04 | MAY 2014
 FROM THE
PEOPLE I commend you for the amazing way you handled your transition note. It was kind, real, and effective. Well done and a tribute to both of you...a very rare occurrence in this day and age. I wish you continued great success. Best wishes, Judy Marsales I remember working with Reg on some Urbanicity design stuff back in its infancy. Reg has an amazing passion for this City and some kick-ass photos to prove it! Best of luck in everything you do Reg!! Stephanie Lechniak
WRITE, EMAIL, TWEET. We want to hear from you! Each month, the FROM THE PEOPLE section will display letters to the Editor. In order to be accepted, letters must include valid contact information and the full name of the writer. Letters are printed as received without editing. Send your letters to: editor@urbanicity.ca @urbanicityYHM facebook.com/urbanicityhamilton urbanicity, April 2014
06 | MAY 2014
STYLE
Suits for Sophisticates A look at spring trends for professional urban menswear Men’s clothing styles are not immune to the winds of fashion, but they sway far less in the breezes that keep women’s fashions constantly changing. Over the last several years the most fashion forward men’s wear has had a 60’s look – something like the clothing worn in television’s popular Mad Men. Jackets have become trimmer, shorter, narrower in the shoulders and sleeves; flat fronted trousers have lost an inch or so in the thigh, and cuffs have all but disappeared. If you want to buy the most aggressively and fashionably styled suit this spring, the tightest one in your size with the narrowest lapels is what you are looking for. The influence of a trimmer shorter jacket and trim trousers will be felt in the Coppley apparel offerings. Hamilton based, the Coppley name has been synonymous with fine clothing since 1883. Recently, a succession of owners has muddied the clarity of the vision of the company. Today the company has a much clearer focus. Now owned by American clothing giant, Individualised Apparel Group (IAG), the Coppley division is the most fashion forward in a group of companies. As part of that group, the Hamilton manufacturer’s product is sold by over 500 retailers across North America. While aiming at a fashionable younger client, the firm’s goal is to be the tailored clothing maker that men with style will desire. Made to provide years of wear, their clothing avoids the most extreme looks, but does offer a range of products that can be comfortably worn by the executive as well as a younger man who wants the best. Describing in words what the accompanying picture shows is difficult, but numbers help. At the beginning of this century, a size 40 suit from Coppley (their most popular brand name then was Cambridge) was 30 ½ inches
long, the width of the shoulders was about 19 ½ and the trousers were pleated, and notched lapels were 3 ¼ inches wide. Today’s most aggressive suit coat is 29 ½ inches long, less than 18 inches wide at the shoulders and lapels are an inch narrower. Those measurements may not sound like a huge difference, but they are. The difference between a suit for someone standing 5’ 9” compared to a man who is 6’ 3” is only 1 ½ inches and the shoulder widths would need a difference of at least 3 sizes in traditional models. The new look is great! It is younger, hipper, and sexier. And you should keep that in mind when you are adding to your wardrobe this spring. The trimmer influence will be felt for several years. But, the pendulum of men’s fashion swings in a pretty narrow arc. The hottest brand in forward fashion men’s suits today is Tom Ford. Ford’s fall line-up is showing a much wider shoulder, trousers are single-pleated, slightly wider peak lapels on single-breasted suits are ubiquitous, the jacket waist will still look too tight to a traditional eye. Even though Ford (and Coppley) are suggesting that for fall of 2014 a retro influence will be felt, it will still look different from the old suit hanging in your closet. Jacket waist lines are still trimmer, 2-button suits remain the norm, and the movement back to pleated trousers is not even on the horizon of most men’s wear shops. If you want to look fashionable but want your suit to still look great three years from now, this coming fall’s silhouette will be a retreat from this spring’s most extreme looks. How about fabric selection? George Lindsay, President of Sales and Merchandiser for Coppley, is betting that the Italian fabric mills are, as usual, the arbiters of what will be worn by discriminating men. Subtle and not so subtle
checks will continue to be popular this spring and next fall. Jewel tones will be in the weaves, often subtly behind the predominant grey and softer blue tones. For the most practical men, solid grey and navy to midnight blue suits are always in style. Many men find change abhorrent. They are afraid of standing out in the crowd. But, they are also often afraid of looking as if they haven’t been successful enough to afford to update their wardrobe. One compromise is to keep one’s business attire more traditional while picking a more fashionable garment in a sport jacket or blazer so that they can look sharp on the weekend. What about business casual? While a more relaxed look for business is still popular, men are finding that people they work with are more respectful and deferential to men who dress for success. Coppley suit styles can be seen online at www.coppley. com and may be purchased in Hamilton at The Villager in Westdale, and Westbrooke of Ancaster. By the way, if you want or need a more custom garment, Coppley has one of, if not the fastest delivery times in the world for better men’s clothing - usually less than ten business days.
