The Future of Tech Lies in Hamilton It’s a new decade and looking back, ten years ago seems so far away. Our world, and by extension, our lives have changed at a faster rate than ever before, and we have a boom in technology to thank for that. For better or for worse, technology is here to stay — and it’s embedded in nearly every facet of our lives. From smartphones, to smart homes, to Bitmojis dancing in your living room — don’t believe for a second that we’re even halfway through the Digital Revolution. This is only the tip of the iceberg. The way we work is where we’ll feel the impact of technology the most. Technology is changing the landscape of employment as we know it. As we progress into the next decade, we’ll see an abundance of jobs become automated or operate under the watch of artificial intelligence (AI); intelligent machines that work almost like humans — and I’m not talking about Siri. These alterations in employment are happening all around us. In fact, as we enter the new year, well-known supermarket chain Loblaws announced the closure of two distribution centres in Laval, Quebec, and Ottawa, Ontario respectively, impacting 800 workers. The vacancy will transform distribution centres by adding robotics and machinery, and move away from a traditional warehouse look continues on page 10
MCMASTER INNOVATION PARK: CHANGING HAMILTON, THEN THE WORLD
IMPROVING RADIATION TREATMENT ACCURACY THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
MASSIVE SUCCESS STORIES COMING OUT OF THIS TECH HUB
AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT-DAY TREATMENT DELIVERY
BREAKTHROUGHS IN DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE ARE SAVING COUNTLESS LIVES
RESTAURANT REVIEW: VALENTINO’S STILL LEADING THE PACK IN ITALIAN CUISINE
AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO A SILENT KILLER
THIS DELICIOUS HAMILTON STAPLE DESERVES A VISIT
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HAMILTON TRIVIA 1. Glanford and Binbrook Townships originally formed what county? Lincoln, Wentworth, or Halton? 2. What year did the Hamilton Farmers’ Market first open? 3. In its inception, where did Theatre Aquarius primarily perform? 4. When was Earls Court Gallery established?
Answers on page 15
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FEBRUARY 2020 | THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE
McMaster Innovation Park: Changing Hamilton, then the world Gardens, which will become North America’s first smart retirement home that supports senior residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
MICHAEL KRAS
Michael is an award-winning writer, theatre artist, actor, producer, and craft beer lover addicted to all things Hamilton. Most recently, his acclaimed Voaden Prizewinning play The Team premiered to sold-out houses with Essential Collective Theatre and Theatre Aquarius.
While Hamilton is now well-established as a burgeoning hub for multiple industries from hospitality to arts & culture, it might not immediately be thought of as a heavyweight in the tech industry. But thanks to the work being done at McMaster Innovation Park (MIP), Hamilton is rapidly on its way to becoming the region’s mini version of Silicon Valley. An offshoot of McMaster University that officially opened its doors in 2009, McMaster Innovation Park isn’t simply a local incubator for research, experimentation, and entrepreneurship; it is also Canada’s premiere research centre for major innovations that are poised to have resounding impact within the life sciences, manufacturing, and tech industries (and, sometimes, a combination of all three) on a national and international level. In speaking with Sarah Boggan, MIP’s Marketing and Public Relations Manager, it immediately becomes obvious that Innovation Park has very cleareyed and ambitious goals for its future; with a particular focus on giving space and resources to timely innovations that are almost ready to take off. “If someone is working on the next algorithm that will be implemented in 10 years from now, we don’t recommend you come to MIP; there are other places that would be more suitable for you,” Boggan explains. “If you’re trying to bring something to market in the next 18-24 months, then come see us. We’re focused on impacting people today.” That approach, one with a keen awareness of the zeitgeist, has already resulted in a number of recent notable successes that McMaster Innovation Park has proudly played an active role in supporting. One such success is going to see the final product taking root right here in the Hammer. Last spring, the work finally began on building Ressam
Set to be located on West 5th Street here in Hamilton, technology-integrated features of the facility will include furniture, lighting, flooring, and beyond — all of which are designed to ease and support the lives of those suffering from these debilitating diseases. Pre-construction, MIP is hosting a showroom built to showcase these invaluable new capabilities. Innovations in the field of health and medicine hardly stop there. Fusion Pharmaceuticals, another MIP resident company which was founded by former McMaster University researcher John Valiant, recently received a $105 million investment towards their work on developing a new form of cancer treatment; the largest-ever Series B investment in a Canadian start-up, which is hardly surprising for a research initiative that could literally change the world.
“IF YOU’RE TRYING TO BRING SOMETHING TO MARKET IN THE NEXT 18-24 MONTHS, THEN COME SEE US. WE’RE FOCUSED ON IMPACTING PEOPLE TODAY.” Another major project that melds both the health science and tech fields is Reliq Health, which uses an app-based technology to remotely monitor the health and wellness of underserved and high-risk individuals; an innovation with humble origins in The Forge, which is a smaller Hamilton-based research incubator with ties to McMaster. Today, Reliq Health is growing rapidly with international connections, climbing revenues, and notable contributions to the healthcare needs of Canada’s First Nations communities. When I asked Boggan about where McMaster Innovation Park sees itself and its role in the near future, her response is an unreserved one signalling that MIP has no plans of slowing or scaling down. “Our goal is for this to evolve from innovation park, to innovation city, to innovation region, to innovation country.” Clearly, McMaster Innovation Park’s ambitions are as limitless as the cutting-edge innovators they support.
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Improving radiation treatment accuracy through technology
ANONYMOUS
The author has been a Hamiltonian since 2008. She enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and exploring nature trails.
