Urbanicity Hamilton: Recent Episodes
Robert Cekan
Leanne Pluthero is a historic researcher and Auchmar historian. Currently she is promoting the protection of Century Manor, which is an 1884 Hamilton building currently at risk of demolition. You can help by signing the petition at chng.it/KXkZtN4y
Gemma New is music director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra who have just announced their upcoming 2020-21 concert season!
Emily O'Brien is the owner and operator of Comeback Snacks which was inspired during her time in prison after being caught in a drug smuggling operation. Hear how she used her life-changing experience to kickstart a Hamilton business after spending nearly a year behind bars.
Hamilton moves to Stage Three today. Free masks are available at Burlington City Hall. Hamilton selects $500 million plan for downtown entertainment facilities. Activists paint massive ‘Defund the Police’ message across Main Street. HSR is ending all paper tickets and bus passes, switching exclusively to Presto. Unruly passenger forces Hamilton-bound Swoop flight to land in Thunder Bay. Highway 6 begins constructing new expansion and connection to 401.
Kara & Brett Liersch are a husband/wife duo best known for their food trucks The Dirty South as well as The Salted Pig. They also own a catering business with a bunch of new brick-and-mortar restaurants opening soon in the Hamilton area.
Hamilton, Burlington & Brantford council votes to make masks mandatory in public spaces. Hamilton’s iconic duck Lewis Mallard is making face masks during COVID-19. Ontario reports lowest number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases since March. Ontario announces plans for Stage 3 of reopening. City of Hamilton amends bylaw to make way for more patios. Hamilton libraries will be waiving all fees for overdue books during COVID-19. Art Gallery of Hamilton is reopening with free admission for the rest of July. Hamilton charity receives $800k to assist Black and racialized newcomer youth.
Leo Johnson is the founder and Executive Director at Empowerment Squared which is a registered Canadian charity whose goal is to empower newcomer and marginalized youth in Canada and across the world through educational programming, sports and recreation, scholarship, and thought leadership.
Hamilton actor Nick Cordero dies at 41 after battling COVID-19. Hamilton’s hospitals currently have zero COVID-19 patients. Film productions in Hamilton are now permitted to restart. CFL talking about Hamilton and Burlington as hub cities for the 2020 season. Ontario high schools to end ‘streaming’ program for incoming students. Someone pranked the Gage Park Fountain by turning it into a giant bubble bath. Burlington mayor and councillor propose temporary mandatory mask bylaw. Hamilton’s Santa Claus Parade has been cancelled for 2020. Hamilton’s paid parking now offers app-based payments.
Darling Donuts owner Alyssa Lancia shares how she started her business with Urbanicity's Editor-in-chief Robert Cekan.
Dolled Up Desserts opens on James North. Mikel Coffee Company has opened. The Dirty South Restaurant is opening another location on Concession Street. HSR buses resume fare. SoBi bicycles have officially been reactivated for use. Multiple London party-goers test positive for COVID-19, with possible spread to Hamilton. City might make masks mandatory in public spaces. Hamilton conservation areas may close due to capacity on weekends.
Tucker’s Marketplace is permanently closing its doors. Atlantic Submarine closes after 40 years. 193 Bench Kitchen also shuts its doors. Pride Hamilton files a $600k claim against the Hamilton Police Service. An e-scooter service might be coming to Hamilton. HWDSB ends program that brought police officers into schools. Hamilton hospitals have started to allow visitors for inpatients again. King William Street’s dining district is now open.
Supercrawl & Because Beer festivals have both been cancelled for 2020. A Newfoundland-inspired restaurant is opening in Hamilton. CERB eligibility has been extended another 8 weeks. Two city councillors voice their support to defund the Hamilton police. Hamilton libraries will now offer curbside pickup. Hamilton gets the green light to move to Phase 2 of reopening this weekend.
Ontario announces the details for the next phase of reopening. SoBi bike share has been saved in Hamilton. New $6M trail will be paved along the Claremont Access. HSR is making face masks mandatory on all city buses. Collective Arts Fest has been cancelled for 2020. Toast Wine Bar is closing its doors. Hamilton’s Starlite Drive-In is officially reopening. Locals in their 20s make up half of Hamilton’s new COVID-19 cases.
