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National Geographic
a day ago
- National Geographic
Canada's oldest hiking trail is a natural wonder
Formed more than 415 million years ago—before the extinction of the dinosaurs—the rocky cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment are a product of an ancient lake stretched from what is now Wisconsin to New York state. While Niagara Falls is easily the most famous geological feature along the escarpment's many steep rock faces and promontories, for many avid hikers, the touristy natural wonder is merely the starting point for a 560-mile (900-kilometre) trek through southern Ontario, from the Canada-U.S. border to the rugged Bruce Peninsula, which juts out into Lake Huron. Sneaking around the edges of some of the most densely populated regions of Canada before heading north into coniferous forests, Carolinian forests, meadows, and wetlands. A woman points up at a cave in a crevice on the Niagara Escarpment. Some runners have completed the Bruce Trail in fewer than nine days, and less competitive types do it in segments over years. Photograph By Matt LaVigne/Shutterstock The trail sometimes cuts through cute rural towns; the hike along the Bruce Trail is an expedition that can include major art museums and artisanal ice cream, as well as intimate encounters with nature. Niagara Falls might be on postcards, but the trail offers an estimated 500 more waterfalls along the way. At points, the escarpment ridge reaches heights of more than 1,000 feet (335 metres). 'Within my first week of hiking, there was a fox up ahead on the trail. Our eyes met, and there was no fear from either one of us. We took that moment, then he gently walked away,' says Annette Sandberg of her first end-to-end hike of the Bruce Trail, which she completed in 2016. She later became hike director for the Blue Mountain Bruce Trail Club, one of nine volunteer-led clubs that provide resources, tours, and drop-off and pickup services for hikers. The club also maintains the main trail and its 250 miles (400 kilometres) of side trails. (Canada's greatest natural wonders, from icebergs to the world's highest tides) White-tailed deer stands alert in a meadow of tall grass and wild flowers—an example of wildlife hikers and runners may spot along the Bruce Trail in Canada. Photograph By Oli Moorman/Shutterstock Runners have done the trail in as little as nine days More than two million people use the Bruce Trail each year. Hikers can start the trail at hundreds of entry points; some trailheads have parking, while others are more makeshift. Many locals will use portions of the trail nearest their home for short breaks in nature. Hiking the entire trail end-to-end without multi-day breaks typically takes between 35 and 45 days. Some runners have done it in fewer than nine days, and less competitive types do it in segments over the course of years. About 40 hikers complete the end-to-end trek each year. Most of them register their achievement in the archives of the Hamilton Public Library. Sandberg, for example, took about six months for her solo end-to-end, hiking about four days per week. 'When you're not talking to somebody all day, a very special thing happens. The forest starts to tell you its story,' says Sandberg. The story of fossils—coral, trilobites, and crinoids— is seen in the cliffs along the trail, dating back to the Silurian Period of the Paleozoic Era. The wide array of flora and fauna currently living in the UNESCO World Biosphere includes 300 species of birds, including the Bobolink, Cerulean Warbler and Eastern Meadowlark, 55 mammals, including the White-tailed deer and the endangered Little Brown bat, 36 reptiles including the Massasauga snake and amphibian species like the endangered Jefferson salamander, as well as 90 fish species. (Nine ways to experience Canada's natural beauty) The Bruce Trail story also includes the experiences of Indigenous people, whose traditional routes followed the escarpment for thousands of years before the Europeans arrived, as well as the Underground Railroad, when it was part of the network used by enslaved African Americans to escape to freedom in Canada during the 19th century. Adventurous travelers—who want to do more than hike, walk, or run along the Bruce Trail—can stop to go kayaking at Bruce Peninsula National Park in Tobermory, Canada. Photograph By NatureN8/Shutterstock 'I hadn't really thought expansively about how Black history had showed up on the Canadian side of the border,' says Zwena Gray, a Black environmentalist, climate activist, and community cultivator. Originally from Detroit, Gray discovered the Bruce Trail when she came to Canada to study environmental sciences at Ontario's Trent University. Hiking with a friend, it took her 39 days to complete her end-to-end journey. 'The hike was so connected to the history work I wanted to do, about the intersection between Blackness and the environment.' (These Indigenous women are reshaping Canada's tourism industry) The Appalachian Trail was an inspiration for the Bruce Trail The Bruce Trail was conceived in 1960 by two naturalists, Ray Lowes and Robert Bateman. The Appalachian Trail in the U.S.