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The Hamilton Active Service Canteen was established on May 2, 1941, by the volunteers of the Hamilton Citizens’ Committee for War Services, with the purpose of supporting and entertaining military service personnel stationed in Hamilton during World War Two. After a meeting to discuss the logistics of operation, the Active Service Canteen opened its doors on May 17, 1941. The building was located right downtown at 20 King Street East, just east of James Street, occupying the entire second floor of the building. In the early days of the canteen, attendance was low, so financing came from various sources including donations from local clubs. After a year in operation with over 160,000 visitors, the canteen became self-sufficient and even opened another location specifically geared to female service members at 10 James Street North.

The Hamilton Active Service Canteen was staffed entirely by volunteers, many of whom were women, who served in the kitchen, the games room, and as dancing partners for the servicemen. The canteen served light refreshments with a menu including salads, soups, sandwiches, bread, pies, ice cream, coffee and cokes, all at reasonable prices. Entertainment included weekly Saturday night dances, as well as a games room with card tables, ping pong tables and a billiards table, along with a few pianos. There was also a reading room that was stocked with books, magazines and local newspapers, as well as notepads for writing home to family and friends. When the war in Europe ended, the canteen was no longer needed, so it closed its doors on November 17, 1945. Over the 5 years the canteen was in operation, it served close to 1 million service members, and provided a comfortable, sociable and entertaining home away from home for those who served their country during the war.

The Alumnae Association of the Wesleyan Ladies' College, established in June 1868, supported the continued intellectual engagement of graduates of Wesleyan Ladies' College. Their motto was "Vita sine literis mors est" (Life without literature is death). The Alumnae Association's Literary Club was primarily composed of Wesleyan alumnae, but accepted some non-alumnae as well as daughters and grand-daughters of original graduate-members, and continued to do so after the college ceased to exist. The Literary Club, sometimes referred to as the Ladies' Literary Club or Hamilton Ladies Literary Club, was also affiliated with the Royal Society of Canada. The club met on a biweekly basis from October to May, and held an annual meeting in June. In the 1957-1958 season, they started to meet once a month. The Literary Club remained active until ca.1966.

In 1886, Charles S. Cochran (1854-1933) opened a photographic studio in association with Alexander M. Cunningham (1863-1926). In 1902, Cochran left and the studio was renamed the A.M. Cunningham Studio. After his son Charles H. Cunningham joined the business the name changed to A.M. Cunningham & Son. When Alexander died, Charles continued the business, which was known in later years as the Cunningham Studio. In 1955, Charles retired and sold his interest in the firm. From 1967 to 1968 the business was known as the Reid Studio. In 1969, the photographic studio closed because the building was set to be demolished for a downtown urban renewal project.

The Ancient Order United Workmen began in the United States in 1868 and was the first fraternal benefit society to offer financial insurance to its members. Providing insurance for workingmen during the 1860s was a novel idea, but the A.O.U.W believed that its fraternal structure and its low overhead costs made it more likely to succeed compared to commercial life insurance firms that often went bankrupt. Working class men had to apply for membership and if accepted, had to pay a $1.00 initiation fee. When a member died, his dependents would receive a $2,000 payout. After the death of a member, each remaining member in the association would be required to pay another $1.00 to replenish the fund. The popularity of the association resulted in many branches being established throughout the United States and even in Canada. The Grand Lodge of Ontario A.O.U.W. chapter was established in 1880 and had 226 lodges in the province, including the Hamilton Lodge No.49, which was established that same year with 500 initial members. The Hamilton Lodge was similar to the parent association in that it was a fraternal benevolent organization providing social and financial support to its members and their dependents by visiting the sick, assisting the poor, and caring for the orphans and widows of deceased members. The association also promoted the establishment of libraries and reading rooms to further education and learning, as well as advocated for apprenticeship opportunities. The association was incorporated by the Ancient Order of Independent Foresters in 1926.

The Ancient Order United Workmen began in the United States in 1868 and was the first fraternal benefit society to offer financial insurance to its members. Providing insurance for workingmen during the 1860s was a novel idea, but the A.O.U.W believed that its fraternal structure and its low overhead costs made it more likely to succeed compared to commercial life insurance firms that often went bankrupt. Working class men had to apply for membership and if accepted, had to pay a $1.00 initiation fee. When a member died, his dependents would receive a $2,000 payout. After the death of a member, each remaining member in the association would be required to pay another $1.00 to replenish the fund. The popularity of the association resulted in many branches being established throughout the United States and even in Canada. The Grand Lodge of Ontario A.O.U.W. chapter was established in 1880 and had 226 lodges in the province, including the Hamilton Lodge No.49, which was established that same year with 500 initial members. The Hamilton Lodge was similar to the parent association in that it was a fraternal benevolent organization providing social and financial support to its members and their dependents by visiting the sick, assisting the poor, and caring for the orphans and widows of deceased members. The association also promoted the establishment of libraries and reading rooms to further education and learning, as well as advocated for apprenticeship opportunities. The association was incorporated by the Ancient Order of Independent Foresters in 1926.

Raymond Lowes (1911-2007) joined the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club in 1959 and as the chairman of a conservation committee he submitted a proposal to build a walking trail along the Niagara Escarpment. The proposal went to the Federation of Ontario Naturalists in 1960 and a Bruce Trail Committee was formed on September 23, 1960 to do a feasibility study. The original Bruce Trail Committee included Raymond Lowes, Phil Gosling, Dr. Norman Pearson and Dr. Robert McLaren. A membership organization was started and incorporated in 1963 as the Bruce Trail Association. The goal was set to complete the project in time for Canada’s Centennial in 1967. It took from 1963 to 1967 to build the trail, and it opened in June of 1967. The trail runs the length of the Niagara Escarpment from Tobermory to Queenston a distance of 720 kilometres (432 miles). The Bruce Trail Association acquired a permanent headquarters in 1984 with the acquisition and restoration of Rasberry House on the grounds of the Royal Botanical Gardens. In 2009, the Bruce Trail Association became known as the Bruce Trail Conservancy, which reflects of the association's mandate to conserve the land on which the Bruce Trail is situated. The Bruce Trail Conservancy is comprised of 9 regional clubs, each of which is responsible for a section of the trail: Niagara Bruce Trail Club (Queenston to Grimsby), Iroquia Bruce Trail Club (Grimsby to Kelso), Toronto Bruce Trail Club (Kelso to Cheltenham), Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club (Cheltenham to Mono Centre), Dufferin Hi-Land Bruce Trail Club (Mono Centre to Lavender), Blue Mountains Bruce Trail Club (Lavender to Craigleath), Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club (Craigleath to Blantyre), Sydenham Bruce Trail Club (Blantyre to Wiarton) and Peninsula Bruce Trail Club (Wiarton to Tobermory).

The Registrar of Shipping in Hamilton, Ontario documented the ownership of small vessels and large passenger and freight ships, by administering and tracking ownership, transfers in ownership and vessel name changes. The registrar documented the particulars of vessels through builder's certificates and ship surveys, and also compiled various correspondence, as well as reports for shipwrecks, strandings and collisions.

The Registrar of Shipping, Hamilton, Ontario documented the ownership of small vessels and large passenger and freight ships, by administering and tracking ownership, transfers in ownership and vessel name changes. The Registrar documented the particulars of vessels through builder's certificates and ship surveys, and also compiled various correspondence, as well as reports for shipwrecks, strandings and collisions. In the early years, the Registrar of Shipping operated its offices out of the Hamilton Customs House, which handled the flow of trade and passengers through the Port of Hamilton and along the railway line.

In 1909, the electors of Hamilton, following the example of many other Canadian cities which during the proceeding 20 years had adopted new government structures, approved By-law 860 by a vote of 2,786 to 1,213 thereby providing for the establishment of a Board of Control under the Ontario Consolidated Municipal Act, 1905. The new Board was formed under By-laws 899 and 900. The organization of such municipal bodies was part of the reformist zeal of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which saw businessmen campaign to restructure local government along more efficient eand orderly lines, imitating the modern business corporation. In part, their goal was to end civic corruption and favoritism and to reduce the influence of aldermen and the ward system, as well as to govern the city paying special attention to the needs of business.

