Blue Collar Town / Donut Rock City
Aug. 28th, 2005 01:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nfotxnI grew up under a waterfall. West of two steel factories in a city where as a British Canadian I was an ethnic minority.
Hamilton is 45 minutes west of Toronto, the largest city in Canada. For those who've never been Toronto is the NYC of Canada although many say it feels a bit more like Sydney or some such other ethnically diverse city with many structures built within the last 30 years.
Hamilton is it's 30-something brother who dropped out of college and works in a steel mill. He drinks too much coffee, eats too many donuts and plays in a bad Metallica cover band on weekends at the local pub. He's not a bad guy, pretty smart actually but doesn't have the prestige of the big city.
Unfortunately being the Jersey to Toronto's NYC the city of Hamilton has a bit of a PR problem. Being located at the tip of Lake Ontario, Hamilton Bay has long been a central port and industrial centre for much of the heavy industry in the province of Ontario and probably ranks up there in the entire country. Stelco and Dofasco are two very large steel manufacturers who both have their major facilities in the city's North East around the bay.
Like most secondary heavy industry here in the globalized 21st century the city of Hamilton has felt much of the effect of foreign manufacturers. Stelco has filed for bankruptcy protection. Once only second in defining the identity of Hamiltonians to Tim Horton's the failure of Stelco is like a punch in the nuts.
What's most difficult is the contradiction in the land around the city of Hamilton. Despite a plethora of heavy industry it's but minutes away from Niagara Falls, Wine Country and is host to the most park land per capita of any metropolitan area in the world. Hamilton is home to The Royal (as in Her Majesty) Botanical Gardens. It's a massive area hosting a Lilac Dell, Marsh, Iris Garden, various trails, parks and more places to smoke pot without getting harshed on by The Fuzz than any teen could ever want.
It's hard to explain to somebody that, yes, there are two steel mills. But there is also waterfalls, valleys and parks. It's a sunken city inside of an escarpment.
One might think that as a gay you feel the need to be in the big city. And that's definitely crucial however I feel divided as the place I'm from grows and changes. I love Toronto a lot, I think as one of Canada's premier cities it sets standards in ethnic diversity, city planning and tolerance towards the culture of cities themselves.
But I was born in a city where the largest and best cup of coffee costs $1.39. Where you can own a large home in a REAL neighbourhood for about $150 000CDN. With a convenience store, grocery store and local businesses available by foot. I'm proud to be from a city were ethnic diversity isn't a fact but a long finished success story. Hamilton is mostly Italian, Polish and Portuguese. The people who could not, probably for both cultural and economic reasons, integrate into the Protestant Hell that was the Toronto of the mid-20th century.
I get upset when Torontonians call my hometown a shit-hole. And it happens a lot. I mostly just humour them despite how much it kinda hurts. If you pass on the highway next to the steel-mill you'd think so. But that's just one side of the city. I grew up with a waterfall out my window. As a kid I'd go exploring at it's base where the water exposed red clay, probably the bodies of pre-historic ocean creatures. And collected the salamanders next to the river under the rocks and moss. We'd ride our bikes all day on the old railway trail out into the rural towns and buy popsicles at the old train station. Or take the bus downtown to buy indie records at Sonic Unyon and waste our time at the central library.
Those places are still there today. It bugs me that people would think that either place is better any way. They are different places and whereas Hamilton is an affordable place Toronto is a world class city with all those urban trimmings that many people aspire to. It's just a false comparison. It's like when Vancourites talk about how much nicer their city is than Toronto. Or NYC is better than LA. London and Paris etc. They are different places. Apples and oranges. We'd all be better off if we take them for what they are.
We're best off if we make them the best places they can be. I'm so excited these days to be part of the activism happening in this city. There are many new publications and social activists focusing on the intensification of the core of Hamilton. This city is developing that cultural intensity downtown that is the beginning of a vital city. It's still infested with suburbs and that goddamn mall and big box centre. But we're organizing and gonna save our city. There's the Sky Dragon, Mayday, Raise The Hammer and tons of print material circulating.
People are coming together. Watch this space.
Hamilton is 45 minutes west of Toronto, the largest city in Canada. For those who've never been Toronto is the NYC of Canada although many say it feels a bit more like Sydney or some such other ethnically diverse city with many structures built within the last 30 years.
Hamilton is it's 30-something brother who dropped out of college and works in a steel mill. He drinks too much coffee, eats too many donuts and plays in a bad Metallica cover band on weekends at the local pub. He's not a bad guy, pretty smart actually but doesn't have the prestige of the big city.
Unfortunately being the Jersey to Toronto's NYC the city of Hamilton has a bit of a PR problem. Being located at the tip of Lake Ontario, Hamilton Bay has long been a central port and industrial centre for much of the heavy industry in the province of Ontario and probably ranks up there in the entire country. Stelco and Dofasco are two very large steel manufacturers who both have their major facilities in the city's North East around the bay.
Like most secondary heavy industry here in the globalized 21st century the city of Hamilton has felt much of the effect of foreign manufacturers. Stelco has filed for bankruptcy protection. Once only second in defining the identity of Hamiltonians to Tim Horton's the failure of Stelco is like a punch in the nuts.
What's most difficult is the contradiction in the land around the city of Hamilton. Despite a plethora of heavy industry it's but minutes away from Niagara Falls, Wine Country and is host to the most park land per capita of any metropolitan area in the world. Hamilton is home to The Royal (as in Her Majesty) Botanical Gardens. It's a massive area hosting a Lilac Dell, Marsh, Iris Garden, various trails, parks and more places to smoke pot without getting harshed on by The Fuzz than any teen could ever want.
