The Hamiltonian

Food for Thought with Alex Bielak- Kewl Kitchen, Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:47:00 +0000

Kewl Kitchen Kit – Part 2

In the last column I promised to write about some of the kitchen gear I’ve had the opportunity to use recently.

At the SIAL food marketplace held recently in Toronto, among the myriad products the Cookina stood out. A free sample of this re-usable, 100% non-stick alternative to aluminum foil, parchment and wax paper was immediately put to use by the bakers in my family. Good to 500°F, it is one of a line of several related products and available online, or at local Metro stores.

Though I have a full complement of pots and pans, two of the new Nordic Ware line of cast aluminum enamel-coated Traditions cookware I mentioned in Part 1 have quickly become favourites for certain tasks. Manufactured in the US since the mid-1940s (and available at 100 Sears locations in Canada), they obviously don’t hold the heat as well my (far heavier) cast iron standbys, but they do heat up faster. They also require no seasoning and because of the “texture fuse non-stick interior” cleanup has been a snap.

I used the 4 ½ quart braising pan to make 3 racks of ribs: Having earlier applied a dry rub I popped the ribs in the pan without further ado. They then went into a low oven for several hours. With literally no attention beyond a quick peek to ensure all was well, the meat came out succulent and juicy. I’ve since made meatloaf to similar effect and have used the small (3 qt.) Dutch oven for quick sautéing of onions and making sauces.

I also used a Nordic Ware chicken leg griller and Jalapeño roaster in my charcoal barbeque. Once again cleanup was easy as pie. (Speaking of which Nordic Ware kindly also sent me a solidly-built pie plate and a couple of cookie sheets that I will let my bakers loose on this weekend. Given my experience to date, I expect they will perform flawlessly too.)

Almost more than any other item in the kitchen, a knife is a near-extension of the cook. Among my go-to knives for slicing roasts thinly is a long-bladed Cutco knife that my wife and I received over 20 years ago as a wedding gift. Since we do not use it day to day, the knife has stayed surgically sharp and we have never had to resort to the company’s “Forever guarantee”.

I was interested to see Cutco’s range of products (including 5-ply cookware) at a recent event in Toronto. I liked some a lot, like the trimmer/utility knife we ended up being gifted with. I’ve been using it as a steak knife, I suspect to the slight horror of Rhancha Connell, the charming National Sales Director for Canada.

However I found the Chef’s knives less comfortable and nimble than my own. This mirrors my experience with the slicer. It came with another knife I have never been happy coming to grips with, literally.

Similar to Nordic Ware, Cutco has also been operating for over 60 years. Its sales force was historically recruited from among college students but they are branching out: you too can now host a demo or become part of their sales force. See www.cookingwithcutco.ca for more information.

Penultimately, in FFT20 (Object of Desire #1) I fantasised about Santa bringing me a Thermomix, essentially a two-thousand dollar Culinary Swiss Army Knife that chops, mixes, heats and stirs among other functions. Thanks to a friend who was kind enough to lend me his, I got to road test this beast a couple of months back.

It is certainly a robust and wonderfully engineered piece of equipment. I used it to make soup, turn dried porcini literally to dust (making a wonderful seasoning for steaks), and (noisily) make great smoothies. I followed their recipe for risotto and had to rescue a soupy mess. For the investment required I was unconvinced of the value, particularly since I already have most of the appliances such a machine is supposed to replace.

I subsequently met two ardent Thermomix advocates Valerie Lugonja, and Helene Meurer at the Food Bloggers of Canada conference. The former writes the “A Canadian Foodie” blog and is a sales rep for Thermomix: the latter is a self-professed enthusiast who runs an unofficial fan site called Superkitchenmachine. Their collective enthusiasm (and wisdom) has me persuaded that the Thermomix, once one has learned how to really use all of its capabilities (and read the instructions!), might be worth space in a new or downsized kitchen, particularly one with limited storage.

Other companies see the potential value of such “all in one” machines. Some frankly seem like cheaper knock-offs, while others are Transformer-like, coming with all sorts of attachments. Marvel at the shiny (at $2K also very pricey) Kenwood MK080 Kitchen Chef to see what I mean. I’d be interested in a longer test drive of the Thermomix, and taking it head to head with of some of the other offerings in the future.

Finally Cedarlane Culinary located in Burlington have begun to sell molecular cooking equipment and supplies. This may sound intimidating, and some of it is certainly pro-grade and expensive. However the chemicals integral to executing some of the techniques are available at reasonable cost and in small quantities. (Several years ago I tried to purchase a specific powder, and the only source I was able to find indicated the minimum quantity I could buy was a skid!)

If I did not already own my own sous-vide (think boil-in-the-bag on healthy and tasty steroids) set-up, I’d definitely be looking at the Sous-Vide Supreme machine which is fully described on Cedarlane’s website. Having spent an evening at their facility with enthusiastic advocate, and Culinary Division Manager, Dustin Skeoch I found the machine dead easy to use.

Also fun was the Smoking Gun, another piece of kit that can add a kewl factor to dinner. Or enliven a cocktail for that matter: I smoked a Bloody Mary and my wife insisted on calling it a Saint Joan!

And with that I’m back to my stove.

To see more pictures, click here.

Alex (Alex can be reached at fft@thehamiltonian.info ) or on twitter @AlexBielak

Food for Thought logo, designed and kindly donated by Ninka Bielak. Ninka can be reached at ninka.bielak@gmail.com.

Waiting on Whitehead

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:28:00 +0000

Ward 8 Clr. Terry Whitehead

We asked the following questions of Clr. Terry Whitehead pursuant to the exchange between him and Chief of Police Glenn DeCaire. The Clr. has yet to reply. If we receive a reply, we will post it verbatim:

1. The Chief of Police has demanded a written apology for your calling him a liar. This was further to your allegation that two Officers from the ACTION team were observed standing idle, talking on cell phones for 45 minutes- allegedly doing nothing job related. In the context of the recent heated debates you had with the Chief over the police budget, some might think it is highly coincidental that you and/or your assistants happened across what you allege were two officers from the ACTION team not doing anything job related. How do you respond to those who might suggest that you may have an agenda to make the ACTION team look bad, as a result of the heated budget debate discussions?

2. Do you have any intention of offering a written apology as asked for by the Chief? If not, why not?

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire....

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:42:00 +0000

Update: The Chief wants an apology in writing. See Spec report here.

Whitehead apologizes. Click here for Spec report. Also, see further below in this article, for a correction of facts submitted by the Hamilton Police Services.

Liar, liar, pants on fire...it's a juvenile phrase that many of us likely heard in our schoolyard days. Sadly, an exchange between Clr. Terry Whitehead and Chief of Police Glenn DeCaire, descended into the Clr. calling the Chief a liar, as captured on a tape recording by a Hamilton Spectator reporter (see story here).

The exchange is unfortunate as Clr. Whitehead served as a staunch opponent of the Police Services' request for a budget increase and, in our view, both the Chief and Whitehead demonstrated necessary leadership in hashing out this matter.

But Whitehead's allegation that two ACTION officers were standing around for forty five minutes, talking at city hall, seems to have taken the conversation elsewhere to a different level on the down elevator. The Chief stated that the officers parted after nine seconds- (this has been found to be incorrect. Please see correction below). This prompted Whitehead to say to the Chief "You're a liar". The Chief characterized the Clr's actions as "exhibiting a crisis of credibility". Whitehead's version of the facts were somewhat mashed- getting the date that the incident allegedly occurred wrong but allegedly, the rest correct.

