The Graham Crawford Show: Recent Episodes
Graham Crawford
The Graham Crawford Show is filled with smart, progressive talk from regular panelists, subject matter experts, and personal observations - every week and always focused on issues affecting you and the City of Hamilton. Let’s talk Hamilton.
A powerful interview with three Hamilton Councillors on the role elected leaders play in combatting hate, racism and bigotry. Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson, Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann and Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark.
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Host, Graham Crawford
Alex Zafer, producer
In an ongoing series discussing Hate in The Hammer, we feature two very special guests, Cameron Kroetsch and Lyla Miklos discussing the relationship between our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and our civic institutions. Both Cameron and Lyla are active and engaged citizens of Hamilton as well as the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Police, Power, Politics are on the agenda. Graham asks who wields the power, and are we being well served by it? This is an episode you don't want to miss.
Bio's about our guests:
Lyla Miklos is an award winning activist, administrator, broadcast journalist. Born in Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island, North West Territories (now Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut) in 1974, Lyla has called Hamilton, Ontario her home since 1982. Lyla is a graduate of Mohawk College's Media Studies program and a Mohawk College Alumni of Distinction. She has been working in the media and communications industry for over two decades and is a self-identified queer, feminist, activist for over two decades. She helped create and served as President of Mohawk Pride, Mohawk College's first official club for two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and more (2SLGBTQIA+) students. She was instrumental in forming the GLBT Advisory Committee for the City of Hamilton, later sitting on it as a member and Interim Chair. Lyla was a part of the organizing committee of Hamilton Pride for over a decade, chairing it in 2005 and 2002.
Cameron Kroetsch moved to Hamilton in 2014 and is a 2SLGBTQIA+ activist and advocate. He is a member of LGBTQ Advisory Committee, a board member of Hamilton Pride dedicated to bringing the LGBTQ community and the city of Hamilton and surrounding areas together. His background includes bing a labour relations professional, sometimes writer, and a passionate non-profit sector volunteer who cares about democracy in government and community advocacy.
Hamilton as a growing city, 2SLBGTQIA+ issues, as well as the Ward 2 community continues to be the focus of Cameron’s ongoing advocacy. Cameron has deep ties in each of the neighbourhoods and is passionate about rebuilding the relationships between those neighbourhoods and the City by tapping into the existing expertise of the many Ward 2 residents that he’s met and worked with. Cameron joined the Corktown Neighbourhood Association’s Executive Committee when he saw the opportunity to engage residents about ongoing development. He also co-organized the People’s Plan for Downtown campaign that helped to dramatically improve the City’s “Downtown Secondary Plan”. He worked with over 20 other community leaders to advocate for progressive changes to the plan. The campaign was successful in lobbying for changes to affordable housing, tenant displacement, heritage preservation, and community consultation – all things that are central to Cameron’s vision for a better Ward 2. He lives in Ward 2 with his partner Derek.
:: Produced and edited by Alex Zafer ::
Listen to Graham's audio op-ed on Cardus.
Our City Council is about to vote to enter into negotiations with Cardus on their use of Balfour House, and blocking any other groups from consideration.
If you haven't looked at some of the content Cardus publishes on their website, you should. Here's Graham's thoughts on what he found.
The Graham Crawford Show is produced by Alex Zafer, with your host Graham Crawford.
After a hiatus, Producer Alex Zafer and Host Graham Crawford introduce the return of the Graham Crawford Show. Have a listen. Enjoy!
Podcast produced by Alex Zafer with your host Graham Crawford
YES we are back after a long hiatus. Please listen to Producer Alex Zafer's preview to the upcoming episodes of The Graham Crawford Show, including his insightful perspectives on standing up to hate in Hamilton. Enjoy.
A special edition of the Cityist.
Civic Panel regular, Maureen Wilson, joins Graham to discuss the future of the Discovery Centre on our waterfront. City Council is considering selling this public building and the 8 acres on which it sits to a private developer. We think there are ways to re-imagine the building’s use and keep it in public hands. Join us for our discussion.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Our Civic Panel sinks their teeth into 3 very current topics on this edition of the podcast.
- Downtown Densification - High Anxiety
Link from The Hamilton Spectator: "Beasley neighbours back development, but not at any price Hamilton’s new downtown plan makes arbitrary changes without adequate consultation"
https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8122667-beasley-neighbours-back-development-but-not-at-any-price/
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Municipal Elections 2018 - What lies ahead and why does it matter?
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It’s a Man’s World - What message does an all male Senior Leadership Team send to the community?
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
There was a time when all members of the senior leadership team at the City of Hamilton were men. What was the most recent year that was true?
Was it 1990? 2000? 2005? If you picked any of those years, you’d be wrong. The correct answer is 2018.
That’s right, the unstoppable City of Hamilton is once again run by men. Next to the City Manager, the most senior title in the City is General Manager. We have 4 of them. Dan McKinnon is General Manager of Public Works. Jason Thorne is General Manager of Planning & Economic Development. Mike Zegarac is General Manager of Finance & Corporate Services. And Paul Johnson is the new General Manager of Healthy & Safe Communities. All other personnel report to these GM’s or to the City Manager.
All men. All white. All chosen by City Manager Chris Murray. Can’t you just feel the diversity?
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
On this edition of the Graham Crawford Show we talk with Paul Wilson about the bright neon lights of Hamilton, those that once were and those that still light the night sky.
Cultural Heritage is defined as an expression of the ways of living developed by a community and passed on from generation to generation, including customs, practices, places, objects, artistic expressions and values. Hamilton’s neon signs fit into that definition. From the Pagoda to the Capri Restaurant to Cheapies to the Westdale Theatre. All in this lively discussion on the Graham Crawford Show.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
We’re very pleased to have Jason Thorne, General Manager of Planning & Economic Development for the City of Hamilton join us for an in-depth, one-on-one discussion about urban design in Hamilton, from how demographics affect planning, to what is excellent urban design, to how the Planning Department contributes to the achievement of our Vision, to how engaging community engagement really is, and much, much more.
