Why Live In Ainsle Wood/Westdale?
When my husband, Mohammed Dokainish, joined the Mechanical Engineering Department at McMaster University in 1964, our friends advised us to drive to Ancaster, Burlington, and Dundas to look for a home. At the end of our day’s search, we drove around the university, and I exclaimed, “Oh! But this is where we’re going to live!” That was before the beautiful Sunken Botanical Gardens were replaced by the imposing McMaster University Medical Centre.
We enjoy the closeness of our home to the university. Each September’s student parade strengthens our belief that the presence of the young in our community enriches and energizes us. We have met students from Engineers without Borders and learned about their work in Africa and here at home. Our daughter and son attended Westdale schools and then the Arts and Science program at McMaster.
Upon arrival in Hamilton I tutored at McMaster while pursuing my PhD in English at the University of Western Ontario. In the 1960s I joined the 16-member faculty at Mohawk College in a building on Dundurn Street South. In 1970, the college moved to Fennell Avenue West, where I taught for 30 years.
I found life in Westdale conducive to reflection. My writing career began with seven books of poetry and drawings; it continued with fiction, each novel containing several pieces of my art work. In my second novel, Mystic Loon (2007), I portray the life in Canada I have come to love: a symbiotic existence where diverse people’s cultures are intertwined, a theme that has matured within me over the decades. I chose Westdale for its locale. The characters share a bond with the land and with each other’s roots. But this is where fact ends and fiction begins in my novel. The photographer-heroine is in search of the spiritual identity of her adopted land. Her husband, an internist at McMaster Medical Centre, is dedicated to the physical well- being of others. Husband and wife are the antipodes of life.
The immigration story is told through characters who adapt to their new home, and others who do not. The main Mohammed and Soraya with son Hisham, daughter Madiha, and grandchildren, L to R: Faris, Jenna, and Callum. couple travels through Canada to experience its French heritage, its First Nations’ roots, as well as its English culture. Love, deception, passion, doubt and hope, clash of cultures, forgiveness, acceptance, and creativity constitute the vibrant texture of this Canadian journey.
Mystic Loon probes post-multicultural Canadian identity. In the 20th century, we applauded Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s vision of a cultural mosaic consisting of separate but equal parts glued together, a good first step. But in the 21st century, we know how glue tends to age and the pieces fall apart. Mystic Loon portrays cultures inextricably connected with each other. Individuals who possess a creative vision for their country enjoy living in these integrated communities, yet they do not lose sight of their native roots. Akin to baking a cake! Different ingredients mix to form a whole, a process especially inspiring in the Canada of the 21st century.
Soraya Erian and her husband have been AWWCA members for eight years. A writer-artist from Egypt, Soraya came to the University of Toronto on a Canada Council scholarship to obtain her MA in English literature. She taught creative writing, literature, and communications at Mohawk College. Now retired, she is enjoying a life of contemplative creativity and her three grandchildren, who “fill her heart with joy.” You can view Soraya’s publications and artwork at soraya-erian.com.
Soraya Eria, Spring 09 newsletter, p2
Cathie Costanzo e-mailed us on April 4:
Today I found “Why I Moved to Ainslie Wood/Westdale” while looking for something else on your website, as is common with me. I moved to Hamilton from the United States with my Canadian-born spouse. I am from a western state surrounded by mountains. I missed the mountains, but the Hamilton area and the polite people reminded me of home. The road that goes from Ainslie Wood and Westdale to Ancaster offers great views of the area below. It reminded me of driving through the mountains out west. And the airport is nearby. Hamilton is a city that is not boxed in, is how I see it.
The Ainslie Wood/Westdale area is safer and cleaner than where my husband lived in the Corktown area of Hamilton when I first moved to Hamilton. My car was broken into twice in less than four months in Corktown. Also, since I have a child with autism, and we needed a more open, airy place that did not cause her anxiety, I began to look around and make calls. Ainslie Wood was it; we moved there in 2004.
In 2006 we returned to the United States, but I still love the Ainslie Wood/ Westdale area. Key points that led us to move to Ainslie Wood were its cleanliness, abundance of parks, safety, ample parking for businesses, and access to a doctor who would see my daughter. With just a short drive you are near open areas and conservation areas with a creek nearby, so green compared to the western U.S., which is quite dry. I also love the Ainslie Wood/Westdale area because you can escape the cars and congestion and go at a slower pace, yet in a few minutes you can be in the heart of the city.
Some Canadians think Americans do not like Canada. Nothing could be further from the truth. I help moderate an online group with U.S. and Canadian members and am working with the U.S. embassy in Canada to help disseminate U.S.–Canadian news and issues in a good light.
