Kick off back to school season with some fun adventures
September is the perfect time to explore Hamilton. The weather is pleasant, school isn’t too busy and there’s lots to do! Here are some events that are coming up in the next few weeks that are not to be missed.
Supercrawl
For art connoisseurs: Hamilton’s annual music and arts festival, Supercrawl, is back this year from Sep. 7 to 9 on James St N. The festival showcases and celebrates the community’s creative work, featuring local and emerging artists as well as established artists. It will also feature artisanal craft, fashion, art installations, literature, live music and theatrical performances.
Country Music Crawl
For country music lovers: the Country Music Crawl hosted by the Canadian Country Music Association is running from Aug. 24 to Sep. 16 at various locations throughout Hamilton, including Gore Park, Collective Arts Brewing, Mills Hardware, Art Gallery of Hamilton and Leander Boat Club. It features new and established artists, including Kyle McKearney, a Métis Canadian alternative country singer-songwriter nominated for four CCMA awards this year.
Hamilton Comic Con
For comic enthusiasts: Hamilton Comic Con will be returning to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on Sep. 23-24. This event will feature exhibitors, comic books, movie cars, an arcade, cosplay contests, celebrity autographs, photo-ops and much more. Some of the special attractions that are worth checking out this weekend, include the Mystery Machine and the Supernatural Impala.
Witches Night In
For mystical witches: the Witches Night In hosted by the Creative Market will take place on Sep. 23 at The Scottish Rite. This mystic convention will feature over 40 vendors, swag bags, photo booth, tooth gems, spooky art and tarot readings. There will also be prizes, drinks—including mocktails and butterbeer—piercings and tattoos. This event could be a great way to end off the month, sure to get you in the mood for Halloween.
Enjoy yourself at these events and be sure to let us know your favourite part of them in the comments!
C/O Starlight Canada
Starlight Canada’s new initiative to cheer up hospitalized children over the holidays
Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada is a nonprofit organization that helps hospitalized children and their families. The organization has been running for more than thirty years, with the ultimate goal of bringing joy to sick children.
Brian Bringolf, CEO of Starlight Canada, explained that hospitalized children can receive support from Starlight Canada from the time they are admitted into the hospital to after they have been discharged.
When children are first admitted, they are given Admit Kits from Starlight Canada, which contain age-appropriate toys, writing materials and toiletries. Throughout their hospitalization, Starlight Canada continues to provide toys and activities. Once children are discharged from the hospital, Starlight Canada also holds exciting monthly activities through their Great Escapes program.
“We're dedicated to brightening the lives of seriously ill children and their families,” said Bringolf.
“We're dedicated to brightening the lives of seriously ill children and their families.”
Brian Bringolf, CEO of Starlight Canada
This year, for the holiday season, Starlight Canada is delivering 48 Fun Centers to hospitals across Canada. Fun Centers, according to Bringolf, are brightly-coloured mobile entertainment units, each one featuring a flatscreen television and a Nintendo Switch preloaded with games.
The McMaster Children’s Hospital is one of the hospitals receiving a donation from Starlight Canada. According to Bringolf, the Fun Center at McMaster Children’s Hospital is sponsored by Air Canada.
“They can go on. They can play games. They can be distracted. They have these little headphones that they put on and they can play with their friends that are at home. They can visit mom and dad with these games,” said Bringolf.
“They can go on. They can play games. They can be distracted. They have these little headphones that they put on and they can play with their friends that are at home. They can visit mom and dad with these games.”
Brian Bringolf, CEO of Starlight Canada
Bringolf explained that when children use the Fun Centers to distract themselves from their illness, this helps them cope with pain. Bringolf cited well-known filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s involvement with Starlight Canada as being crucial to their use of distraction therapy.
“The premise [of distraction therapy is] that when you're distracted from pain, when you get distracted from your illness, there's less pain medication required. And there's a whole science behind this,” said Bringolf.