Previously, mayors such as John S. Hendrie (1901-1902) had appealed to voters on a "business platform," promising better municipal management, and under their stewardship several civic bodies of "experts" had been organized including the Hospital Board (1896), the Board of Cemetery Management (1899), and the Board of Parks Management (1900). The new Board of Control served as the executive committee of Council; indeed, its creation was a move to strengthen the executive branch without sacrificing "the democratic form of an elected body." It was composed of four members, elected at large every two years, and the Mayor who served as Chairman of the Board. The Controller receiving the largest number of votes acted as Deputy Mayor and Vice Chairman of the Board.

In the early 1930s, a suggestion was put forth by Mayor John Peebles "to promote the better business administration of the city" by appointing a chief administrative officer. Such an appointment, it was believed, would foster greater co-operation and coordination between the branches of civic government, thereby encouraging continuity in the development of city policy and eliminating the duplication of effort arising from divided authority. The chief administrative officer would be in charge of personnel and would act as a single, informed source whom Council could consult. Peebles' proposal was examined by Council but was not acted upon. For the next fifty years the question of employing a chief administrative officer was raised periodically, but the position was not established. More particularly, the idea was revived during the mayoralty of Victor Copps (1963-1976), who urged the adoption of a "manager type of government" to free the Board of Control from spending its time on administrative details, thus allowing it to concentrate on formulating and enforcing policy. In 1980, Hamilton appointed a chief administrative officer and the Board of Control was abolished.

A city solicitor was appointed in 1847 by Hamilton City Council to provide advice concerning legal and legislative matters and to promote and defend the interests of the corporation. At first, payment was covered by fees for individual services rendered, and the solicitor sent in detailed accounts payable for Council's approval. In 1891, under By-law 583 the solicitorship was made a strictly salaried position with compensation allowed for disbursements and traveling expenses. After 1895, Council made an annual payment towards the salaries of legal clerks and assistants and to cover office expenses incurred on the City's behalf. During these years the duties of the solicitor, which previously had been determined by need on an ad hoc basis, were systematically laid out.

Until 1902, the city solicitorship was not a full-time position, and the solicitor continued to maintain a private legal practice while conducting the city's business. At that time, recognizing that the growing volume of civic legal business necessitated a full-time solicitor, a separate legal department was established with offices at City Hall. The earlier policy had led to potential conflicts of interest. In 1869, Council demanded that the city solicitor choose between representing the city or the Wellington, Gray, and Bruce Railway in which the city held an interest, maintaining that "the two offices are incompatible and ought not to be held by the same person." In 1872, while preparing the Hamilton and Northwestern Railway By-law, the Finance Committee discovered that the city solicitor also had been retained by the Provisional Directors of the Railway. It recommended that the city dispense with the solicitor's services, but Council reserved judgment. The matter finally was settled when the solicitor resigned. As with other branches of civic government, the growth of Hamilton in both size and complexity promoted the expansion of the solicitor's department. In 1920, an assistant city solicitor was appointed. Staff lawyers, often specialists in specific areas of law, were added to the legal department. By 1973, six lawyers and one law student staffed the department, and its appropriations totaled $344,310. The following individuals served as city solicitor: George W. Burton, 1847-1872; Frank Mackelcan, 1872-1906; John Morison Gibson, 1872-1894; F. R. Waddell, 1906-1931; A.J. Poulson, 1931-1957; Alan S. Stewart, 1957-1959; A. Foster Rodger, 1959-1965; Clifford R. Demaray, 1965-1967; Kenneth A. Rouff, 1967-1989; and Patrice Noe Johnson, 1990-[?].

Under Hamilton's Act of Incorporation City Council could appoint a non-councillor to serve as City Clerk. His duties, many of which were first established by practice and precedent, were set out in Statutes and municipal by-laws. The Clerk, with the authority to summon committee meetings and to convene Council meetings when required by a competent authority, attended all Council meetings, recording the proceedings "without note or comment." He was the custodian of city documents, keeping Council's books, records, and accounts, the original or certified copies of by-laws, and the City Seal, attending to Council's correspondence, and storing all deeds, securities, leases, and other valuable papers belonging to the city in his office safe; these records were not to leave his possession without the permission of the Mayor or the Chairman of the Finance Committee.

In 1861, the Clerk was given permission to employ help as needed on a temporary basis, and it was not until 1884 that Samuel H. Kent was appointed as permanent Assistant City Clerk, serving also as Assistant Secretary to the school Board and deputizing for the City Clerk as Police Court Clerk. In 1886, a general duties clerk was added to the department. Nonetheless, in 1891, City Clerk Thomas Beasley complained to Council that the growth of the city, the result of a major annexation occurring earlier in the year, had led to a great increase in the work of the department; consequently, finding his work backing up, he had been forced to hire help out of his own pocket. By 1925, the department had expanded to consist of the City Clerk, 2 Assistants, and 10 clerks. By 1973, office staff stood at over 40 with departmental appropriations set at $496,840. Under the super vision of the Ontario Government, increasing emphasis was placed on professionalization; after 1958, for example, the City Clerk was required to have university training in public administration. Originally the Clerk was paid a salary and could keep the fees he collected but in 1850 this was changed to a larger salary in lieu of fees.

Clearly, because of the multiplicity and important nature of his functions, a competent, experienced City Clerk was essential to the smooth and efficient operation of municipal government. Thus, it is unsurprising that between its incorporation as a city and the introduction of regional government in 1973, Hamilton had only 6 City Clerks, with 3 Clerks overseeing operations between 1854 and 1964. Continuity and stability in terms of senior personnel was the hallmark of the department, with new Clerks often chosen internally after serving a long apprenticeship. For example, Samuel H. Kent (1906-1935) had joined the Clerk's office in 1884. Such continuity, moreover, led to a close and personal identification on the part of City Clerks with local government and its fortunes. For example, Thomas Beasley (1854-1906) rescued the City from bankruptcy during the financial crisis of 1863 by hiding assessment rolls from the sheriff and then leaving town. The following individuals served as City Clerk: Charles H. Stocker, 1847-1852; John Kirby, 1852-1854; Thomas Beasley, 1854-1906; Samuel H. Kent, 1906-1933; James Berry, 1933-1964; Edward A. Simpson, 1964-1996; and Joseph J. Schatz, 1996-[?]

The Act of Incorporation of Hamilton required that the affairs of the city be managed by a Mayor and a Municipal or "Common Council", replacing the previous government by the Board of Police. The Mayor and Councillors composed City Council. Two Councillors were elected in each of the five municipal wards established by the Act, and together they named one other person to serve with them on Council. From among their number the Councillors chose the Mayor, who held office for a one year term. The system, at times, could cause problems as in 1854 when all the Councillors successively were nominated for mayor and were defeated. Minors and non-citizens were ineligible to run for office, and property qualifications were established. The Mayor was paid a salary in lieu of fees and prerogatives.

In April 1872, in the midst of a period of labour agitation, a Special Committee reported to Council on the method by which the Mayor was elected. Its report concluded that the present system was objectionable on several grounds: first, electors wanted to select the Mayor themselves; second, the election of the Mayor by councillors deprived one ward of an elected alderman; third, it implied that each alderman was suitable for the office of Mayor when the electors had voted for him as an alderman, not as Mayor; and fourth, the position "would be elevated in dignity and independence and the interests of the Electors would be advanced by his being elected by the people at large." In 1874, Benjamin Charlton became the first Mayor of Hamilton elected by a civic vote. Individual Mayors could leave their impact on both the office and the city. For example, Charles Magill (1854-55) championed the construction of the waterworks. T.J. Stewart (1907-08) was a vocal advocate of the municipal ownership of utilities. Lloyd D. Jackson (1949-62) promoted urban renewal in the city. The inaugural addresses which the Mayors presented to Council from 1898 until 1973, included in Council minutes, reflected their concerns and plans for the municipality and outlined the accomplishments of previous Councils.

The Fernleigh Lawn Bowling Club had it start as a group of carpet bowlers from the Hannah Street Methodist Church looking for a place to bowl outside. After first bowling on the property of club president A. W. Semmens in 1904, the club later moved to a location on Aberdeen and Mountain in 1908. Eventually, due to rising cost of land, the club found its permanent residence at 17 1/2 Fairmount ave. It remained at that location until the club’s dissolvement in 1997. The land used by the club and subsequently rezoned by the city for residential use. The club takes its name from A. W. Semmens designation for his homestead, the club’s original home.

