ISSUE 3 VOLUME 3 JUNE / JULY 2016

Community volunteers gathered at The Cafe on Main Street East on May 10 to write down their “urban intervention” ideas for 100in1Day in Hamilton. A number of grassroots events are happening across the city on Saturday, June 4.. Read more on page 6. © Jeff Hayward

If this church is a-rocking, do come a-knocking by Sean Hurley with the Hamilton Gay Men’s Chorus sound stage,” boasted Rev. Doug as he Of course, there is always the risk in (HGMC). Rehearsing and performing at auditioned the organ and the acoustics. music, especially modern genres, of pro- s I explored Laidlaw Memorial Laidlaw was a challenge for the choir, due The stage, like the church, is now wheel- fane language. Rev. Doug is unmoved. AUnited Church, I found Reverend to the lack of space and a lack of access- chair accessible. “If they’re worried someone might swear Douglas Moore (aka Rev. Doug) crouched ibility for both patrons and performers. The reason behind the conversion in a song, I say they should come to a down behind the organ while music from To address that, the church wanted to goes back to the issue of sustainability. funeral now and then,” he answered. “We a version of Adele’s “Hello” filled the redesign the choir loft and pulpit area. Laidlaw United is not looking to make don’t have to be afraid of what musicians church. Music has always been a feature It meant a major renovation. The first a profit in renting to musicians. “The may say or do, and musicians should not of churches, but for Laidlaw, it is set to challenge was the permanence of the church is here and we would like it it to be afraid of coming into a church. All we become a link to the broader community. original construction. “It was built by be used for the arts and music in par- have to do is live together.” Founded in 1912, the iconic white Presbyterians who nailed down their pul- ticular,” Rev. Doug explained. “It is a In addition to offering the church church that stands with a shining beacon pits,” Rev. Doug explained. The second positive space. It is not a rental space. I as a 300-seat music venue, Rev. Doug at the corner of Ottawa and Cannon was an ailing organ that faced away from am interested in a relationship with the is seeking to cooperate with local busi- Streets, has known adversity. It survived the congregation. “The organ faced the musicians, restaurants, the BIA.” nesses and the Ottawa Street Business the Great Depression. When Rev. Doug wrong way as it always is to face the choir.” “Often the venues make the money, Improvement Area (BIA) to contribute arrived in 2004 he described the congre- The renovations would likely cost not the musicians,” he said. “We just to the rejuvenation of Ottawa Street by gation as being “in the typical shape.” about $40,000 plus an equal amount to want to recover costs. It is really also providing a performance hall. It was a mostly older congregation replace the organ. “For a congregation critical for me that the musicians who with a few younger people and “the sus- this size that’s pie way, way in the sky,” come to perform are comfortable, and Sean Hurley is a Crown Point resident and tainability wasn’t there anymore.” said Rev. Doug. “I’d say in outer space.” they’re well-paid, and they’re given the volunteer with The Point. Rev. Doug said that, as a step to However, if you haven’t noticed the respect of being in a space where their achieving sustainability, the congregation solar panels on the roof of the church, music is heard.” chose to replace staff with volunteers, Rev. Doug is a green guy who accepts the leaving only the minister and the musi- doctrine of reduce, reuse, and recycle. cian as paid employees. He’s not one to be put off by a challenge. At the time, the church was struggling With the assistance of Blair Batty, an to keep an organist while the organ itself organ builder based in Simcoe, Ontario, was in declining condition. Rev. Doug Rev. Doug managed to have a donated decided to break with tradition and hire organ (which had been converted to elec- Steve McRae, a musician with no experi- tric in the 1950s) reconverted to pipes. ence in church music. Congregation members then Hired out of the Mohawk College disassembled the choir loft and reused music program, Steve “had never played the materials to rebuild the front of the a hymn in his life,” said Rev. Doug. “He church to accommodate both Sunday played with the choir and it was fantas- services with a 14-member choir and a tic.” McRae, the first musician to get a stage that will support a four-piece band permanent contract at the church, is “a at other times. “About 70 percent of what very patient musician. Just a good guy all is here was already here,” explained Rev.

around.” Doug, adding the conversion takes 20 Hurley ©Sean McRae accompanied until 2012 when minutes. Nothing is nailed down and he took over directing the choir. everything moves, including the pulpit. The next step in the evolution of the Additionally, the church will be adding a Rev. Douglas Moore auditions the organ and acoustics at Laidlaw church began with Myke Hutchings, grand piano in June. Memorial United Church. a Hamilton musician who performed “What we have here is a pretty good 2 THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016

SPIRIT OF CROWN POINT by Rev. Shelley Smith Chapter Four I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. ello friends and residents of Crown Point! I walk around it. H Thank you very much for the positive feedback from my first column last month on spiritual renewal. Chapter Five PUBLISHER This issue’s theme, intervention, is really about change, I walk down another street. Fatima Mesquita about transformation. Along with a growing number of • North American cities, Hamilton brings its community- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Looking to the future in our Crown Point commun- builders together on a single day, this year on June 4. Cynthia Lokker ity, how can you, as an individual, open your mind and The project is called “100 in 1 Day” and it will involve • heart and spirit to new ways of thinking and, in turn, MANAGING EDITOR more than 120 interventions involving thousands of new ways of being? Sean Hurley engaged citizens. • We can start by cultivating a creative mind. Keep a Hamiltonians’ pride and dedication, so clearly shown PHOTO EDITOR notebook handy and write down your thoughts about in our many impressive community newspapers, is Tanya Field future projects you would like to do for yourself and • about people coming together for the greater good. your community. Do not judge them—just get them on EDITING AND PROOF TEAM But sometimes our work is a stumbling block. We paper. You will be surprised at how creative you are. Get Sarah Collier, Jeff Hayward, Sean Hurley, become close-minded, set in our ways. Deborah LeBaron, Cynthia Lokker, Michelle Martin, involved in your community. Share your ideas, because How often have you heard that “It can’t be done,” or Erin Shacklette, Matt Terry, Bev Wagar it could be that others have similar ones. “We don’t do it that way,” or “Why can’t they just do • We are blessed to live in this place called Crown DESIGN / PRODUCTION what I say?” If you are smiling or nodding your head, Point. We have community leaders, neighbours, and Johanna Chaytor, Tyler Fish, Sarah Greene, you know what I mean. businesses that are willing and excited to work with us. Jennifer Kaye, Agnieszka Wierzbicka Sometimes we cause ourselves stress, angst, and great • They don’t say “It can’t be done.” They say “Let’s work frustration when we keep doing that same thing over ADVERTISING SALES together to make it happen.” May we continue to work and over again expecting different results. Cynthia Lokker together and enjoy this summer in all that we do. [email protected] A few years ago I came across a poem that illustrates • this point. Shelley Smith is the Minister at Delta United Church and DELIVERY MANAGER Tim Brand she is a resident of the Crown Point community. Autobiography in Five Short Chapters • by Portia Nelson from her book, There’s a Hole in My ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hamilton Community Foundation Sidewalk. CONTACT THE POINT Chapter One I walk down the street. WRITE 52 Ottawa St. N., Hamilton, ON L8H 3Y7 There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. EMAIL [email protected] EVENTS TIPS [email protected] I fall in. ADS [email protected] I am lost . . . I am helpless. It isn’t my fault . . . ACCESS THE POINT ONLINE It takes forever to find a way out. thepointhamilton.wordpress.com

WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET YOU! Chapter Two I walk down the same street. CROWN POINT COMMUNITY There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. PLANNING TEAM I pretend I don’t see it. meets every third Monday I fall in again. of every month at 92 Ottawa Avenue North I can’t believe I am in this same place. from 6:30–8:30 p.m. But it isn’t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. CROWNPOINTHAMILTON.CA CROWN POINT HUB Chapter Three I walk down the same street. © Jeff Hayward @CROWNPOINTHUB There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it there. Top placing female in the Around the Bay I still fall . . . it’s a habit . . . but, 30K Road Race, Risper Gesabwa (bib F36) My eyes are open. and third place finisher for women Jane I know where I am. Murage (bib F33), approach the 7 kilometre It is my fault. mark while crossing Ottawa and Burlington I get out immediately. streets during the race on March 26. THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016 3 Why we should be pumped about the pump track

By Maureen Wilson Main Street who might never come into © Drake White contact with one another because our My favourite spot in Hamilton is city has become segregated by income. neither our waterfront nor the lush trails But here’s the most crucial reason, of the escarpment. It’s a bike pump track the one that likely will have the most tucked away in the southwest corner of impact on riders’ future lives: the track Gage Park. The track is an experiment is principle put into practice. It is an of inclusion and could serve as a model integrated, inclusive space, a working for other public investments and how we example of an idea often discussed but plan our city. rarely implemented. When you don’t know how the other Here’s why the pump track is so great. half lives, you start to lose empathy for Getting it off the ground was a valuable the other half. You can’t see the growing lesson in democracy for the youth who opportunity gap between their kids and championed their vision through the your own because these kids live and hoops of community consultation, city learn in a separate and unequal world. hall bureaucracy, and elected officials. You might begin to think that greater It remains a training ground in distance and higher walls can contain the democracy, as the young cyclists must cancer that is poverty. It can’t. The cancer A father runs alongside his son who is learning to ride the Gage Park (with little parental interference) sort of poverty affects the entire body politic. pump track. out the rules of play. They learn that the The Hamilton Spectator’s “Code Red” track won’t work if they all don’t work series and several other studies have together. It is a place of compromise shown that Hamilton is a city of poverty of role models and mentors for positive public spaces—these are all deliberate and community. It is a place to form by postal code. People living in situa- behaviours to be copied and for expecta- choices. The choices we make can either relationships. tions of concentrated poverty suffer from tions to be raised. increase social cohesion or it can accentu- It’s outside and it gets kids moving. poorer health and shorter life expectancy. If we are genuinely committed to ate economic divisions. At a time when childhood diabetes and They are less likely to have completed building a healthy, prosperous commun- The pump track speaks to the promise obesity rates are soaring, riding the pump post-secondary education. Productivity is ity for all, we must tackle concentrated and the possible. Sure, it’s just a track. track is a great form of exercise that also lost, taxable earnings are low or absent, poverty and the havoc it wreaks on But it’s a start on the right track. helps build confidence. and public costs rise. people’s lives. It unites a group of kids who are be- Inclusion is the road to prosperity for Great cities are made, not born. How Maureen Wilson is a resident of Hamilton and coming increasingly divided. The pump more kids, because a rising tide lifts all we build cities, who we include in our member of The Useful Knowledge Society. track draws youth from both sides of boats. An integrated city creates a place classrooms, and how we design our

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Please contact us for information Andrew Avsec led walkers through Crown Point identifying trees, email [email protected] potential greening spaces and searching for old growth specimens during Jane’s Walk this past May.

