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OCTOBER 2016 COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE
FROM DINOSAUR TO DIGITAL HOW GOVERNMENTS CAN CROSS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
BUILDING A CITY THAT WORKS FOR SMALL BUSINESS
MOTOR CITY RUST & ROYALTY THE STORY OF DETROIT
UNBUILT HAMILTON BUILT HERITAGE
DOSTOEVSKY VS. DUCT CLEANING HUMOUR
MICKEY MCGUIRE'S CHEESE FOOD CULTURE
IDEAS // ISSUES // EXPERIENCES // ARTS // CULTURE // BUSINESS // STYLE // CITY LIFE
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PUBLISHER + EDITOR MARTINUS GELEYNSE martinus@urbanicity.ca LAYO UT & D ESIG N Tafari Anthony EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Taylor Evans DISTRIBUTION Deliverly Local Logistics
urbanicity magazine is wholly owned and published by urbanicity Omnimedia Inc. All content copyright Š 2016 and all rights to distribution are reserved by urbanicity Omnimedia. 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.
DISTRIBUTION 40,000+ readers per month. Distributed throughout Hamilton, Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Aldershot, and Burlington. 12 issues per year. ADVERTISING INQUIRES (905) 537-4819 ads@urbanicity.ca www.urbanicity.ca
 FROM THE EDITOR + PUBLISHER We recently wrapped up another installment in the urbanicity Omnimedia urban bus tour series. From September 30 to October 1, I guided thirty curious guests around Detroit, exploring the story of the rise, fall, and renewal of the motor city. If you ever needed any convincing that small business is the new big business, I'd suggest a trip to Detroit. Gone are the endless automotive factories that made the city so wealthy. The big business landscape has changed dramatically in Canada and the United States as manufacturing declined over the second half of the 1900s. This change was felt most acutely in rustbelt cities that depended on the big business of big business to employ their large, hardworking populations. The bigger they are, the harder thay fall, says the old adage. Well, Detroit was the biggest. The economies of rustbelt cities are changing, however, and the outlook is positive, even in cities as hard-hit as Detroit. Old factories are being converted into small business incubators, live/work studios, and condominiums. Manufacturing is even making a comeback, but in a smaller and more advanced form. A new wave of entrepreneurs are changing the way that our cities and their economies function, with increasing numbers operating small businesses that use the internet to reach global audiences from the comfort of their own small office. Innovative approaches to old businesses models are disrupting the status quo, challenging old institutions and elevating the marketplace. A newfound sense of local loyalty is developing in cities like Hamilton, where new businesses are welcomed and championed. It's important to support our small businesses. They are, after all, a large part of what makes our city a great place to live, and they're increasingly what make our economies turn. The magazine that you're currently reading is the product of my small business, urbanicity Omnimedia. We, in turn, work with many other small local businesses to help advertise and promote them in the Hamilton market. Business is always personal, especially when it's small, so thank you for supporting our small business by reading this magazine. Keep it up by paying attention to the ads, as each one represents another small business worth exploring. Altogether, this local ecosystem is what makes up the big business of small business. M A RT INUS GELEYNSE
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OCTOBER 2016
IDEAS
From Dinosaur to Digital How Governments Can Cross The Digital Divide By Chris Moore
15 INITIATIVES TO CONSIDER FOR IMPROVING ANY GOVERNMENT’S DIGITAL STRATEGY
I recently came across a reference to how governments across Canada have lost their global leadership, and how governments in Canada at all levels provide analog services to a digital society. It made me reflect back on the 2011 report from Dillan Theckedath and Terry Thomas titled “Advancing Canada’s Digital Society” and ask myself if we’ve truly made any advancements in the past five years. The Digital 150 Federal Government strategy was published a few years ago with a list of 39 initiatives implemented or in progress at the time. Time will tell if the goal of a Digital Country will be achieved by 2017. For the last 50 years, technology in government has been viewed as an expense and as a necessary evil not always understood by elected officials and senior administrators. However, information and technology are part of every aspect of a city, county,
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region, province, territory and country, and are critical in delivering services. It is time to see digital technology as an investment, as a way to innovate, reduce costs, enhance citizen service delivery and transform government operations. Now more than ever before, governments in Canada need to find ways to innovate, to transform and to create a foundation that is sustainable. Now is the time for both courage and innovation in government. Lets become a society that provides digital services to digital citizens. It’s time to move to the 21st century.
01 Build 21st century digital infrastructure like the Chattanooga Gig City Project.
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Build WiFi networks like the City of Edmonton on your own and in partnership with others.
Provide technology and internet to children and youth in need like the City of Toronto.
Connect to a national education and research network like Cybera in Alberta or CANARIE.
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Create a national digital government taskforce to leverage the power of the collective across all orders of government.
Collocate government digital teams (and other key government projects) within local startup incubators and coworking spaces. It’s time to demystify government and embrace the mainstream. The best examples of innovative digital governments are the City of Barcelona and New Urban Mechanics.
Develop a digital government strategy that includes “open government” - the City of Montreal has one of the more progressive digital strategies in the country.
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Build a citizen dashboard to showcase your government services and commitment to the public.
Put your crime data online like the Edmonton Police Service. This approach to digital innovation requires courage and lots of thought by law enforcement agencies.
Consider a pilot project with sensor technology for parking like the City of Nice or for waste management like the City of Barcelona.
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Embrace Car2Go, Modo and UBER as ways to move people in your city.
Consider turning your IT department into the Innovation and Technology Department like they did at the City of Chicago.
Partner with other governments (at all levels) to create a shared Innovation and Technology agency.
06 Run more hackathons with bigger prizes and adjust government procurement to easily adopt solutions created by passionate entrepreneurs.
