urbanicity | July, 2014

urbanicity

July 2014, Complimentary

THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE EDITORIAL PG. 03

IdeaS | Issues | Experiences | EATING OUT | Events / HAMILTON

Issues LRT vs. BRT pg. 06

Experiences Summer pg. 04

Open Doors Jackson Square — The Park pg. 10

Haunted Hamilton Buchanan's Auchmar Estate pg. 14

URBANICITY.CA

urbanicity

 From the

EDITOR & PUBLISHER MARTINUS GELEYNSE editor@urbanicity.ca

EDITOR

M A N A G E R O F O P E R AT I O N S Kristel Bulthuis JUNI O R PRODU CE R Scott Summerhayes

I'm a big World Cup fan. More specifically, I'm a big fan of the Dutch team. Being Dutch myself, I can attest that we're not the most animated people, but we're good at soccer. When we celebrate winning a soccer game, we typically have a cup of coffee, shake hands with each other, and talk about how much we love the colour orange. I'm being modest - sometimes we'll do a little wooden shoe dance as well. Contrast us to the Portuguese, Italians, Spanish, or Brazilians, and we're a pretty stoic bunch. That said, you wouldn't know it during the World Cup this year.

In 2006 and in 2010, James Street North would flood with honking cars, jubilant soccer fans, and waving flags each time any of the World Cup matches ended. It's been pretty quiet this year, however. The odd honking car. A couple of flag-waving fans. No big street parties. No victory crowds.

I'm not sure if the size and frequency of World Cup celebrations on James Street North are accurate litmus tests, but I suspect that they are indicative of the change that is sweeping Hamilton's lower city. As house prices have skyrocketed in the neighbourhoods around the burgeoning district, many of the long-term residents of the area have had to move to more affordable areas. As the art crawls have continued to grow, James Street North has changed monikers from "the Portuguese area" to "the Arts District". Inevitably, the rabid growth of the downtown economy, the spiking of the housing market, and the influx of new urban residents will change the flavours of Hamilton's neighbourhoods.

LAYOUT & DESIGN Jessica Johnstone A DVERT ISING SALES Ashley Coles PRINTING Canweb Printing DISTRIBUTION THAAT Co-op Metroland Media Kristel Bulthuis Cover photo taken by Martinus Geleynse urbanicity magazine is wholly owned and published by MGI Media. All content copyright Š 2014 and all rights to distribution are reserved by MGI Media.

As a forum for ideas, issues, and experiences, the views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Publisher, Editor, other contributors, advertisers or distributors unless otherwise stated.

P R I N T C I R C U L AT I O N 5,000 homes in the lower west city, retail distribution through greater city of Hamilton. 10,000 copies per month. 12 issues per year. One copy per reader.

The "New Hamilton", as it has been referred to, is still evolving. It is still being decided. As always, the only constant is change. This city is undergoing one of the most dramatic waves of urban renewal ever seen in Canada.

There will be consequences attached to our sudden rise.

The key to the true measure of Hamilton's success, therefore, will be how well we steer the evolution of the "New Hamilton" to include our most vulnerable members, how we respect our heritage, and how we invest sustainably in our collective future.

Change may be inevitable, but Hamilton's future is anything but decided. As we move our focus from a provincial election to our upcoming municipal election, it is imperative that we choose the leadership that we believe will help to shape this city into something truly great. Truly inclusive. Truly sustainable. As we invest in properties in older neighbourhoods, it is critical that we respect the heritage and culture of the area. As we build shiny new condo projects, it is paramount that we contribute to the vibrancy of our streetscapes as well as to our skyline.

When the Dutch inevitably win the World Cup this month, I'll be out on James Street North honking my car horn and waving my flag. I'll probably be the only one out there. That's okay though, because if the Dutch do win, it'll be a first. But why not? The only constant is change.

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photo by martinus geleynse

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Portuguese celebrations on James Street North during the 2010 World Cup.

MART INUS GELEYNSE EDITOR

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© Justin Skinner/123RF.COM

04 | JULY 2014

e x perie n c es

Summer A story of kids and crayfish An ant and a grasshopper were in a summer meadow. The ant was very hardworking, constantly searching for seeds and dragging them back to his nest, where he put them under the care of his trusted financial advisor, a centipede.

The grasshopper, however, spent most of his time bouncing around the sunny grass-blades and happily singing. The ant noticed this and said to the grasshopper, “You’re having a good time now, but when summer’s over, you’ll be sorry!”

The grasshopper just grinned and did a silly little dance and said, “I don’t care!” The ant shook his head and went back to his hard labours. In time, as predicted by the ant, the warmth of summer faded from the land, to be replaced by a cruel coldness. Plants stopped growing leaves and seeds.

The ant saw the grasshopper standing on a fallen leaf, shivering and looking at some dark clouds approaching. The ant said, “You don’t seem so jolly anymore! Should have planned ahead for this day!” The self-satisfied ant went into his nest — only to find, with shock, it was empty of food. Everything had been stolen by the centipede financial advisor, who was long gone. A chilly wind wailed from the North. The ant crawled around the meadow, moaning, “No food! I’m going to die!” And the nearby grasshopper said, smiling, “Me too — but at least I had a good time first.” When the ant starved to death, he was still frowning. The dead grasshopper is still smiling. *** Yesterday, my middle son and his friend came back from a nearby forested ravine. They each had little aquarium nets and plastic bags full of something. On our hot, sun-soaked back porch, they showed their catch to me and the youngest son. The bags were full of crayfish! We had this old plastic insect cage — which I always called “Bug Alcatraz” — lying around the jungle-like back yard, so I dumped the sticks and junk out of it and we poured the plastic bags of creek water into the plastic box.

There were lots of them! At least seven! They excitedly zipped around backwards, in the shallow dirty water. They looked like brown lobsters, except the size of a Bluetooth

earpiece. They had antennae and wimpy-looking claws.

