The Monster, the world's largest obstacle course, has been removed from the Homecoming schedule due to unexpected shipping delays caused by U.S. port strikes
McMaster Student Union and MSU Campus Events announced that The Monster, the world’s largest inflatable obstacle course and the ultimate party playground, will no longer be on campus for the Homecoming event on Oct. 5 due to shipping delays caused by ongoing U.S. port strikes. This marks the first East Coast strike in nearly 50 years, disrupting deliveries across North America, including the 300-metre-long obstacle course.
In place of the Monster, 13 other inflatable courses and games will be on-site, along with events scheduled as planned throughout the day. These obstacle courses will take place on 10-Acre Field located beside Alpine Tower. Participation is free, with time slots available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Additionally, Homecoming celebrations are returning to McMaster University for the first time since 2019. The university and MSU have planned a full day of activities for students on Oct. 5, including a football game, foam party and magic show. The day will culminate with an evening concert featuring Loud Luxury and Lil Tecca.
As Homecoming approaches, McMaster is working with Hamilton Police and the city to promote safety and respect for surrounding neighbourhoods, including Westdale and Dalewood. Students are encouraged to attend on-campus events to avoid fines of up to $10,000 under the city's Nuisance Party by-law. The University District Safety Initiative, effective from Oct. 3 to Oct. 6, will enforce a zero-tolerance zone to curb disruptive behaviour and nuisance parties.
For more information on Homecoming events and their locations, visit the official McMaster Homecoming website or follow MSU Campus Events Instagram.
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!
Hamilton is increasingly becoming known as a haven for artists. This is demonstrated in the street art that has taken over the walls of the downtown core. Several of these pieces were created during Concrete Canvas, a visual arts festival that took place this past July. Each piece was painted legally and with permission from the city. Take this map along with you and go take in some of the art Hamilton has to offer!
Click a point on the map below to see some of the art!
Stop #1: 126 James St. South, “Gateway” by Vivian Rosas & Vesna Asanovic
This vibrant street mural is located on James Street, immediately next to the Hamilton Go Centre (36 Hunter St. E). It depicts different scenes from around the city through beautiful splashes of yellow, purple and orange. Scenes include hiking the Bruce Trail, walking along Art Crawl and eating pizza. It replaced an older, faded piece and is made of aluminum composite panels so that it can last for years to come.
Stop #2: 103 John St. South, Angelo Mosca tribute by @scottanddestroy
Scott McDonald is the lead curator of Concrete Canvas. His piece commemorates Angelo Mosca, a Canadian Football League player and professional wrestler known as King Kong Mosca or The Mighty Hercules. Mosca was a player for the Hamilton Tiger Cats and is in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He is one of only a few players to have played in nine Grey Cup games. The painting is done in black, white and yellow to reflect the Tiger Cats colours, and shows Mosca running down the field.
Stop #3: 75-77 Hunter St. East, piece by @burnttoastcreative
This painting was done for Concrete Canvas by Burnt Toast Creative, also known as Canadian illustrator Scott Martin. It’s visible from blocks away with its blue sky and unique comic style. It sits directly opposite from the Angelo Mosca tribute and has an image of a giant hand holding someone aloft. If you're interested in his art style, you can see more of Martin's work on his website.
Stop #4: John Street and Jackson Street, parrot by @scottanddestroy
This painting was also done by Scott McDonald. It features a colourful parrot that brightens up the otherwise grim parking lot and bus stop nearby. It is offset slightly by the Kings Pizza logo located immediately next to the beak.
Stop #5: Main Street and John St. North, piece by @jordan_war
This painting was done by Jordan Warmington, a tattoo artist at John Street Tattoo (179 John St. S). It was also done as a part of Concrete Canvas. It decorates the construction plywood that has been sitting unadorned for several years now.
Stop #6: 81 King St. East, “Home Grown” by @luvsumone, @javid_jah and @danilotheartist
“Home Grown” was also done as a part of Concrete Canvas. It is located on the back of 81 King St. E, in a small alleyway. It features a house walking forward wearing boots. You can read more about this piece on @luvsumone's Instagram.