09 If open government is too big a leap, then start with open data. Edmonton is our national leader in local government open data.
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T H E BI G BUSI N E SS O F SMAL L BUSI N E SS
How to Support Small Biz Thoughts From Three Local Small Business Leaders uM = urbanicity Magazine PM = Peter Mokrycke, Architect Hair Design SB = Susie Braithwaite, International Village BIA ED = Erin Dunham, The Other Bird uM: How can we as consumers help to support local small business? PM: Be critical. Expect the best, like a parent with a child. If we’re not delivering, give us feedback. Don’t let the “little things slide”. If something isn’t right, point it out. But do it honestly, constructively, and responsibly. Would you post on the internet every time your own child screwed up? Probably not, but you’d sure as hell let them hear it. Local small businesses are like our community’s children. Be tough on us, not just because you want us to be better for your next visit, but so that we grow up into more responsible adult businesses that care about our customers and our community. When local businesses win, Hamilton wins. SB: Being aware of where you are putting your money is essential to helping small business. Before you rush off to a big box store ask yourself if you could be spending your dollars locally. Instead of feeding corporations who just keep getting richer, help put food on the tables of local small business owners first. They have put everything they have into opening these small businesses to fulfill
their dreams and deserve respect and awareness from consumers for it. Not only that, but 9 times out of 10 you’ll find many more unique products there that you won’t find elsewhere. ED: Be aware of what small business can offer you. It's everything from business services to holiday presents available in shops. Small business covers almost every need, the difference being that your money usually makes a bigger impact for those businesses. uM: How can local small businesses support each other? PM: Instead of spending resources and energy on fighting for the same customers, collaborative-minded businesses look for synergies between them that will make processes more efficient, products better, and uncover opportunities to develop and grow their local market so everyone wins. SB: Local small businesses can help each other by cross promotion and support. In International Village several of the businesses work together to help drive traffic through their doors. Whether it’s through organizing events together or just from sharing a good word about a neighbouring business, it all helps one another and is crucial to success. ED: Local businesses can use each other when they can to support each other. It may have a slightly higher cost to
it but there's far more chance that your local partner can put money back in your business than the big guys from another country. uM: How can City Hall support local small businesses? PM: In order to help Hamilton’s business community, in particular small business, City Hall needs to address its toxic organizational culture. The City’s strategic vision and the City’s organizational culture are at complete odds. While there are plenty of city staff that want to do the right thing for Hamilton, they are restricted by systems that subdue, even punish, progressive thinking and action. “No” cannot continue to be the easy, safe answer at City Hall. There needs to be accountability to solutions, and incentives for progress, not complacency. SB: Hamilton City Hall can support local business by loosening the red tape that is often associated with opening and functioning a small business. It is certainly getting better in Hamilton, but has a long way to go. Understanding that small business can’t be treated like big biz is key. Small business owners simply don’t have the deep pockets like corporations do. ED: Hamilton City Hall can support local small businesses by creating more efficient processes for getting them open and supporting them through the business cycle.
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Snakehead Games 1Awards 2015 Winners
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OCTOBER 2016
T H E BI G BUSI N E SS O F SMAL L BUSI N E SS
Let’s Build a City That Works for Small Business By Keanin Loomis President and CEO, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
I like when people ask me why the Hamilton Chamber spends so much energy on city-building matters. It’s a question that goes straight to our organization’s enduring purpose as a thought leader, connector and value creator.
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ur chamber’s mandate is to help members and the wider community flourish and grow. It’s been this way since our formation in 1845 when Isaac Buchanan and our forefathers joined together to help shape local and regional policies and infrastructure to promote jobs, prosperity and quality of life. Embedded in our DNA is the belief that we must move with the times, anticipate the future and advocate for measures that have the greatest overall impact on the entire community. Today we look ahead and see Hamilton’s business environment changing. One significant trend is the steady emergence of small business as a dominant driver of local employment, tax revenue and innovation.
regulations. Hofing says his coffee bar sales have doubled in the months following the extensive (and disruptive) complete streets redesign of Concession Street. This good news story is timely as we address the concerns of retailers along the light rail transit route in downtown Hamilton. Yet our chamber’s work to support small business extends much further. This year, for example, we are joining local chambers and boards of trade across Ontario to celebrate Small Business Week, October 16-22. It’s an opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of Hamilton’s small business sector. This is a sector that includes high-tech start-ups,
social enterprises, arts organizations, restaurants and specialized manufacturers that are making Hamilton a magnetic destination for talent and investment. Our job as a local chamber is to call for smart investments in hard and soft ‘quality of place’ infrastructure favoured by 21st century value creators. In our view, priority investment areas include light rail transit and other modes of sustainable transportation, regional connectivity, innovation networks, arts and culture, and protections for our built and natural environments. Moreover, our job is to continue to help local small businesses succeed by:
This aligns with provincial data showing that small businesses make up 98 percent of total businesses and twothirds of private sector employment in Ontario. In Hamilton, these are the nimble firms that have come to redefine large swaths of our commercial landscape. And they are asking us to work with them to co-create a more progressive city that is in step with our contemporary knowledge-based, service-oriented economy. A great example is Relay Coffee Roasters, a local company that is the recipient of our chamber’s 2013 Outstanding Business Achievement Award in the small business category. Alongside its manufacturing and distribution operations, Relay runs a coffee bar in the Concession Street neighbourhood on Hamilton Mountain. This is a tightly-knit heritage community that has rebounded thanks in part to an active Business Improvement Association (BIA) and the work of its members, and significant recent investments in municipal infrastructure. Jason Hofing, founder of Relay Coffee, says he appreciates our chamber’s ongoing efforts to advance modern city-building fundamentals that have helped his coffee bar thrive. These include the promotion of commercial corridors and complete streets as well as our work with city officials to reduce red tape and eliminate outdated
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Small business owners Rachel & Jason Hofing are invested in the renewal of the Concession Street commercial corridor. Photograph by Richard Allen
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Working with our chamber partners at the provincial and national levels to advance government action on several critical fronts, including the rising cost of doing business, lack of access to skilled workers and key infrastructure gaps.