All on this edition of The Graham Crawford Show.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
On this edition of the Cityist, like many boys and girls throughout Hamilton, I sent Santa a note that began:
Dear Santa, I know you’re a pretty busy person, but I’d really appreciate it if you could take a look at my list of 8 Civic Gifts I’d love for you to bring to my town…..
Listen to what I asked for from Santa for Hamilton.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
"Driving us Crazy" - A very lively discussion from several points of views. Our featured panelists Peter Graefe, Maureen Wilson and Tom Flood discuss with Graham the attitudes around urban design and roads. Do drivers in Hamilton own more than the road?
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Architectural gems on Wentworth sit empty Paul Wilson discusses two boarded up beauties on Wentworth Street South, one a mansion, the other a lovely apartment building. Both in need of some attention. The original link to the Hamilton Spectator article can be found here: https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7563034-paul-wilson-architectural-gems-on-wentworth-sit-empty/ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
The City of Hamilton spent half a million dollars on a proposal to Amazon for Hamilton to become the site of its second headquarters for up to 50,000 employees.
I hate to be the party pooper, but I think our senior bureaucrats and elected officials need to have a drink of reality.
Chasing expensive rainbows is one way to spend our money and our energy. The question I’m asking myself is, “Are there other, better ways to spend it?”
I think yes. On this edition of the Cityist on The Graham Crawford Show
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Mark Richardson joins us to talk about his experience challenging the City of Hamilton about their decision to ignore the recommendations of the consultants they hired to redefine the 15 Ward boundaries to create a more balanced distribution of Wards and population.
Problem is, when Watson & Associates presented their findings and their recommendations, City Council decided to redraw the Ward boundaries themselves - literally. Crayons came out and maps were marked, the results of which were voted on by Council.
Mark Richardson felt a need to challenge that decision, so he invested his time and his own money to challenge Council’s decision at the Ontario Municipal Board. We talk in detail with Mark about what motivated him to take this action, as well as what happened during his hearing.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
After a long summer break The Graham Crawford Show returns with our regular Civic Panel where we discuss a melange of topics. Our featured panelists include Ryan McGreal, Peter Graefe and Maureen Wilson.
- Pier 8 Design Competition - The Process & the Results
- Redefining Ward Boundaries - How we got to where we are now
- Assigning resources (time, money, people) to chasing Amazon HQ for Hamilton
Thank you to all our listeners. Keep talking Hamilton!
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Like many others have, I’ve accused Councillors of being tone deaf on these sorts of issues that are completely within their control to remedy. Why is it that they try to ignore us? I have a theory. I think they ignore us for as long as possible because they don’t really want to be seen as reacting to feedback about their own behaviours. You got a problem with people in Public Works or the HSR or the Planning Department, bring it on. We’re all ears. You got a problem with me, keep it to yourself. So, fellow Hamiltonians, here’s the lesson we’re supposed to learn. Feedback about issues related to people other than Councillors is welcomed. Feedback on changes you’d like Councillors to make themselves. Put it in a letter and leave off the postage. That way it’ll be like you never really said it. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
First of all, a small confession. I’m a member of the Board of Directors of the Westdale Cinema Group, the non-profit organization that has purchased the old Westdale Theatre and that will be restoring it to its 1935 glory. That makes me, and this edition of the Cityist, less than objective.
But this project is so exciting that I feel more than comfortable, as does my Executive Producer, Alex Zafer, talking about an upcoming event in front of and inside the Westdale Theatre.
It’s on June 25th and we’d love to see you there.
Be sure to check it out on the Events page of the Westdale Cinema page on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and keep up to date: @WestdaleCinema
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
We talk to Paul about a column he called: New mayor can’t sit on this throne that appeared in the Hamilton Spectator on October 21, 2014.
It’s a story about the City of Hamilton’s secret warehouse full of Hamilton artifacts the City has been collecting throughout its history that it doesn’t have the space to put on permanent display. While Paul doesn’t reveal its location, he does reveal what’s inside.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Just when you didn’t think it was possible for Councillors to be more tone deaf, they prove us wrong. I’m talking about the recent recommendation by Councillors at a Governance Review Subcommittee to spend $5000 for service rings for themselves. Apparently, rings have been given in the past to Councillors who are either retiring or who have died. Now, we’re also adding Councillors who are defeated in an election. Yep, we reward the losers. And by we, I mean all of us. Instead of the other Councillors chipping in to buy a departing colleague a gift, like most people do in the real world, they want us to pay them to say thanks. On this edition of The Cityist called Lords of the Rings. _________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
This time, we talk to Paul about a column he called: Harmony’s proud, but sad, story to be unveiled that appeared in the Hamilton Spectator on September 2, 2014. It’s about the Harmony Apartments at Bay and Barton. If you haven’t been by the building, it’s worth taking a look if you’re in the area. Located on the west side of Bay Street, one building north of Barton, the building began life as an Italian banquet hall with a very impressive facade and was later converted to apartments after the war. _________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
One year, and tens of thousands of downloads after this adventure began, I sit down with the mastermind of The Graham Crawford Show - Executive Producer Alex Zafer to discuss the original vision for the show, what we’ve accomplished and where we go from here. And we talk about Dave Beatty, the owner of QED Media in Hamilton where we record the how and his amazing contribution to making all of this possible.
