The Westdale Theatre partners with Hamilton’s House of Adam and Steve
Reel Queens is a recurring night of queer film and art. A drag show, followed by a camp movie, featuring audience interactions and dance breaks. It is an event regulars of the Westdale Theatre have come to expect and love.
Reel Queens chose to celebrate Pride this year with a screening of camp classic Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, including a performance of the titular character’s interpretive dance live alongside the screen.
The minds behind the show come from Hamilton’s own House of Adam and Steve, a group known for organizing queer events around the city. The organization and its co-founder, Steven Hilliard, has touched everything from drag brunches to trivia nights to cabaret shows. But pairing drag with a movie in a smaller space has drawn out audiences constantly for years now.
Hilliard believes that the Westdale Theatre has been a proactive contributor to the expansion of Queer culture in Hamilton and discussed the initial conceptualization of Reel Queens.
“[The Westdale Theater] wanted people to know that the Westdale was a spot that does support the local 2SLGBTIA+ community,” said Hilliard.
Hilliard also spoke about how drag events were an eye opener to queer culture and identity as younger person.
“When I was a kid, the only place I could see drag was in a club,” said Hilliard. “I was struggling with my gender, my sexuality and I didn’t know where I fit in. I saw a drag artist for the first time and it really changed the way I thought about myself.”
Putting drag in a largely student and family community like Westdale Village is one of the reasons Hilliard considers Reel Queens to be so important.
“The Westdale providing this stage is really special because queer art saves lives… I feel like there’s not a whole lot [in the Westdale Village] that is overtly as queer as Reel Queens,” said Hilliard
Hilliard and the House of Adam and Steve aim to create a low-pressure outlet into queer culture through Reel Queens.
“It’s a great way to expose yourself to that sort of culture you might not get in small towns . . . you can come and relax and have a good time and not be afraid to be yourself. And, you know, be as queer as you want to be,” said Hilliard.
Hilliard recalled a time when queer culture was not as safe or openly celebrated, describing a time when there were “five gay, queer spaces. And they all but disappeared, all at once. It was a scary time to be queer in Hamilton.” In the last decade, organizations such as the House of Adam and Steve have worked with queer artists and allies to create their own safe spaces.
Hilliard emphasized the amount of queer safe spaces that are now available today in Hamilton and their importance to the community. “Not only do you have events and spaces where you can go and feel safe and feel welcome, but there’s an abundance of them . . . we’re no longer segregated to one spot in the city, or one bar. We’re not hiding behind closed doors,” said Hilliard.
Reel Queens events are hosted throughout the year at the Westdale Theater, hosted and put on by a variety of drag performers. Students interested in attending can find upcoming schedules and announcements at the Westdale Theatre or through the House of Adam and Steve.
Get ready to laugh out loud with and interact with McMaster's improv team at the Westdale Theatre!
The McMaster Improv Team will be taking the stage on September 19 at 8:00 p.m. at the Westdale Theatre. This event promises an evening filled with spontaneous humour and engaging comedy, featuring not only the McMaster Improv Team but also a lineup of other hilarious acts including Dave Barclay, Carson and Taylor, and Smooth Comedy.
The McMaster Improv Team operates with a blend of structured improvisation and creative freedom, ensuring that each performance is both unpredictable and engaging. The team requires the use of quick wit to create entertaining narratives on the spot. “You go from club practices where you're performing scenes in front of your fellow members, which is easy, and then you go to performing in front of a crowd who might know nothing about improv.” explained Rachel Brinzan, vice president of promotions for the McMaster Improv Team.
The McMaster Improv Team creates narratives in real-time, a process that Brinzan finds very enjoyable. “If you’ve ever watched a TV show and seen a plot develop, in improv, you’re making that plot up on the spot. Sometimes, things circle back in scenes, creating a very interesting narrative,” Brinzan explained. This unscripted nature of improv allows the audience to experience a fresh and dynamic performance with every show.
If you’ve ever watched a TV show and seen a plot develop, in improv, you’re making that plot up on the spot.
Rachel Brinzan, Vice President Promotions
McMaster Improv Team
The team is divided into junior and senior divisions, with two student coaches and a head coach. The junior team consists of beginners who are new to improv and is under the guidance of student coaches Gabby Pelosini and Keon Madani.