How to Sell High: Avoid these Three Mistakes When Selling Your Home Join An Elite Home Crown Point Neighbourhood - When you process, and on its own is not nearly decide to sell your home, setting your enough to help you make the best Child Care Team With asking price is one of the most important decision. A recent study, which compiles decisions you will ever make. Depending 10 years of industry research, has resulted 30 Years Experience. on how a buyer is made aware of your in a new special report entitled home, price is often the first thing he or "Homesellers: How to Get the Price You she sees, and many homes are discarded Want (and Need)". This report will help Look Into a Wee Watch Child Care Career Now. by prospective buyers as not being in the you understand pricing strategy from appropriate price range before they're three different angles. When taken If you love working with children, become part of our team. even given a chance of showing. together, this information will help you Receive training, stay updated at ongoing workshops and have Your asking price is often your home's price your home to not only sell, but sell access and guidance from Registered Early Childhood Educators. "first impression", and if you want to for the price you want. We take care of the administration, marketing, and we provide realize the most money you can for your To order a FREE Special Report, visit equipment and exclusive child care programming materials. You home, it's imperative that you make a www.RightPriceToSell.com or to hear a benefit from being your own boss while being part of an good first impression. brief recorded message about how to enthusiastic, knowledgeable team. This is not as easy as it sounds, and order your FREE copy of this report call pricing strategy should not be taken toll-free 1-888-687-0634 and enter 2016. lightly. Pricing too high can be as costly to You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 Share in a proven business and a brand that has been trusted by a homeseller as pricing too low. Taking a days a week. Get your free special report parents since 1984. Take a career path that makes a di‡erence. look at what homes in your neighborhood NOW to learn how to price your home to have sold for is only a small part of the your maximum financial advantage. There is so much more to learn about Wee Watch This report is courtesy of Maggie Abril, Broker, Sutton Group About Town Reality Inc., Brokerage. Call us, let’s talk: 905-479-9671 Or visit www.weewatch.com Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2016 4 THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016 Autism program change at the expense of an entire generation of kids by Tanya Field on April 5, states that children who have a week and costs around $50,000 per year, On April 15, devastated parents and been on the waiting list for a crucial per child for between two and three years. disappointed professionals, with support ack in April, marchers carried signs therapy called IBI (Intensive Behavioural Due to the already extensive waitlists from the NDP, rallied in 13 cities Boutside the offices of MPP Ted Intervention) and who are five years or for diagnosis in Ontario, most children across Ontario. The one clear message McMeekin in Waterdown to protest older will be removed from wait lists reach the age of five before having the they wanted to deliver to the Ontario changes to the Ontario Autism Program. before completing—or even receiving— chance to get on an IBI waitlist. This government was “pay now or pay much These changes replace support for an service and will no longer qualify for this decision came with the intent of reducing more later.” effective therapy program with “one-time life-changing therapy. wait times for future children and Without this critical therapy the funding” of $8,000 for children aged five Instead those families will receive a families—“wiping the slate clean”—but most severe autism cases (children and older. direct-to-service, one-time amount of at the expense of an entire generation unable to speak, communicate, or who The new Ontario Autism Program, $8,000. This doesn’t even cover the first of vulnerable kids with ASD (Autism are violent to themselves or others) will announced by the Liberal government assessment. IBI therapy is 20 to 40 hours Spectrum Disorder). place a greater strain on stretched social services programs as they face being institutionalized. Less severe cases may be supported in the community through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

© Tanya Field © Tanya IBI gives these kids a fighting chance, hope for their future, and an opportunity to be productive members of society. The Journal of Developmental Disabilities, in a 2010 report measuring the outcomes of IBI of Toronto preschool children aged two to six, found “the vast majority of children showed some measurable progress or improvement during their time in the TPAS (Toronto Preschool Autism Service) program, and remarkably, their rate of development doubled. By the time of discharge, some children even showed average functioning, which is comparable to children from model programs referred to as ‘best outcomes’.” For more information visit the Ontario Autism Coalition or the Alliance Against the Ontario Autism Program on Facebook.

Tanya Field lives in Crown Point. She is a mom of five, owner/photographer at TDF Photography, autism advocate/activist, Parents protest against changes to autism support program outside MPP Ted McMeekin’s office in Waterdown. and photo editor for The Point.

Art interventions can inspire long-term solutions by Elizabeth Seidl Commercial Corridors Study, noting that the project was being supported by the city. I was on hand to uring last year’s 100in1Day of urban interventions, share part of that story. The neighbourhood planning Dmy intervention with Tammy Heidbuurt was to teams in Crown Point and Homeside were involved redecorate the flower planters on Kenilworth with bright in revitalization efforts for the commercial corridor green duct tape. It was a temporary solution to a prob- on Kenilworth, with some of our work focused on lem: the planters, which look similar to the concrete introducing street art. Becky led a discussion around garbage bins already on the street, were being used for street art versus graffiti, highlighting the cultural garbage. For a while the decorated planters looked great, impacts of art by Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and especially when the annual plants within grew up. But professional skateboarder Jason Adams. This generated in the back of my mind I knew that a more permanent some conversation with the students about their solution would be to paint them so there would be some experiences with street art, stenciling, and tagging. colour on the street year round. The workshops with Centre3 include a site visit to A well-researched presentation about the positive Kenilworth to look at the planters and develop stencil impacts of arts in the community presented last fall by designs. There are more students in the class than McMaster students brought together members of the planters, so some of the students will be collaborating Crown Point Community Planning Team with teaching on a design. It’s also a competition: two designs will staff and administrators at Delta Secondary School. The be selected for the north- and south-facing sides of teachers from Delta were interested in becoming more the planters for a consistent look. The east- and west- involved with the neighbourhood. What if we could facing sides will show the remaining designs. Becky work on a project together? After some thought and a encouraged students to consider not only the intended conversation with Joe Muto, Senior Planner with the message of their designs but also the community’s vision City of Hamilton planning department, I connected for the street and how the context of the street could with Becky Katz, the Education and Community convey that message. Arts Director at Centre3 for Print and Media Arts, The duct tape of 2015 was a rudimentary start, the artist-run print and media studio on James Street but the project to refurbish the flower planters on North. Becky got in touch with Elysia Dywan in the Kenilworth has evolved into a broader engagement © Allison Maxted art department at Delta and pitched the idea of working opportunity with youth and other partners. I’m looking with students to beautify Kenilworth together through a forward to seeing the planters in full colour, contributing community art project. in their own way to the ongoing story of the street. The first of six workshops was held in April, Planters decorated for 100in1Day last year Elizabeth Seidl is a Crown Point resident and would during the Period 2 Grade 12 art class where Becky are to get a more permanent decoration. introduced the project to the students with some like to see more community art interventions in the background information about the Barton-Kenilworth neighbourhood. THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016 5 New food desert opening in east Hamilton by Paul Weinberg The irony is that Loblaw made this short-sighted move at a time when the housing market is heating up t my house I was often faulted for not scribbling the eastern portion of Hamilton’s lower city. Adown a shopping list before I set out on Saturdays In our area of the city, the range of customers who to shop at the now-closed No Frills Delta supermarket. shopped at No Frills (Loblaw’s low end basics food I ended up relying on my memory for what was missing franchise chain) included the working poor, middle in the fridge or the cupboard as I moved from aisle to class professionals, and artists. aisle, basket in hand. So, it would seem a bit counterintuitive for a major food As a result, I invariably had to head over again during conglomerate to suddenly abandon an area that many the week to the same store to purchase ingredients predict will experience even more positive changes in the

which it turned out we did not have. And I usually found future—especially once the east-west LRT is constructed. ©Jeff Hayward myself standing in a lengthy line-up at the cashier again, It appears that Loblaw has become part of the with others laden with groceries, on those late afternoons. problem rather than part of the solution—unlike Of course, it is easy to be a steady customer if the Nations Fresh Foods. Back in 2012, the city considered No Frills at the Delta closed for good on only other supermarkets available are situated a little offering a financial incentive to encourage the opening April 7 leaving many in Crown Point without over a kilometre away. The Metro store at Barton and of a supermarket or grocery operation in the downtown a grocery store within walking distance. Ottawa, for instance, requires about a 30-minute walk core as a means to revitalize a depressed area. with a bundle buggy to load up on food if you are like Instead, with a great deal of foresight, Nations today to east Hamilton with its bleak retail strips along me and don’t have a car. arrived on the scene and set up shop with its own money Main, King, and Barton. That’s why I was puzzled when I read in the Hamilton in Jackson Square to great acclaim. “A lack of basic amenities such as a full service Spectator that our No Frills was slated to close because A longer version of this article appeared on March 8, 2016 supermarket can impact quality of life in a community, of its “underperformance,” as a business. Huh? With all online in Raise the Hammer. those people who shopped daily at this store? and can affect population growth required to help revitalize inner city neighbourhoods,” wrote Tim Suddenly, Main and King next to Gage Park has turned Paul Weinberg is a Hamilton-based freelance writer and a McCabe, the city’s former top planner into what planners call a food desert where residents do not Gage Park area resident. have easy access to groceries in their community. What McCabe suggested in 2012 could be applied LOVIN’ YOUR GARDEN