MARVIN CAPLAN was the proprietor of Marvin Caplan Gentlemen's Apparel a forward fashion, high quality men's clothing store in downtown Hamilton from 1978 until 2003. He served on City Council representing Ward 1 for 9 years. He is now a Real Estate Broker with Coldwell Banker Pinnacle Real Estate where he works with his wife Judi as "the Caplan Team". Marvin can be reached at marvincaplan@gmail.com
IMAGES COURTESY OF COPPLEY APPAREL GROUP
© KUZMA/123RF.COM
08 | MAY 2014
HUMOUR
The (Real) Juvenile Judiciary Mark Coakley reflects on the art law of parenting Having given up my law license a few years ago, I am not first initial M. Those papers are a notice of injunction, allowed anymore to call myself a “lawyer” nor to represent restraining you from claiming proprietary rights over prepeople in legal matters, under threat of severe penalty. tending to be Iron Man. I suggest you consult with a chilWell, don’t tell the Law Society of Ontario, but despite dren’s lawyer of your own.” their rules, I am still working in the field — practicing “But I was the first one to call being Iron Man!” “children’s law.” “Technically, that’s correct. But you knew, or should By that, I don’t mean the parts of family law that involve have known, that there are several different Iron Man suits. custody or the children’s aid society. I’m not an official Approximately seven different Iron Man suits, according children’s lawyer, who goes into family court and tells the to our expert. You have the right to call being Iron Man in judge the point of view of children and argues on their one of his suits, true, but not to call to be Iron Man in genbehalf. No, I used to do work like that; now, I’m glad to eral, regardless of what suit he wears. Your call was overlyhave left the depressing and sleazy world broad and thus, res ispa lollipop, invalid. of family court behind me, forever. Your call to be Iron Man does not prevent A stay-at-home dad, I don’t deal with my client from calling to be Iron Man in a A stay-at-home the laws ABOUT kids — but with the laws different suit, you must admit.” dad, I don't deal USED BY kids. “Waah!” with the laws Most adults will recognize a few of the Thoroughly out-lawyered, Kid #1 starts ancient maxims of children’s law, such as to cry as Kid #2, smirking, starts pretendABOUT kids — “finders keepers, losers weepers” [coning to be Iron Man. but with the laws cerning property law] and “the one who Also successful on the issue of costs, I USED BY kids. smelt it, dealt it” [air pollution] and “I’m get my legal fees and disbursements paid telling!” [appeals to a higher jurisdiction.] by Kid #1 — he has to hand me a big zipBut there’s so much more to children’s loc baggie full of assorted Lego blocks, plus law than that. One of my specialties, as a children’s lawyer, two of his best Yu-Gi-Oh! cards. is representing kids in disputes over “calling.” For examI shake Kid #2’s hand and walk out. Another satisfied ple, if two kids are sitting on the sofa watching an Iron client. Man cartoon, Kid #1 may say, “I call being Iron Man!” As a To give another example, kids often get into rotten-eggresult of this calling, Kid #1 has the exclusive right to prerelated disputes that can only be resolved through litigatend to be Iron Man for the duration of the TV show, with tion. Kid #1 yells out something like, “Last one to the door an option to extend the call even further — while Kid #2, is a rotten egg!” They all start running towards the door. if he or she wants to pretend too, must say, “I call being …” When Kid #2 realizes that there is no way that he or she and name a character other than Iron Man, who’d already will be able to run fast enough to get to the door before Kid been called. If Kid #2 really wants to be the one pretend#1, he or she may seek my advice, which would be for Kid ing to be Iron Man, not the villain or Ms. Pepper Potts or #2 to yell, “First is the worst!” the Mayor, and is disgruntled enough to hire me, I’d stride By that statement, the rules of the contest are immediinto the TV room in my suit and tie, dropping a pile of staately and substantially revised, so that the first one to the pled papers onto Kid #1’s lap, who’ll usually say something door would be, in both fact and law, the rotten egg. like, “Who are you?” and I’ll say, “The name is Coakley, Nine times out of ten, that will the resolve the issue in
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my client’s favour. However, when Kid #1 happens to have a children’s lawyer of their own, Kid #1 may be advised to yell, “Reversi!” That has the effect of reversing my client’s statement of “First is the worst,” which brings the situation back to the status quo, in which my client is in actual jeopardy. “What do I do now, Counsellor?” Kid #2 will desperately ask of me. I say, “Yell out, ‘Bounce-Back’!” So my client follows my instructions. The statement causes Kid #1’s shout of “Reversi!” to literally bounce back at him or her, thus reversing Kid #1’s reversi and re-instating Kid #2’s shout of “First is the worst!” With the first person to touch the door to be declared a rotten egg, Kid #1 will be forced to not touch it — thus preventing Kid #2 from losing. Kid #2 says, “Thanks again, Counsellor!” and gives me three half-eaten candy-canes and a Minecraft doll. I also do some human-rights work too; for example, representing somebody’s little sister or brother when the bigger kids are picking teams for a game but nobody will pick the little sister or brother, who feels left out. I know how hurtful that can be. Together, let’s move past the pain — to lasting justice. If you are under the age of seven-and-a-half and find yourself in a legal dispute, call me. If you cannot afford to pay my retainer with toys or candy, then Legal Aid (i.e. toys or candy from your parents) is accepted. Call now for a free consultation! Yes, I do daycare-calls.
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
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PHOTO BY KENNETH MOYLE, FLICKR.COM
MAY 2014
Escaping the bustle of urban life for a tranquil paddle through Cootes Paradise.
