a cornerstone of our downtown revitalization strategy, and its impact will be felt well beyond the walls of the venue.”

The investment by OVG and its partners in the venue will attract “world-class entertainment, new visitors, and significant economic activity from across the GTHA, the Golden Horseshoe, Kitchener-Waterloo, Oxford County and beyond. Their faith in our city is a testament to Hamilton’s growing reputation as a place where culture, creativity, and community thrive.”

Zronik at Live Nation Canada agrees that TD Coliseum will be a major driver of hotel stays, restaurant meals, and local shopping and tourism. That injects dollars and jobs into the local economy.

“We believe it’ll be a catalyst for revitalization. Having a Matty Matheson restaurant down there that’ll be open 365 days a year, in addition to the 150 events that’ll play out there, which will attract several hundred thousand fans, you’re going to have more activity down there than there has been in a long, long time,” he says.

“We know Hamilton and the Golden Horseshoe is one of the strongest live entertainment markets in North America. If you put up the shows, fans will come.” n Scan the QR code to see more renderings, and concert photos from the venue’s history.

What makes a show memorable? Size of crowd? Sales figures? Local relevance? Some other extraordinary factor that’s difficult to pin down in words? Since 1985, there have been hundreds of concerts in the space we now call TD Coliseum — first Copps Coliseum and then FirstOntario Centre.

Most of them were memorable, no doubt, to thousands. Such a long list isn’t publishable, though, so using a mix of the above criteria, we’ve narrowed it down to a sample list of 10 performances over the years. You probably remember something special you saw there, too. Consider it part of that long list.

The Grateful Dead (March 1990, March 1992): The legendary psychedelic wanderers played two nights two years apart, both times giving Hamilton a glimpse of the travelling circus the Dead brought with them. However, Deadheads, “spinners,” and parking lot grilled cheese vendors were ancillary to the four spectacular shows that demonstrated why the Dead were one of the most celebrated live acts of all time.

H AMILTON’S DOWNTOWN AREN A OPENED IN 1985 AND IN THE 38 YEARS BEFORE IT CLOSED FOR A M ASSIVE RENOVATION, IT H AS HOSTED SOME EPIC CONCERTS.

By JAMIE TENNANT

Shania Twain (September 2003): This show was not just the kick-off to Shania’s Up! Tour. On the heels of releasing her enormously successful album of the same name, she perfected her live show at Copps Coliseum. Twain spent several weeks rehearsing the tour and when show day came, the sold-out Hamilton crowd was the first to enjoy the results. The concert held the coliseum’s attendance record for many years.

Bruce Springsteen (October 2012): The Wrecking Ball Tour was the Boss’s second time at Copps. Known for his marathon shows, Springsteen performed a set list that combined his classics with audience-requested songs.

One of those requests was extra special; Bruce performed “Terry’s Song,” for only the second time ever, as it was requested (via a written sign in the crowd) by a young fan, in tribute to her late friend. He really is the Boss.

Britney Spears (August 2009): Britney was no stranger to Hamilton, having stopped here in 1999 and 2002. It was her 2009 show that made records, though. The Circus Starring Britney Spears received mixed reviews, but the spectacle of it all (including its three-ring circus-styled theatre-in-the-round set-up) led to a sell-out performance.

Garth Brooks (March 2016) At the time, Brooks’ three-date run, huge shows that drew from around the region, easily surpassed previous sales records at FirstOntario Centre (it was renamed in 2014).

Though it consisted of three S T TO PAUL BO URTESY O C S dates, Brooks actually played T E TICK

five shows, performing back-to-back concerts.

Switching out one enormous arena crowd for another, in the course of one evening, was an unusual, but surprisingly organized, affair.

Paul McCartney (July 2016): The legendary Beatle brought his One on One tour to Hamilton, where it became a sell-out and one of the city’s highest-grossing standalone shows. Hamilton was his only stop in eastern Canada. Audiences were treated to a 39-song set, which included a special performance of “Mull of Kintyre” with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Pipe Band. McCartney returns to open the newly rechristened TD Coliseum on Nov. 21.

The Tragically Hip (August 2016): The Man Machine Poem tour, the Hip’s farewell to fans across the nation, landed in Hamilton a mere four days before the Hip’s final performance in their hometown of Kingston, Ont. With singer Gord Downie diagnosed with incurable brain cancer, every show on the tour was an emotional, historic event.

Arkells (Feb 2017): Did the show set sales records? Perhaps not, but playing your firstever arena show, in front of fervent local fans no less, is the definition of a memorable concert.

Ten thousand fans were thrilled to experience a 26-song set. The band would go on to perform several sold-out shows at Hamilton’s football stadium, but the FirstOntario Centre show was a milestone occasion.

Tool (May 2017): The dark, mysterious progmetal machine made only one Ontario stop on this tour, and it sold out in minutes. The band played a two-hours-plus set of Tool classics and one Canadian live debut (“Descending”). It had been a decade since the band last played the city, and their powerful performance and immersive visuals did not disappoint.

K-pop: Hamilton hosted K-pop superstars Blackpink (two sold-out shows in 2022, their only Canadian dates) and BTS (three sold-out shows in 2018, also their only Canadian dates).

Both were international icons in a genre that shows no signs of waning popularity.

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/ARTS & CULTURE DANNY MILES , BEST KNOWN AS DRUMMER FOR ROCK BAND JULY TALK, H AS STEPPED OUT FROM BEHIND THE KIT AS A HIP-HOP PRODUCER, SONGWRITER AND SOLO PERFORMER. HE’S WORKING ON HIS THIRD SOLO ALBUM. B y K E R R Y D O O L E

C

MILES AHEAD

all it a mutual love affair.

Four years ago, Danny Miles joined the influx of notable Toronto musicians relocating to Hamilton. He quickly fell in love with the city and its vibrant music community, which, in turn, has made him a valued and popular member of it.

Miles’ move to the east end has coincided with a dramatic expansion of his musical career. Until recently, he has been best known as a co-founder and drummer in July Talk, one of the most successful Canadian rock bands of the last decade-plus. Beginning in 2015, with their gold-selling, self-titled debut record, July Talk has won three JUNOs for Alternative Album of the Year, and has toured extensively internationally. Along this journey, Miles has earned a reputation as a highly skilled and energetic performer behind the kit.

In the last couple of years, however, the affable Miles has stepped into the spotlight, first as a hiphop beatmaker/ producer and now as an entertaining rap meets rock singersongwriter and solo performer.

Over a recent beer at Bernie’s Tavern, he devoted much of

his HCM interview to discussing this creative transition, one that he has embraced enthusiastically.

He’s just as excited about his move to Hamilton, where his grandfather Tom Moulton was a fullback for the Tiger-Cats in 1960 and 1961.

“My family moved here at the end of 2021, selling our little condo in Toronto and buying a house here,” Miles says. “Hamilton was an obvious choice for its affordability, but I felt like it was also a place with a good music scene and a thriving music community, rather than going somewhere without a scene.”

Hamilton wasted no time in making Miles feel welcome. “The day we moved in we met all our neighbours immediately, and they’re all super nice and cool. Then I had an outpouring from the music community here, reaching out, saying ‘You should hang out at this place, etc.’ I met a lot of people really quickly then realized how many were from the Toronto music community that had already moved here,” he says.

“I knew The Dirty Nil guys a bit and got to know them really well, and Luke (Lalonde) of Born Ruffians came shortly after, plus I soon met all the local musos.”

Of the latter, Miles singles out the well-connected

Benjamin Rispin (Rules) as a crucial figure.

“He has become close in so many ways with my music, plus we have a moving company together. We’re now best friends, and I have met a lot of people through him.”

Rispin now directs Miles’ videos and collaborates on songs. He tells HCM: “My friend Danny Miles is one of the most gifted and prolific collaborators I have ever had the pleasure of working with. It is rare to find a creative counterpart that is as generous as Danny, and one that also shares so many common tastes.”

Watching Miles’ progress as a lyricist and frontman has been one of the coolest things Rispin has seen.

“In my opinion, he’s one of the best additions to the Hamilton music community we’ve had in a long time. His passion for songwriting, working with other people, and love for our local indie artists is something to be admired.”

Miles’ first musical moves outside July Talk came in the duo Tongue Helmet, alongside longtime friend Timbuktu, on their wellreceived 2019 psychedelic hip-hop album, Psychotropic Ape. He then made a mark as a beatmaker and producer, prior to his first solo recording, last year’s Beautiful Music.