Stop #7: King Street East and Catherine Street, “Emanating Flash” by Kristofir Dean
This public art installation was created through the combined work of Effort Group, Scholar Properties Ltd. and the ARt Gallery of Hamilton. Dean is a contemporary artist and his work deals primarily in bright colours which can be found on display throughout the country, most notably at the Vancouver Mural in South Granville. You can read more about the piece on the installation itself.
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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!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcsJ1rAnxk_/
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.
Photo by Matty Flader / Photo Reporter
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).
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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.
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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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By Marzan Hamid, Contributor
McMaster University’s Welcome Week is loud and full of spirit — and rightfully so. It is the one week of the year where students are allowed to be shamelessly rowdy and proud of the school they go to. It is a time for first years to make McMaster and its community their home.
However, in order to truly make Mac a home for everyone, the week needs to be accessible to a wider range of personalities. It needs to welcome both those who love the noise, and those who don’t.
McMaster is a diverse university in many ways. As its students, we have many different mother tongues, we coexist in different faiths and we study different passions. Students at Mac come from all points of the personality spectrum, too. However, these differences don’t seem to be taken into consideration.
Welcome Week events are synonymous to heaven for extroverts. Loud crowds during faculty fusion? Hell yeah. Meeting 300 new people in a day and introducing the same three details over and over again? Nothing better. Raving to Bryce Vine in a mosh pit? Wouldn’t miss it for the world.
On the flip side, introverts find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. For people who want some downtime away from the large crowds where they cannot find much more than a few superficial connections, Welcome Week can be emotionally draining. While faculty and residence reps can be a huge resource for this exhaustion, it is undeniable that a disproportionate number of Welcome Week events cater to extroverted students, leaving their introverted counterparts feeling forced into situations they would much rather avoid.
The few low-key events that do exist are not as well promoted or organized. Things like painting or hikes can get crowded easily and limit the intimacy of connections that can be formed. Not to mention, introverted out-of-province and international students can easily feel isolated if they don’t already have friends on campus.
Small group activities are especially hard to come by in larger faculties where organization becomes difficult — however, we must remember who and what the week is for: for embracing new Marauders. Despite the challenges we may encounter when making students feel at home, it should be emphasized that there is truly something available for everyone to try. Whether that is through small group activities running alongside the bigger events (which are promoted just as much), or having designated areas on campus for downtime activities, we need to make strides to make this nervous time of year easier for everyone.
Many students are on their own for the first time in their life; this comes with its own set of problems and anxieties. Welcome Week shouldn’t have to be another. It should be a week as enjoyable for the social butterflies as it is for the wallflowers.
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By: Drew Simpson
The McMaster Muslims Students’ Association recently held Finding Your Momentum, a leadership and empowerment workshop specifically curated for Muslims. Its objective was to increase youth engagement to improve community involvement.
While MacMSA maintains a busy calendar, the process of organizing this event began well before the school year started. While decisions were being made around the structure of MacMSA’s exec-director team, the team realized a recent and significant drop in engagement with the association and the community.
Typically, directorship positions with the MacMSA would attract about 50 applicants each, in recent times however, these numbers have significantly dropped to one or two applicants. The senior executives became worried about MacMSA’s future leadership and lack of engagement with younger cohorts.
MacMSA leaders also saw a lack of Muslims being represented in leadership positions in the McMaster community, such as through the Student Representative Assembly.
Feedback gained from focus groups found a common rhetoric of Muslims opting out of leadership positions to focus on academics. They also found that many individuals were under the misconception that they are not needed by the community.
One workshop attendee and MacMSA representative noted that a lot of students experience a lack of confidence in their abilities and felt that they aren’t equipped with the appropriate skills to take on leadership responsibilities.
The Finding Your Momentum workshop was created in response to these concerns. The MacMSA team realized that they needed to empower their members and create a space where attendees can have open conversations about bettering themselves as Muslims and leaders in the community.