Alex and I also talk about our regular Civic Panel members, and Paul Wilson, and some guests who have appeared on the Common Knowledge edition of the show. We look back over one year of The Graham Crawford Show. It’s an inside baseball kind of show. If you’re a regular listener, I think you’ll really enjoy it.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
I’m joined by an artist and satirist I’ve admired for years. I admire his wit. His artistry. His ability to boil oceans of issues to their essence and to present what he sees in ways that leave us smiling or even, dare I say, LOL’ing. His name is Graeme MacKay and he’s the editorial cartoonist for the Hamilton Spectator. I think you’ll really enjoy this interview. I know I did. ______________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
We talk to Paul about a column he called: Storied House Amid Highrises Has a Future Again. It appeared in the Hamilton Spectator on May 17, 2016. It’s a story about tenacity. In this case, the tenacity of a beautiful house and the tenacity of a dedicated owner. The house was built in 1860, just 7 years after Central School was built on Hunter. Today, it sits surrounded by highrises. But, it also sits restored. That’s a major accomplishment in an already accomplished heritage neighbourhood. But it wasn’t easy. Listen to the story about an owner with a vision he wasn’t prepared to let go of in his quest to restore this amazing house. ______________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
This edition of the Cityist is called Dithering, Blithering & Slithering. It’s a three word summary of the last City Council meeting about LRT. We may be relieved and thankful that the LRT Environmental Assessment 2.0 was approved in a 10 to 5 vote by Council. But, there’s more to this than simply getting enough votes to keep LRT moving. That meeting also said a lot about the state of leadership in this City and about how we got to where we find ourselves today. Please have a listen to a review of the Council meeting and hear about all the dithering, blithering and slithering. ______________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
We’re calling this edition of the Civic Panel Some Counsel for Council. If you're a regular watcher of Hamilton City Council, you’ll probably agree that Council’s behaviour is questionable at times. And, at other times, downright appalling. Our panelists each provide some advice to Council based on problems they see happening. And they provide some true insights into why some of these problems exist in the first place. Destination listening. ______________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
It was telling that Spectator columnist Andrew Dreschel began a recent column by saying, “City Manager Chris Murray’s face may not have been sickly green, but he has rarely looked as crestfallen and crushed.” Chris Murray was down because an internal audit about how consulting dollars were spent had just been shared with Council. It was a damning report, to say the least. Aside from the shocking dollar numbers, such as overspending on consultants last year by over 100%, it was even more shocking that it was described as a surprise. This kind of surprise screams poor fiscal management, poor supervision, and perhaps worst of all, poor senior management oversight. ______________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
We talk to Paul Wilson about a column he called, “Hamilton is the Town Where Time Stands Still” that appeared in the Hamilton Spectator on March 15, 2016.
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/6390115-paul-wilson-hamilton-is-the-town-where-time-stands-still/
It focuses on some of Hamilton’s public clocks that have stopped working. Clocks at Leon’s furs, Central School and Hendry’s Shoes.
While these clocks may only tell the correct time twice a day, they still tell a great story about Hamilton.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
This Cityist is about the most recent LRT meeting at City Hall. A marathon meeting for sure. 12 hours long. But not even nearly 12 hours worth of content. Although, that might be said about many of the meetings that take place at City Hall. If one person was given a dollar for every 15 minutes of every meeting of Councillors and another person was given a dollar for every good question or every new idea heard from Councillors during those meetings, let’s just say there would be a fiscal imbalance. I’m talking about this meeting because of what I think it represents about our City. And the state of our democracy. And about what our expectations should be. It ain’t pretty. ______________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
This is the second edition of our Civic Panel Mélange, where we focus on 3 topics worth discussing. They are: Coleman Broadcasting Resolution - 40 Miles of Bad Road Ahead? Design Review Panel - Now You See It, Now You Don’t, Now You See It Downsizing - When You Can’t Change the Working Culture, Change the Number of People Who Work In It Hope you enjoy the discussion. ______________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Gather round your mobile devices dear listeners. I want to tell you a sad story about lost relevance. I want to speak about Ward 8 Councillor Terry Whitehead. It’s become very clear that Terry has lost his way. He’s flailing about looking for political relevance. His consistently inconsistent communication damages not only how we view and participate in municipal government, it also damages the very future of our City. This has gone way beyond what some Councillors would like us to believe - just Terry being Terry. In his most recent op-ed, the Councillor has taken to attacking residents who believed Council meant it when they voted to adopt one of the 7 strategic objectives called Community Engagement & Participation. Truth is, not all of us can hear what’s not being said the way Councillor Whitehead can. He hears what people aren’t saying. Does that make him Hamilton’s own Constituent Whisperer? All on this edition of The Cityist. ______________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Over 6 months ago, I did a Cityist called The Benchmark Project. It was a simple proposal for the City of Hamilton to provide affordable opportunities for Hamiltonians to place a plaque on a city bench honouring a family member or someone else important to them. In that podcast, I included information about the City’s existing program where for between $1500 and $2500, you could purchase a bench from the City of Hamilton and they’d throw in a commemorative plaque. In this podcast, I provide an update about my correspondence and communication with my Councillor, Jason Farr, and with City staff. It’s not a pretty picture. ______________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
On this show, we talk about a local project that’s received a fantastic outpouring of goodwill from Hamiltonians across the city. The project is the revitalization of the Westdale Theatre. A project being called an urban barn raising, Hamilton-style.
I’m joined by three members of the Board of the Westdale Cinema Group, the non-profit organization that has purchased the Westdale Theatre. They are, Fred Fuchs, Bob Crockford and Jeremy Freiburger. For the record, I’m the fourth member of the Board.
