Rebecca McDougall
Student Community Support Network

Now that second semester has begun and the snow is really falling, what better way to spend your spare time than exploring what Hamilton has to offer in the winter months. Before midterms begin, essays are due, and the inevitable stress of being a student mounts, check out these Hamilton winter attractions!

Enjoy skating? Head over to the Hamilton Waterfront Outdoor Rink located at Pier 8 (47 Discovery Drive). The rink is open on Sunday to Friday from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. and Saturday’s from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Don’t have skates? Not a problem! They offer rentals for five dollars with government identification. This is the perfect opportunity to get outside, get active and discover Hamilton. After skating, warm up at the Williams beside the skating rink and take in the beautiful view. If skating later in the evening, you’ll find the Waterfront Festival of Lights until February 17.

Kicking off the month of February, a variety of “Winterfest” activities have been planned throughout Hamilton. From February 1-9, the event welcomes Hamilton residents to celebrate the city of Hamilton and the beauty of the winter season. Events include the Winterfest Kickoff at Pier 8 on Saturday, February 1. The Kickoff will include a variety of art installations, interactive activities, live music and skating. Closing off Winterfest is Kim Adams at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Adams is a Canadian multimedia sculptor who created the Bruegel-Bosch Bus. The event is free of charge.

A full schedule of Winterfest events can be found at http://www.tourismhamilton.com
/festivals-events/winterfest-2014.
Still looking for something else to do? Why not support the Hamilton Bulldogs by attending a home game. On January 24, the Bulldogs take on Toronto; January 26 they play Chicago; and on February 15 they are back in Hamilton versing Texas. Head to Compass in MUSC to purchase a Voucher to attend a game for only $12 which can be redeemed at the Copps Coliseum Box Office for an individual game ticket in the Blue Section. Redeem your voucher anytime that the box office is open during business hours or three hours before any event.

Make the most of your semester and venture off campus to discover all of the events and activities that Hamilton has to offer!

Joshua Patel
Discover Your City

December is just around the corner and along with the festivities of the month comes the word that most students dread – exams.

Exams are a stressful time for most students (if not all) as we all work tirelessly to ensure that our semester ends off on the right note. During this busy exam period, it’s important to take a break or get some fresh air to relieve some of that stress.

Hamilton offers many great experiences that are definitely worth checking out and could also provide an alternative study location if you’re looking for a change of environment.

If you’re looking for café’s and restaurants away from campus, downtown Hamilton has plenty to meet your needs. Locke Street full of restaurants, cafes and clothing shops is a great first stop for students, easily accessible through the HSR. The Jet Café and Detour Café (both on King Street) as well as James Street’s Mulberry Street Coffeehouse are just a few more options outside the McMaster University ‘bubble’ that could offer you an alternative study location as well as help you explore the City at the same time.

Weather-permitted, Hamilton also has a number of parks that could add some beautiful scenery to your study experience. Bayfront Park, Pier 4 Park, the Hamilton Harbour Waterfront Trail and Hamilton Beach Recreational Trail are a few scenic options in the City to help you get some fresh air and enjoy the view of the harbour, whether you’re looking to take a break or just study outdoors.

While libraries on campus get busy there are a number of public libraries off-campus that could meet your needs. The Westdale public library and Hamilton’s Central generic viagra cost Library (near Jackson Square) are two options that have great study places and academic resources that you could utilize while exploring the City at the same time.

Hamilton has something to offer for everyone and during the upcoming month, don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and explore the City! Good luck McMaster!

Dundurn Castle, one of Hamilton's several attractions. Rick Cordeiro, c/o Wikimedia Commons

Curious McMaster students seeking adventure need look no further than Hamilton itself.

That’s the message from one of the McMaster Students Union’s newest campaigns. Discover Your City is a initiative designed to connect students with the city around them. The operation will focus on promoting events, businesses, sights and restaurants to McMaster students.

Hamilton has earned a reputation. People say it is dirty, gross and sketchy; elsewhere in the province, it is called “The Armpit of Ontario.”

Spencer Graham, MSU vice-president (Education), is concerned that students are accepting this. “We as students believe that narrative without actually going into the city at all."

He feels that students should author their own judgement of the Hammer; to draw their own conclusions, they’ve got to cross the 403 and actually explore the city.

Hamilton truly has a lot to offer. The MSU wants to use Discover as a vehicle to inform and impassion students to leave Westdale and appreciate the city they live in.

The idea originated with last year’s Vice-President (Education), Huzaifa Saeed. As a lover of Hamilton, he had worked in local advocacy before finishing his time at McMaster. He also focussed on surveying perceptions of Hamilton. His vision is being carried on by Graham and a team consisting of representatives from the Student Community Support Network, the External Affairs Commissioner and the MSU Advocacy office.

Similar promotions have existed. Most recently, the Get Cultured campaign helped to connect students with the arts in Hamilton. Discover differs from previous attempts in that it is more wide-ranging. The hope is that something will appeal to everyone. One week it may be a music festival, and the next could be a Hamilton Bulldogs game; it could be a waterfall, a restaurant or an historic site.

During Welcome Week, Discover will be spreading their message and trying to build brand recognition, before planning events later in September. Representatives will be giving away free t-shirts and telling students to look out for Discover Your City promotions. Residence Orientation Advisors will be starting early—hosting events that draw residence students off campus to introduce them to the city.

Graham also wants to gauge student input in the campaign. Suggestions for events and locations can be sent to vped@msu.mcmaster.ca.

Spencer Graham’s final words of advice? “Go explore Hamilton. A majority of students will be here for at least four years, so make the most of your experience in the city. Hamilton isn’t a scary place, it’s home.”