Connecting local firms to growth-enabling resources such as innovation centres, university and college programs, and organizations for young professionals and entrepreneurs (for example, Hamilton HIVE and YEP).
Partnering with the City of Hamilton to help streamline processes required to establish, operate and scale up a small business in our community.
Collaborating with the City of Burlington and other surrounding municipalities to enable the seamless flow of people, goods, ideas and capital throughout our region.
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Fostering opportunities for local small businesses to work with Hamilton’s larger companies and anchor institutions on lucrative projects.
The needs of small business are also top of mind as our chamber prepares to roll out two new taskforces: Open for Business and Intelligent Communities. Hamilton has become an attractive home for small businesses in sectors ranging from real estate and land development to arts, entertainment and professional services.
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This new generation of businesses is creating entrepreneurial dynamism and closing deals — two pillars of a healthy economy.
Barista Alex McKenzie provides hometown customer service at the Relay Coffee Bar on Concession Street. Photography by Richard Allen
Together, let’s continue to build a modern and progressive city that works for small business.
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Building (as) a Small Business urbanicity Sits Down With Zoran Tomasevic
It's no secret that the small business landscape in Hamilton is teeming with new ventures. From coffee shops to creative firms, new small businesses are popping up everywhere. More unique, however, is a startup construction company. Enter Zoran Tomasevic and Harbour Hills Construction Management. Bringing years of experience with him, Zoran and his team are literally building the facilities for businesses in Hamilton while growing their own firm. We caught up with Zoran after the opening of his latest project, the new Keller Williams office on Cannon Street East, to learn more about building (as) a small business in Hamilton. Q: Tell us about your professional background. What prepared you to launch your own small business? A: Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work with one of Canada’s largest and most successful construction companies immediately after graduating Mohawk College’s Architectural Technology program. Working nearly 10 years with them provided me the chance to meet and collaborate with some of the country’s most influential designers, planners, engineers, and subcontractors while building some of Toronto’s most iconic new buildings. It took several years of preparation to feel confident enough to start Harbour Hills Construction Management and leave the security of employment. I made it a prerequisite of mine, before I left my old job, to develop the ability and experience required to lead every phase of a major construction project. I constantly requested different assignments and key roles to expose myself to everything from the early proposal and design development phase, through to the estimating and tendering process, and finally to the project execution and closeout. In mid 2015 I had finally arrived at a point where I felt that I was ready to take the next step and leave.
BEST PART OF BEING IN BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF? Doing what I love to do. YOUR BUSINESS DESCRIBED IN THREE WORDS? Transparent. Genuine. Committed. COMPANY SIZE 5 employees TIME IN BUSINESS 15 months YOUR IDEAL CLIENT From a business owner moving into a new space to a homeowner remodeling their house, we specialize in both commercial and residential construction. BEST WAY TO CONTACT YOU? ztomasevic@harbourhillscm.com
Q: What was it that made you want to start your own company? Did you feel you were taking a risk? A: I always believed that I was an entrepreneur at heart, and often found inspiration in the success stories of other entrepreneurs in a variety of fields. Starting my own company was something that I had planned for several years, so personally, leaving my employer was never about the company itself, but more out of a desire to have full responsibility and control of my career. Of course, leaving a secure company and turning away a steady paycheque for a new venture always has its risks, but I learned that there is no perfect moment to leave and it’s more of a leap of faith. I felt that I had done all that I could to be prepared, and would just have to figure the rest out by doing it. So, two days after getting engaged to my long-term girlfriend, I informed my employer that I was leaving the company to start my own. How expensive can weddings be anyway? Q: What has the first year in business been like for you? How has the market responded? A: Our first year in business has been fantastic with plenty of lessons learned. Like most new companies,
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we’ve experienced some typical growing painsm but as we expand, we continue to strive for improvements. Improvements in our operations, but also in solidifying relationships with quality designers, engineers, subcontractors, and of course - our clients. The local market in Hamilton is incredible – there is a strong sense of community among local businesses helping each other to succeed. Over this last year, we have met so many ambitious people that appreciate a homegrown construction management company committed to the city. Q: Hamilton has frequently been referred to as a city of entrepreneurs. Do you feel this is accurate? Is this an easy city to be an entrepreneur in? A: I feel that the rejuvenation Hamilton is experiencing is in no small part thanks to many of the entrepreneurs that are locally-based. Hamilton’s small business community is buzzing with opportunity and it’s great to see the impact many of our entrepreneurs and leaders are having on our city. Now, I don’t believe being an entrepreneur is ever easy, but if you’re committed to delivering a quality product or service to the local community and it is priced accordingly, you’re often welcomed with open arms. Q: What are the greatest challenges you see facing small businesses in Hamilton? The greatest opportunities? A: A great challenge for small businesses everywhere is the ability to differentiate your product or services from your competitors. It is very difficult by today’s standards to have an original idea or venture; Many times you’re delving into a market sector that is oversaturated and very competitive. I believe small businesses need to constantly re-evaluate their products/services in order to evolve and not become redundant to their target market. In Hamilton, the greatest opportunity is that we have the desire and capacity to welcome new businesses in all fields as long as they contribute to the overall long-term health of the city. Small businesses equally see Hamilton as uncrowded territory that provides unique ventures with better odds of success. Q: What is next for you and your company? A: We are planning an announcement soon for a few of the exciting projects we will be working on in late 2016/2017. We’re working with several new clients that have fantastic properties in Hamilton that will be receiving major facelifts. With the successful completion of the Keller Williams Realty building on Cannon Street East and the Mortgage Financial Corporation head office on John Street, we have also focused our attention on expanding both our site and office teams in Hamilton. Beyond that, we will be relocating to a new office in the downtown core in early 2017.