The senior team includes those with more experience, further honing their craft under the direction of head coach Kevin, who oversees the entire group. “Kevin is an experienced improv coach with over 10 years of acting experience. He teaches us the curriculum and helps us develop our skills,” said Briznan.
The upcoming event at the Westdale Theatre will provide the team with a diverse audience off campus. “We’re excited to perform at the Westdale because it’s a great way to reach out and meet people who aren’t just on campus,” said Brinzan.
The McMaster Improv Team’s show is not only a chance to enjoy some great comedy but also an opportunity to try out improv for yourself. As Brinzan puts it, “Improv is all about having fun and enjoying the moment. Even if you’re not an actor, you can come and enjoy the performance or even consider trying it out yourself.”
Improv is all about having fun and enjoying the moment. Even if you’re not an actor, you can come and enjoy the performance or even consider trying it out yourself.
Rachel Brinzan, Vice President Promotions
McMaster Improv Team
McMaster Improv also includes an interactive element where the audience has influence on the performance. The performers will occasionally prompt someone in the audience for a subject, then the improv team creates a storyline from it. “You [the audience] can shape the way the scene is. If you want a scene to be about tomatoes you can have the scene about tomatoes. It's just a really fun interactive event. And you get to see how other people are going to interact with you, with your scenarios and with the people up on stage,” said Brinzan.
This event will be a great way to experience the creative energy and community spirit of the McMaster Improv Team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to witness a night of spontaneous comedy and interactive fun. Grab your tickets, bring your friends, and get ready for an unforgettable evening of laughter at the Westdale Theatre on September 19th!
Hamilton-based band Babbage Industries joins worldwide celebration encouraging everyone to
stop and listen to the music
On Aug. 30, local band Babbage Industries played a free concert from the porch of a house near Churchill Park in Westdale. Members of the Westdale community gathered to enjoy an evening of music.
Play Music on the Porch Day was started in 2014 by artist Brian Mallman who wondered, “What if for one day everything stopped and we all just listened to the music?” The event is held on the last Saturday in August and has grown to include thousands of musicians from over 70 countries. To participate you simply go outside and play music.
What if one day everything stopped and we all just listened to the music?
Brian Mallman, founder, Play Music on the Porch Day
Participants could register online to be on the Play Music on the Porch Day worldwide map, which showcases the global extent of the day. Monica Knott, the event host and bassist, remarked “We’re just one little dot in all of the dots. It’s everywhere. It’s kind of cool to know that everywhere in the world everybody was doing something like that.”
This was the first time Babbage Industries participated in Play Music on the Porch Day, having heard about the idea last year. However, they had been playing music on the porch since the COVID-19 pandemic. "We wanted to play music together and of course it’s really impossible to do that during COVID times. So we practiced exactly that way many times and the neighbours would sit on their porch and [cheer] and that sort of thing," said Knott.
Play Music on the Porch Day provides an opportunity for people to meet their neighbors and build community. In between songs, the band and audience talked about music and other shared interests. The audience was encouraged to sing along to songs they knew. Knott mentioned that one woman brought a melodica and played along and another passerby happened to be an accordion player.
Knott enjoyed witnessing small interactions between people, like her neighbor going to get a chair from his house for another attendee. “We consume music, for sure. We wear our headphones, but it doesn’t build interactions like we’re having right now. Even when you go to a concert, you go with your friends, you dance with your friends, but you’re not necessarily making those connections. But this made connections,” said Knott.
We consume music, for sure. We wear our headphones, but it doesn't build interactions like we're having right now. Even when you go to a concert, you go with your friends, you dance with your friends, but you're not necessarily making those connections. But this made connections.
Monica Knott, event host and bassist, Play Music on the Porch Day
Babbage Industries enjoys performing regularly. “As a band, we just love playing together. One thing we love more than anything is just hanging out, making music, being good to each other,” said Knott. The band’s upcoming engagements include the Hamilton for Haiti fundraiser and I’ll be Mother, an original musical. Knott said she hopes to host Play Music on the Porch Day again and have more musicians join in next year.