Take, for example, milkweed, the you’ve got yourself a never ending game A “nativar” is a cultivated variety of a Choosing larval food of Monarch butterflies. There of whack-a-mole. native plant. Solidago rugosa “Fireworks” are dozens of varieties but only a couple When I see Solidago canadensis is a good one to try. Selected for its native plants are widely available. Swamp milkweed (Canada goldenrod) in urban gardens compact form, “Fireworks” sports long, (Asclepias incarnata) is a well-behaved my inner prissy-gardener furrows her arching sprays radiating from the center. by Bev Wagar perennial whose pink, pleasantly scented brow. In the Ontario countryside it’s Like all goldenrods it tolerates clay t the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club umbels attract all kinds of butterflies and a pervasive colonizer of ditches and but not shade. In my garden this one Anative plant sale in April I was bees. Swamp milkweed, despite its name, abandoned fields, a favourite of native blooms at the same time as the Vernonia surrounded by gardeners old and young, does not require wet conditions, although bees and pollinators. In China, it is altissima (tall ironweed) for a gorgeous newbie and veteran, confident and it won’t tolerate long periods of drought. an alien super-invader. The goldenrod contrast of purple and yellow. puzzled. As a volunteer I fielded many Deadhead after the first flush and you’ll pandemic is said to be responsible for Hay fever sufferers take note: goldenrods questions and, admittedly, I intervened likely get a second bloom in late August. the extinction of 30 native species in the are not your enemy. The culprit is ragweed, as well—especially when eager arms All in all, it’s a lovely, garden-worthy plant. Shanghai area alone. which blooms at the same time. reached for pots of common milkweed Its cousin Asclepias syriaca (common So plant it if you like its look and Native plants are becoming easier (Asclepias syriaca) or Solidago rugosa milkweed), though equally adored by fecundity—but why not try a different to find at garden centers and plant (Canada goldenrod). pollinators, is not so nice. Common variety? My favourite is Solidago sales. When introducing them to an What? Those are native plants— milkweed is found in fields and rigida—stiff goldenrod. Forming a established garden, choose carefully. The they’ve got to be good, right? Easy-care. naturalized areas such as the Red Hill gently expanding clump it makes a nice bees and butterflies will thank you and Drought tolerant. Great for pollinators. Valley. Unfazed by extreme heat and backdrop for shorter plants. The florets so will your future self. Non-invasive. And ... drought, common milkweed’s running are larger and less brassy yellow than the Bev Wagar is a founding member of the And ...no. Native plants are not the roots can pierce through tough clay and S. canadensis. In rich soil it will need Crown Point Garden Club. Her garden is an garden panacea they’re sometimes made stony ground, causing new ones to pop staking. Like all goldenrods it will self- oasis of plant diversity. out to be. up metres from the mama plant. Unless seed, although its top-flowering habit you remove every single bit of root, makes it easy to deadhead.

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6 THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016

POINT PEOPLE New community space is brewing in Crown Point by Jeff Hayward

n a quiet little storefront on Main Street East, some- Ithing special has happened. Inside, Fatima Mesquita sat down and slid me over a steaming cup of Brazilian Peaberry coffee from Vintage Coffee Roasters. The room was clearly still a work in progress, but I could already feel its energy through Mesquita’s excitement. Fatima, a Crown Point resident originally from Brazil, and Magdalena Wierzbicka have leased the space at 1365 Main St. E. They have big plans for The Café, as the space has been named. Sounds simple enough, but their vision goes beyond just serving great coffee to people who wander in off the sidewalk. Mesquita, an author and film lover, has retrofitted the room with a viewing screen and projector to air international documentaries. She has secured agree- ments with organizations around the world to show them here. She loves how documentaries create discus- sions, so it’s appropriate that The Café is also home to © Jeff Hawyard The Hamilton Dialogues, which has a mission to bring more conversation about the world to Crown Point. While The Café will offer items such as coffee and Fatima Mesquita, co-owner of The Cafe on Main Street, talks to The Point. food you’d expect from a café, there’s an important difference, explained Mesquita. “The Café will make the money and we will reinvest it into (community) the open was part of her goal. “My first impression programming,” she said. In essence, The Café will be a Fatima Mesquita of Hamilton is that everything seems hidden. I want for-profit venture that operates much like a non-profit, by Jeff Hayward people to see each other.” using its proceeds to benefit Crown Point residents. Fatima is a person who loves her neighbourhood, While there’s a clear vision about airing films and ou could say Fatima Mesquita is all about the lights, but also has her finger on the pulse of what is happen- creating a social space for locals, many details hadn’t Ycamera and action. ing around the world. She closely follows the politics yet been decided on when we talked in mid-April. “It’s The lights because she was part of the recent DeLight of Brazil, and she loves documentaries from countries whatever we want it to be,” said Mesquita with a smile, Festival that lit up a section of the pipeline trail with that shed light on their culture and how they see the suggesting international food themes are definitely on Chinese lanterns; the camera because she loves docu- world. Thanks to a partnership with Cinema Politico in the radar. mentary films as well as sharing them; and action Montreal, she started screening international documen- However, she did say The Café will also be a centre because she pursues things she believes in—and, if taries at Hamilton’s Staircase Theatre more than a year for musicians and artists to promote themselves. In fact, recent history is an indicator, achieves them. ago. She now has agreements in place with consulates during our conversation, local musician Darcy Feaver The Brazil native has lived in Crown Point for five and organizations around the world to air their films dropped in to offer her services–Feaver was clearly ex- years, and her name has been attached to several pro- here at home. cited about the possibility of another place to jam in the jects. DeLight organized this past winter was the first Her desire to show more films led her to Main and neighbourhood. of its kind in Hamilton, offering residents a chance to Kenilworth where she has set up shop—a space called Meanwhile, Mesquita raved about the commun- sponsor one of 400 lanterns with a personalized mes- The Café—hoping to advance her love of film and arts. ity support she and Wierzbicka have already received sage. “I didn’t know I was Brazilian until I moved to Originally moving to Toronto from Brazil in 2003 in terms of getting the space ready for hosting socials. Canada,” she offered. “I didn’t know how to experience (she bought a sailboat and used it as a cottage), the While many donations have poured in, she mentioned winter. It’s a bit oppressive. I want light!” author and journalist (she has published 12 books and the café could still use some solid chairs and proper That project was spearheaded with Hamiltonian Nic worked for organizations including the BBC) wanted mugs, as well as an outdoor bench with a solid back. Li, who brought the Asian flair to the effort. She met an affordable place to call home. When she looked for While she and Wierzbicka operate the storefront, Nic when they attended the Neighbourhood Leadership homes in her price range in the area, “there were hun- “The Café is not really about us,” she said. Institute to explore ways to improve communities. “We dreds of little dots on the map,” she joked. The irony is To follow along with the progress of The Café, found ourselves together with different goals,” said that her hometown in Brazil (João Monlevade) also has you can like its page on Facebook at facebook.com/ Mesquita about Li. “We matched both of our ideas.” a steel plant owned by none other than ArcelorMittal TheCafeHamilton. That effort that took the work of many volunteers (who operates Dofasco in Hamilton), according to was a success, with people from all corners of Hamilton, Mesquita. Jeff Hayward is a Crown Point resident and ex-pat and beyond, coming to check out the lights and post So you could say Mesquita has found her home, Torontonian who is enjoying watching his new photos of it on social media. Bringing people out into although she’s thousands of miles from her homeland. neighbourhood grow.

REPORTING AIR EMISSIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY Do you smell an offensive odour outside? Have you seen visible WANT TO GET CONNECTED emissions coming from the industrial area and have pictures? WITH YOUR COMMUNITY? Take action! Report it! Ontario Ministry of Environment & Climate Change During regular office hours (Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm) Join Crown Point Planning Team’s Hamilton District Office 905-521-7650 after hours 1-800-268-6060 Facebook Group at “Crown Point Hub” or, Email photos to: [email protected] follow the planning team’s web page at Area Industries ArcelorMittal Dofasco 905-544-3761 www.crownpointhamilton.wordpress.com US Steel 905-528-7855 or Twitter feed @CrownPointHub Other contact information for neighbouring industries can be found at www.hamnair.ca/hamn-member-compaines.aspx THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016 7 Receiving home for orphans once stood in Gage Park By Brendan Oliver

ave you ever heard of Dr. HStephenson’s National Children’s Home and Orphanage? I hadn’t either and I was surprised to learn that it once existed on the eastern edge of Gage Park. In 1869, Dr. Thomas Bowman Stephenson, a Wesleyan Minister in London, England founded the Wesleyan Methodist National Children’s Home and Orphanage. After visiting Canada in 1872, he and local Methodists raised $1500 to purchase land in Barton Township. There they built a “receiving home” for orphaned children coming to Canada. A 1933 fire insurance plan, accessed at the Central Library archives, shows the receiving home sitting on land that is now Rothsay Avenue between Central and Maple. The home was 50 feet wide, Dr. Stephenson’s National Children’s Home and Orphanage stood on what is now is now Rothsay Avenue 100 feet deep, and faced north towards between Central and Maple Avenue. the Delta. Photo courtesy of the British Home Children Advocacy and Research Association, used with permission. Beginning in 1868, orphaned and abandoned children from England, some Most of the children were placed with Year of the Home Child. In September of after 51 years. The reunion wouldn’t have as young as two years of age, were sent by families in the area between Toronto and that year, Canada Post honored the home happened if not for a chance conversation various organizations to live in Canada. Niagara Falls. Those less than nine years children with a commemorative stamp. between Hawkins and Clapham’s son Jim. They would eventually become known as old were adopted while the older children The receiving home was demolished in A week after making the connection the “home children.” In 1873 the first “little were indentured to families as farm or 1934 and houses were built in its place. two old friends sat talking in Jim’s living immigrants” arrived in Hamilton. household labourers. Savings accounts Currently no monuments to the home room, together again after all those years. At the receiving home, the children were established for the children, to be exist. An unmarked plot in the Hamilton For more information on the found themselves on an eight-acre paid out when they turned 18. Cemetery registered to “Dr. Stephenson’s receiving home, including personal property with a stone house, cottages, Some home children became part of Children’s Home” contains the graves of stories, photos, and links, please visit a barn, stables, fruit trees, and gardens. loving families but many became the six children between the ages of 11 and www.facebook.com/ The longest-serving superintendent of victims of neglect and abuse. In 2010, 19. All six were recently identified. CrownPointHistory/ the home was Mr. Frank Hills who Britain officially apologized for the well- A Hamilton Spectator article from was remembered by one child, Francis meaning but flawed program. Australia 1985 tells the story of two former friends Brendan Oliver is a history enthusiast who Burchett, as being “quite stern, but also apologized in 2009. Canada has not at the receiving home, Bob Clapham enjoys researching the past. He lives in considerate.” apologized but instead declared 2010 the and Lyle Hawkins, who were reunited Crown Point with his wife and daughter.