The First Battalion Incorporated Militia was established in 1838 to protect the Hamilton area (formerly known as Head-of-the-Lake), and the surrounding region from any possible uprisings or raids stemming from the Rebellions of 1837-1838. The British army couldn’t continue to provide protection for a growing colony, and part-time militias were often ill-prepared to cope with the issues of the time. The region of Hamilton was seen as a strategic point of defense for Upper Canada due to its location, so a decision was made to create a force for regular service. On October 24, 1838, the Lieutenant Governor signed the order to raise a battalion in Hamilton and in November of 1838 it was formed and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Sir Allan Napier MacNab (1798-1862), a veteran of the War of 1812, with Colonel William Gourlay (1794-1867), a former British officer, as second in command.

Unlike earlier militias where the men wore their own clothes and provided their own musket, the First Battalion Incorporated Militia soldiers wore the uniform of the British Army and were provided with military-issued weapons. Non-commissioned officers were required to be able to read and write, as they would be the mainstay of the unit, ensuring that the enlisted men behaved and practiced their drill instruction. Unfortunately, records indicate that desertion, drunkenness and disorderly conduct were sometimes the reality for the battalion. The 300 men that enlisted by the end of the first year of the battalion’s existence received the same pay as the British soldiers, which was one shilling a day for a regular private, minus the expenditures for their personal kits. The battalion was headquartered in Hamilton with a daily town guard of one officer and twelve men, but often sent companies of men to places such as Fort Eire, Cobourg and Penetanguishene. While stationed in Hamilton, the men engaged in daily drills and chores, and patrolled the area. After five years of service, monotonous barracks life, and with no action from any rebellions or uprisings, the regiment was disbanded in 1843.

The Funeral Advisory Society of Hamilton & District (FASHD) was founded in 1971 under the name, Hamilton Memorial Society. It was founded by Callie Archer, after reading an article about the cost of funerals in Ontario. The aim of the organization was to advocate for simple, affordable funeral and memorial services consumers. In 1984, the name was changed to Funeral Advisory Society of Hamilton & District to better reflect their advocacy goals and membership demographics. In 2012, the Ontario government introduced new legislation with regards to consumer rights for funeral services. Considering the new legislation, the board of directors voted to voluntarily dissolve the organization as the goals they lobbied for were reached with the new legislation.

Grafton & Co. Ltd. was a clothing manufacturer located in Dundas. It was established in May 1853 when James Beatty Grafton and his business partner, Andrew V. Gregson, established Gregson & Grafton, a small dry goods and millinery shop on the corner of King and Ogilvie in Dundas. In 1858, Mr. Gregson retired from the business and the Grafton/Gregson partnership was dissolved. Later the same year, James and his brother, John Stewart Grafton, formed a partnership, and the company of Grafton & Co. Ltd. was born a year later when James’ son, James J., joined the company. The company prospered commercially in the 1800s. Grafton brothers purchased the adjacent property in 1887 and they built the three-storey brick building on the corner of King and Main streets in Dundas. By 1900, Grafton and Company had expanded to further locations in Hamilton, Brantford, London, Peterborough and Owen Sound, with a sixth location opening in Woodstock in 1905. The company always had the most modern equipment to handle clothing products from manufacturing to shipping to retail. By 1967, Grafton and Company had merged with the Jack Fraser Stores, which provided the company with 85 store locations across Canada. But business at the Dundas Grafton's store declined and, by 1976, had ceased business.

Mechanics’ Institutes were first established in London, England during the early to mid-nineteenth century, with the purpose of providing workers with practical knowledge and instruction in their trades through reading materials, lectures and evening classes. These institutes soon spread throughout the world including in Canada and by the 1840s, there were well-established institutes in places such as Kingston, Toronto, Brantford, Dundas and Hamilton. The Hamilton and Gore Mechanics’ Institute was established at a public meeting on Monday, February 27, 1839. As in Britain, the original purpose of the Institute was to further the technical and scientific education of the working class. In the first year of operation, there were 273 members and a total of 126 volumes in the collection. From 1839 to 1844, the Institute rented out space in the Engine House of the Board of Police and focused on its reading rooms and the circulation of material. This remained the primary focus from 1844 until 1853 while it continued to rent out space in a different building on King Street. When the Institute was incorporated in 1849, it started offering lectures and classes in subjects such as science, manufacturing and nature. With its membership growing, the Institute needed a more permanent location as the city was growing too so in 1853, the Mechanics’ Institute opened its new building at 33 James Street North at a cost of $4,000, which was mostly borrowed. The building contained a hall large enough to seat 1000 people and the reading rooms were spacious and well-furnished. With the extra space, the Institute expanded its offerings with fairs, festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and literary readings, along with regular book circulation, classes and lectures. Although classes were offered in reading, writing, math and technical skills, and were intended to be educational in nature, they were not well attended by the working class, who after a long 10-hour workday, had little time or energy to sit through a lecture on topics that often appealed more to middle-class members.

By 1881, the Institute had over 7,000 volumes and a membership of over 1000 individuals. Despite the numbers and volumes circulating, the Institute was struggling with the debt it incurred from borrowing money to construct the new larger building. Though the original function of the Institute was educating the working class, and there were members such as blacksmiths, machinists, printers and shoemakers among the ranks, the majority of members were employed as politicians, merchants, barristers, bookkeepers, physicians, architects, clerks, grocers, and teachers. The directors who ran the Institute were also men from the middle and upper classes and although they did recognize that the function and role of the Institute had shifted, they did little to rectify this and failed to adapt to the needs of the working class. The Mechanics’ Institute also did not receive much in the way of government funding, and relied mostly on the subscriptions and membership fees, as well as donations. The failure to adapt and reflect the needs of the community, the lack of regular funding, the financial debt incurred from overextending itself with a building that was too large and expensive for its original purpose, as well as the competition from private libraries and technical schools, all helped lead to the demise of the Mechanics’ Institute in 1882. That same year, the Free Public Libraries Act was passed by the provincial government, which allowed for the establishment, administration and maintenance of public libraries through tax-based government support. By 1889, city council voted to establish and construct a library and in February of 1890, residents of the city of Hamilton had access to their first free public library when the Hamilton Public Library opened its doors.

Established in 1882 and located at 2½ James Street South at King Street, the Hamilton Business College was Canada’s representative commercial and shorthand school. Courses included book-keeping, commercial law, contracts, business correspondence, penmanship, spelling, telegraphy and shorthand. The objective of the school was to prepare young men and women for a career in business by giving them practical experience in various aspects of commercial education. The teachers were specialists in their fields and the quality of the education and practical skills obtained by the students made them highly sought after by employers, and gave the school an exceptional reputation nationwide.

The Hamilton Cake & Biscuit company was incorporated into a business by letters patent in 1920. However, due to various financial issues in 1921, it approved the appointment of Mark McLeod Tew as its trustee in bankruptcy. The company was formal dissolved in 1923 with the sale of the company lands to Frederick T. Smye, Hamiltonian businessman who later became an Ontario MPP until his death in 1930.

The Hamilton Board of Trade was formed at a public meeting held at the Royal Exchange Hotel on April 29, 1845, with thirty-seven Hamilton businessmen in attendance. The constitution of the board was adopted at this meeting and Isaac Buchanan was elected as first president. Board members were comprised of merchants and bank managers, and individuals engaged in trade in the Gore District. The mandate of the organization was to promote fair mercantile principles, correct abuses in trade, protect the rights of businesses, and advance the interests of the business community. During the war years, the organization's membership declined even though growth and development in the city were increasing. In 1919, the organization went through a major reorganization and emerged as the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce in 1920. After an intensive promotional campaign, membership increased to 1000 individuals and the new mandate of the Chamber shifted from a focus mostly on trade, to a new emphasis on promoting the economic, civic and social welfare of the people of Hamilton.