This Halloween, The Westdale screened the 1975 cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with an extra special drag pre-show with Hamilton drag performers
By Naomi Moshe, Arts & CUlture contributor
The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been drawing in audiences worldwide for over 45 years for a reason. The cult classic film is not only jam packed with fun, but it is also a landmark piece of cinema for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The film exudes the message of radical self acceptance, and being unafraid of the hidden desires that live deep within all of us––a sentiment that the queer community of the mid 1970’s desperately needed to hear. As a result, midnight screenings of Rocky Horror became safe spaces for the queer community to socialize and connect with one another at a time when simply existing as a gay person in broad daylight was a dangerous act.
When I heard that The Westdale was screening Rocky Horror on Halloween night, including a special drag pre-show with local Hamilton drag performers Jessie James and Karma Kameleon, I knew I needed to go. Besides, is there any better way to spend Halloween night than heckling profanities at a giant screen surrounded by hundreds of other people?
The atmosphere at The Westdale was, in a word, electrifying. Of course, crowds of people dressed up as characters from the movie. But more importantly, people were genuinely excited for the show, even though most people in attendance probably have seen this film more times than they could count on both hands. The energy was infectious––the entire theater was buzzing with anticipation.
The drag pre-show, hosted by Jessie James and Karma Kameleon, was a blast. Karma and Jessie performed campy lip syncs of songs from the movie’s soundtrack, including “Dammit Janet” and “Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me.” The highlight of the night for me was Jessie’s incredible live vocal performance of “Sweet Transvestite.” I had the pleasure of speaking with Jessie shortly after the event to get some insight on the importance of nights such as these for Hamilton’s queer community.
“Visibility is so important. I didn’t see myself growing up, and I struggled a lot with that. Being able to put on public events where people can come see us be explicitly queer, it’s the first step in having a conversation about [queerness.] It demystifies the queer experience. It brings a lot of joy into it,” explained Jessie.
When asked about her personal highlight of the night, Jessie said that it was when the whole theater got up and did the Time Warp with her and Karma. “To look out into the audience and see everyone standing up and dancing along…There [are] very few words I could use to describe the energy you feel from that. It’s almost addictive in a weird way,” said Jessie.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show continues to bring together people from all walks of life, even 45 years after its release. And, for Hamilton’s LGBTQ+ community, events like these create space for authentic self expression and unapologetic queerness.
The Westdale Theatre will showcase various Halloween classics so you can get your dose of the spookies just down the street from campus
The Westdale Theatre screens independent films and provides a space for public performances and exhibitions. They aim to showcase diverse Canadian content as well as classic throwbacks. They also host live cultural events throughout the year.
The theatre is managed by the Westdale Cinema group, a charitable organization that hopes to provide a space for the community to gather to enjoy cinema and culture.
For Halloween this year, the Westdale plans to once again screen various Halloween classics, as they have been doing since they opened. However, this year, they will also be hosting a drag and movie mixer entitled REEL QUEENS on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m., where they will be screening The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
This event will be sponsored by the House of Adam and Steve and will feature drag queen Jessie James.
There will also be a sensory-friendly screening of The Addams Family geared towards family and kids on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. The sensory-friendly screening allows those with heightened sensitivity to light and sound to come to the theater and enjoy the show. The lights will be turned on and the audience can roam around and make noise.
Neal Miller, the Executive Director at the Westdale Theatre, hopes that everyone who comes out to the Halloween showings will have a great time.
“[I hope they] just come and have fun in the theatre. I think the great thing for Mac students to know is that not all universities in our country have access to such a cool place that’s within walking distance of their campus,” said Miller.
[I hope they] just come and have fun in the theatre. I think the great thing for Mac students to know is that not all universities in our country have access to such a cool place that’s within walking distance of their campus
Neal Miller, Executive Director, the Westdale Theatre
With the growing norm of just watching movies alone in your home, Miller hopes this event will bring the community together, as watching a movie with group of people is a completely different experience from watching one alone. It is important for students to collectively experience things with the rest of the community.