DANNY MILES MOVED TO HAMILTON FOUR YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN EXPANDING HIS MUSICAL CAREER EVER SINCE. PHOTO: ROBERT GEORGEFF

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Entirely self-produced and recorded at Miles’ home studio The Pillowfort, this all-instrumental album comprises 27 short compositions featuring accessible melodies and beats and incorporating hip-hop, funk and jazz elements.

The album was spawned after he’d produced a record for Toronto hip-hop group Swamp Thing (featuring Timbuktu). “I had an insane amount of instrumentals that I loved even more than some of the ones they picked, and the Beautiful Music album came together very naturally and easily from that.

“I wanted a seamless album for vinyl, a record to put on at dinner parties. It is an instrumental hip-hop record but because there is no rapping on it, it fits into other genres. You can like rock music but you can put it on in the background.”

The response to the album exceeded Miles’ expectations, boosting his creative selfconfidence immensely. “The amount of love for it from other musicians I look up to was really flattering,” he recalls. “People like Shad, Aquakultre, Saukrates and Lee Reed.”

Shad’s early support helped spread the word. “When I put out the track ‘Orchid’ as a video on Instagram, Shad responded, saying ‘I’d love to rap on it.’ The version he recorded just floored me, and it’s my most successful song. Some legendary rappers, including DJ Jazzy Jeff, contacted Shad about the song.”

This positive feedback spurred Miles to release and record a sequel album, Beautiful Music (The Ruined Version). Released in November 2024, it features guest vocals and raps from a stellar cast of Canadian artists, including those mentioned above, along with Eamon McGrath (a former bandmate in July Talk), Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), Moka Only, Tarek Funk, and Ghettosocks.

Miles singles out a freestyling recording session with Drew as a “brilliant” album highlight.

The critical and peer reaction to those records made Miles want to do more. He has been doing exactly that, but in quite a different way. The new material he is writing and recording features more conventional songs and he has been stepping up as a vocalist for the first time. His first three singles, “Not Gonna Fit In,” “All We Do Is Party!,” and “Reckless Kids,” possess a rapmeets-punk rock-party vibe, and Miles takes to the mic with real authority.

“I’ve been on a creative rampage and have at least two records’ worth of material. I think this next album is scheduled for February, but by November I have to decide what songs will be on it so I can send it out for vinyl.”

There will be no guests on the next album, but Rispin has helped with the writing and arranging.

“Often it feels like I’m close to being done with a song but he’ll come in with fresh ears and rapidly fire off ideas. A lot of happy accidents happen.”

Expect an eclectic but cohesive record, says Miles, who grew up in London, Ont. “I sent it to Moka Only, and he heard Prince and Bowie on there. There’s heavy Prodigy and Nine Inch Nails type stuff, alongside more straight rap material. Mostly this

Danny Miles joined the influx o f n o ta b l e Toronto musicians r e l o c at i n g t o H a m i lt o n . H e q u i c k ly fell in love with the city and its vibrant music c o mm u n i t y . record will be live instruments and I kind of sample myself, manipulating sounds through different mixers and plug-ins.”

Defining this diverse sound is a challenge, with Miles offering “garage rap or alternative hip-hop” as possible descriptors. “I see it as fitting different genres the way Beastie Boys and Beck do. I’m passionate about many different styles of music and that is what comes out. Unlike the first two releases, these are fully fleshed-out songs. More pop structured stuff hidden in weirdness.”

Miles has taken to this new solo persona like the proverbial duck to water, while noting it presents a different challenge. “I can play drums for hours and not get tired, but singing is something else. I get excited,

jumping and dancing around, which makes it more challenging to sing. It feels natural though.”

He has been honing his solo skills with recent shows in Hamilton and beyond, including some with his local pals B.A. Johnston and Lee Reed. Miles has also displayed his chops as a DJ with a recent set at Supercrawl and an ongoing residency at Bernie’s Tavern on Cannon Street.

While he has been concentrating on his solo work of late, Miles stresses that July Talk, the band that really launched his musical career, is still very much a going concern, and one he remains passionate about.

“That band clicked from day one and still clicks. We’re working on new material now, and when we get together in the studio that is still undeniable. The unit won’t die and we don’t want it to.”

He candidly acknowledges that “nearly 15 years in, there obviously is baggage. There is trauma from the years on the road, being exhausted, but we all get along so well and a lot better than many of our peers’ bands.”

The media and industry marketing focus on July Talk as a band generally places extra emphasis on the charismatic co-vocalists and frontpersons Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay Goldstein, but Miles, there since the beginning, stresses his role goes way beyond that of a hired hand. “We’ve always written together,” he notes, adding that “it can be frustrating when you are asked many times on tour, ‘How long have you been in the band?’ It is not a hired-gun group.”

Expect a new record and more touring from July Talk in 2026, though Miles says it won’t be on the scale of the band’s early days, when they toured Europe 20 times and he got to know cities such as Berlin and New York so well that he felt like he lived there.

“Back then, we were doing four-month tours, but you can’t do that with kids.”

Dreimanis, Goldstein, and Miles all have babies.

It was the rapid early success of July Talk that prompted Miles to pursue his passion for music fulltime, at the age of 28.

“I was a sales rep for Mill Street Brewery in Toronto, making good money and having a fun time. When July Talk started taking off, I had to make a career decision.

“I’m very glad I made the choice I did. It has been a wild experience.” n WINTER 2025 HCM

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/ARTS & CULTURE

Dylan Hudecki is a Canadian indie-rock vet who has played in many different bands, including By Divine Right, Cowlick, Slow Beach and The Dill. He’s a proud Hamiltonian who covers local album releases for HAMILTON CITY Magazine.

COTS

Disturbing Body & Moonlit Building Hamilton has long been fertile ground for artists who thrive in the in-between. Between genres, between moods, between colours, like Steph Yates, who was born and raised here (and now lives in Guelph), who records under the name Cots. Her 2021 debut album Disturbing Body introduced a sound rooted in intimacy and longing, while her 2023 EP Moonlit Building pushed into darker, more experimental, artistic territory. Together, they sketch the story of an artist steadily expanding her reach and discography without losing the hushed vulnerability that makes her music so magnetic. So let’s dive into both, (because they’re THAT good).

Released in 2021 on Boiled Records, Disturbing Body immediately marked Yates as a songwriter to watch. The album’s 10 tracks drift across jazz, folk, bossa nova, and indie weirdo minimalism, all anchored by her nylon-string guitar and soft, deliberate, delicate vocals. From the first notes, the record creates a sparse yet absorbing world, one where every instrument feels carefully chosen and placed: brushed 54

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drums, hushed trumpet, glimmers of piano.

The title track frames human attraction through the language of astronomy, comparing desire to the gravity that binds planets in orbit.

That blend of science and poetry defines the album’s emotional weight, offering metaphors that feel both cerebral and deeply personal.

Songs like “Flowers” and “Last Sip” confront mortality and finality head-on, yet the delivery makes them strangely comforting, as if beauty can be found inside grief. Not every track is cloaked in sorrow and melancholy. “Bitter Part of the Fruit” carries a subtle bossa nova sway, while “Sun-Spotted Apple” sparkles with jazzy brightness. “Midnight at the Station” closes the album with unresolved mystery, leaving listeners standing in the dark, waiting for a train that may or may not come.

It’s a dreamy and soothing record, helmed by producer Sandro Perri encouraging her toward simplicity, and a group of Ontario jazz and experimental musicians fleshing out the arrangements. The result was an album that feels intimate and expansive. In Disturbing Body, Yates transformed longing into sound, whispering secrets that linger long after the last note fades.

If Disturbing Body was about gravity and stillness, Moonlit Building is about shadow and

movement. Released in 2023, the five-track EP feels like a walk through the city at night, lit only by street lamps. Working with producer Olivier Fairfield (Andy Shauf, FET.NAT), Yates leans into experimental textures: warped rhythms, droning layers, sparse electronics. The result is hushed but sophisticated, quiet and commanding.

The title track sets the mood with loose rhythms and a sense of unease, retaining the fragility of its first take, while Fairfield’s production adds tumbling percussion and circling ominous synths that sometimes sound like distant thunder. Elsewhere, “Flowers,” an acoustic track from Disturbing Body is reimagined as “Flowers (Fresh Cut),” transforming the tender original into an upbeat, driving, samba-inflected shuffle. “The Woman With No Face” veers into spy-thriller territory, with vibraphone and spectral strings conjuring a ghostly femme fatale. The EP closes on “No Way No How,” a drifting sound collage that leaves the listener suspended in mid-air, as though the ground has disappeared beneath the music.

Where Disturbing Body introduced Yates as a songwriter of hushed intimacy, Moonlit Building pushes her into more cinematic, surreal landscapes without losing her warmth.