Throughout the years, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce has played an active role in improving the business and social climate in the city through the financing of various ventures such as the Royal Connaught Hotel and the Chedoke Civic Golf Club, as well as heading the effort to relocate McMaster University to Hamilton. The Chamber has promoted better trade, roads, parking and transportation, educational and employment opportunities, the development of the Harbour and civic centres, as well as promoting access to capital for small business. The Chamber has engaged the city and its citizens through task forces and committees, studies and reports, programs and events such as Corporate Challenge, as well as promotional materials and publications, including the area’s first business directory. The Chamber has also contributed to tourism, promoted Hamilton’s art scene by founding the Hamilton Region Arts Council, and brought both the United Way and Crime Stoppers to the greater Hamilton area. Today, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce continues to represent the interests of the business community and the community at large by encouraging the improvement of commercial and industrial activity in the city, and by promoting Hamilton as a place of innovation and progress, and a good place to invest, work and live.

The Hamilton Cotton Company was a primary cotton producer, starting its operations with raw cotton from the United States, Mexico and Brazil. It was founded in 1880 but its history reaches back to the early 1870s in Dundas where brothers James M. Young, the eldest son of a prominent Hamilton merchant family, and Hamilton Young learned the business at the Dundas Cotton mills. Production expanded in the 20th century. The Young family strengthened its holdings in Hamilton and added plants in Marysville, New Brunswick, Montreal, Quebec, Trenton and Woodbridge, Ontario. Some of the products of the company included cotton yarns, dyed or undyed, blend yarns, woven cloth, wrapping twines, cotton and synthetic braided cords, twisted ropes, and laces. The numerous buildings of the Hamilton Cotton Company stood behind the Malcolm & Souter plant on Mary Street. The main plant of the company was located on Mary Street North in Hamilton, Ontario and was sub-divided into three separate mill units: The Yarn and Cloth division, the Dyeing division, and the Narrow Fabrics Division. By 1970, the name of the business changed to Hamilton Group Limited.

The Hamilton Cricket Club is one Canada’s oldest cricket clubs still in existence. It was formed in 1847. It was one of the inaugural members of the Hamilton and District Cricket League in 1921. In 1958 membership allowed for the formation of a ‘B’ team in competitions. The club experienced dominance in the league in the 60’s and 70’s with the club winning almost every year. Membership waned in the 80’s and 90’s, as the ‘B’ team was dropped. However a resurgence of interest in the sport has allowed for a second team (Colts) to be reformed.

The Hamilton Musical Arts Society was a musical group that performed classic operatic works, as well as Gilbert & Sullivan pieces. From 1938-1949, they operated under the direction of conductor Leslie Sommerville. In 1949, the group disbanded and many of the members subsequently joined the Hamilton Savoyard Operatic Society.

The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club is a not-for profit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting the natural environment of Hamilton, Ontario and the surrounding areas, through education and activism. The Club was first established in 1918, and was officially incorporated as the Hamilton Bird Protection Society in 1919. The Club’s original function was to protect and preserve birds and bird habitats from extinction. Over time, members of the Club broadened their scope to include all aspects of the natural world, changing their name to the Hamilton Nature Club. This name remained in place until 1959, when they officially became known as the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club. Since the early days of the organization, members have been instrumental in raising awareness and securing the protection of the environment such as the 1927 designation of Cootes Paradise as a wildlife sanctuary by a Provincial Government order. In 1961, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club became the first conservation society and not-for-profit organization in Canada to purchase land in perpetuity for nature and wildlife sanctuaries. For the past century, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and its members have worked to protect and preserve the environment through their conservation projects and programs, playing an active role in environmental issues that affect the local community.

The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club is a not-for profit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting the natural environment of Hamilton, Ontario and the surrounding areas, through education and activism. The Club was first established in 1918, and was officially incorporated as the Hamilton Bird Protection Society in 1919. The Club’s original function was to protect and preserve birds and bird habitats from extinction. Over time, members of the Club broadened their scope to include all aspects of the natural world, changing their name to the Hamilton Nature Club. This name remained in place until 1959, when they officially became known as the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club. Since the early days of the organization, members have been instrumental in raising awareness and securing the protection of the environment such as the 1927 designation of Cootes Paradise as a wildlife sanctuary by a Provincial Government order. In 1961, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club became the first conservation society and not-for-profit organization in Canada to purchase land in perpetuity for nature and wildlife sanctuaries. For the past century, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and its members have worked to protect and preserve the environment through their conservation projects and programs, playing an active role in environmental issues that affect the local community.

The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club is a not-for profit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting the natural environment of Hamilton, Ontario and the surrounding areas, through education and activism. The Club was first established in 1918, and was officially incorporated as the Hamilton Bird Protection Society in 1919. The Club’s original function was to protect and preserve birds and bird habitats from extinction. Over time, members of the Club broadened their scope to include all aspects of the natural world, changing their name to the Hamilton Nature Club. This name remained in place until 1959, when they officially became known as the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club. Since the early days of the organization, members have been instrumental in raising awareness and securing the protection of the environment such as the 1927 designation of Cootes Paradise as a wildlife sanctuary by a Provincial Government order. In 1961, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club became the first conservation society and not-for-profit organization in Canada to purchase land in perpetuity for nature and wildlife sanctuaries. For the past century, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and its members have worked to protect and preserve the environment through their conservation projects and programs, playing an active role in environmental issues that affect the local community.

In 1961, the Hamilton Opera Company was founded by the soprano June Kowalchuk and the former D'Oyly Carte singer Clifford Cox. The Gypsy Baron was the group’s first production, which was performed at Hill Park High School. The Hamilton Opera Company had three directors: George Crum, Music Director at Canada’s National Ballet School, Lee Hepner, former conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and William Santor. From 1970 to 1972, the company collaborated with the Mohawk College Opera Workshop to offset the lack of a suitable theatre, of local musicians experienced in opera, and of funds. After 1972, the company disbanded, and its supporting body, the Hamilton Opera Corporation, transferred to Mohawk College's opera productions.

The Hamilton Poetry Centre was established in 1983 as a not-for-profit, volunteer run organization in Hamilton, Ontario, for the purpose of promoting and furthering the appreciation of poetry writing in the city. The Centre conducts poetry writing workshops and hosts Canada Council-sponsored poetry and author readings within the community.

The Hamilton Savoyard Operatic Society was founded in 1929 by Thomas Ashworth. The Society' purpose was to stage Gilbert and Sullivan's Victorian comedic operas, and opened with the production H.M.S. Pinafore at Delta Collegiate in Hamilton. The Society performed at many local venues, including the Westdale Theatre, and the Grand Opera House on James Street North.

In 1949, the Society changed their name to the Hamilton Savoyards after acquiring new members from the Hamilton Musical Arts Society. The group disbanded briefly in 1957 and was re-established in 1961 under the same direction of Thomas Ashworth. In 1966, the Savoyards changed their repertoire from only reproducing Gilbert and Sullivan comedic opera productions, to a variety of styles to show their theatrical flexibility.

The Hamilton Savoyards merged with the Hamilton Theatre Company to expand their musical productions. The Company eventually was incorporated to become Hamilton Theatre Inc., a group that currently holds its headquarters at 140 MacNab Street North and continues to entertain the Hamilton community.

Founded in January 2006 as the Hammer City Roller Girls, this league was are the first not-for-profit, skater operated, flat track roller derby league in Canada. On July 22, 2006, in Burlington’s Central Arena, the league was founded by Lasha “Whiplasha” Laskowsky and a group of skaters where they held the first modern public roller derby bout in Canada. Hammer City has established itself as a competitive, hard-hitting league. The roller derby season is annually from March to June.

The Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society was established in 1944, when Lieutenant Colonel Charles R. McCullough convened a meeting of historically-minded residents of Hamilton to discuss the establishment of a new local history society to replace the former Wentworth Historical Society (1889-1925). The Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society exists to promote Hamilton’s history through its motto: Explore, Preserve, Relate. The Society holds regular meetings and annual Heritage Day dinner celebrations, as well as outreach activities such as lectures and day outings to local historical sites. The Society has collected and preserved historical photographs of the Hamilton area, many of which have been included in its publications on Hamilton history. In partnership with the Hamilton Historical Board, the Society has sponsored several historical plaques to commemorate important people and events in the city of Hamilton and the surrounding region. The Society has also been actively involved in restoring important historical landmarks such as the incorporation of the Old City Hall clock into the Hamilton Eaton’s Centre, and the Gore Park Fountain in downtown Hamilton.