ENVIRONMENT
The Dundas EcoPark Green space is more than an environmental investment The Dundas EcoPark can have a significant impact on the guidelines that must be considered. Through eco-tourism identity of Hamilton as a sustainable city. Having such an Hamilton could build environmental and cultural awareimpressive piece of green space in a densely populated ness and respect, provide positive experiences for both area is a rare accomplishment in an era of urban develguests and hosts, provide direct financial benefits for conopment. The EcoPark can send a message that the city of servation, provide financial benefits and empowerment Hamilton does value natural systems. The EcoPark is an for local people, and raise awareness to the value of Hamopportunity to reclaim our natural settings and redefine ilton. If done right eco-tourism can benefit the commuHamilton in different terms. Once identinity and the environment in many ways. fied as a steel city, Hamilton can be known By prompting conversation about Hamfor its sustainability efforts and undeniable ilton and recognizing the value of nature, Understanding natural beauty. The EcoPark project can the EcoPark adds an element of ecological what the EcoPark dignity to the city. paint Hamilton as a progressive city, akin really is ... could to New York City with Central Park. With Green spaces can also offer signififlourishing biodiversity, the EcoPark is a cant opportunities for environmental prompt a greater special haven that we must support. education and nature comprehension. appreciation for The EcoPark can provide a space for We need to utilize green spaces as valuthe environment. eco-tourism, which would generate disable resources and important settings for cussion about the city and encourage vislearning. Students can both learn about itors to explore our natural systems. Ecothe theoretical aspects of the environment tourism is the responsible travel to natural areas that and get a hands-on experience. Being in nature and physiconserves the environment and improves the well being of cally touching, feeling, and smelling what you are studylocal people. Eco-tourism can seem counter-productive as ing can dramatically enhance the learning experience. In we are trying to preserve the natural land and avoid harmaddition, interacting with the environment being studied ing the ecosystem. In order to achieve a successful ecocan motivate students to do more to protect the area. Ultitourism program there are certainly some precautions and mately, understanding what the EcoPark really is and its
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relationship to Hamilton could prompt a greater appreciation for the environment. The EcoPark can serve as a remarkable legacy for our city and is something the next generations can enjoy. This ambitious investment will contribute to a more sustainable Hamilton overall. Not only will it bring about distinct recognition for the environment, but it will bring economic, social, and ecological benefits to the region. The EcoPark is more than just trails, marshes, forests, and wildlife – it is an opportunity to bring even more pride to Hamilton. Having something so valuable and accessible in our backyard should not be taken for granted. Let’s make Hamilton a city that works with nature rather than a city that exploits it. I would like to thank all of the organizations that have supported the campaign. The work being done to complete this project is incredible and should not go unnoticed. Without the ambition and commitment from everyone involved, the EcoPark would not be what it is today. Author's Note: This is the final installment in a series of articles featuring the Dundas EcoPark Campaign. My intention is to explain what the project is, who is involved, and why the project is important for the surrounding areas. STEVE WATTS has lived in Hamilton his entire life and has developed a deep appreciation for the natural beauty in the city. Steve has become an active environmentalist and is exploring Hamilton's transition to a sustainable city. He hopes that his environmental work in Hamilton contributes to a greener city and inspires others to take action. If you want you can take a closer look at the Dundas EcoPark Campaign at: hamiltonconservationfoundation.ca /initiatives/ecopark-campaign
PHOTOS BY JOYCE JONES
14 | MAY 2014
The entrance to Joy Jones’ bakery on King William Street
EXPERIENCES
Made for Hamilton Finding opportunity and community on King William Street When I moved from Toronto to Hamilton in the winter of 2012 it was for the usual reasons. I came looking for a place that is shaped like a city, combined with affordable housing. While I found what I was looking for, I've also discovered some deeper differences which, though jarring at first, have strongly convinced me that I made a good move. For one thing, people in Hamilton talk to one another. It surprised me at first when strangers said hello as we passed on the street, and I came to enjoy this change from Toronto, where the amassed energy of so many other people forces each individual to retreat behind a personal shell when out in public.
Bus drivers here are much friendlier. On my third day taking the bus, my driver already recognized me. By the end of the week, we were on a first-name basis. I noticed something else: when people get off the bus, they thank the driver. This feedback loop of friendly operators and polite riders is not an isolated phenomenon. Two years after moving my home to Hamilton, I finally moved another part of my life: my job. Now instead of seeking work at an established business, I started my own: a bakery on King William Street called Made for You by Madeleine. Again, I did this for the usual reasons. And again, I
quickly discovered that there were deeper reasons underlying the ones by which I had made my plans. The idea at the heart of Madeleine bakery is my intent to make food that is nutritious as well as enjoyable. After years working as a baker, I experienced a quandary while taking a nutrition course when I was confronted with the fact that most of the food I was making was not particularly healthy. My attempt to reconcile my love of baking with my understanding of nutrition led me to locally sourced, freshly-ground, organic whole grain flour. Flour is composed of three parts: the bran, which is the fibrous outer skin; the endosperm, which supplies energy in the form of carbohydrates; and the germ, which contains the vitamins and minerals the seed needs to sprout and grow. Most of the dense nutrition in a grain of wheat is packed into the germ which spoils quickly. Industrially-processed flour – even “whole-wheat” flour – is missing the healthiest part of the grain! The only way to retain the complete nutrition of the germ is to mill the whole grains fresh on site and use the whole-grain flour promptly. The integral benefit (pun
URBANICITY.CA
Inside Made for You by Madeleine.