This is not the only exchange that recently transpired between the two. Whitehead's characterization of ACTION team members as "giraffes", prompted the Chief to ask Whitehead to issue a sincere apology to the officers. Upon Whitehead's refusal to do so, the Chief wrote Whitehead a formal letter. The letter and the write up from The Bay Observer, can be seen here.

Do you believe Clr. Whitehead is spiraling downwards where his views on the Police Service are concerned and that his observations may be perceived as "sour grapes" on account of the budget outcome, or do you have an alternative view of this?

Please note that the following corrections were brought to our attention by The Hamilton Police Services, relative to a story in The Spec. The Hamiltonian understands that these corrections have also been sent to The Spec. :

In the second paragraph, it states:

'The chief said the officers parted after nine seconds'. This was not stated. In fact, the Chief stated: 'The two photographs were taken, not 45 minutes apart, but 9 seconds apart'.

Later in the story, it is stated:

The chief said he researched the photos and told board members the two members of the ACTION team were only together for nine seconds. Again, as above, the chief did not state this. Again, the Chief stated: 'The two photographs were taken, not 45 minutes apart, but 9 seconds apart'.

The chief did state:

I have reviewed the deployment of the officers and have found that they were deployed properly,
assigned to a specific patrol area and were within the assigned area, were performing legally authorized and required duties related to traffic enforcement and were in compliance with the direction of their supervisors. Their highly visible presence along contributes to the safety of the public.

Media Release- Transit fare parity changes coming in June

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:14:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Transit fare parity changes coming in June

HAMILTON, ON – May 21, 2013 – Effective June 1, 2013, the City of Hamilton is implementing two major changes to its transit system.

DARTS/ATS

A new fare structure is being introduced for DARTS/ATS. Fares for registered DARTS clients will follow the same fare structure as the HSR which will result in a savings for current DARTS clients. DARTS tickets will be replaced with HSR tickets and passes. Current DARTS paper tickets can be refunded at the HSR Service Centre located at 36 Hunter St. E. (Go Centre) up until August 30, 2013.

To find out more about the new DARTS/ATS fares please call 905-529-1212 or visit www.hamilton.ca/ats

HSR Voluntary Pay Policy

The Voluntary Pay Policy for persons using Personal Mobility Devices (canes, walkers, scooters and wheelchairs) and Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) cardholders will be replaced with a Temporary Promotional Transit Fare Special Program as approved by City Council.

This new policy allows transit riders who require the use of a wheelchair, walker or scooter the option of paying the applicable fare or riding at no charge. Those using canes, including four-prong canes, will not be covered under this new program and will be required to pay the applicable fare.

CNIB cardholders can use their CNIB card as a fare when presented to the HSR Operator. If no card is presented, they are required to pay the applicable fare.

For information on the new HSR Voluntary Pay Policy, please call 905-527-4441 or visit www.hamilton.ca/hsr

Clr. Russ Powers - On LRT/BRT

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:28:00 +0000

Clr. Russ Powers

Enjoy our Q/A with ward 13 Councillor Russ Powers.

At a recent council meeting, you signaled your withdrawal of support for LRT, based on affordability considerations. Is this a point in time position, or do you remain open to reconsideration once the funding structures are known? At present, some have interpreted your statement as final, however, we are wondering if you meant it to be so?

I may be proven wrong but I can't foresee the Province providing 100 cent dollars towards our proposed LRT (or any other system). If we do need to contribute then I'd prefer my share to be a % of $300M rather than $900M (2011 $s) leaving monies for the many other demands within the City. I will continue my support for BRT in Hamilton.

Clr. Russ Powers

The Way We Were

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:15:00 +0000

This photo comes courtesy of Joanna St. Jacques of St. Jacques Photography (click here to go there). The stone was found as a result of the Sanford demolition.

Mayor Bratina on Behalf of the City of Hamilton

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:05:00 +0000

"The entire community has been devastated by the senseless loss of the life of Tim Bosma. Our grief as relatives, friends, neighbours and caring residents can hardly approach that of Mr. Bosma's closest loved ones but it is profound and deeply heartfelt. My sincere thanks as Mayor is extended to the outstanding work of the Hamilton Police Service, their fellow officers from nearby services who are providing assistance, and members of the public who assisted the investigation through various means including social media."

Bob Bratina
Mayor of Hamilton

Location, Location, Location

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:35:00 +0000

Location, location, location. You've probably heard this phrase as it pertains to the importance of location when it comes to the value of real estate. In the following article, Gary Santucci makes the argument that the location of a historical building has intrinsic value, that ought not to be disrupted.

Gary's argument is with respect to the intention of the Hamilton Public School Board to physically move an old historic school house (Mohawk Trail School, which is now a museum), from its current location on Mohawk Rd. West, to the board's new headquarters near Lime Ridge mall.

Here is Gary's email to the Mayor, Members of City Council, Trustees of the HWDSB and Members of the Heritage Committee, setting forth his argument.

Mr. Mayor, Members of City Council, Trustees of the HWDSB and Members of the Heritage Committee

I urge you to consider the following;

I take issue with the rationale that somehow relocation is the only way the retrofitting (what does this mean?) and the restoration due to neglect by the School Board since 1967 can be accomplished. The relocation is
also being portrayed as a symbol to commemorate the past while at the same time, many heritage structures have been demolished and or allowed to decay due to neglect also sealing their fate,( (https://www.raisethehammer.org/article/1730/opportunity_to_save_sanford_school_and_provide_community_green_space) with Sanford Avenue School being the most recent example.

Chair Simmons' rationale can only be considered as absurd. Relocating a Heritage structure that has resided on its location since 1882 easily accessible to all in the community from Mohawk Road and occupying what essentially now is a large suburban lot is ill advised. It shows a total disregard for its place in time and the significance of its historical location. While there are other heritage buildings that have been moved a great expense, there can be no case made to move this building for the following potential reasons; risk of further damage, ballooning costs to be paid for by the public money due to unforeseen consequences inherent in such a move and that such a move for the stated reasons is unjustifiable.

Mohawk Trail Relocation Rationale

Don Hall Facilities Manager HWDSB quoted in Metroland News June 14 2012 http://metronews.ca/news/hamilton/263141/mohawk-trail-school-moving-to-new-board-hq-site/

When you walk in the (new headquarters), you’ll be able to see through the new building to the old and there’s this whole play on, ‘This is where it started and this is where we are,’” Hall said.“It sort of gives you that historic perspective on education. It’ll be viewable from the board room as well,” he said. “It will form part of a community park in behind the facility.”Hall said relocating the school and selling its property is one of the few ways the board can fix up the museum because provincial policies don’t allow the use of money earmarked for school operations. A consulting team has determined the move is feasible and the 1,000-square-foot school will be retrofitted once at Crestwood, he said. “Unfortunately, it’s fallen into some disrepair,” Hall said. “We can reinvest in it and therefore the building can be saved."

Tim Simmons Chair HWDSB Board of Trustees [ibid]

Board chair Tim Simmons said the school’s relocation will help make the new headquarters “a real education centre,” rather than just a spot for staff and trustee meetings. “It becomes a place where even school kids might come on class trips,” he said. “We wouldn't have been able to do that downtown, likely.”