While one of the aims of the workshop was to increase attendees’ engagement with the community, the MacMSA team had to first figure out a way to increase engagement with the workshop itself.
From previous experiences, the organizers found that many people needed someone to both encourage them to participate and attend the event with them. This was often facilitated through invitations by word of mouth.
The organizers of Finding Your Momentum took advantage of this promotion strategy, and it worked. One attendee noted that in order to facilitate empowerment, individuals need someone to give them a little push of encouragement and support.
“When you hear ‘word-of-mouth’, you think of just going and telling someone ‘hey we have an event, just come’. But it’s actually investing in the Muslim community on campus…A part of being a leader is having a community that can look up to you and support your vision,” explained Faryal Zahir, MSA Director and Finding Your Momentum organizer.
“A big part of this year has been making that vision very very clear, and then having people inspired to support that vision.”
This workshop consisted of interactive activities and discussions that focused on introspecting on attendees’ relationships with themselves and others. There was also a focus on utilizing leadership opportunities to serve the community and building connections.
At every MacMSA event, building connections is a recurring goal. The team believes that building connections enables individuals into action.
Finding Your Momentum, like other MacMSA events, aims to break down the barriers that repress interaction, and encourage attendees to have one-to-one connections, first with themselves, then with their peers and greater community.
Time will tell if the MacMSA achieved its goal of encouraging workshop attendees to take on more leadership positions, but one thing is for sure – Finding Your Momentum created a much needed space for empowerment and meaningful engagement for Muslim youth.
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By: Natalie Clark
Hamilton has been getting its fair share of the winter weather this season, so in what better way to embrace it than to explore all that Winterfest 2019 has to offer?
Winterfest is a two-week long affair that features winter events in and around the city. Beginning Feb. 1, there will be free and paid events held throughout Hamilton such as open skate, live music and various themed events. Take a break from studying and enjoy the winter weather while taking part in this timely Hamilton tradition.
Juno Award winner and Hamilton born indie rock singer/songwriter Matt Mays will be performing at Hamilton Central Public Library on Feb. 10. Mays is currently on his Dark Promises Tour and will be making a pit stop in his hometown for an intimate show. Head on down to Hamilton Central Public Library for some of the best music Hamilton has to offer. This is a paid event and tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtOnzxBH9xb/
Frost Bites is a four-day event in partnership with Hamilton Fringe featuring some of Hamilton’s best theatre performers. Each night, artists will perform “bites” of theatre shows that are meant to last no longer than 20 minutes each. The festival will also be taking place on Feb. 14 to Feb. 17 at two community locations, the New Vision United Church and St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrA4yIDhYeN/
On Feb. 13, Winterfest will be holding a lecture featuring guest speaker Kojo “Easy” Damptey, an afro-soul musician and scholar-practitioner. Born and raised in Ghana, he attempts to address societal issues and enact change in the world with his lyrics. He will be speaking on behalf of stories of existence, resilience and resistance. The event is free and will be held at the Historic Ancaster Old Town Hall. All are welcome to join the celebration and commemoration of Black History Month.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnphw5bndIv/
Stressed? Bored? Dying to pick up a new hobby? If any of those resonate with you then this beginners knitting course may be up your alley. For $90 you’ll learn the basics of knitting over the course of three classes, running on Wednesdays from Feb. 13 to Feb. 27. Grab a group of friends and head down to the Art Aggregate in East Hamilton for all the tips and tricks you need to know about knitting.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrQ4E3yB8Ii/
In honour of the beginning of the Chinese New Year on Feb. 5, Barton Stone Church will be hosting a Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi Open House on Feb. 9. This event is free and includes a demonstration and class, as well as various hot drinks including tea and apple cider! There will be volunteer staff available to chat with you about their class schedule, as well as information about the benefits of Taoist Tai Chi. The event is sure to be a warm evening full of new learning experiences.