If you haven’t already checked out and Liked the group’s Facebook page, here’s the link https://www.facebook.com/WestdaleCinema/
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Civic engagement takes many forms. Perhaps the oldest form is an old fashioned protest. A public gathering of like-minded people about a specific topic who show up at a specific place at a specific time to make a statement and to listen to the statements of others. A ‘demonstration’ of our civic rights. Our Civic Panel regulars Ryan McGreal, Maureen Wilson, and Peter Graefe discuss their own first public protests, what motivates people to take action, and how social media is affecting civic protest. _____________________________________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
The Yin and Yang of Civic Engagement and How Everything Connects. Yin and yang. The principle that all things exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites. If you’ve embraced a civic cause it’s likely you did so because it meant something to you personally. Often, civic engagement is focused on fighting back while at the same time pushing forward. But, why do people get involved? What makes some people finish dinner and head out to a community meeting? Or to send an email to a Councillor. Or work to get people to sign a petition? This show is also about systems thinking and about implications. About how one thing affects another, and so on. By believing and understanding and leveraging the idea of everything connects, we ensure that everyone is connected. Yin. Yang. Connectivity. Implications. Change. All on this episode of The Cityist. _________________________
The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
We were pleased to welcome Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr and two very engaged residents, Roz and Dale Mugford, who started the Park the Violence Campaign related to the planned urban park bounded by King William, John Street North, Rebecca and Catherine.
We discuss the challenges facing the community caused by the violence around the nightclub on the southeast corner of the proposed park that has seen two murders, fights and disruptive behaviour. Currently, there is a full investigation being undertaken by the City of Hamilton into the situation.
While the focus is on a specific park, the discussion speaks to the good, the bad and the ugly of relationships between the City and its agencies and engaged residents looking for answers. It’s a compelling exchange.
SIGN the Park The Violence: Finish The John/Rebecca Park Now PETITION PAGE
_________________________ The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
This edition of the Cityist is called Debunking the Myth of Fiscal Prudence OR Read Any Good Books Lately?
It’s an op-ed about a myth of near Shakespearean proportions that happened at, and after, some comments made by Ward 7 Councillor Donna Skelly about the Hamilton Public Library and their budget request for 2017.
Think of it as Donna Skelly’s “I come to praise the HPL, not to bury it” moment.
I’d like to end this myth that has risen up around Councillor Skelly’s question about the relevance of the Hamilton Public Library. Fiscal conservatism that doesn’t wait for facts before making its point gives fiscal conservatives a bad name. It’s time to stop mouthing hollow “fight for the taxpayer” platitudes that might be appropriate at a rally, but are not even nearly appropriate in our Council Chambers.
Please listen and share.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Although there may be fewer than there were just a few years ago, there are still boarded up buildings in Hamilton. In this edition of the Paul Wilson interview Series, I talk to Paul about the Auchmar gatehouse, the lightkeeper's cottage on the Beach Strip, and storefronts along Barton Street.
We discuss why unrented too often looks like unwanted.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
The Graham Crawford Show was pleased to welcome Matt Jelly, engaged and active resident, artist, and one of the sharpest wits in town to talk about a project he is leading. It’s called #EqualWardsNow and it is gathering signatures for Hamiltonians who support Ward boundary review.
During the interview, Matt provides informed perspectives on how we got to where we are now, where we need to go, and what we can do to make that happen. As you’ll hear, this isn’t just about drawing new lines, it’s about being more equitable in how we are represented.
Please be sure to check out the Equal Wards Now Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/equalwardsnow/?fref=ts for more information.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Our Civic Panelists are Peter Graefe, Maureen Wilson and Ryan McGreal, begin the year by looking back at the previous one. They share their answers to questions in 7 separate categories, all focused on the City of Hamilton in 2016, and with an eye to 2017.
All on this Civic Panel edition of The Graham Crawford Show we’re calling: Backward Glances. Forward Thoughts.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Whether it really makes any difference or not, many of us use the end of one year and the beginning of the next as a fresh start for new behaviours. Too often, that fresh start often ends with old behaviours. Change, although always possible, is usually difficult. But that truth doesn’t seem to stop us from believing we can do it this time.
So, in the spirit of new beginnings, this first edition of the Cityist for 2017 engages in some wishful thinking. Seven simple wishes for Hamilton City Council in 2017.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Paul Berton is someone who spends every day on the job thinking about news. About how it’s collected, reported, illustrated and distributed. All via Hamilton’s oldest operating business.
Paul Berton is a lifelong journalist - reporter, columnist, editor, and now Editor-in-Chief of the Hamilton Spectator, now celebrating 170 years of reporting in our community.
During the interview, the first of 2017 on The Graham Crawford Show, we talk about the future of printed newspapers, serving local news needs, the role of investigative journalism, the troubling trend of fake news, what happens during editorial meetings, and so much more.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Each month, I do a Cityist column for The Graham Crawford Show. It’s usually about an issue, or an idea to overcome an issue, or to take advantage of an opportunity. This edition is much more personal. It’s about my first Christmas in Hamilton, having arrived from England in the summer of 1959.
The memories are simple. Told through the eyes of a child. But they are as clear to me today as they were that Christmas almost 60 years ago.
I hope you enjoy it. It’s the first time I’ve really had a way of sharing those immigrant memories with others - through this podcast that Dave Beatty, Alex Zafer and I have created each week since May of 2016. We thank you so much for listening and for commenting. Both mean a great deal to us.
To all of you, from all of us, Merry Christmas Hamilton.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
The weather outside is frightful, so that must mean it’s Christmas time. That’s why I asked Paul if he would select a Christmas-themed column to share with us on this seasonal podcast.
Paul selected a column he called: Marie’s first Canadian Christmas tree. It appeared in the Hamilton Spectator on December 17, 2008.
It’s a truly beautiful story, beautifully written by Paul. Be sure to sit by the Christmas tree as you listen to this one.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
He’s served at two levels of government, one as a Conservative MPP in Ontario, where he was a cabinet minister of two ministeries (Transportation and Labour), the other as Councillor for Ward 9 in Stoney Creek from 2006 to 2014. He ran for Mayor in 2014 where he placed second to current Mayor Fred Eisenberger and ahead of Brian McHattie.
His name is Brad Clark.