Potential City of Hamilton Involvement

Recently at the General Issues committee of City Council ( http://www.hamilton.ca/CityDepartments/CorporateServices/Clerks/AgendaMinutes/GeneralIssues/2012/December5GeneralIssuesCommitteeAgenda.htm ), Tim McCabe General Manager of the Economic Planning and Development Department (now Culture as well) along with Anna Bradford presented a vision of Culture & Heritage for the City of Hamilton. Part of the rationale for bringing Culture under the wing of EcDev was to give it more economic clout and effectiveness for the promotion and preservation of our culture and heritage in the City of Hamilton. Tim Simmons, Chair of the Board of trustees, has bemoaned the fact that the HWDSB and the City of Hamilton have never been able to build a relationship with the City regarding the future of the heritage assets that they hold in trust for the citizens of all ages in our community. We have here in the Mohawk Trail School an opportunity to begin that process between our City Government and our School Board.

I have learned that plans are well under way to relocate the school without due consideration and public input to the issues that I have raised above.

A Sad Note

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:24:00 +0000

Timothy Bosma

The Hamiltonian is saddened by the loss of Timothy Bosma, whose life was tragically ended. We extend our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. We hope that those responsible will feel the full force of our justice system.

To read The Spec's coverage, click here.

Murray Takes the Floor

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Mon, 13 May 2013 01:11:00 +0000

City Manager Chris Murray takes the floor.

A motion brought forth to have comments made by Mayor Bob Bratina to City Manager Chris Murray, during a debate on Light Rail Transit, investigated by Integrity Commissioner Earl Basse (see previous story here), was passed. The sole councillor who refrained from supporting the motion was Clr. Brad Clark.

With the Mayor out of the room, council deliberated. (see video first hand here) Those deliberations had Clr. Clark wanting to ask City Manager Chris Murray what exactly the Mayor said to him during the exchange. However, Clr. Whitehead (who was chairing the meeting), argued that council ought not to play the role of the Integrity Commissioner by asking such questions, and that the scope of council's involvement was to be contained to
deciding on whether to refer the matter to the Integrity Commissioner.

Clr. Clark however argued that in light of the fact that he did not witness or hear the exchange, he would need some foundational information in order to decide whether he should support the motion. Clr. Clark's request was not satisfied which likely accounts for his vote to not support the motion.

Curiously, Mr. Murray was asked by Clr. Merulla to respond publicly about the matter, giving Mr. Murray the floor. Mr. Murray was not given any restrictions and presumably, could have said whatever he wished, including revealing what was said. In that light, Clr. Clark's question did not seem so out of bounds. If the intent was to preserve the matter, in order to allow the Integrity Commissioner the opportunity to pursue his own line of questioning and fact finding, having Mr. Murray speak on the matter before council and the public, in advance of the Integrity Commissioner's involvement, seemed out of place.

Murray advised that the Mayor apologized and that he (Mr. Murray) accepted the apology. Chris went on to talk about the accomplishments that council and his team have made, and the need to stay tough on the issues while still being respectful. At this point, Chris appeared to be speaking more generally, rather than specific to the incident at hand, but in the course of his comments, referred to instances where respect was not afforded, as "anomolies" - plural. This would seem to suggest, in a more general context, , that the conduct being alleged against the Mayor, is not unique to the mayor. In the context of some reader observations, and the observations of others in other media outlets, that councillors will often approach staff during council meetings to put a word in their ear, it seems plausible that the mayor is not the only one who has done so.

One of the key questions that Mr. Basse will have to put his mind to, is whether the complaint is substantive and not frivolous or vexatious.

Certain questions remain: Was this bullying? Is it undue drama? Is there a cost benefit to funding an investigation? Should council have been satisfied with the Mayor's apology to Mr. Murray and move past this?

Food for Thought with Alex Bielak - Kewl Kitchen Kit (and the ethics relating to free stuff) – Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Sun, 12 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

I am going to tell you about some interesting kitchen equipment I’ve come across recently, but before I do so I think it’s important you be aware of why and under what conditions I am writing about this stuff.

In my last column I noted I had attended the first Food Bloggers of Canada conference. It had been organised by a talented and committed trio who worked their collective buns off to deliver a superb event. For a treat – but only after you’ve read the rest of MY column – do check out their wonderful blogs: Eyes Bigger than my Stomach by Melissa Hartfield; Eat.Live.Travel. Write by the Macaron Queen, Mardi Michels; and Feeding Ethan by Ethan Adeland.

The conference was held at Hockley Valley Resort which as you can see in the photos has its own giant charcuterie display fridge, thus qualifying as an official foodie haven Although I paid full freight to participate in this kaleidoscopic introduction to the food writing world, registration came with a bunch of unanticipated benefits: The bag of swag awaiting us was so large the contents filled the table in the laundry room for days as I sorted through it. All during the conference representatives of a number of brands were on hand to talk about their wares.

For instance Canada Beef, the presenting sponsor, hosted the first dinner and had a number of their
“ambassadors” on hand. The official appliance sponsor, KitchenAid also had a significant presence as did various other purveyors of food and drink, kitchen equipment and books etc. Disclosure: I’m a huge fan of the KitchenAid product. We have a big grey stand mixer - called “Nigel” by my ladies - who does regular duty in our kitchen. For that matter we also love beef in its many incarnations and I could certainly be ambassadorial…

Even before we arrived at the conference two pans from Nordicware showed up in the mail with a challenge to blog about them for the opportunity to win more product. Post conference the goodies continue. Delta Faucets are providing each attendee with one of their newest faucets that incorporate touch technology (something I can see as being very useful in my kitchen given how often I have mucky hands), and the Manitoba Canola Growers are sending us a tasting kit.

Clearly, none of this largesse comes free of the expectation that some publicity might come the way of the generous donors. (And I suppose I’ve just met some of that expectation by having mentioned 20% of the Food Bloggers conference supporters!) That is all well and good, and in fact one of the key ongoing discussions during the conference was the ethics of writing uncritically about such freebies, or of not being up front about how they came one’s way.

To be clear where I stand, as a food and drink writer (and in contrast to a restaurant reviewer for instance) I’ve generally chosen not to write about restaurants or product that I don’t appreciate or use personally.

Apart from having been a guest of Dishcrawl (as disclosed in the last column), and of the Hamiltonian’s Publisher at Barbara Caffé (my second column), I’ve paid for all my own meals in the restaurants I’ve written about in the past 32 columns.

Sometimes it has taken multiple visits to an establishment to get the story; sometimes I’ve been able to pull a piece together based on a chance encounter. I’m always glad of the opportunity to be exposed to new venues, people and product. However, when approached (or when I’ve solicited entry to a venue or asked to use a product), I have been up front that while I will certainly consider their offerings I am not guaranteeing a piece about it, let alone a positive review.

That said, and no matter how I came across them, why wouldn’t I want to share information about neat new stuff that might make your life easier or more interesting in the kitchen? Or about tasty new products, or old standbys that we tend not to give much thought to: the excellent new stocks from Campbells and Canadian Mushrooms for example…

Just know I will always honestly tell you what I think and, when applicable, let you know if I have got something free. So in Part 2, I will write about several pieces of kitchen kit I’ve tested recently, as well as some I’ve owned for years…

To see more pictures, click here.

Alex (Alex can be reached at fft@thehamiltonian.info ) or on twitter @AlexBielak

Food for Thought logo, designed and kindly donated by Ninka Bielak. Ninka can be reached at ninka.bielak@gmail.com.

Expressions

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:36:00 +0000

Clr Collins reacts at Mayor Bratina questioning City Manager Chris Murray as to whether anything the mayor said threatened or bullied Chris. See video by clicking here.