We put in some rocks for them to hide under.

“I’m so proud of my mighty hunters,” I said.

“Yay!” said my middle guy.

I realized that there wasn’t enough water for the crayfish to swim properly, so I got some plastic water containers from the kitchen (which I’m technically not supposed to use for nature experiments, so don’t tell my wife about this) and I sent the two older boys back to the ravine, to get more creek water.

Leaving the youngest guy on the back porch to “guard” the trapped crayfish, I went inside and looked at my bookshelf. There was nothing there about what crayfish eat.

There was nothing, believe it or not, about crayfish at all.

Just a bunch of Hemingway and Atwood and Wilde and Dostoyevsky — all of it useless!

So I went to the internet and summoned the search genie and typed, “OH GREAT GOOGLE, WHAT DO CRAYFISH EAT?” Google replied with a list of sponsored advertising links: “Purina Crustacean Chow — 75% off!” and “Try Our Certified Organic Craw-Daddy Feed,” etc.

After that, there were the non-commercial links, where I learned that crayfish like to eat fish.

We had some sardines in a Tupperware container in the fridge. I’d opened the can over a week ago and was planning to throw it out. So I forked out a chunk and put it into the crayfish cage. Only then did I realize that sardines are kind of smelly. The sardine oil spread on the surface, like a salad dressing. Oh well, the crayfish probably won’t mind.

The oils might even be good for them, like the beauty oils at Shoppers Drug Mart; giving the shells of the crayfish a smooth, sexy shine.

The other two kids came back from the ravine with more creek water, which we poured in. Then we put in some rocks, for hiding under.

“I think they’ll be more comfortable in there now,” my son’s friend said. He lived in a nearby apartment building and had never done this kind of stuff before visiting us.

He always went home with dirty shoes and dirty clothes

and dirty hands and a dirty, smiling face. The first time his mom picked him up, she’d barely recognized the mudcaked Swamp Thing in our front hall as her son.

(My parenting philosophy: yes to filth and adventure, no to technology and coddling.)

So, we watched the crayfish for a while, then the boys wanted to play ball-hockey in front of the house. They left me alone with the crayfish and I realized that it was too hot on the porch for them, being used to a cool stream. I took the container into the back yard, between a gooseberry bush and some nodding golden flowers my wife had planted a year or two ago.

Blind to the danger, I left the crayfish there overnight.

The next day, before breakfast, I took my two youngest outside to check up on the crustacean prisoners. We were planning to release them in a different creek, one that did not have any crayfish in it yet. We planned to pioneer a brand new population!

However, all the crayfish in the box were gone. There was just some water and rocks. The piece of sardine was gone too.

“I knew the raccoons would get them,” my middle son said.

It was true. Last night, when I’d told him where I’d put the crayfish, he’d said something about raccoons eating them. I’d pooh-poohed his fears, being too lazy to go outside in the middle of the night to move a plastic box full of muddy water and crayfish from under a bush to — to where? Where would they have been safe from raccoons?

Those sneaky masked criminals can break into garbage cans at will, so how could a lightweight plastic box stop them? The only 100% protection would be to bring them inside. But my wife might have criticized me for doing that. So I’d ignored my son’s prescient warning — just as the King of the ancient Trojans had ignored Cassandra’s warning that the Greeks were on their way to burn Troy to the ground — and I left the crayfish outside. Which led to this slaughter, this massacre, alas.

Neither of my sons accused me of having innocent crayfish blood on my hands. (And, in my defense, let me say that if crayfish blood was on anybody’s hands, it would be on the hands of those marauding raccoons. And who’s to say just how innocent those eaten crayfish really were?)

To make up for my negligence, I promised to take my sons back into the urban forest soon, to catch more. But first I had other things to do, including writing this for urbanicity.

Now I can almost hear the crayfish, calling: “Come!

Catch us if you can!” and “The wild world is the real world — all else is illusion!”

Soon, I’ll reply, “Okay, crayfish, we’re on our way!”

Then I’ll tell the boys to put on their rubber boots and to get their crayfish nets and then to meet me on the back porch — mighty hunters, ready for adventure...

This article started with a parable about summer I wrote recently; so let’s end it with a poem about summer I wrote a long time ago: in a summer garden heavy with grapes and the songs of hidden insects, sunlight melts, leaves are tongues, licking the ripened day.

Lay your body down here, rest on this warm soil and berries will fill your heart, as your garden fills with summer

Mark Coakley lives in the Ainslie Wood neighbourhood in West Hamilton. He's the author of Tip and Trade: How Two Lawyers Made Millions From Insider Trading (2011) and Hidden Harvest: The Rise And Fall Of North America's Biggest Cannabis Grow Op. He blogs at markcoakley.wordpress.com

photo by scott summerhayes

T he T e n L ist

The Right House The Right House is a landmark building in the streetscape of downtown Hamilton. It was designed by local architect William Stewart & Son in 1890 for merchant, former schoolteacher, and Irish immigrant Thomas C. Watkins in 1880, and was completed in 1893 at a cost of $100,000. Located at 35 King Street East, it is a designated heritage site (City by law 84-31), and is the home of many Hamilton firsts!

1. The Right House was Hamilton’s first department store.

2. It was the first in Hamilton to employ “lady clerks” 3. It was the first in Hamilton to install the overhead cash-carrying system.

4. It had the first private telephone exchange connecting all store departments.

5. It was the first to stage a fashion show with live models.

6. It was the first department store in Hamilton to adopt the policy of selling furniture on a gradual payment basis.

7. It was the first department store to establish a charge account.

8. It was the first store to have an elevator.

9. It was the first store to introduce suburban delivery.

10. On June 6, 1956, the Right House was the first air-conditioned store in Hamilton. On that date, a crane (the largest in Hamilton) lifted a 9-tonne air compressor on to the roof.

