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January will start with cold temperatures - and probably snow

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 31 Desember 2014 | 22.46

Hamilton's New Year's Eve cold snap will continue this week, and bring some snow with it. But by the weekend, temperatures will be above zero again.

The high on Wednesday is forecast to be -8 C, enough to prompt the city's Medical Officer of Health to issue a cold weather alert.

There's a chance of flurries Wednesday, with chilly winds gusting to up to 60 kilometres per hour early this afternoon. Overnight, winds will continue to gust to 60 kilometres per hour, and the low will be -10 C.

But by Saturday, Environment Canada predicts, the high will be 1 C, and on Sunday, it'll be up to 6 C.

These temperatures are about average for Dec. 31. The average high for this day is -1.3 C. The average low is -8.5 C.

Dec. 31 was a tumultuous time for weather in the 1960s. In 1965, the temperature was 14.4 C. In 1962, it was -25.6 C. Those are both Environment Canada records.

It also saw a record amount of snow fall in 1969 — 12.7 cm. The record for most snow on the ground on Dec. 31 happened in 2000, when there were 50 centimetres.

Here's the full forecast for the first week of 2015:

  • Wednesday: Sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of flurries. Winds gusting west to 40 kilometres per hour, becoming southwest and gusting to 60 early this afternoon. High: - 8 C.
  • Overnight: Partly cloudy with winds gusting southwest to 60. Low -10 C.
  • Thursday: Cloudy in the morning with a 60 per cent chance of flurries all day. Winds gusting to 60. High -4 C.
  • Friday: Sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of flurries. Low – 5 C. High – 1 C.
  • Saturday: Cloudy with a 60 per cent chance of snow or rain. Low – 5 C. High 1 C.
  • Sunday: Cloudy with a 70 per cent chance of snow or rain. Windy. Low 0 C. High 6 C.
  • Monday: High of -7 C with a 30 per cent chance of flurries. Tuesday will be more of the same.

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9 fun ideas for New Year's Eve in Hamilton

hi-bc-120802-vancouver-fireworks-4col

Happy New Year, Hamilton! (CBC)

Don't know what you're doing on Dec. 31? Here's a list of what's happening in Hamilton.

1. Ring in the New Year early.

Looking to ring in the new year early — even 12 hours early? The Hamilton Children's Museum is throwing a party at the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology (900 Woodward Ave.), and the whole family has five chances during the day to ring in the new year.

Called Blue Year's Eve, the event is blue themed. There will be blue games, blue activities, blue crafts and blue food.

Countdowns to 2015 will be at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 905-546-4848 or email childrensmuseum@hamilton.ca.

2. Jazz it up at The Pearl Company.

The Pearl Company is having a New Year's Eve party at 16 Steven St. The Spanjazz Quintet will perform, as will Gary Santucci, who is the Pearl Company's co-owner, an accomplished musician and, as an aside, a sometime local activist. A DJ will spin dance music.

The doors open at 7:30 p.m. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $60.

3. Pretend to be Scottish.

The Scottish Rite is throwing a party at its club at 4 Queen St. S. There will be a dinner served, and the ball dropping in Times Square will show on the screen. Tickets are $65 per person. The party starts at 6 p.m.

4. See a movie.

There is no shortage of critically acclaimed films playing in Hamilton on Dec. 31. You can find a detailed schedule at tribute.ca, but here's a list:

Westdale Theatre:

  • Pride (3:45 p.m.)
  • Boyhood (6:30 p.m.)
  • Snowpiercer (9:35 p.m.)

Of interest: Director Richard Linklater made the coming-of-age film Boyhood over a period of 12 years using the same actors. Critics loved it. 

Jackson Square:

Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Gambler, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Into the Woods, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, Penguins of Madagascar, Unbroken

Of interest: Penguins of Madagascar is a spin-off of the popular Madagascar film series, which kids loved. John Malkovich plays an octopus.

SilverCity Ancaster:

Big Hero 6, Exodus, The Gambler, The Hobbit, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, The Imitation Game, Interstellar, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, Penguins of Madagascar, Unbroken

Of interest: Interstellar is an epic film that sees a crew of astronauts travel through a wormhole to find a new home for humanity. It's directed by Christopher Nolan, Hollywood's director du jour whose films include Inception and The Dark Knight trilogy.

SilverCity Hamilton Mountain:

Annie, Big Eyes, Big Hero 6, Exodus, The Hobbit, Horrible Bosses 2, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Into the Woods, Night at the Museum, Penguins of Madagascar, The Theory of Everything.

Of interest: The Theory of Everything is a romance about renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and his first wife. Big Eyes is about American painter Margaret Keane, whose husband took credit for her famous paintings of children with big eyes.

5. Go to the Legion.

In Stoney Creek, the big party is at the Royal Canadian Legion at 12 King St. E. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and tickets are $50 each or $90 per couple.

There will be a dinner and champagne at midnight. Ronnie and the Corvairs will play.

6. Go Bollywood.

Narula's Indian Eatery and Banquet Hall is having a New Year's Eve party with Indian flavour with its 2015 Ballroom Party at 1162 Barton St. E. It will include Bollywood and belly dancing. Tickets are $99 each and the show starts at 6 p.m.

7. Go to a masquerade ball.

Sarcoa is hosting a formal red carpet masquerade ball. Wear your own mask or get a complimentary one at the door. There'll be a balloon drop at midnight, a late-night canapé table and a champagne toast. DJ Walter Vice is spinning.

Tickets are $75 in advance or $100 at the door. Email events@sarcoa.ca for tickets. Sarcoa is at 57 Discovery Dr. and the party goes from 6:45 p.m. to 2 a.m.

8. Attend one of the numerous other parties in Hamilton.

Here's a shortlist:

9. Stay at home in your pajamas.

That's OK too. And just so you know, the CBC is airing a number of specials:

  • This Hour has 22 Years: 7 p.m.
  • Air Farce New Year's Eve: 8 p.m.
  • From Fallsview Casino: Ron James "The Big Picture": 9 p.m.
  • 22 Minutes 'Til Midnight: 11:30 p.m.

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A good year for 'bland' in Hamilton politics, expert says

It was a busy year in Hamilton city politics. There was a municipal election on Oct. 27, when two sitting councillors tried for the mayor's chair and lost to Fred Eisenberger, who had been mayor before.

There were also some beachheads reached – arguably ones that were long overdue. Matthew Green was elected to represent Ward 3, and he became the city's first black councillor. Aidan Johnson of Ward 1 became the first openly gay councillor.

And Arlene VanderBeek was elected for Ward 13, upping the female quotient on the 16-member council from three to four.

We asked McMaster University political scientist Peter Graefe what he thought was noteworthy in 2014. Here's what he had to say:

1. Fred Eisenberger's election

Eisenberger was mayor from 2006 to 2010. In October, he beat out two sitting councillors with strong campaigns — Brad Clark and Brian McHattie — to become mayor again.

Eisenberger's campaign was more understated than the other two. He presented ideas, Graefe said, but it's hard to say how effective they were.

"I'm not sure if those ideas in his platform really reached the voters, or if they were voting for the image of the man, which is of a competent and inoffensive administrator," Graefe said.

"Bland works in Ontario politics, and it works in Hamilton politics."

Eisenberger achieved what former mayor Larry Di Ianni couldn't — he was voted out and came back again. In 2010, Eisenberger even placed third.

"I'm hard pressed to think of anyone in the modern era who's done that," Graefe said.

In Eisenberger's previous term, he brought a lot of ideas to the council table, but was often unsuccessful in gaining consensus. City hall watchers might want to pay attention in 2015 to see if Eisenberger develops relationships with key members of council.

"We'll see if it's a new dynamic, or if we fall back on the old ways."

2. Cannon bike lanes

In March, city council voted to implement a bidirectional bicycle lane on part of Cannon Street. This was noteworthy, Graefe said, because a citizen group, Yes We Cannon, got council's ear and convinced them to enact the pilot project.

"It's an example of a citizen group that word hard for a year and a half to make something move at city hall."

The flipside, Graefe said, is council's decision to scale back proposed improvements to transit on the Mountain. "They discussed how they could improve it and only half improved it."

3. More diversity on council

The election of Green, Johnson and VanderBeek was noteworthy, Graefe said. This is particularly true in light of a September YWCA report showing an underrepresentation of women in power. But he's not sure how many Hamiltonians actually noticed.

"We live in a period of kind of assumed equality, even though we have a lot of inequality still," he said.

He does hope that the new councillors, particularly Green, can bring in communities that haven't traditionally been invited in to city politics and events, he said.

4. LRT (of course)

The notion of a $1-billion light rail transit system running from McMaster University to Eastgate Square was an issue this year. Many election candidates tried to make it a wedge issue.

Even though it's an important issue, Graefe said, not much happened.

"There seems to be little capacity to define a vision and follow through," he said of council. "LRT is one most talked about in those terms. Council is saying 'we want this' but not doing anything to achieve it."

5. The provincial election

Kathleen Wynne took the Liberals to a handy victory despite being "the old, scandal-plagued, tired government," Graefe said. The party seemed to make people forget issues such as the gas plant scandal, and came out ahead.

Two of the three major party leaders in the election were from Hamilton. Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath is the MPP for Hamilton Centre, and came second to the Conservatives in many rural southwestern Ontario ridings. Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, led the Conservatives, but stepped down after the election.