In this interview, Brad shares his views on the current state of City Council and the issues being debated such as LRT, affordable housing, ward boundary review as well as the impact the working culture is having on performance. All in all, a straight ahead discussion with someone who’s been there.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
A neighbourhood that’s healthy makes the people who live in it healthier - mentally, physically and socially. A neighbourhood, by definition, is more than just the building where you go to sleep each night. A neighbourhood is as much a way of thinking as it is a way of living. If you love your neighbourhood, chances are that affection is about much more than asphalt and sidewalks and bricks and mortar and paint colours.
In this episode of The Cityist, you and I are going to go on visit to your own neighbourhood. That’s right. Your very own neighbourhood.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
We’re calling this show a Civic Panel Mélange, because rather than focusing on a single topic or theme, we felt that there’s just too much going on to limit our discussion. So why don’t you pour yourself a coffee, or a tea, or something stronger, and join us for our free flowing, and very passionate, yap about all things Hamilton politics including:
The Conflict Interest Troika: Ranked Balloting, Ward Boundaries and Area Rating Affordable Housing on Pier 8: Good start or poor outcome?
The LRT Debate: Has Council gone mad?
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
LRT. Affordable housing. Ranked balloting. Ward boundary review. Area rating. Downtown casino. Biggest disappointment this term. Biggest accomplishment this term. Just some of the things I talk about with our special guest, Mayor Fred Eisenberger, on this very lively edition of The Graham Crawford Show.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
You’ve probably heard of the term “Ward of the State”. It refers to a situation where the court takes responsibility for the well-being of an individual.
I’d like to turn those words around and redefine them at the same time.
Think of it as: State of the Ward. In this case, I’d like it to refer to a situation where the Councillor discusses the well-being of their constituents.
I’d like to suggest that we get our Councillors to formally present their own State of the Ward every year throughout the month of January about what’s happened over the previous year in the Ward, including plans, progress and remaining challenges.
I’m not looking to add more work to the Councillor’s job. What I am looking for is some focus. And some sharing. And some learning.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
On this edition of the Cityist - Can We Afford This Kind of Thinking About Affordable Housing? I talk about the decision by Councillors to finally include some affordable housing (of the affordable home ownership variety) on Pier 8.
The 5% commitment is too low, but it’s a lot higher than what Chad Collins, and others, had planned for Pier 8. In fact, it’s really the lowest it could be and still be able to talk about a percentage. After all, who would talk about setting aside 2 1/2% of the units for affordable housing? I think we should have stepped out a bit more and talked in terms of 15%. Perhaps even higher.
Staff have been complicit in deflecting questions about a commitment to affordable housing on Pier 8 from residents for almost 2 years. So many people who attended those many West Harbour public meetings spoke so passionately, and tenaciously, in support of more affordable housing - many of them from the neighbourhoods where the housing would be located.
That speaks to a kind of kindness and compassion on which truly great cities are built. They put what was best for most ahead of any personal gain or concern. For me, this was a hugely meaningful moment in Hamilton’s history - people wanting to make more room in their own neighbourhoods for people who need a little bit of help.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Graham welcomes local media guru and friend, Laura Babcock, to talk about the state of Hamilton politics, its politicians and its plans. Laura is in fine form. It’s a free ranging discussion that doesn’t pull any punches, nor does it avoid naming names. If you’re in the mood for some poignant commentary about what’s going on in Hamilton right now, this is a must listen to podcast.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
This edition of the Cityist is called A Story About Storeys - The Height of Arrogance.
One use of the word story refers to a narrative. The other, refers to a building.
In Hamilton, we build too many brand new public buildings that are one and two storeys tall. On land we own. And that we control, both in terms of value and zoning. Why?
Why do we not take advantage of the situation and increase the height and the uses of buildings we build using tax revenues? We continue to build one storey community centres instead of adding a few storeys of affordable housing, or seniors housing. Or a library. Or anything. We’re about to do it again on the LRT line in the stadium precinct where we’re building the Bernie Morelli Community Centre. One storey that tells another story.
This week on The Graham Crawford Show.
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
Today’s show is all about things that never happened. And if you’re wondering how we can fill a show about that, then you don’t know my guest.
His name is Mark Osbaldeston. He’s a senior lawyer by day and an author by night and by weekend. Mark discusses his latest book called Unbuilt Hamilton - The City That Might Have Been.
It’s available now at booksellers throughout the City and beyond and I simply can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a fascinating read. It’s also the focus of an exhibition running currently at the Art Gallery of Hamilton through to February of 2017.
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The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
In the Paul Wilson edition of The Graham Crawford Show we talk to Paul about a column from August 30, 2016 that he called: Movie time: wonder in the woods, worry at the Westdale.
From the Highlands Cinema in Kinmount near Bobcaygeon to the much loved Westdale theatre in Hamilton, Paul and I talk movies, where we used to watch them in Hamilton, and how we watch them now.
We also reminisce about the first movies we saw as kids. A cinematic trip down memory lane in Hamilton. Have a listen, we think you'll enjoy it.
Link to Paul's Hamilton Spectator column: http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/6829598-movie-time-wonder-in-the-woods-worry-at-the-westdale/
The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
In case you haven’t noticed, Hamilton is undergoing tremendous growth in the food offerings available to us, both in terms of food we buy and cook ourselves, and the food we are served at a growing number of great restaurants all over Hamilton. From tacos to mussels to beet fries to crab cakes to artisanal breads and spreads and sauces. This is what the word cornucopia was meant to describe. If you love food, you’ve just got to listen to our special guests this week - 4 people who know the Hamilton food scene better than most. Not just as observers, but as dedicated participants and leaders. And do they have a lot to say. On this very tasty edition of The Graham Crawford Show we welcome these very special guests: * Erin Dunham - The Other Bird Group (Rapscallion Rogue Eatery, Two Black Sheep, The Mule, The Arlington Hotel)
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Jason Cassis - The Aberdeen Tavern & Dundurn Market
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Dan Megna - Lake Road Restaurant and Twisted Lemon
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Dave Hanley - Pop Up Hamilton
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The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
THE REAL STARS OF HAMILTON’S WALK OF FAME
Here are two names you know. Eugene Levy and Martin Short. Both Hamilton boys. Both students at Westdale High School. Both well known as celebrities in the entertainment world. Some Councillors want to create a way to honour people like Levy and Short. That’s just fine.