— founded in the early 20th century—inspired them. By getting people excited about the unique geographical characteristics of the escarpment—its commanding views and impressive biodiversity—and inviting the public to walk along it, they hoped to build a movement that would help conserve a vast swath of nature running through Canada's most populous region. More than eight million people now live within an hour's drive of the escarpment. Today, the Bruce Trail Conservancy oversees roughly 16,000 acres of land. About 72 percent is protected land owned by the conservancy itself or by the government. The rest is private, dependent on the generosity of property owners. The conservancy's goal is to protect the entire trail and the surrounding green space. So, it buys between 15 and 20 properties each year, says CEO Michael McDonald. The constant land acquisition means the route of the trail is always changing—nobody does the end-to-end hike the same way twice. The conservancy provides resources on where to stay along the trail. By 2030, the organization wants to have overnight rest areas along the entire trail, which means that hikers who are willing to camp will have to rely less on local clubs and their shuttle services to get to a place to sleep. For now, trail-adjacent accommodations can range from the 21 camping areas—most of them free and located near the trail—to hotels, hostels, and B&Bs. The selection ranges from slim to robust. The city of Hamilton, for example, is essentially cut in half by the Niagara Escarpment, just as a river might, so the trail follows a cliffside green strip right through the middle of the city of 600,000 people—chain hotels, the well-curated Art Gallery of Hamilton, pubs, and grocery stores aren't far from the route. While hiking Canada's Bruce Trail, travelers can make a pitstop to rest and explore downtown Hamilton, Ontario, which has several hotel chains, pubs, grocery stores, and the not-to-be-missed Art Gallery of Hamilton. Photograph By Sean Pavone/Shutterstock The trail might stop, but the escarpment continues north 'One of the great joys of the Bruce Trail is that you can experience it however you wish. You can hike from north to south or from south to north. You can do sections at a time, or you can hike at your leisure,' says McDonald, who has been doing his end-to-end treks little by little and intends to finish this fall. Surrounded by the turquoise water of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, the Bruce Peninsula section of the trail passes through towns like Wiarton and Lions Head, which have charming pubs and restaurants where hikers can unwind. The northern terminus of the trail is in Tobermory, a picturesque town surrounded by parks and beaches. Tobermory may seem like the end of the road, but it doesn't have to be. People here can visit Fathom Five National Marine Park, camp on Flowerpot Island, or dive to see multiple shipwrecks. Or they can take a ferry north to Manitoulin Island, where the escarpment continues, though the Bruce Trail itself does not. (This is what a meal looks like in Canada's Niagara wine country) Paul Gallant is a Toronto-based writer and editor who covers travel, business, social change and LGBTQ+ issues. Follow him on Instagram.
CBC
02-08-2025
- CBC
What's open and closed in Hamilton this Civic Holiday
Social Sharing This Civic Holiday, several city services and all administrative offices will be paused or closed in Hamilton. Here's what you need to know for Aug. 4. Transportation Hamilton Street Railway buses — including MyRide in Waterdown and Trans-Cab service — will operate at the Sunday service level. Last trips will depart downtown at around midnight. DARTS will be running on holiday service hours, with all subscription trips cancelled except for dialysis. Passengers must reserve in advance to ride. Parking officers won't enforce routine complaints from Sunday at 5:45 a.m. to Monday at 10 p.m., but may still patrol certain areas. Waste collection There won't be compost, recycling, yard waste or garbage collection on Monday. Waste collection will occur one day later for the rest of the week. Community Recycling Centres will be closed Monday. Closures City of Hamilton service closures include. Adult Day Program at Macassa Lodge. Animal Services Office and Shelter. ATS Customer Service Office. Dental clinics and bus. Hamilton Civic Museums. Hamilton Farmers' Market. Hamilton Municipal Parking System Office. Hamilton Public Library branches. Health Connections. Housing Services Office. HSR Customer Service Centre. Licensing and Bylaw Services phone queue and service counters. Municipal Service Centres. Ontario Works Program and Special Supports Program. Provincial Offences Administration Office. Public Health Vaccine Records Line. Recreation Centres and Arenas, though outdoor pools will open for regular hours. Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park. Van Needle Syringe Program. Mail Canada Post is closed on provincial and territorial holidays like Monday, with no collection or delivery of mail. Post offices operated by the private sector may be open. Private businesses Civic Holiday is not a statutory holiday, so businesses may open if they choose. Check specific shops' hours to find out if they're open.