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5 remarkable Hamilton women we met in 2014

Every year, Hamilton introduces us to amazing, talented and inspiring people. At CBC Hamilton, we do our best to make sure you get to meet them too. We've met so many in 2014 that it's worth reminding you of a few of those who moved our readers the most.

Here's a look at a group of women whose stories you might have missed in 2014. Each one made Hamilton a better place over the last twelve months.

1. Leah Gallo

Maia Santarelli-Gallo

Maia Santarelli-Gallo died in 2013 when she collapsed from a food allergy in a food court. (Gallo family)

2014 was the year that Hamilton became the first place in Canada to have mall security guards carry epinephrine auto injectors. This program will save lives. And it exists because Leah Gallo and her husband Vincent lost their 12-year-old daughter Maia. Maia collapsed and died in a Burlington mall in 2013. She died after eating ice cream. Hamilton has begun a one-year pilot project in which Anaphylaxis Canada trained mall guards at Jackson Square on how to use auto injectors. Leah and Vincent attended the launch. "The only thing we can do is prevent it from happening again," she said.

2. Aivana

Aivana

Aivana survived a bomb blast in her native Iraq when she was seven. (Denise Davy)

High school is tough enough for the average 17-year-old. But try getting used to it after growing up in classrooms in the middle of a war. When Aivana was seven, her teacher was killed in a bomb blast in her native Iraq. She saw her teacher die. She survived that bombing and a kidnapping attempt too. It's trauma that she still carries with her in her Hamilton classrooms at St. Jean de Brebeuf Secondary School. She has found support in 'Let's Talk Girls,' a program offered by the YMCA's Settlement Workers in Schools.

3. Talli Osborne

Talli Osbourne crop

Talli Osbourne inspired crowds at Supercrawl in 2014. (Marsha Z.)

Talli Osborne was born without arms and missing bones in her legs. At Supercrawl in 2014, she spoke to crowds at the music festival about our notions of beauty. Osborne is an inspirational speaker and musician. She's suffered as the target of cruel comments about her appearance and turned that derision into a positive message about true beauty. At 19, she stopped wearing prosthetic arms and legs that made her look taller. She told CBC Hamilton, "The reason I couldn't be like everyone else is because I'm not. And I love that. Just love yourself – love your body. Embrace it."

4. Brooke Hamilton

Brooke Hamilton

Brooke Hamilton is recovering well after a psychotic break in 2014. (Samantha Craggs/CBC)

Earlier this year, people on Twitter may have saved the life of a young woman in Hamilton. Her name is Brooke Hamilton and March 6 was one of the darkest days of her life. She has schizoaffective disorder and took to Twitter that day and inadvertently live-blogged her psychotic episode. Caring people in Hamilton noticed and worked to get her help. That was then. She got the help she needed and now keeps a blog, Queen Of The Whirl, that has recorded her recovery. You should get to know Brooke Hamilton.

5. Terri Wallis

Terri Wallis

Terri Wallis ran for council in Ward 2 in 2014. (Samantha Craggs/CBC)

Terri Wallis is the candidate who was up for election in 2014 who, if she had won, wouldn't have made it through the doors into council chambers. Wallis is in a wheelchair and that won't get you into Hamilton's council chambers. Renovations in 2010 forgot to make the room accessible. How about that? Wallis lost in Ward 2 to incumbent Coun. Jason Farr but came in to the race with an impressive political resume, having worked for federal NDP campaigns and as the campaign manager former Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board chair Jessica Brennan. Impressed yet? No? She also has a second-degree black belt. 


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What's open and closed in Hamilton over New Year's

Here's your reminder of what's open and what's closed on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and when you can expect your garbage and recycling to be picked up. If you encounter any city-service emergencies (downed trees, roads, water mains, etc.) you can call 905-546-2489.

For the last minute planner, the bus is free after 6 p.m., the same time the LCBO and most grocery stores will close up. So get your errands done now, and avoid the massive lines. 

Garbage and recycling pick-up

Garbage, recycling and green bin collection is pushed back one day to reflect the holidays on New Year's Day. Community recycling centres will be closed on those days.

That means if your normal garbage pickup is Thursday, your pickups will be Friday, Jan. 2. If your normal garbage pickup day is Friday, your pickups will be Saturday, Jan. 4

The city reminds you to place your waste at the curb before 7 a.m. on your collection day. 

Christmas tree collection: You can leave your Christmas trees on the curb the weeks of Jan. 5 and Jan. 12. Remove plastic bags and decorations. 

Transit

While New Year's Day will have holiday service, following the Sunday schedule, HSR riders will get a break with free transit after 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve. It's regular weekday service however, and service shuts down around 1 a.m. Call HSR information at 905-527-4441 for more details. Here's a brochure with some of the HSR holiday information

The HSR Customer Service Centre will be closed on Jan. 1, and open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 31.

DARTS: If you want to travel by DARTS on Jan. 1, you need to first make a reservation by calling 905.529.1717. All other subscription trips are cancelled, except dialysis.

ATS customer service will be closed on Jan. 1. On Dec. 31, DARTS will operate on weekday schedule and service will be free after 6 pm.

Rec centres, museums, library

All recreation centres, aquatic centres and arenas will be closed for public programming on Jan. 1. 

Museums will be closed on Jan. 1. 

The Tourism Hamilton Visitor Information Centre on James St. North will be closed Jan. 1.

All Hamilton Public Library branches closed New Year's Day. Bookmobile service closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 1, will resume on Jan. 2.

Other closures

  • Ontario Works offices have been closed Dec. 25 to Jan. 1, reopening Jan. 2. For emergencies during closure times Ontario Works participants may call and leave a message at 905-546-3914.
  • Animal Services Shelter closed Jan. 1.
  • For more emergency numbers and information about paying property taxes and parking tickets, visit the city website.

Shopping

  • LCBO: Open on Dec. 31, until 6 p.m. All stores closed Jan. 1. 
  • Most grocery stores open until 6 p.m. on Jan. 1.
  • Hamilton Farmers' Market: closed Jan. 1. 
  • Most major stores like Walmart, Costco, etc., closed on Jan. 1.

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Flu vaccine can't handle mutated influenza strain

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 30 Desember 2014 | 22.46

Flu season - small image

The annual winter flu season is in full gear, leaving some Canadians feeling achy and feverish.

Hamilton is seeing at least a slight increase in the number of flu cases thanks to a strain of influenza that isn't covered by this year's flu shot.

The vaccine administered this fall only offers minimal coverage against a specific type of H3N2 influenza strain, said Dr. Ninh Tran, the city's associate medical officer of health. That means even people who had a flu shot are getting sick with influenza A. The U.S. Center for Disease Control has also issued a warning that the influenza strain has mutated. 

The issue is rearing its head the most during the holiday season, when people get together with family and friends, Tran said. Hamilton Public Health issued a warning to hospitals and clinics earlier this month that the vaccine didn't match the mutated version of the specific H3N2 strain, and they should expect greater crowds.

Since September, health care providers have reported 77 cases of the flu in Hamilton, 75 of which are influenza A. The bulk of those are likely the H3N2 strain, Tran said.

"I would say that's probably reasonably high for this time," he said "We are at least seeing a bit of an earlier peak than some other years."

This year's vaccine contained three strains. Two were specific to influenza A and one covered influenza B.

The influenza A strain in question is included in the vaccine, but "it's not the best match for the specific strain out there," he said. "That's why we're seeing cases of influenza A in our community and nationally."

So "we are going to probably see more case of influenza A, despite our best efforts."


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Nathan Cirillo's death is the top Hamilton news story of 2014

1. Nathan Cirillo

The tragic death of Hamilton's Cpl. Nathan Cirillo captivated Canadians in 2014. Cirillo, a young father and member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was shot dead in October while standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

After the horrific event that gripped the nation for days, Canadians came out en masse to demonstrate pride in their country and solidarity with military members. As Cirillo's body was transported home from Ottawa, thousands lined the streets and overpasses of the Highway of Heroes to show their support for a man who became known as "Canada's son."

Cirillo's funeral in Hamilton was one of the largest the city has ever seen, and was attended by high-ranking members of many political parties, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and opposition leader Tom Mulcair.

Hamilton grieved with the Cirillo family, as his mother Kathy and his young son Marcus followed behind his casket while it moved through the streets of the city for the funeral's regimental procession.

Pictures of Marcus wearing his father's regiment cap for the service and Cirillo's two dogs sticking their noses out from underneath a fence at the family home were among the most widely shared in Canada in 2014.

2. The Burlington Skyway crash

When a large truck crashed into and mangled the Burlington Skyway over the summer, it put a huge cloud over already hefty traffic ahead of the busy August holiday weekend.

Sukhvinder Singh Rai, a 34-year-old Brampton man, is facing multiple impaired driving-related offences in connection with the crash.

The collision was caused by the truck driving with the bed of the dump truck raised, striking the iron superstructure above the Toronto-bound lanes.

It took four days for a temporary beam to be installed, forcing the average 70,000 daily commuters to reroute around or through Hamilton's core – a sore spot for many Hamiltonians who already feel the city is too congested.