But why do we want to celebrate people because they were born here versus celebrating them for what they did here.
When does celebrity become the hallmark of what represents us as a city? Why is it that we would talk more about someone who came from here, but who might not have contributed much locally other than perhaps being the celebrity draw for a fundraising event?
What about civic contribution? What about silent, unrecognized, civic volunteerism, year-after-year, that touches peoples lives in unheralded ways? That shapes a kid’s future. That helps a young adult believe in him or herself? That makes the lives of seniors just a little bit more comfortable? That makes living in our city easier, more fun, more rewarding? What about those people?
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The Graham Crawford Show, with your host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Visit the official Graham Crawford Show website
The idea isn’t a new one. For decades, organizations have been encouraged to see things through the eyes of the people who use their services. What if all members of staff, all members of the Senior Management Team, every Councillor, the Mayor, and all of the contractors the City hires saw things through our eyes as they deliver the services they deliver? What if resident-centred thinking was evident in all interactions we had with our City? Our regular Civic Panel explores that simple premise.
Thank you to our regular Civic panel, Ryan McGreal, Maureen Wilson and Peter Graefe.
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The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
The other day, I was looking at some old photographs that had to do with my parents - Jim and Marie. The photographs were not of my parents, but about my parents. They featured friends of theirs who had taken photos of themselves sitting on and around a bench on the pier at Port Dover that my sister Gillian and I had commemorated in our parent’s honour after they died.
My parents’ friends were celebrating my dad’s birthday. They had tied balloons to the bench. I could read my parent’s names on the back of the bench in the photos. That simple act of memory and of friendship, meant a lot to me. It told me my parents were still being remembered years after they had died. And that got me thinking about Hamilton. And about benches. And about memories. Our collective memories. As Hamiltonians. So, I asked my Councillor, Jason Farr, if he knew if we had a commemorative bench program. What I found out is what this edition of The Cityist is all about.
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The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
This show is about doughnuts and Hamilton. Through the eyes and writing of journalist Paul Wilson in the Paul Wilson edition of The Graham Crawford Show.
We begin on Ottawa Street at the very first Tim Hortons outlet and work our way through some of the other Tim Hortons that both Paul and I remember in our lives - some of which are still there.
Why not pour yourself a coffee and ‘fritter’ away some time with us?
The Graham Crawford Show. Always fresh.
Read Paul Wilson's article in The Spec: http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/5330111-paul-wilson-our-doughnut-museum-got-built-just-in-time/
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The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
This episode of the Graham Crawford Show is all about Adaptive Reuse - the practice of re-imagining heritage buildings and breathing new life into them. Creating familiar, yet updated streetscapes.
Too many developers see an old building as just old. Past its prime. Better destroyed than developed. But some enlightened developers, like our guest Steve Kulakowsky of Core Urban, look at an old building and see history and opportunity. And every great developer knows he or she can’t do it alone and that one of their most important partners is a good architect - like our guest Rick Lintack of Lintack Architects. And every finished adaptive reuse project needs clients who are prepared to buy or to lease space in a building that has some heritage - like our guest James Lefebvre of FirstOntario Credit Union. Between them, they contribute to a very lively discussion about big changes with familiar faces.
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The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Straight talk about the Councillor from Ward 8 and his so-called "report".
As you probably know, Ward 8 Councillor Terry Whitehead produced a 58 page ‘report’, and I use the term loosely, that was essentially a Googled grab bag of articles and documents related to LRT.
For me, what’s just as troubling as is the report’s content, is the report’s intent. Why would a Councillor choose to spend money from residents creating a report when we have professional staff and consultants who do that very thing for a living? Why did the Councillor choose not to ask staff to do this kind of anti-LRT research if he had misgivings about the validity of the data that was being used by staff, by Metrolinx, and by municipalities and higher levels of government throughout North America, Europe and most of the rest of the world?
I think we need to question Councillor Whitehead’s actions. Or, for that matter, any Councillor who would choose to do something similar.
In this edition of the Cityist, I list 10 things to question.
Click below and listen to the podcast.
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Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
Produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton
There are many different types of public engagement in Hamilton. Sometimes, public engagement is part of a legislated requirement related to certain kinds of public projects where residents must be consulted in order for projects to meet provincially legislated requirements. Other kinds of public engagement are driven by a goal to understand what residents would like to see happen. Sometimes that goal is real. Sometimes, it feels more like theatre.
On this edition of The Graham Crawford Show, our regular Civic Panel, Maureen Wilson, Peter Graefe and Ryan McGreal, discuss public engagement. What’s working well. What isn’t. And what we could be doing better.
Link to the IAP2 Spectrum of Participation model as referenced in this episode.
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.iap2.org/resource/resmgr/imported/IAP2%20Spectrum_vertical.pdf
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The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
It’s still there. Just beyond the High Level Bridge off York Blvd. A secret garden that was part of the grand plan for Hamilton’s Western Gateway Project from the 1920’s.
It’s a fascinating story shared by our regular guest, Paul Wilson.
If you haven’t seen it, chances are you’ll want to after listening to this engaging interview with one of the Spectator’s favourite columnists.
Be sure to check out the historical photographs via this link that were part of Paul’s column from May 9, 2016.
http://www.thespec.com/living-story/6545580-paul-wilson-secret-garden-slumbers-at-city-s-front-door/
The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
We invited the 4 Councillors whose Wards the new B-Line LRT will run through to sit down to discuss why they supported LRT, which they all do. Each of them was quick to accept our invitation.