Bringolf explained that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitalized children have not been able to receive the same level of support or distraction. Although restrictions are now loosening, children were isolated in their rooms for much of the pandemic, with family members unable to visit. Even some of the supports offered by Starlight Canada, such as entertainment rooms known as Starlight Fun Rooms, were shut down for the pandemic.
In response to this, Starlight Canada launched numerous virtual programs, such as crafts and bingo games.
“We did still try to be there for them,” said Bringolf.
“We did still try to be there for them.”
Brian Bringolf, CEO of Starlight Canada
Bringolf explained that Starlight Canada is constantly growing and changing, based on what kind of support is needed by hospitalized children.
“I always say that Starlight Canada is not what we were five years ago and we're not today what we will be in five years. We continue to evolve with the needs of the kids,” said Bringolf.
This holiday season is Starlight Canada’s first time bringing Fun Centers to hospitals. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the past year especially challenging for hospitalized children, but Starlight Canada looks forward to brightening up their holiday season.
C/O Joltex
After the stands opened to all students, what are the general thoughts about the new varsity season?
After a full season of no varsity activities, the venue gates have finally opened and have started welcoming students to the stands as well. Many of the McMaster Marauders teams already have their seasons well under way. For example, the women's soccer team has already played six games within the Ontario University Athletics Championship, with five resulting in a win for the Marauders and one ending in a draw.
The women's varsity soccer team is not the only one who started the season off well, as the men’s varsity team has also performed to a high standard within the OUA championships, losing only one game from their first appearances in the tournament.
However, these teams were not alone in their success. Over the first month of games, both have managed to attract considerable crowds to not only the Ron Joyce, but away games as well.
In their tightest game of the season so far against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues that ended as a draw, the Marauders managed to get a good crowd at the Ron Joyce, attracting about 200 fans to watch them play the game.
However, shortly before that, the women's varsity team also played against the Blues, striking an impressive two to one win. Even during this game, there were about 150 spectators in the stands cheering the Marauders on. Evidently, the spectatorship boosted the Marauders’ chances of seeding high in the play-offs with their exceptional start to the season.
What do these events look like from a fan's perspective? How does it feel to watch numerous varsity games for the first time in a very long time or for the first time ever? Jared Paul, a second-year software engineering student, expressed his excitement at being able to support his friends from the stands.
“It truly is a good feeling being able to help your friends play the best they can. I went to a couple of women's varsity soccer games and got to watch and cheer on with a few of my other friends. It was quite something,”
JARED PAUL
When asked about how he got into watching the varsity sports so often, Paul explained how he and his friends would often go as a group.
“Sometimes, after I [finished] studying for my lectures in the afternoon, a couple of my friends and housemates would text me asking if I’d be willing to watch the games at the stadium in person with them. Most of the time I’d come because we personally know the players on the teams that play and that is what makes it more exciting,” explained Paul.
Although Paul was enthusiastic about attending the games consistently, he urged others to get involved as well.
“There are more and more of us every game and that is great. At the beginning of the season there were barely any people, but now there's a nice crowd [at the varsity soccer games] every time. I really do want more people to come and join us; it would be great to see the trend continue,” said Paul.
If you are willing to support any varsity team at this time, you can purchase tickets from the Marauders website for any sport.
Halloween celebrations look a little different this year, but can be festive nonetheless
Spooky season is looking different this year with an ongoing pandemic across the country. In Ontario, several regions including Ottawa, Peel, Toronto and York are now in the modified Stage 2 public health designation. People living in those regions are not recommended to go trick-or-treating this year.
Instead, families are encouraged to celebrate Halloween in their own household with activities such as a candy hunt, carving pumpkins or a movie night.
“We’re trying to make it as safe and simple as possible, my friends, we all know this isn’t going to be a regular Halloween,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Hamilton is currently a Stage 3 public health unit region and trick-or-treating is not prohibited, but people are asked to take extra precautions. This includes limiting gatherings to those within a household, washing hands or using hand sanitizer, only trick-or-treating outdoors and wearing a face covering even if a costume mask is already present.
