Who are you?

My name is Lisa La Rocca. I work at Sonic Unyon Records, mostly in event planning and communications related work, including the annual Supercrawl festival. I love my job and feel so lucky to be involved in everything we do here.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the North End, right on the corner of Hughson Street North and Burlington Street. It’s a beautiful, friendly, neighbourhood-oriented area of the city that will always have my heart. Ask me in five years – I hope I’ll be able to tell you I’ve moved back there.

Where do you live?

Just before I went to high school my family and I moved up the mountain, near the brow. To be honest, at the time I couldn’t bear the thought of moving, but I very quickly grew to love that area as well. The view of the city from the mountain brow is amazing, especially at night, and I love the Wentworth Stairs. That’s what’s so great about Hamilton – every community has something unique and special to offer. I continued to go to school downtown so moving to a different area benefitted me in getting to know my way around the city, especially by public transit. I’ve been taking the HSR daily for the last 12 years and can tell you how to walk or take the bus to almost any corner of the city – however, I have to say I’m terrible with driving directions.

What do you think has changed about Hamilton over the years if anything?

I think people are getting more involved, and making things happen. We’ve always had strong communities, events, festivals and cultural assets. However, there really seems to be a shift now as the group of people interested in organizing and being involved in the city’s culture is growing and changing. I love it and I love seeing great things happen all over the city.

You will be amazed at how much you find here, I still am and continue to discover new things about our city all the time.

What do you think the best and worst things about this city are? What are the areas that you would like to see improvements in?

This city is the best. I love everything about it. Improvements? I hope we can, as an entire community, welcome and embrace every cultural thing that’s happening here. It’s all exciting. Let’s work together as a city instead of against each other, or as a bunch of different groups in competition. Not that I see a lot of that anyways, and the wonderful thing is that the city and it’s communities are becoming so much more unified and intertwined.

What advice do you have for anyone considering a move to Hamilton?

Go out and explore – go downtown, to the Bayfront, Westdale, Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, etc. See all of Hamilton’s great communities, nature, events, festivals, businesses, restaurants, cultural organizations… should I keep going? You will be amazed at how much you find here, I still am and continue to discover new things about our city all the time.

What are your favourite places and things to do here?

Top 3? Jackson Square – it just feels like home. My favourite place to just sit and think is the mountain brow at night. And James Street North, it has so many amazing restaurants and great vintage shops (more on King Street too!) that I frequent pretty regularly.

Of all the things going on Hamilton these days – what are you most excited about?

I’d be lying if I didn’t say SUPERCRAWL! But honestly, I grew up going to all kinds of festivals in Hamilton – my dad used to be involved in a few of them when I was growing up, so you could say festivals are in my blood. Warm weather for me means festival season. Very much connected to that, music is my passion and the Hamilton music scene is something I am and have always been extremely excited about.