Located on the Hamilton mountain, Juravinski Cancer Centre (JCC) provides many integral health care services to those across Southern Ontario. It is one of the 14 regional cancer programs in Ontario to ensure cancer care is delivered according to quality standards. According to hamiltonhealth.ca, approximately 4,500 new radiation therapy cases are treated annually at the JCC. Radiation therapy is a precise treatment plan that uses radiation to target cancer cells. The JCC houses a large radiation treatment program with a team of radiation oncologists (physicians), radiation therapists, medical physicists, nurses, and several support staff. A patient’s radiation treatment journey typically starts with an initial consultation following by three main steps. First, the radiation oncologist will explain the side-effects associated with radiation treatment and the preparation needed; for example, some patients may need to have a full bladder for treatment.
radiation is only reaching areas the doctor has prescribed to treat, and that there is zero or minimal radiation reaching areas the doctor does not want to treat. Since radiation is known to have side effects, it is important to make sure that the side-effects are controlled. Next are a few examples of how technology has helped improve treatment delivery.
DE EP IN S PIRATION B R EATH H OLD (DIB H ) Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) is when patients hold their breath during treatments. This technique is beneficial to patients receiving treatment to the breast or chest wall areas. By holding their breath during treatment, the patients are able to increase the distance between the heart and the chest wall. The extra margin minimizes the radiation dose reaching the heart. This can decrease the long-term side effects to the heart. To track a patient’s breathing, a block is placed on the patient's abdomen. The treatment machine and software are set up to track the block’s movement as the patient is breathing. When the treatment is ready to be delivered, patients will be instructed to take a slow deep breath in and hold; each radiation beam is on for about 30 seconds or less. If the computer senses that the patient’s breath hold is not deep enough or is
too deep, the beam will shut off and the treatment will not be delivered. Staff are continuously monitoring the patient’s breathing patterns to ensure that all treatments are delivered precisely and correctly.
A B DOM I NAL COMPRESSI ON Patients receiving lung radiation therapy can benefit by wearing a special belt during their treatments. A lesion in the lung can move a lot especially when the patient is a heavy or deep breather. The tumour movement can also depend on where and if the tumour is attached to a bodily structure. A tumour that has a large range of motion during a patient’s normal breathing cycle is not encouraged. This is because the movement can cause the treatment area to receive too much or too little radiation. Too much radiation can cause more sideeffects, whereas too little radiation renders the treatment ineffective. The location and tightness of the belt, as well as tumour movement is determined in the planning CT session. If the tumour moves a lot when the patient is breathing, then a belt is placed over the patient’s abdomen for treatment. The belt is used as a compressor to make the patient’s breathing shallower. As the breathing becomes shallower, the tumour’s movement also decreases. The decrease in motion allows bettertargeted radiation treatments.
I M AGE GU I DANCE (I GRT) Medical imaging is also used to improve accurate radiation treatments. Immediately before each treatment, staff will take x-ray images and/or a low-dose CT scan. These images are used to evaluate the location of the patient’s anatomy. With the images immediately available on screen, staff would overlay the day’s images to the reference/planning CT images. The difference in the patient’s treatment position is evaluated in six different planes; longitudinal, vertical, lateral, pitch, roll, and rotation. Once the differences in position are calculated, the treatment couch will move the patient into the correct treatment position. The radiation treatment is then delivered. The entire procedure from imaging to treatment can be as fast as 10 minutes. Back in the day, staff would have to run the x-ray film to develop in a dark room before treatment could be delivered, which meant the patient would have to be lying on the treatment table for over 30 minutes. Technological advancement has made radiation treatment not only more precise and accurate, but also timelier. If you have any questions, please contact your family doctor or a walkin clinic. For more information, please visit cancercareontario.ca and hamiltonhealthsciences.ca
Secondly, the patient then has a planning session at the computed tomography (CT) simulator. This is used to gather reference anatomical data in order to create a map, which is then used to determine how the radiation will be delivered. An optimal treatment position that is simple and reproducible, like lying on your back or on your stomach, is established in CT. Lastly, once all planning and quality assurance procedures are completed, the patient will start treatment. The treatment duration and frequency can vary; one patient can have daily treatments for 25 consecutive weekdays, while another patient can have three treatments spread over four weeks. The treatment position will be the same as that determined at the CT simulator. When the radiation is on, the patient will not feel anything. With technological advancement, many techniques are used to ensure that patients receive accurate and precise treatment. This means that the
Dr. Timothy Whelan, radiation oncologist at Hamilton Health Sciences’ Juravinski Cancer Centre, was awarded the O. Harold Warwick Prize in 2019 for outstanding achievements in cancer control research, recognizing Dr. Whelan as a world leader in radiation therapy for breast cancer.
FEBRUARY 2020 | THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE
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Breakthroughs in dental sleep medicine are saving countless lives
DR. BRYAN STEIN
Bryan is a doctor of dental surgery licensed to practice by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, awarded his D.D.S. degree f rom the University of Western Ontario in 1994, and is the owner of Pathways Dental Care located in Ancaster, Ontario.