ELEVATE YOUR HEALTH

something much deeper is going on beneath. It’s time to where to begin, consult a nutrition professional for indi- Trust your gut trust your gut and get to the root of the problem. Here vidualized care and support. By Jennifer Bolus are five ways you can take action today: Add in probiotics. You need good bacteria to build a Drink up for better digestion. The lining of your healthy gut and immune system. You can add this into our body has a system that is responsible for pro- stomach and digestive tract needs water to digest, your diet through supplement form or through ferment- Ytecting you from foreign invaders, breaking down assimilate, and absorb nutrients from food. Optimal hy- ed foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir. the foods you eat, bringing in building blocks essential dration can help relieve fatigue, brain fog, indigestion, Slow down. Eating quickly, or while stressed, can to life, and letting go of toxic substances. This is your and constipation. have unwelcome results: overeating, which strains your digestive system—a long tract running from the “rooty Pitch the processed food. Fried, sugary, and pro- digestive system; poor chewing, which inhibits adequate to the tooty” (mouth to anus), and it sure deserves your cessed foods challenge your digestive system and take production of saliva and enzymes for breaking down attention and respect. more than they give back to you. Focus on adding in your food; and a decrease in stomach acid, which can Like skin, it’s actually an extension of the barrier to whole foods that offer nutrients your body craves and lead to heartburn, belching or gas, and so much more. our external environment. Anything that compromises can digest with ease. These include fibrous vegetables Give yourself time to breathe deeply, to give thanks, and its function results in stress and inflammation that can and fruits, nuts and seeds, and whole grains such as to focus on enjoying the sounds, smells, and sensations show up in many ways: constipation, diarrhea, gas, skin buckwheat and quinoa. of each meal. issues such as eczema or breakouts, brain fog, fatigue, Uncover and remove any personal food triggers. Keep adding in healthy habits and foods into your joint pain, autoimmune disease, weight loss resistance, Food sensitivities, unlike allergies, are subtle. They can lifestyle, slow your roll, and check in with how you feel and migraines, to name a few. When our digestion is have a delayed response and the effects are not always each day. Stay curious and be well, friends! compromised, so is our nutritional status, and therefore obvious. This is where tracking your food and symp- the function of our entire system. toms, listening deeply, and trusting your gut is helpful. Jennifer Bolus is lifelong Hamiltonian, Crown Point Chances are you are experiencing one or a number Remove the suspected sensitivity and reintroduce to resident, and Integrative Registered Dietitian. info@ of these symptoms and you’ve got a gut feeling that see if it is a cause of your symptoms. If you’re not sure jenniferbolus.com 8 THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016

EDUCATION MATTERS HOMESIDE UPDATE Growing community by Roberta Burke Prince omesiders are amping up the campaign to grow Hour community. Keep your eyes peeled! We will be hosting community events, canvassing with flyers, and engaging neighbours. Join us in Homeside parks this summer for a “Picnic in the Park” event. Meet some of your neighbours. Bring the kids. Make new friends. Chat with some of the great residents who have taken on leadership roles to improve our neighbour- hood. Our goal is to have people come together, enjoy some food and drinks—in our parks—in our com- munity, to highlight just how lucky we are to live in Homeside. Have you considered joining the hub? Or just dropping in to one of our meetings? Maybe you have a neighbourhood concern but you don’t think it will get any traction. It may be a concern for others as well. The hub can help connect you to people to develop a plan to take action. Through the work of Homesiders, Crown Pointers, other residents and business owners, and our council- lor Sam Merulla, many community actions are already Joanna St. Jacques talks education with Matt Jelly and Gunner for a podcast that can be found reaping rewards: here: http://jellyandgunner.ca/breakfast-and-board-of-ed-with-guests-leo-santos-joanna-st- jacques-and-larry-pattison • Kenilworth is rebounding, including a real estate Used with permission of In The Neighbourhood at jellyandgunner.ca crawl planned for June 25; • There will be an LRT hub at the City Motor Hotel She was “Save Parkview,” a high school for kids with location; Goodbye Jo special needs. She was behind the movement to keep • Implementation of the Pipeline Trail Master Plan the former King George School as a prominent part of will begin with a new parkette beside the Tim by Larry Pattison our asset maps. She was “The First 100 Days” which Hortons on Kenilworth. brought together election candidates under a common n January we said goodbye to a fiery Ward 3 advo- banner to place a moratorium on school closures. And The Homeside Hub meets at the Royal Hamilton Icate, Kate Andrus. Now, we must say farewell to her while she was doing all this, Joanna was advocating for Light Infantry (RHLI) Hall at 1353 Barton Street friend and equally feisty activist, Joanna St. Jacques. her own children’s education. at 7 p.m. every second Wednesday of the month. Although Jo is only moving less than an hour away Joanna believed in me—she believed in all of us. Also, check out our Facebook page “Homeside Hub”. and Hamilton people will surely remain in her social I was a part of her vision for a better school system. We’re looking forward to meeting you at one of our media streams, knowing she isn’t just a couple of blocks Through trials and tribulations, both in life and as a meetings or events this summer. away is like another loss for our community. newly elected politician, I make myself remember the Community engagement needs you! Joanna has been a great friend to me and my family. long days and nights that people put into believing in Roberta Burke Prince is a resident of Homeside and She expertly captured so much of my life through her me—most of all Jo. is looking forward to connecting with more of her camera lens. As my campaign manager in the 2014 It has been many years since I’ve had this much pas- neighbours. municipal election, Joanna was both documentarian sion for a job. The lessons I learn, the people I meet, the and family photographer. We’ll forever cherish the spe- difference we’re making—all are worth the effort, even cial times on the campaign trail with me and my girls. if most days it all seems so small compared to what 100 Those were my favourite moments. Days envisioned. Whether people admit it or not, that Winning that election meant the world to me. It’s slate changed things. I know it changed me. changed me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I remem- Jo did this and so much more. She fell in love with ber that night we stood at City Hall watching painfully this city through her camera lens. Like few I’ve known as each vote came in. It was surreal standing there, but she advocated for the beauty she saw when we couldn’t Jo was there with me to the end. see it ourselves. We’ve shared many political and life stories over Hamilton will miss Joanna St. Jacques—Ward 3 the past few years. What I’ll remember most of all is especially. We thank her for the heart and dedication the time she gave to change education for the better. she put into our community, for leaving this place in a I’m thankful to her and her family for everything they much better state, for opening so many eyes, hearts, and THE CROWN POINT sacrificed to make Hamilton a better place to live and minds. COMMUNITY PLANNING TEAM raise a family. is a resident-led neighbourhood Joanna was “Save (the now demolished) Sanford Larry Pattison is a resident of Crown Point and a trustee Ave School” and its role as venue for The WAVE after- with HWDSB. network... school program—that still lacks space to this day. • Connect with friendly people • Make your ideas happen Governance expert Richard LeBlanc says he’s never heard of a slate of • Help make Crown Point better municipal candidates publicly banding together under a platform. THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU ON AN “It’s very clever,” said the York University professor. “We ACTION TEAM. could definitely see more of this. It’s evolved for a reason and that’s likely a lack of stakeholder engagement or a feeling that We meet the 3rd Monday of every month, decisions are not transparent.” 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 92 Ottawa St. N. Source: Seven public school trustee candidates band together For more info visit: www.thespec.com/news-story/4833959-seven-public-school-trustee-can- CROWNPOINTHAMILTON.CA didates-band-together/ THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016 9

HEALTH MATTERS Cooling down after exercise by Thomas Eagles

ith summer arriving people have begun to Wexercise outdoors. In my field I see injuries that can be avoided with a proper routine. With this in mind, it seems appropriate to talk about exercise, whether it be a 30 kilometer run or getting back to the gym. A proper warm up is needed to prepare the body for exercise. But many people forget to properly cool down afterward. During exercise our body produces many hormones, such as adrenaline, to allow us to work harder and faster. A proper cool down helps smooth the transition to a more sedentary state and decreases the stress that sudden changes in movement can have on the body. Benefits include lowering the risk of cardiovascular problems, decreasing muscle discomfort, and feeling more energized. A proper cool down should begin with some gentle Mayrhofer Ingrid © movement of the limbs involved in the exercise. For example, runners can do a slow jog or a slow walk for a few minutes. This helps the body eliminate by-products Grey River, SW Coast, NFLD by David Blackwood, showing at Earls Court Gallery on Ottawa Street. of exercise such as lactic acid and carbon dioxide. Stretching is a good way to cool down. Stretching helps to lengthen muscles, increase blood flow, and improve range of motion, which all help decrease post- exercise strain such as sore muscles. Newfoundland outport scene at local gallery Food! Don’t forget to refuel. Taking in some proper by Ingrid Mayrhofer a few houses in the low bay. Beyond the harbour, the nutrition within 30 to 45 minutes after exercise helps river narrows and we follow it along toward a glimpse to: restore energy to the muscles; maintain healthy hen Earls Court Gallery relocated from Hess of the sea on the horizon. glucose (sugar) levels which in turn help the body WVillage to Ottawa Street in 2009, adding ap- Blackwood, who considers himself a “visual story- function; and maintain a higher metabolism. proximately three times more floor and wall space, teller,” is probably best known for his depictions of Rest—the part we all look forward to—is important. the Crown Point neighbourhood gained a successful outport life in Newfoundland. My personal favour- Rest periods after exercise allow the muscles to heal and commercial gallery with two exhibition rooms, as well ites are his prints of mummers. An ancient theatrical parade, mumming evolved from pre-Christian rituals restore energy levels, which allow the body to move in as framing services. The larger gallery hosts temporary monthly exhibits of death and revival into a Newfoundland Christmas the first place. Without proper rest our bodies start to of work by guest artists. Art from the gallery’s collec- celebration involving masks, costumes, food, and drink break down. Injuries happen, as they do when we don’t tion is displayed for longer periods in the smaller space in the midst of winter. exercise enough. and includes prints, sculpture, and paintings by a range Grey River, SW Coast, NFLD presents a completely With these tips in mind, enjoy fun and healthy of regional artists. different subject matter, but creates a similar mythical exercise this warm and wonderful summer. Among the pieces on display this spring and summer mood. In blue, grey, and brown tones the artist narrates is a watercolour by David Blackwood titled Grey River, human activity without actually depicting people at Thomas Eagles is a registered kinesiologist and SW Coast, NFLD. The 25” x 19” landscape format all, and sets the small cluster of industry against a stark osteopathic manual practitioner at Freemotion Therapy painting is a wonderful example of the qualities of wet- natural background. Is everyone out to sea, or have on Ottawa Street. in-wet washes in watercolour. they left for the season? The cloudy sky sets the tone for the rugged cliffs, Perhaps you will find the answers when you see the distant river mouth, and quiet settlement below. The painting in person (and in colour). Earls Court Gallery artist is giving us a high-angle view of a coastal village is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and wharf with bunkhouses and similar buildings that hint Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at fishery and perhaps other industry, looking down on a bay and out to the sea. Ingrid Mayrhofer is a printmaker, curator, community There are only a few small boats in the harbour and arts practitioner, and a member of the Red Tree Artists’ no people in sight. The composition leads the viewer’s Collective. eye along the curving river, meeting a mountain peak close to the centre of the picture plane where we see

Calling all artists living/working in Crown Point:

Do you have an idea for an art project in the neighbourhood?