Hamilton Spectator
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Summer reads: Hamilton Public Library's 10 most requested books
Summer is the best time to sit under the sun and enjoy reading a book of choice. Hamilton Public Library has plenty of options, but some books are in more high-demand than others. While a self-help book tops the list, readers are largely vying for mystery, thriller and romance novels. Here is a list of the most sought-after books this summer. Want to read one of the books listed? The library has express copies, which cannot be put on hold, available for browsing and borrowing in-branch. Check the status of a book at or peruse the library's list of hidden gems . This Mel Robbins self-help book will be flying off the shelves for some time, with a whopping 436 holds on the 76 copies available across the city's public libraries as of July 10. The New York Times bestselling author also hosts and gives advice on 'The Mel Robbins Podcast.' Her new 336-page book is a 'step-by-step guide to stop letting other people's opinions, drama and judgement impact your life,' according to an excerpt from Robbins' website . Despite being released in December 2024, the book tops Amazon's most sold and read charts and the New York Times' Best Sellers list for Advice, How-To and Miscellaneous . Robbins' daughter, Sawyer Robbins, co-authored the book. 'One Golden Summer' by Carley Fortune. The Toronto award-winning journalist, editor and author Carley Fortune's 'One Golden Summer' makes runner-up. Released in May 2025, the library's 70 copies are under 299 holds. The 400-page romance novel follows a photographer named Alice who ends up back at a cottage town with her injured grandma for the summer. There, she begins to fall for a man from her teenage years. 'The Women' by Kristin Hannah. Kristin Hannah's 'The Women' follows a woman who joins the army nurse corps in the Vietnam War in 1965. The novel reflects on friendships and patriotism. The 480-page book has 281 holds on 81 copies at local libraries. It was released in February 2024. Hannah is also the author of 'The Nightingale' and 'The Four Winds.' 'Great Big Beautiful Life' by Emily Henry. Emily Henry's 'Great Big Beautiful Life' is about two writers who compete to tell the 'larger-than-life' story of a woman claiming to be Margaret Ives, an heiress, former tabloid princess and daughter of a scandalous family. Henry also authored 'Book Lovers,' 'People We Meet on Vacation,' and 'Beach Read.' The 432-page book was released in April 2025. There are 277 holds on 73 Hamilton Public Library copies. The chilling novel 'Don't Let Him In' is an Amazon suspense read bestseller that follows three women plunged into lies and secrets after an unexpected death. The book's author, Lisa Jewell, is a British creator of other books, including the 'Ralph's Party' series and 'Thirtynothing.' The 368-page book was published in June 2025 and has 272 holds on 50 copies from Hamilton libraries. Taylor Jenkins Reid's 'Atmosphere: A Love Story' is a novel about love and life set in a 1980s space shuttle program. The 352-page book was released in June 2025. It has 257 holds on 55 copies from Hamilton Public Library. Reid has also authored 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' and 'Daisy Jones and The Six.' 'Broken Country' by Clare Leslie Hall. The romance-thriller 'Broken Country' is about a woman living on a sheep farm with her husband when her first love returns with his son. Novelist and journalist Clare Leslie Hall authored the 320-page novel, which was released in March 2025. It has 238 holds on 48 copies from local libraries. Fredrik Backman's 'My Friends' is about friendship, grief and the power of art. The book follows the main character, Louisa, who is on a mission to find the three figures in a painting. Backman also authored 'A Man Called Ove.' The 448-page novel 'My Friends' was published in May 2025. Forty-eight copies are under 223 holds at Hamilton Public Library. 'Nightshade' by Michael Connelly. Michael Connelly's 'Nightshade' is the first in a series. The novel is about a Los Angeles County sheriff who responds to a body found at the bottom of a harbour and uncovers hidden truths. The book, released in May 2025, tops Amazon's most gifted in police procedurals list. The 352-page book has 203 holds on 50 Hamilton Public Library copies. Freida McFadden's 'The Tenant' is a mystery thriller about revenge, privilege and secrets. The book is about a Manhattan-based marketing VP whose life goes downhill after being fired and renting out a space to cover bills. The 368-page read was released in May 2025. McFadden is an American physician specializing in brain injury who also authored 'The Housemaid,' 'The Coworker' and 'Never Lie.' Hamilton Public Library's 50 copies are under 189 holds. Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. cbholla@ .
