Reflection is a way to remind future generations of how past experiences made us what we are today.

Also published on Raise the Hammer here.

W e are told throughout our lives not to dwell in the past, yet we study history and are fascinated by it. We can look at Lambeau Field in Green Bay or the newly restored Lister Building here in town, and you get an idea of how communities are recognizing not only the importance of the heritage value in their cities structures, but the monetary value in itself in attracting tourism.

With Ivor Wynne Stadium, perhaps we already lost long ago what was structurally important and preservable about its past when we renovated the north stands and removed the old Civic Stadium entrance façade that lined Beechwood Avenue, but its history nonetheless is as storied as they come.

Both new structures will most certainly inject a hope and energy into the stale air that has sat stagnant over steel town for far too long. Likely they will both remember their predecessors past with photos or some other memorabilia amongst their interior spaces.

However, we may have to rely on places like HIStory + HERitage or the Hamilton Public Library to dig up these pieces to our past when the dust has settled at 75 Balsam Avenue North and 100 Main Street West.

My favorite aspect of the Board building is the round meeting space facing Main Street. I have always been fond of the entire structure, but now I value it even more through Matt Jelly’s save campaign. It saddens me every day that I walk or drive by it, at the thought of it being gone and visually forgotten forever. I won’t even go there with Ivor Wynne.

If the entire Board structure must fall and what is built in its place is to be made of entirely glass, is there a way to create a holographic illusion that alludes to the old Board building still existing there? Like the old trading cards where you tilted them in a certain manner and they would appear to move.

Could we make it so that no matter which side of the board building you stand on, the glass portrays – through creativity more than structural physicality – what it was actually like to stand in that spot and admire what was there before.

This futuristic snapshot into the past is likely more possible on a boxy office tower, but the stadium might prove to be a different challenge in trying to portray a similar holographic look back into our past.

What if we erect vast semi-transparent sections of glass at key points around the stadium that offer a similar type of holographic illusion, yet the sections of glass would not only change as people walked by them, the historical snapshots of the old Ivor Wynne would transpose over top of the new structure to show the transformation form old to new.

Perhaps there is also a big yellow button that people could press to even offer a look back to the old Civic Stadium. I would actually love to see the Beechwood Civic Stadium façade incorporated in some fashion, into the design of the new stadium: in a physical sense. Not through an illusion.

By using the imaginations of citizens, fans, students and teachers, the community could guide us in our understanding of the historical importance of these and other structures, and they could help us decide as a city what we feel should be carried forward in some fashion. This could be relayed back to the architects who could assist us in determining what we could carry on in memory, while keeping within our budget.

The memories of these two important structures must live on in physical space, not just among a million other lost online snapshots and blurbs telling the tales of Hamilton’s history.

The Lister Building is the perfect example of completely renewing history, and we can look right across the stadium and see how we can moderately remember our past with the reliefs from the original Prince of Whales school that have been placed at the front entrance of the school.

Not to downgrade the historical significance of Prince of Whales, but perhaps the old Board building and the stadium, are deserving of substantially more significant physical reminders of what once stood before and with the stadium, looking back many generations might be what makes the historical carryover from Ivor Wynne more poignant.

If history wasn’t so important, it wouldn’t be a required course throughout our education. Reflection is a way to remind future generations of how past experiences made us what we are today. The Board of Education building and Ivor Wynne Stadium are without a doubt, historically significant reminders of what has helped shaped Hamiltonians for the past 80+ years.

Let’s not dwell, but let’s not forget either.

By year’s end, these two structures will likely both cease to exist. How can we ensure that their memories rise strong and proud from the ashes from where they both once stood?

UPDATE: See Joey Coleman’s blog for his updates over the past week, about the submission of the demolish request by McMaster University of the Board of Education building which they purchased, and the approval of their application.

In an effort through trying times, to surround myself with souls who support me and make me feel human and loved and important, people who inspire me and motivate me and help me be the person I know that I am inside, I also chose a couple of months ago to re-connect with my former writers group.

I can’t tell you what this once monthly connection has already given me in an attempt to heal and find myself again.

I missed the human connections most of all, but I also realized this past week, how much I missed the homework as well from critiquing other’s art, to our postcard challenges.

This was my first postcard story in what might have been a two year hiatus from being a member of a writer’s group.

~

 Word Limit: 150
3 words: stormy, privy, spontaneous (they must be used somewhere in the context of our stories)

Jackie was only trying to be spontaneous. Married for 24 years, she had been feeling as of late that the flame was burning out of their marriage. Conversations were suddenly as stormy as a Vancouver fall and the language between lips bore a stench worse than a festival privy.