It’s nocturnal music: strange, vulnerable, and quietly daring. At only five songs, the EP is brief, but it glows and lingers. Taken together, these two records feel like companion pieces.

Disturbing Body drew listeners into Cots’ delicate world of longing and gravity, while Moonlit Building pushed deeper into shadow and experimentation. Both works affirm what audiences already know: Steph Yates is an artist of rare subtlety, one whose music rewards those willing to lean into silence, shadow, moods and everything in between.

RIYL: Bebel Gilberto, Aldous Harding, Lhasa de Sela, Beta Band, Feist, Kings of Convenience, Stereolab

ATOMIC BIRDS Pissing Off the Kids Atomic Birds’ debut album Pissing Off the Kids is a ragged, raucous 24-minute debut ride that is a pleasing jangly collection of jams that feels mature and scrappy simultaneously.

The Hamilton duo of Jon Daly and Greg Preston, longtime collaborators and coconspirators, has carved out a sound that’s got you covered if you like rock and roll grit, grunge

THE VAUDEVILLIAN Sellin’ Jelly The Vaudevillian released a new album Sellin’ Jelly in June, recorded at the acclaimed Boxcar Sound Recording beside Gage Park in Hamilton.

The old-time jugband ragtime blues duo, made up of Jitterbug James and Norah Spades, are known for their playful energy, vintage authenticity, and dedication to Prohibition-era sounds. With instruments like washboard, resonator guitar, banjo, harmonica, and musical spoons, they bring the spirit of early 20th-century blues to modern audiences, and this record captures that atmosphere with

fuzz, and psychedelic shimmer. It’s a record that spits colour and chaos, sometimes all at once, yet somehow lands with a strange, woozy coherence.

The band calls their style “cacophonous and shaky pop standards for your parents’ basement’s tube television or radio,” and the description isn’t far off. Songs lurch and bend, half-drenched in fuzz, held together by hooks that emerge through the haze. It’s still rock: raw, noisy, but unexpectedly melodic, where the jagged edges become part of the appeal.

One minute you’re blasted with a wall of garage noise, the next you’re pulled into a swirling psych detour that resolves just when you think it might collapse.

Part of the album’s charm comes from its homegrown process. Recorded over several months in makeshift home studios and finally in their newly built Hamilton space, called Thrills, Daly and Preston wrote, played, recorded, and mastered everything themselves. That DIY approach shows, not in a lack of polish but in the unfiltered energy coursing through every track.

Nothing feels overthought. Standout tracks

include, “Aim for the Lake,” “Friday Afternoon,” and “Parkdale Jesus” to name a few.

The band’s inspirations are as much about their environment as their record collections.

They’ll cite grunge, garage, and psych touchstones, but also the art they consume and the city itself. As they put it, “the sound of people screaming on James Street is always a good light bulb for ideas.” That kind of chaotic urban inspiration runs through the record as the songs tumble forward like late-night downtown wanderings, stumbling past neon signs, loud dive bars, and alleyway echoes.

Pissing Off the Kids is noisy, weird, and unapologetically off-kilter, but that’s exactly the point. This is garage indie rock that embraces its own roughness, retools it into something alive, and spits it back out with a smirk. For fans of blown-out basement shows and fuzzedup guitars, Atomic Birds have just released their first statement and it’s one worth turning up loud enough to annoy the neighbours (and piss off the kids).

RIYL: Guided By Voices, Wavves, Limblifter, Flaming Lips, Sunglaciers, Supergrass

conviction.

The record feels almost like a time capsule.

The choice to record on tape with live, off-thefloor techniques adds a warmth and grain that fits their material perfectly. Rather than polish away the rough edges, the duo embraces quirks and imperfections, which makes the music feel alive and true to the era it evokes. The production is scrappy, raw and real, but there’s also care and attention to avoiding sterility in favour of vibrancy. Songs like “Play With Your Yoyo” and “Salty Dog” have a ghostly, radio-box quality that heightens the sense of stepping back in time.

A major theme in the commentary is the duo’s embrace of hokum, the cheeky, innuendo-laden style of blues once popular in the early 1900s. Titles such as “Sweet Honey Thighs,” “Wet Your Whistle,” and “Your Biscuits Are Plenty Big Enough for Me” reveal the playful lewdness and bawdiness at the core of the record. The lyrics are saucy without being crude, delivered with charm and humour that makes audiences laugh, dance, and lean into the fun. Tongue completely in cheek.

This willingness to celebrate the mischievous side of the genre is part of what sets The Vaudevillian apart.

Live, the duo is known for turning festivals

and theatres into old-time dance halls, often running spoon and washboard workshops that have drawn thousands of participants.

They’ve most recently toured with American indie legends Modest Mouse, and Americana stalwarts Old Crow Medicine Show. That crowdpleasing energy translates onto Sellin’ Jelly.

It’s easy to say they’re a concept band making albums that make people smile, tap their feet, and feel like they’ve stumbled into a speakeasy in a bygone time. There’s room for novelty in our music landscape, especially when it’s authentic and earnest. For some listeners, the heavy vintage immersion and bawdy humour may be too specific a taste, but most see this commitment as the record’s greatest strength.

Overall, Sellin’ Jelly is being received as a bold and joyful celebration of ragtime blues.

It balances authenticity with theatrical flair, proving that The Vaudevillian aren’t simply reviving old styles but bringing them to life for new audiences. The album is both a tribute to the past and a lively, good-humoured soundtrack for today.

RIYL: Joseph Lamb, Joe “Fingers” Carr, Memphis Jug Band, Frank Stokes, C.W. Stoneking, Pokey LaFarge WINTER 2025 HCM

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K I D L IT E D IT I O N FROM PICTURE BOOKS ABOUT DIFFICULT SUBJECTS SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, AND GRIEF, TO COLLECTIONS OF LETTERS AND ART BY INDIGENOUS VOICES, LAUGH-OUT LOUD READ-ALOUDS, AND SPINE-TINGLING POEMS, THERE ARE MANY CHOICES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FOR THE YOUNG READER ON YOUR LIST. B y J e s s i c a R o s e

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s a parent, you think you’re supposed to have the answers to all your children’s questions. However, when the city park across the street from us became an encampment, I found myself navigating conversations about homelessness, poverty, and inequality with two toddlers who can’t even tie their shoes. Lately, we’ve been reading Home for Margaret, a sensitive portrayal of a person experiencing homelessness, as seen through the eyes of a child, written by Hamilton journalist Denise Davy. It, like so many other picture books, gives parents the opportunity to use stories to begin difficult, but necessary, conversations.

Boasting a vibrant literary community, Hamilton is home to many children’s book authors and illustrators who entertain and educate young readers, many inspired by the city they live in. This holiday season, there’s no better gift than a good book — especially one written or illustrated by a local author. Visit your local bookseller for one of these local reads created with a young audience in mind.

HOME FOR MARGARET

W R IT T E N BY D E N I S E D AV Y I L LU S T R AT E D BY B É R E N G È R E D E L A P O RT E In Home for Margaret, the first picture book by former Hamilton Spectator journalist Denise Davy, Emma and her mom — a social worker — are hiking through Cherry Hill Forest when they meet Margaret, who is experiencing homelessness. Drawing from her experience as an award-winning journalist who specializes in writing about mental health, homelessness, and gender issues, Davy crafts a powerful story in which Emma and her mom visit Margaret throughout the winter, worrying when by spring they no longer find her at her tent. “No one chooses to be homeless” is just one of the book’s many important take-aways for young readers. Adult readers of non-fiction will remember Davy’s book, also about Margaret, called Her Name Was Margaret: Life and Death on the Streets, released by Wolsak and Wynn in 2021.

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THE BEAR OUT THERE

W R IT T E N A N D I L LU S T R AT E D BY JESS HANNIGAN The Bear Out There is the second book written and illustrated

by Hamilton’s Jess Hannigan following her debut picture book, Spider in the Well, which quickly became a fan favourite among local readers.

Equally as clever and colourful as the first, The Bear Out There brings young readers into the forest, safe in a cabin in the woods, where they’re treated to a zany look at, of all things, bear safety! The perfect silly readaloud is the perfect gift for young readers who love to laugh.

THE PINK PAJAMAS

W R IT T E N A N D I L LU S T R AT E D BY C H A R L E N E C H U A The Pink Pajamas, the second book both written and illustrated by Hamilton’s Charlene Chua, is a heartfelt story about love and loss in which a young girl honours her aunt’s memory by wearing the perfectly tailored pink pajamas Ah Yi sewed for her before she died. An exploration of grief, this colourful picture book is a tender look at death made perfect for young audiences likely navigating it for the first time. The Pink Pajamas is one of two books released by Chua in 2025. Originally from Singapore, Chua also illustrated When You Go To Dragon School, written by Chelsea M. Campbell, a hilarious read-aloud featuring the unlikeliest of classmates.

