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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.

Aidan Johnson served as Hamilton's first openly queer councilor for Ward One (Chedoke-Cootes area) during the 2014-2018 term. Aidan grew up in Westdale and Ainslie Wood and attended George R. Allan, Dalewood and Westdale Secondary schools. He studied at McGill University Faculty of Law, was a Fulbright scholar at New York University (NYU) and a graduate student at the University of Chicago. Aidan was a staff lawyer for Legal Aid Ontario, frequently contributed to Hamilton Spectator, was a Cootes Paradise Restoration worker and volunteered at the Hamilton AIDS Network. He is currently the executive director of the Niagara Community Legal Clinic and the chair of the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network.

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.

Peter Stevens (March 16, 1963 – February 25, 2015), was a freelance photographer, graphic designer, art director and magazine editor. Peter studied Graphic Design at Sheridan College and worked in the design and advertising field for almost 20 years. He served as Art Director with Wordsmith Design and Advertising (Part of the Pier 8 Group). Peter was a founding member of the Hamilton Photo Union and served the organization as a board member from 1982-1986. He was also the Photo Editor for Broadway Magazine (an alternative news source for Hamilton), Style Magazine and The Hammer Magazine. Peter Stevens spent 25 years capturing the essence of the arts scene in Hamilton and had a very large impact on the arts community. His work was exhibited at the Hammer Gallery, the b Contemporary Gallery, Broadway Gallery, Gallery on 4, the Photo Union Gallery and the Transit Gallery.

Established January 14, 1907, this chapter was named after St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians who was martyred in the 2nd Century A.D.
This chapter's motto was: "There is Nothing so Kindly as Kindness and No Other so Royal as Trust." The St. Cecilia Chapter was disbanded in 1977.

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 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.

The Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire is a women's charitable organization based in Canada. They provide scholarships, bursaries and awards, and pursue other philanthropic and education projects in communities across Canada. The organization was established in 1900 when Margaret Polson Murray of Montreal, encouraged the formation of a federation of women to promote patriotism, loyalty and service to others. The first chapter, Federation Daughters of the Empire, was formed in Fredericton, New Brunswick on January 5, 1900. Primary chapters were formed across Canada along with junior chapters. In 1901, the Federation was incorporated as Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire and Children of the Junior Branch. IODE was incorporated as a Canadian women's organization by a special act of the parliament of Canada in 1917.

The first Hamilton chapter was founded in 1900 and called Fessenden Chapter, after Clementina Fessenden (1843-1918), the Ancaster woman who founded Empire Day. In 1902, the name changed to Municipal Chapter and the first meeting was held March 3 of that year. In 1938, the chapter acquired the house Fonthill located at 168 Jackson Street West, from the Greening family, and it became the headquarters for all of the Hamilton chapters. The provincial headquarters moved into the house as well until 1985 when the house was sold. In 2012, the Municipal Chapter was the last of the Hamilton chapters to disband.

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.

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.

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.