She thought her plan would touch him back into the deep connection they once shared. All expenses paid to connect with his roots.

Ireland. His lifetime dream. Apparently, she wasn’t part of those aspirations.

She’d been giddy for weeks; the tickets in her purse all the while. Tears gathered in her eyes as he opened the envelope.

“It’s over,” was his response.

He left for Ireland the following week, but they weren’t her tickets or her eyes that he fell in love all over again in.

Thanks to Goodwill, he didn’t need a moving van when he returned home either.

This coming Monday (March 26th), I’ll be guest-blogging over at Tara Cronica. I’ll be talking about Divorce Parties and how a random smile or gesture can inspire us.

Here is a sneak peak at my blog post:

I haven’t been good with the whole flirting, approaching woman thing for much of my life. I’ve had my moments but shells are a hard thing to completely break free of. If a woman doesn’t stare at me almost uncomfortably, it takes a lot for me to get the hint that they are actually looking at me and not over my shoulder at someone else. I never had much confidence in my appearance or what I had to offer. ‘Who me?’

…

“The highlight of the night came from a complete stranger actually as I fought though the crowd. A woman completely out of the blue said something I have often wished I had the courage to say to woman I have been attracted to myself. She stopped me in my tracks in tight quarters with many eyes witnessing her gesture and moment of vulnerability, put her hand on my chest, looked right into my eyes, and said to me ‘you are really good looking.’ I might have blushed. She caught me completely off guard. I smiled, and said ‘thanks’ as I continued to push through the sea of merry, green drunkenness. She made my evening.”

Have a great weekend.

Photo by Paul Buceta - paulbuceta.com

LATEST (Feb. 10th, 2012): Walk of the Earth has signed a record deal with Columbia Records

 SonyMusicGlobal Sony Music Global

Excited to announce @ColumbiaRecords signs @WalkOffTheEarth! Press release: on.fb.me/zY3To4

This article is also published on the local media outlet, Raise the Hammer, here.

As artists, athletes, business people, as employees and even as lovers, we spend our lives trying to stand out amongst the crowd.

In our search for love, what is it about us that will make that person of our dreams take notice? As prospective employees, what is it within our skill set that will make an employer choose us amongst hundreds or thousands of applicants? Surely there are athletes who are talented enough to play in the big leagues but perhaps the right scout never sees them showcase their talents or the one time they had a chance to shine, was the very rare occasion they were off their game. As artists, we plug away each and every day at the mediums that drive our passions and surely even some place deep inside, we all hope to one day find that thing that makes us stand out in our chosen mediums and turns our evening passions into full-time dreams.

In my experience, the moments we shine are the ones where we have forgotten that people are watching us. When we stop thinking about what that ‘thing’ will be that makes us stand above, that’s when our talents and skills are noticed. When we are just ‘us’ in doing the things we do because we love to do them – because those things make us feel more alive than anything else in the world, that is when we are best at what we do .

A local band called Walk Off The Earth, was seemingly doing just that. Playing music, making videos; doing what they do best and are most passionate about. They are an independent band from Burlington, Ontario – just on the other side of the skyway bridge from my hometown Hamilton who from what I have seen and heard of their other material thus far, were just on the brink of stardom before they posted their latest video, Somebody That I Used to Know (featuring Sarah Blackwood) which is a cover of a Gotye song of the same title. I had never heard of either the original or cover artists before yesterday but although I love Walk Off The Earth’s version and video very much and feel it deserves the acclaim it’s receiving, Gotye’s original video is certainly more powerful with regards to the emotion of the lyrics. The original, which features the amazing voice Kimbra, is also a must see.

At last I checked, this video had reached 45M+ hits. Unbelievable!!

Overnight there had been blog posts referencing this video, they’d been talked about by national news media outlets across the globe, fans from around the world were even begging them to come play in their countries. Amazing where following your passions can lead you. Just when you thought the magic of this 2 day roller coaster ride was fait accompli, the true tribute to this remarkable accomplishment in my opinion, was a comparison YouTuber ScottMay put together of Gotye’s original and Walk Off The Earth’s cover. Hey blends the two videos onto the screen, where we see the remarkable resemblance and if you thought the harmony was already amazing between the 5, add Gotye and Kimbra and wow! “My ears are tingling”, one of the two commenter’s responds. Mine too!

This Gotye cover had gone up a couple hundred thousand views just in the time it took me to watch some of their videos and write this blog post. When I first stumbled upon it, the morning after it was uploaded to YouTube via a link by Hamilton Seen, the video only had a few hundred hits. I woke up Saturday morning to have another look, and it was up over 800,000. Walk Off The Earth, had found ‘their’ thing.