3. Tim Hortons Field: Delays, openings and an unbeaten record

Hamilton was supposed to have a finished stadium this year, but after six months of delays, it's not going to happen.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) is responsible for building the $145-million, 22,500-seat Tim Hortons Field stadium. The city kicked in $40 million. IO hired the consortium Ontario Sports Solutions, which estimated the stadium would be done by June 30.

stadium

The delayed opening of the still incomplete Pan Am Stadium was an ongoing story throughout 2014. (Adam Carter/CBC)

In early 2014, news of delays began. Builders missed the June 30 deadline, then each Hamilton Tiger-Cats home game throughout the summer, leaving the Ticats to play in Ron Joyce Stadium at McMaster University. By Labour Day, crews had finished the stadium enough to host the Labour Day Classic. IO now estimates the stadium will be substantially completed by Jan. 31.

"I don't believe anything they tell me anymore. I'm so fed up," Coun. Lloyd Ferguson said this year. 

4. U.S. Steel Bankruptcy

On Sept. 16 U.S. Steel Canada declared bankruptcy.

Steelworkers, both current and retired, ripped the announcement, calling it a scam designed to let the company off the hook when it comes to pension and benefit payments.

The company told the Ontario court overseeing its bankruptcy proceedings that it has lost billions at its Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ont. plants (steelworkers take issue with this claim, too.)

The court proceedings, all held in Toronto, have been hard to follow at times as teams of lawyers argue – usually behind closed doors – about every detail of the company's restructuring.

One clear highlight from the proceedings was the approval of a $185 million loan from U.S. Steel Corp., the company's American parent. The move means steelworkers' pensions and benefits will continue to be paid until the end of next year, but also means U.S. Steel gets paid out first if U.S. Steel Canada is dissolved.

Many steelworkers went through this process before with Stelco, which was then acquired by U.S. Steel in 2007. That hasn't made it sit in court and listen to lawyers argue about whether or not the company will honour its pension agreements, many say.

Whether or not you've been following this story, it has huge ramifications for Hamilton. The loss, or decrease, of thousands of pensions would likely harm the city's economy and a complete shutdown of the steel mill would incur hundreds of job losses.

And while there's so much more to this story, there is an end in sight. U.S. Steel wants to sell its Canadian operations by October of next year.

We'll be watching.

5. The housing market

Local housing experts forecasted another seller's market in 2014, and they were right. The market got off to a slow start in a brutal and long winter, but the market bounced back strong in the spring.

A year of rising prices brought competitive bidding wars and realtors offering to buy your house themselves if it didn't sell in a month. Cranes popped up around town as condo developers constructed new housing options and tried to work around a lack of available land to build sprawling subdivisions.

Appraisers weren't necessarily as eager about what price a house should sell for as the would-be homeowners. But by October, Hamilton's housing prices were rising twice as fast as prices across Canada.

The average price of the homes sold in Hamilton went up 6 percent in 2014 compared to 2013. Experts predict slower growth in prices next year, which is partly due to the mix of homes selling. With fewer higher-end homes on the market, the average price among homes that sell each month will appear lower, lowering the percentage by which house prices rise. But in the cheaper areas of the city, home prices could still rise 5 percent in 2015.

6. Mohamud Mohamed Mohamud

A Hamilton man who disappeared this summer was reportedly killed in the conflict between Kurdish forces and ISIS fighters in northern Syria. A 20-year-old Canadian-Somali man named Mohamud Mohamed Mohamud is believed to have been killed while fighting for ISIS, which would make him the first Canadian to die in the anti-ISIS campaign led by U.S. airstrikes.

By July, the man's family was trying to alert the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and RCMP that their eldest son may have taken up arms with Islamic State in Iraq and Syria militants.

Mohammud

Mohamud Mohamed Mohamud, pictured here, is a 20-year-old Hamilton man believed to have been killed while fighting for ISIS in northern Syria. ((Calamada.com))

In September, CSIS unofficially told the family the man had been killed. The Department of Public Safety said an estimated 130 Canadians have gone to fight for ISIS.

Family and friends noticed changes in Mohamud, who went from a promising student and athlete to someone who carried harsh views and withdrew from his communities, including the Muslim community and classmates at York University.

"He was seeking his new community online," said Hamilton lawyer Hussein Hamdani, who tried to help the family once they realized he was "crossing over."

Without official confirmation, the man's family believes their son is gone, but holds out some hope. 

7. A crazy winter

It was cold. It was icy. And it introduced the term "polar vortex" to your lexicon.

Last winter's frigid temperatures, including at least 30 days (yes, an entire month) where the temperature sat below -10 C, were certainly one of the biggest newsmakers of the year.

On a few days – remember Jan. 7, anyone? – the temperature plunged down past -20 C, even before bitter wind chill values were factored in. That Tuesday's cold record? A brutal -24 C, with wind chill values of -41 C.

ice storm

Last December's ice storm set the stage for a frigid winter that was one of the main news stories of the year. (CBC)

After a few more weeks of similar cold, you can understand why at we published the headline: "When will this insanely cold winter actually end?"

Of course, it's the ice storm that struck the GTA just before Christmas that will be talked about for years to come. The storm knocked out power to thousands of Hamilton homes as ice-encased tree branches collapsed onto power lines.

Mayor Bob Bratina said "an army of city, hydro, police, fire and emergency workers," were sent out to respond to the crisis, though some remained without power on Christmas itself.

But fear not, forecasts anticipate a milder winter for Hamilton this year, though there will be some yo-yo like bounces in temperature.

"It's not going to be like last year where the heating bill was through the roof, wind chills were almost inhumane, and it went on forever," Environment Canada's senior climatologist Dave Phillips said.

Cheers, Dave. Hope you're right.

8. Eisenberger becomes mayor again

When it came to the mayoral race this year, Hamilton decided to recycle.

The Oct. 27 election yielded about a dozen mayoral challengers, but the most heated race was between three people — former mayor Fred Eisenberger and councillors Brad Clark and Brian McHattie.

Eisenberger was Hamilton's mayor from 2006 to 2010, when he came third in the election. Clark, a former MPP, was a Stoney Creek councillor who campaigned on fiscal responsibility and saying no to light rail transit. McHattie, a left-leaning west end councillor, campaigned on the platform of being "a new mayor for a new Hamilton."

In the end, Eisenberger won by a healthy margin, followed by Clark and McHattie. The mayor's previous term was marred by split council votes and a lack of consensus. Eisenberger pledged to work with councillors more, and to "hit the ground running."

9. Lancaster bomber

Canada's last airworthy Avro Lancaster embarked on a historic tour in the summer, crossing the Atlantic and joining the only other airworthy bomber of its kind for a six week tour in the U.K. 

The tour was hugely popular on both sides of the Atlantic. The chance to see the two Lancasters flying in formation again was described as "once in a lifetime opportunity" by some fans. 

The Second World War-era plane left its home base at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on Aug.5, stopped in Newfoundland and Iceland before flying into the Royal Air Force base at Coningsby, England four days later. It returned to Hamilton at the end of September to a cheering crowd of hundreds of people. 

But that's not the end of the journey for the Lanc, nicknamed Vera because of its flight initials, VRA. On Dec. 17, a C-130 Hercules from the Royal Air Force U.K. arrived at CWHM to pick up a Merlin engine it lent to Vera in the summer. One of Vera's four engines broke down during the tour and it was only able to fly back to Canada with the help of a borrowed engine, a Rolls-Royce Merlin.

Meanwhile, Vera's broken engine is still undergoing repairs in the U.K. and is expected to be returned to Canada in April. 

So the epic adventure of Hamilton's Lancaster continues. 

10. Transit

Transit was in the headlines like never before in 2014. From how it's offered (light rail versus bus rapid transit), to where it's offered (the Mountain versus the downtown versus the outlying areas), to whether it deserves a special lane downtown, city councillors put in long hours debating transit. There was scandal as well.

The most visible debate was LRT, and most visibly during the election. Metrolinx and the province have given the nod to a $1-billion light rail line running 13 kilometres from McMaster University to Eastgate Square. City council approved the notion last year as long as the province funded the project 100 per cent.

transit

Transit was in the news for a variety of reasons, from policy to operations to sexual harassment controversies. (CBC)

But whether it agreed to that this year is murky. During the election, then-Transportation Minister Glen Murray tweeted that the province would fully fund LRT. But the new transportation minister, Steven Del Duca, visited city hall in July without making that promise. The meeting drew plenty of attention, with Hamilton's NDP MPPs showing up for it too, upset about being locked out of it.

During the campaigns leading up to the Oct. 27 election, all-candidates meetings buzzed with talk of LRT. Each mayoral candidate staked their ground. In the end, Fred Eisenberger won and promised to start a citizen's panel on the issue in 2015.

Other transit news: the future of the much-maligned downtown transit lane, a pilot project that should have ended in October, and Mountain transit improvements that were scaled back a little to prevent a tax hike in Ancaster. 

Council will vote on the future of the transit lane in January, and you can bet the LRT issue will get many more votes in 2015 too.

In addition to all of the policy and operational debates, the service was rocked by a sexual harassment scandal that led to a shakeup in management.

Which Hamilton story meant the most to you in 2014?


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Hamilton runners gear up for Around the Bay

For Hamilton runners, the pain starts now.

There are exactly three months until thousands lace up for the Around the Bay 30-kilometre road race and now is the time many runners kick their training into high gear.

Race director Mike Zajczenko said if runners need a reason to get out there — beside the fear of the course's rolling hills — it's the so-far mild winter.

"Look at the weather. If that's not an incentive, I don't know what is," he said.

Last year, many runners dropped out of the Around the Bay race after a frigid and icy winter interrupted their training plans.

'Running on a treadmill and running on the road is a completely different animal.'- Mike Zajczenko, Around The Bay race director

In total, 6,763 runners took part in the 2014 race. While the number was down from the previous year, which had 6,850 participants, it was the first time in recent years that the oldest long-distance running race in North America hasn't grown.