Would you like to know about new initiatives?

Local artists will meet regularly at The Café. To get involved or to receive updates please contact Lyna Saad [email protected] 10 THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016

Let reason triumph DISCOVERING OTTAWA STREET by Anthony Marco Meet the makers: body, mind, and soul intervention By Maggie Burns

or years, humans have relied on their In Fine Feather Yoga teaches about Fcreativity to survive and thrive. This the holistic benefits of pure essential oils. is what we now refer to as DIY (Do It Their Make-and-Take Essential Oils Yourself) culture. There’s a resurgence in Workshop first explores how essential activities such as making our own soap, oils can be used for physical and mental food, clothing, art, and furniture, just to wellness. Then participants use essential name a few. oils to make bath bombs to take home. This summer, the Ottawa Street In Fine Feather Yoga also offers creative Business Improvement Area (BIA) will be and interactive mala making workshops. hosting a series of events in the DIY spirit. Students learn how to use the traditional Saturdays in July will give visitors the mala necklace for meditation while infus- opportunity to discover Ottawa Street’s ing it with personal intention and energy. history, merchants, and community. The Painted Bench offers a variety of To kick things off, on Saturday, July 2 workshops, including Getting Started the BIA will be celebrating with a special with Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan. This Canada Day themed event. On Saturday, session teaches five different painting he renewed spat between City not going to be doing a ribbon-cutting July 9 it will host Meet the Makers, a techniques as well as waxing with clear Councillors in Hamilton over a ceremony here, you can be damn sure it T collection of on-the-street workshops and and dark wax. Students then create a proposed $1 billion from the Provincial will happen somewhere else, because the demos which encourage everyone to tap small take-home project. government has opened up some ques- Ontario Liberals LOVE cutting ribbons. into their creativity and get both hands Participating in creative practices helps tionable motivations and confusing For all the ward councillors who dirty. Next, we throw visitors back to provide a means of relaxation and fosters dissertations. Let me start by saying that somehow believe that “if it ain’t hap- the days of vintage cars and vinyl records a sense of belonging. Activities are often I don’t know if Light Rail Transit (LRT) pening in my ward, it ain’t happening”, with Retro Day on Saturday, July 16. used for stress reduction and can be per- will be a permanent solution to transit I suggest you may want to consider that Finally, the BIA will host an Antique Day formed in a class or even at home. Having in this city, and I have my reservations very few people in the city live, work, go on Saturday, July 27. a hobby or participating in a group activity about the Metrolinx ownership/manage- to school, eat, or shop all in one ward. Until then, we encourage everyone is likely to leave you feeling a sense of ment tendrils extending through the The mountain ridings and the ridings to visit Ottawa Street and its merchants. belonging, thus improving your overall main streets. That said, let us not look a below the escarpment are not East and Many shops offer workshops on a regular health. gift horse in the mouth. The horse is not West Berlin. The escarpment is not a wall basis. For example, Prouse Pottery & For more information on workshops packed with usurpers of the city council; but a feature that makes our city unique. Soap Co. offers a variety of pottery and classes offered on Ottawa Street, it’s packed with a billion dollars ear- I’ve lived large periods of my life in classes at the beginner and intermediate please visit our business directory at marked for Hamilton. Wards 3, 5, and 7. I’ve never had to pass level. Bath and body workshops are also www.shopottawastreet.com or view Public infrastructure projects should through a checkpoint or provide Ward popular; small class sizes ensure plenty us on Facebook (OttawaStreetBIA) and be seen as a positive sign in this city. Identification when travelling from of one-on-one instruction. All skill levels Twitter @OttawaSt_BIA. The building of the LRT will spawn one ward to another. Wards are NOT are welcome, meaning no prior experi- thousands of jobs. Councillors whose autonomous economic zones or Grand ence is necessary. Prouse presents other Maggie Burns is a Brock University wards lie “off the rails” might do best to Duchies. If mountain or suburban creative workshops with guest instructors. alumnus with a postgraduate degree in remember that hundreds (maybe thou- councillors are prepared to shut down Subjects include painting, drawing, public relations from Mohawk College. sands) of workers in their wards could economic investment in the city because fiber arts, card making, scrapbooking, She’s a Hamiltonian with a passion for be benefiting from those jobs, and their they feel somehow excluded by the gains, and more. music, food, and shopping. subsequent spending will help small busi- then ensure that Metrolinx adheres to a nesses. The certified tradespeople who are procurement policy that mirrors the city’s currently scrambling for work might do as much as possible. The LRT workers best to call these councillors and let them from your ward will eventually thank know that local jobs IN ANY WARD you and may even vote for you. would be good for them right now. Finally let’s just do some fast numbers Perhaps council would be best served to see what Hamiltonians don’t get when to not forgo Hamilton’s billion dol- our billion dollars goes somewhere else. lars, but instead use its collective will Let’s assume that half of the money gets to ensure that Metrolinx honours local spent on equipment and supplies with agreements with our building trades to the other half going to labour costs. ensure we have as many local workers With 500 million dollars, if the jobs are on the job as possible instead of people kept local, the equivalent of 6,500 jobs from all over the province. If Metrolinx at $70,000/year would be disappearing. can save a buck on procurement they Let any Councillor who votes NO to will ignore Hamilton workers altogether. Hamilton’s billion dollars, but eagerly MATTHEW Ensuring that the billion dollars stays supports municipal tax breaks to com- in our community will benefit workers panies who bring a couple hundred jobs and families in EVERY ward of the city to the city, try to explain the math to through direct wages and spending. their constituents. To all of the “tax and spend” de- I, for one, will be more than happy GREEN criers who somehow think that because to have LRT built by local, unionized CITY COUNCIL | WARD 3 the money is coming from a Kathleen tradespeople, and driven and main- Wynne-led provincial government we tained by an expanded workforce of must automatically denounce it as the Amalgamated Transit Union members, Working Together ill-gotten gains of parasites from the whether I ride it everyday or not. for Our Community! backs of heroic libertarian individual- I am confident that as we continue to move This article originally appeared on ists, let me assure you that if Hamilton Ward 3 together this year, we will achieve our medium.com (https://medium.com/@ gives up the money it’s not going back vision for a safe, vibrant community that is full anthonymarco/hamilton-lrt-let-reason- into your pockets. Instead, it will be of opportunities for all. spent on a similar project in some other triumph-41ca63f530b6#.jvbkd93n1) and is municipality. Let’s be clear: you are used with permission. It has been edited I welcome you to contact me at City Hall so NOT getting that money back in your for style. we can continue to serve together. pockets! I am probably more critical of the Wynne Liberals than most, and I still Offi ce: 905-546-2702 | Phone: 905-546-2702 want Hamilton’s billion dollars. If she’s Email: Matt [email protected] THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016 11

Seed for Monarch Awards program planted WARD 4 NEWS in Crown Point by Sean Hurley scoring low in one area is not a deterrent. Both front- Pipeline Trail and backyard gardens are considered. BY Sam Merulla o bees, butterflies, pollinators, birds, insects, and Bev Wagar emphasizes that all pollinator-friendly wildlife think your yard is a great place to be? If gardens are welcome. “Your garden can be young or old, D he Pipeline Trail Master Plan, available at www. you’re gardening for nature there’s a new awards pro- your property big or small, your house fancy or plain. hamilton.ca/pipelinetrailmp, was completed in gram in Hamilton that wants to recognize your work. If your garden is buzzing and fluttering with life that’s T October of 2015. Staff have been coordinating the The Monarch Awards, formed by volunteers and staff what counts,” she said. design and development of the recommended pro- from the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, Environment Entry deadline for the awards is midnight Sunday, jects in the plan with the Capital Budget approval Hamilton, Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Crown June 19, with the selection of finalists happening be- process. There is also internal coordination taking Point Garden Club, celebrates and promotes sustainable tween June 20 and 26. If your garden scores well based place for other requests and aspects of Pipeline Trail gardens and ecologically-friendly garden practices. on the entry questionnaire and photos, expect a call enhancement. The idea of planting for nature has been largely over- from volunteers on the judging team. They will arrange The first project moving forward is the develop- looked by existing awards programs. “There needed to a visit to take a closer look, talk with you, and learn ment of the Pipeline Parkette along the trail between be an alternative award that would demonstrate appreci- more about what you’re doing. Kenilworth Avenue North and Crosthwaite Avenue ation and value for these spaces,” says Bev Wagar, Crown For more information about the awards or to enter North. Point resident, gardener, and garden club member. your garden visit http://monarchawardshamilton.org/ On Tuesday, April 19, a public meeting was held at For the inaugural year, the Monarch Awards are the John M. Perkins Community Centre (1429 Main being promoted in Wards 1 through 4, mainly because Sean Hurley lives in Crown Point, and is without a green St. East). Two concept plans were presented and, based the Pollinator Paradise Project (funded by Environment thumb. on the feedback received at the meeting, staff will pro- Hamilton and the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club) has ceed with the detailed design of the preferred concept. undertaken habitat plantings in each of these wards and Both concepts originated from the Pipeline Trail Master each has resident and Councillor support. The goal is Plan and were based on wishes that were expressed dur- to expand the Monarch Awards initiative beyond these ing the public consultations for the plan. lower city wards in the years to come. The result: more The parkette development area is considered a node naturalized spaces, better gardening practices, more in the Master Plan—a major junction of the trail and places for pollinators to thrive, a more expansive garden a meeting area for community event. Both concepts aesthetic, and a way to focus and highlight community included a seating area, planting, and public art. and neighbourhood “greening” efforts. Some differences between the concepts were a shade “Little attention is paid to gardeners who work structure and two different forms of pathway. hard to plant habitat and garden sustainably. Yet these Concept 2 was selected as the preferred concept; all are activities that benefit a very serious conservation comments provided and available funding will be con- issue,” says Jen Baker, Coordinator of the Pollinators sidered as the project is implemented. Staff will proceed Paradise Project. Naturalized and biodiverse gardens with the detailed design of the project and are targeting become part of an uninterrupted corridor for pollinators construction for 2016. through Hamilton, helping populations recover and The passion and interest that has come forward from attract new ones. the community for this trail has been the key to its “We’re looking at the big picture,” says Barbara success thus far. Another motivator is the heritage of the McKean, RBG’s Head of Education. “It’s not just about