Hamilton Spectator
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Back to the drawing board: Cartoons, cartoonists and Hamilton
It's where word, story and visual art come together to work and play, in a popular way. Popular as in, of the people, not the salon. And it's visual art often in its basic form of deliberately creative markings on surfaces, howsoever unpolished, but, just as often, sophisticated. Let's just call it cartoons/comics. But do call it, Ivan Kocmarek urges. Call it to the table of memory, respect, cultural appreciation and art history. Kocmarek doesn't just respect comics/cartoon art but actively promotes the preservation and recognition of the products and producers of these graphic arts. He does so with various initiatives and endeavours. Perhaps the biggest and certainly the most timely of them is Saturday, June 14's third annual Cartoon Foundry 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. event at the Hamilton Public Library, 55 York Blvd. Kocmarek has many talents as an author, champion Hamilton chess player and teacher (retired, after 23 years at Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School, now closed), but he freely admits that he doesn't have a gift for making art. But, since he was a boy, he found himself drawn into an infatuation with comic books. It was comic books to start with, but it spread from there to many forms of related arts, such as graphic novels. It's a big umbrella, a roomy tent, whichever metaphor you want, but as widespread and eclectic as the art represented at Cartoon Foundry 2025 is, it typically gets neither the curatorial/archival attention nor the living support it deserves. Comic/cartoon/illustration art, say Kocmarek, is too often considered disposable. 'Several times in my life I've been pressured to throw away my comic books,' he says, starting when he was a boy whose parents considered his pile of them not an incipient collection, but junk, which was so often the case. He had the ultimate vindication, though, as parts of his collection — which at times was more than 20,000 volumes strong — grew very valuable. Graeme MacKay, political cartoonist for The Hamilton Spectator, one of very few full-time newspaper political cartoonists left in Canada, shares the frustration. 'So much of the original art for political cartoons has been lost; it's hard to get institutions to commit to saving it' as valuable cultural property, says MacKay, who is a panellist at Saturday's Cartoon Foundry event. He is one of many guests, panellists and presenters who will be talking about what they do — the challenges, the rewards, the history and future of it. Hamilton has such a rich history in the genre, says Kocmarek. There are the current Hamilton standouts like graphic novelist Joe Ollman, whose 'Fictional Father' novel was shortlisted for a Governor General's Award in 2021; legendary alternative cartoonist David Collier, who writes comic book 'essays,' and book writer/McMaster University professor Sylvia Nickerson. Dave Collier, left, Ivan Kocmarek and Joe Ollmann. Their achievements stand on a strata of previous distinction in comic book and graphic arts by Hamiltonians such as Doug Wright and, earlier, Aram Alexanian, one of the many Canadian comic book artists featured in Kocmarek's book 'Heroes of the Homefront.' These were cartoonist/comic book artists who created heroes like Johnny Canuck, Speed Savage and Nitro during the Second World War, when American comics were not available in Canada. These subjects — the history of our cartoon and comic art — as well as topics related to the current practice of these arts, in Canada and more specifically in Hamilton, will be deeply explored at Cartoon Foundy 2025. 'In Europe,' says Kocmarek, 'there is much greater emphasis on honouring, respecting and preserving the history of these arts.' One of the fringe benefits of the event this year is the production of 'A Hamilton Comic (Steel City Sutra),' by Kocmarek, with design by John Farr. The 25-page comic book features work by Kevin Mutch, Allan Barnard, Joan Stacey, David Collier, Art Cooper, Darrell Epp, Jaleen Grove, Matt McInnes, Greg Hyland, J. Collier, Steve LeBlanc, James Waley, Graeme MacKay, Inkfingers, Joe Ollmann, Gord Pullar, John Terpstra, Ira Alexanian and Anita Wang. It's a wonderful volume, full of often quirky renderings of bits of Hamilton life, history and scenery as well as snapshots of our city's graphics/comics past. McInnes, for instance, contributes a striking centrefold of the Jamesville (James Street North) social