Technology has come a long way in my lifetime. There have been countless innovations and helpful technologies to improve our lives. Dentistry is no different, and has been toe to toe on this technological bandwagon to improve how we do dentistry and how we help our patients lead happier and healthier lives. Throughout this past decade, our profession has witnessed technologies that have transformed how the general dentist has been able to expand their scope of care. There has been a plethora of new and amazing devices. Today, we enjoy the convenience of intraoral cameras and digital impressions to help with communication and fabrication of appliances. Additionally, 3D X-ray machines and their diagnostic capabilities, digitizing implant dentistry, and the virtual planning and execution of orthodontic treatment with clear aligners have all contributed to fewer visits and better outcomes for patients. When I graduated from dental school in 1994, I would have never imagined that I would be able to accomplish the scope of care and predictability that I can achieve today. Each innovation has allowed me to grow my practice to make all these new procedures and treatments more accessible to my patients. One of the most exciting recent technological advancements has been in dental sleep medicine, which has farreaching benefits for the general population. But first, let’s frame the problem it aims to address.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a disease where you literally stop breathing in your sleep. It occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing the soft tissue to collapse and block the airway causing a person to stop breathing countless times a night. Snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, memory problems, irritability, fatigue, and insomnia are all signs that you are suffering from sleep apnea. This chronic ailment which is becoming more and more common in today’s population can be a potentially life-threatening condition if left untreated. OSA increases the risk of diabetes, depression, impotence, and has a 2-3 times increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. The risk of dying early is 3 times higher in people with this silent killer which affects about 25% of the population. A majority of these people go undiagnosed. Traditionally, the prescribed treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (C-PAP) therapy. It involves sleeping with a face mask connected by tubing to a constantly running machine forcing air into the lungs. Although the C-PAP machine is effective, approximately half of patients do not like this treatment and therefore, do not use it. Alternatively, with dental sleep medicine, dentists are able to help with Oral Appliance Therapy. It is an effective, non-invasive treatment option for snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea that can fit easily into your lifestyle. This dental appliance looks like a sports mouthguard and is worn only during sleep. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway to allow air to get into your lungs in such a way that prevents sleep apnea and snoring. This form of dental sleep medicine wasn’t taken too seriously initially because it involved a lot of guesswork with respect to the results it would achieve. That has all changed recently with the advent of the Matrix Plus and digital scanners.
The Matrix Plus (Zephyr Sleep Technologies based out of Calgary) is a game changer in my opinion. It uses Artificial Intelligence to help diagnose and treat people with OSA. Traditionally, testing can be done using a PSG (Polysomnogram) at a sleep lab or using a Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT). Many people shy away from going to a sleep lab as it is not only inconvenient, but uncomfortable to be tested in a strange environment. The Matrix is an easy to use HSAT with accessible testing right in the comfort of your home. It’s important to mention that an HSAT must be interpreted by a board-certified sleep physician in order to be diagnosed with OSA.
OSA INCREASES THE RISK OF DIABETES, DEPRESSION, IMPOTENCE, AND HAS A 2-3 TIMES INCREASED RISK OF HEART DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND STROKE. THE RISK OF DYING EARLY IS 3 TIMES HIGHER IN PEOPLE WITH THIS SILENT KILLER The Matrix Plus offers significant benefits to both patient and dentist by allowing a sleep physician to diagnose and to confidently prescribe treatment for OSA. The Matrix Plus is not only an HSAT to assist in diagnosis, it can also predict whether or not the patient is actually a candidate for oral appliance therapy and can even determine what the ideal forward position of the jaw is for the patient to achieve the most optimal result. One of the major challenges has always been which patient will respond to treatment with an oral sleep appliance. This now gives us the ability to take out all the guesswork. Implementing the Matrix Plus into our sleep apnea
workflow has given the sleep physician, the patient, and myself the confidence that an oral appliance is a good decision. As a result, we can minimize jaw joint and muscle issues while significantly reducing chair time and the number of visits for our patients. Traditionally, to fabricate an oral appliance required molds that were taken with trays filled with impression material. Those days are over. No more gagging, unpleasant tastes, and messes. Not to mention this method was not always accurate, causing patients to retake the impression more than once. Capturing accurate full arch impressions and proper bite is essential to creating an ideal fitting oral appliance. With obstructive sleep appliances, it is crucial to have an accurate fit and bite record in order to minimize improper positioning of the appliance, tooth shifting, bite changes and /or temporomandiblular joint issues (TMD). Digital impression and bite records eliminate the inaccuracies of the traditional impressions by accurately being able to capture all the information needed. It decreases clinical and lab errors, it requires fewer models, and provides a less porous appliance thereby reducing bacteria build up leading to early discolouration and bad odour. The result is a healthier, more accurate, and comfortable fitting appliance that can last longer. And since the information is being sent digitally over the internet rather than by mail, the turnaround is significantly faster which translates to less patient visits. The result is a much happier and healthier patient. I hope you are as confident as I am in how technology is creating a giant leap forward. For general dentistry, the innovations in dental sleep medicine is very promising. There is such a great need for increased awareness and diagnosis of this silent killer. I am hopeful that more dental professionals will embrace this growing field of dentistry and contribute to this serious health problem in order to help more people seek the treatment they truly need.
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DR. BRYAN STEIN
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Hamilton’s METTAMADE focus on sustainability is the future of clothing technology
SHAWN SMITH
Shawn is a writer f rom Hamilton. He enjoys sports, music, and reading. His work has appeared in The Globe and Mail and on Bleacher Report, Vice Sports, and Sportsnet.ca.