The doors to The Right House closed for good at 5:30 PM on January 15, 1983.

References: First Here, what happened when in Hamilton. Edited by Margaret Houghton ISBN 978-1-896899-43-5 Dictionary of Hamilton biography ISBN 0-9691023-0-5

By Sinn (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

06 | JULY 2014

LRT in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

ISSUES

LRT vs. BRT Bursting the bubble of Bus Rapid Transit In the ongoing public debate over Hamilton's rapid transit plan for the east-west B-Line between McMaster University and Eastgate Square, some people argue that we should be focusing on a bus rapid transit (BRT) plan instead of the light rail transit (LRT) plan that City Council submitted to the Province last year.

A careful reading of the commentary suggests many of the people advocating BRT aren't actually clear on what they're talking about. So what is BRT, and why don't LRT advocates support it as a cheaper, more politically palatable alternative?

As its name suggests, Bus Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system using buses. What distinguishes BRT from conventional bus service is that it: • Runs on dedicated lanes that are physically separated from automobile lanes; • Has passenger boarding stations rather than bus stops; • Makes less frequent stops than normal bus service (usually every 800 metres); and • Runs at a high frequency so passengers do not need to consult a schedule.

From a technology perspective, the main difference

between BRT and LRT is that LRT vehicles are electric trams running on rails that are powered by overhead wires, whereas BRT vehicles are internal combustion engine buses running on tires on the road.

In terms of construction, they are similarly disruptive.

The roadbed needs to be rebuilt for BRT, with a concrete surface to handle the weight of all those buses.

The capital cost to build BRT is lower than the capital cost to build LRT — but not vastly cheaper. According to a recent study by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, a transit consultancy that promotes BRT, a

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A Q U I CK Q U E S T I O N T O C O UNC I L

full system that fulfills all of the major BRT criteria costs close to half as much to build as an equivalent LRT system.

The study finds that "Gold Standard" BRT combined with exceptional land use planning produces a similar relative return on investment to LRT — relative because it costs less to build but attracts less new economic development.

But the capital cost is only part of the financial picture — and in the case of Hamilton, the part that the Province has promised to fully fund. Hamilton will be responsible for the ongoing operating cost, and it is here that LRT really shines.

BRT requires a lot more vehicles (and vehicle operators) than LRT to carry an equivalent number of passengers. Since operator wages are the major part of transit operating costs, this drives the per-passenger operating cost for BRT up.

In addition, LRT vehicles last three times as long as BRT vehicles, require less ongoing maintenance and are cheaper to power.

Finally, LRT is much better at increasing ridership than BRT, and the per-passenger cost declines as the number of passengers increases. As a result, LRT works out to be significantly cheaper to operate than BRT. Since the purpose of rapid transit is to attract high numbers of new riders and leverage new private investment to shape land use around the line, BRT is necessarily an inferior option along the B-Line.

This is a corridor that already carries 13,000 transit rides a day on an overburdened transit system characterized by frequent "pass-bys" of full buses. 13,000 passengers a day is in the middle of the pack for North American LRT systems. We would already have that ridership on opening day, with huge potential to grow ridership dramatically from there.

The area around the B-Line has an intact urban built form ideal for accommodating medium- and high-density urban development, but it has been under-performing for decades due to the city's singular focus on suburban sprawl.

Decades of neglect and demolition have left huge opportunities for new infill developments along the line, and especially in the downtown area. Despite this, downtown is still the city's single largest employment cluster with 24,000 jobs, most of them paying above the median income.

Because the lower city is under-performing its potential, it has tremendous potential for uplift with a new rapid transit system combined with a favourable land use policy to encourage urban development. If we are going to invest in rapid transit, we should aim to maximize the potential for net benefits.

As for the argument that BRT is more politically palatable, that falls apart when people realize that BRT will be just as disruptive to existing automobile traffic as LRT — but with a much smaller payback in terms of economic uplift and car trips replaced by transit trips.

This last-minute BRT push is not driven by a desire to make the 'right' rapid transit investment. It's mostly driven by a desire not to make any rapid transit investment at all. The first step is to use BRT to kill LRT. The next step will be to whittle BRT down until it looks pretty much like the express bus service we already have today.

If that happens, the status quo will be preserved at the devastating cost of another missed opportunity to transform Hamilton's future.

Ryan McGreal is the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton.

“Are you in favour of spending any municipal dollars for a light rail system in Hamilton if the Province asks council to do so?” urbanicity sent this quick question to City Council. They were given a week to reply.

Six councillors replied. Their responses have been printed verbatim. By Kristel Bulthuis

Brian McHattie (Ward 1) Thank you for the opportunity to provide a response on this.

My comment is below.

Since 2007 and particularly through the recent provincial election, the Ontario Liberals have committed to provide 100% capital funding for rapid transit in Hamilton, based on Council's will. I'm eager to work with the Province on fleshing out the details around how to keep that funding commitment and complete the LRT in a timely fashion."

Thanks, Brian Sam Merulla (Ward 4) I strongly support LRT and will continue to focus my efforts and energy on issues that are tangibly before us for discussion. I look forward to continuing to aggressively lobby the province to implement the funding strategy for LRT that was offered by the Province of Ontario and unanimously supported by Hamilton City Council accordingly.

Chad Collins (Ward 5) Hi Kristel, I favour the Toronto funding model where the Province paid 100% of the costs. As such, my answer is No. Thank you.

Tom Jackson (Ward 6) Thanks Kristel for the opportunity to reply. To your singular question, my answer is..."NO". Hope this helps and bye for now, Councillor Jackson.....

Russ Powers (Ward 13) I support BRT so my answer to your question is NO.

Judi Partridge (Ward 15) To your question, the short answer is no I would not be supportive of spending Hamilton municipal taxpayers dollars on Light Rail Transit if requested by the Province.