“Watching Rocky Horror Picture Show at home on your TV is not nearly as fun as watching it with 300 other people screaming and calling back to the screen and bringing props and having fun, not to mention all of the cultural value and that the health values of having culture,” explained Miller.
For The Rocky Horror Picture Show, they encourage viewers to dress up and to bring props. Miller hopes that this will provide students and adults a time to have fun and relax by dressing up.
“Dressing up, [for] adults, allows [them] to be kids, not taking life too seriously. Life [can be] pretty serious and difficult,” said Miller.
Dressing up, [for] adults, allows [them] to be kids, not taking life too seriously. Life [can be] pretty serious and difficult
Neal Miller, Executive Director, the Westdale Theatre
Over the next few weeks, they will be other Halloween-themed films as well, including The Nightmare before Christmas.
In the future, the Westdale Theatre hopes to continue educating the community through the arts and provide opportunities for the community to come together by showcasing local art and film. The Westdale Theatre also hopes to bring more of the city’s cultural works to the big screen, so more people can enjoy them.
Matamak is a recently opened restaurant in Westdale that uses a monthly subscription-based system to ensure that they can provide good quality to food while maintaining low prices food
Matamak is a new restaurant that opened in Westdale on Jul. 12, founded by Omar Barakat. It operates on a subscription-based model, where members pay a monthly subscription fee to enjoy the low cost of food at Matamak, starting at $25 per month.
Barakat grew up in Toronto and worked in IT before getting into entrepreneurship. He previously had a manufacturing business in the United States, but his family has always been involved in the restaurant industry; his younger brother is a chef and has opened several restaurants, inspiring Barakat to eventually start one too.
Barakat’s restaurant model was inspired by his father's stories about groups in his home country buying large quantities of food and selling it to people at low prices, helping people to save money. Barakat chose to mirror this model but with a membership fee, making it more sustainable to operate.
The membership fee allows Barakat covers the restaurant’s overhead costs, and in turn allows Matamak to pass on its savings to its customers and eliminate other costs, such as tipping.
Matamak’s food is all made-to-order, to guarantee the freshness and quality of the food. Barakat emphasized the uniqueness of his restaurant model and its focus on offering good food to customers at a low cost.
“Regular restaurants, [when] they make a food item, they mark it all the way up and when they charge, they start upselling to make profit [and] they'll switch to ingredients that are inferior. We just make high quality food and we don't have that problem where we have to market all the way up or change to inferior ingredients or whatnot,” said Barakat.
Regular restaurants, [when] they make a food item, they mark it all the way up and when they charge, they start upselling to make profit [and] they'll switch to ingredients that are inferior. We just make high quality food and we don't have that problem where we have to market all the way up or change to inferior ingredients or whatnot.
Omar Barakat, founder, Matamak
Although Barakat has engaged in minimal marketing so far, Matamak has been well received by the community so far and many have been pleasantly surprised by their prices.
"They're just really happy ordering. One customer I remember told me when [she saw] the price of her burger, she thought she had won the lottery,” said Barakat.
They're just really happy ordering. One customer I remember told me when [she saw] the price of her burger, she thought she had won the lottery.
Omar Barakat, founder, Matamak
Matamak is also interested in supporting students. on students. They understand that when students enter university, it is one of the first times they are out on their own. Matamak wants this to be an opportunity to provide students with hospitality.
“When they walk through our door, it's our chance to give them that hospitality, generous and friendly service for visitors and guests when they come in. We want to be able to take care of them [and] not charge them crazy price. So, I want them to what to take away from Matamak [is] that home feeling,” explained Barakat.
Matamak currently offers a one-week free trial for new members and they accept McMaster University student meal cards.
Four new restaurants have opened up in Westdale, just walking distance from McMaster campus
Over the past few months, four new restaurants have opened in Westdale, walking distance from McMaster University and just in time for the upcoming school year.
Fuwa Fuwa opened its first location in Hamilton over the summer and is North America’s largest soufflé pancake and dessert cafe. Fuwa Fuwa means “fluffy fluffy” in Japanese. Their pancakes have influences from the East and West and they achieve the delicate balance between a traditional pancake and a soufflé. Other than Hamilton, Fuwa Fuwa has locations in Toronto, Mississauga and Vaughan.