The Canteen is one of Hamilton Winterfest’s signature events. Featuring live music from a variety of artists, including Hamilton-based singer/songwriter Ellis, a cozy fire, winter marketplace and various other events, this event is worth the trip to the Battlefield House Museum & Park National Historic Site on 77 King Street West. The location is also known as one of Canada’s most significant monuments of the War of 1812. Aside from participating in the event’s attractions, you are also welcome to explore the museum and historic grounds on site. This is an all-day event taking place on Feb. 16 starting at 10 a.m.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsvgOQrnS0Z/
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Whether you’re a Hamilton native looking to reignite your love for the city, staying in your student house for the first time over the summer, or just passing through and happened to pick up a copy of this, follow this map for guaranteed summer fun.
Play the “Name that Bird Game”: Walk on over to the Aviary (85 Oak Knoll Drive) where you can lounge in the gardens, visit the splash pad (if that’s your thing), or take a tour of the bird facilities and try guessing their species. What is that thing that looks like both a dove and a chicken? Is “grey” a breed of parrot?
And on your walk over, admire how beautiful the non-student housing is, and comment on how confusing Hamilton is for having three streets named Dalewood, all within Westdale.
Read…for fun: Visit the independent bookseller Bryan Prince (1060 King Street West), the second hand bookstore, The Bookworm (852 King Street West), or get a library card from the Westdale Library (955 King Street West) and sign out a whole bunch of books. No post-it notes or highlighters required.
Stalk deer in Cootes: Go for a casual stroll or a treacherous trek through one of the many paths connected to Cootes Paradise. Known for its flora and fauna, devote an afternoon to basking in the glory of mother nature and taking time to appreciate the bountiful deer population of Hamilton. Don’t forget to bring snacks and a camera!
Visit the planetarium: Aside from housing lecture halls and libraries, McMaster is also home to Hamilton’s only planetarium. Located in the basement of BSB, the planetarium hosts shows throughout the year. Check their website for their upcoming showtimes.
Get your tealeaves read: Head to the Vintage Garden Tea Room on Locke for a warm beverage, pastries, and a foreboding glimpse into your future. For the low price of $12, get your tealeaves read and have a ponder or two about your future. Make sure you make a reservation beforehand to guarantee a spot!
You gotta eat here: John Catucci of Food Network fame proclaimed this Locke Street favourite, Bread Bar, as one of Canada’s best restaurants on his popular show You Gotta Eat Here. Along with BB, The Black Forest Inn (255 King Street East) has also made the prestigious list.
Stay out at ArtCrawl all night: This Steel City tradition that turns the second Friday of every month into an open street art festival along James North and its surrounding areas, also encourages late night bar and restaurant hours for you to enjoy through the wee hours of the morning. Challenge yourselves to stay out all night and end your night/ start your morning with breakfast at the John Street Diner (29 John Street North) or Wimpy’s (771 Queenston Road). Don’t forget a flask and a toothbrush!
Pretend to be a food blogger: Take a stroll downtown and have a seat at a restaurant you’ve never tried before. James, John, King and King William offer loads of unique Hamilton restaurants serving up Thai, Mexican and Indian cuisine among others. Snap a few pictures of your meal and pretend to be a foodie of Instagram. Or write a Yelp review and feel your inner Guy Fiyerri come out. Check out some of our restaurant reviews for recommendations!
Take a trip to the waterfront: If the most you know about Hamilton Harbour is that it’s next to the 407, then it’s high time you headed to the waterfront. Go for a picnic at Bayfront Park, take a stroll or go bike riding along the water’s edge trail, go roller skating at the outdoor derby rink, or sip a coffee at the Williams overlooking the harbour. You can even take a ride along the trail on a trolley ($5) or go on a guided boat tour ($11.50). It’s the perfect place for warm days and romantic evenings.
Go to a club on a Tuesday: While calm summer days are not always conducive to late club nights, try running through Hess on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Most venues are open offering live music and an overall very chill scene for patio drinks and relaxation. While you’re there, make your first sober trip to Smoke’s and discover how unpleasant their food is when you haven’t already had 6 shots of gin.