C O CK T A I L S W I T H K B

PORTRAIT by Diana Romanello; next page photos by Linda MICHELLE

Linda Michelle

One of my favourite things to do is have a cocktail with a friend, or someone who will become a friend by the time the glass is empty. Cocktails with KB is a monthly column that allows you to get to know some of Hamilton’s most exciting people!

So, pour yourself a cocktail and enjoy!

When I first came across Linda Michelle’s photography, I was so excited. Her unique perspective on the places and spaces in our beautiful city made me stop in my tracks.

She often displays her beautiful photographs on art crawl nights, frequently at Julia Veenstra’s studio. Her work is also available at The Hamilton Store (165 James Street North) in a giftware line; artcards, mini prints & a smaller 4-photo collage mounted print of the Hamilton Tall Ships and the four seasons of Gore Park).

I had the privilege of sitting and chatting with her over aperol spritz cocktails at Aberdeen Tavern.

the fact that I know that it’s for a reason, a bigger purpose than just business. Also, it’s dear to my heart.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

To be real, to be one of a kind, to not be afraid of who I actually am.

What do you want your audience to take away from your work?

A new perspective of the city. The fact that Hamilton has been known for so many years as a steel city, just being able to have people see a new identity for the city. I want them to walk away with inspiration and a new vision for what’s in the city.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?

Photography wise; the timing of certain things happening, a bird flying, or a bus getting in the picture right as I’m taking it, and the colour of it goes with the colour of the background.

What’s the best thing about 2014?

Graduating from the business program at Mohawk. It was a two-year program that I put a lot of time into. Now that it’s done, I’m excited to see what comes from that. Having the opportunity to get back into the art crawl scene again has been great. I am usually a guest artist with Julia Veenstra, so that’s been amazing.

Why Hamilton?

I grew up here for most of my life. I love the beauty of the city and being able to capture it. I love seeing how much has changed over the years. I’ve been here since I was three, we lived on the mountain but I’ve been down in the north end for the last eight years or so and just seeing the change on James Street over the years has been mind-blowing and

What do you think makes a memorable photograph?

Being able to capture it in a way that might not just be appealing to me, thinking about my market, seeing it in a different way that people would normally see it in. A lot of people just drive by a building and they don’t look up.

So many people ask where my photos are from, they don’t even recognize that it’s Hamilton, because the photos are often taken looking up, or from a different angle.

What’s the best thing about what you do?

Being able to meet so many people through what I do. I am a people person, I love being around people. You just run into so many people taking photos downtown. Making connections and networking. I love taking photos, I’m passionate about it but I am more passionate about the people I meet and putting a custom piece together for them of how they want it because that’s something I know not a lot of people offer. To offer a custom collage of 16 or 22 or even 4 photos that mean something to them, that’s something that gets me excited.

What’s the worst thing about what you do?

When I can't take my daily walk to post my #hamont photo of the day.

Why do you take photos?

How it all started was, I used to do errands downtown when

I worked in the legal field. I had to do court filing and the banking, all of that. I got my iPhone in 2010, I would just be looking up and I was amazed at what I was seeing. It was before Instagram became popular, so I would just edit my photos in there and post them to Twitter. I didn’t realize people were following me. I was working full time while I was doing this. In May of 2012, I got laid off from my job. I was sitting with a close group of friends one day for lunch and one of them suggested “You should really do something with photography, you really have an eye for it” and so I thought about it. At the end of June, I launched my first website and it just snowballed from there. I got to create my first coffee table book in September 2012. Then, that fall, Radius had requested some of my photos and I explained they were iPhone photos and they couldn’t be blown up so I’m restricted to the size. That’s when the collage idea started and the mounted prints started. So, to answer your question, it’s because I really love taking photos and it’s not like a job to me, it’s actually part of who I am.

When you’re out shooting, how much is instinctual versus planned?

I would say 80% of it is instinctual. A lot of it is not planned. It’s only planned when clients of mine have requested certain photos be taken for them. My next coffee table book is going to be of Ottawa Street, so when I get out there, that’s going to be planned. A lot of my shots are just in the moment.

KRISTEL BULTHUIS is the Manager of Operations in the MGI Media Team.

Producer of the Cable 14's weekly program OUR CITY and Assistant Festival Director of the Hamilton 24-Hour Film Festival. Get in touch at kristel@urbanicity.ca

LIGHTNING ROUND On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about life?

10 B est gift yo u ’v e e v er re c ei v e d ?

My Canon camera

How d o yo u lik e yo u r coffee ? Regular; brown sugar and 1 milk What is yo u r favo u rite a cti v ity i n Hamilton ?

Going to the Bayfront Favourite Band?

Bastille

Favo u rite solo artist ?

I am loving Katy Perry’s new album Prism P erso n yo u wan t to hav e coffee with?

Sandra Bullock A boo k yo u pla n o n read i n g ? Inkchanger by Ellie DiJulio (a local artist).

It’s based in Hamilton, so I’m really excited to read it.

What d o yo u lov e o n

Feta cheese, pineapple and chicken.

a pi zza?

Dolphin s or koalas ?

Dolphins Favo u rite colou r ?

Purple L east favo u rite colou r ?

Brown B est way to d e compress?

Turning on inspirational worship music.

Weir d est wor d i n the E n glish la n g uage ?

Tangled If yo u r life was a son g , what wo u l d the title be ?

Light up my world #HamOnt through Linda Michelle's eyes. Website: www.lindamichellephoto.com Twitter: @_LindaMichelle Instagram: _LindaMichelle

10 | JULY 2014

OPEN DOORS

Jackson Square — the Park 100 King Street West Anthony Butler 1972

A DD R E S S :

ope n e d :

It can be accessed from all four of its surrounding streets: King, James, York and Bay. It sits at the foot of Stelco Tower, the Robert Thompson building, the Sheraton Hotel and the Standard Life building with convenient access from each. It has entrances to Jackson Square, the Hamilton Public Library Central Branch, and the Downtown City Centre. And yet, it is a dramatically under-utilized park space — more frequently used as a smoking area for the workers, students and patrons of those buildings than anything else.