This edition of The Graham Crawford Show features Councillors Aidan Johnson, Jason Farr, Matthew Green and Sam Merulla in what can only be described as a lively discussion about all things LRT. Their comments and insights are most definitely worth a listen. Hope you enjoy the show.
Hamilton Light Rail Transit Committee for July 2016 [Live Video] Thanks to Joey Coleman and The Public Record Click to Hamilton Light Rail Initiative for more about LRT
Click to the City of Hamilton website for more about LRT
Click here for a list of City of Hamilton Councillors Contact Information
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The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
If you think Cultural Planning is all about museums and art and concerts and theatre, please listen to this interview with Jeremy Freiburger of CoBALT Connects on this edition of The Graham Crawford Show.
Jeremy shares his expertise about the full meaning of culture in our community and how it impacts how we experience our neighbourhoods and our city. Whether you’re raising a child, or aging successfully, this is a discussion you won’t want to miss.
Click to visit CoBALT Connects
Click to visit Expressing Vibrancy
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The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton.
Welcome to The Graham Crawford Show. This edition of the Cityist is called Lunch Bag Letdown. It’s a show about expectations not being met. About the disconnect between promise and reality. About feeling disappointed. “Lunch-bag letdown” is a term that refers to bringing lunch to school, or to work, that was made for you by someone else, perhaps a parent or a spouse, and to looking forward to opening up your lunch bag only to find something something less than what you expected. Lunch-bag letdown. Too often our City let’s us down. Too often they hype average as great. Problem is, we can tell the difference. Have a listen.... __________________________________________________ The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford Executive Producer: Alex Zafer All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media studios in downtown Hamilton.
This episode of our ongoing Civic Panel series on the Graham Crawford Show we cover three separate, but linked, topics about Hamilton’s politicians, our Ward boundaries, and how we see our future as a City. Think of them as strategic underpinnings of a healthy and vibrant Hamilton. Perhaps even a city that is the “best place to raise a child and to age successfully”. Listen as our regular panelists Maureen Wilson and Peter Graefe respond to three questions: 1. Why is Hamilton seemingly so politically balkanized and what impact is it having on our city? 2. Electoral Reform/Ward boundary review - what issues might they help us address? 3. What’s working well for us a City at the moment and why? Are we dreaming big enough? All part of the smart, progressive talk we bring to you each week on The Graham Crawford Show. Let’s keep talking Hamilton. The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford Executive Producer: Alex Zafer All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media studios in downtown Hamilton.
This time on the Paul Wilson Edition of the Graham Crawford Show, we’re going into the Paul Wilson archives, although to the very recent archives. We talk with Paul about a column he wrote that appeared in the Hamilton Spectator on October 27, 2015 called "A 10 Stop Trip Back in Time". The column is centred around a Hamilton Spectator archival photograph taken in 1970 of a section of downtown Hamilton taken from the vantage point of the pedestrian bridge at the rear of City Hall looking north east toward Main and James. Be sure to have a look at the photograph before and/or while you listen to the show. It’s a great slice of Hamilton’s past and our discussion mines the photograph for memories and stories about Hamilton’s downtown. Let’s keep talking Hamilton. A wealth of history in this 1970 photograph This picture was taken in the spring of 1970 to show the excavation underway for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame next to City Hall. But there's lots more to look at in this snapshot of downtown past.
Click here to the original Spectator column by Paul Wilson for more photos
___________________________________________________________ The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford Executive Producer: Alex Zafer All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media studios in downtown Hamilton.
If you’re looking for direct, hard-hitting and powerful insights from experts about affordable housing in Hamilton, this is a Graham Crawford Show you simply must not miss.
Our three expert panelists share information and insights about what we’re doing well, what we could do better, and where we need to go in the future.
As challenging as providing affordable housing is, there is room for hope. And our guests provide it. One of the most thought-provoking shows we’ve done so far. Hope you enjoy it.
Thanks to our special guests:
Renee Wetselaar, Senior Planner, Social Planning and Research Council
Graham Cubitt, Director of Projects and Development, Indwell
Laura Cattari, Vice President, Canada Without Poverty & Campaign Coordinator, Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction
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The Graham Crawford Show with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media studios in downtown Hamilton.
This edition of the Cityist is about leadership. Leadership of the municipal kind. The kind of municipal leadership I think most of us would like to see more of. When I started to put my thoughts together for this show, I found myself reflecting on what kinds of questions I’d been hearing from Councillors over the past few months related to LRT. In particular, I thought about questions I’d heard asked by Councillors of Paul Johnson, our senior staffer on the LRT file. Then, I asked myself a question. Do questions BY leaders raise questions ABOUT leaders? Think about that for a second.
Can we judge the skills and expertise of our Councillors by the quality of the questions they ask?
I think the answer is yes.
Thank you for listening to this edition of The Graham Crawford Show. Let's keep talking Hamilton.
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The Graham Crawford Show with host Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media studios in downtown Hamilton.
This month on the Paul Wilson edition of The Graham Crawford Show, we start by talking about one of Hamilton’s past manufacturing giant, International Harvester and the recent column Paul wrote about some ex-employees and how they’re working to keep its history alive.
From there, Paul and I have a conversation about some of the other industrial giants in our history, most of which had plants along Burlington Street including one where I worked in the mills as a summer student - Stelco. Join us as Paul and I discuss industry, Hamilton and our disappearing history.
Listen to Paul and Graham have a lively chat about the glory days of Hamilton's manufacturing history.
--Read Paul Wilson's article on The Spectator web site here
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Graham Crawford Show, hosted by Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton
This week’s Graham Crawford Show focuses on the biggest single infrastructure project in Hamilton in generations - LRT.