Go to the farmer’s market: Spend a day picking out fresh fruits and vegetables and chatting with elderly farmers at the Dundas Farmer’s Market, which reopens June 12. Side note: All I’m saying is the last time I went to the Dundas Farmer’s Market I met Justin Trudeau. So you should probably hang out there more often.
Visit a waterfall: Hamilton is the waterfall capital of the world. THE WORLD. Visit one of the 120 nearby shoots on a hot summer day, and be sure to pack a bathing suit as swimming is permitted (in some cases). The Darnley Cascade and Chedoke Falls are popular destinations, just be sure to plan your route well in advance, as they are not the easiest places for commuting. But after you’ve set your sights on the cascading beauties, the experience will definitely be worth the extra effort.
And aside from eating candy and smelling the roses, here are a couple tried and true suggestions on how to spend this day of sweet, sweet love - regardless of your relationship status.
Couples and singles alike
DIY card
It's about to get all preschool up in here.
Greeting cards bought from the aisles of a drug store are generally thought to be pretty low on the scale of “popped into my mind while showering” to “your happiness consumes my every thought.” Now it’s fine to teeter around the lower end for the acquaintances that come in and out of your life (you don’t want to creep anyone out), but it’s safe to say things are very different for your lover/bf/gf/formal cuddle buddy. So why not get your hands glittery and make one yourself?
I like to create a heart shaped card, complete with ruffles, dainty borders, and sealed with a kiss. The message you leave on the inside is up to you!
Here's a more profesh shot.
You can tell my inspiration was from Design Love Fest.
Valentine’s Day from Ryan Gosling
This one may be for the ladies more so than the fellas, so if you have a special someone who happens to resonate with the RyGos fandom, consider this idea a keeper (like RyGos himself). Have you ever heard of feminist Ryan Gosling? As if our perception of him wasn’t perfect enough, this fictitious side of Ryan Gosling says things like, “Hey girl. Though the day itself originated through some non-romantic, religiously specific events, I’m always thankful to have a chance to celebrate my love for you.” Swoon. Swoon. Swoon.
Couple Ideas
Surprise bubble bath date
Nothing is quite as steamy as a shared bubble bath (literally). Set the mood with some melodic songstresses and have a glass of wine on each tub end waiting. To really drive home the cheesiness of this entire scene, add a single candle (or two, or three). Don’t be embarrassed by the cheese. Cupid has always been a fan!
Sushi date
Trying anything new with your lovely date for V day can be fun, but why can’t it be yummy too? And not just fancy dinner date yummy but feeling damn satisfied with your exotic creation yummy. Feel free to play around with the culinary theme. Italian pasta dishes are especially fun too – everyone looks rather adorable when playing the Lady and the Tramp. But if you do go with sushi, you can have sushi rolling competitions. Whoever wins, gets a kiss. Win-win, eh?
Single Ladies
A date with your movie crush
Every gal or fella has that one unattainable specimen of perfection they lust over from a tragically far distance – aka the distance between the seats of a movie theater and the screen. At least there’s good popcorn. Well, you know what? Up that quality time with your movie crush. Make him your date all night long with a long list of his favourite movies ready to play, a devilishly large bowl of popcorn awaiting, and a friend or two who shares an equally ridiculous obsession. So keep out, boys! One, you have cooties. Two, only fangirls allowed in.
Secret admirer party
Whenever a Secret Santa pops up over the Christmas holidays, I rejoice in the giving spirit that infectiously spreads through us all, because it’s responsible for this wonderful game of guessing who gave you a present. The best type of guessing game ever, if I do say so myself. Well, now you only have to wait two months (but really this can happen anytime you please) for another reason to get a bunch of friends together and gush over the copious amounts of chocolate received. Instead of signing Secret Santa, sign your secret admirer. You can get as cheesy as you like given the date, and go on to list just what you admire about them. Valetine’s Day is about spreading the loooove, even the platonic variety.