NIGHTMARE JONES

W R IT T E N BY S H A N N O N B R A M E R I L LU S T R AT E D BY C I N DY D E R BY The 28 poems in Nightmare Jones are sure to send shivers down the spines of young readers. Written by Shannon Bramer, who now lives in Toronto but was born in Hamilton, the collection is inspired by magic, fairy tales, folklore, and ghost stories, accompanied by evocative line and watercolour illustrations by author, illustrator and puppeteer, Cindy Derby. The poems in this collection are clever and mischievous, and always entertaining, proving that poetry is a playful and exciting genre for young people that’s often overlooked.

ONE CAN WHEN I VISITED GRANDMA

W R IT T E N BY S A U M IYA B A L A S U B R A M A N I A M I L LU S T R AT E D BY K AV ITA R A M C H A N D R A N Picture book author Saumiya Balasubramaniam was recently named the Hamilton Public Library’s 2025-26 Writer in Residence, where she’ll mentor creative writers in the Hamilton community, providing feedback on submissions in one-on-one meetings. Her most recent book is When I Visited Grandma, which explores the challenges of cross-cultural and intergenerational relationships through Maya, who is visiting her grandma in India. The book is a companion to When I Found Grandma, which Balasubramaniam released in 2019.

W R IT T E N BY L A N A B U T TO N A N D E R I C WA LT E R S I L LU S T R AT E D BY I S A B E L L E M A L E N FA NT Another book to spark important conversations, One Can, co-written

by Burlington’s Lana Button, is the story of a child who donates a can of food to their school food drive, only to find the same can of Zoodelicious among the groceries their mom brings home.

“Mom, are we the people in need?” they ask.

Older fans of Lana Button will be a fan of her Brianna Banana series. With two titles released in 2025, the most recent title in the series of entertaining short chapter books aimed at readers between ages six and eight, is Brianna Banana, Worst Surprise Ever, released in October.

THE REHEARSAL CLUB

BY K AT E F O D O R AND LAURIE PETROU

Do you have a slightly older reader on your holiday list this year? The Rehearsal Club, cowritten by Laurie Petrou, who lives nearby in Grimsby, is a mystery novel aimed at readers ages nine to 12. A story of sisterhood, friendship and following your dreams under marquee lights, this page-turner spans decades, moving back and forth between 1954 and present day. Set at the Rehearsal Club, a historic boarding house for aspiring actresses, the book’s protagonists quickly realize the building has its own story to tell.

YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS WORLD

E D IT E D BY S T E P H A N I E S I N C L A I R A N D S A R A S I N C L A I R You Were Made for This World, a groundbreaking collection of letters and art for young people, brings together celebrated Indigenous voices from across Turtle Island including writers Tanya Tagaq and Cherie Dimaline and visual artists George Littlechild and Christi Belcourt. Edited by Stephanie Sinclair, who lives in Hamilton, and Sara Sinclair, it features 40 Indigenous writers, artists, activists, athletes, scholars and thinkers with a joint purpose: “to celebrate the potential of young people, to share a sense of joy and pride in language, traditional and personal stories and teachings, and shared experiences, and to honor young people for who they are and what they dream of.” It’s an essential collection for readers of all ages.

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ART AND ABOUT There are plenty of ways to get out and enjoy the best of late fall and early winter in Hamilton and Burlington.

Here are a few of our favourite local happenings.

NUTS ABOUT BALLET Since its 2008 debut, Ballet Jorgen’s “The Nutcracker – A Canadian Tradition” has delighted audiences with a patriotic twist on the classic story. While featuring unique Canadian-themed backdrops, animals, and characters, the performance stays true to the plot, sugar plums and all. There’s no dancing around it — the richly decorated sets, combined with the superb talent of the young performers and Tchaikovsky’s powerful score, promises a night full of magic both on stage and off. Dec. 6. firstontarioconcerthall.ca

FREEZE PLEASE Things are going to get a bit extra chilly downtown this winter — in a good way. Frozen — the theatrical performance based on the Disney film — blasts into Theatre Aquarius, transforming the space into the mystical land of Arendelle. Audiences 5 years and up are invited to just let it go and immerse themselves in Elsa’s journey towards self-discovery where (spoiler alert), despite a bumpy road along the way, the power of selfacceptance and love is where the real magic lies. Nov. 19 - Dec. 21. 190 King William St. theatreaquarius.org

STAIRY TALES Hit pause on your podcasts and audio books and take in an evening of literature IRL. The Staircase Theatre’s monthly LitLive Reading Series features both established and emerging local writers and poets sharing their work aloud in short, 15-minute chapters. This communal storytelling experience, based around a specific theme each night, encourages reflection while creating a community experience out of a typically solitary venture.

While every event is different, the bookish audiences are treated to the same epilogue every time — bedtime stories aren’t just for kids. First Sunday of the month, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 27 Dundurn St. N. staircasehamilton.com

ONE STOP POP Once the holiday music has been shelved for another year (along with that nosey Elf), enjoy an auditory palette cleanser guaranteed to put a spring in your step in time for the new year. Abbamania with Night Fever is a high-energy tribute concert that treats audiences to more than just the Swedish foursome. The stylized show features a multitude of cross-genre music, including Taylor Swift and the Bee Gees, and with tunes for every taste, the hope is for everyone to come away with an earworm or two. Boogie over to the Burlington Performing Arts Centre website for tickets. Jan. 9, 440 Locust St, Burlington. burlingtonpac.ca

YOU BE THE JUDGE

hamiltoncitymagazine.ca scan the qr code Make our Things to Do section your go-to destination for city life and arts and culture events listings!

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“Jury duty is amazing,” said no one ever. Unless of course they are going to deliberate at The Jury Experience at the Zoetic, rather than the courthouse.

In this immersive theatre production, the audience becomes the jurors and is put to work hearing witness testimony, examining evidence, and even deliberating.

Sequestered until court is adjourned (approximately one hour later, much more reasonable than a real trial thankyouverymuch), the jurors are also tasked with determining the fate of the defendant by reaching a verdict by vote, and hopefully serving up some sweet, sweet justice. Jan 17. 526 Concession St. thezoetic.com

Fusion frontier

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CHEF KEN LeFEBOUR HAS MADE A CAREER OUT OF BRINGING TOGETHER CUISINES AND COOKING LIKE A MODERN NONNA. BUT GRANDMAS EVERYWHERE MAY SCOLD HIM ABOUT THE TITLE OF HIS FIRST BOOK.

hef Ken LeFebour never cooks according to recipes that never came to be, that LeFebour said: “I’m just gonna and that is certainly reflected in the name of his first fucking cook.” cookbook, which really isn’t a cookbook at all.

At 62, LeFebour is mostly retired. He and wife Jackie LeFebour, “Chef Ken” to virtually everyone he knows, has wrapped up Nellie James last year and he is just doing onebuilt a long career in taking chances where he’s had them, off catering gigs now. Stepping back has given him time to doing his own thing, and never taking himself too seriously. reflect on his own story.

Part biography and part conceptual cooking guide, “No one needs another cookbook, I know that, but I never I’m Just Gonna Fucking Cook knew anybody who wrote explores LeFebour’s journey something like this.” to Canada from India, and his He says his book might be happenstance path to a 40-year for young chefs or people who cooking career, all while serving understand cooking and want to up plenty of his joyful, slightly expand their repertoire. eccentric approach to life.

He embraces free-form, “Food, music, dance, art, conceptual cooking, working ever since I started cooking in with what’s at hand. Maybe it’s Toronto as a fryer, it’s really all best described as new nonna felt the same to me,” he says. He cooking, he says. “This is old loved — still loves — the chaos school. This is what they do. You and physicality of the kitchen taste, you smell, you touch, you and is proud that, from the feel you hear, you listen.” beginning, he built a reputation LeFebour doesn’t measure, as a “bull worker” who could time, or use recipes. He guides slay any task given to him those using his book but wants without complaint. them to explore and find their LeFebour lives in Dundas, way on their own. where he developed a following “So in the book, I have the as the owner of the popular ingredients and then the Nellie James, where he was procedure, and then why I do creating elevated takeout long things. I want to take people on before the pandemic forced a journey, because like anyone everyone to do that. doing something so long, I can He says he was doing fusion taste and see food in my head.” cooking before there was any And he’s impatient to share name for it. that. When we meet LeFebour in CHEF KEN LEFEBOUR LOOKS TO SHARE HIS LIFE, IDEAS “This was not a concept but mid-October, he’s still deciding AND APPROACH TO COOKING. PHOTO: MARTA HEWSON there was younger chefs all over whether to self-publish or try everywhere, all over the world, taking the same pathway to find a publisher for his book. He says he just can’t wait that I was taking, going to markets, checking out the food, months or years to make it happen, so he might have to do it working under chefs that would yell at you and freak you out. his own way once again. n — Meredith MacLeod We were building out Asian, German, Greek, we didn’t care.