Our regular Civic Panel consisting of Ryan McGreal, Maureen Wilson and Peter Graefe take a strategic planning approach to frame our discussion. SWOT - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities Threats. And PEST - Political, Economic, Social & Technological.
All in all, it makes for an intense, no holds barred discussion full of facts about Light Rail Transit and its implications on city building in Hamilton. You won’t want to miss it.
Let’s keep talking Hamilton.
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Host, Graham Crawford - Visit www.grahamcrawfordshow.com
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
All shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in Hamilton
This edition of The Graham Crawford Show is a little different from some of the others you may have listened to already. In this podcast, Graham takes you on a little imaginary journey. A journey to a place that I think is pretty magical. Project yourself into the future. Think 2025. Think Hamilton. __________________________________________________________ Host, Graham Crawford Executive Producer, Alex Zafer Graham Crawford Shows are produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media
In this edition of The Graham Crawford Show we talk city cycling with three terrific guests each of whom has a different perspective on cycling in Hamilton Ontario.
Listen in as Chelsea Cox, Director of Strategic Development for SoBi Hamilton, Dave Michal, who owns a motor vehicle yet chooses to bike to work and Gail Berberick who enjoys cycling as part of her retirement.
If you cycle to work, or work at cycling, you’ll enjoy their insights into how they use Hamilton’s expanding cycling infrastructure, as well as their opinions on what we need to see more of in the short term and long term.
SoBi Hamilton (aka Hamilton Bike Share) is the non profit local operator who keeps the Hamilton Bike Share system rolling smoothly. For more on SoBi and Hamilton Bike Share please visit https://hamilton.socialbicycles.com/
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The Graham Crawford Show
with your host, Graham Crawford
Executive Producer: Alex Zafer
Produced and recorded by Dave Beatty at Q.E.D. Media in downtown Hamilton
In this edition of The Graham Crawford Show, we talk with Paul Wilson of The Hamilton Spectator during his monthly visit. Paul reads his column “Barton Street is where the heart is for Thelma Gravis” and then shares some of the back story with me during the interview that follows. You’ll soon see that Paul is as good at telling stories as he is at writing them. Here’s a link to Paul’s column about Thelma Gravis in The Hamilton Spectator: http://www.thespec.com/living-story/6470552-paul-wilson-barton-street-is-where-the-heart-is-for-thelma-gravis/ ________________________ The Graham Crawford Show Host, Graham Crawford Executive Producer: Alex Zafer Produced by Dave Beatty and recorded at QED Media
The first edition of The Graham Crawford Show is full of smart, progressive talk with two of our regular panelists, Maureen Wilson and Peter Graefe. We talk in-depth about 3 in-the-news topics: 1. The West Harbour Pier 7&8 Urban Design Study. 2. Councillor Matthew Green’s encounter with a member of the Hamilton Police Service. 3. The Bay Street Bike Lane and what it reveals about the working culture at City Hall.
I can say I gained new insights from our guests. I hope you will too. We’re providing links to some of the things we reference in our discussion so you can learn more about the topics. And if you feel inclined to encourage your Councillor to listen to all, or any portion, of the show, we’re also including a link to the City of Hamilton page where you can find your Councillor’s email address. Hope you enjoy the show. Remember, we’ll be posting a new edition of The Graham Crawford Show every week. Pier 7 & 8 Urban Design Study https://d3fpllf1m7bbt3.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/media/browser/2016-04-26/pier-7-8-urban-design-study.pdf https://raisethehammer.org/article/2932/west_harbour_pier_7_and_8_urban_design_calls_for_110000_sq_ft_of_new_residential Councillor Matthew Green Questioned by Hamilton Police http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6517752-councillor-matthew-green-files-formal-complaint-over-carding-/ Bay Street Bike Lane https://raisethehammer.org/article/2927/transportation_staff_thrown_under_bus_for_doing_their_jobs Contact info for Mayor and Councillors https://www.hamilton.ca/council-committee/mayor-councillors/city-councillors --------------------- Graham Crawford Show Host, Graham Crawford Executive Producer: Alex Zafer Produced by Dave Beatty and recorded at QED Media
Hey friends.
This is Graham Crawford and I want to tell you about my new podcast, The Graham Crawford Show.
It’s a weekly show filled with smart, progressive talk. The show will offer a variety of options from regular panelists, subject matter experts, and personal observations - all focused on issues affecting you and the City of Hamilton.
We’ll have a regular panel that discusses current civic issues. The panelists are Ryan McGreal of Raise the Hammer, Maureen Wilson of the Useful Knowledge Society, and Peter Graefe, Associate Professor of Political Science at McMaster University. And I’ll have a special guest who’ll be visiting the show each month. His name is Paul Wilson. That’s right, THE Paul Wilson of Hamilton Spectator fame. Paul will drop by and read one of his columns and talk about the backstory. So, if you’ve ever wondered how or why Paul picks the stories he does, you’re going to love listening to Paul.
I promise not to pull any punches as I talk with guests and as I share my own observations about all things Hamilton. From affordable housing, to LRT, to the state of Public Engagement, we’ll provide you with information and insights on things that matter to you.
Executive Producer of the podcast is Alex Zafer. And the show is Produced by Dave Beatty. All the shows are recorded in downtown Hamilton at QED Media. If want to know more, be sure to check out the The Graham Crawford Show page at www.grahamcrawfordshow.com
Please join me for The Graham Crawford Show. Coming to a mobile device near you starting in May.
Please visit and 'LIKE' the official Graham Crawford Show Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/grahamcrawfordshow/ to keep up to date on the latest podcast posts.
Let’s talk Hamilton! --------------------- Graham Crawford Show Host, Graham Crawford Executive Producer: Alex Zafer Produced by Dave Beatty and recorded at QED Media