For those living in Stage 3 public health unit regions, please take extra precautions & follow #PublicHealth advice to ensure you are keeping yourself & your families safe as you begin to prepare for #Halloween this year. #HappyHalloween https://t.co/eXAwIUuTz6 pic.twitter.com/cVVevwGmlV
— Ontario Ministry of Health (@ONThealth) October 19, 2020
Those who are handing out treats are also encouraged to take certain steps to stay physically distanced, such as using tongs to hand out treats. However, leaving treats in a bucket or bowl outside of the door for children to grab on their own is not advised.
For many McMaster University students, this change in Halloween festivities is a lost opportunity to celebrate with friends in person. However, several faculty societies and clubs have taken the opportunity to hold virtual celebrations instead.
The iSci Society transitioned its typical coffeehouse to an online platform. Hosted on Oct. 28 via Zoom, the society invited students to perform and share their talents. This includes performances such as singing, dancing, performing an instrument, slam poetry or a comedy act.
The Humanities society is doing a series of October events, including Halloween movie watching on Zoom every night from Oct. 26 to 30. On Oct. 30, the society is also offering private five-minute psychic readings via Zoom.
UNICEF McMaster is a club that represents the non-profit organization, UNICEF, to support various issues such as healthcare, nutrition and education. The club typically runs an annual Halloween fundraiser where each participating class donated money to see their professor dressed up in a costume during their lecture. This year, UNICEF McMaster is continuing this tradition by inviting professors to dress up for virtual classes.
Thanks #MacIntroPsych students for supporting @UNICEF and for selecting my Halloween costume. Note to self: it's not easy lecturing with an itchy moustache and using a slide advancer wearing oversized gloves. https://t.co/hZVUEwEP1W pic.twitter.com/nUY84veYZ5
— Joe Kim (@ProfJoeKim) October 29, 2019
From Oct. 23 to 31, the MSU Food Collective Centre is doing a trick-or-eat food collection event. Donation bins are placed at three drop-off locations in Hamilton including: TCBY in Westdale, Williams Fresh Cafe on Main Street and the McMaster University Student Centre. The service is collecting non-perishable food items to support local food banks. Folks who would like to donate but are unable to access the drop-off locations can also contact the service via email for other options.
Aside from online methods, folks can also find other ways to safely celebrate by going to outdoor events such as corn mazes or pumpkin patches. Although different from a typical year, Halloween in 2020 can still be celebrated in creative, fun and safe ways.
To learn more about the restrictions required of each public health stage or find out what stage cities are currently in, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario-stages.
By: Alannah DeAngelis, Contributor
Dates can be a fun way to get to know your partner better and try new things together. Between school, catching up on all your Netflix shows and hanging out with your friends, it can be tough to make time for date nights. Try out these five date ideas where you can stay on campus and avoid breaking the bank!
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Planetarium Show
The W. J. McCallion Planetarium, in the basement of BSB, is an out-of-this world date idea! Shows run Wednesday nights and there is a new theme each week. Learn about outer space, stars, planets, comets and more. For more information, check out the McMaster Planetarium website.
Cost: $7 per person.
Video Game Room in Lyons New Media Centre
Get your game on in the Video Games room on the 4th floor of Mills to find out which of you is the “Mario Kart” champion! There are five game consoles that you can choose from: Wii, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3 and PS4. They offer many games to play, all of which are available to rent for free. Bookings for this space can be made for up to 2 hours per day for all McMaster students.
Cost: Free! Just bring your student card to rent the controllers and games.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2mcPb2HV0q/
McMaster Museum of Art
Check out some cool art with your partner at the McMaster Museum of Art right on campus. The museum is recognized internationally for its European paintings, drawings and prints. It is also known for its specialist collection of early 20th century German prints. This highly notable museum is just steps away from the Student Centre.
Cost: Pay what you can (suggested donation is $2).
Trivia Night at the Phoenix
Test your knowledge at the Phoenix Bar and Grill’s Trivia Night, which happens every Tuesday at 7 p.m.. The theme changes each week, so you are sure to never be bored. Top teams will win gift cards to the Phoenix; perfect to use for another date night!
Cost: Free when you purchase food or drinks.