A winter in which people couldn't walk, let alone run, played a major factor in that, Zajczenko said. And while treadmills can help a bit, it's hard to replace training outdoors.

"The problem is running on a treadmill and running on the road is a completely different animal," said Zajczenko.

There's also the boredom factor, a big part of why many runners refer to the machines as "dreadmills."

"That's a tough thing to do all year," Zajczenko said.

For those ready to get outside, many running groups will be starting their training programs for the race in the coming weeks.

The Running Room's marathon training group begins on Sunday, Jan. 3. Many in that group — there were about 15 people last year — will run the Around the Bay race, either taking aim at a personal best time or just using it as a long training run.

Westdale's Runner's Den also has Around the Bay-focused running groups, which leave the shop several times a week to tackle parts of the route. There's also a schedule in the store dictating the distance and intensity of workouts leading up to the race.  

The Running Room's Ben Jurkovic's said he's mainly hoping for better conditions this winter.

"Last year was brutal," said Jurkovic, who raced in the event.

His advice to runners: train on hills.

Cheryl Howell-Townson, of the Runner's Den, agreed. Runners need to work on "the up and the down."

"If you're only training to go up hills sometimes, you may end up with some problems going downhill."

That advice stands even though Valley Inn Road — a steep spike at the 26th kilometre of the race — may be closed for construction on race day.

"Right now, I've been told it's closed," Zajczenko said, adding he has meetings lined up with the city to see what can be done. He's hoping by race day, they'll open one lane to runners so the tradition of suffering up the hill can continue.

If it's closed, runners will endure a long, slow uphill instead.

"In my personal opinion, I don't think it's going to make too much difference in times," he said, adding that it's often the rolling hills after the 20-kilometre mark that really take it out of the field.

Still, it would be sad to lost the "triumphant" feeling of cresting that hill with only three kilometres to the finish, the race director said. 

There are still spots left in the five-kilometre and 30-kilometre races, although the three-person relay is sold out and there are only a few spots left for two-person relay teams. 


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Neil Bantleman more hopeful after inconsistent testimonies, wife says

Canadian teacher Neil Bantleman is hopeful he will be declared not guilty of sexually assaulting children in Indonesia, his wife told CBC News after the latest session of his trial wrapped today.

"He is quite fearful of the outcome of the trial, but he is feeling a little better today," Tracy Bantleman said from Indonesia, following her husband's six-hour hearing.

Bantleman, the Burlington, Ont., native who also appeared in court last week, is accused of sexually assaulting three students while working at the Jakarta International School. Ferdinand Tijong, a teaching assistant at the school, is also standing trial, at the same time, for the same crimes. 

'He is quite fearful of the outcome of the trial, but he is feeling a little better today.'- Tracy Bantleman, wife of Neil Bantleman

One of the boys involved in the alleged accusations, identified only as DA, and his mother testified via video conference on Tuesday. The child's father testified in court. 

"The child seemed to be looking to his mother throughout the testimony and looking to his mother for confirmation to his response," Tracy Bantleman said, based on information from her husband.

Only the three judges presiding over the case, court staff and those directly involved in the case and their lawyers are allowed into the courtroom, due to Indonesian law governing child sex assault cases, according to Neil Bantleman's brother, Guy Bantleman. 

A diplomat from the British Embassy acquired the necessary paperwork to access the courtroom earlier in the trial, but was denied entry to the court on Tuesday, Guy Bantleman said.

The opaque nature of the court proceedings is "absolutely" a concern, he said.

Accusers' stories are inconsistent, wife says

The boy's testimony was inconsistent and illogical, according to Tracy Bantleman. She says the location of the alleged assault changed in the boy's various testimonies, and that he testified his alleged attacker had a skeleton tattoo, but Bantleman does not have one.  

Tracy Bantleman believes this could be a case of child abuse hysteria, or improper or suggestive questioning of these children throughout the investigation.

"The children are changing their stories," she said after Tuesday's testimonies.  

DA's father, a German, was reportedly "confrontational" during his testimony, during which he avoided direct questions and tried several times to "take command of the court to tell his story."

The man entered the Jakarta court dressed in a dark suit with a red tie, and wore dark black sunglasses.

According to Neil Bantleman, the father was "repeatedly admonished" by the judges for not following the rules of the court and refusing to give clear yes or no responses.

Five janitors at the same school have already been sentenced to lengthy jail terms in a similar sexual assault trial involving one of the same victims — a six-year-old boy.

The Jakarta International School is attended by around 2,400 students, many of them children of foreign diplomats, expatriates and Indonesia's elite. Prior to working in Indonesia, Bantleman was a teacher at Webber Academy in Calgary for 10 years.

Canadian government should do more: Tracy Bantleman

Neil Bantleman's wife is also urging the Canadian government to change its tactics and do more for her husband.

"It is time for the Canadian government to issue a statement of concern," Tracy Bantleman wrote in a letter to the government on Sunday.

"He is innocent, and the Canadian government approach should reflect that fact."

The Canadian government didn't issue an immediate response.

Her remarks come on the heels of a powerful statement from the U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, Robert Blake, that was critical of the trial.

"The outcome of these cases and what it reveals about the rule of law in Indonesia will have a significant impact on Indonesia's reputation abroad," Blake said in a statement to CBC Hamilton.

Tracy Bantleman points out, in her letter, that her husband has been given vocal support from the U.K. and Australian governments as well. Guy Bantleman, Neil's brother, said all three governments issued vocal support back in July, when Neil was first arrested.

The pair also received more support from the U.S. on Monday, when the deputy chief mission for the U.S. Embassy visited the two men at the Cipinang jail where they are being held.

The Canadian government has said it's providing consular assistance to the Bantlemans while they are in Indonesia, but has declined to state a firm position on the court case.


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Hamilton issues a cold weather alert for overnight Tuesday

New

The alert remains in effect until officials issue a cancellation notice

CBC News Posted: Dec 30, 2014 10:16 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 30, 2014 10:16 AM ET

Hamilton cold weather

Public health officials have issued a cold weather alert for Hamilton. (John Rieti/CBC)

Public health officials have issued a cold weather alert for Tuesday night.

Hamilton's Medical Officer of Health issues a cold alert when current or anticipated temperatures are at or below -15 C, or -20 C with wind chill.

The alert remains in effect until officials issue a cancellation notice.

The city has notified community agencies that work with vulnerable or homeless people. Each of those agencies, including Salvation Army, implement their own cold weather policies and procedures.

If you see someone in need of shelter, call the Salvation Army at 905-527-1444 x0.


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St. Catharines man in critical condition after car wreck Sunday

Written By Unknown on Senin, 29 Desember 2014 | 22.46

The Canadian Press Posted: Dec 29, 2014 8:17 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 29, 2014 8:17 AM ET

A 21-year old St. Catharines man is in critical condition after a terrible car wreck.

Police say he was driving in the city Sunday night when he lost control of his Honda Civic, skidded across several residential lawns then rolled the car into a vehicle parked in a driveway.

The man was taken to a local hospital before being airlifted to the Hamilton Health Sciences General Hospital where he remains in critical condition.

His name is not being released.


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Bay Street apartment fire sends woman to hospital

One woman was sent to hospital after a fire at a highrise building on Bay Street South Friday night. 

Firefighters were called to the 14-storey apartment at 100 Bay Street S., at the corner of Jackson Street West, around 8 p.m. 

They discovered a fire in a 4th floor unit of the building and smoke on the same floor. They removed the lone occupant from the unit.  

The resident, described as a middle-aged woman, was transported to Hamilton General Hospital. There is no immediate information on her condition, said Claudio Mostacci, public information officer with Hamilton Fire Department.

According to the fire department, the fire was contained to the unit and was quickly extinguished. Crews then started ventilating the building to get rid of smoke. 

The residents of the building were allowed to return to their units late Friday night. 

The damage of the fire is estimated to be around $100,000.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. The fire marshal's office has been called in. 


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Hamilton's weirdest crime stories of 2014

As 2014 barrels to a close, now is a great time to reflect on the last year to examine all of our faults and follies.

But don't worry – no matter how many mistakes you've made, take comfort in the fact that there is no way you screwed up as badly as some of these people.

In the spirit of looking back on the year that was, CBC Hamilton has compiled a list of some of the weirdest crime stories that happened in the city in 2014. Have a look, and marvel at some of the things that people actually thought were a good idea this year.

Shirtless drunk man takes a bath in church holy water

In this scene that reads like something out of a Trailer Park Boys episode, a Stoney Creek man got arrested back in September after a drunken rampage through a downtown church.

But this wasn't just any casual rampage. He allegedly bathed in the holy water, vandalized religious objects and tried to light a wine-soaked altar on fire.

When officers got there, the man was found shirtless on the ground outside wearing a rosary and "in an intoxicated state."

This will likely not endear him with the man upstairs.

Drug dealer accidentally tells police he's a drug dealer

While we wholeheartedly agree that honesty is the best policy – you would expect a drug dealer to be fairly selective about it.

Not so back in February, when police were searching a home during a drug and weapon investigation.

While officers were conducting the search, there was a knock at the door. They asked who it was, and the man answered with, "A drug dealer."

Unsurprisingly, he was arrested.

Police lay charges after wild mall security brawl

Historically, mall security and BMX riders don't always make fast friends. This was certainly the case back in September when a wild brawl broke out between a group of BMX riders and Jackson Square security guards.

