Street Canvas Unveiling




The Downtown Hamilton BIA unveiled another in its series of Street Canvases at Veteran's Place in Gore Park
Friday, May 23, 2008

This image of the unveiling of the cenotaph in Gore Park on May 22, 1923 
was selected to compliment the amenities at Veteran's Place and to commemorate the unveiling ceremony of the Cenotaph 85 years ago.
The Street Canvas Project is a co-operative effort of the BIA and the City of Hamilton to clean up and enhance our Downtown.  






The Downtown Hamilton BIA, together with its partners Arts Hamilton and the City of Hamilton unveiled the first in a series of Street Canvas Art projects in the Downtown area on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007. The piece was mounted on an electrical box outside of 55 King William Street as part of a long term project to create an Art Walk on KingWilliam.  

 “Studio Interior and Still Life” was painted by now deceased Hamilton artist Alfred Joyce around 1988 from his studio in Suite 402 in the corner building at King William and Hughson Streets. Joyce produced an impressive body of work that included many images of downtown streetscapes, still-lifes, and people. This painting, the original owned by Cees & Annerie van Gemerden is a splendid example of his vibrant use of colour and local image. This image represents the city’s no nonsense working class culture, but on the floor, lie a couple of oil sticks (Joyce’s art implement of choice) and refer to the irrepressible role of art in society.


Clean Streets Program


The Downtown Hamilton BIA hires a summer student each year to co-ordinate the BIA's efforts to make Downtown Hamilton a cleaner, brighter place to live, work and play.  A Co-ordinator is hired every summer to powerwashing the sidewalks, removing graffiti, picking up litter and doing maintenance and clean up work around the BIA area from June to September.

Planning & Beautification Committee

Our Planning & Beautification Committee,  made up of dedicated business operators in Downtown Hamilton and chaired by Gerry Murphy, LLB work tirelessly to improve the conditions in the Downtown core.  Their priorities for 2008 are:

Continual Updating and Upgrading of Plantings in Gore Park
Graffiti Removal & Abatement Strategies
Downtown Safety & Security Audit Recommendations Implementation
Downtown Planters
More Street Canvas Artwork Pieces in the BIA
King William Art Walk Project
Christmas Lighting program
Excellence in Property Awards
Liaison with Hamilton Police Services on safety & security issues