One of my favourite videos of theirs having now viewed a handful of them, is Money Tree which as a former student of animation, utilizes one of my favourite cinematography techniques; Stop Motion.

If you thought Somebody That I Used to know was something a bit extraordinary, you must take a look at Love the Way You Lie embedded below. This is one guy, Gianni, and 4 instruments. 5 if you include his loop station (pedals). Gianni starts off with a snare made out of a piece of metal, then he hits the loop pedals, he picks up his ukulele, plays, hits the loop, starts playing what looks like a laptop but sounds like a xylophone, loops it, raps a bit, reaches for his guitar, all the while belting out the lyrics with a very powerful and captivating voice others across the net have compared to Peter Gabriel, brings in the other instruments throughout via tapping various loop pedals, and he finishes off playing uke. I first fell in love with the ukulele from Train’s Hey Soul Sister. I have fallen again. Luminati is a modern day Beck. Also check out his cover of Bruno Mars’ Grenade. I am not as big a fan of the actual cover, as I am his intrinsic use of odd objects to create sound. In Grenade, he uses “a 5 gallon water bottle, a Gun, 2 knives, a kick drum, a ukulele, a guitar, a glockenspiel and his Mouth!”, the description under the video reads.

Now that you know these guys, share some more Walk Off The Earth love  This collective is no one hit wonder. They are the real deal. Extremely talented and creative and for all you local peeps, this magic was mastered just across the highway. LIKE!

As I was obtaining links to provide below, I noticed that the band received a little  treat late the other night. It seems even Gotye himself, approves of this cover.

I know who to ask for help with acoustic versions of Somebody: Walk Off The Earth bit.ly/wIOlea Hilarious and brilliant.

Here is some more information and links for Walk Off The Earth (WOTE):

Website: http://walkofftheearth.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/walkofftheearth
Twitter: http://twitter.com/WalkOffTheEarth
CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/WalkOfftheEarth
ITunes: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/walk-off-the-earth/id271356617
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/walkofftheearth
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/walkofftheearth 

If you only click one of these many links, check the YouTube channel out most importantly. You’ll be on there for hours. I guarantee it. Their endless creativity is most predominantly showcased on their channel.

GOTYE

I believe it’s also fitting, to throw out some links to the artist who inspired this whole overnight sensation, Gotye. I am a new fan of both bands.

Website: http://gotye.com/
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/gotye I love that you can listen to his full new album (Making Mirrors), as well as some remixes.
ITunes: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/gotye/id161541223

UPDATE(s):
WOTE does Ellen

Walk off the Earth Parody by The Key of Awesome!

As it turns out, Buddy had a bit of a secret advocator unbeknownst to me until a couple of weeks ago. It makes sense actually. After all, it is from him that my true love and appreciation for animals stems.

Every Tuesday for the past couple of years, he and my mom have come over to watch my children while their mother goes to school. While he is at my house, he also ensures the animals are fed before I get home later in the evening – including feeding the stray that has been living on my back porch for over two years. Not only does my father feed Buddy, but he sits and brushes him as well. One day I came home to find one big ball of Buddy floating across my front lawn.

Aside from our half-an-hour together each evening, the time on weekends he follows me around as I do yard work, or our occasional walks together with the dog when it’s a little warmer than zero outside, he has a half-hour or so with my dad many Tuesday’s and likely some love from our neighbor who also feeds him. It’s not a lot of people time although he must at least be the most well-fed  feline on the block.

Last year, one of my dad’s four brothers took seriously ill. He came around from near death and spent the last however many months as king of the rehabilitation centre he lived at. He will likely never fully recover and nobody knows for sure how long he will be with us, but he has been well enough to move him into his own place.

It’s a nice, newly renovated apartment. A model of what other multi-dwelling property owners in this city should look to as an example of how affordable housing shouldn’t mean a dump.

When a place was found for my uncle to live, my father brought the idea up to the brothers about Buddy going to live with their sick sibling. It was agreed upon and the countdown was on. In a few weeks, Buddy would have a home and just in time for Christmas. It was A Home For Christmas; one year later.

I was sad at the thought; very much so. I was going to miss our walks and in fact over the past couple of weeks on warmer nights, I encouraged Buddy to follow us a few more times.

On the Friday night before moving day, I spent an hour with him in the garage. We hung out, I told him about his new home and his very special new owner. How he needed to take good care of him and that I knew they would be best of friends. His new owner would be home most of the time and there would be far more lap time then the little time we get to spend together each evening.

Buddy roughed it one more night in the cold December night and in the morning I fed him, gave him some treats, and some fresh un-frozen water for the last time.