Technology has been a process that focused on speed: how fast and cheap can a product be made and put out there for people to consume? The focus for the past few decades now has been to make as much as you can for as little money as possible. In terms of clothing, that has meant a 52-season fashion cycle amongst the big box stores where clothes on the shelves are changing by the week and produced at the cheapest means necessary. It should come as no surprise that this focus on mass production is having dire consequences on the planet. That’s why businesses like Hamilton’s METTAMADE have taken a different approach. Their approach is simple: create clothes that are made for a wide range of body types and sizes that are
adaptive to each person’s unique shape. This brand is making long-lasting, fashion-forward clothing that won’t go out of style in a month and will be something that can remain in your closet for years. These clothes are made with sustainability in mind, both for the personal consumer and for the planet. “The idea of METTAMADE came from a passion project of making clothing that was adaptive to a fluctuating body but was practical, comfortable, and stylish,” said Morgan MacDonald, who runs METTAMADE with her mother Carol Davies. “As a slow fashion brand, we produce clothing in small batches and on a made-to-order basis. It takes us many months to release a style and a lot of heart and soul goes into the design, research and development, sizing, and production before it makes its way being released.” Davies agreed with the sentiment, adding “we consider what our customers are looking for and how we can come up with designs that have universally good fit. Since we are a size inclusive brand, we try to design things that look and feel good on bodies from extra small to five XL.” By creating clothing that works for all bodies, METTAMADE is creating a world where the local consumer doesn’t have to spend hundreds upon
hundreds of dollars on new items every few months. Instead, they can buy items that are designed to last and stay fashionable for years.
recycled fabrics and more sustainable fabrics that are less demanding on the environment. There is also an increased demand on companies for transparency in terms of their production methods.”
“We made the conscious choice of selecting bamboo-spandex fabric because it feels soft on the skin, and it’s As concerns over climate change breathable with some stretch,” Mac- become more apparent by the day, Donald said. “The fabric that we work technology is adapting. The move, with, feels quite luxurious and com- especially among small businesses, is to create products forting and that that are entirely comfort was the unique to them and feeling we wanted “THE IDEA OF made with sustainothers to experiMETTAMADE ability in mind. ence when wearing CAME FROM A our clothing.” PASSION PROJECT If businesses like METTAMADE can The choice to go OF MAKING put sustainabilwith bamboo-spanCLOTHING THAT ity and the future dex fabric was made WAS ADAPTIVE TO of the planet at the with the planet in A FLUCTUATING forefront of their mind as well; bamBODY BUT WAS model, surely the boo is a sustainPRACTICAL, large department able resource that COMFORTABLE, stores should be requires little water. AND STYLISH,” doing the same. We’re running out The move towards of time. sustainability isn’t unique to METTAMADE in the fashIf you’re interested in more inforion industry. mation on METTAMADE, visit “This industry (along with many oth- mettamadeinhamilton.com or visit ers) is experiencing a revolution and their store at 1032 King Street West in companies are forced to respond,” Hamilton’s Westdale Village. MacDonald said. “We’ve already seen many brands transition towards using
FEBRUARY 2020 | THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE
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Restaurant review: Valentino’s still leading the pack in Italian cuisine
Soon after, other restaurants in the city started offering panzarottis as well, but none of them rivaled Valentino’s. Their undeniably good food led to increased popularity for the restaurant as a whole.
JENNA WHITNEY
Jenna is a Dental Hygienist 9-5 and a Foodie 24/7. She's exploring Hamilton one local restaurant at a time.
When I first moved to Hamilton, I would always ask people what restaurants I should check out. Everyone I met told me I absolutely had to go to Valentino’s and that it has been a Hamilton staple for years, so I obviously added it to my list of recommendations. When one of my coworkers told me they have “the best panzarottis in Hamilton” and that her family gets take out from there every Friday, I was sold. Afterall, who can say no to a good panzarotti?! Valentino’s has been around in Hamilton for over 40 years and has made a well-deserved impact on the community. In 1978, Valentino’s (named after actor Rudolph Valentino) first opened as a small family-run bakery and take out eatery in Westdale. In less than a year, they expanded into a full restaurant with something unique to offer the community. But what was it that set them apart from everyone else? It was the panzarottis; the first restaurant in Hamilton to offer these savory turnovers.
In 1985, they opened their second location to better serve the growing demand. Now with locations in Stoney Creek and Westdale, and the ability to eat in or take out at both locations, it’s easy to get a hearty Italian meal wherever you are in the city. Their home style cooking and the famous panzarotti have unquestionably stood the test of time as witnessed by the demand for their food and amazing
reputation all throughout the city. You really feel like you’re getting a home cooked Italian meal from Nonna’s kitchen with recipes that have been passed down through generations. Valentino’s gives you classic Italian comfort food that doesn’t disappoint. Something else that makes Valentino’s unique from other Italian restaurants is that they make their own craft beer! You may have even seen them at Hamilton’s ‘I Heart Beer Festival’ in the past. Their brew master, Devyn Prince-Reid, started brewing beer at the Westdale location in 2012. Since then, their menu has hosted house ale year-round, as well as rotating seasonal
THE GNOCCHI DUMPLINGS, LASAGNA, AND MANICOTTI NOODLES ARE MADE FRESH IN HOUSE AND ALL OF THE PASTAS ARE TOPPED WITH QUALITY INGREDIENTS. beers. Some of the seasonal draughts that they’ve experimented with over the last 8 years include Lemon Stout, German Pilsner, Blueberry Wheat, and a Winter’s End Extra Pale Ale. Be sure