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CMYK Special Advertising Feature
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Put A Local Small Business Person into a BMW Nominations are being accepted for The Ultimate Driving Experience Presented by Budds' BMW of Hamilton Do you know a local small business person who deserves some recognition for their hard work? Being a small business owner can mean long hours and plenty of sacrifice, so why not show them your appreciation by nominating them for the ultimate driving experience? Budds' BMW of Hamilton is offering to put someone you know behind the wheel of a brand new BMW for a weekend for free! Just complete the simply nomination form online at www.heybudds.ca, and the team at Budds' BMW of Hamilton will select the winning nominee. There is no obligation or purchase required. Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis and a new driver is selected each month! Ladies and gentlemen, start your nominations...
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OCTOBER 2016
SPECIAL FOCUS
T HE BIG BUSINESS OF SMALL BUSINESS The Real Backbone of Hamilton's Economy By Olga Kwak
INTRODUCTION While Hamilton may still be known as Steel City, thanks to its massive waterfront industrial industry, the strength of its economy now, and for most of its life, has always been in small business. Hamiltonians love to support local businesses. And make no mistake – they comprise a large part of our community. Maybe you work for a small business – or own one yourself. Take heart in knowing you’re not alone and your business plays a powerful role in Hamilton’s worthy past and future renaissance. In 2015, over 70% of Canada’s private sector (8.2 million people) worked for a small business (1-99 employees). – Key Small Business Statistics – June 2016 SOURCE: WWW.IC.GC.CA/EIC/SITE/061.NSF/ENG/03022.HTML In Ontario, that percentage was closer to 92%. About 80 percent of Ontario businesses have fewer than 5 workers. Further about:
60%
The percent of all business establishments that have no payroll employees.
21%
A
nnually up to 130,000 businesses are registered in Ontario. Overall small business accounted for 37% of all jobs created, on average, in the private sector Hamilton’s Economic Development Strategy 2010 – 2015 As of June 2015 there were 43,367 businesses in Hamilton (2015 Labour Market Plan – Workforce Planning Hamilton (Workforceplanninghamilton.ca). 87% of Hamilton businesses employ fewer than 20 people (HTAB). • 29,050 (67% or 2/3rds of them) do not have employees – 20% of those are in real estate • Of those WITH employees – 98% are 100 people or less with the majority (54.8%) have only 1-4 employees.
Currently account for a record high 1 in 4 selfemployed individuals in Canada and constitute more than 30% of the total workforce over 55.
85% of all “Boomerpreneurs” (55+) plan on exiting the workforce in the next decade (CFIB) • 51% do not have an exit plan • 40% have an informal, unwritten plan • The sale of these businesses could mean a transfer of $1-4 trillion in assets between 2018 and 2025
Percentage of businesses with fewer than 4 employees.
12%
Percentage of businesses that have between 5-9 employees.
4%
Percentage of businesses that have 10 – 20 employees.
3%
Percentage of businesses that have 50 – 499 employees.
0.1%
Percentage of businesses with 500 or more employees. SOURCE: WWW.IC.GC.CA/EIC/SITE/061.NSF/ENG/03028.HTML
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Congratulations, Cake and Loaf for winning The Globe and Mail $100k Small Business Challenge! The Hamilton bakery that uses local ingredients only owned by Josie Rudderham & Nicole Miller beat out all 3,300 contestants in the nationwide competition. Pretty sweet! The money will go towards an expansion plan for their original Dundurn St. South location.
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ADMINISTRATIVE & SUPPORT SERVICES
4.4%
FOOD SERVICES & DRINKING PLACES
6.6%
SPECIALTY TRADE CONTRACTORS
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8.4%
AMBULATORY HEALTH CARE SERVICES
PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL SERVICES
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45% The share of Canada’s GDP generated by small and mid-sized businesses (under 500 employees). (SOURCE: CFIB ESTIMATES)
39,349
$
The average annual employment income of a full-time self-employed worker in 2005. The average employment income of a full-time paid employee is $52,092.
What’s My Age Again? Most SME’s are owned by 40-49 and 50-64 year olds. These two age brackets account for 73.5% of all SME owners. <30-39 year olds own 14.7% of small businesses in Canada and only 7.5% of medium sized businesses. KEY SMALL BUSINESS STATISTICS – JUNE 2016 WWW.IC.GC.CA/EIC/SITE/061.NSF/ENG/03028.HTML
PLACES TO HELP YOU BUILD A BETTER BUSINESS
(SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA, 2006 CENSUS)
Hamilton Small Enterprise Center
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Hamilton Fempreneurs (Women’s only entrepreneur group)
:hrs
The average workweek of a full-time self-employed worker, in all jobs. The average workweek for a full-time employee is 37 hours. (SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA, SURVEY OF LABOUR AND INCOME DYNAMICS, 2005)
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Men are 4 times more likely to own a business than women. (64.7% of all businesses vs. 15.7%) KEY SMALL BUSINESS STATISTICS – JUNE 2016 WWW.IC.GC.CA/EIC/SITE/061.NSF/ENG/03028.HTML
A co-working space (CoMotion on King, The Cotton Factory, The Seedworks Urban Offices, Platform 302) The Forge Hamilton Hive
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OCTOBER 2016
EXPERIENCES
Motor City Rust & Royalty Hamilton Meets Detroit On An Urban Bus Tour By Martinus Geleynse
Detroit is a city that lived and died by the automobile. In fact, many of its roads are still nine lanes wide; built to accommodate the tremendous traffic that once used to flow from the ever-expanding suburbs to the once-vibrant downtown and the many manufacturing plants surrounding the central business district. Today, these streets are largely vacant and bordered by endless storefronts that have long sat empty. The beautiful old banks on every corner have been burned down or converted into churches with names that invoke themes of restoration, renaissance, faithfulness, and mercy. Now, most people only venture into Detroit from the 132 surrounding municipalities for a baseball game at Comerica Park or football failure at Ford Field.