How crazy did it get? Well, the BMX riders were arrested (after one throws a shoe à la Austin Powers) and a YouTube clip of the incident amassed over 500,000 views.

Hamilton man drives 44 kilometres the wrong way on Highways 403 and 401

Honestly, it's a miracle that no one was hurt during this one. Back in the summer, a Hamilton man drove the wrong way on two of Southern Ontario's biggest highways for more that 44 kilometres before police closed the highway to stop him.

The man weaved his way through oncoming traffic all the way from Brantford to Ingersoll on Highways 403 and 401. He even got off the highway briefly at a service centre at one point, but didn't stop for coffee or gas. Instead, he drove straight through and back onto the highway.

"It's very lucky that no one was injured or killed," said OPP Const. Liosa Naranesik. A 29-year-old Hamilton man was charged with dangerous driving and possession of marijuana, but not impaired driving.

Man steals over 150 pairs of women's underwear in crime spree

Back in November, police held a press conference announced they nabbed a man they say had been responsible for a robbery spree in the city's east end.

But his biggest haul wasn't electronics or jewelry – it was women's underwear. He had stolen over 150 pairs of underwear from those homes, police say. It was enough to fill three whole tables at the press conference.

The man was charged with six counts of break and enter, attempted entry, nine counts of possession of burglary tools and four counts of failing to comply with a recognizance.

Driver passed out on fire station lawn carrying crack

Impaired driving is heinous, dangerous, and stupid. Passing out behind the wheel on a fire station's lawn carrying crack cocaine and thousands in cash is even more stupid.

But a Hamilton man was arrested on charges of doing exactly that in the beginning of December.

Police were called about a car parked on the lawn of the fire station at Mohawk Road and Garth Street and when officers got there, they found a driver passed out behind the wheel.

The man "showed signs of impairment" and was arrested. When he was searched, officers found 53 grams of crack cocaine and a "large quantity of cash," police say. A 35-year-old-man was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle, over 80, cocaine possession and proceeds of crime over $5,000.


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Q&A with Mark Lautens, Order of Canada honouree

The Governor General's office announced 95 appointments to the Order of Canada on Friday. Among the honourees, two researchers were listed as residing in Hamilton, but there are others on the list with Hamilton connections. CBC Hamilton caught up with one. 

Meet Mark Lautens, an organic chemistry professor at the University of Toronto and a Hamilton native. He was among the 13 people made officers of the Order of Canada, one of the order's three levels. It recognizes service and achievement on a national level. 

Q: You currently teach at the University of Toronto and you live in Toronto. What's your Hamilton connection?

A: I lived in Hamilton until I was about 21. My mom lived there. She died about 15 years ago. I would go back to Hamilton all the time. I feel like a Hamiltonian. 

I went to Guelph as an undergraduate student, then I went to Wisconsin for PhD, and then I went to Harvard after my PhD for two years as a postdoc. Then I came to Toronto and I've been there since 1987. 

Q: You were born and raised in Hamilton?

A: That's right. I grew up on a street called Tragina Avenue. It was near Barton Street. And I went to W.H. Ballard Public School. Then I went to Glendale Secondary School. 

Q: Tell us about the story of your favourite Hamilton barber. 

A: I met my barber when I was 15 and have continued to use his services for 40 years through grad school in Wisconsin and a postdoctoral at Harvard. My now-18-year-old son and I continue our trek to Hamilton every six to eight weeks. And after Fred Bertrano retired, we meet at his house in his basement shop. So I guess I am a crazy Hamiltonian.

Q: You are recognized for your "contributions at the forefront of organic chemistry, which have led to the creation of new medicinal compounds with fewer side effects." Walk us through your research. 

A: The "side effects" part is slightly inaccurate. I think a slightly more accurate description would be … what we try to do is invent new chemical reactions or ways in which to make pharmaceuticals. And our interest is to try to do that so we produce less waste, so they're more efficient and with less environmental impact. Because whenever you are manufacturing pharmaceuticals, there's waste and so on. And the idea for us is to minimize that and have the lowest impact on the environment. So we're trying to add to the toolbox of how people make drugs. 

Q: What are the applications of your research?

A: The real-life applications would be either in a pharmaceutical company — there are medical chemists who are trying to discover new drugs, they would use our reactions to try to make the new drugs. Another part of the pharmaceutical business is, once you know what you want to make, you try to make it as cheaply and efficiently and low environmental impact as possible. So we hope people will use the reaction to do that. 

The thing that's difficult to explain to people is … what we are trying to do is to make a tool that anybody in the pharmaceutical business can make, in principle, any kind of drug. So it's more general than it is specific. We have targeted certain chemicals and pharmaceuticals over the years. This is just to show how it would work. 

Q: Do you work with a team?

A: All the work is done with the students. When I first found out from the Governor General's office that I've been awarded this, at one point, I said, "For what?" One of the reasons is because I thought it would say something in the description of the honour about training the next generation of scientists. Over the years, hundreds and hundreds of students have worked with me. And many of them now work at universities all over the world and pharmaceutical companies. There're a lot of people from my lab who are now professors in Canada. About 150 PhD students and postdocs and maybe about 200 or 300 undergrads and visitors have worked with me. 

Q: You were made an officer of the Order of Canada. How does it feel to be in the ranks of Mark Carney, Julio Montaner and so on?

A: Part of the intrigue, once you got the call from the Governor General that you were selected, is the other question, "Who else got selected?" When you see someone's name like Mark Carney and you just think, "Wow, I'm in some pretty selective company." And I'm very humbled by that for sure. 

The interview has been slightly edited for length and clarity.  

Established in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country's highest civilian honours. It recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the country. 

The three levels of the order are companion, officer and member. 

The recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony. The date of the ceremony will be announced later. 


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Nathan Cirillo's death is the top Hamilton news story of 2014

1. Nathan Cirillo

The tragic death of Hamilton's Cpl. Nathan Cirillo captivated Canadians in 2014. Cirillo, a young father and member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was shot dead in October while standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

After the horrific event that gripped the nation for days, Canadians came out en masse to demonstrate pride in their country and solidarity with military members. As Cirillo's body was transported home from Ottawa, thousands lined the streets and overpasses of the Highway of Heroes to show their support for a man who became known as "Canada's son."

Cirillo's funeral in Hamilton was one of the largest the city has ever seen, and was attended by high-ranking members of many political parties, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and opposition leader Tom Mulcair.

Hamilton grieved with the Cirillo family, as his mother Kathy and his young son Marcus followed behind his casket while it moved through the streets of the city for the funeral's regimental procession.

Pictures of Marcus wearing his father's regiment cap for the service and Cirillo's two dogs sticking their noses out from underneath a fence at the family home were among the most widely shared in Canada in 2014.

2. The Burlington Skyway crash

When a large truck crashed into and mangled the Burlington Skyway over the summer, it put a huge cloud over already hefty traffic ahead of the busy August holiday weekend.

Sukhvinder Singh Rai, a 34-year-old Brampton man, is facing multiple impaired driving-related offences in connection with the crash.

The collision was caused by the truck driving with the bed of the dump truck raised, striking the iron superstructure above the Toronto-bound lanes.

It took four days for a temporary beam to be installed, forcing the average 70,000 daily commuters to reroute around or through Hamilton's core – a sore spot for many Hamiltonians who already feel the city is too congested.

3. Tim Hortons Field: Delays, openings and an unbeaten record

Hamilton was supposed to have a finished stadium this year, but after six months of delays, it's not going to happen.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) is responsible for building the $145-million, 22,500-seat Tim Hortons Field stadium. The city kicked in $40 million. IO hired the consortium Ontario Sports Solutions, which estimated the stadium would be done by June 30.

stadium

The delayed opening of the still incomplete Pan Am Stadium was an ongoing story throughout 2014. (Adam Carter/CBC)

In early 2014, news of delays began. Builders missed the June 30 deadline, then each Hamilton Tiger-Cats home game throughout the summer, leaving the Ticats to play in Ron Joyce Stadium at McMaster University. By Labour Day, crews had finished the stadium enough to host the Labour Day Classic. IO now estimates the stadium will be substantially completed by Jan. 31.

"I don't believe anything they tell me anymore. I'm so fed up," Coun. Lloyd Ferguson said this year. 

4. U.S. Steel Bankruptcy

On Sept. 16 U.S. Steel Canada declared bankruptcy.

Steelworkers, both current and retired, ripped the announcement, calling it a scam designed to let the company off the hook when it comes to pension and benefit payments.

The company told the Ontario court overseeing its bankruptcy proceedings that it has lost billions at its Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ont. plants (steelworkers take issue with this claim, too.)

The court proceedings, all held in Toronto, have been hard to follow at times as teams of lawyers argue – usually behind closed doors – about every detail of the company's restructuring.

One clear highlight from the proceedings was the approval of a $185 million loan from U.S. Steel Corp., the company's American parent. The move means steelworkers' pensions and benefits will continue to be paid until the end of next year, but also means U.S. Steel gets paid out first if U.S. Steel Canada is dissolved.

Many steelworkers went through this process before with Stelco, which was then acquired by U.S. Steel in 2007. That hasn't made it sit in court and listen to lawyers argue about whether or not the company will honour its pension agreements, many say.

Whether or not you've been following this story, it has huge ramifications for Hamilton. The loss, or decrease, of thousands of pensions would likely harm the city's economy and a complete shutdown of the steel mill would incur hundreds of job losses.