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to ask your server what seasonal selection they have available for you to try — you won’t regret it. On the menu you’ll find everything you want in a good Italian restaurant; soups, salads, sandwiches and of course the 3 P’s — pasta, pizza, and panzarottis. The gnocchi dumplings, lasagna, and manicotti noodles are made fresh in house and all of the pastas are topped with quality ingredients. As for the pizza and panzarottis, the available items to choose from are outstanding. From an assortment of vegetables to a wide array of Italian meats and cheeses, you’ll be sure to find your perfect combination. There are even gluten-free options for almost everything on the menu so no one has to miss out! The portions are large and a fantastic value for your dollar ensuring you and your wallet will be leaving the table satisfied. Make sure to save room for one of their homemade desserts! With a beautiful glass case of cannolis, cheesecakes, cookies, pastries, and cakes to choose from, it’ll be hard to decide on just one. They also have homemade gelato in a handful of flavours including dairy-free options. The atmosphere of the restaurant is perfect for everyone. You’ll see families, children, friends, coworkers, and people from all kinds of backgrounds coming together in a common space to share a meal together. This has always been one of the goals of Valentino’s. They’ve strived to create a space where people can come together, couples can share a romantic meal and, most
importantly, a place where memories can be made. This feeling, mixed with the amazing food you eat while you’re there, has created a recipe for success that makes people keep coming back. Before you make your way to one of their locations, I’ll leave you with my top picks from the menu. For appetizers you can’t go wrong with their homemade mini arancini and stracciatella soup. The stracciatella soup might be one of the best soups I’ve ever had, and I don’t say that lightly. My partner even said it was reminiscent of the soup he grew up eating at his Nini and Poppy’s house! My go-to on the menu is the buildyour-own panzarotti, filled with rapini, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes and hot salami. Pro tip: ask for it well done! My favourite pasta is the spicy fettuccini with rapini and prosciutto. It’s made with homemade hot pepper paste, oil and garlic, prosciutto, rapini, and kalamata olives. For pizza, I love the arugula pizza made with pesto base, mozzarella, goat cheese, arugula, fresh prosciutto, and a balsamic glaze. It makes amazing left overs, unless you’re like me and eat it in the car on your way home! Don’t take my word for it though, go try it yourself! You can visit Valentino’s in Westdale at 824 King Street W or on the mountain at 835 Paramount Drive. Both locations are open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, dine in, or take out!
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CONT I NUE D FROM F RO N T PAG E which Loblaw’s hopes will modernize their business. In some cases, rather than being replaced, we’ll work alongside technology in the form of robotic arms and AI software. However, this doesn’t come without complications. Our AI co-workers are so efficient that there’s been cause for concern about the pressure it puts on human workers to increase their performance. For Amazon and their warehouse fulfilment centres maintaining one- and two-day delivery means enormous pressure on workers to operate as fast as machines, which is punctuated by growing human burnout and safety concerns. AI is also capable of operating independently through machine learning. Machine learning provides artificial intelligence systems with the ability to automatically learn by recognizing patterns or characteristics. Anytime you’re recommended a new product on Amazon, a new show or movie on Netflix, or even certain ads on Instagram, machine learning is at work. Conversely, it’s been recorded as early as 2011 that shopping malls have been tracking customer behaviour through their smartphones to determine the length of stay and consumer shopping patterns, such as comparing items and prices between stores and whether or not people go out of their way to visit a specific store. This insight allows companies and those with access to AI technology to better target their intended audience. If these revelations are stirring mixed emotions and apprehension, that’s understandable. If the popularity of Black Mirror is anything to go by, there’s an endless source of films, television, and other media that have conditioned us to be cautious of the control we relinquish to technology. But maybe it’s a matter of perspective — rather than dreading how AI and automation will change our industries and displace us in the job market, it may be an opportunity to shift our skills to accommodate a digital future for the better. It's what we’ve always done after all — change and adapt. When speaking about electronic hotel check-ins and the diminishing amount of human interaction, Toronto realestate developer Brandon Donnelly stated that the change is inevitable. “We used to have elevator operators. Now we don’t. We used to have people shoveling coal into furnaces. Now we don’t. And I think that’s okay. We created different jobs. The same is likely to happen with Uber/Lyft drivers”. The collection of skills required to find work in today’s market is indicative of a transition from a jobs economy to a skills economy, one that values critical thinking, interpersonal skills,
problem solving, and above all — digital literacy. Digital literacy doesn’t mean that we’ll all become programmers and coders; instead it’s an understanding of and familiarity with tech in the same way that we value reading as a literacy skill. Think of it as the difference between your little cousin and your parents when they get ahold of an iPhone; one flourishes, the other is deeply confused. As it turns out, we’re not prepared for this shift. A 2018 RBC report on the future of work illustrated that neither the Canadian education system or employers are ready to train and help Canadians specifically youth navigate a skills economy. So, where do we go from here? The future is always uncertain, but Hamilton is stepping up as a leader in our new, tech-filled future. Not only do we have a robust collection of adult learning initiatives that are delivering Several Hamilton Mountain streets will become testing areas for autonomous car research in 2020. digital literacy and computer skills programs, like those offered by and the speed at which modular build- world. McMaster is certainly leadMohawk City School and St. Charles ings can be built at. Furthermore, short- ing the charge for exciting and fresh Adult Learning Centres across the ened timelines and indoor construction ideas, from becoming the new home city, we’ve also seen the beginnings are great news when confronting long, for law firm Gowling, to biotech startof industries adapting to disruption often harsh Canadian winters. up Fusion Pharmaceuticals. closer to home. Stelco, one of Hamilton’s largest Fred Wilson, an American venture By now we’ve all heard whispers of employers, is in the business of making capitalist predicts that a shift to autoself-driving vehicles over the