Matamak is a unique restaurant that offers a wide selection of customizable food options, including burgers, pizza and toast, at low prices. They are able to sustain their low prices by using a monthly subscription-based model. Monthly memberships start at $25 per month, with a one-month free trial. Members can eat there as often as they’d like. The idea behind this model was to provide students with a quick and affordable restaurant option with an endless selection of items.
Monga opened its first location in Hamilton on King St W and serves Taiwanese style fried chicken. Monga, also known as Wanhua district, is a region in Taiwan that is known to embody solidarity, spirit and courage and the restaurant hopes their chicken embodies these as well. It currently has other locations open in Richmond Hill, North York and Mississauga in Ontario.
CHASKA opened its first location in Hamilton this month. It focuses on bringing an authentic Indian street food experience to its customers, made with good quality, healthy ingredients bursting with flavour. They serve classics such as kathi rolls, sliders, chaat, samosas and more. “Chaska” means “obsession” in Punjabi. They currently have around a dozen locations open in Ontario, in cities such as Toronto, Waterloo, Mississauga and Peterborough.
If you’re looking for some new restaurant options close to McMaster campus, check out these places!
C/O Ainsley Thurgood
The return to in-person learning in winter 2022 also means the return of students supporting local businesses
Whether it be for a coffee run at Paisley’s or a pitstop for pho at Saigon Asian Restaurant, Westdale Village and the businesses located there are staples within the McMaster community. However, Westdale’s streets lined with red brick houses and tudor-style architecture have been devoid of the hustle and bustle of students since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Now, Westdale’s businesses are eagerly awaiting the return of the students for the in-person winter 2022 semester to bring life back to the streets of Hamilton.
For businesses in the Westdale area, the COVID-19 pandemic came as a double hit to their operations. Not only were they affected by provincial regulations limiting their services, but McMaster’s transition to online learning also meant businesses in the area lost large portions of their clientele as student leases were terminated and students went back to attending school from their childhood bedrooms.
Back in October, McMaster finally announced that the Winter 2022 semester would be fully in-person and students should expect to be back on campus in January of the coming year. To ensure safety and comfort in the return to campus, Back to Mac COVID-19 training is mandatory for all students and access to McMaster facilities will be restricted to those who have uploaded proof of vaccination and completed the MacCheck assessment tool.
Though many students have already returned to life in and around campus, the transition from blended to fully in-person learning is bringing the remainder of McMaster’s student population back to the Hamilton area. Even with the partial return over the last few months, Westdale’s businesses have seen drastic changes.
“Westdale isn't the same without students there . . . Come January, learning in-person will help even more as we depend on students for both business and community,” said Mohammad Emami, the owner of Nannaa Persian Eatery in Westdale.
Overall, the sentiments of business owners towards the return of students have been resoundingly positive.
“The support has just been amazing since [students] have been back and it's nice to see the village lively again,” said Leo Tsangarakis, CEO of The Burnt Tongue.
However, many businesses are still itching for the full return of students to the area. Westdale Pilates, which opened just over a year before the beginning of the pandemic, has had to make extensive changes to its operations due to the lower population in Westdale and provincial guidelines. The pilates studio has shifted to smaller class sizes and more therapeutic classes, especially private sessions.
Though the small classes have allowed them to put more of a focus on individual growth in class, the studio has had to increase their pricing in order to sustainably stay open. Without the traffic of students, taking classes at Westdale Pilates has regrettably become more inaccessible than pre-pandemic, with increased pricing and fewer student discounts.
“There’s not a lot of undergrad students coming to classes. Previously, with mat classes being more financially accessible, I could fill them with more people. That would mean I could drop the prices and have a lot of student discounts, but right now only having four people in class, as sad as it is I can’t drop [prices] as low. It has to make financial sense for me to pay people to instruct at the same time,” said Karina Vohle, the owner and founder of Westdale Pilates.
As students return to the area, businesses are beginning to see increased traffic, slowly but surely lifting some of the financial strain caused from operating through the pandemic.
Beyond students, Westdale businesses also largely employ McMaster students to keep their businesses running. At the heart and soul of their operations lies students who have been absent from the area for far too long.