intended) is that baked goods made with this flour are richer and more flavourful and have a wonderful texture. My purpose in opening this bakery is to make a living, of course. However, it is also to leverage a multiplier effect on my choice to use a healthier process. If I grind my own flour for my own use, I am helping one person make better food choices. By opening a store that uses fresh-ground flour, I am helping thousands of people make better food choices in a marketplace dominated by industrially-produced, nutritionally-lacking flour. I believed that Hamilton would be a good place for such products. For one thing, no one else was providing them – I'm not aware of any other bakeries in the region that use locally sourced, organically grown and freshly-ground flour. For another, I believe there is a community of people in Hamilton who see the value of supporting food made in an ecological and health-conscious manner. And as with my original decision to move to Hamilton, I've since learned that there is a deeper benefit: Hamilton is possessed of what I've come to regard as a conscious community – a community of people, both individuals and businesses, who choose to live according to their values and who contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of the city as a whole. There's a palpable sense of we in Hamilton – and a profound belief that we're all in this together. I hope that I can contribute in a small way to this larger we of Hamilton, tie my efforts into the efforts of other people and organizations to live more consciously and responsibly – and in so doing, leverage an even larger multiplier to make better choices available to many more people.
JOY JONES is learning to remember that in Hamilton, the lake is to the north. She has lived in Hamilton since moving here from Toronto in early 2012. As the owner of Made for You by Madeleine bakery on King William Street, Joy intends to influence the quality of your day by offering a choice for better baked goods.
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16 | MAY 2014
EXPERIENCES
The Writer Sometimes I wish I smoked, that I was heavier, even that I was the picture of a walking heart attack. I wish I had that edge, someone exciting, someone who looked old school, acted old school and was respected because they aren’t part of the establishment. Picasso, Van Gogh, Beethoven, Hemingway. All mavericks. I was wish I was not so healthconscious, so sensitive, so tactful, so appropriate, and so vanilla. So sensible. I am not a writer, but I write. I am not a journalist, but I journal. I am not an editor, but I editorialize. I write what I see; I write what I feel. I muse, I ask questions, I observe, I write per my emotions. I write what I am passionate about. I am 50 years old and am quite ordinary, mundane, and quite human. My thoughts are not unique, new or earth shattering; but my thoughts should resonate with others because of those reasons. I try to capture the frantic fragmented pace of my thoughts and tell a story. I’d love to write my own article, with an edge, about what I wanted. I’d like to have the ‘dirt’ on the editor and be untouchable. To get called into the Editor’s office and to have the hard conversation about how such thoughts, such a story could never be printed, yet see it in the paper the very
next day. Because it resonates – does anything else matter? I’d write about tough things like poverty, mental health, waste we see every day. I’d write of compassion, I’d write to rally and to share. I’d write to make people feel guilty, to shame them into action; to donate money at the very least. I’d be hard on politicians, not because they are bad people, but because they need to work together to make a difference for all. United we stand, divided we fall. So much power, so much responsibility, so much opportunity. I’d write of the good, those making a difference, the down trodden; I’d find them and place them on a pedestal. It might be a teacher, a policeman, a mother, a child, a volunteer; it might be you. I wish I had the autonomy to scribe the stories of goodness and be a refuge from the deluge of bad news. I wonder how to make people be part of the solution, not glorify the part of the problem. And malaise is just as bad as vindictiveness. I wish I could write and magically weave stories to inspire and paint vivid pictures in people’s minds. I would do this as others struggled with words, with phrases and political correctness. I would do all this as the ashtray became full and overflowed, leaving ashes on the desk. I am not eloquent, nor articulate or emotive, but I can be clear, concise and expressive. My style is short, choppy and perhaps confusing, but I’m trying to be short, choppy and questioning. I challenge myself and expect no less of you. I write like that because that’s the way I think, that’s my style and that’s the way I am. And if one gets too verbose, too loquacious, too garrulous or effusive no one wants to listen anyway.
My office would be the streets; my place of worship, Hamilton. The streets and the people; Hamilton is different. Perhaps there are other places of hope, of suffering, optimism and brokenness, but Hamilton is my home and of that, I’m glad. I am not a writer but I could write something unique, something distinctive each day. For a real writer, Hamilton has enough fodder to keep one entertained, enthralled, dejected and exulted. There are so many stories in this city. Buy fruit for a man sitting outside the market and you’ll find a man who only wants ‘chicken and rice’; offer to buy coffee for someone and find out all they actually want are three Big Macs. Take a moment to talk to a stranger and you’d be amazed at what makes them tick. This is the life of a mission worker, a journalist; someone who’s interested. Everyone has a story. Those who go to Africa, to the four corners of the earth are to be applauded, they have a story, but that doesn’t mean you can’t write your own; today, right here in Hamilton. My streets are full of great people, great opportunities, great stories; the challenge is to string everything together. I’m not a writer, but if I could weave those daily adventures into something that stirs people I would be content.
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.