Early Saturday afternoon after dance recitals and visits with Santa Claus, I returned home to take Buddy to his new home. I had him in a soft carrier to transport him in, but I opened the top a bit so I could pet him while I drove the 5 minutes away. Buddy managed to worm his way out and I can’t say that I stopped him. He sat on my lap and looked out the window like a dog the whole way there – just like my old cat Teddy had the day we said a different kind of goodbye. People driving by must have thought I was completely nuts. Likely no more so than those that pointed as he followed us on walks.

I was surprised upon entering my uncle’s new place. It was not only a step or two above Buddy’s shack on the back porch it was nicer than my place. This was his new castle.

My uncle was thrilled to see Buddy. My father had told me that he wasn’t only excited about having his own place again, but he was really looking forward to meeting his new housemate.

Buddy stayed in his carrier for an hour or so until everyone was finished moving things in and out. My uncle talked to him through the carrier mesh, and then later on my father placed him in the window so he could get used to the view. He didn’t cry at all. I believe he sensed that he had come to a happy place.

After an hour, we finally took Buddy out of his carrier and formerly introduced him to his new owner. He sat for a moment, but was very curious and jumped down to explore. Within 15 minutes, he had scoped around, used his litter box, had a snack, and was back on my uncle’s lap. He was home.

That was the image that I left with that afternoon as I patted Buddy on the head and said my goodbyes.

It’s weird not hearing him meow at the door each morning for breakfast or him greeting me on the front porch when I get home from work. I miss him but with how cold it’s been this past week, I am happy for him at the same time.

I got a call the next day telling me that Buddy follows my uncle all over the apartment and that he slept with him that first night. It made me smile.

It’s been a long time since Buddy first came to me with a bloody paw. He’s been good company and now the inspiration for three stories. I will never forget how he touched our lives.

It isn’t like I can’t visit him as he is only a few minutes away, but now he is my uncle’s cat. Buddy finally has a home and all the love he has longed for and deserves. I believe both he and my uncle couldn’t have received a better Christmas present this year.

Right to left: Spencer, Brad, Jeremy, Brian, Lawrence

Tonight, our band is taking the stage at a great new downtown Hamilton hotspot, Homegrown Hamilton. 5 guys, 4 guitars, and way too many harps.

Our band is Jeremy Lane on 12-string and vocals, Brad Pipe on 6-string and vocals, Brian Conte on bass, Spencer LeClair on electric, and myself on harp. All ‘homegrown’, steel town boys.

Come join us for a few local/micro-brew pints, a fair-trade/organic/roasted-on-site coffee, some great eats, and hopefully a little dancing.

Details:
When: Friday November 4th, 2011
Time:  9-12pm
Where: Homegrown Hamilton – 27 King William St (east of James, north of King)
Event Page (includes directions from London, Toronto, and Niagara
Band Page with some pics of us.

A kiss is a kiss. A couple, is a couple.

It’s sad to think that here we are in 2011 – the 21^st century, and yet war and prejudice still exists. Haven’t we learned anything?

A young couple were recently enjoying a coffee together outside a Tim Horton’s coffee shop in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Steeling a kiss. An arm around a waist. Public displays of affection that remind those of us longing for love, that it still exists.

Personally, with all of the hatred, sadness, and signs all around us on television and the real life faces we come across throughout our day that symbolize these negative emotions, couples expressing their love – whether it’s holding hands or a long passionate (nobody else exists in those moments) kiss, makes me feel good about the world for those brief moments their love touches my soul.

Obviously there are boundaries. Tongue, groping and such, may be inappropriate in certain surroundings, but an arm around a waist and a long kiss; it certainly symbolizes a deeper affection than a kiss on the cheek which is often more routine or a need felt out of obligation, than a real lip-on-lip, thumbs on cheek, fingers wrapped around the back of the neck, I adore you, kiss.

This newspaper article leaves much to speculation, but there are a few issues at hand here.

One, this article really has nothing to do with Tim Horton’s in my opinion and this is by no means a defense in their honor. To me, it’s a bad decision made by one of their employees but even that statement in itself, perhaps is speculative. Did she watch the couple for a few moments first to see if there were indeed grounds for asking them to leave, or was this a decision based on one or two complaints? If the manager had observed for a few moments to see if there was a basis for her actions and found through observation that in her opinion, there was no wrong being done, than the correct response would have been too kindly state that if the couple kissing in public made this particular patron (or patrons) uncomfortable, than perhaps it is they who should leave.

Maybe the customer was a repeat customer? Was a regular’s request granted over someone not known by the manager? Maybe because he was a pastor whether dressed for the role or a known figure in the community, his concerns were not questioned?