At The Shaw- An Interview with Jay Turvey

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:03:00 +0000

Jay Turvey

Enjoy our chat with Jay Turvey, who is a Director with the Shaw Festival.

1. You will be directing The Light in the Piazza, that opens in July, as part of the Shaw Festival’s 52nd season. The play is unique as it was written by a living playwright Adam Guettell. Does that change the way you would otherwise approach directing this piece, and can you explain what makes this play worth seeing?

Adam Guettell wrote the music and lyrics and Craig Lucas wrote the book. They're both alive but that doesnt' change the way you approach directing the piece. As with any play, you mine the text and music for themes and try to bring those to life in performance.

Why is Piazza worth seeing? It's a beautiful musical about love: a mother's love for her daughter and the love between two young people and how that changes everyone around them. The music is lush and romantic, even transcendent at times. And it takes place in Florence, Italy! What more could you ask for?

2. How do you prepare for this type of production and what are some tips that you might share with our
readership about appreciating the play as an audience member? What should they pay attention to ,to get the most out of the play?

You read the text over and over and over. You listen to the music repeatedly. You look for themes. You work with a designer to discover what the world of the play will look like. You work with a choreographer to discover how the people in this play will move and express themselves. Basically, you immerse yourself in the play and ideas begin to surface.

I think the best thing an audience member can do is to be alert and have an open mind as the lights go down. Some of my most rewarding experiences in theatre have happened when I attended a play with no pre-conceived notions and just let the world of the play wash over me.

3. What is the most challenging part of directing a play and how do you approach these challenges?

Each play has its own challenges. Typically, musicals change locations frequently and the Court House theatre, where Piazza is being staged, is wonderfully intimate but the transitions between locations have to be well thought-out.

The other thing about directing is you can be very well-prepared but you still can't know everything. You'll begin a scene and the first question an actor asks will be something you never considered. And that's great! You have to be both prepared and open at the same time.

4. You are a Hamiltonian, and thus it is quite fitting to be our guest on The Hamiltonian. Can you tell us how you got into theatre and how you have progressed to directing. What advice might you have for those who would like to pursue a career in the industry?

I grew up in Dundas and later studied French and English at McMaster. I performed in amateur productions in the Hamilton area starting in my teens. It was the first time I ever felt I belonged somewhere. Then I began acting and singing in professional theatres in Toronto and on tour across Canada and the U.S. During my time at Shaw and Stratford, I became very interested in various directors' approaches to the rehearsal process and how they spoke to the actors and what results they achieved. I began directing my own version of the play in my head from the sidelines. When I started writing musicals, two of them were workshopped at the Shaw Festival; that's when you really tear a play apart and put it back together. I watched and learned how to think like a director from artistic director Jackie Maxwell. I was assistant director on a few productions, was asked to direct some readings and then moved into directing my own productions.

My advice is be prepared to work hard. I'm even more aware of this, being on the other side of the table as director. I was in rehearsal recently, watching a bunch of actors who had done a matinee of Guys and Dolls that afternoon, drilling Italian dialect for Piazza at 11:30 pm. It's very hard work but it can be incredibly rewarding and there's a terrific sense of community.

5. With the advent of new technologies that bring things like home theatre to households, and programming to hand held devices, what is it about live theatre that we ought not to forget. What continues to be its competitive edge, and do you believe it will continue to claim a place in today’s competitive entertainment industry?

It seems to me that what many new technologies are trying to do is re-create a visceral "live" experience. But that's what theatre already does! I'm not anti-technology but I think it has a tendency to isolate; you're trying to connect but you're often alone. Nothing will ever replace a group of human beings gathered together to watch a story being told by other human beings.

6. How can readers purchase tickets to see The Light in the Piazza or other events held as part of the Shaw’s 52nd season?

Easy! Call the box office at 1-800-511-7429 or go on line at www.shawfest.com

Thanks Jay for chatting with The Hamiltonian and providing some insights into your talents. We wish you continued success and we tip our hats to the Shaw's incredible positive presence and its 52nd season.

Expressions

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Wed, 08 May 2013 01:06:00 +0000

In this installation of "Expressions" (our first, by the way), dubbed "Awful Nasty", we see Clr. Jason Farr attempting to scold Mayor Bratina during the now infamous LRT debate exchange. The Mayor advised the Clr. that he was out of order. To see the video, click here.

Special thanks to the work of Joey Coleman and others, who captured this meeting.

Bullying or Undue Drama?

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:12:00 +0000

City Manager Chris Murray

Councillor Sam Merulla will be bringing forward a motion that, if passed, would engage Earl Basse, Integrity Commissioner of Hamilton to investigate an allegation of bullying against Mayor Bob Bratina. The motion is as a result of a comment Bratina made to city manager Chris Murray during a debate on Light Rail Transit. For reference to the video, and to our write up of that meeting please click here. To read The Spec's story this morning, click here or purchase today's print copy.

If the motion is passed, Mr. Basse may embark upon a multi witness investigation that potentially can include over ten people, including councillors and senior staff who were present. Merulla admits that he did not hear what the Mayor said, while Clr. Farr said he did hear it and described it as "awful nasty".

At the meeting, the mayor said that he asked Murray "why would you say that?" or words to that effect, referring to Murray's comments on LRT.

Bullying has become a very serious allegation in contemporary society, and for very good reasons. As one of our readers observed, bullying has led to people taking their own lives, after being subjected to, often times, sustained victimization.

One of the things that Mr. Basse must decide, is whether the Mayor's questioning of Mr. Murray, in the way that it happened, violated the code of conduct. Presumably Basse would also consider the allegation of bullying and whether this situation rose to a reasonable definition of what bullying is.

There are some who would argue that it is bullying, while others may suggest that a pointed question, or a heated question from one of your bosses is par for the course, and ordinarily would not rise to a reasonable definition of bullying.

If the motion gets passed, it will be interesting to see whether it passes one of the initial gates; that is, the Integrity Commissioner having to make a determination as to whether the complaint is frivolous or vexatious.

Your thoughts? Should Hamiltonians bear the cost of an investigation in this matter, or are you of the view that we should move on? Is this simply playing politics, or do you believe the incident warrants a formal investigation?

Stumped on Where to Find Unique Art?

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:49:00 +0000

Bill Le Blanc with 'Sirens of the Sea'- in progress,
Click on pic to zoom.
.

Stumped on where to find some very unique art? Bill Le Blanc's work may be the answer. Bill can be found on the Hamilton beach-strip carving art out of what would have been idle tree stumps.

The current piece he is working on, entitled Sirens of the Sea, is featured in the photo to the left, and is characteristic of Bill's unique gift of bringing to life tree stumps. Our Publisher Teresa DiFalco caught up with Bill as he was working.

Bill described his passion for this form of art, and has made it a practice to be inspired by, and dedicate his work to his daughter and grandchildren. A retired steelworker and a true blue Hamiltonian, Bill relishes in the creative outlet his passion provides him.

He is humble about his accomplishments and has gotten accustomed to lookers-on stopping and marveling at
his work. He expressed his appreciation for Hutch's nearby, helping him by paying for some of his tools. (Kudos to Hutch's) This Stoney Creek resident is definitely making a difference in this community, and the kind donation of his time and talent deserves recognition. Weather permitting, Bill can often be found on site each morning until mid afternoon.

He advises that many of his pieces take creative directions as he is carving them. He also capitalizes on the natural features of each stump and incorporates them into his work where possible.