18 | MAY 2014 ISSUES
Tactical Taxation For Architecture Week 2014, and as a kick off event for Doors Open Hamilton 2014, on May 1st, the HBSA welcomed Joe Minicozzi, an architect and urban planner with Urban 3, to Hamilton to present his work that examines the true cost of current city planning, design and growth. One of Joe’s key points is that “form follows finance’. Our current development policies, practises, plans and taxation shape our city and have created the physical form of the City we live in. This has a direct relationship with the taxes we pay to maintain roads, sewers and other infrastructure. Also, the built form and density affects the tax revenue that the City earns from the land that makes up our City. Currently, Hamilton residents own 6200 kilometers of road - the equivalent of driving from Halifax to Vancouver and about 12m per person. As the city continues to grow out, the length of road, sewers and other infrastructure increases, raising the costs of maintenance which in turn raises taxes. For comparison, Toronto maintains 4.93m per person while London maintains 9.73m per person1. Underutilized road infrastructure is costly to maintain and if our network continues to grow, our taxes will go up. When we look at tax revenue per hectare, we see that our built up areas provide much higher tax revenues to
the City than lower density areas. Higher density development is a more efficient use of the land the City occupies. When we intensify existing built up areas, we leverage existing infrastructure rather than expanding it. More intensive development makes more efficient use of land and the density leads to significantly higher tax revenue from residents and businesses. Dense cities are more walkable which lowers health costs while boosting economies and creating lively streets. In other words, the creation of dense vibrant downtowns through intensification and good policy, will create an economic engine for the City that help to maintain and or possibly lower residents’ tax burdens. We, all the residents of our city, stand to benefit from a vibrant, economically diverse and robust downtown. We need to get our policies and tax system working for us.
GRAHAM McNALLY is an architect in Hamilton and a partner in the firm, Toms + McNally Design. In addition to his firm's work, he has a particular interest in Hamilton's urban design and issues and was a driving force behind bringing Tactical Urbanism to Hamilton.
1. http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/accountability-and-transparency/corporate-planning-and-performance-management/ road-0#P21_1152 (Accessed April 30, 2014)
CAN HAMILTON AFFORD THE SPRAWL? HAMILTON'S INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS PER YEAR
= WITH SPRAWL THIS NUMBER IS ON THE RISE CAN WE AFFORD IT?
WHAT IS OUR TACTICAL TAX BASE?
WHAT'S YOUR COMMUTE WORTH?
THIS IS CLEVELAND Images and ideas from an urban bus tour PHOTO ESSAY BY SCOTT SUMMERHAYES OPENING IMAGE BY CHRISTOPH BENFEY
There’s a lot to see in Cleveland, and we did just that on a recent urban bus tour. Countless towering revival buildings reaching higher than most commercial buildings at all in Hamilton; long arcade malls lit by the sky through pristine glass ceilings; sculptures, statues, and monuments watching over the streets. It should be mentioned though, that Cleveland’s population peaked at 914,000 before dropping to its current 395,000—smaller than Hamilton, which still has a growing population. It was that once much larger population that led to these commercial spaces being built. But that’s all they have downtown, commercial spaces, because no one used to live downtown. And to a certain extent, no one does right now. They were excited to tell us how proud they were to announce a downtown population of more than 15,000 people.
Wait, 15,000? Hamilton’s Ward 2 (downtown from Queen Street to Wentworth, the mountain to the water) has a population of well over 37,000. Still, with Cleveland’s downtown revitalization in infancy, we both are struggling with many of the same setbacks. Property owners leaving they buildings to rot, old feats of architecture being torn down, environmental and transit battles, and the extreme invasion of hipsters. This is Cleveland. 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.
Opposite page: The Cleveland Skyline as seen from Edgewater Park. This page (clockwise from top left): Making a purchase at the famous West Side Market; Restored property showing civic pride in Ohio City; The opulent lobby of the Palace Theater in the Playhouse Square complex; The clock tower of the West Side Market; The grand signage of Playhouse Square; A massive mural seen in Ohio City; The Grand Arcade.
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They were excited to tell us how proud they were of their downtown population of roughly 15,000 people
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Clockwise from top left: One of the “Guardians of Traffic� on the Hope Memorial Bridge; The Rockefeller Building in downtown Cleveland as seen from Terminal Tower; Window signs in Ohio City; The Quicken Loans Arena displaying political signage; Matthew Gray of Sustainable Cleveland; The old business district between Prospect Street and Euclid Avenue as seen from Terminal Tower.
See more photos of Cleveland from the Urban Bus Tour at the new urbanicity.ca after May 21.
26 | MAY 2014
3. Cucumber Martini COST:
$12
7. Kir Royale COST:
WHE RE CA N I GE T IT?
Sarcoa
Soaking up the sun on a Friday evening overlooking the water. P E RFE CT FOR:
$9
W HE RE CA N I G E T IT? P E RF E CT FO R:
Ora
Date night.
MA DE WITH:
Prosecco, Chambord and fresh summer berries.
4. Mercantini
8. Green Light
Vodka, cucumber, and shrub (sugar and vinegar).
MA D E W ITH:
THE TEN LIST
KRISTEL BULTHUIS is a woman about town. Involved in multiple committees and boards, including at the HPO and the AGH, Kristel is also the producer of Cable 14's weekly program OUR CITY. A member of the MGI Media team, Kristel is the Assistant Festival Director of the Hamilton 24-Hour Film Festival. *Cocktails are not ranked—it's just a list of drinks!
1. New York Sour COST:
2. Grandma Rose
$11
W H ER E CA N I G E T I T ?