And while there's so much more to this story, there is an end in sight. U.S. Steel wants to sell its Canadian operations by October of next year.

We'll be watching.

5. The housing market

Local housing experts forecasted another seller's market in 2014, and they were right. The market got off to a slow start in a brutal and long winter, but the market bounced back strong in the spring.

A year of rising prices brought competitive bidding wars and realtors offering to buy your house themselves if it didn't sell in a month. Cranes popped up around town as condo developers constructed new housing options and tried to work around a lack of available land to build sprawling subdivisions.

Appraisers weren't necessarily as eager about what price a house should sell for as the would-be homeowners. But by October, Hamilton's housing prices were rising twice as fast as prices across Canada.

The average price of the homes sold in Hamilton went up 6 percent in 2014 compared to 2013. Experts predict slower growth in prices next year, which is partly due to the mix of homes selling. With fewer higher-end homes on the market, the average price among homes that sell each month will appear lower, lowering the percentage by which house prices rise. But in the cheaper areas of the city, home prices could still rise 5 percent in 2015.

6. Mohamud Mohamed Mohamud

A Hamilton man who disappeared this summer was reportedly killed in the conflict between Kurdish forces and ISIS fighters in northern Syria. A 20-year-old Canadian-Somali man named Mohamud Mohamed Mohamud is believed to have been killed while fighting for ISIS, which would make him the first Canadian to die in the anti-ISIS campaign led by U.S. airstrikes.

By July, the man's family was trying to alert the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and RCMP that their eldest son may have taken up arms with Islamic State in Iraq and Syria militants.

Mohammud

Mohamud Mohamed Mohamud, pictured here, is a 20-year-old Hamilton man believed to have been killed while fighting for ISIS in northern Syria. ((Calamada.com))

In September, CSIS unofficially told the family the man had been killed. The Department of Public Safety said an estimated 130 Canadians have gone to fight for ISIS.

Family and friends noticed changes in Mohamud, who went from a promising student and athlete to someone who carried harsh views and withdrew from his communities, including the Muslim community and classmates at York University.

"He was seeking his new community online," said Hamilton lawyer Hussein Hamdani, who tried to help the family once they realized he was "crossing over."

Without official confirmation, the man's family believes their son is gone, but holds out some hope. 

7. A crazy winter

It was cold. It was icy. And it introduced the term "polar vortex" to your lexicon.

Last winter's frigid temperatures, including at least 30 days (yes, an entire month) where the temperature sat below -10 C, were certainly one of the biggest newsmakers of the year.

On a few days – remember Jan. 7, anyone? – the temperature plunged down past -20 C, even before bitter wind chill values were factored in. That Tuesday's cold record? A brutal -24 C, with wind chill values of -41 C.

ice storm

Last December's ice storm set the stage for a frigid winter that was one of the main news stories of the year. (CBC)

After a few more weeks of similar cold, you can understand why at we published the headline: "When will this insanely cold winter actually end?"

Of course, it's the ice storm that struck the GTA just before Christmas that will be talked about for years to come. The storm knocked out power to thousands of Hamilton homes as ice-encased tree branches collapsed onto power lines.

Mayor Bob Bratina said "an army of city, hydro, police, fire and emergency workers," were sent out to respond to the crisis, though some remained without power on Christmas itself.

But fear not, forecasts anticipate a milder winter for Hamilton this year, though there will be some yo-yo like bounces in temperature.

"It's not going to be like last year where the heating bill was through the roof, wind chills were almost inhumane, and it went on forever," Environment Canada's senior climatologist Dave Phillips said.

Cheers, Dave. Hope you're right.

8. Eisenberger becomes mayor again

When it came to the mayoral race this year, Hamilton decided to recycle.

The Oct. 27 election yielded about a dozen mayoral challengers, but the most heated race was between three people — former mayor Fred Eisenberger and councillors Brad Clark and Brian McHattie.

Eisenberger was Hamilton's mayor from 2006 to 2010, when he came third in the election. Clark, a former MPP, was a Stoney Creek councillor who campaigned on fiscal responsibility and saying no to light rail transit. McHattie, a left-leaning west end councillor, campaigned on the platform of being "a new mayor for a new Hamilton."

In the end, Eisenberger won by a healthy margin, followed by Clark and McHattie. The mayor's previous term was marred by split council votes and a lack of consensus. Eisenberger pledged to work with councillors more, and to "hit the ground running."

9. Lancaster bomber

Canada's last airworthy Avro Lancaster embarked on a historic tour in the summer, crossing the Atlantic and joining the only other airworthy bomber of its kind for a six week tour in the U.K. 

The tour was hugely popular on both sides of the Atlantic. The chance to see the two Lancasters flying in formation again was described as "once in a lifetime opportunity" by some fans. 

The Second World War-era plane left its home base at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on Aug.5, stopped in Newfoundland and Iceland before flying into the Royal Air Force base at Coningsby, England four days later. It returned to Hamilton at the end of September to a cheering crowd of hundreds of people. 

But that's not the end of the journey for the Lanc, nicknamed Vera because of its flight initials, VRA. On Dec. 17, a C-130 Hercules from the Royal Air Force U.K. arrived at CWHM to pick up a Merlin engine it lent to Vera in the summer. One of Vera's four engines broke down during the tour and it was only able to fly back to Canada with the help of a borrowed engine, a Rolls-Royce Merlin.

Meanwhile, Vera's broken engine is still undergoing repairs in the U.K. and is expected to be returned to Canada in April. 

So the epic adventure of Hamilton's Lancaster continues. 

10. Transit

Transit was in the headlines like never before in 2014. From how it's offered (light rail versus bus rapid transit), to where it's offered (the Mountain versus the downtown versus the outlying areas), to whether it deserves a special lane downtown, city councillors put in long hours debating transit. There was scandal as well.

The most visible debate was LRT, and most visibly during the election. Metrolinx and the province have given the nod to a $1-billion light rail line running 13 kilometres from McMaster University to Eastgate Square. City council approved the notion last year as long as the province funded the project 100 per cent.

transit

Transit was in the news for a variety of reasons, from policy to operations to sexual harassment controversies. (CBC)

But whether it agreed to that this year is murky. During the election, then-Transportation Minister Glen Murray tweeted that the province would fully fund LRT. But the new transportation minister, Steven Del Duca, visited city hall in July without making that promise. The meeting drew plenty of attention, with Hamilton's NDP MPPs showing up for it too, upset about being locked out of it.

During the campaigns leading up to the Oct. 27 election, all-candidates meetings buzzed with talk of LRT. Each mayoral candidate staked their ground. In the end, Fred Eisenberger won and promised to start a citizen's panel on the issue in 2015.

Other transit news: the future of the much-maligned downtown transit lane, a pilot project that should have ended in October, and Mountain transit improvements that were scaled back a little to prevent a tax hike in Ancaster. 

Council will vote on the future of the transit lane in January, and you can bet the LRT issue will get many more votes in 2015 too.

In addition to all of the policy and operational debates the service was rocked by a sexual harassment scandal that led to a shakeup in management 


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Hamilton's John Kelton, Michael Phillips named to Order of Canada

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 28 Desember 2014 | 22.46

Two Hamiltonians are among the 95 Canadians appointed to the Order of Canada on Friday. 

John Kelton, a physician scientist from Dundas, Ont., and Michael Phillips, a mental health researcher based in Shanghai and Hamilton, have been made members of the Order of Canada, one of the three levels of the order. It recognizes outstanding contributions at the local or regional level, or in a specific field. 

Kelton, an active professor and a practicing doctor, is also the dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences and dean of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University. He is recognized "for his research into blood cell disorders and for his contributions to making Hamilton a hub for health science research," according to a release from the Governor General of Canada's press office.

Phillips, who earned his medical degree from McMaster University and received his psychiatry training in the U.S., has lived in China since 1985 while conducting mental health research, according to various alumni profiles. He is recognized "for his contributions to the prevention of suicide in China and for his engagement in international mental health initiatives."

Another McMaster professor, Alba DiCenso, a Milton resident, has also been made a member of the Order of Canada. A professor emerita of McMaster's School of Nursing and the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, she is honoured "for her research in evidence-based nursing and for her contributions to the development of nurse practitioners."

Other notable appointments include former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and AIDS research pioneer Dr. Julio Montaner.

Established in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country's highest civilian honours and it recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the country. 

The three levels of the order are companion, officer and member. 

The recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony. The date of the ceremony will be announced later. 


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Bay Street apartment fire sends woman to hospital

One woman was sent to hospital after a fire at a highrise building on Bay Street South Friday night. 

Firefighters were called to the 14-storey apartment at 100 Bay Street S., at the corner of Jackson Street West, around 8 p.m. 

They discovered a fire in a 4th floor unit of the building and smoke on the same floor. They removed the lone occupant from the unit.  

The resident, described as a middle-aged woman, was transported to Hamilton General Hospital. There is no immediate information on her condition, said Claudio Mostacci, public information officer with Hamilton Fire Department.

According to the fire department, the fire was contained to the unit and was quickly extinguished. Crews then started ventilating the building to get rid of smoke. 

The residents of the building were allowed to return to their units late Friday night. 

The damage of the fire is estimated to be around $100,000.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. The fire marshal's office has been called in. 