© Sean Hurley Pipeline infrastructure and the role that the pipes have curb appeal and tidy plants—of course, something in the large drinking water system in Hamilton. It has attractive is desirable, but we have six criteria generally been wonderful to have heard many nice stories and focused on functionality.” Judges consider soil, water, memories of residents using the Pipeline Trail. plant choices, use of materials, cultural practices, and A pollinator approaches a flowering plant. aesthetics. Categories are not equally important so Sam Merulla is Ward 4 Councillor Hamilton and can be reached at [email protected] WARD 3 NEWS Ward 3 update by Matthew Green On March 20, for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we worked with hen spring comes up underfoot, it is fitting to the Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council to celebrate Wlook for new shoots and blossoms, the heralds of diversity in Hamilton. We also hosted the Canadian sunnier days. Similarly we look to our youth to herald Race Relations Foundation at the Art Gallery of a future we can all be proud of. We are working with Hamilton for a day-long consultation called Living elementary and secondary schools, school board trust- Together; Taking the Pulse of Pluralism. We talked ees, and youth groups to launch a Youth Action Huddle about race, culture, and inclusivity—about what we are (YAH!) in which youth will work towards sharing their doing well and where we need to improve. visions, building community, and giving input on civic During the first weekend in April I had the honour changes that will affect them. Through recent school to travel to the National Capital with a group of “fierce Gage Park visits we know that youth want to see more soccer organizers,” as we were described, including a group of and basketball. For the past year a group of residents youth from the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre, for a led by Brenda Duke has been working with city staff three-day conference about organizing, leadership, and Community Garden to develop the Powell Park Community Club House, building great communities. We brought back wis- • individual plots for your use which is now transitioning to a resident-led model for dom from the likes of Gloria Steinem, Desmond Cole, programming, with a strong focus on youth. and Cindy Blackstock to fuel our collective efforts for • community herb and berry gardens In February, we participated in a city/volunteer-led change. We had both deep and difficult conversations • food-bank plots, pollinator patch initiative to survey people who are experiencing home- and, like our work here, the best part was the time we • helpful and friendly gardeners lessness in Hamilton. The report on this survey is now spent together. • good healthy soil available. This initiative will help us not only under- On April 27, we passed a motion at council for city stand the challenges of those experiencing homelessness staff to come back with a proposed approach to permit- but also work together to drive solutions. One of the ting temporary seasonal patios within on-street parking no experience necessary but requires annual efforts to address inequality is the postal banking initia- spaces. This is an exciting opportunity that could be fee and weekly time/labour commitment. tive. I moved a motion and city staff will be reporting coming to Hamilton soon, one more way for us to con- back to General Issues Committee on postal banking. nect with each other and continue to build community. interested in joining? If you’d like to learn more about the issue, find out how we are working to reduce inequality, or check out other Matthew Green is councillor for Ward 3 and can be email: [email protected] news please visit www.MatthewGreen.ca. reached at [email protected]. 12 THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016 Is Kenilworth Hamilton’s next

© Ashley DeVries Ashley © ‘it’ street? By Lindsay Douglas

new business here, a park bench there, a new mural Aacross the street—over time you may have noticed these seemingly sporadic changes. No single one of these changes is especially dramatic, yet add them up and it’s clear something is happening on Kenilworth Avenue. Could Kenilworth be on the verge of a trans- formation similar to the revitalization of streets like Locke, James, and Ottawa? We believe the answer is “yes”, but with conditions. A noticeable change is occurring—this is clear for anyone who takes the time to look. But the potential for dramatic transformation of the street remains only that: potential. If we are to capture the existing momen- tum, accelerate it, and ultimately witness the rebirth of Kenilworth as a proud commercial and community hub, there remains a lot of work to be done. If there was ever a time for revitalization, it is now. Decades ago, when steel and manufacturing still ruled Hamilton’s economy, Kenilworth was a vibrant com- mercial destination. Every day, thousands of industrial workers travelled along Kenilworth to and from work. The Hamilton Children’s Museum offers theme focused crafts to keep the kids engaged. When the number of manufacturing companies de- clined, so too did the traffic and economic prosperity of the street. Today, however, a new energy pulses in Hamilton’s east end. New businesses are coming to the port, people Have you paid a visit to the Hamilton are moving in from outside the city, and many of those already here are starting to recognize just how much Children’s Museum? this community has to offer. by Ashley DeVries many fun peek windows as well as a large whistle chil- In 2013, the City began laying the foundations for dren love to operate. Below deck has a large, wooden Kenilworth’s rebirth when it commissioned the Barton he newly renovated Hamilton Children’s mu- ship’s wheel for playing captain or pirate, as my children Street - Kenilworth Avenue Commercial Corridors Tseum is located at 1072 Main St. E. in Gage Park. do. As well, there is an operable crane for lifting the Study. Initial implementation of the study’s results are Reopened in December after being closed for renova- cargo and a cozy little spot to “hide out”. already underway. The installation of park benches tions, the museum is spectacular. The next section, the galley kitchen, is beautifully set along Kenilworth make the street more friendly to The museum is divided into three different engaging up as in pioneer days. There is an abundance of well- pedestrians, while safe street initiatives and other rooms for your children to explore. crafted play food, many period kitchen utensils, and improvements will help build on a vision for complete The first room is set up daily with up to three dif- a large “fire” with a huge bronze pot atop for cooking streets. With improvements to the streets also come ferent fun and educational craft activities. This room soup. This area also boasts a large table for serving soup, incentives for business growth and grants to improve is a favourite of my five-year-old daughter. The room’s tea, or whatever dish your child has conjured up. storefronts. theme is changed weekly and the crafts are planned ac- The third area, Summers Theatre Stage, is inspired But it’s not just the City’s initiatives that are cordingly. Entering this room you’ll notice a very large by the very popular theatre that once stood at the top of changing the face of Kenilworth; the community tank with two turtles and several fish. Next to the tank the former Wentworth Street incline railway. There is a is an integral driver behind a number of changes. is a terrarium that houses “Krusty” the gecko. chest full of fun and beautiful costumes, a large mir- Community groups, working through the Crown Point The next room is the Building Gallery. It’s all about ror so children can look at themselves dressed up, and a Planning Committee and the Homeside Hub, have Gage Park and its transformation from family orchard little stage with seating. My children love to put on little worked for safety improvements such as the pedestrian to urban green space. This room holds an assortment of plays for me. light at Kenilworth and Roxborough. They have also beautifully made animal puppets. The animals depicted I am a frequent flyer at the Hamilton Children’s been central in developing the Pipeline Trail Master are ones commonly found in Hamilton: squirrels, rac- Museum. They even have a card for that. The frequent Plan and the design of a parkette at the trail entrance coons, birds, snails, and more. Also featured are some flyer card is set up so you pay for the first four visits and on the east side of Kenilworth. really fun building materials for children, including your fifth visit is free. At $9 per visit per family it makes Businesses have also driven change on the street. chunky foam “rocks” and large wooden blocks. There is it a affordable family outing. If that is still not in your Many new businesses have felt the pull of this resur- a fossil rock sorting bin that is pretty interesting as well. budget the Hamilton Library has passes you can borrow gent commercial space and have opened up shop on This room seems to be a favourite of my two-year-old son. for free. I highly recommend paying a visit. Kenilworth. New businesses such as The Music Study, The third room is the largest and it has three dif- Reprolabels, NDulgence Salon, NorthernEx, and The ferent sections. The first is the Ship Gallery featuring Ashley DeVries is a mother and Crown Point resident. Parm House, just to name a few, are settling in and a large wooden ship with two levels. Above deck has contributing to the growing vibrancy of the street. Kenilworth is on the move. New businesses and street improvements, and an increasingly focused and committed community, are driving positive change in our neighbourhood. This energy is encouraging, but there remains a lot we can do together as residents VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THIS NEWSPAPER of Crown Point and Homeside to create a thriving commercial and community hub on Kenilworth that represents the engaged and vibrant community it serves. As we move forward, your input as members of our The Point is created through the work of an army of wonderful volunteers. We shared community will be invaluable in driving its plan, write, edit, layout, and proofread. We sell ads and manage payments. We success!

do this because we love our community. We want to share this passion with you. To join our mailing list or find out how you can get involved, contact the Kenilworth Revitalization Team CONTACT US TO CHAT AT [email protected] (KRT) [email protected]. THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016 13