COST:
Two Black Sheep
An evening of oysters, great conversation and a big group of friends. PERF E CT FOR :
Bourbon, homemade lemon juice, homemade lime juice, simple syrup, drizzled with Lillet. MADE W I T H :
$12 Aberdeen Tavern
Ladies who brunch in
$9 Baci Ristorante
$8.04 Koi
W HE RE CA N I G E T IT?
A dance party
A little jolt of caffeine in the form of a martini.
P E RF E CT FO R:
MA DE WITH:
Espresso, Godiva, vodka and vanilla ice cream.
MA D E W ITH:
5. Psychotic Magician
9. Pineapple Vanilla Tequila Sour
P E RFE CT FOR:
COST:
$10
with the girls. Banana, melon, Malibu, pineapple, lime, topped with a maraschino.
COST:
WHE RE CA N I GE T IT?
$10
W HE RE CA N I G E T IT?
Acclamation Bar and Grill Kicking off a girls’ night out on the town! P E RFE CT FOR:
P E RF E CT FO R:
Tavern on George
A tropical vacation
in Hamilton.
MADE WITH:
Hpnotiq, raspberry vodka, peach schnapps, and pineapple juice.
Tequila, egg white, vanilla, agave syrup, fresh lime, fresh pineapple and tiki bitters.
6. Old Fashioned
10. Cosmopolitan
$12
PERFECT FOR:
is required
Strawberry infused gin, rose water, summerberry, lemon and basil.
MA DE WITH:
MA D E W ITH:
COST:
WHE RE CA N I GE T IT?
the summer. M ADE WITH:
COST:
WHE RE CA N I GE T IT?
COST:
WHER E CA N I GE T IT? PER FECT FOR:
COST:
Baltimore House
When a strong drink
Sugar cube and angostura bitters muddled with an orange peel, bourbon, a block office and a maraschino cherry.
$10
W HE RE CA N I G E T IT?
Bar on Locke
Late night conversation with a good friend. P E RF E CT FO R:
Vodka, Cointreau, cranberry, lemon. MA D E W ITH:
COCKTAILS IMAGE: © BRUCE SHIPPEE/123RF.COM; KOI PHOTO: TRIPADVISOR
10 DRINKS FOR A DOWNTOWN DEBUTANTE*
28 | MAY 2014
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PROFILE
Jason Thorne Getting to know Hamilton’s new General Manager of Planning and Economic Development INTERVIEW BY MARTINUS GELEYNSE
Following the retirement of long-time City Hall stalwart Tim McCabe, the City of Hamilton began the search for a new head of planning and economic development. The position is prestigious and powerful. It’s not easy to fill. Fortunately, the search saw the City hire Jason Thorne, a native Hamiltonian. Thorne has yet to crack 40, but his accomplishments and acumen make him something of a rock star in his field. We had a chance to sit down with Jason to learn a bit about him before he begins his work at the end of May. Introducing Jason Thorne… You have an impressive resume! What's an accomplishment that you're particularly proud of? I've been fortunate to work in some great organizations and with some great teams, which has benefited me in terms of exposure to a wide array of work. So I think I’m most proud of the diversity of planning work that I’ve been able to do so far in my career. I’ve worked on large regional planning initiatives like the Growth Plan and Metrolinx’s Big Move. I’ve worked on municipal scale land use and sustainability plans. I’ve worked on both greenfield and infill neighbourhood plans. And I’ve worked overseas on rural development plans in West Africa and squatter housing upgrades in South America. I think I have worked at just about every scale of planning, and in just about every conceivable planning context…which is going to come in handy working in a city as diverse as Hamilton! What drew you to planning as a career choice? I didn’t start out thinking I wanted to be a planner. I studied environmental science at university and worked for several years in Hamilton and Toronto with community environmental groups. But the more I delved into the issues that most concerned me, the more I began to appreciate how closely they were tied to the way we build and design our cities and communities. So from there, it was a natural progression to become a city planner.
LIGHTNING ROUND B E E R , W I N E , O R S C OT C H ?
Wine Unfortunately, I am a longsuffering, diehard Leaf fan. MAC OR PC?
PC N E W YO R K C I T Y O R A L G O N Q U I N PA R K ?
NYC
PHOTOS BY REG BEAUDRY
FAV O U R I T E S P O R T S T E A M ?
What are you most looking forward to in your new job with the City of Hamilton? I’m most looking forward to working with the incredible diversity of passionate and engaged citizens and community groups across the City – BIAs, neighbourhood associations, farmers, business associations, faith groups and so many more. Jane Jacobs said that “cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” That philosophy is central to how I think planning should happen. And there is no better place to practice that than in Hamilton. I am also fortunate to be joining a City with great leadership and great staff. Together I think we can move the City forward. You're originally a Hamiltonian, but you've worked around the world. What does Hamilton mean to you now? It’s a rare and unique privilege to be able to come home and be part of planning and building the city where you grew up. For me, Hamilton is a collection of special and unique places. It’s the neighbourhoods on the mountain and in Ancaster where I lived, and where my friends and
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Jane Jacobs said that "cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody." That philosophy is central to how I think planning should happen.
” family lived (and still live). It’s the arenas where I played hockey. The schools I attended. The downtown record shops and stores where I hung out after school. The clubs where I went to see live music. The Niagara Escarpment and waterfront trails that I hiked. It’s a place that has a whole bunch of personal connections for me. And I’m looking forward to discovering new places, and making new connections, now that I’m back. If you ever find a day off, what's your favourite way to spend it? With my two kids, usually playing games or going to the park. And as they get older they’re more-and-more starting to enjoy my favourite pastimes with me – sitting in a café and reading, chatting, listening to some live music, or just watching the world go by.