last few steel — not an industry that comes to mation will lead to “experiments in years. As of late 2019, an opportunity mind when we think tech. And yet this reallocating wealth and income”. It’s is on the horizon for Hamilton to be at steel plant is at the forefront of deploy- very possible that retooling how we the forefront of the incoming autono- ing AI in day-to-day steel operations approach tech as workers and as a city mous car wave. Starting later this year, by partnering with Canvass Analyt- is vital going forward. Rather than fear several Hamilton Mountain streets will ics for optimizing the steel production the Digital Revolution, perhaps we become testing areas for research into process using reinforcement learning. should get ahead of disruption, become the cars’ sensor capabilities in a city Stelco’s CEO, David Cheney, has noted acquainted with technology and start environment — with a back-up safety that the implementation of AI has led the decade on the right AI-assisted driver behind the wheel of course. to “reduced waste, improved quality foot. Research and development in this area and optimization of asset utilization.” continues to be made locally through Huge thank you to Forge & Foster the McMaster Automotive Resource Many other industries are being dis- Investment Management for sponsorCentre as well. Following our recent rupted by tech and several of those ing this article and pushing city buildtransportation woes, I’m inclined tech companies are flocking to Ham- ing initiatives in Hamilton. to agree with councillor John-Paul ilton as their base of operations. Not Danko, who’s stated this is a win for the only has the tech scene in Hamilton city that “speaks back to our history as been named top 2 in North America a manufacturing city”. for tech opportunity, we’re also Canada’s fastest growing mid-sized city for Speaking of which, Hamilton’s reputa- tech according to a report released by tion as a manufacturing city will cer- CBRE in 2018. In fact, this past month tainly remain intact. Another oppor- the techfin company Q4 Inc., a cloudtunity has risen in the form of modular based investor relations platform, and construction. Modular design allows Ackroo, a customer loyalty and gift for a building to be 90% completed card service announced that they will within indoor facilities, which are then be launching Hamilton offices in 2020. assembled and completed on-site. ED Modular, a subservice of the construc- Then there’s McMaster Innovation tion company EllisDon, plans to capi- Park, which acts as a support nettalize on this technology by opening work through their affiliate tech hubs MICHAEL ADEBO the biggest modular building facility in The Forge, Innovation Factory, and Jack-of-all-trades, master of none. When Canada — right in Stoney Creek (pic- the soon to be built Emerging TechI’m not writing, you can f ind me taking tured on the front cover). Modular con- nology Centre, where once finished, photos, listening to music with my dog Tux, or getting too heavily invested in a Raptors struction is especially viable because of will act as a beacon for young profesgame. its environmentally-friendly methods sionals from across Canada and the
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FEBRUARY 2020 | THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE
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10 craft beer destinations just outside of Hamilton
K ITC HE NE R / WAT E RLO O
CA LE DON
CAM BR I DGE
In just under an hour's drive, beer lovers can find themselves immersed in Kitchener-Waterloo's unexpectedly brimming craft beer scene.
While many visit Caledon to sightsee at the famous Cheltenham Badlands, there's another Badlands worth exploring in town. That would be Badlands Brewery, a literal roadside shack churning out microbatches of hazy IPAs and DIPAs that are quickly becoming known as some of the best in the province. They're only open on Saturdays from 12 pm to 5 pm and they pretty much always sell out, so plan accordingly.
Cambridge's craft beer scene just keeps growing. The town plays host to well-loved local spots like Rhythm & Brews Brewing Company, Jackass Brewing, Wave Maker Brewery & Distillery, North Works Brewing Co., and old favourite Grand River Brewing.
If you're into all things tart and sour, Short Finger Brewing will have just what you're looking for in their scrappy young brewery that doubles as a brewer's supply store. From gin barrel-aged blends to sour saisons, these folks know what they're doing. Or, if haze and hops are more your thing, Counterpoint Brewing's recent addition to the city will excite you with their ever-changing line-up of exceptional IPAs.
But that's not all! GoodLot Farmstead Brewing is a ridiculously popular spot that actually grows their own hops and ingredients on-site!
One of the biggest beer draws in Cambridge is the famous Barncat Artisan Ales. An unassuming industrial unit open for only 8 total hours per week, Barncat is legendary for making some of Ontario's best hazy IPAs, impeccably balancing bright tropical flavour profiles with sumptuous earthy bitterness.
BRA NT FO R D
TORON TO
LONDON
For food along with a huge list of changing beer, Bell City Brewing is a popular long-standing local spot known for flagships like Edison's Peepshow IPA or their award-winning Eureka Cream Ale. Then, a homey vibe with bar room games awaits at Mash Paddle Brewing, who make old-school beers that are as approachable as they are flavourful.
There's simply too much great beer in the 6ix to explore in just one visit. I could write a novel detailing all of the terrific breweries Toronto hosts, so I'll keep it super brief and focus on a couple of highlights.
Toboggan Brewery is a massive spot in London's downtown that features a restaurant with a loaded food menu and great beer brewed on site, which is also available for takeaway in the adjoining bottle shop.
Bellwoods Brewery is quite literally world-renowned for their innovative, game-changing IPAs and sours; Left Field Brewery's baseball theme is now synonymous with their world-class beer; Muddy York's exceptional brews pay loving tribute to old-world styles and methods; and Godspeed Brewing marries Japanese techniques and ingredients with impeccable interpretations of under-appreciated beer styles.
Small-but-mighty Anderson Craft Ales never disappoints with beloved flagships and seasonally-inspired beer releases that are always excellent, Forked River always has a diverse and delicious line-up on offer, and the newer brewers at Powerhouse Brewing Co. and Storm Stayed are already becoming local favourites. Visitors can also hit up Milos' Craft Beer Emporium for excellent food and a seriously well-curated tap.
Finally, the newest Brantford establishment Steel Wheel Brewery is a tiny farmstead brewery and local favourite, well worth a visit for their gorgeous farmhouse tap room with seriously good sours and pale ales on offer.