As long as it was balanced, I was sending it out.”

Scan the QR code to see and LeFebour has had some misfires along the way. It was read more about Chef Ken. during a meeting with a bank manager about a restaurant

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PARTY TIME TREATS

WE ARE ROLLING INTO THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY POTLUCKS, AND WITH THAT COMES THE PLEASURE — AND THE PRESSURE — OF FIGURING OUT WHAT TO TAKE. IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE TALENT OR THE TIME TO WHIP SOMETHING UP YOURSELF, HERE ARE SOME FANTASTIC OPTIONS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR CREATIVE AND DELICIOUS PARTY FOODS YOU’LL BE PROUD TO ADD TO THE TABLE. B y H E AT H E R P E T E R

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he holiday season is upon us and with that comes potluck parties.

But what to bring? Maybe you don’t feel comfortable in the kitchen or perhaps you just don’t have the time. Luckily, Hamilton and Burlington are rife with choices for party foods that will impress. Whether for a corporate event, or a family function, there are sweets, shareables, savouries and creative apps for every holiday gathering. Of course, for some classic Hamilton party eats, you can never go wrong with the famous Roma Pizza, and Grandad’s Donuts.

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Z A R K Y ’S F I NE F O O DS Arguably one of the best known local spots for catering options, quite possibly because they have been making great food in Hamilton since the 1980s. Zarky’s has lots of options in store to pick up on the go, or you can specifically place a catering order if you are looking for large amounts. From sandwich platters to Zarky’s famous lasagna, desserts, salads, and pizzas, the Zarky’s offerings are wide ranging.

BAN H MI H UE Banh mi — Vietnamese submarine sandwiches — tend to be a great idea for parties and corporate events because of their low price point. Banh Mi Hue offers banh mi platters: sandwiches that are loaded full of meat or veggie options, pickled veggies, cilantro and all the classic fixings. Connect with the restaurant via email (banhmihue. catering@gmail.com) if you are looking to place a large order.

20 Hempstead Dr., Hamilton 264 Dundurn St. S., Hamilton 558 Concession St., Hamilton zarkys.com

127 MacNab St N Unit #2, Hamilton banhmihue.ca

F I SHING SU SH I To mix it up from the regular casseroles and nacho dips that others bring to parties, why not try a sushi party tray? Whether you are looking for maki rolls or sashimi, Fishing Sushi on Concession Street and Brant Street in Burlington is sure to have an option for you. With tray choices from 38 pieces to 106 pieces, they have flexibility for a variety of party sizes. They also offer a veggie tray if your party-goers aren’t seafood people.

2201 Brant St. Unit #18, Burlington 542 Concession St., Hamilton fishingsushi.ca MONTFORT’ S M ED ITERR A N E A N G RILL With several locations across the Hamilton area, you can be sure there’s a Montfort’s restaurant nearby no matter where you are located. This Mediterranean favourite has been serving the community since 1992 and offers a full catering menu of appetizers, salads, BBQ dishes, entrées and desserts for your gatherings. Think dishes like: kibbi, fattoush salad, grilled Montfort’s chicken with pineapple, beef kafta skewers and more.

Whether you’re the party host or you’re bringing this elsewhere, it is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Multiple locations montfortrestaurant.ca SW EET PA RAD IS E BAKE RY If you’re tasked with bringing the desserts for the event, look no further than Sweet Paradise Bakery. Choose from the dessert catering trays, fresh-made donuts and cakes, or some pastries right from the shop’s display case. They do have savoury options, too, like sandwich platters, charcuterie, antipasto trays and more.

630 Stone Church Rd. W., Hamilton 419 Dundas St. E., Waterdown sweetparadise.ca A N CASTER CH EES E For those who love a little bit of everything, the charcuterie option is always a winning choice. Ancaster Cheese not only specializes in cheese from around the world, but it offers take-away charcuterie boards and boxes that are perfect for travelling to

parties. The Ancaster Cheese team also has top-notch customer service and will help you find the perfect blend of meats, cheeses, and fruits that will be the ideal mix of flavours for your party. Be sure to order a few days ahead of time.

356 Wilson St. E., Ancaster ancastercheese.ca I N DO N E SI A N’S F L AVO UR If you want to stand out from the buffet table crowd, Indonesian’s Flavour, located in the Hamilton Farmers’ Market, offers something special. Tumpeng is an Indonesian party specialty, a cone-shaped rice dish with sides of vegetables and meat.

The platters come in a variety of shapes and looks, so check out the website to see what’s available. It’s an eye-catching item to bring to a celebration!

35 York Blvd, Hamilton indonesiansflavour.ca/tumpeng J O SHY ’S GOO D E ATS For those group brunches and holiday mornings, Joshy’s Good Eats is here to help with all your bagel cravings. In previous years, alongside platters and bulk bagel offerings, Joshy’s made Lox Box Bundles, available through order and including bagels, schmears, lox or trout, and pickled things. They’re available in two sizes and you can take your pick of bagels and schmear flavours.

1111 Cannon St. E., Hamilton joshysgoodeats.com I SL A N D Q U E E N ’S RE STAURANT A N D C AT E R IN G The elegant Island Queen’s Caribbeanfusion restaurant on Kenilworth offers mouth-watering catering options to bring good, comforting vibes to your next holiday gathering. Whether you are looking for full-blown event catering, buffet service, or a large dish of something to take to friends, be sure to consider the excellent jerk chicken, and keep in mind the Island Queen’s oxtail is a TikTok viral favourite.

PIN CH BAKE RY The beautiful little Pinch Bakery and Plant Shop is not only a cozy place to spend an afternoon, but the folks there also offer decadent baked goods and party sharing trays for order. Choose from bite-sized options like cookies (double chocolate & ginger, whipped jammy shortbread & more), squares, and confections, and from among savoury options, too. They also offer bundt cakes in flavours such as: carrot cake with chai glaze, spiced apple cake and lemon lavender. Check their website for the seasonal offerings.

183 Sherman Ave. N., Hamilton shopatpinch.com IO S AGO RA & BAKE RY If you’re a fan of Greek desserts and baklava, then you will want to take a visit to ios Agora & Bakery. Sister spot to ios on Upper James, this shop in the Ancaster Meadowlands plays host to a large display of mouth-watering Greek baked goods. Crispy and creamy baked goods wrapped in phyllo will be the perfect side to your holiday festivities.

821 Golf Links Rd. Unit 7, Ancaster iosagora.ca LIN A’S PASTRIE S AN D CO F FEE Lina’s in the Hamilton Farmers’ Market is the place to go for European cookies and baked goods. If you are looking for turnovers, cannolis, cookies, biscotti, or top-notch Portuguese tarts, Lina’s on the bottom floor of the market is a must visit.

IG: @linascoffeehfm BIM’S KUSIN A Bim’s Kusina is the place you want to go when tacos are on the party menu.

And when aren’t they? This little spot in Burlington specializes in birria taco platters, a slow-cooked meat taco with cheese, cilantro and onion that you dip in a delicious beef consomme. These will be all anyone at your party will taco ‘bout!

1160 King Rd. Unit 37, Burlington IG: @bimskusina

158 Kenilworth Ave. N., Hamilton islandqueens.ca IG: @theislandqueens FB: @theislandqueens WINTER 2025 HCM

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FABRICATING FUN OTTAWA STREET NORTH HAS LONG BEEN A THRIVING ECONOMIC HUB IN HAMILTON. KNOWN FOR TEXTILES, FURNITURE AND ANTIQUES. THE CORRIDOR IS NOW HOME TO EATERIES THAT COMBINE FOOD WITH FUN AND FRIENDSHIP.

By DIANE GALAMBOS

confections are sold online or in the shop.

The in-store experience includes housebaked goods and a seasonal drink menu.

The (nostalgic, for me) chocolate-dipped red licorice was devoured in no time. If the DSRT bars trigger sticker shock, start with the DSRT bar sampler and the exceptional experience will have you running back for more!

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he eastern boundary of Hamilton was once Sherman Avenue. In 1909, Barton Township was annexed, making Ottawa Street part of the city. Today, it marks the halfway boundary between east and west Crown Point.