Jay Krause is co-chair of Cycle Hamilton. We chat about SoBi in Hamilton and the importance of supporting bike share programs in cities.
Urbanicity chats with Black Lives Matter Hamilton who organized the George Floyd rally earlier in the week. We discuss the event, racism in North America, and BLM drops an announcement to their next Hamilton initiative.
Hamilton has officially scrapped SoBi bike share. 45-storey tower proposed for Hamilton’s Pier 8. Ontario has extended all emergency orders to June 9th. McMaster University announces that all classes are moving online for the fall term. Hamilton General Hospital declares COVID-19 outbreak as 6 workers test positive. Hamilton shifts its Commonwealth Games bid to 2026. Hamiltonians will be able to see SpaceX Crew Dragon fly over the city this weekend.
Harry Stinson is a respected real estate developer with several projects in Hamilton, Toronto, and Buffalo. He speaks with Urbanicity's Robert Cekan about his latest project Beasley Park Lofts, which are on sale now!
SoBi bike-sharing service is ending in Hamilton. More than 800 tickets given out to drivers amid COVID-19 shutdown in Hamilton. Ontario schools will not reopen this school year. New local initiative Curbside Pivot launches in Hamilton. Pride Hamilton makes the move to digital during COVID-19. The bronze turtle stolen from the Gage Park fountain has been returned. The Dirty South restaurant supplies St Joseph’s Healthcare with 600 free meals.
Ontario will start Stage 1 of reopening the economy next week. Hamilton approves outdoor dining districts. Wild Waterworks will remain closed for the rest of the year. Someone stole the bronze turtle from the Gage Park fountain. Hamilton actor Nick Cordero wakes up from coma. Elvis impersonator stops traffic in Hamilton.
Hamilton’s This Ain’t Hollywood is closing after 11 years. Aceti’s Pizzeria closes after 54 years. Dundas coffee spot Grupetto closes permanently amid COVID-19. Meanwhile Winebar on James North converts to a bottle shop. Four employees at Mondelez candy factory in Hamilton test positive for COVID-19. Longo’s supermarkets now require customers to wear face masks during COVID-19. Update on actor Nick Cordero’s COVID-19 recovery.
Hamilton announces plan to reopen the economy. Nutella plant in Brantford closes after 7 workers test positive for COVID-19. Falcons gave birth to chicks on top of Hamilton’s Sheraton Hotel. Hamilton’s Fairweather Brewing is back to brewing beer. Arkells surprise a graduating McMaster student.
Three Hamilton businesses fall victim to a serial arsonist. Shoppers Drug Mart on Upper James tests positive for COVID-19. Doug Ford says Ontario will absolutely not be reopening by May 24th. 59 COVID-19 fines have been issued in Hamilton. An update on actor Nick Cordero. Plus an interview with David Hudson!
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) has now been expanded to include freelancers, contract workers, and part-time/seasonal workers. 100+ tow operators lined Upper Gage Street to honour a 30-year-old tow-truck driver. Hamilton’s Broadway star Nick Cordero is in critical condition with COVID-19. Drive-thru tests now available in Hamilton.
In this episode, we discuss how the City of Hamilton is converting FirstOntario Centre into a homeless shelter as the city battles COVID-19. We also talk about the Maple Leaf plant workers who have tested positive for COVID-19, tickets being issued to those not following physical distancing, as well as more city closures and event cancellations. Plus, we interview Robin Lacambra — owner of GoodBodyFeel — who will be talking about how she brought her Hamilton studio’s movement classes online.
In our inaugural episode, we discuss the City of Hamilton's extended shutdown of city-run facilities, Ontario schools remaining closed for at least another month, gatherings of more than 5 people banned and enforced, the fake COVID-19 doctor's note that shut down a Hamilton McDonalds, and notes of positivity found around the city. Plus, we interview local restaurateur Dave Fauteux of Bon Temps on how the Coronavirus pandemic has affected his business.