This Junior Chapter was formed in 1968 and was named after Dundurn Castle.

The Wellington Square Chapter was established in Burlington, Ontario in 1951 and dissolved in 2014.

This chapter was named in honour of William Alexander Denison Sutterby who gave up his studies at the University of Toronto to enlist in the Battery and serve overseas. He was killed in the battle of Passchendaele on October 30, 1917. He was the only child of William John Sutterby (d.1956) and Margaret D. Wilkinson Sutterby (d.1953). She served as the Regent of the Chapter from 1926 until 1943. It received its charter October 5, 1926. It had been a Children of the Empire (COE) chapter called the Bartonville Chapter until it received its charter as a primary chapter in 1926. The chapter's motto was "For Others." The 67th University Battery Chapter was disbanded in 1987.

The Admiral Percy W. Nellles Chapter was a Junior Chapter sponsored by the Princess Marina Chapter in 1942. Percy Walker Nelles (1892-1951) served as Chief of the Naval Staff of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) from 1934-1944 overseeing the wartime expansion of the RCN and turning it into a major player in the Battle of the Atlantic. He was sent to London as Overseas Naval Attache coordinating RCN operations for Operation Overlord. He retired in January 1945 as a full Admiral.

This chapter was named after James Chisholm (1858-1944) a Hamilton lawyer and founding member of the 91st Highlanders (later the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders). He served as their first commanding officer from 1903 to 1911, and in 1924 was appointed Honourary Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment.The chapter's motto was "Always willing."

Emma Francis Jane (Vail) (Birge) Pratt (1851-1917) was born in New York but came to Hamilton at a young age as her father was one of the partners in the firm of Sanford, Vail & Bickley. She attended the Wesleyan Ladies’ College and graduated with two diplomas. She first married Morton Birge in 1870 and later Thomas H. Pratt in 1879. She was very active with women’s organizations such as the WCTU and was one of the founders of the Hamilton YWCA in 1889, co-writing their constitution.

The chapter was formed in 1900 and named after Ancaster resident Clementina Fessenden (1843-1918), the founder of Empire Day. In 1902, they petitioned the Head Office of the Imperial Order of The Daughters of the Empire to be renamed the Municipal Chapter of Hamilton.

The General Allenby Chapter held their first meeting on February 13, 1918. They were named after Field Marshall Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby (1861-1936). He fought in the Second Boer War and in World War I, commanding the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the capture of Palestine in 1917. He served as the High Commissioner for Egypt and Sudan from 1919 to 1925. The chapter's motto was: "Faithful in Service, Fide ete Labore" [Loyalty by Toil]. The General Allenby Chapter was disbanded in 1968.

The General Sir Archibald Wavell Chapter IODE was organized in January of 1941 and named after Sir Archibald Wavell (1883-1950). The chapter was sponsored by the St. Hilda Chapter. He served in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II and was Governor General and Viceroy of India from 1943-1947. The chapter's motto was "Keep your ideals high and your resolve unshaken." It was disbanded in 1947.

This chapter was named after the soldiers participating in the Dieppe Raid of August 19, 1942. The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry saw combat for the first time at Dieppe. Only 102 of the 582 soldiers who landed were not among the casualties: 197 killed, 174 captured and 194 wounded (including 85 also captured). The Heroes of Dieppe COE Chapter became a primary chapter in 1949. It was disbanded in 2008.

Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Chapter was established as a Junior Chapter in 1944. This chapter was named after the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry which started as the 13th Battalion in 1862, changing its name in 1927 to Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. It was disbanded in 1964.

The Island of Malta Chapter was established as a Junior Chapter on November 17, 1943 under the sponsorship of the Sir Allan MacNab Naval Chapter. It became a full chapter on February 15, 1944 when it received its charter at the Annual Meeting of the Sir Allan MacNab Naval Chapter. The chapter's mottoes include: "Small but Mighty" (Island of Malta); "At My Country’s Call I am Ready" (Lord Louis Mountbatten); and "Faith in Our Work" (Nursing Sister Kenny). The chapter was disbanded in 1956.

The Jennie Herald Greening Junior Chapter was organized February 24, 1939 under the sponsorship of the St. Cecilia Chapter. This chapter was named after Jane Rose (Jennie) (Herald) Greening (1858-1937). She was actively involved with the IODE for 33 years serving as honourary regent of Municipal Chapter for 19 years. She was also a Life Member of the National, Provincial and Municipal Chapters. After her death her children donated her house, Fonthill (168 Jackson Street West), to the IODE to use as the headquarters for the Municipal Chapter and to use for other purposes. The chapter's motto was "With All One’s Might." It was disbanded in 1960.

The Lucy Morrison Chapter of IODE was organized in December of 1940 and named in honour of the late Mrs. William Morrison, Provincial President of the IODE Mrs. W. R. Morrison (her daughter-in-law) was the regent at the time of founding. The chapter was disbanded in 1975.

Flt. Lieut. Malcolm Charlton Crerar (1898-1917) was the youngest son of Mr. & Mrs. Peter Duncan Crerar. He was educated at Highfield School, Upper Canada College and the Royal Military College. In May of 1916, he was given a commission in the Royal Field artillery but decided to take aviation. In September of 1916, he left for England and was attached to the Royal Flying Corps at Reading. After 3 months he was sent to Egypt and subsequently participated in the British drive through Palestine. He died on August 3, 1917 at 19 years of age of injuries received in a flying accident when in pursuit of an enemy aeroplane in the Gaza district, Palestine. His grave is D. 34 in the Deir El Belah War Cemetery in Israel. The chapter's motto was: "Per Ardu Ad Astra" [Through difficulty to the Stars]. The Malcolm Crerar Aviation Chapter was disbanded in 1949. The money in the treasury was given for scholarships in music to King Edward School and Queen Mary Collegiate.

This chapter was named after Margaret Gage (Mrs. Harry F.) Burkholder (1869-1927) and grew out of a group of girls who were sewing for the soldiers. Mrs. Burkholder brought them together as a chapter. According to The Hamilton Spectator: “When the Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire was first conceived, in 1901, Mrs. Burkholder was one of the first members of the Municipal chapter of Hamilton. In 1906 she organized St. Cecelia chapter, now one of the most active chapters of the order in Hamilton. She was regent of this chapter from its organization until 1918, when, at her resignation, she was presented with the jeweled badge of the order. At the formation of the Provincial Chapter of Ontario, Mrs. Burkholder had the honor of being unanimously chosen its first president, an office which she held until her death…Mrs. Burkholder had been a member of the National executive for 12 years and, at the time of her death, was first vice-president of the National chapter" (Oct. 22, 1927). The chapter's motto was "Duty First." The Margaret Gage Burholder Chapter was disbanded in 1977.

The Municipal Chapter was originally called Fessenden Chapter, from 1900 to 1902, when they petitioned to have their name changed to Municipal Chapter of Hamilton, which was granted. Their first meeting under the new name took place March 3, 1902. The inaugural meeting of the Municipal Chapter at Fonthill was on April 1, 1938. This was the first meeting at the house after it became the headquarters of the Hamilton IODE. The Municipal Chapter was disbanded in 2012.