Soon to once again be home to students and families alike, the streets of Westdale are yours to explore. Support local businesses while fueling your craving of the day — whether it be caffeine, bubble tea, korean rice dogs or good old-fashioned soup and a sandwich.
“Now that things are going back to normal, I would encourage [students] to really explore the neighborhood. Westdale has a lot to offer, whether it's restaurants or the coffee shops around the Westdale area. Take advantage of the fact that things are going back to normal and explore the neighborhood and what it has to offer,” said Emami.
Yoohyun Park/Production Coordinator
Get into the winter spirit with these events during your break from school
With orange and red leaves falling off trees and midterms coming to an end just before exams, the winter season is quickly approaching. As the seasons change, winter seasonal and holiday events are coming back to the Hamilton area. For students currently living in and around campus, here are eight events to get you into the spirit of the season in December.
Winter Wonders at the Royal Botanical Gardens
From Nov. 24 to Jan. 9, Hendrie Park will be transforming into a wonderland at the Hamilton Royal Botanical Gardens — complete with festive lights and nature at every turn.
As you stroll through the gardens, there will be festive music as you go along the 1 ½ kilometre walk, which should take around an hour to complete. Student and youth admission is currently on sale at a discounted rate.
The Nutcracker
Ballet Jӧrgen will be carrying on the time-honoured winter tradition with this year’s production of The Nutcracker, held at the FirstOntario Concert Hall. Located at George Brown College, Ballet Jӧrgen is a Canada-wide touring company founded and directed by acclaimed choreographer Bengt Jӧrgen.
The show will feature costumes designed in collaboration with Kleinburg’s McMichael Canadian Art Collection and backdrops inspired by 20th century Canadian landscapes. Tickets are now on sale for the show on Dec. 4.
Centre[3]’s Small is Good Show and Sale
Centre[3]’s annual holiday show and sale will return this year after being postponed last year. The exhibition will run from Dec. 10 to 31 and it will feature a range of works from the artist-run centre’s members.
Ancaster Craft Show
Local vendors and small businesses will be gathering at the Ancaster Fairgrounds on Dec. 11 for the annual Ancaster Christmas Craft Show. Admission costs five dollars and provides community members with access to the mistletoe and tinsel lining the hall and all of the local vendors this year.
Holiday Night 2SQTBIPOC Market
The third and final event in Black Owned Hamilton’s Holiday Pop-Up series, their Holiday Night 2SQTBIPOC Market will be held on Dec. 4 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Side Door Bar. The market will feature Black, Indigenous and people of colour and queer vendors and is being held in collaboration with community organization Fruit Salad, which aims to expand space dedicated for 2SLGBTQIA+ women and gender nonconforming folks.
Cranky Celtic Christmas
The Westdale’s Hamilton Originals series is continuing with a holiday concert featuring Celtic Christmas tunes. The Westdale is a historical Hamilton theatre and registered not-for-profit charity located in the heart of Westdale Village.
Musicians Wendell Ferguson and Scantily Plaid will be performing, with the event hosted by Mike McCurlie. Though the concert will be happening in-person at The Westdale’s theatre, the entire event will be live-streamed over Youtube and Facebook. Tickets are on sale for the concert on Dec. 20.
Holiday Historic Cooking Workshop: Victorian Delights
The Dundurn National Historic Site is also offering a Holiday Historic Cooking workshop on Dec. 3 and Dec. 12. In Dundurn Castle’s 19th century kitchen, participants will learn how to prepare seasonal desserts from two Dundurn cooks.
Tickets are on sale now. Participants will be socially distant, masked and asked to show proof of vaccination before entering.
Christmas Tree of Hope Lighting
The City of Hamilton and the Downtown Hamilton BIA will light the city’s Christmas of Hope, in Gore Park, on Dec. 3 at 6:15 p.m. This year there will be both in person and virtual viewing options, with in-person attendees being asked to mask and maintain social distance.
Live on the stage in the park, Little Peter and the Elegants will kick off the event at 5:30 p.m., with a live stream being available from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Cable14’s website and 9000 CHML’s social media channels. There will also be ferris wheel rides in the park, starting on Dec. 3 and lasting until Dec. 23.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Children’s Fund to support families who may be struggling during the holiday season.