housing complex, developed through urban renewal initiatives in the '60s and '70s and now utterly abandoned and grown over. Ivan Glassco served as an editorial cartoonist for The Hamilton Spectator from 1934 to 1940. And MacKay has a fascinating take on Ivan Glassco, an editorial cartoonist for The Hamilton Spectator from 1934 to 1940, during which time he won acclaim for blending social critique and humour around topics such as the Depression and the rise of fascism. He died tragically at 38 from an accidental discharge of his service revolver during training after he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Spectator cartoonist Graeme MacKay has a fascinating take on Ivan Glassco, an editorial cartoonist for The Hamilton Spectator from 1934 to 1940. The cover is a fond Joe Ollmann tableau of the Book Villa storefront downtown and passersby in bell bottoms and radio to ear. If you remember the Book Villa, such a landmark, you will smile. 'A Hamilton Comic' is a preview, in a way, of what will be covered during Cartoon Foundry 2025. There will be workshops and panels: As in the past, Cartoon Foundry 2025 will, of course, feature Artists Alley, where visitors can see the work of and meet many exciting Hamilton artists. Participants include many of the artists featured in 'A Hamilton Comic' as well as many others. The event is free, open to all and, says Kocmarek, welcoming to all, especially marginalized communities.
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Thousands of fewer kids are visiting Hamilton libraries. How does your local branch fare?
Thousands of Hamilton children have stopped going to the library. Membership dropped nearly 40 per cent at the Hamilton Public Library (HPL) for kids under the age of 13 compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of children with library cards was down to 25,720 in 2023, compared to 41,913 in 2019. 'Obviously we're concerned,' said Paul Takala, CEO and chief librarian at HPL. 'If we don't have the kids coming into the library, we're really missing an opportunity to open them to the world of reading.' Kids are missing from libraries across the city — it's not one branch or area of Hamilton that is driving the decline that saw kids fall to 12 per cent of library members in 2023 compared to 18 per cent in 2019. HPL is considering several measures to bring kids back, including potentially moving the children's section at Central Library to a separate floor and expanding programs like story time. 'More and more, we're learning the importance of early childhood development … so we really need to double down on engaging the people that we haven't been able to,' Takala said. 'I think the big thing that's working is when we offer free programs like story times, we get people coming, so we need to do more and more of that.' Overall, circulation of children's materials decreased 17 per cent in 2023 compared to 2019. It appears the numbers continued to fall last year, but the data is considered unreliable because of the ransomware attack on the city in February last year. Data provided by HPL shows just five of the city's 23 library branches saw an increase in the circulation of children materials from 2019 to 2023 — Mount Hope, Valley Park, Locke, Kenilworth and Greensville. Parkdale doesn't have information going back far enough to determine a trend. The rest saw decreases ranging from three per cent in Carlisle to 42 per cent at Central Library. Nine library branches had declines of 20 per cent or more — they were located from east to west and from the Mountain to the lower city. Takala says there is not one single reason for the fall in numbers. Paul Takala, CEO and chief librarian at Hamilton Public Library, is concerned about the drop in children's memberships. But there are some common themes. One is that lockdowns during the pandemic — and a slow restart due to staff shortages — kept kids away from the library, and they haven't all come back. 'One thing that I think we're coming to realize is the lack of social connection during the pandemic has had some lasting impacts that are going to take some time to heal,' Takala said. 'People got out of practice of coming and then you also have … the heightened anxiety that a lot of youth feel if you're not used to doing something.' Another issue is that libraries are such a lifeline for some of the city's most vulnerable residents that social workers have been hired to be on site at Central. The libraries are available as warm places during the winter and cool places in the summer. 