Hear an extended interview with Jason Thorne at the new urbanicity.ca after May 21.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEPHANIE LECHNIAK
Clockwise from top left: The Old Ancaster Hermitage; Auchmar Estate; The John Wier Foote V.C. Armouries; Stoney Creek Battlefield House.
haunted in hamilton Exploring Hamilton’s spookier side... I’ve spent the past decade travelling to some of the most famous haunted places in North America. Locations that will make your skin crawl, your toes curl and your hair stand on end. We’re talking asylums, jails, forts… all historical places that are notorious for being so creepy that many people don’t want to visit, let alone spend the night. I’m quite the opposite actually. It’s not only a curious hobby, it’s a peculiar passion that’s also my job! My career has been devoted to exploring the strange and unusual. Visiting places that go bump in the night, so to speak. I have touched the tomb of Marie Laveau, Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, I’ve walked the blood-stained battlefields at Gettysburg and I locked eyes on those famous attic windows at the Amityville horror house in Long Island, NY. I’ve spent entire evenings “quarantined” in old asylums and sanatoriums that once housed the ill and insane and have been “put on lockdown” in some of the creepiest jails and prisons in all of the United States. All of these places tell momentous stories of circumstances captured in time (whether good or bad!) But the more I visited these places, the more I began to realize that nothing beats the unique and inimitable history that can only be found right here in my own City!
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Tumblety was known for selling his 'Pimple Destroyer' creams and 'Indian Root Pills'
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Some of the most scandalous stories in Canadian history can be traced to Hamilton, Ontario. News that captured not only a city, but an entire nation. Notorious bootleggers such as Rocco Perri (Canada’s Al Capone), who became the leading figure in organized crime in Ontario in the 1920’s, and fierce femme fatale Evelyn Dick who became known as the “torso” murderess when her husband’s decapitated and limbless body was found in 1946 on the escarpment. Or go back even further… 1856 to be exact, when a man named Francis Tumblety (1833-1903) came to town. A self-proclaimed physician and herbal remedy doctor, Tumblety was known for selling his “Pimple Destroyer” creams and “Indian Root Pills” out of the grand old hotels in downtown Hamilton. His original newspaper ads can still be seen today in the archives of the Hamilton Public Library. After some stints in Toronto, Montreal and the United States, Tumblety later surfaced in the Whitechapel District of London, England in 1888. Does that date and place ring a bell? Little did Hamiltonians know that they were mingling with a man who 30 years later would be accused of perpetrating the horrific crimes carried out by the one and only Jack the Ripper! That’s right folks... Jack the Ripper could have very well lived and killed right here in Hamilton!
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Images of Hamilton's most notorious murderess, Evelyn Dick.
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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
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Stories of crime, murder, death and sickness. Tragedy, suicide, conspiracy, love and even love lost. All of these combine to form the perfect recipe for a classic ghost story that can be passed down from generation to generation. Whether they are tales told under the night sky around the campfire to scare one another, or legends to share with your friends over dinner, one thing remains the same… we have and will always be fascinated with a good old-fashioned ghost story. Even better if that creepy story happens to take place right here in our own backyard! If you grew up in Hamilton, at one point or another you probably heard about the famous “Lady in Black” who resides within the walls of the old Customs House down by the railway tracks on Stuart Street. She is a spectral figure, rarely seen but often felt by staff and visitors alike (myself included!) She has been called “Hamilton’s oldest ghost” and accounts of her presence can be traced back as far as 1873 in Alexander Wingfield’s Poem “The Dark Lady” where he describes her as standing 6 feet tall with hooves and horns (each a yard long!). Some other famous and legendary Hamilton ghosts include Sir Allan MacNab and his daughter Sophia at Dundurn Castle, William Black at the Hermitage Ruins in Ancaster, the Lady in White at the Royal Connaught Hotel, and the spirit of theatre magnate Ambrose Small at the Tivoli Theatre. There are also reports of phantom soldiers at the Armouries, Jane Riley at Albion Falls, ‘gremlins’ in the bell tower at St. Paul’s Church, and many more! Our history reflects the hopes and ideals of that era. I once read that Hamilton’s “golden age” has passed. Sure, the Victorian era of Hamilton is long gone, and so are many of the grand buildings that came and went with it. But Hamilton has always been known at the “Ambitious City” and has fought hard to retain that title. We are no longer known for being hidden under the smokestacks and soot of our industrious steel town mentality. We are moving into an exciting new time for our City, so I can’t help but think that Hamilton’s ghosts are just as excited as we are to see what’s in store!