The sky was a dark shade of grey and the air was cold and damp as a busload of curious Hamiltonians set off on urbanicity's Detroit urban bus tour on Friday, September 30th. It was only 7:30 in the morning, and so many passengers were still rubbing the sleep out of their eyes as some joked about how the weather seemed fitting for a trip to the most depressed of the rustbelt cities. Interestingly enough, it was the exact same weather that our 2013 urbanicity bus tour to Detroit had enjoyed on its first day. Very few on the bus had any idea of what awaited them in the motor city. I often say that Detroit is the most compelling of the rustbelt cities because of the extremity of its story. It was far larger than Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, or Hamilton, and it became even wealthier than any of them individually. It also crashed the hardest, and has suffered the most. In a place of such extremes,
it is no surprise that it is now also the site of some of the most radical urban renewal efforts by broke individuals and billionaire tycoons alike. Dan Gilbert, owner of the Quicken Loans group of companies, has increased his holdings to 92 buildings (from 30 in 2013); bringing his ownership of Detroit's central business district to roughly 40% of all property in the area. Our group had the opportunity to tour some of his vast urban empire, including the Cube, a massive office building full of young hipsters riding scooters between their sit-stand workstations while sipping free slurpies and selling mortgages. At one point in this segment of the tour, we assembled at a gigantic scale model of downtown Detroit. The buildings with orange on their roofs were owned by Dan Gilbert and his companies. The next day we found out that our tour of Gilbert's buildings was rerouted because he was hosting an event with none other than Donald Trump.
Many neighbourhoods within the boundaries of Detroit are filled with derelict homes, empty lots, and overgrown trees. Some areas, however, like Boston-Edison and the Indian Village have remained vibrant and boast beautiful rows of century homes that speak to the city's former glory. Tyree Guyton returned to his neighbourhood thirty years ago after serving his country in the military. What he returned to shocked him, and compelled him to respond with art. He began painting polka dots on the homes and sidewalks of his neighbourhood, and started building art installations using the garbage people dumped on the empty lots on his street. This three block area has become internationally famous as the Heidelberg Project. Things are changing, however, in the motor city. The city's great avenue, Woodward/M-1, has just been rebuilt with a little more than three miles of light rail transit installed, and new condominiums, boutiques, breweries, and retail have begun to flock to its route, eagerly awaiting the start of service in 2017. In an all
Top: Downtown Detroit as seen from the Renaissance Center, Below: The Heidelberg Project. Photographs on this page by Taylor Evans
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too familiar example of governmental failure, most public funding for the LRT project has fallen through. Detroit is used to governments failing it however, and private citizens and businesses have stepped up to fund the project themselves. It's a city with undying determination. As it says on the T-shirts many locals wear, "Nothing stops Detroit". The mood on the bus during our return trip was energetic. While everyone was tired from the intense two days of touring, we were all energized by the raw passion of the people we met and the determination of the city we explored. Coming from a city like Hamilton, which has been dismissed for decades, and has seen economic hardship (albeit minor when compared to Detroit), our tour group seemed to develop a hopeful empathy for Detroit. We know that cities can come back. In the case of Detroit, this comeback will be harder and longer than it has been for Hamilton. But Detroiters are ready for it with or without the help of their governments or outside opinions. Just look to their city's prophetic motto,"We hope for better things. It shall rise from the ashes" Upper Left: Campus Martius, Above: Dan Gilbert's model of downtown Detroit. Photographs on this page by Susie Braithwaite
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OCTOBER 2016
B U I LT H E R I TA G E
Unbuilt Hamilton By Mark Osbaldeston There was nothing inevitable about the way Hamilton developed. It was the result of choices. They may have been limited by geography, informed by economics, dictated by politics, or influenced by trends and temperament, but things usually came down to some people in a room, deciding what made sense economically, politically or practically. In Unbuilt Hamilton, published this fall by Dundurn Press, and in a free exhibition based on the book on now at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, I chronicle the city’s building plans that didn’t make the cut, in whole or in part, for better or for worse. From George Hamilton’s early-19th-century vision for his namesake town, to plans for a stadium in the west harbour area in the early 21st century, the history of Hamilton’s development is a history of invention and reinvention — by an “ambitious city” whose ambition has always had its limits. Mark Osbaldeston will give an illustrated talk based on Unbuilt Hamilton at the Art Gallery of Hamilton on October 28 (reception at 7 p.m. followed by talk at 7:30). Admission is free. He will also give a free illustrated talk at the Central Library on December 3 at 2:00 p.m. You can get your copy of Unbuilt Hamilton from most bookstores, as well as from Dundurn Press at www.dundurn.com. You can also pick it up at The Hamilton Store at 165 James Street North in downtown Hamilton.
01.