Students looking for opportunities to get into the winter spirit have many events in Hamilton to choose from this upcoming December. Take advantage of these opportunities as the semester comes to a close.
Andrew Mrozowski/Editor-in-Chief
McMaster University attempts to discourage students from partaking in any homecoming festivities
On Oct. 1, Hamilton Police Services went through the Westdale area with a letter addressed to McMaster students from the Student Support and Case Management department.
"As we head into the weekend and the excitement of our first home football game of the season, we would like to remind you to keep safety, respect and your neighbours top of mind. This is especially important given this time of a global pandemic when there is heightened anxiety resulting from unsafe gatherings," stated the letter.
Homecoming parties are not a new occurrence at McMaster University. In 2019, the Silhouette reported on a "fake homecoming" which occurred as a result of McMaster University moving the homecoming match to the end of reading week. FOCO was attended by an estimated 2000 students filling the street of Dalewood Ave. While HPS gave out tickets at this event, no arrests were made.
This year, the Marauders are set to play their first game at Ron Joyce Stadium against the Western Mustangs on Oct. 2, 2021. Historically homecoming has taken place on the day of this match. It is expected that this will continue regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is corroborated by users on the McMaster sub-Reddit claiming that the street party will once again be returning.
"To safeguard the community, McMaster will be ramping up its security presence on campus and in the surrounding neighbourhoods this weekend. Hamilton police will be watching for any unsanctioned and large-scale parties in the area," stated the SSCM letter.
"To safeguard the community, McMaster will be ramping up its security presence on campus and in the surrounding neighbourhoods this weekend. Hamilton police will be watching for any unsanctioned and large-scale parties in the area,"
McMaster University Student Support and Case Management
On Sept. 17, HPS released a statement indicating that there would be an increased police presence as it was suspected homecoming parties would begin on that weekend due to the Marauders' football season commencing at Western University.
Queen's University, University of Guelph and Western University have appeared in the news recently due to large street parties resulting in thousands of dollars in property damages.
At time of publication, Hamilton Police Services have taped off a lawn on Dalewood Ave. in preparation for homecoming. HPS mounted units can also be seen patrolling the Westdale area. Similar reactions by the Hamilton community to homecoming have occurred in pre-pandemic years.
According to the letter delivered to student-homes, McMaster Security Services will be working closely with HPS to monitor the area for large gatherings of students, both on and off campus, that break both provincial and municipal COVID-19 by-laws. SSCM also cited the McMaster Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, specifically with regards to the health and wellbeing of McMaster community members. If students are found to be in violation of the Code, academic repercussions may occur, such as suspension or expulsion from McMaster University.
"As a reminder, anyone found in violation of bylaws and laws - by hosting large gatherings for example — could be subject to charges, fines and possible sanctions under McMaster's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities . . . If violated, the Code allows for a range of sanctions up to and including suspension and expulsion," stated the SSCM letter.
"As a reminder, anyone found in violation of bylaws and laws - by hosting large gatherings for example — could be subject to charges, fines and possible sanctions under McMaster's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities . . . If violated, the Code allows for a range of sanctions up to and including suspension and expulsion,"
McMaster university Student Support and Case Management
Students who live on near where the party is set to occur have expressed their concerns, largely due to COVID-19.
"I think [the homecoming street party] is very dangerous, for not only the students, but the community surrounding McMaster. You don’t know who is vaccinated and who’s not. Even if you are vaccinated, you can still carry it and transmit it, so it’s very dangerous with that many people. You know with people our age, they likely won’t be wearing masks which makes it even more unsafe," said fifth-year earth and environmental science student, Andrew Smith.
Another student and Dalewood resident, who was granted anonymity by the Silhouette Editorial Board due to her proximity to the street party, echoed Smith's concerns.
"Regardless of COVID, big gatherings can cause lots of damage and put people at risk. Add COVID into the mix and you know stuff is going to happen and things are going to spread. People won’t be distancing if everyone is crowded into such a small street," said a second-year engineering student who resides on Dalewood Ave.
This is a developing story.