In the last century, it became a hub for ready-made clothing and textiles and the home decorating, furniture and antique stores earned it the moniker “furniture row.”

Today, the roughly 100 shops on the north end of the street are more eclectic and include creative-themed businesses. The Ottawa BIA, which presents the popular Sew Hungry food truck rally, proudly notes that the vibrant community “continually strives to re-invent itself.” The preponderance of hospitality enterprises are arguably also eclectic and have a “doing” undercurrent.

The food scene offers spaces for socializing with food and drink while playing, learning, creating, exploring, and shopping. Strolling south from Barton, here’s some of what awaits your visit.

CROWN AND PRESS IS AN ARTFUL CAFÉ THAT COMBINES BEVERAGES, SNACKS, ART EXHIBITS AND EVENTS. PHOTO: CROWN AND PRESS

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THE ARGYLE‘S CREATIVE DRINKS MENU INCLUDES BEAUTIFUL, DELICIOUS FLORAL DRINKS. PHOTO: THE ARGYLE

THE A R GY L E – BAR & GO LF 304 Ottawa St. N. theargyle.ca | IG: theargylehamilton Bar and golf? Yes, The Argyle’s golf simulators make it an ideal destination for avid and novice golfers. Even non-enthusiasts will find the vintage British clubhouse atmosphere, with wood accents and comfortable leather seating, something to behold. The space sets the mood for enjoying handcrafted cocktails, as well as local craft beers and other spirits. Since it has no kitchen, The Argyle welcomes guests to bring in outside food to enjoy.

DSRT C O 295 Ottawa St. N. thedsrtcompany.com | IG: thedsrtcompany Summer Badawi is the owner and creative genius behind DSRT CO. but attributes its success to a team of talented chocolatiers and pastry chefs transforming quality ingredients into edible art. Their creations are inspired by dessert concepts such as Key lime pie and bananas Foster. The whimsical bars and

M AL ARKE Y 298 Ottawa St. N. IG: malarkeyhamilton Malarkey is The Argyle’s sister establishment. With the same high standards, a gorgeous space sets the stage for a vibrant and engaging social experience. Malarkey offers a moody yet playful atmosphere where guests can enjoy classic cocktails and craft beers on tap while engaging in friendly competition on the 22-foot shuffleboard tables. Like The Argyle, Malarkey allows outside food to be brought in. Malarkey is a must-see and must-play space!

TH E H E ART Y H O O LIGAN 292 Ottawa St. N. theheartyhooligan.com | IG: theheartyhooligan Hearty Hooligan, describing itself as “a woman-owned, LGBTQ2SIA+ positive, all-vegan restaurant committed to local sourcing and from-scratch food,” almost closed at the end of October. The good news is that it will continue under new ownership.

They describe their delicious plant-based foods as “vegan junk food.” The desserts and custom cakes are award-winning. The vibe is creative and joyful.

CRO WN & PRE SS 303 Ottawa St. N. crownandpress.com IG: crownandpressgallery The artful café (once the site of Woolworth’s) is a family affair with artist Julia Veenstra playing a key role. She jokes

WITH FOOD that the café is a trick — a way of enticing people to look at (and buy) Canadian art.

Their Coffee Club Card tracks your art purchases for coffee rewards. While food is not the primary focus, the menu has evolved.

Snacks include (mother-in-law) Dini’s Boterkoek (Dutch butter cake) and cookies from Pleasant Co. to wraps and family soups (in winter). There are vegan and gluten-free options, and the café is licensed, serving wine, cocktails and specialty coffees. Check the website for art, music events, classes, fashion and comedy shows — ­ or book the space for your own event.

OT TAWA S TREET LO CAL 226 Ottawa St. N. ottawastreetlocal.ca | IG: ottawastreetlocal Ottawa Street’s lemon-coloured landmark (Café Limoncello occupied the space for close to two decades) is now a sophisticated grey.

It signals a renovation that brings patrons a pub with classy décor matched with a warm, casual vibe. The classic pub menu offers comfort food entrées such as roast chicken, pasta and meatloaf. A separate venue space is available for private events. The space regularly features live music.

DAV’S HOT SPOT COMBINES HOME COOKING WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF JAMAICAN CUISINE. PHOTO: DAV’S HOT SPOT

OTTAWA STREET LOCAL’S SOPHISTICATED RENOVATION CREATED A PUB WITH CLASSY DÉCOR MATCHED WITH A WARM, CASUAL VIBE. PHOTO: OTTAWA ST. LOCAL

DAV ’S HOT SPOT 224 Ottawa St. N. davshotspotinc.com | IG: davshotspot Dav’s “hot spot” home-based cooking evolved into two brick-and-mortar eateries.

The wide-ranging menu includes mac and cheese, pastas, wings, a seafood fry, jerk chicken and cornbread. Gluten-free options are being added to the menu. Students get a discount on regular-priced items and specials are announced on Instagram. Watch for the introduction of authentic Jamaican foods.

DO R A’S DE L ICATE SSE N & C ATE R I N G 218 Ottawa St. N. dorascatering.com | IG: dorascatering Mary-Lee George is executive chef and owner of Dora’s — a family-owned eatery.

Family includes her parents, who began the enterprise that continues today, and her husband Sean and daughter Belladora are also on the team. While there is no dine-in, it’s worth a “drop-in” to enjoy their takeout menu that includes deli sandwiches, lasagna, cabbage rolls, and lemonade. Add to that, a wide variety of local, artisan products, including breads, pies, strudels, Italian cookies, arancini, sausage rolls, meat pies, and salads.

SIMPLY ITALI AN BAKE RY 212 Ottawa St. N. simplyitalianbakery.com IG: simplyitalianbakery This bright cheery café is also a source for bread, pastries, sandwiches, hot entrées, pizza, coffee, and even gelato — all things Italian! That includes canned tomatoes, sauces, pasta, olive oil, and more. Their custom cakes are like eye candy and, for special events, flowers and sweet treats can be combined into gift baskets.

H AMBRGR 207 Ottawa St. N. hambrgr.ca | IG: hambrgrottawast Since 2015, the Cipollo family/team have satisfied Hamilton cravings for great burgers in more than one location. While competing burger eateries have come and gone, Hambrgr has dependably been Ottawa Street’s go-to burger joint. The imaginative burgers and build-your-own-burger options are popular, as well as weekly specials such as the Brgr Lunch Box. The “chckn” and snacks menu tantalize with other options, and be sure to save room for funky desserts.

E AST H AMILTO N CH E E SE CO MPANY 205 Ottawa St. N. IG: easthamiltoncheeseco This cheese shop champions local artisan cheesemakers, such as Monforte Dairy and Stonetown Cheese. It carries affordably priced Ontario cheeses, including cow, sheep, goat, and water buffalo milk, and vegan and organic cheeses. Knowledgeable staff offer guidance about lactose intolerance or certain digestive restrictions. Cheese adventures are available in the form of a monthly cheese box program, offering portions of cheeses not sold in the shop. Charcuterie board trimmings are from across Canada.

DO WN TH E ST RE E T F O O D CO. 201 Ottawa St. N. downthestreetfoodco.ca IG: downthestreetfoodco Michael Carruth, founder and co-owner, applies decades of chef experience to deliver classic family diner foods. This full-service eatery opened in April 2024, evolving from a takeout sandwich shop, and now /continued on next page WINTER 2025 HCM

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/FOOD & DRINK TH E CAN N O N 180 Ottawa St. N. thecannon.coffee | IG: cannoncoffee Owner Chris Poirier’s coffee roots date back to 2004 and given his expertise, the café roasts its own coffee for drip/espresso and sells it along with feature roasters. The Cannon coffee subscription delivers weekly coffee selections to your door. Brunch dishes, waffle sandwiches and sweet treats make it a great setting for light dining with family and friends. Everything is prepared in-house.

serves breakfast and lunch with everything made fresh in-house. Frozen soups are also available and a Friday night meal plan is featured each week for pre order. Says Carruth: “We pride ourselves with creating a comfortable, welcoming family diner and with the open kitchen there is always conversation to be had.”

OT TAWA M ARKET 204 Ottawa St. N. mrktbox.com | IG: mrktbox Imagine a local mini-grocer combined with a café and you get Ottawa Market, part of the MRKTBOX family that includes Dundurn and Strathcona locations. Tempting breakfast and lunch items include breakfast burritos, smoothies, sweets, signature sandwiches, and salads. Indoor and outdoor seating options are available to enjoy café drinks. Ottawa Market also offers a range of craft beer. All that in a charming setting where basic groceries are available, including sourdough bread, bagels, local seasonal produce and flowers!