Owned, operated and maintained by Jackson Square, the Jackson Square Rooftop is one of the largest and most central parks in the downtown core — right next to the "booming" James Street North neighbourhood. Why does it go comparatively untouched?

It could be because Gore Park, located kitty corner to Jackson Square’s rooftop, receives the attention of the Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement Area. It’s central location and regular BIA programming make it a naturally busy space. Jackson Square’s forgotten rooftop park does not fall into the jurisdiction of any BIA. It could also be that it's hidden behind tall buildings.

Scott Summerhayes After moving to Hamilton in 2011 to study journalism at Mohawk College, Scott quickly became a keen member of the city’s media community.

Currently, Scott works for MGI Media and sits on the executive board of the Hamilton Media Guild as their Events and Workshops Coordinator.

photos by scott summerhayes

ARCHITECT:

URBANICITY.CA

It wouldn't be crude to assume that many young Hamiltonians have never seen the park, or even know it's there.

Of course, it could be the environment. The Jackson Square rooftop is not designated as a public park by the City and is maintained by Jackson Square, therefore it does not have to adhere to the 2012 Smoke-free Parks and Recreation Properties bylaw said Kevin McDonald, Manager with Hamilton Public Health Services.

The area frequently is populated by smokers while taking their breaks, and the ground is littered with cigarette butts.

There's no art; there are only a few picnic tables clustered off in one corner, and while there is some

vegetation, there is only one grassy courtyard overlooking a performance pavilion. There are only a few thin trees, so one can only find shade when a building's shadow falls over them.

But maybe things are starting to look up for this forlorn park space after all.

This summer, the park will be host to two festivals.

From July 3rd to 6th the Latvian Song Festival is coming back to Hamilton and will operate a daily community showcase on the Jackson Square Rooftop. Also, for the first time, the Hamilton Beer Festival, running from August 22nd to 23rd, will be hosted on the Jackson Square Rooftop — an event that shows a lot of

people pulling promise.

Also, the opening of McMaster's new downtown offices and continuing education facility, set to be complete by the end of 2014, has excellent access to the park. Jocelyne Mainville, Leasing Manager for Jackson Square is hopeful that the addition of students and graduates to the park will increase its recognition.

Mainville is sure of the endless possibilities the Jackson Square Rooftop has – festivals, events, vendors, live music. However, she said right now, she's more concerned about trying to increase the indoor occupancy of Jackson Square’s 1.4 million square feet of office and retail space.

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© EDAN/123RF.COM

12 | JULY 2014

The Nelson Mandela statue outside The Victor-Verster Prison, South Africa.

e x perie n c es

Differences And the grace to accept them Six months ago Nelson Mandela passed away. We all I was packing for the trip, for the special day, that when know his story, his inspirational story and if you don’t, you the invitations said ‘suit’ it meant ‘SUIT’ which meant my should. In summary it is a long and fascinating story, but to good ‘suit’ wasn’t good enough. And I had to buy a new most the salient points were he was born one and be treated like a child. And with in 1918, arrested in 1962, convicted of cona SUIT, obviously comes shoes. The battle spiracy to overthrow the state and there he lines were drawn — I wasn’t buying, and I What I didn’t stayed for 27 years. Apartheid. Five years wasn’t going if I was going to embarrass later he was President of South Africa. know was that there the family with ‘those shoes’. Luckily an He spoke for change, he was willing to is still apparently a Uncle had a spare pair of shoes; luckier go to jail for change; he was likely willing still, he considered himself a dandy. caste system. to die for change. The fact that there are What I didn’t know was that there is real examples, real people out there who still apparently a caste system. we can see, we can touch, we can listen to “What do you think of the shoes – never should make a difference. Yet humanity still struggles. worn anything like them before have you?”

I went to England recently and the plan was to attend The question bothered me more than it should have. It a wedding, a family wedding. You think coming from Canirked me. It made me angry and while I bit my tongue my ada might be good enough, but what I didn’t know when mind was swirling with caustic responses. I could feel my

“ ”

face flush. I could feel my blood pressure rise, although; can you really feel your blood pressure rise? Perhaps, truth be told, that’s a polite metaphor for ‘I want to cuff the person talking to me’, to strangle them, to make them feel so small they will never again crawl out of their hole.

I’m not above such thoughts. To actually put such words to paper, to have such feelings should be an embarrassment, I should be mortified, humbled, but perhaps I’ll call it therapeutic, just so I can justify the raw emotions. Too bad its family, too bad he’s my elder, too bad the setting, a wedding, wasn’t conducive to an argument, a fight. I’d been brewing for a couple days. One of my faults; I stew, I analyse, I dissect; I play the scenarios over and over ensuring the upper hand should someone respond to my wrath.

My anger.

“What do you think of the shoes – never worn anything like them before have you?”

While the phrase in isolation is simple enough, the pretext is complex. Evolution. Generations. Cultures. Cultures divided. Cultures fractured. Progress? Ideals, morals, values, principles — too deep? Have I gone too far? Likely.

But, the issue is at the core of who we are as a human race.

When will we listen to others? When will respect each other? Each other’s differences? When will we respect others cultures? When we walk in their shoes? Ah, I did walk in their shoes, and therein lays the problem. I didn’t like theirs and they didn’t like mine.

Is it the shoes, or the man in the shoes that counts?

Apparently, at least at this social function, this weekend, this moment, it was about the shoes. And that just isn’t right.