To see more of Bill's work, and to take a look at the evolution of the current piece he is working on, click here. Or better still, take a walk on the beach strip and see him at work. You can also visit his web site here.

Do you know of a Hamiltonian who is making a difference and deserves recognition? Write to us at admin@thehamiltonian.info and tell us about him/her.

Media Release

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:01:00 +0000

Budget commitments a start… Poverty Reduction must remain the priority.

Several poverty-related measures were announced in today’s Ontario budget: including increasing social assistance rates by 1% (as well as an additional $14 monthly increase for singles on Ontario Works) and increasing earnings exemptions for those on social assistance that are able to work. However, the changes do not go far enough to address the crisis facing
many families in Ontario living who live in deep poverty.

Close to 55,000 children, women and men in Hamilton rely on Ontario social assistance benefits; however rates are so desperately low that many families are not able to afford basic necessities.

Today a single person on Ontario Works receives only $606/month – an amount that does not come close to meeting the actual costs of rental housing, food, utilities, personal needs or other necessities. Today’s budget announcement will increase rates for a single person on Ontario works by $20/month.

Many Hamiltonians are going hungry: Seventy-five percent of all people using food banks in the city are on provincial social assistance programs. The Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction and community partners have called upon the provincial government to overhaul Ontario’s outdated social assistance system. The Roundtable urged the government to immediately increase rates by $100/month and to commit to establishing an evidence-based system for setting rates – based on the real costs of living.

Changes to asset levels and earnings will have an impact: “Creating logical transitions from poverty to prosperity; ones that improve the health of an individual and the community" says Roundtable member and ODSP recipient, Laura Cattari.

“Today’s budget’s was a first step, an acknowledgement that recipients have been living in deep poverty for far too long” says Peter Hutton, chair of the Roundtable’s social assistance working group. “We look forward to working with the government and all political parties to ensure real social assistance reform remains a priority”.

For Hamilton and other communities, there does not appear to be an initial announcement to reverse last year’s cuts to Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefits or Discretionary Health benefits–critical programs intended to prevent homelessness and maintain health. Hamilton organizations led a campaign last December that saw the provincial government commit $42 million in transitional funds to cover the cuts for 2013. “With no further provincial commitments, the future of those programs will be placed in crisis once again at the end of this year” said Tom Cooper, Director of the Roundtable.

Ante Up for LRT?

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:19:00 +0000

Councillors are considering instruments for future transit project funding at a GIC meeting. As reported in The Hamilton Spectator (see it here or purchase today's print copy), the following tools are being looked at:

1. Employer payroll tax
2. Fuel tax
3. Highway tolls
4. Parking space levies (opposed by the City of Hamilton)
5. Property tax (opposed by Hamilton)
6. Sales tax
7. Vehicle kilometres travelled
8. Development charges (opposed by Hamilton)
9. High occupancy toll lanes
10. Land value capture
11. Transit fare increase (opposed by Hamilton)

While Clr. Clark previously cautioned about being insistent on 100% provincial funding, which he suggested may backfire on Hamilton and exclude us from consideration or result in new targeted taxes on Hamilton, Clr. Merulla has said that he won't support any funding tools and will only endorse the east-west LRT line if the province covers 100% of the cost.

Whose perspective do you most support- Clark's or Merulla's? Which do you think has the greater probability of succeeding?

The Irony of Precision

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 02:47:00 +0000

Mayor Bratina

Much has been made of Mayor Bratina’s stance on LRT, and more recently and more specifically, the messaging he is giving or may be prepared to give to the province with respect to Hamilton’s Rapid Transit priorities and directions.

There are those who believe that the Mayor is being purposefully coy about the whole matter, in the interest of undermining the effort, and giving his own opinion to the province, rather than carrying council direction and will- which he is obligated to do. That perspective found expression in Councillor McHattie’s unfortunate description of the mayor as being “ willfully stupid” on the matter. Unfortunate because the Councillor has earned a great deal of respect over his championing of the cause, and to belittle a Mayor who was elected at large, seemed to be in poor form. McHattie’s faux pas, seemed to find relief in the respectful way
he tabled his motion. Later, the Clr., under questioning from the Mayor, conceded that he did in fact characterize the mayor in such a way, adding that it was something he was not proud of. Fair enough. Anyone can slip in their language when passionate about a cause.

Ironically, the Mayor who has been criticized by his council for allegedly not carrying their message, and who had been censured by that very council previously, invoked a degree of precision that made some squirm.

While the Mayor offered to carry a message forward that would hold that the city would like to commence the B-Line LRT implementation upon funding being settled, he pointed out that the Rapid Ready document does not provide for that direction. Rather, it talks about prioritizing LRT over BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), and preparing the transit infrastructure to anticipate and prepare for a future LRT deployment- by, among other things, increasing ridership of public transit. The Mayor spoke about the need to understand the impact of the funding strategy which is expected to require municipal participation in the funding.

Interestingly enough, if the Mayor had gotten it wrong and if the Rapid Ready document was clear in this respect, that clarity would have rolled itself out during the discussion. Rather, what ensued was multiple attempts to change the language of the proposed motion to make the B line priority clear, which ironically, added to the confusion. What also became clear is that the Rapid Ready document was purposefully written to allow for multiple options in the event that one was not supported by the province. That built in latitude likely allows what appears to be necessary room for play.

The irony is that that degree of precision that Bratina focused on (in terms of what the Rapid Ready document says and does not say) , appears necessary in the context of a mayor who has been criticized by his council for being allegedly blind to its direction on this file , while raising ire when the desired precision is employed. The request for a reaffirmation of the original motion which council already had agreed to, left some bewildered, including Clr. Clark who made a compelling argument that the motion was unnecessary and could backfire.

He cautioned about the dangers of being insistent on LRT funding at 100% from the province, adding that posture had the potential of having Hamilton passed over entirely or conversely, having Hamilton hit with special taxes to pay for it. The Clr. also explained that the only thing that matters to a provincial government, is a council resolution. He cautioned about confusing matters by coming up with another resolution that appeared to him as unnecessary. McHattie equally continued to garner support from many councillors for the motion, and the whole thing spiraled into a real time attempt at word-smithing it, causing further confusion.

Interspersed was an attempt by Clr. Merulla to pit the Mayor against The Hamilton Spectator, suggesting that one or the other must have lied, in the matter of what the Mayor said to a Spec reporter about a conversation he had with the Premier. After the Mayor addressed the questions, Merulla was shut down first by Clr. Ferguson who had taken the chair at that point, and later by Clr. Clark who argued that the topic was not relevant to the discussion at hand. Merulla was visibly frustrated, making a comment about Clark not attending recent council meetings, to which Clark explained that it was due to serious health issues that landed him in the hospital for a week.

Another exchange was on the heels of the Mayor leaving the podium and reportedly asking City Manager Chris Murray "why he would have said such a thing", after Chris expressed his view that the gist of McHattie's motion was not inconsistent with council's previous direction. Clr. Merulla insisted the matter be investigated, Clr. Farr said he heard what the mayor said and described it as "very nasty" and Chris later stated it would all be examined at a future closed session. Merulla characterized the mayor's interaction with Chris as bullying him.

In the end, McHattie expressed surprise and disapointment that a motion that he sought to ensure things were perfectly aligned where all were concerned, morphed into a series of dramatic exchanges.