M ACTINI BAR 189 Ottawa St. N. mactinibar.com | IG: mactinibar Yes, that’s mactini, not martini. Joe Johnson nudged a gluten-free mac and cheese catering business into a bricks-and-mortar enterprise (in the previous Merk space).

Signature drinks such as the espresso or lychee or lavender martini are on offer, along with beer and wine. The menu offers lamb rack, stuffed chicken, salmon, and, of course, various versions of mac and cheese.

POKE CO.’S SEOUL IN A BOWL AND CHAKA KHAN ARE HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS. PHOTO: POKE CO.

M U R R AY ’S FARM BUTCH E R SH O P P E 182 Ottawa St. N. murraysfarm.com IG: murraysfarmbutchershoppe While this is not a restaurant, there really is a farm where Murray Thunberg raises heritage breeds of pigs and poultry. All meat products are superior and local. Add to your basket eggs from pasture-raised heritage chickens, fresh bread, local produce, cheese and oh-so-many condiments. Murray’s has die-hard fans who shop his wares in farmers’ markets such as Cabbagetown and the Evergreen Brickworks. You, too, will become a fan!

scan the qr codes to read more foodie district reviews by diane galambos james street south

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downtown dundas

barton street

hess village

James Street North vol.1

ancaster

James Street North vol.2

PO KE CO 179 Ottawa St. N. pokeco.ca | IG: pokecohamilton Judith Sloan and Peter Campagna have operated Poke Co for close to six years. The healthy and delicious meal is inspired by Hawaiian poke — combinations of seasoned sushi rice, fresh cold salmon or tuna, and choices of dozens of toppings and homemade sauces, all 100 per cent gluten- and dairyfree. Toppings such as chicken, tofu and crab salad are offered for those who don’t eat raw fish. Watch for daily specials and build-yourown-bowl days. Takeout is quick or enjoy the attractive dining room and hospitality.

Says the couple: “We absolutely love our neighbourhood and community and can’t think of anywhere we’d rather be.”

E LLIS KITCH E N 148 Ottawa St. N. elliskitchen.wixsite.com/ellis-kitchen IG: elliskitchenhamilton Ellis Kitchen’s motto is: “Where Jamaican flavours come to life!” They describe themselves as a Black-owned restaurant specializing in traditional JamaicanCaribbean cuisine. Fasten your seatbelt because this is not just “some” of the cuisine.

Practically every dish you can wish for is offered, including oxtails, jerk or stewed chicken, curry goat, a range of handheld patties, roti, and plantains.

BOARDWALK CH E E SE STE AKS 131 Ottawa St. N. boardwalkcheesesteaks.ca IG: boardwalkcheesesteaks Boardwalk Cheesesteaks is the dream of Bohdan Potichny, owner and cook, supported

by Angela Mayer. Together, they share frontof-house and kitchen duties, turning out an

inventive array of cheesesteaks. Order an original Philly cheesesteak or one of their creations, which include mac and cheese, pierogi, chili or the Boardwalk Extravaganza.

Everything is made-in-house with quality local ingredients. Boardwalk has some seating and regular takeout patrons.

and vinegar. A welcome addition is Cha Cha Boba, Gandhi’s bubble tea brand that comes in milk and fruit tea flavours, with flavourful and fun toppings. (If you miss Paulie’s Pizza, note that Ottawa Street offers pizza in several locations — Pizzaiolo, Cherry Ghost, Original and Simply Italian Bakery.)

P OWE R P IZZ A 134 Ottawa St. N. powerpizza.ca | IG: powerpizza.ca Lisa and Ryan Stewart fought the pandemic blues by launching a joyful comicbook-themed eatery that does takeout and has dine-in seating. They describe their pizzas as outrageously creative with bold toppings and fearless flavour combos. Try pizza classics or leap into a new experience with Pickle Tickle, Bruschetta‑ta‑ta, Shawarma-ma. Wings and salads include options for gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets. For fun, try their DoughKnots — pizza dough tied into knots, deep fried, sugared and enhanced with sweet toppings. Dough Dogs wrap an all-beef wiener in pizza dough, which is then baked to perfection. There is even a nostalgic 12-flavour ice cream bar.

H AMME RH E ADS SE AF O O D KITCH E N & M ARKE T 74 Ottawa St. N. eathammerheads.ca | IG: eathammerheads Scott Forbes’ love of cooking and seafood dates back to the childhood influence of cooking shows and east coast summers.

His food journey had him cooking French cuisine around the world before returning to the food scene in his hometown. In Hammerhead’s first location, he’d beam with unbridled enthusiasm while preparing fish — always fresh, traceable and sustainable. But Forbes’ dream was to create a dine-in space combined with the takeout menu and various fresh/frozen fish and chowders. Since June, a few doors next to his original location, a charming space welcomes patrons to enjoy the (still evolving) dine-in menu that reflects Forbes’ extensive experience. Everything is gluten-free. An Ottawa Street treasure.

FAIR LY F RO S TED BAKE RY 78 Ottawa St. N. fairlyfrosted.com | IG: fairlyfrosted Opening on Ottawa Street marks a milestone in Lise-Anne Gregoire’s dream. A long-time vegan unimpressed with existing

POWER PIZZA OFFERS CLASSIC AND CREATIVE PIZZAS FOR PATRONS OF ALL AGES. PHOTO: POWER PIZZA

HAMMERHEADS GRILLED ARCTIC CHAR SERVED WITH CORN, PEACH AND TOMATO SALAD WAS A SUMMER SPECIAL HIT. PHOTO: HAMMERHEADS

bakery options, she decided to do it herself.

But better. Her repertoire has grown to an array of butter tarts, cakes, cookies, and pies, creative flavours of vegan hard-scooped ice cream (served in hand-rolled waffle cones), soft serve, shakes, and more. Everything is 100 per cent vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free.

M I K E ’S S U BS 122 Ottawa St. N. “You’re not the kid who used to work here like about 30 years ago, are you?” The answer from John Geronstzos is yes. His parents bought the nine-year old takeout-only eatery, ran it for 20 years and he has carried the torch for 26 — and still loves it. The love is returned from a strong fan base who treasure the great and reasonably priced cold and hot subs made with Springer’s Meats and Genuine Bakery buns. They offer many sauces, but Mike’s sauce is a secret recipe that some patrons buy as a salad dressing. Many have enjoyed Mike’s Subs on Upper Ottawa, too. (Other sub shops with similar names are not affiliated.)

PAU L I E ’S W IN GS & DO N AIRS 80 Ottawa St. N. IG: paulieswingsdonairs The Donair is Halifax’s official food — a “sandwich” with centuries-old roots. East Coast patrons tell owner Sumit Gandhi that his donairs perfectly replicate their downhome memories. Paulie’s donairs are made from lamb and beef, wrapped in naan with spices that deliver gentle mouth warmth.

Gandhi’s secret sauce carefully balances the classic components of milk, garlic, sugar

TH E BE ACO N 4 Ottawa St. N. IG: thebeaconcrownpoint My list of Top 10 meals includes one prepared by chef Sam Girgis who has worked in various kitchens, including his own at Souvlocke. His latest project brings life back to the Caro space (at Main Street) with his own restaurant — The Beacon — described in brief as “your favourites reimagined.” The menu (which does not focus on any specific cultural cuisine) includes everyday classics and comfort foods. The project is two-pronged, with a takeout window offering Sammy’s Sandos, soups, salads and souvlaki.

SAKUMI SUSH I 209 Ottawa St. N. Fans of the recently closed Sushi Azuki, are pleased to welcome Sakumi Sushi into Crown Point. Classic and creative sushi (imagine sushi pizza) dominate the menu along with donburi, soup, salad, combos and party trays.

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/CITY VIEW

COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY

By MEREDITH MacLEOD

R U D I WA L L A C E was born in Vancouver to parents who immigrated to Canada from Guyana. He grew up in Victoria and worked as grants manager at the Victoria Foundation and in senior leadership with The Mustard Seed food bank. He arrived in Hamilton in 2020 when he became vice-president of grants & community initiatives at the Hamilton Community Foundation (HCF), Canada’s oldest community foundation.

In July 2024, Rudi became president & CEO of HCF, its fifth leader in seven decades. He and his wife live in the St. Clair neighbourhood with their two young children and their Newfoundland dog.

It’s been a year since you became president and CEO of the organization. What have been your top three priorities?

I think the organization has three priorities.