WORKING MATTERS WITH HLDC Whose door to knock on by Anthony Marco s active members of the working Economic Development, Employment Aclass in Hamilton, delegates of and Infrastructure; Intergovernmental Labour Council often correspond with, Affairs; Natural Resources and or lobby, politicians at the municipal, Forestry; Research and Innovation; provincial, or national level. Training, Colleges and Universities; As residents of Crown Point, you Transportation; Finance; and Womens may already be actively communicating Directorate. with your local representatives already. If you live west of Ottawa Street, you If you’re not, it may be helpful to know can contact your Member of Provincial the appropriate person to talk to when Parliament Andrea Horwath at 905-544- © courtesy of The Salvation Army Lawson Ministries specific issues arise in the community. 9644 or [email protected]. East of Crown Point is represented by City Ottawa Street, Paul Miller at 905-545- Councillors Matthew Green (Ward 0114 or [email protected]. 3) and Sam Merulla (Ward 4). Our Issues that can be dealt with by Members of Provincial Parliament are your Member of Parliament (working Emily Tessier displays a treat she baked through the STRIVE program Andrea Horwath (Hamilton Centre) and at Parliament Hill in Ottawa) include: at Delta United Church. Paul Miller (Hamilton East – Stoney Agriculture and Agri-Food; Canadian Creek) and our Member of Parliament Heritage; Citizenship and Immigration; is David Christopherson (Hamilton Environment; Finance; Fisheries Centre). and Oceans; Foreign Affairs and Community is the icing on the cake Issues that can be dealt with by your International Trade; Human Resources City Councillor include: airports, ambu- and Skills Development; Aboriginal By Michelle Martin lance services, animal control, business Affairs and Northern Development; licences, by-law enforcement, cemeter- Industry; Intergovernmental Affairs; o Mouna Kassar’s mind, there is no such thing as too many cooks in the kitch- ies, community or convention centres or International Cooperation and Ten. As a case manager with The Salvation Army Lawson Ministries STRIVE day halls, cultural facilities (such as museums Development; Justice; Labour; National program (Skills, Training, Recreation, Integration, Vocation, Employment), she runs or libraries), emergency and disaster Defence; National Revenue; Natural a baking program for adults with developmental disabilities. The aroma of home- services, family and community support Resources; Public Safety; Public Works made goodies has been wafting out of Delta United Church on Ottawa Street South services, fire services, municipal land-use and Government Services; Transport, since 2013, when the program began. It started with two people and has grown to planning, parks and pathways, police Infrastructure and Communities; two groups that each meet once a week for two and a half hours, with a total of four- services, public lighting, public transpor- Treasury Board; and Veterans Affairs. teen current participants. tation, recreation facilities and programs, For federal issues, you can get in They bake up to three different recipes each session and sell from the Lawson roads, streets and walks, sanitation and touch with Member of Parliament David Ministries office coffee cart where, as Kassar describes, “They earn a sense of owner- sewage treatment, storm sewers and Christopherson at 905-526-0770 or ship. They package and tag everything they bake—they put their name on it.” Baker drainage, tourism, water supply and dis- [email protected]. Emily Tessier was happy to talk about her handiwork: “My favourite part about bak- tribution, and waste management. If you have the opportunity to contact ing is baking scones with blueberries or white chocolate chips… that’s the best. We If you live west of Ottawa Street. you your local representative, you may be can make a lot of stuff like brownies, cupcakes and muffins.” can get in touch with Matthew Green at talking to a staff person instead. Don’t be “We find baking very therapeutic,” observes Kassar. “It involves working with [email protected] or 905-546- dissuaded by this. Political staff often do different textures, learning to focus on measuring, stirring and mixing ingredients.” 2702. If you’re east of Ottawa Street, much of the legwork for any issues that Moving beyond its restorative qualities, the STRIVE baking program also encour- contact Sam Merulla at smerulla@hamil- come up and they will likely be ready ages budding chefs. Kassar proudly points out, “We have some participants who have ton.ca or 905-546-4512. to help with questions or advice on next the potential to learn enough to work in a kitchen or bakery, so this program is like Your Member of Provincial Parliament steps. Be prepared to have something culinary training (for them).” (working out of Queen’s Park in that you can ask for, but also be prepared The kitchen follows food safety regulations for the City of Hamilton, and Kassar Toronto) deals with issues in the fol- to follow up and do more research for is a certified food handler who makes sure everyone bakes by the rules: “They learn lowing ministries: Aboriginal Affairs; next time. how to do it safely, so they can do it in their own homes.” As an added bonus, they Agriculture, Attorney General; Food get to taste test new recipes. and Rural Affairs; Children and Youth Anthony Marco is President of the Lawson Ministries also holds cooking classes in space rented from the Perkins Services; Citizenship, Community Hamilton and District Labour Council. Centre on Main Street East, as part of its STRIVE for Health program. According Safety and Correctional Services; www.hamiltonlabour.ca, facebook.com/ to Lawson Ministries Director of Operations Lisa Schumph, the best place to facili- Immigration and International Trade; hamiltonlabour, @hamiltonlabour tate activities for the people they serve is out in the community, where they can learn Education, Energy; Environment and to feel comfortable and forge natural support networks: “Our whole philosophy of Climate Change; Francophone Affairs; care is based on community inclusion. Community partnerships make it happen, Health and Long-Term Care; Labour; including in Crown Point.” If you are interested in finding out more about STRIVE, contact Senior Case Manager Justin Dewaard at The Salvation Army Lawson Ministries, 905-527-6212 extension 236, or by email: [email protected]. More information can be found on the website: www.lawsonministries.org.

Michelle Martin lives and writes in Crown Point. She is privileged to know Mouna, Lisa and Justin as colleagues at Lawson Ministries, where she works as coordinator of the City-funded Community Access to Transportation bus training program. EAT BETTER IN 2016!

THE GOOD FOOD BOX is a non-profit distribution program that makes fresh local food available to everyone at a discount. Visit our site for more info: www.environmenthamilton.org 14 THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016 Clubs provide a history of sport in Gage Park Roselawn Lawn Bowling Tennis By Marilyn Hill skilled to be allowed to bowl on the real By Vincent Ormand If you don’t want to join a structured greens. Now, first-time players are taught program, grab a friend, or get set-up with his year Roselawn Lawn Bowling right on the fields and soon enter into a game. estled on the south side of Gage another member, you can play on your Tcelebrates its 91st anniversary. The In 1950, the membership fee was $10. NPark on the corner of Gage Avenue own with no outdoor court fees. If you club is located in Gage Park in a pictur- Today it is $120 for the entire season and Lawrence Road—only one big swing aren’t keen on buying a membership, esque setting with roses around the two from May to October. Membership away from the escarpment—lies Rosedale Rosedale offers an eight-visit Play Pass regulation-sized greens and trees lining includes events such as tournaments, spe- Tennis Club. Here you’ll find four hard to use at your convenience at any point the escarpment in the background. The cial programs, interclub games, district courts, four red clay courts (French during the year. clubhouse is easy to reach from the park playdowns, barbecues, and other refresh- Open-style), and four indoor HarTru Drop by and complete a ballot for entrance on Lawrence Road, next to the ments. If there are no assigned days, a (green clay) courts. With a surface for a chance to win a free summer 2016 tennis club. member may bowl seven days a week— every player and no outdoor court fees, membership. The club is located at 42 The lawn bowling club has seen many morning, afternoon, and some evenings. there’s no excuse–come out to play! Lawrence Rd. in Hamilton. Call us changes since it started in 1925. For At one time, lawn bowling was For nine decades Rosedale Tennis at 905-545-5205, visit our website at a long time, men and women bowled considered for “old people who wear Club has given its members a “cottage- www.rosedaletennisclub.ca, or email separately and had their own executive white”. Roselawn has worked hard to in-the-city”. Its 350 members will soon us at [email protected]. committees. In 1991 the two groups overcome that perception. We encourage celebrate the club’s 100th anniversary. Rosedale Tennis Club is part of the amalgamated to be insured under participants of all ages, as well as casual Rosedale offers year-round play, with growing Gage Park community. With the Ontario Lawn Bowls Association. sport attire. Join us any time or on one four courts available in the winter and easy access to the park, it is a great way to Roselawn belongs to District 5 (of 16 dis- of our scheduled Open House Days on 12 courts available in the summer. Mike spend time outdoors this summer—you tricts in Ontario), along with Ancaster, Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12. Kool, the head pro, has led the tennis don’t want to miss out on this big hit! Burlington, Caledonia, Dundas, Equipment, including bowls, is program for more than 30 years. He has Hagersville, and Grimsby. provided. All you need are level shoes developed many elite collegiate players, Vincent Ormand is manager of Rosedale In early years, proper dress meant that (preferably without deep treads) and including alumni from Indiana State, Tennis Club. men wore white pants and shirts and a willingness to try something new. James Madison, Brown, and Baylor women wore white dresses or blouses Come join our friendly group; we University. Mike is also known for and skirts. Now, bowlers wear casual, love introducing people to our sport. bringing new dimensions to the game for colourful attire, except during special For more information call Marilyn players of all ages. The club offers adult tournaments. Heelless, flat shoes have at 905-528-3191, visit our website leagues, beginner, intermediate, and ad- always been essential in order to protect www.roselawnlbc.com, or just come by vanced clinics and lessons, cardio classes, the rinks from marks. to join the fun. and drop-in hitting times. For kids At one time there were “bullpens” or there is an outstanding junior academy, practice areas where new bowlers played Marilyn Hill is a member of Roselawn Lawn beginner and intermediate lessons, and until they were judged to be sufficiently Bowling Club. summer day camp.