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Hamilton buskers Phil and Rosie share special bond

She's a star. Her face stops people in their tracks. Her dancing makes people empty their pockets. And she's Phil Hodges's best friend, because every dog is somebody's best friend. 

'I don't know where I'd be without her, truthfully​.'- Phil Hodges

Meet Rosie, a six-and-a-half-year-old jack russell and beagle mix who has delighted thousands of Hamiltonians with her tricks.

You may have seen Phil and Rosie busking at Supercrawl, where they drew a massive crowd on James Street North, or at another performance outside Tim Hortons Field or Jackson Square. 

 The pair rely on each other in a unique way. For Hodges, the busting helps when money's tight — "a little extra jingle never hurts," he says with a laugh — but Rosie also acts as a buffer between him and the people he meets. Hodges said he's struggled with anxiety issues for years, something Rosie helps him overcome.

"She means everything to me," Hodges said.

"I don't know where I'd be without her, truthfully."

And while the occasional person has criticized Hodges for his busking — he tries not to argue, but if he does he tells hecklers that the dog lives a better life than them — Rosie has also benefited from the shows. Two months ago, she needed surgery to remove a lump above her eye. Hodges paid for the surgery with the proceeds from their busking.

To see the duo in action, including a special appearance by "Red-Nosed Rosie," check out the video above. 


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CBC Hamilton's top photos of 2014

30 of the best pictures taken by our reporters this year

CBC News Posted: Dec 27, 2014 1:16 PM ET Last Updated: Dec 27, 2014 1:16 PM ET

From the heartbreaking funeral for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo to change at city hall to the super fun that is Supercrawl, it's been another busy news year in Hamilton. And we've got the photos to prove it.

Check out the gallery above for 30 of the best images captured by CBC Hamilton reporters this year. 

For more photos from CBC Hamilton, you can keep an eye out for future photo galleries or follow us on Instagram @cbchamilton. 

And if you're addicted to best-of galleries, you might also like these collections from our CBCNews.ca colleagues:


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Hamilton's weirdest crime stories of 2014

As 2014 barrels to a close, now is a great time to reflect on the last year to examine all of our faults and follies.

But don't worry – no matter how many mistakes you've made, take comfort in the fact that there is no way you screwed up as badly as some of these people.

In the spirit of looking back on the year that was, CBC Hamilton has compiled a list of some of the weirdest crime stories that happened in the city in 2014. Have a look, and marvel at some of the things that people actually thought were a good idea this year.

Shirtless drunk man takes a bath in church holy water

In this scene that reads like something out of a Trailer Park Boys episode, a Stoney Creek man got arrested back in September after a drunken rampage through a downtown church.

But this wasn't just any casual rampage. He allegedly bathed in the holy water, vandalized religious objects and tried to light a wine-soaked altar on fire.

When officers got there, the man was found shirtless on the ground outside wearing a rosary and "in an intoxicated state."

This will likely not endear him with the man upstairs.

Drug dealer accidentally tells police he's a drug dealer

While we wholeheartedly agree that honesty is the best policy – you would expect a drug dealer to be fairly selective about it.

Not so back in February, when police were searching a home during a drug and weapon investigation.

While officers were conducting the search, there was a knock at the door. They asked who it was, and the man answered with, "A drug dealer."

Unsurprisingly, he was arrested.

Police lay charges after wild mall security brawl

Historically, mall security and BMX riders don't always make fast friends. This was certainly the case back in September when a wild brawl broke out between a group of BMX riders and Jackson Square security guards.

How crazy did it get? Well, the BMX riders were arrested (after one throws a shoe à la Austin Powers) and a YouTube clip of the incident amassed over 500,000 views.

Hamilton man drives 44 kilometres the wrong way on Highways 403 and 401

Honestly, it's a miracle that no one was hurt during this one. Back in the summer, a Hamilton man drove the wrong way on two of Southern Ontario's biggest highways for more that 44 kilometres before police closed the highway to stop him.

The man weaved his way through oncoming traffic all the way from Brantford to Ingersoll on Highways 403 and 401. He even got off the highway briefly at a service centre at one point, but didn't stop for coffee or gas. Instead, he drove straight through and back onto the highway.

"It's very lucky that no one was injured or killed," said OPP Const. Liosa Naranesik. A 29-year-old Hamilton man was charged with dangerous driving and possession of marijuana, but not impaired driving.

Man steals over 150 pairs of women's underwear in crime spree

Back in November, police held a press conference announced they nabbed a man they say had been responsible for a robbery spree in the city's east end.

But his biggest haul wasn't electronics or jewelry – it was women's underwear. He had stolen over 150 pairs of underwear from those homes, police say. It was enough to fill three whole tables at the press conference.

The man was charged with six counts of break and enter, attempted entry, nine counts of possession of burglary tools and four counts of failing to comply with a recognizance.

Driver passed out on fire station lawn carrying crack

Impaired driving is heinous, dangerous, and stupid. Passing out behind the wheel on a fire station's lawn carrying crack cocaine and thousands in cash is even more stupid.

But a Hamilton man was arrested on charges of doing exactly that in the beginning of December.

Police were called about a car parked on the lawn of the fire station at Mohawk Road and Garth Street and when officers got there, they found a driver passed out behind the wheel.

The man "showed signs of impairment" and was arrested. When he was searched, officers found 53 grams of crack cocaine and a "large quantity of cash," police say. A 35-year-old-man was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle, over 80, cocaine possession and proceeds of crime over $5,000.


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Hamilton's John Kelton, Michael Phillips named to Order of Canada

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 27 Desember 2014 | 22.46

Two Hamiltonians are among the 95 Canadians appointed to the Order of Canada on Friday. 

John Kelton, a physician scientist from Dundas, Ont., and Michael Phillips, a mental health researcher based in Shanghai and Hamilton, have been made members of the Order of Canada, one of the three levels of the order. It recognizes outstanding contributions at the local or regional level, or in a specific field. 

Kelton, an active professor and a practicing doctor, is also the dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences and dean of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University. He is recognized "for his research into blood cell disorders and for his contributions to making Hamilton a hub for health science research," according to a release from the Governor General of Canada's press office.

Phillips, who earned his medical degree from McMaster University and received his psychiatry training in the U.S., has lived in China since 1985 while conducting mental health research, according to various alumni profiles. He is recognized "for his contributions to the prevention of suicide in China and for his engagement in international mental health initiatives."

Another McMaster professor, Alba DiCenso, a Milton resident, has also been made a member of the Order of Canada. A professor emerita of McMaster's School of Nursing and the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, she is honoured "for her research in evidence-based nursing and for her contributions to the development of nurse practitioners."

Other notable appointments include former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and AIDS research pioneer Dr. Julio Montaner.

Established in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country's highest civilian honours and it recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the country. 

The three levels of the order are companion, officer and member. 

The recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony. The date of the ceremony will be announced later. 


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Three holiday wishes for Hamilton

Three holiday wishes for Hamilton - Latest Hamilton news - CBC Hamilton

We want to hear yours: What are your three wishes for 2015?

By Kelly Bennett, CBC News Posted: Dec 25, 2014 6:30 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 26, 2014 10:52 AM ET

It's nearly a new year — a chance to look back on some big changes Hamilton made in the past 12 months, and a chance to look optimistically toward the next one.

We asked some engaged and passionate Hamiltonians from different spheres to share three wishes for the city in 2015. We'll share more in the coming days, and we hope you'll join in. Email your three wishes to hamilton@cbc.ca or find more ways to participate below.


Erin Dunham, restaurateur. (Scott Summerhayes/Urbanicity)

Erin Dunham

Restaurateur, co-owner of Rapscallion and Two Black Sheep

1. That the newly voted-in officials make a plan for change. There are many things in this city that have been ignored for a long time and it would be beautiful to see some of the campaign promises kept and instituted. We are a big city and should start acknowledging that.

2. I hope that we, as a city, can eliminate some of the old stereotypes by showing our guests all we have to offer; we are no longer the Steeltown, but we are the city of art, music, food, waterfalls, hiking trails, waterfront, and so much more.

3. That Hamiltonians explore more of Hamilton! People from Ancaster, Dundas, and those living in "upper Hamilton" should explore the downtown and enjoy the waterfront, many theatres, events like artcrawl, restaurants, and so much more that our core has to offer. 


Riaz Sayani-Mulji, Hamilton youth worker and law student. (Supplied by Riaz Sayani-Mulji)

Riaz Sayani-Mulji

Hamilton youth worker and law student

1. The city starts addressing the structural causes of youth violence.

2. More funding for more shelter beds, intervention programs, and affordable housing units, not for ACTION police to meet ticket quotas and sweep people out of the downtown core.

3. The HWDSB overhaul its disciplinary procedures for schools — too many youth, especially those of colour and/or who come from low-income communities, are being pushed out of our schools by unwarranted suspensions and expulsions.


May-Marie Duwai-Sowa, publisher of Illuminescence magazine. (Supplied by May-Marie Duwai-Sowa)

May-Marie Duwai-Sowa

Publisher of Illuminescence magazine, City of Hamilton access and equity specialist

1. I wish Hamilton exceeds expectations when it hosts the Junos and the Pan Am Games in 2015, so it can etch its name in Canadian history as a distinctive City!
 
2. I wish Hamilton's Young Fem-Leaders will realize their dreams and full potential in 2015!
 
3. I wish Hamilton becomes a more inclusive, welcoming and diverse city, viewed as a collective space, than one segmented into socio-cultural silos!