In today's Spec. columnist Andrew Dreschel provides his view of the matter (see it here or purchase today's print copy) . It may be worthwhile to read what our friends at Raise the Hammer have to say, as well as Andrew's piece, in addition to ours. We encourage our readers to watch the meeting first hand so that you can make your own determinations. The video can be found here (click here), as found on Raise the Hammer, courtesy of Joey Coleman.

For those who would like to read the Rapid Ready Report first hand, you may do so by clicking here.

Food for Thought with Alex Bielak- Dishcrawl , A win for Hamilton

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:20:00 +0000

What an extra-ordinary few weeks culminating last Tuesday in Hamilton’s 2nd-ever Dishcrawl in Hess Village.

On the heels of my 60th birthday, and retirement from my day job, I had a broad variety of culinary adventures that will be grist for reflection and future columns. I attended the inaugural (and, for me, life-changing) Food Bloggers of Canada conference. What I learned on many fronts will help improve how I write about food and wine: if you want a taste of what went on see this recap of recaps by a variety of attendees.

I also: got to use some serious molecular cooking equipment at Cedarlane Culinary; took in a demo of Cutco knives and cookware; and participated in the Hamilton Partners in Nutrition volunteer recognition luncheon (they feed breakfast to ~23,000 kids A DAY!). I also survived an Icarus-like cooking disaster in my own kitchen, but that’s another tale…

I’ve mentioned Dave Hanley, the man behind the Dishcrawls, in recent columns about the Hamilton food scene. When I got to the gathering place for the Hess Street event, Koi Restaurant, Dave was there in his pork pie hat greeting guests, and seeing to last minute logistics.

The basic outline of a Dishcrawl is this: Guest stump up a paltry $60 online (actually $71.79 after taxes and processing) to secure their spot. This includes all taxes and tips but not drinks. 48 hours prior to the event participants are notified where to gather. After some introductory remarks by the restaurant owner or chef they are fed. The next location is then disclosed and the crowd decamps. This is repeated again and again, with each of the four restaurants seemingly determined to outdo the others. The atmosphere is great,
conversation plentiful and the evening flies by.

Our Hess adventure saw us walking all of perhaps 100 meters in total. When we left Koi we crossed the road to Konoba, then dropped into the neighbouring Che Burrito and Lounge, and finally crossed the road again to Viso (new website coming soon).

Dean Collette is the owner of Asian-inspired Koi, which at 9 years, was the longest-operating venue we visited. He had heard good things about the inaugural Dishcrawl from the owner of the West Town Bar and Grill on Locke Street and was keen to become involved when approached by Hanley.

“I’m a fan of exposing our restaurant to people who like food… I’m proud of our food… Our chef is very talented and passionate,” he told me as we chatted before a sample of dishes from the menu appeared. The trio included the signature shrimp, made with fresh grated coconut, as well as a piece of “voodoo beef rib” in a house-made hoisin sauce. By the end of the evening I was glad that portions had mostly been tasting-sized.

In what quickly became a refrain for the evening, echoed by all the chefs and owners at the other venues, he said that people tend to see Hess village as a place for younger people (read “drinking and partying” in the words of one of his colleagues) and not as a restaurant destination. The Dishcrawl crowd (and I do mean crowd, the event was sold out and we bulged the seams at the smaller venues - Konoba and Viso) skewed somewhat to the Boomer generation.

My tablemates at Koi were three couples: Jim and Mary McColl, Sally and Sam Morgante and Art and Sharon Meneian were from Ancaster, Mount Hope and Burlington respectively. All Dishcrawl first timers, they unanimously gave thumbs up for the concept while voting the beef rib as the tastiest morsel on the plate.

We were in for another single plate tour-de-menu when we arrived at the newest kid on the block, Konoba, a Croatian eatery that opened in December 2012, in the space I previously knew as the Hess Wedding Chapel. We were greeted at the entrance by a trio playing some jolly tunes, though I’ll admit to not being certain if they were Croatian or not. [Based on an email exchange with David Aldham after the Dishcrawl, I learned he is part of a Cuban trio called Solstice. Though I’m unclear on the Cuban/Croatian connection their tunes certainly were lively.]

The very animated Chef and co-owner, Vedran Sostaric explained his cooking as having a pan-European influence. The food was sourced locally and freshly made, and I’d be happy to sample more, particularly the hormone-free meat dishes. One of my table mates, Kate Sharrow, “absolutely” loved the food. We agreed the most tantalising taste, for me perhaps of the evening, was an onion pickle that just sparkled on the tongue. Chef’s wife, Sabina told me they carry over 25 varieties of Rakija fruit spirits and no less than 7 Croatian wines to accompany the food. (That’s for an evening where I have a DD.)

Since she loves Mexican food more than I do, it was a shame my wife was not with me when we moved on to Hamilton’s first Burrito and Taco joint adjacent to Konoba. Che Burrito is a funky spot owned by Scott Mcdonald, who had an interest in the property when it was a skateboard shop. (He still is a skater at heart, and organizes an annual charity drive to deliver new skateboards to kids in Havana, Cuba. That generous spirit was evident when he talked about his new neighbours: he really wants them to succeed.)

McDonald says he lived on tacos and burritos when he was in Southern California. When he opened up Che Burrito he strove to keep his sauces freshly-made and as authentic as possible. We were treated to a variety of zingy salsas (the jalapeno sauce was outstanding) before we moved on to a shared, messy “Supreme fries,” and then two soft tacos filled, respectively, with fish and chicken.

That was when I began to think that perhaps there might not be any room for more food. But onward we ploughed to Viso, a small Italian place across the street where we were greeted by a jaunty accordion player. There is no space for a freezer so by necessity everything is fresh. Pizza, arancini made with a secret blend of cheeses, a salad and dessert (a tasty Tiramisu) rounded us out.

Dave (who I’ll profile in a future column) was beginning to relax, and I think I actually saw him eat something, while owner Josie Di Trapani said “this was just a taste of what we do” as she encouraged us to return. “Hess Village really needs things like this. It has had such a bad rap” she said to me as I bade her good night.

The evening was perhaps best summed up by project-manager-by-day and freelance-photographer-by-night Nicole Longstaff: “There is something happening in Hamilton. There is a buzz.”

There certainly is, and Dishcrawl is contributing to it. Count it as a win for the restaurateurs, the diners and the City. Dates for three more Dishcrawls have been announced and tickets are selling fast: James St South (May 21st), James St North (May 28th) and the International Village (June 25th).

In closing, a shout out for my home community: The Taste of Waterdown prix-fixe promo continues April 29th – May 2nd, and might be something for Mr. Hanley to consider checking out. Also mark your calendars for the 2013 Oh Canada Rotary Ribfest in Memorial Park June 28th – July 1st. As always they need volunteers and you can sign up via the website.

Note: the author was a guest of Dishcrawl Hamilton for the Hess village event. Dishcrawl Hamilton did not see or review this article prior to publication.

To see more pictures, click here.

Alex (Alex can be reached at fft@thehamiltonian.info ) or on twitter @AlexBielak

Food for Thought logo, designed and kindly donated by Ninka Bielak. Ninka can be reached at ninka.bielak@gmail.com.

Leadership on the HWT File? - Opinion

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:40:00 +0000

In today's Hamilton Spectator, Columnist Andrew Dreschel published a piece on The Hamilton Waterfront Trust and its failed G.S.T., C.R.A. audit.

Dreschel points out that the handling of the G.S.T. claim in question was clearly botched by the Hamilton Waterfront Trust.

Andrew's article also cites quotes and perspectives from Clrs. Jackson and Ferguson as well as others. We encourage you to read Andrew's piece in full. You can find it here or purchase today's print copy.

