Placeline Hamilton

Hamilton is going from having zero professional hockey teams playing at TD Coliseum to two.  That's a fantastic addition to to the local sports landscape. Seems most everyone is excited about the possibilities and the boost to the market and the jolt to the downtown. But it's also raised some questions about whether both will have the same level of success. Bubba O'Neil from CHCH Sports joins Placeline Hamilton to talk about this unique situation and some of the benefits and challenges that'll come from this sudden surge in pucks.

For four decades — including years now as co-host of the morning show — Annette Hamm has worked at CHCH in Hamilton. But the other day she announced she was retiring this summer. A career that long gives someone a chance to see a whole lot of changes within the company and the industry as a whole. It also allows for some insight about where things might be going. Particularly with local TV.  She talks about the past, the present and the future on this episode of Placeline Hamilton. And, yes, she is looking forward to sleeping in.

This is Juno Awards week in Hamilton. There are events and concerts happening all around town, capped by prize ceremonies on the weekend at TD Coliseum. It's a multi-day celebration of the Canadian music industry. Since we're talking about Canadian music, let's ask this brain teaser: Is there a Canadian sound that's easily identifiable? In other words, can you tell a song's Canadian just by hearing it?  Alan Cross is the host of The Ongoing History of New Music podcast and the man behind A Journal of Musical Things. If there's a discussion to be had about music - particularly Canadian music - he's the man with which to have it.  In this episode of Placeline Hamilton we talk to Cross and try to answer those questions, assess the impact of politics in awards voting and figure out whether we're in a golden age of Canadian music right now. Among many other things.

This week we learned that the New York Islanders' American Hockey League team is moving to Hamilton in time for next season. It means a team will be calling this city's downtown arena home for the first time since the Ontario Hockey League Bulldogs were pushed to Brantford a few years ago. But what's it going to take for this to be a success?  There are some things obviously going for it. The fact that many folks are excited about having a team. The fact that it's pro hockey is more appealing to some than junior. The fact that this means some teams that are traditional rivals (the Toronto Marlies and Rochester Americans, to name two) will be visiting after an absence of a few years. But there are also questions. This city doesn't have a historic connection to the Islanders that would provide a built-in, already primed fan base. The baby Islanders haven't been good for a while. What will tickets cost? On this episode of Placeline Hamilton, longtime local hockey executive Don Robertson talks about some of the things going for the new team and a few areas that will require some work.

This week alone, Hamilton's downtown has been in the news for drug issues, problems at the Central Library and even graffiti. Throw in the often-cited concerns about crime, violence and mental health and the city is faced with a massive, ongoing challenge. The police are the front line to all this. So what are they doing to clean it up? Supt. Robin Abbott, the Division 1 commander in charge of the downtown, joins Placeline Hamilton to talk about what officers working in that area are trying to do, are having success doing and simply can't do. 

Those in and around the condominium market in Hamilton say these are tough, tough times. The units aren't selling and getting new ones built has become incredibly difficult.  However, with tens of thousands of new residents expected to move to Hamilton in the coming years (and a firm urban boundary that prevents further sprawl) we're almost certainly going to need many more units. What is leading to this stalemate and what is the solution? On this episode of Placeline Hamilton, we talk to three stakeholders in the condo industry to get their perspective on the issues.

Hamilton has a unique culture. There's a great music history (which carries on today), our restaurants have been getting more and more attention, the art gallery is expanding, TV and movie shoots are happening all the time in these parts ... and the list goes on.  What isn't always easy, is knowing how to keep track of it all. Or figuring out how to see the shows you're interested in or catching the events that line up with your passions.  The Spectator's Natalie Paddon has a new way to make that happen. It's called HamiltonLIVE. In this episode of Placeline Hamilton, she explains what it's all about and how it can help you.