First, investment strategies. We invest around 20 per cent of our overall endowment and assets, and then we have our public portfolios. We have a responsible investment framework or strategy around living our values on the public side, giving direction to our asset managers who invest that 80 per cent in the public markets. So, for instance, we don’t want to be invested in predatory lending, or things like that. Our board updated our values in 2022 to include equity and reconciliation in particular. And so how do those two things play out? So equity in terms of how do we support and think about the world,

PHOTO: MARTA HEWSON 66

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understanding systemic barriers and deploy resources equitably to try to address some of these challenges. On reconciliation, how are we factoring in Indigenous communities here in Canada, but also with our investments that are sometimes international? So, if we say equity and we say reconciliation, let’s literally put our money where our mouth is.

Second is a climate action strategy. We talk about hot temperatures and heat domes and forest fires. We provide granting, we use our impact investing to think about clean tech in particular, but we need a more formalized structure with benchmarks and measurements that we can point to and say, here’s the impact we’re making as an institution, and we really want to encourage other institutions to do the same.

Finally, organizational development and evolution and thinking about what the next chapter is with our team. What is the capacity, the infrastructure, the resources needed to maintain and continue or evolve that trajectory that we’re on. So we’re really thinking about modernizing our tech systems, bringing in new skills and expertise to double down and deepen our impact and the work that we’re doing, and take on some new challenges as well.

How do you describe the role and impact of the Hamilton Community Foundation both in the city and beyond?

Housing and education are two of our strategic priorities from our community leadership perspective. And, you know, I think housing in particular, can be nested in a lot of ways within our social finance and impact investing and how we look at building supportive housing. Climate change is our greatest crisis but at the city level, housing is our greatest issue. That’s why we’ve made a $50 million capital commitment over the next 10 years to build supportive and affordable housing. We need new housing across the spectrum of affordability.

We’ve invested just over $20 million over the last number of years, and that’s catalyzed MORE ONLINE: scan the qr code to READ much more from rudi about the impact of the hamilton community foundation. hamiltoncitymagazine.ca

or contributed to the creation of more than 1,000 units. And we have a renoviction housing granting program as well to really think about how do we stop renovictions and end evictions and keep people housed and support advocacy and legal defense for folks who want to stay in their homes.

And so I think of some of the work happening at the City of Hamilton on that front. I think of the Just Recovery Coalition in Hamilton. I think of Hamilton is Home, and the work that us, the city, other institutional partners have done around social innovation.

So there are things that are happening that give me a little bit of hope that we might be able to mitigate some of the worst impulses of gentrification. In Hamilton, I think there’s still time to mitigate some of those effects. How do we learn from mistakes to do things better and not just do exactly the same thing, which has been tragic for so many people?

What are Hamilton’s assets?

Hamilton has this unfulfilled potential. I think people are probably tired of hearing that but gentrification is not done yet. There’s still time to mitigate its worst impulses and to do something interesting that has the ability to foster community and build relationships and ensure you can manage the likely displacement to come in positive ways. And Hamilton has amazing assets. We’re a healthcare hub, we have industry, we have manufacturing, which are under threat, and it’s not the heyday, but you know, you have light rail, you have a deep sea water port, you have public institutions here that are thriving. You think of Mac and Mohawk. I think there’s lots the City hasn’t done well, but I think there’s a lot that the City of Hamilton is now doing well around housing.

I think of the Housing Sustainable Investment Roadmap, a sort of a centralized strategy around housing in the city that nonprofits, ourselves, other institutional partners are a part of trying to build projects while leveraging every lever at Hamilton’s disposal, trying to attract institutional investment. And then the question is, where are the upper levels of government?

So I think there are building blocks in place.

There is a good foundation, good relationships, and the political will and courage.

There is this kind of collective spirit. It’s like a collective chip on the shoulder that Hamilton has, so how do we actually harness the

collective expertise, this kind of spirit, this fight that I think this city has, where we care about our neighbours?

What have you discovered about Hamilton since arriving here?

The level of diversity. There are opportunities to build communities across many different cultures, many different people, whether it’s geographical, coming from rural areas or other cities in Canada or from other parts of the world. Arabic is becoming the third most spoken language here. I think discovering that, and how that plays out in businesses, restaurants, and services, is really interesting and lovely, and such an asset. And then discovering the collective chip on the shoulder has also been super interesting. I give a lot of gifts of the Hamilton Hates You Too gear. I love that. And then we discovered a real porch culture here, too. I’ve never experienced this kind of porch culture. When we moved here, people came up and said hello. The neighbours came up to say hi and hang out with us. It was awkward at first, but we love it now.

What is your favourite artistic or cultural experience in Hamilton?

I love the street art, like on the (City Centre) building downtown or the boarded-up door, like at the corner of James and James and York that says humans aren’t real. I love the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre and Supercrawl and the AGH. What’s your ideal way to spend a lazy day in Hamilton?

There’s no lazy day with two kids under four.

We love the Dundas Conservation Area with the kids. We love Ottawa Street and the farmers market, and The Cannon, and a burger and beer at Bernie’s. James (Street North) is pretty dope.

Often we’re in playgrounds and splash pads and Gage Park.

What is Hamilton’s best-kept secret?

Café Baffico’s cinnamon buns. I don’t know if it’s a secret anymore because there are lines out the door, but I just love them.

What is your favourite meal in the city?

The fried chicken sandwich at Berkeley North, hands down. It’s fantastic. And then at close seconds, the burger at Bernie’s Tavern. n

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THIS CONTENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE INCITE FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS scan the qr code to read more about incite and the legacy of carl and kate turkstra.

MAKING ART ACCESSIBLE TO ALL THE INCITE FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS SUPPORTS THE WORK OF THE DUNDAS VALLEY SCHOOL OF ART.

THE DUNDAS VALLEY SCHOOL OF ART HAS NURTURED CREATIVITY FOR 60 YEARS. PHOTO: DVSA

T

he incite Foundation for the Arts has contributed more than $9 million to 50 Hamilton-area organizations, through grants from $2,500 to $300,000, since it was founded in 2011. It is the legacy of the late Carl and Kate Turkstra who believed the arts are key to quality of life and critical to the future of Hamilton. And they believed anyone, regardless of circumstance, should be able to enjoy and pursue music, theatre and visual art. HAMILTON CITY Magazine is showcasing the incredible, creative and talented recipients of incite grants. Here we share the work of the Dundas Valley School of Art. As one of Canada’s largest independent art schools, Dundas Valley School of Art (DVSA) is a registered charity founded by two visionary women, Emily Dutton and Marion Farnan.

Over its 60-year history, DVSA has supported and nurtured creativity in the visual arts for students of all ages and abilities.

DVSA’s annual programming welcomes 8,500-plus registrants for part-time art classes and a full-time diploma program.

Classes and workshops extend from beginner through advanced in the mediums of drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, glass art, jewellery, art history and ceramics. A cornerstone of DVSA’s programming is its popular children’s art programming. Beginning over 30 years ago, offerings have expanded to include 68

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a rich selection of weekly classes and workshops as well as PA day, winter, March Break and summer art camps.

Launched in September 2023, DVSA’s accredited three-year Studio Art Theory and Practice diploma program specializes in small, mentorship-driven visual arts education.

In addition to its fee-based classes, DVSA has an extensive, multifaceted and impactful outreach program that removes financial, physical, intellectual and social barriers to participating in the visual arts. All outreach activities are funded solely through donations from our community and provide open visual arts experiences in the Hamilton area.

Experiencing and learning from the creative process is at the root of our free

public artist talks and exhibitions. Both showcase the creative spirit of established and new up-and-coming artists from Hamilton and our region. Our gallery spaces, funded through support from the incite Foundation, provide places for faculty, students and local artists to exhibit their works.

For 20-plus years, DVSA has been providing free hands-on art experiences through partnerships with community agencies, organizations and local school boards. Additionally, DVSA offers diverse programming to marginalized communities, most recently pottery and multi-media classes for local 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.

One of the most impactful outreach activities is the Community Art Experience Program (CAEP). Thanks to historical support from local and provincial donors and most recently through a generous pledge by the incite Foundation, DVSA offers free visual arts experiences.

CAEP touches the lives of more than 3,000 Hamiltonians through bursaries to attend DVSA classes, “Art in a Bag” kits, age-specific hands-on workshops, Family Art Days and Make-and-Take events at community events such as Pride, and Telling Tales.

As a charity, DVSA operates on very close margins, with 80 per cent of operational costs met by programming revenue and fundraising. That includes a popular annual art auction, and the Little Black Frame Mystery event. Both showcase the works of artists from across Hamilton and the region.

The support provided by the incite Foundation has been groundbreaking. Its support for what is, at times, an underfunded and undervalued sector, has made the Hamilton arts scene stronger. For DVSA, as we look to the future, the incite Foundation partnership enables us to continue ensuring community participation in the visual arts remains accessible, allowing everyone to discover the artist within all of us. n

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