Is the difference between a sport jacket and a suit jacket worth belittling someone? Demeaning them? Humiliating them? Worth crushing their spirit? Granted, I am generally not the most dapper dresser, but my clothes are clean and I don’t mix stripes with paisley. The issue here is, being judged on how you look, not who you are. And that just isn’t right.

Where does it end? Where does it start?

Saris, dashikis, burqas, yarmulke, taqiyahs, thobes, turbans, kilts, native headdresses, jeans and T-shirts … Are these not things to celebrate? To understand? To learn their history? Their social significance? Their religious significance? Their beauty? Can we not rejoice in our differences? What a terrible place to be if everyone was like me. Or if everyone wore the same shoes.

As we walk down the street we judge others. I had not thought of this before. It had never crossed my mind that I was judging others, that I was being critical of others.

Haughty. Superior. Better. Critical because they weren’t normal. Critical, they weren’t typical, regular or standard.

Sometimes I thought I was lesser, not up to the Jones.

Critical. Critical that they were different; critical because they weren’t like me.

I never thought about this until someone judged me and I didn’t like it. Someone was disapproving of me because I was different. There’s a lesson to be learned here for the next time, and unfortunately, make no mistake, there will be a next time and I hope I will react with grace, maturity and understanding. Wouldn’t that be a great place to start?

Wouldn’t Nelson be proud?

S. John Thomas spent four years in England before moving to Hamilton and has been living within a 40 km radius of downtown ever since. While most of these years were spent on the fringe, he recently moved to the 'core' where he is immersing himself in the city with his wonderful wife.

photos by Stephanie Lechniak

Inside Auchmar.

H A UN T E D H A M I L T O N

, The Spirited Past of Buchanan s Auchmar Estate Isaac Buchanan was once referred to as being a man ahead of his time. If somehow, he could see what his beloved Auchmar Estate has become, would this be reason enough to want to go back in time and change the past? Can walls re-build themselves?

Can new life be breathed into the now vacant hallways that once housed so many souls?

THE CASTLE ON THE MOUNTAIN At one time, a beautifully landscaped garden and captivating architectural features used to lend beauty to the old manor on the mountain simply known as Auchmar. It was named after Isaac Buchanan’s family estate in Loch Lomond, Scotland. Buchanan (1810-1883) was a well-respected and prominent merchant and¬ politician not only here in Hamilton, but throughout Canada.

During his time, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly for both Toronto and Hamilton, helping to establish the Free Church of Scotland in Canada West. He was instrumental in setting up the Board of Trade right here in Hamilton and also served as director in the Great Western Railway. And if that wasn’t enough, Buchanan served as first commanding officer of the local 13th Militia Regiment (now the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry). Somehow he also found time to raise a family of 11 children with his wife Agnes.

Between 1852 and 1854, Isaac and Agnes built Auchmar together. A 2-storey Gothic manor located on the corner of Fennell Ave. and West 5th, currently tucked behind tall trees and crumbling stone walls that have seen better days. It has been called the “Dundurn Castle of the Mountain” but I prefer to think that Auchmar gained its own prestige due to its noteworthy history and unique past that certainly makes it an esteemed home worth preserving.

Many notable and dignified guests contributed to the allure of Auchmar, including Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, Pope John Paul II and the Prince of Wales (who would later become King Henry VII). Horse-drawn carriages transported the exclusive and elite up the escarpment, and beyond the orchard-lined laneway that led to the front steps of the mansion.

Lavish dinners aside, Buchanan’s political career distracted him from his failing

business interests and he was forced to sell Auchmar in order move to a more modest home on James Street South. All the while his cherished former home on the mountain sat dark and empty with nothing left but the forgotten ghosts to occupy it. Isaac received a government appointment in 1879 which sustained him through his later years, until his death in October 1883 at the age of 73.

Several years after Isaac Buchanan’s death, Auchmar was sold to a Military man from India named Captain Trigg. One of the first items on his agenda was to convert the grand ballroom which once housed lavish parties into a spiritual setting where church services could be held every Sunday.

Auchmar returned to the Buchanan family in 1900 when Isaac’s fourth son James purchased it back from Trigg. James lived there with two of his sisters, Elsie and Helen until 1926, when it was sold to Alan Vernon Young, a local textile manufacturer. Upon her death in 1951, Helen Buchanan was the last surviving family member, thus ending the legendary Buchanan legacy at Auchmar Estate.

The home became a rehabilitation hospital in 1926 when the Royal Canadian Air Force rented it from the Young’s. Almost 20 years later, in 1945 with the War over, the Hungarian Sisters of Social Service purchased the property for $32,000. They made an add-on dormitory that served as a religious retreat and spiritual centre until 1999 when Auchmar was officially purchased by the City of Hamilton.

And this is where one chapter of Auchmar’s story comes to an end, and another one just begins. “million-dollar castle” that has now for a second time endeared and initiated the rebirth of a City.

Here we are, a century later with plans underway to offer a place to live for anyone who wishes to call the Royal Connaught their permanent home… and that includes the ghosts too!

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“The Place Must Be Haunted!”

As with any old mansion, if it sits there empty long enough, word gets around that “the place must be haunted!” Stories are stirred, tales are twisted and legend becomes truth. The unusual thing about Auchmar is that nobody really talked about its ghosts, not until recently at least.

Growing up in Hamilton, I remember it being popular conviction that the creepy old mansion hidden behind the trees on West 5th was haunted! My school bus would drive past it quite often and I would press my face against the cold glass window just to try and catch a glimpse of one of the manor windows beyond the trees. And just as I thought I saw something (did that curtain just move??) the bus would start driving again and my fleeting moment to see a real-live ghost was gone.

Differentiating Auchmar from your typical haunted location is that it seems to house ghosts from various generations. There are several strong spirits present in the building, some more prominent than others. It is these entities that have a story to tell, and perhaps now is the ideal time to share them.