A 1920 proposal for the “mountain memorial plan” would have seen the Mount Hamilton Hospital on Mountain Park Avenue (the current Juravinski) completed in a monumental fashion, as a memorial to Hamiltonians who had died in the Great War. In a plebiscite held on January 1, 1921, Hamiltonians indicated their preference for a war memorial hall instead — itself never realized. [Author’s collection]
02.
This 1931 rendering shows architect William Somerville’s design for the Baptist chapel that was meant to dominate McMaster University’s new Hamilton campus. Today, the still-empty space between Hamilton Hall and University Hall marks the site of the chapel, a victim of economics and competing priorities. [Courtesy of Canadian Baptist Archives]
03.
This 1984 proposal would have seen the old central library on Main Street West integrated into a theatre-restaurant complex housing Theatre Aquarius. The design, by Moffat Kinoshita Associates, would have added an 800-seat auditorium to the rear of the historic building. Despite initial interest in the project, city council voted against a financial contribution needed for its construction. [Courtesy of Don Moffat]
04.
Architectural renderer and designer Martin Myers prepared this design perspective in 1996 to illustrate a waterfront historic district proposed in the 1995 West Harbourfront Development Study. Included was a Great Lakes maritime heritage museum that could exhibit the Hamilton and Scourge, two sunken American warships from the War of 1812. The design was conceptual, contingent on the removal of the CN’s Stuart Street rail yard, which remains in use. [Courtesy of City of Hamilton Public Works Department]
05.
In 1967, the city sought a private-sector partner to develop the commercial component of Civic Square, the development that now encompasses Jackson Square. Two developers responded. This was the vision of Triton Centres Limited, working with the architect John Andrews. Although the city’s review committee preferred it architecturally, financial considerations saw it passed over. The view is looking northwest from King and James.
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U R B A N I C I T Y. C A
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OCTOBER 2016
EXPERIENCES
According to Nics... by Nicole Grosel Lately, I’ve been struggling. As with everything that has to do with my brain, there is no single event, individual, or situation that created this feeling inside – it’s everything all at once. A tidal wave of emotions, thoughts and words wreaking havoc on my mental processes and literally anyone who happens to step into the line of fire and asks me how I’m doing. Bam, that’s just how I roll. In the midst of this hurricane, I’ve had many late night/early morning (oftentimes teary) conversations with various people in my life. Some individuals have given me great insight, some have left me feeling more confused than before, others made me laugh when I needed it most, but there was only one conversation that made me feel the need to succumb to physical violence. At the end of this particular heart-to-heart someone said to me, “It’s okay, you just need to figure out what you want to do with your life” (insert here the empathetic side head tilt that also went along with this patronizing statement).
another language. I want to play music. I want to show others why I love this city. I want to make a difference. I want to live a life that I am passionate about. Shall I continue? Unfortunately, conversations highlighting my need to figure out exactly what I want to do with my life are a recurring theme. Maybe it’s because people view me as an intelligent individual whom they would expect to have their entire life mapped out, or maybe it’s simply because young people have been programmed since elementary school to believe that the only question worth answering in life is “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Either way, my standard answer of “I don’t know” has never left anyone satisfied (to be fair, on occasion I also tell people that I want to be a construction worker – I also have a tendency to be a smartass).
I immediately wanted to throat punch them. In that instant, I could have rattled off a list of a hundred things that I want to do with my life; none of which I believe would have been a satisfactory response and/or defense to their statement. I want to do something every day that makes my heart race. I want to be an inspirational and important person in the lives of those I love. I want to have conversations with strangers and see the world through a different set of eyes. I want to see the world. I want to write a book. I want to have a book published. I want to take photos of the places and spaces that I love. I want to design a home. I want to complete random acts of kindness each day that I am alive. I want to push myself past my comfort zone. I want to fall in love. I want to learn
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The reason this particular question makes me want to drop kick someone in the throat is because it implies that what I’ve been doing every day for the past 29 years doesn’t constitute a “life”. It implies that all of my experiences, all of my relationships, all of my accomplishments, all of my defeats, and all of the moments in between don’t count. Does “life” only begin when a professional designation is attached to our names? Forgive me for calling that bullshit.
slapping a few extra zeros on the end of my paycheque. My question is, do any of those things truly matter if what you’re doing is not meaningful to you? The rationale behind this may not line up with what society deems the proper way of choosing a career, but I’m starting to care less and less when it comes to societal opinions about my life. This next thought may sound slightly morbid, but when we die, it’s not our resumes that will be read aloud at our funerals. What will be recounted are the things we loved, the way we shared our passion with the world, and most importantly, the people who we loved and the way they loved us back. Well, at least those are the aspects of my life that I want to be celebrated. In my opinion, we should live each day as if it were a moment we would want to be eulogized. A moment that we would want others to remember us by. If nothing else, I want my life to be meaningful. I want to make an impact on the world. Whether that impact is big or small doesn’t matter. When I leave this world I want to be remembered as a passionate, kind-hearted, and inspirational person, who laughed often and loved even more. I want to be remembered as a person who instead of playing it safe and following the rules of what my life was supposed to look like, lived a life doing exactly what they loved. I know that at the moment my path is unclear, but just because I can’t see the end point doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be awesome.