Hike at Cootes
McMaster is surrounded by beautiful hiking trails with breathtaking views. Go for a hike at Cootes (start at the trail behind the Alpine tower) and explore what nature has to offer in McMaster’s backyard. Notably, the Sassafrass trail includes a lookout platform onto Lake Ontario. Who knows, maybe you will even see some deer along the way!
Cost: Free!
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The month of March is an exciting time for Canadian university sports. Varsity teams across Canada spend most of March battling it out in arduous tournaments to bring national recognition to their university.
Especially during this time of year, it is easy to get swept up in the action, focusing solely on medals won or opportunities squandered, and the human side of the athletic community can be quickly forgotten. While all student-athletes at McMaster grind it out over the school year to bring home another banner, many members of the McMaster athletic community also dedicate their time to another important cause.
McMaster Athletes Care is a volunteer program whose vision is to “utilize sport as a tool to teach valuable life skills and empower youth to believe in their dreams”. In addition to community events such as January’s annual Think Pink Week, the program gives Mac athletes an opportunity to volunteer in the Hamilton community.
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From hospital visits and bringing kids to Marauders home games, MAC hosts weekly volunteer visits to the Living Rock Youth Resources program, the Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton, and the Routes Youth Centre. During these weekly visits, volunteers will utilize gym space to get kids active.
“It’s a really easy way to get volunteer hours to just sign up and go play sports, which is not really volunteering — it's a lot of fun,” said MAC’s Living Rock coordinator Mike Cox. “It’s a productive procrastination where, if you watch two hours of Netflix, I feel like I don't really get anything done and I feel kind of bad about that. But if you go and volunteer, you're giving your time and it's a nice break.”
Mike Cox has been involved with MAC for the last few years, initially volunteering as a member of the men’s lacrosse team to earn volunteer experience in pursuit of a teaching career. Cox eventually found himself making the weekly visits to Living Rock, a program for at-risk youth, and it became more than just a fun way to give back to the community.
“It's a reality check too, to go out and to do all that stuff,” Cox said. “It just kind of makes your bed a little warmer and your food taste a little better and all that stuff, so I know that it puts things into perspective. I started out doing it because I needed volunteer hours but like once you get out there, it kind of sucks you in and obviously I've been there ever since.”
Upon returning to Mac for a master’s degree in mathematics last year, Cox took over as MAC’s Living Rock coordinator. Enthusiastically organized by McMaster’s Coordinator for Community and Alumni Engagement, Nicole Grosel, the executive committee is full of members like Cox, each committed to coordinating the various events of the program.
Living Rock focuses on an older age group compared to the other weekly visits, so while it can be a challenge to get the older kids to participate in physical activity, which is the program’s main focus, the quality time spent with the members of these programs is still important to them.
“It feels good to see these people who stop coming for good reasons, like they don't have to be there because they found an apartment or because they've found a better job or they moved on,” Cox said. “It's a cool feeling to kind of see them through all that stuff and see where they started and see where they ended up.”
In addition to giving kids an outlet and an additional support system, getting varsity athletes to interact with kids in the community serves MAC’s goal of inspiring and motivating kids. In addition to showing them the importance of living a physically active life, student-athletes can share opportunities that can come from playing high-level sports, like scholarships and important relationships.
“Volunteering is always important and all of those kids they appreciate it, and I know they do. It's just good for McMaster and it's good for your soul,” Cox said. “To show that the athletes do have, amongst their busy schedules, that we can give back a little bit and show that McMaster Athletics isn't just about winning championships, it's about showing that we can give back and that we can recognize that we're very fortunate people.”
Not only does MAC help student-athletes appreciate their position, but it also allows some of the lesser-covered sports to gain some recognition as important parts of the Marauders community, such as the women’s lacrosse team who brought in a sizeable donation for a clothing drive and logged the most volunteer minutes for Think Pink Week.
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Giving student-athletes from any sport a fun and easily accessible way to give back to the community, MAC continues to be a great service that deserves to be recognized as an invaluable resource for the Hamilton community. While giving student-athletes an opportunity to appreciate their own lives, MAC is helping to inspire a new generation of athletes.