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38 | MAY 2014
OPEN DOORS
The Beach House
1038 Beach Boulevard, Hamilton John Mokrycke Architect B U I LT : 2013 U S E : Personal Residence ADDRESS:
ARCHITECT:
The design of the new residence at 1038 Beach Blvd., evolved from a sensitivity and respect to the past built fabric of Hamilton’s beach community, and from a commitment to create a living environment that embraces the natural qualities of the site. The property is located in the middle of the 6.4-kilometre sandbar that separates Lake Ontario from Hamilton Bay, with the elevated QEW approach to the 1958 Skyway Bridge as the dominant feature of the backyard. The view toward the southwest, underneath and past the QEW, is of the bay with Hamilton beyond. This design embraces the existing mature trees on the property, and extends the site tree canopy with extensive new plantings, including within the internal living areas of the residence, through use of a central outdoor courtyard. The extensive use of double-hung wood windows and sliding wood terrace doors blend interior areas with exterior vistas, also allowing natural ventilation to flow throughout the home. A mechanical air conditioning system has not been installed. The tree canopy surrounding the home provides shade and extended roof overhangs further reduce summer heat gain. Ceiling fans in all living areas provide additional ventilation. Large expanses of curving window walls acknowledge the dominant highway feature and enhance feelings of seaside comfort. Outdoor areas are located around the home at the second level to provide easy egress and amenity space, following the sun throughout the day. An in-floor water heating system, fueled by an efficient state-of-the-art gas boiler, provides for all domestic hot water and gently heats the home. Clad entirely in timeless cedar shake and siding, this beach house draws inspiration from 1920’s North American seaside residences, traditional homes and cottages of Louisiana and the Caribbean, and more specifically, the Hamilton beach strip cottages and buildings of the early 1900’s.
JOHN MOKRYCKE Frequenly dubbed as the 'most interesting man in the world' (sorry Dos Equis), John Mokrycke is an accomplished architect in Hamilton. He owns the Architect's Guesthouse, and is a dedicated Rotarian.
PHOTOS BY MARTINUS GELEYNSE
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IMAGES COURTESY OF THE CITY OF HAMILTON
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ISSUES
LRT is an investment in Hamilton’s success The Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington Supports Light Rail Transit in Hamilton The Ambitious City. Coined in the 1800s, this Hamilton moniker has resurfaced in the past few years and is an encouraging sign that our city is ready to boldly tackle the 21st century challenges it faces. Along with other deindustrializing cities in North America, Hamilton is discovering that success relies on a combination of factors: a diverse economy with job opportunities, quality housing and vibrant, livable neighbourhoods. First and foremost, a successful city must be one in which people want to live. Hamilton is a city on the rise. We're attracting attention from all sectors and our economic development department has been busier than ever, but there is still much work to do. Our property taxes are high, our downtown is still in recovery and the city is still trying to move beyond its industrial past. We need to be forward thinking in our plans for the future, and we believe that light rail is one of the best ways to achieve many of the city's goals. These include continued revitalization of the downtown core, intensification along main corridors, further economic development and a broadening of the tax base.
That's why in 2008, the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) took an official position in support of light rail. In the six years since, our position hasn't wavered. This is because, even in the early days, it was apparent to us that this is more than just a state of the art transportation system, it is an investment in the future. The issue then, and the issue now, is money; how much and from where are key concerns. These concerns are absolutely legitimate. Large-scale infrastructure is expensive, however, unlike invisible infrastructure (water mains, sewers, etc.), LRT will reshape the communities through which it passes. Permanent investment spurs development. But not overnight. The city has been studying LRT since 2008, and study after study has concluded there will be a return on investment for the B-line. The city's own Rapid Ready report provides some very positive numbers, with the following financial benefits from LRT: • Reduction of scheduled and unscheduled backlog capital works in the order of approximately $79 million. • Tax benefit from new development by LRT estimated at
$22.4 million. • Potential for 6,000 construction jobs (provincial); 3,500 directly in Hamilton. • Potential for 1,000 permanent jobs (provincial); 300 jobs in Hamilton to deliver regular operations and maintenance. • B-Line LRT investment may result in an estimated increase of more than $443 million in Ontario's GDP. The Chamber of Commerce LRT task force recently passed a motion requesting the province commit to funding light rail in Hamilton. We would like to echo this request, as investment in light rail will be good for Hamilton, and for the province as a whole. What is needed most now from our leaders is the foresight and ambition necessary to champion LRT as an investment in Hamilton's future success. We are the Ambitious City, after all.
TIM MATTIOLI is the President of the Board of Directors of the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington, and ROSS GODSOE is the Association’s Chief Executive Officer.
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COUNTED!
HAMILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY Central Branch M AT E R I A L S & C I R C U L AT I O N
PHYSICAL SPACE
LIBRARY PROGRAMS
1 400 000 I T EM S CIRCULATE D IN 20 13
1.4 million
965
7 200 000
172
27 227 people
I T EM S ACROSS THE WH OL E H P L SYST E M
11% OF TOTAL C I R C ULATION I S DI GITAL M AT ERIALS
3+
M IL L ION H ISTORIC IM AG ES IN T H E LOCAL H ISTORY & ARC H IV ES D E PT.
V I S I TO R S A NNUA LLY
FU LL T I ME , PA RT T I ME & CAS UA L STA FF
334
WERE RUN FOR CHILDREN
ATTEN DED A LIB RA RY P ROGRA M IN 2 0 1 3
VIRTURAL SPACE
172 395 5.6 million H O U R S S PE NT O N PU B LI C CO MPU T E R S
P ROGRA M S RUN IN 2 0 1 3
PA GE V I E WS I N 2 0 1 3
0%
BUDGET INCREASE THIS YEAR
PHOTO BY SCOTT SUMMERHAYES
Source: The Hamilton Public Library
The second level of Hamilton’s Central Library.