This chapter was formed in 1907 as a military chapter to assist veterans. The first meeting took place at the residence of Lieutenant Colonel Moore on Hess Street South. The chapter’s name refers to the Battle of Paardeburg, fought in February, 1900. It was the Canadians’ first engagement in the Boer War. Mrs. P. D. Crerar, regent of Hamilton Municipal Chapter, began the chapter with the goal of providing care for members of the armed force and their children. At that time, each member had to have a husband, son or brother in the Canadian Army or Navy. The chapter's first project took the form of band concerts. Money was used to purchase musical instruments for the Army Medical Corps Band and to aid South African War veterans and their families. Soon after the chapter's formation, Mrs. Gordon Henderson proposed that the chapter organize a girls’ club and boarding house in the east end of Hamilton for business girls from out of town. By 1908, efforts were underway. A charter was secured, allowing for the purchase of property by the Daughter of the Empire Club, Hamilton, Limited (1911-1996). Hamilton chapters shared the responsibility of funding The Daughters of the Empire Club boarding house and girls' club. From 1913 to 1950, the Paardeburg chapter presented a rifle to Central Collegiate for the best marksman. In 1915, under the leadership of Mrs. H. S. Griffin, regent, a hospital committee was formed. It made supplies and raised funds for Number 2 Hospital in France. Around this time, Paardeburg Chapter acquired its own chapter house when Mrs. W. B. Bruce offered the use of her old home at 17 Jackson Street West, a site later occupied by the Bell Telephone Company (1929). In April of 1919, the chapter house was closed. After World War I, an organization within the chapter called the Big Sisters of Paardeburg was formed to assist daughters of deceased Hamilton soldiers, the Little Sisters of Paardeburg. In 1937, Paardeburg sponsored the formation of the Rt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin Chapter as a junior chapter. During World War II, the Paardeburg Chapter raised funds selling ice cream, candy and soft drinks from a chalet in the Rock Garden. In November of 1996, the shareholders of the Daughter of the Empire Club, Hamilton, Limited voted to surrender their charter. The remaining money held by the girl's club, in the amount of $55,000 (after expenses), was donated to McMaster University for the establishment of a Bursary Fund in perpetuity. The amount was matched by the Ontario Government. The chapter's motto was: "Always Ready."

The Princess Margaret Rose Chapter, which began as a children's chapter in 1936, became a primary chapter in 1941. The chapter was named after Princess Margaret Rose (1930-2002), sister of Queen Elizabeth II. The chapter was disbanded in 2011.

First meeting took place October 31, 1934. The chapter was named after Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark (1906-1968), the bride-elect of Prince George of England. The marriage took place November 29, 1934. The chapter's motto was "Onward to Peace." The Princess Marina Chapter was disbanded in 1990.

The Queen Elizabeth Chapter was formed as a junior chapter composed chiefly of senior girls of the Delta Collegiate Institute on January 7, 1937. They were sponsored by the St. Elizabeth Chapter. At some point they became a primary chapter under the name Queen Elizabeth Chapter. They were named after Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (1900-2002). The chapter's motto was "Deeds not Words." The Queen Elizabeth Chapter was closed soon after their last meeting of 1963.

This chapter began as a COE (Children of the Empire) chapter in 1937 and became a primary chapter in 1943. This chapter was named after Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (1867-1947) a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister from 1935-1937, the only premier to have served under three monarchs (George V, Edward VIII and George VI). The chapter's motto was "Love, Loyalty and Zeal."

This chapter was named after St. Elizabeth (1207-1231), the daughter of the King of Hungary, who devoted her life to helping the poor and needy of Thuringia. The chapter's specific mandate was to support the Sanatorium, which opened at the same time they were founded. They also provided prizes for public schools and in 1958-1959 adopted St. Elizabeth’s School, Algoma Mills, in addition to supporting schools around the world. The chapter's motto was: "The Noblest Motive is the Public Good."

The chapter was organized April 19, 1918 and named in honour of Col. Bertram Osmar Hooper (1879-1951), a Hamiltonian, who won high honours for his services during World War I. After some years, Col. Hooper asked that the name be changed to that of his wife, and the chapter be known as the Nina Louise Hooper Chapter [Nina (Barrow) Hooper died 1914]. However, this did not conform with the rules of the Order regarding the naming of Chapters, so on November 24, 1930, the name was changed to Wentworth Chapter in honour of the late Sir John Wentworth, who was Lieut. Governor of Nova Scotia from 1792 to 1808. According to The Hamilton Spectator: “During the First World War he originated and led the first daylight attack from trenches, a type of raid that later culminated in the Commandos of World War Two. Col. Hooper was also credited with inventing the box barrage, a precedent-making step in machine-gun warfare. For his bravery on the field he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross. His contributions to tactics rank as great Canadian achievements" (Oct. 1, 1951). The chapter's motto was: "Keep Smiling." It was disbanded in 1985.

The Bruce Trail Association, incorporated as a membership organization in 1963, aimed to complete a walking trail along the Niagara Escarpment in time for Canada’s Centennial in 1967. Construction of the trail began in 1963 and opened in June of 1967. The trail runs the length of the Niagara Escarpment from Tobermory to Queenston a distance of 720 kilometres (432 miles). In 2009, the Bruce Trail Association became known as the Bruce Trail Conservancy, which reflects the association's mandate to conserve the land on which the Bruce Trail is situated. The Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club, established in 1963, is one of nine clubs supporting the Bruce Trail Conservancy. The Iroquoia Club is responsible for the section of the Bruce Trail between Grimsby and Kelso. Its responsibilities include the maintenance and stewardship of the land, as well as public education and promotion.

The Aged Women’s Home was the creation of the Ladies Benevolent Society. The Society, which was established in 1846, consisted of prominent Hamilton women who were concerned about the welfare of the poor within the city, particularly women and children. The Society held its first meeting on May 25, 1846 to discuss how to best provide for the needs of those suffering from sickness and poverty. Beginning as a soup kitchen on John Street, the charity provided relief with the help of donations from prominent citizens, churches, lodges, and other benevolent societies. As more organizations emerged to care for poor and orphaned children, the Society began to solely concentrate its attention on aged and infirm women. Through volunteering in the community, members of the Society witnessed first-hand how elderly, poor and infirm women with few resources and family supports, were left destitute and unable to provide for themselves in their old age, due to a lack of pensions, as well as poor wages during their working lives that left little room for retirement savings. By 1877, the doors of the Aged Women’s Home on Wellington Street opened in downtown Hamilton in the former Hamilton Orphan Asylum, which was also established by the Society. The building transitioned from the care of orphans to the care of elderly women through renovations that altered and enlarged it to fit their specific needs. As donations and support increased over the years, a new residence was opened in 1958 and renamed Idlewyld Manor in 1963. In 2004, a new, modern building was constructed on the West Mountain, which still exists today, and which is now home to both male and female residents.

The Hamilton Orphan Asylum was the creation of the Ladies Benevolent Society. The Society, which was established in 1846, consisted of prominent Hamilton women who were concerned about the welfare of the poor within the city, particularly women and children. The Society held its first meeting on May 25, 1846 to discuss how to best provide for the needs of those suffering from sickness and poverty. Beginning as a soup kitchen on John Street, the charity provided relief with the help of donations from prominent citizens, churches, lodges, and other benevolent societies. During this time period, the ravages of cholera and other illnesses left many families destitute, and left numerous children orphaned. The plight of the working poor also resulted in many parents being unable to care for their children. In 1848, the Society established a day school to assist with provisions and the education of these children. With an increase in donations, the Society was able to construct the Hamilton Orphan Asylum, which was completed in 1854 and existed until 1914, when care of the children transferred to other children’s aid organizations in the city.

The Aged Women’s Home was the creation of the Ladies Benevolent Society. The Society, which was established in 1846, consisted of prominent Hamilton women who were concerned about the welfare of the poor within the city, particularly women and children. The Society held its first meeting on May 25, 1846 to discuss how to best provide for the needs of those suffering from sickness and poverty. Beginning as a soup kitchen on John Street, the charity provided relief with the help of donations from prominent citizens, churches, lodges, and other benevolent societies. As more organizations emerged to care for poor and orphaned children, the Society began to solely concentrate its attention on aged and infirm women. Through volunteering in the community, members of the Society witnessed first-hand how elderly, poor and infirm women with few resources and family supports, were left destitute and unable to provide for themselves in their old age, due to a lack of pensions, as well as poor wages during their working lives that left little room for retirement savings. By 1877, the doors of the Aged Women’s Home on Wellington Street opened in downtown Hamilton in the former Hamilton Orphan Asylum, which was also established by the Society. The building transitioned from the care of orphans to the care of elderly women through renovations that altered and enlarged it to fit their specific needs. As donations and support increased over the years, a new residence was opened in 1958 and renamed Idlewyld Manor in 1963. In 2004, a new, modern building was constructed on the West Mountain, which still exists today, and which is now home to both male and female residents.

