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Celebrating all things Hamilton / Welcome Message
City Life

PRIDE: Kenadie, how do you shake off judgment?

Welcome to the first monthly column from Hamilton drag queen Kenadie St. James! Read on for the best bad advice you’ve ever had! Hamilton, your problems are officially about to get WORSE. 💋 Local drag legend Kenadie St. James is serving up catastrophically bad life advice in her…
Arts + Culture

Festival season: Summer on parade

Here is your hot 2026 summer festivals guide for Hamilton and Burlington. You’ll find everything from inaugural events to two local traditions that are turning 50 years old this year! Our summers may be short but fortunately for us, the list of local festivals is long. Spend warm-weather…
Arts + Culture

THE PLAYLIST

Born Ruffians – Beauty’s Pride For a band that once felt like it might combust from sheer nervous energy and mileage logged, Born Ruffians have aged in a surprisingly graceful, and still charmingly unpredictable way. Beauty’s Pride finds the long-running Toronto/Hamilton group loosening their grip on that early, jittery urgency…
Made in Hamilton

OPINION: Election 2026 is the time to build

The last municipal election saw just over 35 per cent of eligible Hamiltonians vote. We must do better this time because this city needs to deliver on its potential.  October 2026 will define Hamilton’s next chapter. We are entering a municipal election that will shape how our…
City Life

7 2SLGBTQIA+ leaders you should know

In honour of Pride in June, we asked inspiring local advocates and community leaders about their work, why marking Pride matters, what needs to change at the local level, and their greatest wish for the communities they serve. These are just seven Hamiltonians who champion 2SLGBTIA+ people locally.
Arts + Culture

Silverstein never stands still

Twenty-six years,13 albums, and a million records sold later, and the Burlington-born hardcore/punk band continues to defy the odds. Silverstein began making music during a fertile period in heavy guitar rock. The turn of the millennium saw guitar rock genres splinter into even more subgenres as bands borrowed…
Arts + Culture

PRIDE: Queer and crafting in Hamilton

QUARTZ: Queer Art Hang at the Art Gallery of Hamilton and Queer Craft Club at Hamilton Craft Studios offers an oulet for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to gather and create. If you are queer and into crafting, you have two options to let your creative flag fly and…
Food + Drink

ON THE MENU: WHAT’S OPENED AND CLOSED ON THE LOCAL RESTAURANT SCENE

Here's a list of what has come, gone and changed in Hamilton and Burlington in May. Launched & opening soon Chubby Tiger (2016 Victoria Ave., Burlington) Early reviewers have described the cuisine at Chubby Tiger as reminiscent of food court Canadian Chinese fare, with…
Arts + Culture

Cadence Weapon wants you to stop scrolling and start listening

Rollie Pemberton, aka Cadence Weapon, is done with treating music as background filler. In his new book Ways of Listening, the Hamilton rapper explores the transition from record bins to algorithms and reimagines how we can reclaim a deep connection with music in the age of streaming. When…
Arts + Culture

For Spoons, ‘Old Emotions’ are new again

Burlington band that had a string of hits in the 1980s, is releasing a new album and taking on a new musical sound. By Jenna Yeomans and Stephen Metelsky  Nov. 1, 2025. The bottom of the 11th inning of the World Series at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. The Jays…
Arts + Culture

incite: Delivering on a mission

Since the incite Foundation for the Arts was formed in 2011, it has donated $11 million to local arts organizations. On its 15th anniversary, the incite Foundation for the Arts is reaffirming its mission to revolutionize support for the arts in the greater Hamilton community.  incite strives to…
Food + Drink

Delicious and Indigenous

There are a growing number of notable food options in Six Nations, along with a beloved Indigenous-owned diner in Hamilton. Six Nations & Beyond  Just south of the city, not far from the edges of Hamilton, is the community of Six Nations. With a whole variety of…
Arts + Culture

Hamilton’s music scene: What is and what could be

Music writer Dylan Hudecki asked Hamilton’s music insiders for their opinions about how to keep the local music scene thriving and reinventing itself. Think of it as a suggestion box to turn up the volume on Hamilton. Hamilton’s music scene continues to thrive as one of Canada’s most…
Food + Drink

DINING DISTRICTS: A Locke on food

This interesting west Hamilton street is ever-evolving, with newcomers joining long-time eateries to make for a true foodie destination. On the whole, my visits to Locke Street have all been linked to food. It must be said that I can think of over a dozen eateries that closed…
City Life

CITY VIEW: A Hamilton storyteller

Annette Hamm is about to retire after being part of the CHCH News team since 1986. We talked to her about her career and what Hamilton means to her. ANNETTE HAMM is retiring next month after a 40-year career at CHCH. She's spent the last 21 of those…

you are HAMILTON

HAMILTON CITY Magazine’s mission is to tell the stories that celebrate the city’s past, present and future by featuring stunning photography, illustrations and world-class writing. It’s your city. It’s your magazine.


City Life

Fashion show raises thousands for Cancer Assistance Program

12 models, who are all breast cancer survivors, entertain a sold-out crowd that raised $16,225 for Concession Street program. From a woman undergoing cancer treatment to another who has been cancer-free for more than 50 years, this fashion show was just as much about celebrating as it was…
Arts + Culture

Who’s Your Maggie?

Canadian music star Johnny Reid created Maggie – making its world premiere at Theatre Aquarius – in tribute to his Scottish grannie. 'Everyone has a Maggie in their life,' says Reid and when the theatre asked for personal stories, many people were inspired to share about special people…
Made in Hamilton

A mansion lost and bungalows found

Wesanford Place was one of the most grand homes to ever exist in Durand. It was demolished to make way for 20 English-style cottages that have themselves become important elements of the city’s history. The Durand neighbourhood is blessed with a large inventory of historical homes…
Arts + Culture

Maggie is a universal tale of family, sacrifice

Multi-platinum selling music star Johnny Reid wrote the musical in tribute to his Scottish grannie. Its world premiere runs April 19 to May 7 at Theatre Aquarius. Canadian music star Johnny Reid wrote Maggie as a musical love letter to his Scottish grannie. But he hopes audiences who…
Arts + Culture

gritLIT is back and bigger than ever

Hamilton’s festival for readers and writers is celebrating 19 years with a five-day hybrid program featuring established and emerging writers and workshops geared to wordsmiths of all kinds. A 19th birthday is a cause for celebration in Ontario (cocktails, anyone?) but when you’re a literary festival, it’s a…
City Life

Paying too much tax?

Consider these tips and tax shelters to lower your family's tax bill. Knowing how tax rules affect your investments is essential to maximizing your after-tax return. In addition, keeping up to date on changes to the tax rules ensures that you take advantage of all the tax savings…
City Life

Keep an eye on the sky for raptors

Annual migration of hawks, vultures and falcons brings these hunting birds back to our area, lifted by the thermals created by the Niagara escarpment. If you’re like me, then driving this time of year can be a real hazard. It’s not the sudden unexpected snow squalls or foggy…
Made in Hamilton

Young Entrepreneur winner: ‘I had no idea if I could make it work’

Hamilton Chamber announces 2023 Outstanding Business Achievement Award recipients. Taking a leap of faith paid off for the 2023 winner of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at a gala reception Wednesday. “I'm so grateful to be the recipient of the Hamilton Chamber…