Suffice it to say that, to various degrees, those quoted in Andrew's article appear to be putting a face on this failed audit. Had it not been for it being commonplace for politicians to often times attempt to put the most favourable spin on debacles, one might find such comments out of place. Unfortunately they are par for the course particularly where issues of accountability and failings veer their head. Such an approach is not born in Hamilton.

One thing you may never hear is this " I understand I am ultimately accountable and I accept that responsibility and here is what I am going to do to make sure this never happens again." That would be the language of exceptional leadership and it is something that is sadly lacking. Mistakes do happen but it is what happens next that can either restore or deflate public confidence.

In this case, fingers seem to be pointing to someone who has been referred to as the "previous accountant" throughout Andrew's article, but is reduced to a "glorified bookeeper" by Clr. Jackson's quoted remarks to his committee colleagues.

Andrew closes with asking a very important question. Where does the buck stop? He further asks "with the previous accountant, the management staff, or with the board of directors at the time of refiling?"

With respect to Andrew, one point of departure for us is our belief that the current board of directors remain ultimately accountable to the citizens of Hamilton. They are empowered and responsible to provide oversight and stewardship, regardless of when mistakes happened and have the ability to take reasonable measures to restore confidence.

The Hamiltonian

Report Confirms Hamilton Waterfront Trust's Failure of CRA G.S.T. Audit

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:55:00 +0000

Our readers may recall that various media sources including The Hamiltonian, The Bay Observer and CHML, began reporting on the fiscal management and administration of the Hamilton Waterfront Trust, on the heels of what presented as possible irregularities of the same.

At that time, many councillors on GIC, and Clrs. Farr and Jackson as council members of the Board of Directors of the Waterfront Trust, came to the defense of the Trust and its Executive Director. In tandum Gary Santucci and Brian Bonham brought their concerns to GIC and presented them. The summary, presentation and the video footage of that meeting can be seen by clicking here. and here. To hear Gary Santucci's recent guest appearance on the Bill Kelly show on CHML click here.

One of the issues on the table was the Hamilton Waterfront Trust's handling of the G.S.T. rebate. This related to the Hamilton Waterfront Trust's refiling of G.S.T. rebates for the years 2006 and 2007 seeking $495,000.00.

An audit of these claims conducted by the Canada Revenue Agency found that:

The Hamilton Waterfront Trust (HWT) charged GST amounts to the city in their invoicing, where GST charges ought not to have been charged. Thus any GST amounts kept by the HWT, or remitted, were not permissible.
HWT appears to have collected GST for revenues that were exempt, such as on interest earned and donations.
Some amounts were claimed twice on different worksheets.
Rebates were claimed where no GST was paid.

Note: Full findings can be found by clicking here.

These errors resulted in an amount of $323,126.00 having to be repaid to the Canada Revenue Service. The initial amount owing of $428,945.00 was reduced to $323,126.00 after negotiating the amount owing with the CRA.

In Mr. Santucci and Mr. Bonham's presentation at GIC, they stated "Councillor Ferguson rightfully asked of the G.S.T. audit, what had happened and what were the details."

These details have now become known and it appears Mr. Santucci , Mr. Bonham and Clr. Ferguson asked a pertinent and useful question on behalf of Hamiltonians.

Whether this will result in greater scrutiny of the Hamilton Waterfront Trust's affairs, is yet to be seen. For now, the report confirms that this audit was failed.

In the Media- The Hamiltonian Talks with CityTV Reporter Saphia Khambalia

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:02:00 +0000

Saphia Khambalia

The following interview with our friend Saphia Khambalia, CityTV reporter ought to be of particular interest to anyone interested in the media/news field, and anyone interested in reading about one of our own, making it in the competitive world of news media. Enjoy our interview with Saphia as she talks about interviewing personalities such as Bill Clinton, her challenging moments in the business, comical moments and much more.

1. You have had quite a career path, commencing on the news writing desk at CityTV and progressing to become a reporter. You’ve interviewed people like Bill Clinton and Aretha Franklin. Can you describe that journey, including your roots in Stoney Creek.

First off, thanks so much for that. Any recognition from my hometown means the world to me. I’m super proud of where I grew-up! It’s been an exciting journey so far, full of ups and downs, wonderful mentors and amazing experiences and I hope there’s a lot more of that to come.

Yes! Stoney Creek! Oh, I owe a lot to the Greater Hamilton Area. All of my family is still around the golden horseshoe and I truly got my “start” in Hamilton and Stoney Creek. I was bitten by the media bug in high school when I started writing for the Stoney Creek News and volunteering at Cable 14-Hamilton. I may have been doing behind-the-scene stuff at first: pulling cable, running the audio boards etc. but, this whole new world opened-up to me. I loved learning every part of the puzzle that made the TV machine “work”. I also learned right away no matter how big your audience or how far your reach you CAN impact people with this medium. As a famous web-slinging-superhero once said, “with great power comes great responsibility”. I was honoured to be in that position. I got the chance to do some roving-reporter work in
the community, before setting my sights on ‘The Big Smoke’ for a Journalism degree at Ryerson University.

During my schooling I interned and volunteered on evenings and weekends at newsrooms all over the GTA. A volunteer stint in the CityNews tape-library led to my first real broadcast job as a writer for a summer at CityNews. Tangent: As in all forms of media, writing is the true trade of the craft. I’m so thankful for starting off this way, if you can write in this business you can (I hope) write your ticket to a long career. After graduation I was awarded the prestigious Donaldson Scholar Award, the main prize being a job with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. I was an associate-producer with the National and wrote for the News Network for a short time before taking an on and off position as a Videographer with the CBC in Windsor. Producing, writing, reporting-in and shooting all my own stories, it was great training! As a reporter now, I can get more involved in the shooting of my stories and also be more creative as a team with my camera person, because I understand the way the camera works. Then, in 2010 it was the right place at the right time that led me to my 'big break', as a National Host for CBC's 2010 FIFA World Cup coverage. I was the one smack dab in the middle of the crowds of crazy footie fans. Live, ad-lib national hits recounting viewers social media experience in watching the games AND I was only in my early 20's what an amazing way to break-in-the biz! It was in 2011 I came back to work with the CityNews team full time, as a Reporter for CityNews and anchor for CityNews Channel. What an incredible ride it's been!

2. What is the most challenging part of your role as a reporter and what advice might you have for others who are considering a career in media?

Sure there are long hours sometimes, deadline pressure and constant public critique, but you begin to love all those things. In a strange way, it becomes a wonderful rush filing your stories with quick turn-around and high stakes. The one thing that you never get used to is covering the tragedy that comes in news. The mother who loses a son because of an injury on his school football field, the daughter whose parent is struck as they cross the road, the family whose young child goes into unexpected anaphylactic shock and never recovers, the family who’s car is hit by a wrong-way impaired driver and killed instantly, or the murders, deadly fires, gruesome court trials... you name it, I've covered it. It never gets “easier”, and it shouldn't My biggest advice: Be an emphatic human being first and a reporter second. Once you start doing it the other way around, it’s time to get out of the game. It’s not about getting the scoop, or the exclusive. It’s about showing compassion and empathy in some of the most gut-wrenching moments that life can muster-up. We in the media are sometimes one of the first to talk to someone after these life altering events. As a young journalist you need to keep that in mind and refer back to the golden rule: Treat others how you’d like to be treated yourself. It’s a sobering thought to realize that you are part of a moment that may have changed someone’s life. Now, it’s not all tragedy – there is some incredible beauty we get to witness as well. The baby born on the side of the 407, long-lost siblings meeting for the first time, someone being saved from a near-death experience, the community coming together to fund-raise for a worthy cause, a senior citizen being able to inspire the young generation. All of those I've covered and it’s unforgettable good moments that make this the most incredible position to be in whether through the sunny days or weathering the storm.