On the other side, do we really truly know how far this young couple had gone with their public displays of affections toward one another? Who were they making feel uncomfortable and was that uncomfort based on religious beliefs or prejudice rather than a couple going ‘too far’?

You could twist this story and whose side you took in a thousand ways but to me, the prayer group in the parking lot seemed to lead this story heavily to the side of religious outcasting.

As other’s who commented on the original story alluded to, what is really offensive and troubling about all of this, is a pastor forming a prayer group in the parking lot of a Tim Horton’s, to seek the forgiveness of God for the sins of these two girls – the sin of loving someone or being loved in return.

I could go on, but I’ll just shake my head instead. We will never change their mind. Unfortunately, they don’t realize that we will never change ours either.

If you love someone, be yourself. Follow your heart. There will always be those who don’t understand why you are attracted to someone whether they are of the same or opposite sex. All that matters is what’s in your heart.

Negativity always seems to stand out however much of a minority those angry faces actually hold. Sometimes the voices who stand virtually by your side seem quiet and so few but I am not sure you truly know, how much the world as a whole, values love – whatever form that love takes.

Life is short. Love.

For one reader however, offence was taken in the use of the term Mother Nature where she felt the word God should have been used in it’s place.

‘Mother Nature’ headline offensive, was how the letter to the editor was titled. Each of us is entitled to their opinions but for me, the headline Mother Nature headline offensive, is offensive. It has nothing to do with the letter writer preferring the use of a particular word over another, and everything to do with someone finding it offensive that others don’t see everything in life as they do.

One would think the female species would be more offended at the thought of the grand ruler of all beings assumed, in many religions, to be a man rather than upset at references to a mother as being the face of all creation.

That a male image is attributed to some all mighty perfect being, should be offensive.

Mothers (earth or otherwise), are creators. It only takes a few moments for a seed to be planted, but it takes a great length of time for that form to take shape in the womb for which those seeds are carried and dependent on.

I neither entrust my faith in God or religion. It’s a personal choice. I might be wrong, but I am not sure it matters. I believe the natives say it all when they ask for us to Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect. 10 lines that they live by, could easily replace an entire Bible that you need a For Dummies book to decipher.

I do however believe in faith; faith in ourselves, in our family, our friends, and even the furry and faithful companions who share our life’s path with us.

I accept the fact that most if not all of us, have this inner need to believe in something whether it’s the power of our own hearts, or of some sort of spirit power. I do not however, feel that we need to push our faiths or beliefs on others because until the end of time, we will likely never all agree to agree on any one faith or religion as being thee one.

There are many aspects of church and religion that I do believe in; the sense of community, the act of helping others, of families gathering in large numbers to reflect and give thanks.

I choose to search my own heart for forgiveness. I chose to thank and make note of good deeds my own family and friends and those I share my community with, for the commendable things they are doing each and every day to make the world a better place.

My children are my religion. They are the only opinions that matter to me. They are my forgiveness.

Perhaps our public schools would benefit from teaching all religions so that we can better understand one another but as richly diverse as our society is, no one faith should be portrayed as thee form of truth amongst anything that influences or acts as a teacher to both children and adults alike; whether it be the media, our schools, politics, or business.

In this day and age, those that govern or are looking to reach a broader more diverse audience, must not take religious or political sides, so that we as a society do not alienate those living in our communities from societies and countries of varying religious, moral and political beliefs.

One shouldn’t have to place a veil over what makes them who they are, but I would also challenge that everything that can be said using the word God, can be written minus religious connotations and reach a far broader audience by stepping aside from our own beliefs, to portray the deeper meaning behind those words.

I have sat in churches listening to real life stories that touch deep being told; only for those messages to twist into something that to me, takes away from what had only moments ago captured my undivided attention – from inspiring to 1950’s muffled Peanuts dialogue.

A mother is a creator. Only nature herself is more beautiful. Together those two words symbolize bliss. Together, they stand for more than some character of a single form.

I am thankful today and everyday, for all Mothers of Nature – spirit or otherwise.

Redcliff Reality Inc. through John D. Rogers & Associates Inc (Tyler Grinyer) Owner of Kenilworth Avenue Investment Inc., is seeking an amendment to the current allowable lease terms for properties within the Centre on Barton grounds. Most notably, is 1085 Barton Street east which Redcliff would like to lease to Walmart Canada.

Monday, I stumbled across a variance request for 1085 & 1149 Barton Street E in Hamilton that will be before the Committee of Adjustment this afternoon.

I did a Google search of the addresses, and one popped up at the City Furniture & Mattress building on the north/west corner of Barton and Ottawa Streets – I later confirmed that the address is actually for land adjacent to the former Canadian Tire location, and the second address pointed to The Centre on Barton plaza, which was later confirmed to be the address of the LCBO.