True, I’m not currently on a clear path that is leading me directly to the top of the so-called professional ladder, attaching a fancy job title to validate my success, and
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HUMOUR
Dostoevsky vs. Duct Cleaning by Mark Coakley
Our home phone number is on the national do-not-call list, but telemarketers keep calling anyway. That used to annoy me, until I figured out a way to enjoy their calls, while also promoting literature. How? Like this: our home phone rings and I pick up and say "Hello?" and hear a silence for a few seconds, followed by a cheerysounding voice with (usually) an East Indian accent saying, "Hello, how are you today?" That's when I grab the closest written material. Last time it was Dostoevsky's long novel of sin and redemption, The Brothers Karamazov, left by my wife on the kitchen counter. I opened the paperback to a random page and sentence and read aloud to the telemarketer, "'I was once bitten by a centipede and was in bed for two weeks with a high fever.'" After a pause, the stranger on the phone said, "Sir, this is duct cleaning services. How are you?" I continued with, "'So now I felt as if a centipede or some other noxious insect had again stung my heart and contaminated me. I suppose you see what I mean, don't you?'" Another pause, then he said, "Sir, are you the homeowner?" I flipped a few pages ahead (because I prefer third-person passages) and read aloud, "'Just as expected, Alyosha found his father sitting at the table.'" "Pardon me?" "'The living room, the largest room in the house," I said, "'was furnished with a sort of old-fashioned pretentiousness. The furniture was white and very old, covered in a red silky material.'" "Sir, I'm calling about duct cleaning services." I replied with, "'On the walls between the windows hung
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mirrors in over-elaborate frames. In the corner there were several icons, in front of which a lamp was lighted every night.'" A long pause, then, "Sir, what you are saying makes no sense." "'Mr. Karamazov usually went to bed late -- at three or four in the morning -- and until then he would pace the floor or sit in an armchair and meditate.'" The telemarketer hung up on me. The immediate goal of my hobby is to keep the telemarketer on the line for as long as possible, while saying nothing except what is on the written text. To prevent a premature hang-up, I'll sometimes read the random lines in a highly emotional tone, as if making a heart-felt confession. Sometimes I'll end a line with a friendly chuckle, as if inviting the telemarketer to join me in the joke. But none of them, so far, has ever understood or appreciated why I was so non-responsive. Always, their voice gets flustered and then they hang up. I'm surprised they haven't put me on THEIR do-not-call list yet. It isn't only classic novels that I read to telemarketers. Once I read from a brochure about paint from Home Depot. Another time, it was an article in The Spectator about the McMaster Marauders volleyball team. Another time – which lasted longer than usual – I read from a gritty crime novel about a detective chasing a serial killer. I guess that telemarketer got caught up in the suspenseful plot for a while, before realizing that she needed to hang up on me. In June of this year, I regaled a telemarketer (who was probably also a criminal hacker) with an editorial from urbanicity Magazine. "Hello, this is Microsoft Support with a critical upgrade. Are you in front of your computer?" I said, "'It can be both comforting and frightening to accept the fact that history is linear.'"
"Pardon me?" "While it often can feel or appear cyclical, history is, in fact, always moving forward.'" "We have had a serious report of a problem with your computer, sir. Are you now in front of your computer?" "'It's up to us as individuals, organizations and societies to learn from and to avoid repeating mistakes made in the past.'" "What are you saying to me, sir?" "'I'm not going on an existential rant, I promise,'" I quoted, adding, "I only bring this up because it's healthy to point this out every now and then.'" "Point what out?" "'Hamilton sometimes seems to be stuck in a cyclical way of thinking." "Try to understand, sir. I am calling from Microsoft. You have a problem with your computer." "'Lately, I've been struck by how ironic it is that Hamilton's city council is --'" He hung up. I find my hobby enjoyable, and my sons like to listen in, sometimes laughing so hard that they have to leave the room. My main purpose is, of course, educational. As an author and a fan of literary arts, I wish to spread the joys of great prose, even across the ocean on a fuzzy VOIP line. Telemarketers lead busy, hectic lives and too often fail to take the time to savour well-crafted literary expression. By exposing them to this art, I provide a valuable global service. And I refuse to underestimate my audience. Telemarketers are intelligent people, in my experience, and I wish to challenge them with bold, innovative and unconventional literary works, broadening their understanding of literature ... and of life. That's why I now have a copy of James Joyce's experimental masterpiece Finnegan's Wake resting on our kitchen counter, ready for the next time a stranger calls.
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OCTOBER 2016
F O O D C U LT U R E
Ravine Vineyard Restaurant St. David’s, Ontario Wine Country By Mel Gedruj
Photographs by Mel Gedruj
W
e often hear from eating establishment owners that they source their ingredients locally. It is a sign of the time and appeals to our senses. At Ravine Vineyard Restaurant, sourcing locally is taken to an entirely different level. They raise their own pigs and produce their own charcuterie (cold cuts) and sausages. They grow their own organic vegetables, bake their own bread, make their own preserves and truly apply the much touted farm to table concept. The menu will reflect that seasonally and sometimes even weekly depending on freshness and availability. The restaurant overlooks a large part of the vineyard. It is a rustic design nicely fitting in the surroundings and certainly complementing the tasting building which is an historical structure. In its basement the meats are cured in a temperature-controlled room near the cellar area. Think of it as the blending of the old and the new (in fact it is truly high-tech!). They do recommend reserving your table, and I concur, as walk-ins are not easily accommodated due to high demand. When you get there, try their wines in the tasting room. The product is of excellent quality. My personal favorites are the Cabernet Franc and the Meritage. The Riesling and Chardonnay are offered at two levels. The tasting room is very cozy and the point of sale is at the end of it. A short corridor leads to the small retail store. The menu, like the setting, is very rustic and simple in its design. The charcuterie board will change with the availability of the cold meats. There is usually a salami, a German and/or Spanish style sausage, a cured bacon and other traditional offerings. The cheese board will also feature the available cheeses for the day. The presentation for both is elegant and supplemented with preserves and country mustard all made in the restaurant’s kitchen. For lunch, they do have house-made burgers with fries and mussels—both excellent. The soup of the day when we visited was a cream befitting the season. On our table we had the Meritage as it was deemed a “lighter” wine for the fare we ordered versus the Cabernet Franc. This is a place where food and wine are equally taken very seriously. It is worth noting that it was listed as one of the world’s best 20 restaurants in 2011. But then again, behind this daily quality production there is a leadership that trained and worked with the very best chefs of our time. Make a point of visiting and spend time tasting the excellent wines and food available at Ravine Vineyard in St. David.