THE PANTRY by Deborah LeBaron

his will be my final article for The Pantry; perhaps someone else will take up the Tbaton—or the spatula! I thought I would end on a frivolous note... Caramel Nut Candy

2 cups mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans, sesame seeds—your choice) ½ cup butter, diced 1 ½ cups sugar 1/3 cup water 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla pinch of salt

Toast the nuts: heat the oven to 350 F and spread the nuts on a cookie sheet. Bake for ten minutes or until golden-brown. Cool and then chop fairly finely. Prepare the pan: you will need a 24-mold tiny tart tin. Either spray with cooking spray or dip your finger in vegetable oil and spread a thin layer of oil in each mold. Fill each mold about three-quarters full with chopped nuts. In a heavy-bottomed pan, mix the remaining ingredients. Put on a medium-high burner and melt. Stir or swirl once to make sure the ingredients are well mixed. Leave on the burner for seven to nine minutes without stirring. Watch it carefully as it browns. You can stop when the mixture is golden-brown or, if you like a stronger, harder caramel, continue cooking until it has reached the colour you like. Carefully pour the caramel mixture over the nuts, just about covering them. If the caramel starts to stiffen, put it back on the stove to liquefy. If you have leftover nuts and caramel, let the first batch set hard, remove the can- dies and re-grease the tin. Heat the caramel to liquefy it and repeat the process. You can make this in a mini-muffin tin instead, but it makes very large candies! I’ve had fun writing The Pantry for The Point and hope you have enjoyed the articles and the recipes. For the last time, happy cooking! THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016 15

CROWN POINT EVENTS

Crown Point Running Club Where: Gage Park Join a local community for runs and inspiration. For details visit the facebook group Hamilton World Music Festival facebook.com/groups/crownpointrunningclub. Northernex will provide a free t-shirt to all who Three days of free music and arts, and free educational workshops for children and sign up. youth (aged 10-24), local musicians, artists, and community members. The Festival will feature local artists and international musicians from Canada and around the world. Visit 100 in1Day hamiltonworldmusicfest.com. 100 In1Day is a global festival of civic engagement. Imagine the possibilities for our city if When: July 15-17 hundreds of people united to participate in small initiatives to spark change. Share your vision Where: Gage Park for a better city. Join the movement today by submitting your intervention, participating in a workshop or helping to spread the word. Seven Sundays in Gage Park Visit hamilton.100in1day.ca to find events in Crown Point or to submit your own! A free concert series presented by the City of Hamilton in partnership with Sonic Unyon When: Saturday, June 4 Records, featuring a mixture of musical genres, cultures, cool movies, and some of Hamilton’s best food trucks. Visit sevensundays.ca. Imagine in the Park When: Sundays from July 24 - September 4. Imagine In The Park is a free children’s art festival, offering workshops by local artists in all Food trucks will be serving up dinner by 6 p.m., with concerts starting at 7 p.m. forms of the Arts - music, dance, literature, crafts and more. We have two food trucks avail- Where: George R. Robinson bandshell in Gage Park able - a hotdog/hamburger truck and a fro-yo truck, or feel free to bring a picnic lunch! This year there will also be a free draw for a tablet donated by Cogeco! For kids ages 6-12. Free. Visit KENILWORTH BRANCH LIBRARY EVENTS imagineinthepark.wordpress.com. 103 Kenilworth Ave. N, 905-546-3960, visit hpl.ca for all events When: Saturday, June 4, 11a.m. – 6p.m. Where: Gage Park For Kids & Teens Starting June 1 kids ages 0-18 can preregister for the Summer Reading Club. Fun and free Father’s Day on Ottawa St. activities will be taking place all summer long at all Hamilton Public Library locations, including Kids can paint a t-shirt for Dad at the Market. Thanks to AllSorts Gallery, 244 Ottawa St N, for crafts, games and lots of special visito rs and performers. Pick up a copy of our Summer What’s their sponsorship. Visit shopottawastreet.com/events/fathers-day Happening Program Guide, or check hpl.ca for all the details! When: Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Where: Ottawa St. Market For Adults Mother/Daughter DIY Bath Bombs Planting on Park Row With Kerry Turcotte from Lyer Lyer Soapcraft Join the Crown Point Garden Club in planting another “pollinator patch” native plant garden. When: Thursday, June 2, 6 p.m. When: Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m. Where: Park Row North at Cannon Watercolour Made Easy With Michele Jenise from Paintings by Jenelle FrancoFEST When: Wednesday, June 22, 2 p.m. This annual festival in Gage Park is free and includes many live performances such as Ottawa Stilt Union, Hamilton Ariel Group, live Canadian bands, musicians and artists, bouncy castles, bubble soccer, local food and craft vendors, food trucks and a beer garden! Great for all ages. Don’t miss it! Presented By: Centre français Hamilton. Visit francofesthamilton.ca. When: June 25 - 26, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Where: Gage Park The next issue of The Point is August/September. Please send your information for all neighbourhood events to us It’s Your Festival by July 1st at [email protected] The Hamilton Folk Arts Heritage Council (a Non-Profit Organization) is celebrating the 48th It’s Your Festival, featuring many stages of musical acts, international food options, a midway and more! Visit itsyourfestival.ca. When: July 1-3

Can’t have it both ways on the Pipeline Trail by Bev Wagar are eight trail intersections, of which five are slated for Trail” as a selling feature. Making it a safer, greener, and parking reduction. The total loss will be 14 or 16 spots, more pedestrian-friendly place will continue to affect “A society grows great when old depending on the time of the month. house values in adjacent neighbourhoods. A house is a men plant trees whose shade they The Pipeline Trail absolutely needs the street intersec- home, but for most of us it is also the biggest investment tions fixed, so a single path crosses each road at close we will make. Trail improvements are already benefit- know they shall never sit in.” to a right angle, with pavement markings on the street, ting homeowners financially. and curb cuts right at the path, so trail users of all ages In older neighbourhoods like Crown Point, parking n September 2014, the City of Hamilton approved with walkers, wheelchairs, bicycles, rollerblades and is an important concern. But, to put it bluntly, we can’t Ifunding of the Pipeline Trail Master Plan with the skateboards can cross the roads safely. These improve- have it both ways. We can either have a well designed support of community residents who joined together to ments are the backbone of the plan. trail that will attract visitors, reduce crime, increase improve the trail with parades, a pollinator garden, and What we get in exchange for those parking spots is property values, and improve the neighbourhood or we most recently the DeLight Festival of Lanterns. a busier trail that attracts more local users, visitors, and can keep 14 to 16 parking spots. Trees, gardens, walk- The public participation process for the Master Plan even tourists. The more people, the more watchful eyes. ing paths, a neighbourhood commons—as well as the began with a bus tour, continued with two meetings at Criminals looking for easy targets will seek areas with coming LRT—will attract families who value these the Perkins Centre, and culminated with the unveiling fewer potential witnesses. Researchers find that “traffic features. and presentation of the plan at the Museum of Steam levels on urban trails are inversely correlated with levels The Pipeline Trail will become either a symbol of and Technology in September of 2015. of crime in neighborhoods surrounding the trails.” In neglect and decline or a beautiful green ribbon of com- Once it was called the hidden gem of the east end, short: the more people, the less crime. munity pride and accomplishment. It’s our choice. but when the Master Plan is fully realized, the Pipeline With improved design, better lighting, attractive Trail will be an accessible and very visible community signage, trees, and plantings comes a sense of pride and Bev Wagar is a gardener, activist, and Pipeline Trail asset that offers recreation, art, and connections to the ownership in the area. Neighbours will value the space enthusiast. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect lake, the Red Hill Valley, and the escarpment. and become its natural guardians to ensure informal the views of the Pipeline Trail Team or the CPPT. There will be improvements at trail/road intersections social control. Pride of place means less crime. that will result in the loss of some on-street parking. In The trail is considered a community asset. Already we the section between Ottawa Street and Kenilworth there are seeing real estate agents describing “near the Pipeline 16 THE POINT • JUNE / JULY 2016

MUSIC AND ART Small Things Can Make a Big Difference by Shiona M. Mackenzie

hen it comes to developing an environment that supports activities and access Wto opportunities which contribute towards accomplishing positive goals, the hubs within Hamilton have come a long way. This is thanks to some dynamic, savvy people who want to make a difference in their communities, and they are not all politicians and social workers. Some of them are musicians I’m proud to know. Let me tell you a bit about two of them. Heather Snowden has been playing flute and piano since she was seven years old. Classically trained, Heather holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Flute Performance. Her talent and drive have allowed her to meet people like Andrea Bocelli, Glissandi, and Il Divo, go to places like Sweden and the Maritimes, and take part in events that she would not otherwise. “I’ve met some of the most important people in my life through music,” Heather says. “And all while doing something I love – something that brings me joy, peace and happiness; something that allows me to feel a sense of pride on an individual and on a collective level; something that I am truly fortunate to be able to share with others.” Heather regularly shares her love of music with the Crown Point community at Delta United Church, where she is Choir Director, bringing fun and motivation to practices and services. Heather enjoys a full studio of private flute and piano students, teaches band and flute workshops, and has taught at the Niagara Symphony Summer Music Camp for the past 13 years. In addition to composing and performing, Loralee now teaches music. Her An active freelance performer, she plays with groups such as Collective Musings students develop far more than good performance technique. Many find their self- and the Thunder Bay Symphony, among others, in venues like Theatre Aquarius and confidence improved and their attitude more positive. Casino Niagara. Along with her passion for music, Heather enjoys running, (she was For example, for a long time, one of Loralee’s students used to perform at recitals in the Boston Marathon this year!), renovating, (she is working on a fixer upper as I with her back to the audience and only sang if Loralee would sing along with her, but write) and creating just about anything. As well as a great guffaw, she has a can-do now she walks on stage by herself and faces the audience while she sings—a feat of attitude that inspires others without her even realizing it. great strength and courage because she has autism. Weekly music lessons have given Likewise, Hamilton-born Loralee McGuirl has an upbeat energy about her that her hope, purpose, and a sense of accomplishment. others quickly pick up on. She is a well-known vocalist with a successful career in In ways like these, both large and small, the arts help empower people. And music, having performed jazz, pop, gospel, blues and opera, not only in Canada, but such people help bring about change for the better. The first stanza of Arthur also in France and Italy. By the age of ten, she was already winning awards for her O’Shaughnessy’s Ode sums it up: singing, but not everyone knows that behind her obvious gifts lies a surprising story. At the age of 19, a horse threw her into a tree, breaking her nose, both wrists, We are the music makers, four ribs, and puncturing her kidney. With scrapes and bruises all over her body, she And we are the dreamers of dreams, couldn’t walk. According to her doctors, the impact could have killed Loralee or left Wandering by lone sea-breakers, her with brain damage. “The first night in the hospital was really long as the doctors needed to keep And sitting by desolate streams;— waking me up in case I had concussion,” Loralee says. She lay on the hospital bed World-losers and world-forsakers, wondering how she’d play the piano, or play soccer, or dance again. It hurt to On whom the pale moon gleams: breathe. Yet we are the movers and shakers “Then, I looked over to my right where an elderly woman lay on the next bed. We smiled at one another and I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I was alive. Of the world for ever, it seems. “Even though every inhalation was laboured, I felt like singing, so I sang an Irish Shiona Mackenzie is a communications professional with 17 years of international tune and an old gospel song to the woman. When I stopped, she said with a tear in experience and a lifelong love of the arts. her eye, ‘Dear, don’t you ever stop singing’... and I haven’t. Seeing the joy on her face at such a desperate time convinced me to continue creating and sharing music.”

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