Stirring up the ghosts…

One of the most common reasons a spirit will haunt a home is because it is a place that they lived in and loved. When new owners come in to their space and change things from how they knew it, feathers are ruffled and patience is tested on both sides (living or otherworldly).

You may be frustrated because your kitchen cabinets always open on their own, or your ring has gone missing only to appear days later in a completely different place from where you had left it. Both perfect examples from true, real-life paranormal cases that I’ve personally worked on.

This could be a valid reason why Auchmar is reputed to be so haunted. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that most of the reports coincide with instances of renovations, repairs or visual changes to the building, both inside and out. So it isn’t a far stretch to assume that the heavy cosmetic changes and faux details made to Auchmar during filming at the mansion definitely stirred up the ghosts! The popular Canadian “Harry Potter-esque” TV show “Black Hole High” (aka Strange Days at Blake Holsey High) was filmed here from 2002 – 2006 and this is where many of the ghost stories come from. Or at least ones that people were willing to talk about.

Quiet!! Ghosts on the set!!

Back when Black Hole High started airing on NBC and Discovery Kids here in Canada, a public discussion forum was created specifically for just this TV Show. Filming locations started to be discussed and Auchmar was brought up. More specifically, its ghosts.

Apparently numerous actors and crew alike started having strange experiences, many of them sounding eerily similar! At first, people were catching glimpses of shadows dodging past them while standing in the main hallway on the first floor, until occurrences like that escalated into full-fledged apparitions. One incident tells of two crew members that were carrying some rather heavy equipment from the basement up to the main floor. Just as they reached the final step before the main floor landing, they both looked up to witness a little girl standing there above them in a beautiful vintage dress, only to vanish into thin air a few seconds later.

Staff and crew reported hearing shrilling sounds of a young girl screaming, while others claimed that they heard a young girl giggling and laughing within close proximity.

A full crew of set designers heard a scream from the second floor, but when they ran upstairs to check, the entire floor was empty with not a soul in sight.

Years ago, a local woman recounted her creepy tale about the time she visited Auchmar as a child with her father, an aspiring politician who had been invited to take a tour of the building just after the Nuns moved out.

She ventured off from her father to explore on her own and found herself standing on the second floor of the mansion when suddenly, from the other end of the hallway she heard the soft giggle of a child, almost sounding like another little girl. She just stood there and distinctly remembers hearing the giggles getting closer and closer until suddenly she heard a voice whisper “play with me” right in her ear. It frightened her enough to quickly run down the stairs and jump into her father’s arms to recount the experience!

Much credit can also be given to my friend Jeff Mahoney, columnist for The Hamilton Spectator, who in 2002 first shed some light on the ghosts of Auchmar by interviewing the cast from Black Hole High. One notable quote comes from actor Lawrence Bayne, who played the devilish Victor Pearson. He simply had this to say when questioned about the ghosts: "Well, you tell me, how does a door that is locked and bolted suddenly swing open in the middle of the night?"

The Ghostly Nun in the Basement Mitchell T. Ness, Director for several episodes of Strange Days at Blake Holsey High, was very open about his paranormal experiences at Auchmar, along with the stories he has heard from others. The following is his account as relayed to Haunted-Hamilton years ago, and probably one of the most spine-tingling reports to ever come out of Auchmar: “For one of our episodes, we built an old furnace in the basement (the furnace caught a cold and blew snot all over!).

Part of our effects team, Sean and Gary, were down there one day in the middle of the afternoon.

Sean left for a short break and when coming back he saw Gary running up towards him. He took the stairs two at a time and almost ran him down.

“Going For a smoke”, he replied when Sean asked, and Sean thought nothing of it.

A white figure moved past him in the distance, slowly moving across the hall into another room. It was obviously female and moved in the air with no feet. Sean froze on the spot and tried to make sense of what he’d just seen.

When his legs came back to life, Sean ran out of the basement. Outside he found Gary and confirmed what had spooked him. They agreed the apparition looked like a

nun. They both noticed that she had no feet and seemed to float along the stone floor.

After agreeing on what they saw, it confirmed that this wasn’t one of those crazy moments due to all the late nights.”

SO WHAT NOW? There are many reasons why a spirit is prone to unrest, but in circumstances like this I can’t help but think that the spirit of Isaac Buchanan MUST be haunting Auchmar too.

After all, he has a very good reason to be!

Crumbling walls, peeling paint and sinking structures, all amidst a home that sits at the mercy of Mother Nature and well, plain old time.

There she stands, tall and proud at the corner of a soon-to-be bustling intersection where the new St. Joe’s Healthcare hospital now stands. Auchmar is a building that has stood the test of time and is currently recognized by the Ontario Heritage Trust as having significant historical value. It’s just waiting for the perfect person to come in and breathe a brand new life into her.

Hamilton City councillors recently turned down a proposed offer from a secret non-profit organization that wanted to negotiate a private offer behind closed doors.

Why so secretive? It’s that mentality that is going to push Auchmar further away from the community, regardless of how amazing the proposal might have been.

I wish I could say this secret offer was mine, with the grand proposal of turning it into a Museum devoted entirely to Hamilton’s history… featuring a uniquely spooky twist, of course!

And hey, if there are any investors out there, or folks with bucket-loads (more like bushel-loads!) of pennies they want to spare, give me a ring!

Until then, Auchmar stands overlooking a City that hasn’t quite given up on her just yet.

Stay Spooky Hamilton!

Stephanie Lechniak is Founder and Owner of Haunted-Hamilton, a strangely unique business that operates Haunted Tours and Bus Trips to spooky locations all over Canada and the US. Stephanie is also Host & Producer of “Haunted Hamilton’s Ghost Stories” on Cable 14 and “The Haunted Hamilton Radio Show” on 93.3 FM CFMU. She has also appeared on OLN’s “Creepy Canada” and YTV’s “Ghost Trackers”. www.Haunted-Hamilton.com www.facebook.com/HauntedHamilton

16 | JULY 2014

The

URBAN DINING GUIDE Guess what? We’ve finally launched our own dining guide!