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F O O D C U LT U R E
Mickey McGuire's Cheese An Emporium of Goodness By Mel Gedruj
If you look for the origins of the first cheese and how it was made, all you will come across is speculation: how it might have started 4000 or 5000 years ago…but who knows exactly? Many have assumed it was by accident in a way very similar to winemaking. Lately, carbon dating evidence has been found indicating that somewhere between 2500 and 3000 BC, cheese was made in ancient Egypt. The truth is that most of the cheese we are familiar with may date back to 500 years at most, except for simple unripened cow and goat cheeses. It is interesting to note that Canadian cheese making benefited from the country’s two founding cultures. From the French, the tradition of soft ripened cheeses took hold in Quebec, (think Brie, Camembert) and from the English, part of the United Empire Loyalists pushed out by the revolution south of the border brought the art of making cheddar. Fast forward to our times and our area. Mickey McGuire Cheese shop in Dundas has become an institution for unique regionally defined products often made by smaller producers according to old traditions. I don’t mean “institution” in an antiquated sort of way, but rather as an honorific recognition for a family that has worked hard, and never gave up their beliefs and dreams to share their love of food. If they have one thing going for them, it is a tradition in growing food for themselves and others going back to at least to the times of the namesake of the shop: Mickey McGuire. These days Paddy and his wife operate the store, and Dad helps and advises when needed. Led by Mickey, the family operated a farm from 1953 until 1979. The main activity was naturally raised chickens for processing by food companies.
Photographs by Mel Gedruj
Along the way, they had a spot at the St. Jacob’s and Waterloo markets. Mike and Paddy would sell their cheeses to appreciative customers. Those days the choices were limited to the prevailing tastes of the time: cheddars, Goudas, and the like. Then other cheese vendors prompted them to be more adventurous and try the “weird cheeses”; those that “stink” and those that have much texture. Paddy remembers that Brie De Meaux was really the first “exotic cheese” that captured his interest and subsequently that of their customers. It is a soft ripened raw cow’s milk cheese. It has been an “AOC” since 1980. AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controllee in French) is an appelation in the same vein as wines. It tells you where the product was made and if the ingredients were from that same area. It is an indication of quality, but most of all authenticity. There is even a little celebration in Meaux. A fraternity named after the cheese organizes the festivities and the promotion of the product in France. At the shop a vast array of “weird cheeses” are now for sale. They come from all over Europe: England, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland as well as from Canada: Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. From the Lombard Taleggio (one of the few that was known in Ancient Rome) or Napolitan Mozzarella Di Bufala to the Swiss Gruyere and from French Camembert to Roquefort, chances are that what you need they have, whether made of sheep, goat, or cow milk. The key to the McGuire approach is an intense interest and a profound passion for the food chain. Their shop is always full of customers trying and conversing about the product. They reach even more people through the restaurants that they supply regularly. The list reads like the who’s who of great eateries known for authenticity and quality. The include Quatrefoil, Cambridge Mill, Spencer’s, Mezcal, and Toast Wine Bar among many others. Make it a point to visit the shop, and to sample, enjoy, ask questions, learn and buy some cheese to take home and share. This what food culture is all about.
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SOLUTIONS TO STEVEDOKUS PUZZLE 1
PUZZLE 2
PUZZLE 3
2 3 4 5 8 7 6 9 1
5 7 9 3 8 6 4 2 1
5 6 7 2 1 9 3 4 8
3 2 4 5 1 9 6 8 7
1 9 8 6 3 4 2 5 7
1 6 8 2 4 7 9 3 5
4 2 5 8 7 1 9 6 3
9 1 6 7 2 8 5 4 3
3 7 1 9 2 6 5 8 4
2 3 5 1 9 4 7 6 8
9 8 6 4 5 3 1 7 2
4 8 7 6 3 5 1 9 2
2 5 1 7 9 4 8 3 6
8 4 2 3 6 5 7 1 9
6 5 2 9 7 3 8 1 4
7 6 8 3 5 1 2 9 4
8 9 1 4 5 2 3 7 6 7 5 9 1 4 2 8 3 6
4 9 3 6 8 2 1 5 7
7 4 3 8 6 1 2 5 9
6 1 3 7 9 8 4 2 5
9 3 4 1 2 7 5 6 8 1 8 6 5 3 9 4 7 2 5 2 7 8 4 6 9 1 3 8 7 9 4 1 3 6 2 5 3 1 5 2 6 8 7 4 9 6 4 2 9 7 5 3 8 1
4 3 8 2
6 3 9 4
4 9 6 1
2 7
7 9 8 6
6 2 9 4
6 9 7 3 8
7 1
9
4 8 7
8 6 3 2
2 7 5 8
2 8
2
8 5 9 7
5 4 3
4 8 9 6
5 7 8 4
8 2 4 7 5
9 8 6
1
2 5
5 7 3 8
3 1 5 4
9 6 4 2
6 4 8 6 1
2 5 8 1
PUZZLE 1 LEVEL: EASY
PUZZLE 2 LEVEL: MEDIUM
STEVEDOKU
PUZZLE 3 LEVEL: HARD
SOLUTIONS TO PUZZLES BELOW
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OCTOBER 2016
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