Immediately, the recent talk of Walmart moving into The Centre property came to mind, so I posted on the Ward 3 Resident’s Association page to see if anyone knew what this was in regards to.

After chatting briefly online with Paul Tetley, past Ward 3 candidate and Ward 3 Resident’s Association lead, to get his thoughts and playing phone tag (caused by my own busy schedule) with Nick Westoll, assistant to Ward 3 councillor Bernie Morelli, I was finally able talk with a real live person to address the details of this matter.

I had the opportunity to chat with Scott Baldry, Licensing Facilitator at the City of Hamilton, this afternoon and he stated that the variance is to extend the lease terms allowed on both the lands adjacent to the old Canadian Tire (1085 Barton St E), and the LCbo (1149 Barton St E). The longest lease that is allowed to be entered into without an amendment being sought such is the case currently with 1085 and 1149, is 21 years less a day. Opposing the amendment would not stop, more specifically Walmart, from entering into agreements of 20 years so the variance won’t keep them out, but Walmart’s preference is for lease agreements of upwards of 50 years.

I also asked Mr. Baldry what the requirements were for public notice, and he stated that all that is required is an 11×17 sign which may possibly be on LCBO or somewhere along the fence currently surrounding the 1085 Barton St E property. As well, if I was to not show up at the public meeting tomorrow or I were not to send Scott  an email, I would not be entitled to any further correspondence regarding this matter, including whether or not the amendment had been granted.

Before I had the opportunity to confirm details of the amendment being sought, and with Thursday’s date closing in, I had sent an email to council and local neighbourhood association heads, to voice my concerns. The context of that email is below. I was assuming at the time of writing my letter, that the variance related in some way to the maximum size allowed, of a newly constructed building on those lands.

With regards to the variance request for 1085 & 1149 Barton Street E in Hamilton that will be before the Committee of Adjustment this coming Thursday, is it possible for council to suggest to the Committee that we deny these variances?

As a resident of the Crown Point neighborhood, I would personally prefer that nothing larger than the Canadian Tire that originally resided  on The Centre lands near Ottawa and Barton is erected, in the name of the recently appointed 2^nd Best Street in Canada as voted on by the Canadian Institute of Planners.

I ask you how would it look if,  when the CIP comes to Hamilton on September 28^th to present a plaque to the Ottawa Street BIA through our Mayor to honor the designation of one of Hamilton’s streets, the planners find a large ‘Future Home of Walmart’ sign on the corner of Ottawa and Barton? I also ask you in the future, who would ever vote for a street to be classified as one of the greatest in Canada again, that begins with a Walmart for those coming in from out of town via Burlington Street? Or any large Big Box retail store for that matter.

Forget what Walmart stands for. This is about what Ottawa Street stands for because whatever goes up on that corner of The Centre grounds, will be on Ottawa Street regardless of whether it’s address is Barton Street East or CN OAK Mile 40.00. A large Big Box outlet on that corner will change the dynamics of that end of the street.

The Ottawa Street district has come a long way in recent years and I fear that the arrival of not only Walmart, but any big block of windowless concrete, will take away from that progress.

Please, if there is something we can legally do to limit what can be built in the north/east corner of The Centre on Barton lands, let’s stand up for not just Ottawa Street, but for the downtown community as a whole. Big Box truly has no place in our downtown from Dundas to I am not sure how far east that statement should go but the further the better – especially east of Kenilworth.

As it stands now, The Centre on Barton is more small to mid-sized box stores. Costco’s, Home Depot’s or Walmart’s have yet to find a home on those grounds. I’d like to keep it that way if at all possible.

Our streets are already congested enough. Walmart will certainly not fix the congestion problems. Getting off my residential street onto Barton many days is a nightmare – especially on weekends. If nothing else, this variance needs to go through council and perhaps the affects of added traffic studied, and not simply passed through some arms-length committee.

We are talking Walmart here. Not Bob’s 5 and dime. At least let the residents of this neighborhood should have a proper say in future development, instead of cases like this where a document in a very round-about way, found its way onto my computer screen. If not for asking around a bit, I would have had no idea what this was about and the very thing I wanted to personally fight back against, would have slipped through unnoticed.

We have two neighbourhood associations that cover this area in the Ward 3 Resdient’s Association and The Crown Jewel. It’s also no secret as to my personal stand on the Walmart proposal as I emailed all of you very recently pleading for something to be done to stand in the way of Walmart moving into our neighborhood. The Hamiltonian also published that letter I submitted to members of council, parliament, and local media.