The Levy Brothers Company Limited was started by one of the first members of the Prussian Jewish community to come to Canada in the mid-1800s. Herman Levy, (1833-1902), emigrated from Germany in the 1850s and established a jewellery business in Hamilton in 1857. Within a few years, he had become successful and sent for his future wife Camilla Scheuer, and his brother Abraham (1835-1907), to join him. In 1862, his brother Abraham entered the business, and the company name was changed to H.&A. Levy, eventually becoming the Levy Brothers Company Limited in 1871. The company had a brief partnership with Herman’s brother-in-law, Edmund Scheuer, and at that time was located at 27 King Street East. By 1877, the company had a new location and a prominent presence in downtown Hamilton at 58-60 King Street East, remaining there for many decades. It was a four-story building with showrooms on the first floor and manufacturing on the upper floors. The showrooms featured jewellery pieces such as pins, brooches, rings, earrings, lockets, chains, and bracelets, available in silver, platinum, gold and white gold, as well as diamond rings and various other items such as pipes, ring cases, cutlery, and gold and silver bars.

Although there were many jewellery stores and manufacturers during this time, the Levy Brothers Company was the leading jewellery wholesaler and manufacturer of its kind in British North America, specializing in various jewellery pieces, watches, clocks, optical items, jewellery making materials and watchmaking materials. The company employed around 50 craftsmen who handmade the pieces. Some of these individuals started out as apprentices at the age of 14 and then spent decades with the company honing their skills and becoming experts in their trade before retiring. The quality of craftmanship made the Levy Brothers Company the standard of excellence throughout the country. By 1893, it became a joint stock company whereby investors could buy and sell shares in the business. Abraham took over as President and Herman as Vice President. When Herman passed away in 1901, Abraham ran the operations until he too passed away in 1907. Herman’s son Adolph took over the company at that time and then it was subsequently passed down to his son Herman Herzog Levy (1902-1990), who joined the company in 1923. During the Second World War, Herman H. Levy was appointed the Jewellery Administrator of the War Times Prices and Trade Board, and due to the excellent service he and his company provided during his term as Administrator, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire. In 1945, after 4 years of service as the Jewellery Administrator, he resigned his post and moved the company to its final location at 25 Main Street West. The company was still in business in 1957 to celebrate its centennial, but it is unclear as to when the doors closed permanently, ending over a century of excellent quality and craftsmanship in the jewellery trade.

Love Your City, Share Your Stories began in 2014 and is an ongoing digital storytelling project featuring stories about Hamilton and Hamiltonians both past and present. Love Your City, Share Your Stories is an inclusive project with a focus of bringing together citizens and community organizations to build a collection of both personal and historically factual stories about the City of Hamilton. This project is led by the Hamilton Public Library’s Local History and Archives department and partnered with McMaster University, Hamilton Arts Council, City of Hamilton Culture Division, Hamilton Community Foundation and is supported by the Hamilton Future Fund and by the Ontario Trillium Grant. The initiative consists of four phases: Phase 1: Hamilton Cultural Icons and Music, Phase 2: Immigration in Hamilton, Phase 3: Water in Hamilton, and Phase 4: Hamilton’s Visual Art. HPL is now leading the digital storytelling project and the goal of the project is to capture individual and firsthand accounts of Hamiltonians by creating oral histories to preserve and make accessible Hamilton’s local history.

Mercury Mills was established in 1912 by John Penman who was an innovative knitting industry leader who moved to Hamilton from Paris, Ontario. Mercury Mills first had a plant on Park Street North. At its peak, it employed over 1,100 people at three sites in the province with the main plant built in 1916 on Cumberland Avenue between Gage and Prospect avenues.

During wartime, Mercury Mills produced materials used in military uniforms and parachutes. In later years, it faced increasing competition and eventually closed down in 1955. The building was demolished in 1983.

Opera Hamilton was founded in 1980. Prior to its creation in 1976, Italian opera companies were invited to perform for Hamilton's Festitalia, a celebration of Italian culture. Due to the problems and costs associated with importing entire productions from Italy, Festitalia decided to produce its own operas starting in 1979. The following year Opera Hamilton was created with plans to perform two productions annually at Hamilton Place. At the end of their first season, Steven Thomas was appointed artistic director, Boris Brott was musical director, and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra was the resident orchestra. Opera Hamilton also had agreements with CHCH TV to broadcast a television production of one opera each year.

Conductor Daniel Lipton was appointed to the role of artistic director for the 1986-7 season. Under his leadership, the company improved many aspects of its productions and continued to build a strong audience on the foundations of Italian 19th-century opera. In addition to standard repertoire, Lipton introduced the successful 'Popera' concerts in 1987 to showcase leading operatic soloists, including many Canadians, in concert performances of popular operatic excerpts. In 1989, Lipton expanded the Opera Hamilton season to three productions.

In 1995, plans to expand and share resources with the nearby city of Kitchener led to the creation of the operatic partnership known as Opera Ontario. As Opera Ontario, the company began to mount its productions in Hamilton and repeat them in Kitchener. The company announced their claim for bankruptcy in January of 2014 and ceased operations following years of financial struggles.

The Optimist Club was first founded in Louisville, Kentucky in 1919. The first Hamilton branch of the Optimist Club was founded in 1924. The Optimist Club of Hamilton is the second oldest of the chartered Optimist Clubs in Canada. As a service club, the Optimists work towards the betterment of their community with a focus on the youth. Examples of Optimist Club works include Bike-A-Thons, garden and ladies’ nights, fundraisers and tournaments. Currently, there are more than 3 chartered Optimists Clubs operating in the Hamilton area, serving their community.

The Otis Elevator Company was founded in the United States in 1811 by Elisha Otis. In 1902 it expanded into Canada, setting up headquarters in Hamilton forming the Canadian Otis Elevator Company. However, it was in direct competition with the Canadian Fensom Elevator Company for the limited Canadian market. Rather than competing for market shares in a small market, both companies agreed to merge in 1905 under the name, Otis-Fensom Elevator Company Limited. The company flourished in the following years, playing a significant manufacturing role in the two world wars. In 1949, the company renamed itself the Otis Elevator Company Limited. Otis Elevator is a subsidiary of the American Otis Elevator Company, which itself is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation.

The Birth Control Society of Hamilton, later Planned Parenthood, was the first clinic of its kind in Canada. The clinic opened March 3, 1932 to disseminate family planning information and contraceptives. The clinic operated outside of Canadian law until 1969 when its practices were decriminalized by act of parliament.

The Player’s Guild of Hamilton was founded in 1875 as the Hamilton Garrick Club after founder David Garrick. After a period of decline post-World War 1, the club was re-established by Caroline Crerar in 1929 under the name ‘The Player’s Guild’. In 1951 the guild bought the property at Queens Street South and Jackson Street West and remained at the location ever since.

The Royal Court Entertainers were an amateur concert party consisting of nine members: Mary Hanson, Dorothy Sommerville, Hazel Phillips, Mary Grant, Ethel Morris, Frederick Davidson, Howard Wilson Jerome, Richard Fairs, and Leslie Sommerville. From 1937-1941, they performed old fashioned choruses, humorous sketches and dances for personal parties, garden parties and group events.

Founded in 1897 by C.L.M. Harris as the Hamilton Conservatory of Music (HCM), the conservatory provided higher education in music with focus in piano, strings, winds, organ and guitar, as well as art, physical culture, dance, musical kindergarten and elocution. The conservatory was originally located in the former home of Robert Steele, and in 1899, the conservatory moved to Main and Charles Streets. In 1904, the conservatory moved to its permanent home on James Street South with studio space on the first floor, a recital hall on the second floor, and a meeting room in the basement.

Under Harris' directorship, the conservatory was incorporated by the province of Ontario in 1902, and two years later was affiliated with the University of Toronto as a means to prepare students for the Bachelor in Music from the university. The affiliation ended in 1918, when the HCM began to offer a competing system of examinations. Harris was succeeded by J.E.P. Aldous, W.H. Hewlett, and Bruce Carey who oversaw the administrative functions of the conservatory and presented internationally known artists in the recital hall. After Carey resigned, Hewlett began the first principal of the conservatory.