Peter Wall, rector, Christ's Church Cathedral and Dean of Anglican Diocese of Niagara (Supplied by Peter Wall)

Peter Wall

Rector, Christ's Church Cathedral and Dean of Anglican Diocese of Niagara

1. That our elected mayor and councillors provide wisdom, insight, and prophetic vision in governing our city.

2. That Hamilton become, and is known as, the Canadian city which cares and reaches out most effectively to the poor and to those who live on the margins.

3. That we provide resources to continue to improve our infrastructure – roads, transit, antiquated systems (water, sewers, etc.).  If this means slightly more in property taxes, it is worth it!!! 


Abigail Richardson-Schulte, composer in residence at Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (Courtesy photo)

Abigail Richardson-Schulte
Composer in residence, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra

 1. I hope the city will provide more substantial off leash dog parks in the coming year.

2. I hope more people will get to experience the live professional classical music scene in the city.

3. I hope the city's exciting events of 2015 will allow outsiders a glimpse of the new Hamilton.


Huzaifa Saeed, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce (James Clark/McMaster University)

Huzaifa Saeed
Policy and research analyst, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce 

1. Next year is a pivotal year for the revitalization saga of Hamilton. The City currently has tremendous economic and social momentum, however the City of Hamilton has several key policy matters on their table which might make or break our future. My wish is that these decisions strongly weight academic research and data in addition to community sentiment. 

2 . Despite its burgeoning community pride, Hamilton remains a city of many geographic and historical boundaries. My wish is for Hamilton to come together as a community across all corners of it's geographic boundaries. 

3. That we become the "ambitious city" and "best place to raise a child" for all newcomers into our community. 


Dr. Carys Massarella (St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton)

Carys Massarella
Physician at St. Joseph's Hospital, transgender advocate

1. Ensure that as downtown gentrifies we ensure there is a place for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds to enjoy and live in the downtown. 

2. That the Senate pass Bill C-279 protecting gender identity and expression as a protected human right as passed by the Parliament of Canada. 

3.  That we recognize and reduce stigma for people with mental health concerns and in particular for LGBTQ youth.  


Peter Dyakowski (John E. Sokolowski/Hamilton Tiger-Cats)

Peter Dyakowski
Offensive lineman for Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CBC Canada's Smartest Person 2013

1. Hamilton's own Monster Truck headlining a concert at Tim Horton's Field.

2. Gorilla Cheese inventing a new grilled cheese sandwich with not just two or three types of cheese, but all of the types of cheese on it.

3. #HamOnt football domination: The Hamilton Hurricanes win the Canadian Bowl CJFL Championship, the McMaster Marauders win the Vanier Cup, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats win the Grey Cup! (Let's not call that last one a "wish"! More of a prediction!)


Raza Khan, physician, spokesman for Hamilton Mosque (Courtesy photo)

Raza Khan
Physician, spokesman for the Hamilton Mosque

1. For families: violence, child abuse and hunger across Hamilton are eliminated.

2. For communities: an effective strategy is developed in collaboration with council and local community groups on dealing with homelessness, poverty and mental health.

3. For all faiths: to be able to continue praying and practicing their faith in peace, safety and security throughout the year without fear.


Next: Check back for more wishes we'll be sharing in the coming days. 

We want to hear from you. Here's how to participate: 

Send your story to hamilton@cbc.ca with "Three Wishes" as the subject line.
Instagram or tweet us @cbchamilton
Add a few lines to our Facebook page.

External Links

(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)

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Three holiday wishes for Hamilton - Latest Hamilton news - CBC Hamilton

We want to hear yours: What are your three wishes for 2015?

By Kelly Bennett, CBC News Posted: Dec 25, 2014 6:30 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 26, 2014 10:52 AM ET

It's nearly a new year — a chance to look back on some big changes Hamilton made in the past 12 months, and a chance to look optimistically toward the next one.

We asked some engaged and passionate Hamiltonians from different spheres to share three wishes for the city in 2015. We'll share more in the coming days, and we hope you'll join in. Email your three wishes to hamilton@cbc.ca or find more ways to participate below.


Erin Dunham, restaurateur. (Scott Summerhayes/Urbanicity)

Erin Dunham

Restaurateur, co-owner of Rapscallion and Two Black Sheep

1. That the newly voted-in officials make a plan for change. There are many things in this city that have been ignored for a long time and it would be beautiful to see some of the campaign promises kept and instituted. We are a big city and should start acknowledging that.

2. I hope that we, as a city, can eliminate some of the old stereotypes by showing our guests all we have to offer; we are no longer the Steeltown, but we are the city of art, music, food, waterfalls, hiking trails, waterfront, and so much more.

3. That Hamiltonians explore more of Hamilton! People from Ancaster, Dundas, and those living in "upper Hamilton" should explore the downtown and enjoy the waterfront, many theatres, events like artcrawl, restaurants, and so much more that our core has to offer. 


Riaz Sayani-Mulji, Hamilton youth worker and law student. (Supplied by Riaz Sayani-Mulji)

Riaz Sayani-Mulji

Hamilton youth worker and law student

1. The city starts addressing the structural causes of youth violence.

2. More funding for more shelter beds, intervention programs, and affordable housing units, not for ACTION police to meet ticket quotas and sweep people out of the downtown core.

3. The HWDSB overhaul its disciplinary procedures for schools — too many youth, especially those of colour and/or who come from low-income communities, are being pushed out of our schools by unwarranted suspensions and expulsions.


May-Marie Duwai-Sowa, publisher of Illuminescence magazine. (Supplied by May-Marie Duwai-Sowa)

May-Marie Duwai-Sowa

Publisher of Illuminescence magazine, City of Hamilton access and equity specialist

1. I wish Hamilton exceeds expectations when it hosts the Junos and the Pan Am Games in 2015, so it can etch its name in Canadian history as a distinctive City!
 
2. I wish Hamilton's Young Fem-Leaders will realize their dreams and full potential in 2015!
 
3. I wish Hamilton becomes a more inclusive, welcoming and diverse city, viewed as a collective space, than one segmented into socio-cultural silos!


Peter Wall, rector, Christ's Church Cathedral and Dean of Anglican Diocese of Niagara (Supplied by Peter Wall)

Peter Wall

Rector, Christ's Church Cathedral and Dean of Anglican Diocese of Niagara

1. That our elected mayor and councillors provide wisdom, insight, and prophetic vision in governing our city.

2. That Hamilton become, and is known as, the Canadian city which cares and reaches out most effectively to the poor and to those who live on the margins.

3. That we provide resources to continue to improve our infrastructure – roads, transit, antiquated systems (water, sewers, etc.).  If this means slightly more in property taxes, it is worth it!!! 


Abigail Richardson-Schulte, composer in residence at Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (Courtesy photo)

Abigail Richardson-Schulte

Composer in residence, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra

 1. I hope the city will provide more substantial off leash dog parks in the coming year.

2. I hope more people will get to experience the live professional classical music scene in the city.

3. I hope the city's exciting events of 2015 will allow outsiders a glimpse of the new Hamilton.


Huzaifa Saeed, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce (James Clark/McMaster University)

Huzaifa Saeed

Policy and research analyst, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce 

1. Next year is a pivotal year for the revitalization saga of Hamilton. The City currently has tremendous economic and social momentum, however the City of Hamilton has several key policy matters on their table which might make or break our future. My wish is that these decisions strongly weight academic research and data in addition to community sentiment. 

2 . Despite its burgeoning community pride, Hamilton remains a city of many geographic and historical boundaries. My wish is for Hamilton to come together as a community across all corners of it's geographic boundaries. 

3. That we become the "ambitious city" and "best place to raise a child" for all newcomers into our community. 


Dr. Carys Massarella (St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton)

Carys Massarella

Physician at St. Joseph's Hospital, transgender advocate

1. Ensure that as downtown gentrifies we ensure there is a place for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds to enjoy and live in the downtown. 

2. That the Senate pass Bill C-279 protecting gender identity and expression as a protected human right as passed by the Parliament of Canada. 

3.  That we recognize and reduce stigma for people with mental health concerns and in particular for LGBTQ youth.  


Peter Dyakowski (John E. Sokolowski/Hamilton Tiger-Cats)

Peter Dyakowski
Offensive lineman for Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CBC Canada's Smartest Person 2013

1. Hamilton's own Monster Truck headlining a concert at Tim Horton's Field.

2. Gorilla Cheese inventing a new grilled cheese sandwich with not just two or three types of cheese, but all of the types of cheese on it.

3. #HamOnt football domination: The Hamilton Hurricanes win the Canadian Bowl CJFL Championship, the McMaster Marauders win the Vanier Cup, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats win the Grey Cup! (Let's not call that last one a "wish"! More of a prediction!)


Raza Khan, physician, spokesman for Hamilton Mosque (Courtesy photo)

Raza Khan
Physician, spokesman for the Hamilton Mosque

1. For families: violence, child abuse and hunger across Hamilton are eliminated.

2. For communities: an effective strategy is developed in collaboration with council and local community groups on dealing with homelessness, poverty and mental health.

3. For all faiths: to be able to continue praying and practicing their faith in peace, safety and security throughout the year without fear.


Next: Check back for more wishes we'll be sharing in the coming days. 

We want to hear from you. Here's how to participate: 

Send your story to hamilton@cbc.ca with "Three Wishes" as the subject line.
Instagram or tweet us @cbchamilton
Add a few lines to our Facebook page.

External Links

(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)

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