Over the past few years, Hamiltonians have seen a number of high-profile and extremely expensive mistakes come out of city hall. There was Sewergate, the Red Hill Creek asphalt situation and the cyber attack. Now we've seen the auditor general issue a scathing report about the tiny homes fiasco that saw the project go way over budget. How is this happening again and again? What's going on at city hall that this could happen? Fred Eisenberger was a city councillor and mayor. He's seen behind the curtain and knows how things work, what checks and balances are in place and how staff works with elected officials. Cities are huge, complicated corporations and mistakes will happen, he says. It's inevitable.  But when they do, how much of the weight of these costly errors should be carried by council? "All of it," he says. And in a strong-mayor-power world where the wearer of the chain of office has unique clout, should the buck ultimately stop with him or her? "Absolutely."

A decade after the Tim Bosma trial, the story continues to horrify and fascinate those in Hamilton who lived through it and followed the case. The tragedy is self-explanatory. A young husband and father took his truck for a test drive with a couple of guys who said they were interested in buying it. But he never came home - they murdered him instead. When news of the other actions of the perpetrators came out, it  somehow made an already ghastly story even worse.  Ten years after the trial, Hamilton Spectator columnist Susan Clairmont – who wrote a piece in the paper looking back at the tale and the participants – joins Placeline Hamilton to talk about the whole thing. She also answers some questions about what's happened since that you probably haven't heard before.

The Art Gallery of Hamilton will soon be expanding to allow for more of its huge collection to be displayed regularly. Its collection is the third-largest in Ontario and worth more than $1 billion. That will likely be a surprise to many around here. Everyone is familiar with the McMichael Gallery and the Art Gallery of Ontario. Yet somehow the AGH in our own backyard has flown largely under the radar. Shelley Falconer is CEO of the gallery. Why does she think getting Hamiltonians to become aware of their own gallery has been so challenging? She talks about that, and more, on this episode of Placeline Hamilton.

When the Professional Women's Hockey League brought its Takeover Tour to Hamilton and nearly filled TD Coliseum, a conversation-slash-debate was launched. Oak View Group, which manages the renovated building, has said it will be bringing a hockey team to town. The American Hockey League has always been mentioned. But some now wonder if the PWHL is a better fit. What is the ideal scenario for Hamilton? It comes down to a discussion on a number of points. Men's hockey vs. women's hockey. More dates vs. fewer dates. Ticket prices. Which would feel more meaningful to local fans? And on and on and on … Teri Pecoskie is now managing editor of The Spectator but she covered hockey in town for years prior to that. Don Robertson runs the Dundas Real McCoys but has been involved in all levels of the game in this city over the years. They join Placeline Hamilton to talk about the future of the game here.

It's been roughly three months since Rob Cooper was elected and sworn in as a member of Hamilton city council. That made this the perfect time to chat with him about figuring out how to navigate city hall and talk about the things that frustrate him in his new role. (Hint: at the top of the list is strong-mayor powers) A few more months from now, everything will be old hat to him. Right now, though, the gig is fresh and the eye-opening has just begun. So what are those things that he feels he can do to make a difference and where does he feel his power has been taken from him?

Everybody has a favourite Christmas gift (or Hanukkah, or some other celebration ... we're not leaving anyone out here). So, we here at Placeline Hamilton asked a number of well-known Hamiltonians about their favourite  of all time. Listen as they explain why they remember that gift - in many cases, many years later.

Year after year, EQAO scores show our kids are having a tough time with math. It's a vexing problem for schools and a concerning one for these students' futures. By why is it such an issue? Who's to blame? Is it fixable? Vanessa Vakharia (aka: The Math Guru) is one of Ontario's best math tutors. She talks about what's going on and what can be done. If you're a parent of a kid in school, you're going to want to hear this one.

There are plenty of opinions about what's going on in Hamilton and down at city hall. Placeline Hamilton is a place where you'll hear a variety of them. Including this episode. Kojo Damptey is an instructor at McMaster, an activist in the local community, a musician and has been a political candidate.  With the early draft of the city budget set to be released, he talks about his thoughts on taxes, spending, council, the mayor and even battles between the left and the right. And whether real solutions for the city's problems can be achieved with a council has philosophically divided as the current one seems to be.

