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Local Guides
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HAMILTON THE GOOD
2004 WASN'T THAT UGLY
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by
View
January 13 - 19, 2005 |
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Looking back on 2004, it’s the more gruesome
headlines that catch our attention: the stabbing in
Jackson Square, Red Hill Valley’s evisceration and
Stelco were all at the forefront of Hamilton news, giving
us very little to be happy about.
But was it really that bad? A look at the actual figures
would suggest not. In fact, missing from the dastardly
headlines was the more realistic—if not quite as
sensational—news that our city made great strides on
issues like crime, commerce and environmental
progress.
No really, we did.
Take crime, for example. When we think of crime in
Hamilton, we think of arson, break–ins, assaults and
crack houses. We also tend to think these incidents are
increasing, despite quantifiable signs otherwise.
Plummeting crime in the core and an overall decrease
in illegal activity across the city point to a very tangible
silver lining: that Hamilton is actually safer than it was
three years ago. In fact, according to Statistics Canada,
the crime rate has dropped 7.9 per cent—a feat no other
Canadian city our relative size mirrors (Our closest
population twin, Winnipeg, has actually gone up 8.1 per
cent in the same time–frame). More to the point, when
compared with other—often regarded as a more
pastoral—Ontario cities, we are surprisingly average—
falling somewhere between Kitchener and London.
Sorry, Hamilton, seems things really aren’t so bad after
all.
It wasn’t just crime we made headway on, though. In
2004 we finally began extricating ourselves from a
heavy past and started seriously considering where our
city is headed.
Starting with Sheila Copps.
Copps may have been good for Hamilton back in 1981,
but as the century drew to a close—along with many
area businesses—it became clear, it was Sheila’s time
to go. With new representation in the Federal Cabinet,
shaking off our tarnish and moving into the future
became that much easier.
Not just Sheila got the boot though; the Red Hill Valley
also received its final eviction notice.
Let’s be honest: once the trees fell, the battle was lost.
Nothing, not even protest, will ever reinstate the valley’s
original bio–diversity.
The good news for environmentalists? They can now
focus on other important initiatives such as brownfield–
to–park development, increasing awareness of
alternative transportation, and getting more trees into the
capital budget. To think, for the amount taxpayers spent
guarding the protesters, we could have outfitted the city
with around 2000 new saplings. Protest is good, but
results are better.
It seems almost hypocritical to speak of the good things
Hamilton’s done for the earth, but outside of the valley,
our city made great gains on other environmental issues.
Recycling is up to 30 per cent (by contrast, diversion
rates in 2001 were 17 per cent), Composting is on track
to go city–wide and all those plastic bottles in our blue
bins translated to 4 million dollars in the city coffers. City
Staffer Dennis Guy remarked, It’s “the most efficient
[program of its kind] out there right now, in both the
amount of tonnage going through and the amount of
money being made.”
Recycling wasn’t the only eco–friendly contribution
made last year; other sorts of cycling—bike, to be
specific —rose to the forefront of city awareness.
No fewer than nine city areas underwent restructuring to
accommodate bike lanes. Meanwhile, over 50 bike racks
sprouted in our BIA’s with 150 more circle–and–posts
slated to be installed over the next year and a half.
The biggest win? Big–Box grocer Fortinos’ decision to
incorporate a bicycle path on their property. Overall, it
was a good, good year for pedal pushers.
One group it was not a good for year for was Hamilton
manufacturing. We lost Camco due to an outdated
production facility and Stelco wanted to borrow some
cash or possibly go bankrupt, whichever came first. It
wasn’t very good year for business.
Or was it? Across the way from a certain problematic
steel mill, Dofasco was reporting record profits.
Meanwhile, auto part manufacturer Stackpole was busy
setting up new digs—and new jobs—in Ancaster.
West Jet downsized to Toronto, making room for the
expansion–minded CanJet (as well as rising flight
occupancy and more destinations). CargoJet also did
some spreading out and Hamilton is still Canada’s
largest distribution hub. All this can only be good for
employment prospects; according to an internal report,
the airport expects to add an additional 6,000 jobs over
the next 5–10 years.
Hamilton’s housing market saw sales increase (up 2 per
cent over 2003 according to the Realtor’s Association of
Hamilton–Burlington), property values rise, and
downtown condo units get snatched up before the
mortar had a chance to set. Factor in a liberal sprinkling
of city incentives to improve the core (such as
commercial property improvement grants) and you have
economic outlook that looks better than it has in a long
time.
On the leisure side of the business equation, The
Marine Discovery centre opened, giving our waterfront a
much–needed kick. The Vanier Cup, held outside of
Toronto for the first time in 40 years, kept the city a whirl
while pumping an estimated 1.5 million bucks into our
economy.
And how could we forget the TiCats? More people
“showed their stripes” in the stands this season than
ever before in the team’s 135–year history. Events like
these mean businesses stay busy, people stay
employed and taxes stay low when tourism kicks in
some change. Now if we can only get that juicy
Canadian Music Hall of Fame…
It’s easy to be down about Hamilton when local news
repeatedly pounds us with sob stories. That our city
needs some work is obvious, but we’re certainly not a
town crumbling into chaos, either. 2004 may have been
a year of many conflicts for Hamilton, but it was also a
year of progress and resolution. At least we’re finally
headed in the right direction. V [SARAH
VEALE]
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