URBANICITY.COM
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Did you know that there are dozens of breweries just a short drive outside the city? From small rural towns to big urban centres, Ontario’s craft beer scene is exploding like never before; and a healthy dose of that scene is within an hour’s drive of the Hammer. Here's our 10 favourite nearby beer destinations in no particular order.
SIMCO E
STRATFORD
GU ELPH
New Limburg Brewery has become well known in the province for making solid Belgian style beers inside a renovated old schoolhouse, and Hometown Brew Co. is very much a hidden gem pouring beer out of a nature-side shack made from a converted shipping container. On top of those, newer addition Charlotteville Brewing is already making impressive beer in their gorgeous farmstead setting.
Black Swan Brewing's tiny storefront spot pumps out its consistently excellent IPA, porter, and English ale alongside always-changing seasonal offerings, and the recently opened Jobsite Brewing has already become a favourite that pairs their beer with fantastic, fresh wood-fired pizza. If you've still got room for more, the popular Shakespeare Brewing Co. is also a worthwhile stop. Better still, all breweries are within a very short driving distance of each other!
The famous Wellington Brewery is the truest of trailblazers, one of Ontario's earliest-established craft brewers. Royal City offers strong takes on old-school styles, and more recent additions like Brothers Brewing and Fixed Gear are local hits with residents and University of Guelph students alike. Then, a brief drive down the road to St. Jacobs will bring you to the outstanding Belgian-focused beers available at Block Three Brewery.
NIAG AR A- O N -T H E - L A K E
SEE WHAT’S HATCHING AT NEST! One of Ontario's hottest tourist destinations and brimming with vineyards, Niagara-on-the-Lake is definitely most famous as wine country. What visitors may not know is that the region is also becoming its own beer country too. Two famous earlier establishments are Oast House, an unmissable red barn and farm-to-glass brewery specializing in bottle conditioned saisons and sours; and Silversmith Brewing, taking up residence in a renovated church with a straightforward line-up of beers that includes their award-winning Black Lager, which perfectly balances the easy-going grassiness of a lager with the chocolate and coffee-forward roasted malt character of a porter or stout. Newer to the scene are The Exchange Brewery, who are doing excellent work with barrel & foeder-aged sour ales in the heart of the downtown strip; and the nearby Bench Brewing in Beamsville, with an absolutely massive multi-level space featuring a restaurant and expertly crafted beers from hoppy ales to sours.
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FEBRUARY 2020 | THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE
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Tech giant Q4 buys into “quality of life” message of Hamilton and invests in new office on King Street
Darrell Heaps, CEO and founder of Q4 Inc. Photo by Jeff Tessier.
CRAIG CLARK
Craig is a writer and editor f rom Burlington, Ontario. His diverse range of work has been featured in various publications such as the Toronto Star, Blank Spaces Literary Magazine, and TERN Magazine.
Downtown Hamilton is changing with the city moving toward a tech industry base. A major player in the financial-technology space — Q4 Inc. — took notice and will be expanding into the city with their new office on King Street East. The announcement comes at a time when the city is trying to reposition itself as a tech hub for companies looking to grow. Q4 Inc. is a leading global provider of cloud-based investor relations. It is a trusted partner in over 2,200 of the world’s leading brands with offices already established in Toronto, New York, Copenhagen, and London. Not only does Q4 represent an important part of the rapid rejuvenation of Hamilton’s downtown core, the company will also create around 140 new jobs that offer competitive salaries and benefits within the tech industry.
According to CEO Darrell Heaps, Hamilton represents a growing and valuable talent pool of potential young workers who are looking for an opportunity to work in a modern downtown setting with all the qualities Hamilton has to offer such as affordable housing and living expenses.
and Mohawk College in Hamilton. The city’s new position as a leading hub for growing tech businesses has changed the outlook of new grads from the area to encourage people who have studied in the city and surrounding areas to stay and grow here rather than Toronto or Kitchener/Waterloo.
Judy Lam, Manager of Commercial Districts and Small Business at the City of Hamilton, says that it’s the “quality of life” message that Hamilton represents that has been so attractive to tech companies opening offices in the city.
The corridor also represents an easy connection between Toronto, Niagara, and Guelph that all have a toe in tech industries opening offices in nearby locations. Hamilton is the fastest growing mid-sized city in Canada for tech talent with its tech sector growing nearly 53% in the last five years, according to a recent CBRE Report.
THE COMPANY HAS EXPERIENCED RAPID GROWTH WITHIN THE PAST FEW YEARS AFTER ANNOUNCING A PARTNERSHIP WITH S&P GLOBAL MARKET INTELLIGENCE AND BUSINESS WIRE Hamilton represents a linking corridor that allows companies like Q4 to invest in employees who come from all over Southern Ontario with its proximity to several universities and colleges including McMaster University
Although the rejuvenation of the downtown core has its lovers and haters, Heaps and Lam both see the expansion of Q4 as a positive story and a stepping stone for more significant growth for the local economy as the city looks to move forward. Q4 has such a positive reputation amongst their tech peers that opening an office in Hamilton makes the city more attractive to other leading tech companies to also come to the neighbourhood. According to Lam, other tech companies have enquired about opening a new office in the same building as Q4 due to the activity that 140 new employees would bring to the downtown.