This is a huge week for soccer. On Friday, the World Cup draw will be held. It'll determine not only who has a tougher or easier run to a championship, but also who Canada will play. This is particularly intriguing to those around here, since a number of games will be played just down the road in Toronto. On this episode of Placeline Hamilton, Canadian soccer Hall of Famer John McGrane chats about the incredible price of tickets, whether the reported $380-million price tag to co-host is worth it, the impact on soccer in this area - and how much you might make if Canada was to host Italy in the first game in Toronto and you had a ticket you wanted to sell.

The reviews were almost unanimously positive when Paul McCartney re-opened the renovated TD Coliseum the other day. People loved the concert and people seemed to really like the re-imagined building. But that's just the start. It's long been argued that this facility is supposed to be a catalyst that will bring the entire downtown back to life. It'll be the thing that leads to cleanup and spawns development. Can that really happen? Lou Frapporti of the Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group (HUPEG), which is part of the private-sector consortium behind the renovation that has pitched this vision for years now, answers that question on this episode of Placeline Hamilton. Unsurprisingly (spoiler alert), he says, yes.  How? The answer - part of it, at least - is laid out in the conversation.

It's one thing to write about crimes in the Westdale area that went on for seven years as Spectator columnist Susan Clairmont did in a series called Hunting Grounds, laying out the story of men peeping on women, videotaping them without their knowledge, and in some cases sexually assaulting them in the area around McMaster University. But finding a balance between writing it in a compelling way while also maintaining enough of an emotional distance so as not to be consumed by the horrible details is a challenge. One Clairmont has had to navigate for years writing about the worst crimes in the city.  How does someone immerse herself in horrible things and not become totally torn up by what she sees and hears? Clairmont talks about that - and Hunting Grounds - on this episode of Placeline Hamilton. 

Between the tens of thousands of students who attend and the staff who are employed there, McMaster University has a huge impact on the Hamilton community. Susan Tighe was installed as the school's new president a few months ago. On this episode of Placeline Hamilton, she talks about the role of universities in 2025, challenges facing schools and whether students today are too easily offended on campus. Also, what's Mac doing with the old Hamilton Spectator building just off the highway, anyway?

We are roughly a year away from the next municipal election in Hamilton. Which means those who are thinking of running for mayor (and in some cases, council) almost certainly have the wheels in motion by now. Who will be running? What will be the main issue or issues? And will this election bring the kind of change the last one did? John Best is back to chat about what city hall might look like by the time we go to bed on Oct. 26, 2026.

Paul McCartney won't be the only thing people are wanting to see in Hamilton on Nov. 21. Those going to see the former Beatle in concert will also be eager to check out the newly renovated TD Coliseum in which he'll be performing.  Eighteen months and $300 million later, the GM of the place says folks will be "shocked" when they see the changes.  What can people expect from an old arena that's been given a new life? The building's senior vice-president and general manager, Nick DeLuco, joins Placeline Hamilton to give a rundown.

This week, five new members of the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame were inducted. Among them was longtime hockey fixture Don Robertson.  In a chat with Placeline Hamilton about minor pro leagues and teams back in the day when Slap Shot felt less like a fictional movie and more like a documentary, Don tells some tales. About fans and players brawling in the stands, players who could barely skate and even one incident in Collingwood that's almost too ridiculous to be true.   

Not everybody has 115 skeletons lying around in their office. But Dr. Megan Brickley does. It's OK. There's a good reason. The McMaster bioarcheology professor is studying the remains of people who were buried long, long ago to learn about their health and perhaps how and why they died. Think of it as CSI-1800s. No, skeletons can't provide all the answers but they can offer some. And if you want to hear her talk more about this in person, check out this talk she's giving in town on Oct. 9

Paul Berton has been a journalist for four and a half decades, the past 15 years of that as editor-in-chief of The Hamilton Spectator. This week, he retires. All that time working in the trenches has given him a unique perspective on the media, how it operates and where it might be going. In this episode of Placeline Hamilton, Berton talks about the future of newspapers, who qualifies as a journalist, media bias and the impact of social media on news — among other issues facing the industry and those who consume it.  