Issues like this need to be more public. People move in and out of neighborhoods based on decisions like the one pending for this Thursday. Let’s work together to ensure that going forward, we find ways to ensure that all matters of our wards and more specifically, drilled down to neighbourhoods, are shared with association leaders who are trying to ensure the members of the communities they lead, are aware of all matters that affect their everyday lives – and that includes everything from zoning variances, to new stop signs.

Every decision affects someone.

The other night, I went to bed wondering if there might be some loop-hole to keep Walmart out of my neighbourhood. I even felt a little optimistic, yet I wasn’t keeping my hopes up.

Yesterday morning when I woke up, I stumbled upon this article in The Spec discussing how Target had signed a deal with Walmart Canada, for them to assume leases of up to 39 sites currently operated by Zellers Inc. I would imagine that at this time, The Centre location isn’t one of the 39 locations Walmart is looking at leasing, but if this minor variance at 1085 doesn’t go through, my guess would be that Walmart may look at a lease at the Zellers location and make their presence known in some way, shape, or form.

Sounds like a bit of a monopoly to me?

If you would like to speak up regarding this matter or any other item on the agenda, you are either welcome to attend the Committee meeting at City Hall (details below) and state your name, address, and your stance on this issue, or send an email stating the same, to Scott Baldry.

Here is the layout of the Centre grounds, showing where Walmart would go. The logo has actually already been placed within the 1085 Barton St E block.

Committee of Adjustment
Date: Thursday, September 15^th, 2011
Location: Rooms 192 & 193, 1^st floor, Hamilton City Hall

This Saturday September 10^th, coinciding with the James Street North Supercrawl, my brother’s dreams will come true.

Although I have known him all of my life, we were well into our twenties before I truly knew what brought out the passions from deep within his soul.

By definition, Mike and I are not brothers. In fact we are second cousins. He is technically my dad’s cousin, but our mothers were very close when we were young kids so we spent a great deal of time together.

We played Planet of the Apes and Star Wars in his Berko Avenue crawl space, street hockey on the school grounds across from his families mountain home where he grew up, hide and seek over several neighboring properties, skate boarded down driveways, and camped together many summers in the general vicinity of Bancroft, Ontario when we were kids.

We had the opportunity to play against one another every two years in minor hockey, including having once had the chance to be teammates – something our coaches went out of the way to make happen. We played at the same arena and went to the same school on the same school grounds since grade 5 when my parents bought their home just around the corner.

I called on Mike almost every morning on the way to school for as long as I can remember. In high school our paths split in two separate directions – apart from playing some high school football together, but there were always those quick connections in school hallways or at parties.

We were different in many ways my cousin and I, but we were family and even being a year apart in age – which seemed like a much bigger deal back in elementary and high school, with different friends and separate interests, being related and part of a family as close as the Pattison’s have always been, brought us together often.

David Rovics at the former Bread & Roses Cafe at the Skydragon Centre. Photo by Lawrence Thomas

Mike is deserving of much of the credit for many of the good things that have happened to me. True, our destinies are of our own creations and in the end it is us that must act on opportunities presented to us, but Mike is a great example of how being around like-minded souls brings out the best in us. How it helps us truly reach our full potential. Whether it’s fellow hockey players or like-minded artists, being around those we can learn from, who inspire us to be better at the things we are passionate about and who enliven the aspects of our soul that drive our enthusiasm to levels only achieved when in the presence of these individuals, those we chose to surround ourselves with play such a substantial role in the development of our inner passions.

Mike has always been confident and funny, and a great story teller too. The way in which he remembers details from his past has always amazed me. There is only one person that I know that can tell a story like Mike, and that’s my 96 year-old grandfather.

Mike has always been great at remembering jokes as well. Whenever I would sleepover at his mom’s house, I would always ask him to tell me a tale or two. We still joke to this day that Mike could say something as simple and silly as hunk-o-junk, and I’d be on the floor laughing. Perhaps it wasn’t so much the words as it was an overdose of chocolate milk, but few people could make me laugh like someone who always felt more like a big brother, than a cousin.

In our early adult years post high school, we more or less lost touch outside of major family gatherings. We both jumped into the work force, had separate friends, and outside interests that lead us on two totally different paths.

Mike was living with his brother when our lives truly converged again in our mid twenties, and he had invited me to a Christmas party the two were hosting. It was then, that I was first introduced to the creativity that existed within the tough-guy exterior that I had always known. I vividly remember thinking to myself as Mike threw ideas my way, that I couldn’t believe I had known him my entire life, and yet I didn’t know that he had any interests in the arts.

From that moment on, we spent a great deal of time in his brothers unfinished basement with a video camera and piles of blank paper – talking about short film ideas and other creative ventures.