'We see people with addictions or mental health challenges and that is challenging our ability to create a safe public space for everyone at times,' Takala said. The cost has been that some parents no longer feel comfortable bringing their kids to the library. Andréa Ngombet thought Central would be the best place to take his four-year-old son when the youngster suddenly had to go the washroom while they were waiting for a haircut at Jackson Square on Feb. 28. The mall's public restroom was closed, so they scurried to the attached library at 55 York Blvd. But instead of finding refuge, Ngombet was scared off going back to the downtown branch by what his young son encountered in the washroom. 'In the men's washroom, a couple — clearly unhoused — was engaged in intercourse inside a stall,' Ngombet wrote in an opinion piece published in The Spectator March 31. 'In another corner, a man was vomiting into a urinal. My son, eyes wide and confused, gripped my hand a little tighter. We turned and used the women's washroom, which, while not much cleaner, at least came without the same soundtrack.' In an interview, Ngombet said he felt he had to speak out about the experiences that are driving families away from Central. 'Every time we went there, there was always something that was not right,' he said. 'I'm not comfortable in that children's section.' In the past, he says, they've seen fighting and evidence of drug use or intoxication at the library. Adults without kids often sit in or near the children's area. Ngombet said his hat was stolen in January while he was at Central and he had a cold walk home without it. The bathroom incident was the last straw for the family that came to Hamilton from Paris, France, about one year ago. 'I was very upset,' Ngombet said. 'It's not safe for the kids.' He now takes his son to the Westdale branch by bus despite it being farther from their downtown home. 'There's a lot of space in the (Central) library, but the only place where people are is close to the kids,' Ngombet said. 'You need to separate the kids.' Takala said the dad's message 'really hit home' for him when he read it in the paper. 'I understand what he's going through,' Takala said. 'We as a society, as a community, need to create a good public space for everyone, but especially our youth if we want them to engage.' HPL is working on better separating kids from the rest of Central Library. In the short term, sound baffling is being set up in the coming months to create a sense of separation and reduce noise in the children's area. The layout of the furniture on the first floor is being reviewed and the library will try to make sure the family washroom is used more exclusively by parents with kids. For the long term, Takala is creating a plan and looking for funding to relocate the children's department — potentially to the second floor. It would be a larger space dedicated only to people with children and would have its own separate washrooms. However, no final decision has been made and there is hesitation around losing the view into the farmer's market. 'I think we're realizing, given our current downtown and the challenges that it's experiencing, we probably do want to create more sense of, 'I'm in the children's department,'' said Takala. 'It's clearly a separate and unique space in the library, so there is a lot of work to do around that.' However, more issues are at play than safety downtown considering the Barton branch had the second-lowest decrease in the circulation of children's materials at eight per cent, while libraries in more affluent parts of the city such as Westdale had a drop of 32 per cent and in rural areas such as Lynden saw a decline of 33 per cent. To get kids back, the library has been expanding the number of children's programs it provides by about 68 per cent to 6,087 in 2024 from 3,632 in 2019. HPL is also trying to make it easier for kids to get library cards — one potential project would see them added to the parent portal used by the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. The library is looking to get the attention of teens by offering 10 free prints a day of photocopying or computer printing. Kids aged six to 12 can get a free PRESTO card from branches, and a library card gives free access to Hamilton's eight city-owned museums. 'I can't say how important it is that we help families grow the next generation of readers,' Takala said. 'It's really important that we have places where people with different backgrounds can come together and where kids can experience community.'