Rob Cooper is the new councillor for Ward 8 after winning a byelection over 25 other candidates. What did he hear as he went door to door talking to voters?  "People aren't happy across the ward," he says. On this episode of Placeline Hamilton, Cooper talks about his priorities - controlling spending, reducing crime, fixing roads and improving transit - as he gets set to be sworn in and take his place around the council table. He also chats about his political background and his belief he can work with all the other councillors. He learns he has a celebrity doppelganger, too. 

Voters in Ward 8 have their work cut out for them sorting through 26 candidates to choose the one they prefer in the race to replace John Paul Danko. Assuming they show up at the polls, that is, which is never a sure thing in byelections.  But this is an important choice for the city. And it's an important moment for the person who ultimately gets selected. Former city councillor Judi Partridge talks about both sides of the equation - the crucial nature of the position but also what the winner can expect. And it's not always pretty.

Hamilton taxpayers are about to get the next installment in their annual property tax increase saga. The past three years have seen hefty bumps. This year could actually be the largest hike of them all.  Longtime city hall watcher and commentator John Best returns to Placeline Hamilton to chat about what's coming tax-wise, bylaws and the Jamesville housing development that's finally being removed.

The other day in The Hamilton Spectator, you might've read about a new documentary coming out this fall about Terry Fox based on more than 90 reels of long-lost footage that hasn't been seen almost since the days of the Marathon of Hope. The director of the film is a Hamilton guy. Sean Menard has been quickly building a reputation as one of this country's leading documentary filmmakers. Which is a unique position to hold in a unique genre. Why tell real stories when you can tell fictional ones with seemingly far more leeway to be creative? And what separates a great doc from a boring one? It all comes down to one word: Storytelling. He tells his on this episode of Placeline Hamilton.

Unless the Hamilton Tiger-Cats make it to the Grey Cup, Labour Day is the most important game of the year around here. Longtime sports journalist (and Hamilton guy) Stephen Brunt joins Placeline Hamilton to talk about the team, the league, this game and a new behind-the-scenes series about the Ticats he's narrating.

Music can improve performance when running, bring memories back to people with dementia and even work in pain management. How can a bunch of notes have this kind of power? Music therapist Rachael Finnerty of McMaster University explains the magic.

When we learned that the city was on the hook for the $18.3-million cost of last year's cyber attack, people were upset. In part because the actions (or inactions) of city hall staff voided Hamilton's insurance police but mostly because that huge sum was now going to be passed on to the taxpayers. As it is every time the city messes up. Which, unfortunately, has happened more than a few times (and in spectacular ways) in recent years.

It didn't take much for Michael Sanderson to get his credentials to become a paramedic back in the 1970s. But for the 50-plus years since, the chief of Hamilton's paramedic service has been saving lives and seeing it all.

If it seemed like everyone and their mother were in the queue for Paul McCartney tickets when they went on sale last week, well, they might've been. The lines were long and if you got to the point where you could actually buy a ticket, the prices were steep. Is this what we should expect with most concerts here now or was this a one-off?

In recent months, two innocent bystanders have been killed when they were hit by wayward bullets. There have been other shootings that very nearly led to tragedy for those merely minding their own business. Is Hamilton - particularly the downtown - safe these days? We chat with Hamilton police Deputy Chief Ryan Diodati to get an answer.

When his dream job as president of the United States came with conditions he couldn't meet (like, being American) Graeme MacKay turned to the next best thing. Drawing politicians and skewering them with a brilliant wit as editorial cartoonist for The Hamilton Spectator. A gig that, as he explains, has become more-complicated in recent years.

Longtime journalist Steve Paikin's run as host of The Agenda has just ended as he moves on to pursue other interests. In this episode, he talks about the modern news industry, ways to inspire engagement with politics and which famous Hamiltonians he grew up with as a boy. 

What does the sale of Lime Ridge Mall mean for the future of the place? Maybe nothing. Maybe things stay as they were or get even better there. Maybe the plans for a massive development on the property that included condos and other housing press ahead. It matters because this story isn't just about shopping. There's a lot more to it than that.