Readers: We’re excited to offer you our new dining guide as a source of inspiration for those evenings you’re looking to try something new.

If it’s on our pages, you can be sure we’ve vetted it, and that we’ve come away impressed!

Restaurateurs: If you’re looking to promote your hot new spot to a large urban audience that likes to be out and about, here’s your chance! Not only do you get a generous printed ad for a low cost, you also receive an online profile on the new urbanicity.ca!

For advertising inquiries please email ads@urbanicity.ca

Bistro Parisien Located at 150 James Street South, Hamilton in the heart of the Durand neighbourhood, a transformed stone terrace home lends its graceful elegance to the Bistro. Chef Steven Soloduk leads our team of talented chefs as they cook authentic, thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented bistro fare for lunch and dinner.

Closed Tuesdays.

150 James Street South www.bistroparisien.com 905 546-0003

One Duke Restaurant and Lounge One Duke is exactly there — 1 Duke Street, Hamilton, Ontario. It is a family-run business that provides the freshest local ingredients from the Hamilton Farmers Market and all aspects that support the community and City of Hamilton. This allows One Duke to offer an alwayschanging menu of the finest of foods and drinks in season — and specializing in raw oysters. If the doors are open, the kitchen is open, always. Stop by One Duke’s comfortable patio this summer to enjoy a relaxing, friendly environment.

Jack & Lois Jack & Lois is friendly diner, with delicious, fresh food and decent service. We are also a hidden, 80 person licensed, patio. We are also friends with Merlin Olsen.

Come check us out 301 James St. N., where everything tastes like food!

301 James Street North jackandlois.com | @jackandlois1 facebook.com/Jackandlois

152 King Street West thegeorgehamilton.com www.facebook.com/pages/TheGeorge-Hamilton/35518516452 3936?ref=br_tf

1 Duke Street, Hamilton, Ontario oneduke.ca | @onedukeresto facebook.com/onedukehamilton

Burrito Boyz Burrito Boyz is a fine Mexican restaurant located in gore park. They serve burritos and quesadillas and are open late night on weekends.

The portions are big but the prices are small. The staff are friendly and fast, and the food is delicious. Dine in and take out available.

66 King Street East burritoboyz.ca @bboyzhamont

The George Hamilton Affordable quality in the heart of downtown Hamilton. If you're sick and tired of pre-packaged franchise food at places with a pre-packaged franchise feel... welcome to your new home. The George Hamilton features quality, house-made food, a cozy atmosphere, and down-toearth prices. Cocktails at the bar?

We do that. Casual dining? We do that. Office lunches? We do that.

Family dinner? We have a great kids menu. Private room? How about a private bar? Yep, we do that too.

Made for You by Madeleine "At Madeleine, our baking is delicious AND good for you. By stonegrinding organic grain on site, our unique process yields flour with all its natural nutrients and flavour. We invite you to visit our open-kitchen bakery for a treat!"

51 King William Street, Hamilton 289-389-5100 www.bymadeleine.ca

Aberdeen Tavern Aberdeen Tavern is a big city dining experience, steeped in warm hospitality set in a beautiful old bank setting. With comfort food as our primary focus, Chef Nathaniel Beattie works closely with local farmers and sustainable food importers to ensure the highest of quality is never compromised. We offer a wonderful selection of vintage cocktails made with fresh squeezed juices, along with a broad selection of wine both by the glass and bottle.

432 Aberdeen Ave 905-523-7707 theaberdeen.com

Two Black Sheep We offer light fare of oysters, with a variety of garnishes; charcuterie and salumi; a selection of cheeses; and other offerings of pickled vegetables and crisps. We have wine that you will love and cocktails that aren't typical. Our favourite beers are served by the bottle.

163 John Street South 905-525-1001 twoblacksheep.ca

Baci Ristorante For those craving inspirational Italian cuisine you're in for a treat at Baci Ristorante is the place to indulge the senses. Masterful wood oven pizza, pasta and veal dishes will be complimented by a wide selection of premium Tuscan, California and Niagara wines. All five senses will be taken for a memorable adventure when you join us at Baci Ristorante!

1530 Stonechurch Road 905-381-9811 | baciristorante.ca

Visit urbanicity.ca for our full list of restaurants and reviews.

Fisher’s Eatery and Sports Lounge At Fisher's Pier we do it right: fresh food, friendly staff, and an atmosphere you'll want to come back to.

Our newly renovated bar and dining room makes for a great experience whether you want to come with the family or watch the game. Come see for yourself!

544 James Street North (905)-526-9622 www.fisherspier.com

Rapscallion At Rapscallion, we have a love for food and pushing the limits. Our skilled and passionate chefs will do it all, whether it's curing, salting, boning, stuffing, wrapping, charring, braising or just leaving the meat raw.

We get a joy out of food and offer our guests menu items that they are unlikely to find at other local restaurants such as: oxtail, and pig's head.

61 Young Street 905-522-0088 rapscallionrestaurant.com

For advertising inquiries please email ads@urbanicity.ca

18 | JULY 2014

> PLUG

URBANICITY.CA

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TED

Y E ARS O L D

FOUNDING YEAR

ge nerations of one family that have wor k ed in the Mar ket DATE W INE STARTS SELLING IN MAR K E T

people V I S I T the M ar k et every w eek

VE NDORS

photos by scott summerhayes

Comm u n ity G rou ps have u se d the Commu n ity Kit chen

Commu n ity G rou ps u se the k itchen e very mon th

parti c ipa n ts to date i n the Kids Coo k i n g at the M ark et P rogram