On May 15, 1965, the conservatory received a royal charter and changed its name to the Royal Hamilton College of Music. During this process, the conservatory renamed its associate diploma (AHCM) in piano, violin, voice, speech arts and drama to ARHCM, and expanded to offer a licentiate diploma (LRHCM) and an honorary fellow's degree (FRHCM).

The conservatory expanded its program to include courses in Suzuki string method, jazz, theatre, and the visual arts. The conservatory also physically grew to offer five branches in the Hamilton area and maintained branches in Windsor, Leamington and Oakville, Ontario.

The college closed in 1980 due to financial problems.

In 1994, Goldshower Recording Company was created by Jean Paul Gauthier. Two years later, the company was renamed September Seventh Entertainment Ltd. The company hosted and produced concerts and events in the Hamilton area, and, most notably produced concerts for Daniel Lanois for over ten years. Under the direction of Jean-Paul Gauthier, September Seventh Entertainment Ltd. created the Hamilton Music Scene festival, the Hamilton Music Awards and the Harvest Picnic festival.

During and after the First World War, many soldiers returning from the front wounded in mind and body needed assistance to provide for themselves and their families. Social assistance programs were non-existent during this period, so returning veterans who struggled to reintegrate into civilian life faced extreme hardships and destitution, along with their families. The province of Ontario established the Soldiers’ Aid Commission on November 10, 1915, to address this emerging issue and to support the needs of veterans, who had given so much for their country during the war. The early mandate of the Commission was to provide emergency financial assistance to returning soldiers, with a focus on the sick and wounded. As soldiers began to return home it became apparent that their needs included more than just emergency assistance. What started as emergency financial assistance, evolved into various avenues of support that also included retraining, education, rehabilitation, employment assistance, childcare arrangements, and pension advocacy. Due to the large number of returning veterans, the SAC set up various branches across the province to provide local assistance.

The Hamilton branch of the SAC was established on January 15, 1917. The aim of the branch was to support veterans through various initiatives such as hospital visits, providing comfort to dying veterans, visiting soldiers and their dependents in their homes, providing for dependent or orphaned children of the servicemen, providing loans and other financial assistance, retraining and re-educating for new employment, helping veterans secure their former employment, and advocating for fair wages and for pensions. Overall, the SAC and all its branches championed the rights of returning veterans with various needs, and worked to ensure that the general public understood that the help received by the returning soldiers was not charity, but entitlement. The veterans had earned this assistance for their service and sacrifices. Although the various branches of the SAC are no longer in existence, the Soldiers’ Aid Commission continued to provide support throughout the Second World War and the Korean War, and continues to help Ontario veterans to the present day.

Superior Engravers was founded in Hamilton in 1921. The company's primary function at that time was the production of pre-press acid etchings (a process that involved etching text and images onto metal plates) for use in the printing of posters, and newspaper and magazine advertisements. In the mid 1930s, the owners and four key employees entered into a court battle for control of the company. The employee group won, gaining control of Superior Engravers, and Harold Pitts was named works manager and William Van Sickle became secretary-treasurer. By the 1950s, Jim Pitts, son of Harold, and Jim Van Sickle, son of William, had joined the company, for which projects included the production of shopping catalogues for Eaton’s department stores. Harold Pitts became company president in 1960, and began embracing the technological change of the time, importing a scanner from Germany that could produce colour film separations at a rapid rate. Jim Pitts and Jim Van Sickle gained control of the company in 1971, and continued to embrace technological change, purchasing the first fully-computerized scanner in Canada in 1972. Harold Pitts retired from Superior Engravers in 1976, but remained a director of the company. John Pitts, son of Jim and grandson of Herald, joined the company in 1979, becoming production manager then sales manager in the 1980s. In 1986, John Pitts bought Jim Van Sickles' shares of the company and became president. John's father, Jim Pitts, remained company chairman until his retirement in 1996. In the 1990s, Superior Engravers was renamed Superior Graphics Communications. In 1994, John Pitts eliminated his title as president, and the company became a partnership, known as Superior Interactive Communications. Circa 1998, the company was renamed Brickworks Communications Inc., and Peter Earle, a former Defasco executive, was named CEO. The company continues to provide advertising and marketing support, with an increased focus on corporate and interactive communications. John Pitts is the current owner and president of Brickworks Communications, located at 270 Sherman Avenue North in Hamilton, Ontario.

Founded on November 26, 1853, as the Ontario Curling Club of Hamilton (The Hamilton Thistle Club), was the second oldest curling club in Canada besides the Montreal Caledonia Curling Club (1850-1976). It originally began as a men's only curling club whose members played on natural rinks on the Hamilton Harbour. In its first year, the club had 22 members who paid an annual membership fee of $15. In 1878, the club purchased land for $2,000 on the corner of Park and Robinson Streets to build a permanent club house. The red brick building started with four sheets of ice, and by 1886, the club purchased additional land for expansion. By 1890, the club was used for both curling, skating, and hockey. Additional sports were introduced when electricity replaced gaslight, such as squash, tennis and badminton. On October 11, 1927, The Hamilton Thistle Club was officially incorporated, the same year that artificial ice was installed. In 1934, a women's curling section was formed with eight members under the leadership of their first president Mrs. W.D. Southam. The club was further renovated in 1959, 1978 and 1981, and additions included racquetball and squash courts and locker rooms complete with sauna and whirlpools in both the men's and women's sections. The club also had an indoor tennis court and combined there were 11 racquetball courts, six curling sheets, lawn bowling areas, lounges for billiards, and dining and spa facilities. The popularity of racquet sports brought the end of curling, and in 1987 the club closed all the ice sheets. Declining membership and financial problems led the club to close in 2002, one year shy of its 150 birthday. The building was demolished in 2004.

Theatre Terra Nova was founded in 1988 by Brian Morton as an alternative theatre production. The theatre troupe provided offering such as Billy Bishop Goes to War, Cold Comfort, and The Kingpin. In 1990, after securing a loan from the Hamilton City Council, Theatre Terra Nova moved into the Playhouse Theatre. However, due to financial difficulties, the troupe folded in 1992. The Playhouse Theatre is now currently an independent cinema theatre.

The Tower Poetry Society (TPS) was established in 1951 and is one of the oldest poetry workshop groups in North America. The Society is a non-profit organization that promotes poetry and encourages poets. The Society was founded by English poet Ida Sutherland Groom who lectured in the English Department at McMaster University from 1950 to 1960. Groom aimed for bringing together poets in the Hamilton area for the sole purpose to publish members' poems in the publication the "Tower". In the beginning, members would read their own works during meetings, which then became workshops to encourage and strengthen members writings. The name the "Tower" was inspired from the ivy-clad tower at University Hall located at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Since the mid-1970s, the Society has published the "Tower" twice a year with summer and winter editions. The Society receives submissions from around the world. In 1975, the Society published their first anthology of poems entitled "Pine's the Canadian Tree". During the 1980s, the Society promoted poetry through nine half-hour television segments called “Poetry's Alive" through the Hamilton community television station, Cable 4. The Society is also an advocate for the arts and has participated and supported local community events in the Hamilton and Wentworth region, such as the Dundas Arts Weekend, Book Week in Canada, Hamilton's Arts Council Literary Committee's Blue Pencil Rooms and poetry workshops. In addition, members have given readings under the auspice of the Society to festivities and have conducted poetry workshops.

The Wesleyan Ladies' College was located at the corner of King Street East and John Street South in Hamilton, Ontario, in the building erected as the Anglo-American Hotel (1854), which declared bankruptcy in 1861. This location became the future site of the Waldorf Hotel (ca. 1901-1914) and then The Royal Connaught Hotel (1914-). The Wesleyan Ladies’ College officially opened in September of 1861, drawing students from across Canada and the United States, and housing both boarding and day students. Mary Electa Adams was the first principal (from 1861-1868), succeeded by Rev. S.D. Rice, who was principal until 1878. More than two thousand women were educated at Wesleyan, and the college produced more than two hundred graduates. The first degrees conferred by the college were MLA, Mistress of Liberal Arts, and MEL, Mistress of English Literature. Members of the graduating class of 1888 obtained honours in the first Bachelor of Arts Degrees ever obtained by women in Ontario. The Wesleyan Ladies’ College closed in 1897.