Talk to people around town and there's a sense that Hamiltonians are getting increasingly frustrated with city hall. Their taxes continue to rise, but many of the problems facing Hamilton aren't being solved — or progress is very slow. Is the resulting criticism of council and city staff fair? Or has it become too much?

A few days from now, Burlington's Phil Pritchard will do what he's done for years and carry the Stanley Cup to centre ice to present to the new National Hockey League champion. But where did this tradition come from? What's the deal with the white gloves? And did he really spend time in a Finnish sauna with a Hall of Famer and the trophy?

It's been five years since the pandemic hit. Most of us have long since moved on and left it in the rearview mirror. But what about those who can't because they're suffering from what's called long COVID; symptoms and effects that last long after the initial virus passes? One of those people explains what life is like while dealing with it.

Twenty-five years ago this month, everyone around here - pretty much everywhere, really - got caught up in a new TV show called Survivor. It became the thing everyone talked about throughout the summer of 2000. It also changed TV. It opened the door to more reality shows and even affected how some scripted shows were filmed. A quarter-century after it became a phenomenon, eventual winner Richard Hatch talks about the game, its effects on our culture and its impact on him. 

Dave Bennett and his wife, Jane Wilcox, were at the airport on their way home from a lovely vacation in the Dominican Republic when he was pulled into a small room, accused of being a drug smuggler, arrested and thrown into a series of increasingly horrible jail cells. The next 71 days - until charges were dropped and he was able to return home to Burlington - were hell. They pick up the story from there.

When Krispy Kreme opened a new location in Hamilton, some celebrated the arrival. Others took a stand against an American chain setting up shop in a town that has more than a few much-celebrated local dougnut shops at a time of tariffs and elbows up. Will the current political situation affect sales of a tasty treat? Host Scott Radley also explores how someone learns how to be an MP and wonders if this area's sports fans are truly cursed.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats' new general manager, Ted Goveia - the man entrusted with building a team that'll finally give this city a championship after more than a quarter century of waiting - has an intriguing story of how he found football and then how he worked his way through the system to get where he is today.

Detroit Red Wings defenceman (and Hamilton guy) Ben Chiarot talks about what it really feels like to block a shot in the Stanley Cup playoffs and explains the toll players pay to win. With Mother's Day approaching, renowned obstetrician Dr. Jean Chamberlain compares giving birth in Canada to doing so in many parts of the developing world. And  West-End Home Builders' Association CEO Mike Collins-Williams breaks down why Hamilton is so slow in the development process to build desperately needed new homes.

As patriotism is surging and people are gravitating to anything red and white, we chat to Dave Thomas who created one of the endearing symbols of Canada (Doug McKenzie of Bob and Doug fame). But the chat isn't just about comedy. The Dundas legend is heading to Ukraine on a humanitarian mission this week. Also in this episode, the recent trial of the murder of an OPP officer raises important questions about bail reform within the Canadian justice system. Defence lawyer Jeffrey Manishen explains.  

The 2025 federal election has given us a minority Liberal government. It also delivered some huge surprises - especially in Hamilton Centre - and a whole lot of questions about what comes next here and across the country. 

Hamilton's John C. Munro International Airport is a massive success story for cargo but turning it into a top hub for pasenger travel has been a challenge. Can that change? Also, we talk about the idea of turning vacant office space into residences and explore whether Hamilton has a signature food.

Who would you put on the Mount Rushmore of Hamilton music? We get into that in our first episode of Placeline Hamilton. Also joining host Scott Radley is new speaker of the legislature, Donna Skelly, Spectator election editor Matthew Van Dongen and former councillor Judi Partridge talking about trust - or a lack of it - at city hall.  

Placeline Hamilton explores issues about the city and stories of interest to those who call it home. Every week, Spectator columnist Scott Radley will dive into hot-button topics with newsmakers, explore stories with the reporters covering them, and chat with those who add to the fabric of this community. Whether it's serious or lighthearted, Placeline Hamilton will keep you informed and engaged. The first episode drops April 16, with new episodes every Wednesday. Listen to the trailer here and follow or subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.