Eventually we moved on from the basement, and Mike and I would spend likely the equivalent of an entire year of our lives at Binbrook Conservation area with our old dogs and it is because of him, that I fell in love with that space within our community. He taught me so much about life during those quiet moments our minds wondered as our dogs ran carefree. I remember watching amazed as he would clean up other’s garbage from the conservation grounds and other places we hiked with our dogs, and it’s something I have carried forward as my new pup and I hang out in the park.

Before I had children, I once again lived within close walking distance to Mike for 3 years in the Dundurn and Aberdeen area. It was during this time that he and his partner introduced me to things like dog groups, or the rewards of getting involved in the community. They even introduced me to an orange tabby that turned me into a cat lover.

So many of the dreams that Mike is now looking to implement in part at Homegrown, were born from entire days exploring every inch of the conservation grounds, including walking the whole of the frozen Lake Niapenco surface. His mind never stopped and the way he told the tales of his creative wonderings, I knew that given the avenue to explore these thoughts, he would realize his passions and go far with them.

Until recently, you could possibly say that nothing ever came of all those early dream sessions in basements and in wide open spaces. That is until Mike first told me about the possibility of taking over the main floor of the Skydragon Centre and what his aspirations were for the possible business venture. That is until this dream of proprietorship started to take shape. Until I seen his entire aura light up as he shared what he and his business partner were looking to implement into the business model of Homegrown Hamilton.

My brother’s dreams are coming true. I look back at a couple of guys sitting in old chairs, under fluorescent lighting, staring at pink insulation and a pile of empty beer cases, and then I have watched these past weeks as Mike and his team have transformed the main floor of the 27 King William Street building into what visitors will see this weekend and once again, Mike inspires me.

He has worked very hard these past years that he has been involved in the Skydragon Centre. His body almost broken from labour, his emotions stretched to the limit with the tough times the Dragon fell on through various points of their existence, yet he stuck it out. It hasn’t been easy on his young family either but Mike never gave up. His family has supported him and all of the literal blood, sweat and tears, have now all proven to be worth it.

Mike is someone who loves people. He loves the earth and animals and community. He and his family are living examples of how much our communities can bring to our families from picnic in the parks with neighbors and friends alike, to having someone different every night over for dinner and sharing in the duties of cooking and cleaning and taking care of one another’s children.

Homegrown will appetize a sense of that family and community feel into our downtown, and will awaken every atom of your senses to bring it all home.

Mike isn’t new to proprietorship, including this not being the first time that he has tried to run a business downtown. His first attempt literally fell through the downtown cracks of our then seemingly hopeless core.

Downtown has changed substantially since then, as has Mike’s knowledge in the industry and his connection to downtown and the community in general. I believe that everything in life happens for a reason, and those reasons are what have brought him to today. No sleep, a million and one last minute things to do, yet all for a dream that is about to come true when the Homegrown doors open for a sneak peak tomorrow.

Today, we are both the proud fathers and step-fathers to a combined 5 girls. We live in separate ends of the city, but we are closer than ever. Even today, so much of how I have evolved as a writer and a more confident person, is due in part to Mike. He introduced me to my band mates. He is the reason my dream of playing in front of a live audience came true. He is the reason in a round-about way, that I submitted my first article to the local online media outlet Raise the Hammer.

The right support group can directly or indirectly help us realize our full potential – help us be the ‘us’ we feel that we are inside. Mike is one of those people to me and the fact that he is blood, makes that connection all that more special.

We have been on many adventures together whether south of the border in a beat up old mustang, a van full of dogs, up to the quiet country north, or to see the first ever World Series game in Canada.

Most of our new adventures include our 5 girls now, and I know that our children appreciate the times our families come together. Relations are important and when that family is one of your best friends and more a brother than a cousin, how can our children not feel serenity in those moments and appreciate the energy of love, respect, and inspiration present as our hands shake in greeting.

It’s true, that others can only open doors for us. It’s up to us to walk through but for so many opportunities that have come my way whether intentional or through association, Mike has been the one holding the door.

I have yet to meet Mikes business partner Tim other than a few brief email correspondences, but I look forward this Saturday, to shaking the hand of a man who has played an important part in making my brother’s dreams come true.

Mike has had my back through sports and school and beyond so for this moment, I need to have his.

Most of what I know in this world is computers, love and words so hopefully through these mediums, I can hold the door open for once as he, his family and his partner, venture on this new path together.

So if you’ll be downtown tomorrow at one festival or another, make your way to 27 King William Street and see how the space has been transformed. Intrigue is promised from coffee connoisseurs to food fanatics, artists and lovers alike.

Here is a link to the event page. Hope to see you there or out and about James Street North.