Trendy cafes and shops mixed with the affordable housing in the surrounding neighbourhoods makes it an attractive place for a high quality of life for its employees. The new Q4 offices will occupy the entire 9,500 sq. ft. second floor of a new four-storey brick-and-beam office at 59 King St E. They are scheduled to open in March with plans to expand even further to the fourth floor of the same building by the end of 2020. With its headquarters in Toronto, Q4 currently employs around 250 people worldwide. The company has experienced rapid growth within the past few years after announcing a partnership with S&P Global Market Intelligence and Business Wire, which has also doubled its client base to 2,200 within the past few months. Q4's investment in Hamilton is not only a strong signal to their thoughts on Hamilton becoming a dominate player in Canada's tech landscape but perhaps more importantly, has perked up the ears of other tech companies willing to also make the leap. To gather momentum in this way is one of the last pieces of the puzzle in determining the future of Hamilton’s economy.
URBANICITY.COM
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Top live performances to see in Hamilton this month
G I R L F R I E N D M AT E RIA L A N D PONY In 2017, Tokyo Police Club keyboardist Graham Wright decided to compose music for his film project about a killer Roomba. This led to a new collaboration with bandmate Josh Hook, Hollerado’s Jake Boyd and bassist Joseph Garand. Girlfriend Material carries over the catchy hooks that their predecessors were known for and their songs are pop-rock gems that are fun and breezy, while still having an indie-rock flavor for adults.
OWE N PA LLE T T
FIVE AT THE FI R ST
Whether you know him as Polaris Prize winner Final Fantasy, as a Grammy Award winner (for his work on Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs), or as an indemand soloist and artist, Owen Pallett’s quality of work can't be denied. Pallett is being presented via Hamilton Winterfest on February 8th starting at 8pm. Joining Pallett will be Hamilton’s Glass Eyelashes and DJ Smooth Transitions.
The 2019-2020 season marks the tenth anniversary of Michele Corbeil and Rachel Mercer’s collaborative efforts to bring classical music in an intimate and family-friendly setting to Hamilton through the Five at the First series. Under Mercer’s artistic direction, the series has brought a number of talented players to the city to perform at the First Unitarian Church (170 Dundurn Street South). Their February 29th concert is notable for exactly this reason.
PONY consists of frontwoman Sam Bielanski, bassist Eva Link, guitarist Stephen Giroux and drummer Matt Sandrin. Their garage-style of power-pop is exactly what you would expect to hear at a beach party (or in February if you’re looking to feel ready for some sun). The 19+ double-header is being presented by Mills Hardware on February 6th at 8pm, with doors at 7pm.
In addition to the music, ticketholders will also experience Cape Dorset, a large-scale outdoor video projection animated by local artist Lee Skinner. The imagery featured will be from the Dorset Fine Arts 2019 print collection in honour of their 60th anniversary of the West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative. The evening will also include screenings of the National Film Board’s “Winter Shorts,” and a complimentary poutine bar by Salt Lick Smokehouse.
R AC H E L B EC K
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Mills Hardware managed to snag the awardwinning singer-songwriter for a Hamilton stop on February 23rd at 7pm as part of the artist’s crosscountry tour. Rachel Beck will be performing in Hamilton just days after an appearance at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, and on her way to Toronto’s Dakota Tavern. The tour is in promotion of her sophomore album, Stronger Than You Know, which is due for release later this year. The performer’s self-titled debut quickly won over audiences and her single, Reckless Heart, reached number one on CBC’s Top 20 chart. Expect the concert to be full of Beck’s signature soulful-pop sound combining emotive vocals, distinctive piano melodies, and raw confessional lyrics. With her sophomore album being set up for success, this is the opportunity to see Beck before she hits the festival circuit and becomes a major cultural export.
The Hamilton Aerial Group takes incredible care with every element of their performance, ensuring each presentation is a unique, one-of-a-kind work. As a result, this ensemble of dedicated artists and stilt-walkers only present a few public performances each year, which are all highly anticipated. Their February offering, This is Here, draws inspiration from Hamilton-based poet John Terpstra’s book Falling Into Place and will be presented for four nights only, from February 12-15th at 7pm each evening. The annual fundraising event is a ticketed event as part of Hamilton Winterfest, and is based at the Hamilton Waterfront Trust. Given the small number of performances the group presents each year, expect these tickets to go quickly.
Featured alongside Mercer, and frequent collaborators Angela Park (piano) and Yehonatan Berick (violin) is double bassist Joel Quarrington and violinist Mayumi Seiler. In addition to being Mercer's colleague at the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Quarrington is a renowned bassist in classical music circles who has achieved a somewhat legendary status, while Seiler has been called the “embodiment of international chic” by the Globe and Mail. In addition to the artists, the program itself promises lighthearted fare, including Schubert’s popular Quintet, “The Trout.”
BEYOND JAMES
Launched in 2019, Beyond James is an independent blog focusing on news and reviews of the Hamilton arts community. Passionate about the power of the arts and culture to unite communities, Beyond James recognizes that great art isn’t conf ined to one space or one street in Hamilton: it’s everywhere.
1. Lincoln 2. 1837 3. Hamilton Place (now known as FirstOntario Concert Hall) 4. Earls Court Gallery was established in 1973 by Bob Daniels and Doug Nixon as a print and framing gallery. The location was at 78 George Street in Hamilton's Hess Village. In 1980 they moved down to 105 George Street and then in 2009, made the move to 215 Ottawa Street North where they still are today.
We prefer to send valentines to food, not people.
I want to send my love to...
Oooh, my turn! I really love Dave at Bon Temps. You can’t eat Dave, silly. We’re not animals.
We are literally, actually animals.
• Brux House’s pretzel • Mai Pai’s pizza • The French’s gnocchi • Those adorable little burgers at The Burnt Tongue • Saltlick’s brisket • The brás at Wild Orchid • A 3AM burger from The Ship • That divine teriyaki eggplant at Berkeley North
www.otherbird.com