Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am an Elementary School Teacher in Hamilton and Kathleen works in Customs Services. We enjoy experiencing the many local events Hamilton has to offer, traveling overseas, and sailing.

Where did you grow up?

Kathleen grew up in Dundas and I grew up in Prince Edward County.

Why Hamilton?

Kathleen lured me to Hamilton from Prince Edward County 16 years ago. Since I grew up in the country, Hamilton is a small city that has a small-town feel in many of its neighbourhoods. You always bump into someone you know in Hamilton.

What neighbourhood do you live in and why did you choose it?

We live in Hamilton’s North End. We chose this area for its walkability and reasonably priced homes, back in 2006 at least. It’s a quiet area where we can walk to Bayfront Park & enjoy everything the Waterfront has to offer. We like being so close to the downtown area for its many interesting bars, live music venues, and restaurants. I can also easily bike to work in Westdale along the Waterfront Trail. It is a neighbourhood where we do not have to rely on a vehicle to get around with easy access to public transit and bike lanes. We love the community feel of our area.

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the city in the last decade?

In our neighbourhood, we have seen a lot of new people move in who embrace all of the amazing things that our city offers. We’ve also seen a huge increase in the number of residential towers being built in the city centre. The housing affordability issue has also brought an increase in homelessness that is much more visible downtown than it was in the past.

If you were travelling outside of the country and someone asked you about where you lived, how would you describe Hamilton?

Rough around the edges but kind at heart. It’s a city that wants to do better but is often held back by its local politics.