3. Can you tell us about the video moment of you that went "viral"?

Sure, it's funny actually. I laugh it off all the time. We’re all human right? My nose ran while live on-air one cold April night, years ago. I remember thinking at the moment “Nah...I bet that wasn't that bad. It probably won't be anywhere tomorrow”. Well boy was I wrong. That's Live TV for you! As embarrassing as you may think it was -- I think we all have something important to learn in these moments about being able to get up the next day and laugh at yourself. That is an amazing tool we all should have in life, it shows humility. A tool every reporter should have as well! I build my career on dealing with live ad-lib moments. And did I ever have a bunch of funny lines I wish I had used in that moment, to laugh at myself and the situation. Sigh...Guess they'll have to wait till next time ;).

4. How do you prepare to interview someone like Bill Clinton? Were you nervous and was there any particular protocol that was different than other interviews. Any behind the scenes insights?

The secret service dogs were there to sniff all of our camera equipment! It was neat to see all of that pre-interview process, but really the former Commander-in-chief was like any other person I've talked to, believe it or not. He was as charming as ever, with that legendary southern drawl.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was in town to sign copies of his recent book “Back to Work”. The book is based on his plan to get America out of economic crisis and “back to business”. I was able to ask him what his advice was to current President, Obama, and Clinton’s thoughts were simple and poignant. He said first and foremost, everyone needs to get along in congress, going on to say that all issues could be worked out if everyone could just see past their individual differences. I think we can apply that to all aspects of life not just within governance. I also was able to ask him if he would ever consider another “run” at the top job? His answer: (With a wink) No, but another Clinton in the family could one day. Of course we can only assume he was hinting towards his wife, Hilary Clinton. And, in seeing her recent health struggles I wonder what the future will hold. I do think both husband and wife will continue to build accolades in their public careers. Other interesting details? I remember we were told by his handlers that we would only get 1 or 2 questions in each (and there were 4 or 5 other reporters also waiting their turn) but Mr. Clinton spent quite a bit of time with all of us, holding a full conversation and taking time to meet and greet all the fans that had camped-out to see him in person.

Now, you ask about preparation? Preparation for this interview was on-the-fly like most of my others are, reading background information on the car-ride over to the interview location. Most of the time I only find out about my interviews about an hour or so beforehand. I’ve learned the best way to prepare is to be ready for anything. Every day I wake-up never knowing what story I’m going to be covering and where my day will take me, from a murder scene, to the Santa Clause parade to interviewing a Former President, no two days are the same.

5. You’ve also worked as an international journalist. How did that enrich your experience and what lessons did you learn from that experience?

It was enriching both personally and professionally. Personally to travel around East Africa – the land of my roots and see firsthand the red dirt roads that my grandparents and great grandparents walked on, the homes, cars and businesses they left behind as refugees coming to Canada, during the reign of then dictator Edi Amin, in the 1970’s. I’ve never been closer to my future and my present then when truly seeing the world thru my forefathers’ eyes. It was such a coming of age time: white water rafting on the mighty Nile river, camping-out on the Serengeti and exploring the busy bustling city of Kampala.

Now, professionally speaking, what an honour! To be honest, I am still floored that it happened at all. For a journalist to be granted funding to go and pursue work 12,000KM away under the umbrella of the Canadian Millennium goals was a huge privilege. At a young age, I grew an appreciation for these kinds of initiatives. I learned so much from all the wonderful people I met, working in a Not-for-profit organization dedicated to ending violence against Ugandan women. Also from the wonderful children whose stories I was lucky enough to tell. I took it upon myself to shoot and report in a mini-documentary while there. Armed with my little handy-cam, I set out to follow the lives of 3 different children who were each affected by the decades-long rebel war in different ways; the child solider, the girl who was raped and abused during the war and the orphan who lost all relatives – inspiring stories of hope and faith against all odds. I still keep in touch with many of my contacts on the ground in Tanzania and Uganda. Travelling experience is something I most certainly recommend to other young journalist hopefuls. It’s a way to get out of your comfort zone, learn new cultural sensitivities and look at the world in a different way – tools every reporter needs!

I also think it’s a responsibility for us in the media to “give back” to the viewers that let us in their homes every day, whether you’re doing it at home or abroad. That’s why I took on the role as spokesperson with the Parkinson Society of Central and Northern Ontario last year after watching the neurological condition progress in my maternal grandfather that helped raise me. While everyone’s experience with the disease is different, for us things moved very quickly. Only 5 years of diagnosis and he’s already lost the ability to walk and is in a nursing home requiring 24 hour care. I’ve made it a point to speak out publically, spreading awareness and working to garner more funding for support groups and research towards a cure.

6. Can you comment on the intersection between social media and traditional news outlets. How do you see the two EVOLVING? Do you see greater convergence, a morphing of sorts, or autonomous factions that call upon one another?

Great question Hamiltonian! It’s here to stay! It’s how we harness social media that is completely up for interpretation. Already we’re seeing a morphing of sorts with traditional news outlets. Facebook posts being used to poll an audience for “unscientific studies” to be used in our reports. Raw Youtube video purportedly showing the aftermath of breaking news spreading globally in mere minutes, being picked-up by station after station. And, Tweets being used to gauge an audiences’ reaction instantly. Of course, we as the media need to make sure our “filters” are still on. We must still correctly source and report only factual information no matter how many “social media sources” there may be. However, the two worlds are complimenting each other in many ways. We will often extend the conversation so to speak to viewers on Twitter and read their comments regarding big-talker-stories on the air. Or I’ll look to my twitter followers for comment on my work, whether good or bad we must always be answerable to the people who look to us for information every day whether on the street or online.

Mayor Bratina and his Chat with the Premier

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:09:00 +0000

Mayor Bob Bratina

The Hamiltonian asked Mayor Bratina for a statement on the issue of LRT, all Day Go and what may or may not have been said between Premier Wynne and the Mayor. The following is the mayor's response, verbatim:

The Government has not received any messaging on Hamilton's LRT beyond what is contained in the Rapid Ready plan. My direct contact with Premier Wynne this past weekend was brief, friendly and appreciative of her understanding and support for our City. To repeat, no conversation took place between myself and the Premier about LRT and GO planning for Hamilton.

With regard to the implementation of the B-Line LRT, the approved Rapid Ready document contains the following direction on page 30 of the report under "Core Actions".

"Light rail transit and bus rapid transit are ultimate goals and their implementation will require regular bus service restructuring. In preparation, the objective will be to increase bus service levels in the A-line and B-line corridors to emulate rapid transit."

If Council wishes to put forward a motion stating that "the City of Hamilton requires that upon approval of the Metrolinx funding plan work begin immediately on the B-line LRT project" I will of course make Council's decision known to the Provincial Government.

Respectfully,
Bob Bratina, Mayor

Losing it.......

noreply@blogger.com (8GS) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:58:00 +0000

photography by Joanna St Jacques

This photo, submitted kindly by Joanna St. Jacques www.stjacquesphotography.com, underscores significant heritage lost in the core, and serves to remind us of the importance of this event (click here)