It's hard to explain to somebody that, yes, there are two steel mills. But there is also waterfalls, valleys and parks. It's a sunken city inside of an escarpment.
One might think that as a gay you feel the need to be in the big city. And that's definitely crucial however I feel divided as the place I'm from grows and changes. I love Toronto a lot, I think as one of Canada's premier cities it sets standards in ethnic diversity, city planning and tolerance towards the culture of cities themselves.
But I was born in a city where the largest and best cup of coffee costs $1.39. Where you can own a large home in a REAL neighbourhood for about $150 000CDN. With a convenience store, grocery store and local businesses available by foot. I'm proud to be from a city were ethnic diversity isn't a fact but a long finished success story. Hamilton is mostly Italian, Polish and Portuguese. The people who could not, probably for both cultural and economic reasons, integrate into the Protestant Hell that was the Toronto of the mid-20th century.
I get upset when Torontonians call my hometown a shit-hole. And it happens a lot. I mostly just humour them despite how much it kinda hurts. If you pass on the highway next to the steel-mill you'd think so. But that's just one side of the city. I grew up with a waterfall out my window. As a kid I'd go exploring at it's base where the water exposed red clay, probably the bodies of pre-historic ocean creatures. And collected the salamanders next to the river under the rocks and moss. We'd ride our bikes all day on the old railway trail out into the rural towns and buy popsicles at the old train station. Or take the bus downtown to buy indie records at Sonic Unyon and waste our time at the central library.
Those places are still there today. It bugs me that people would think that either place is better any way. They are different places and whereas Hamilton is an affordable place Toronto is a world class city with all those urban trimmings that many people aspire to. It's just a false comparison. It's like when Vancourites talk about how much nicer their city is than Toronto. Or NYC is better than LA. London and Paris etc. They are different places. Apples and oranges. We'd all be better off if we take them for what they are.
We're best off if we make them the best places they can be. I'm so excited these days to be part of the activism happening in this city. There are many new publications and social activists focusing on the intensification of the core of Hamilton. This city is developing that cultural intensity downtown that is the beginning of a vital city. It's still infested with suburbs and that goddamn mall and big box centre. But we're organizing and gonna save our city. There's the Sky Dragon, Mayday, Raise The Hammer and tons of print material circulating.
People are coming together. Watch this space.
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Well put
Date: 2005-08-28 06:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-28 12:31 pm (UTC)Remind me to stay on your good side.
Seriously though, it fills me with joy that, firstly, you have a heartfelt connection to the place that reared you and, secondly, that you are willing to publicly defend it through a smart debate.
*note, whether it seems like it or not, I am not kissing your ass*
It saddens me a bit to think that in Canada too, the words "argue" or "argument" have such negativity attached to them. As if a dissenting opinion was a personal attack. We can't all agree on everything, but we can hash it out and find what's right and wrong in both sides of an argument. Getting angry in such a case seems to me to mean that being right is more important thatn being heard and that in itself is terribly juvinile.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-28 02:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-28 03:15 pm (UTC)A lot of people slam the Maritimes for roughly the same reasons, though they've never actually visited here. Sure, I'm growing tired of here (mostly because it's small and provincial) but, like your experiences with the waterfall, the Maritimes are beautiful with a wealth of opportunities for those willing to search for them.
Your convictions aren't misplaced.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-28 03:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-28 04:06 pm (UTC)And is 90 minutes from the biggest city in the country, Santiago, which is completely different. I've always feel that people in Santiago have other kind of life's rhythm, not so in a countrytown-bigcity, more than in a relationship with the landscape and the chance to make a pause and take time to do your things.
In that way, I think you are right saying cities are completely different from each other. The problem, usually lies in our personality, and how we manage our, usually not so hidden, preferences. Sometimes people like to spotlight the bad aspects of other places (and people) just to make noise and don't show the bad aspects of the city they live. And that unveils a lack of enthusiasm to value the things for what they really worth. Anyway... Have a great sunday!
*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2005-08-28 04:19 pm (UTC)I was born in Camden NJ, and always hear how bad it is there. True, it's not been taken care of, but there are some beautiful areas there, as well, especially with the economic redevelopment...
Hope people will be a little more considerate around you. :-)
no subject
Date: 2005-08-28 06:22 pm (UTC)I think people should realize that home is what you make of it. Not being from Hamilton originally I can say that you really need to explore your own backyard and find the beauty in it. You have done that and have appreciated all of what Hamilton brings. (Including Dundas, Ancaster, Burlington, and Stoney Creek.)
My hubby came down every weekend for about a year and was always amazed by what was actually there. He simply needed someone to show him around to undo that stigma associated with "Steel City"
I'm just glad to know you're the kind of person that finds beauty in anything. From the mundane to the sublime.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-28 09:46 pm (UTC)But I want to repeat how happy I am to learn of those groups you mention.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-30 12:49 am (UTC)Cole says City Hall has approved plans for block shopping centres (ie. the meadowlands).
no subject
Date: 2005-08-31 08:08 am (UTC)City Hall has all sorts of plans. The Aerotropolis, Centre Mall being Big-Boxed into Meadowlands style property. They've also not got much money to put in all the infrastructure. So I'm not that worried just yet.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-31 05:07 am (UTC)But get out of downtown toronto and there are vast vast tracts of againg semi-suburbs and just crappy neighbourhoods. I mean, Scar-lem? North York? The Hammer is shangra-la compared to some parts of Toronto, and the housing costs are less than even those parts.
Plus the ethnic issues in Toronto, yes Hamilton is a diverse place, but you kind of get this alienation feeling in Toronto as so many people stick to their ethnic cliques. In a city this size there's less room for xenophobia, and as a result more mixing.