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Odin Cafe and Bar
514 King Street E
Odin is a Nordic-inspired cafe and bar that boasts a no-fuss menu of seriously good coffee. This is not a place where you will find a venti no-whip, no-foam vanilla latte with a shot of raspberry. The cafe boasts a generous selection of classic java beverages by day, and wine and beer by night. You will find yourself enjoying the drink in your hand as much as the crisp, white angles of its intricately designed interior. Pair their smooth-as-satin filtered coffee with their soothing aesthetics for the ultimate coffee-consuming experience. If you are a coffee aficionado, Odin is your godsend.
The Dirty Bird Chicken + Waffles
79 Kensington Avenue
Do you enjoy fried chicken? Do you enjoy waffles? Put them together and you have yourself a delectable marriage of flavours and textures that will give you an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. The neutral, industrial vibe of the restaurant appropriately compliments the deliciously fried grub, all served on shiny metal trays. You have a choice of ordering only their famous chicken and a side, but most come to this joint for “The ODB,” a piece of fried boneless dark meat chicken on top of a maple, buttered waffle. Other highlights include “The Dirty fries” and their waffle ice cream sandwiches. Dig in.
Bang Bang Ice Creamery
93 Ossington Avenue
Be ready for a wait! Since Bang Bang entered the Toronto food scene a few years back, the line has not shortened much in front of this Ossington staple. Made in-house, the bakery and ice cream production happens in the back. When you enter, you are greeted by a menu that spans the length of the shop’s back wall. At the front is a complete display of Bang Bang’s famous cookies (vegan included), ice cream puffs, and Hong Kong style waffles (a must try), but most come for the ice creamery’s renowned ice cream sandwiches. Time passes quick in line because you will be spending most of it deciding between the plethora of ice cream and cookie flavours. They even have a birthday cake flavoured cookie…need I say more?
The Rooster Coffee House
479 Broadview Avenue
The Rooster Coffee House is one of the homiest coffee houses in the city, rife with board games and familiar neighbourhood faces who treat the cafe as their second living room. The vintage suitcases and sleek bar stools gives off a cool but comfortable vibe. Besides the decor, Rooster also serves delicious coffee, including their own specialty roasts. From espressos to custom blends to one of the best hot chocolates in the city, this coffee house will satisfy anyone from the biggest coffee nut, to people stopping in from a break outside at the adjacent Riverdale Park. The park features rolling hills, soccer nets, and a breathtaking view of the Toronto skyline that accompanies frisbee games and casual picnics. Head over to the Riverdale neighbourhood, it will allow you to kill two birds with one stone.
Andy Warhol Exhibit
77 Bloor Street West
Canada’s largest Andy Warhol exhibition has landed in Toronto, smack-dab in the middle of one of the city’s most extravagant, Warhol-esque neighbourhoods: Yorkville. Entitled Andy Warhol Revisited: A Mirror for Today, the exhibit will run from July 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Curated by Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Ron Rivlin, who owns much of the over 120 original prints and paintings being displayed, the works include some of Warhol’s most famous pieces from the “Campbell’s Soup Cans”, “Marilyn Monroe” and “Elizabeth Taylor” series. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for youth and students. Stop by for a great show by the legendary pop artist.
Harbourfront Movie Screenings
235 Queens Quay W
Toronto’s Harbourfront during the summer is abuzz with uproarious energy from the throngs of locals and visitors enjoying a nice day by the water. This stretch of Queens Quay West is one of the most popular spots in the city, rife with shops, restaurants, and cafes. During this time of year, Harbourfront is the location of choice for a variety of events and activities organized by the city, numerous organizations, and the Harbourfront Centre. One such event is free movie screenings every Wednesday evening. Named “Free Flicks,” this is Toronto’s only summer-long waterfront film series. Some films included in the line-up are Raising Arizona, Boy, and The Descendants. Check out their website for the full schedule and prepare yourself for a film viewing accompanied by a serene Lake Ontario at dusk.