I think that when the city is promoting tourism, it should promote the west end, especially to American tourists. It is far more wheelchair accessible than the downtown core and has friendly people, nice things to see that are easy to get to, and noticeably cleaner air. I often think, before Hamilton develops further, it ought to look to the west end: Make the city walkable, livable, and keep some open spaces. I highly recommend the Ainslie Wood/Westdale area to anyone.
Cathie Costanzo, Spring 09 newsletter, pg 3
I live a few doors from campus and havebeen asked many times by friends and co-workers why I continue to live in an area surrounded by student renters. There is no simple answer. My personal history, my sense of community, and my faith that good will triumph over bad all play a part in my decision to stay put in a place that truly feels like home.
In October 1972 I moved to Westdale as a newly married, working mother of a six-month-old baby. Back then, I felt very much an outsider in the neighbourhood. My neighbours were all older couples who tended to get together for cocktails at 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Eyebrows were raised when I left my child in the care of my husband while I worked 12-hour shifts at McMaster Medical Centre.
By the 80s I was a single mother juggling extracurricular activities for my two children, child care, and work. Banks required a co-signer so that I could get a mortgage. I worked hard to maintain my home in Westdale—a place where the schools were excellent, the community centre was close by, I could walk for my groceries, and peo- ple were willing to make sure my children made it to Cubs, Brownies, soccer, and all those character-building activities. Living in this community I was able to give up my car to conserve finances and so became “green” before it was cool.
Through the 90s I felt the change in Westdale. Family homes were becoming rentals. Neatly trimmed lawns and gardens were becoming unruly and strewn with garbage. My children were growing up and leaving home. Now I had time for me, my garden, and my ever-changing collection of abandoned animals. But my garden ornaments and hanging baskets were stolen, and multitudes of young men relieved themselves in my hedge. The annual pajama parade was truly out of control and scary. A good night’s sleep was hard to come by.
Why do I stay? Because I have faith in the new generation. Every September Westdale is inundated by a new wave of outsiders (as I once was). The air is ripe with beer and hormones. By night a very small percentage of students cause problems. By day, they respond to my “good morning” as I walk my dog. Many days ,as I work in my garden, students stop to tell me how good it makes them feel, as they have walked by year after year, to see the flowers that I have nurtured and loved.
Now I am semiretired and a grandmother. I could sell my house and my beloved garden for what I think of as a fortune. But will I? Not likely. But I will continue to implore my daughter to return to Westdale with my grandchild, as I believe the values that served me and my young family so many years ago are still intact. The community (including permanent residents and students) and the university need to continue to work together, and I believe they will.
Ruthann Stanhope, First published in the Autumn 2007 newsletter, p. 5
The Westdale and Ainslie Wood area is unlike any other Hamilton neighbourhood. I marvel at the well-planned pattern and arrangement of our streets, the aesthetic and charm of Westdale Village, the snippets of intellectual conversations I hear in our cafe?s. A favourite evening is a romantic dinner at 1010 Bistro followed by a movie date at our historic art-deco movie theatre. We debate the plot and characters as we window shop and get two steamy drinks to go. My favourite server makes the vanilla-bean lattes, and I eye a new teapot on the shelf.
I savour the chocolate croissants at Weil's and specialty cheeses and Ace baguettes at the Global Village Market. I adore the challah and cream cheese at the Westdale Delicatessen. I walk to The Barn with my new stroller cart and pack away our weekly groceries. I love the Barn's fresh produce and the perfectly sane size of the store. I pick books for my wish list at Bryan Prince and order my husband's Fast Food Nation. We dream of summer as we visit Adventure Attic and are pleasantly distracted by the woolly sweaters and smart parkas. Errands are quickly completed at the pharmacy, bank, and post office.
Yes, we relish our Westdale traditions. The kids joyfully select their "cool" footwear every season at Jack Carruth Shoe Store. We are thrilled by the McMaster Students Union and George R.Allan pumpkin-night hike at Halloween, and our
kids enjoy the parade through the village. We can skate at Churchill Park in the winter because our community has volunteers dedicated to our winter cheer. We toboggan at Cootes and picnic at the park. We visit the neighbourhood plots at the Teaching Garden. We have ice cream and frozen yoghurt on our stroll home from dance lessons at St.Paul's Church. We order panzerotti from Valentino's and falafels from Basilique on busy weeknights.
My kids skate and play hockey at Coronation and swim at Dalewood. We love the rail trail and the fish count at the Desjardin trail. We hike at Cootes Paradise, walk through the Mac campus, and visit the birds at the Aviary in the same afternoon. We meet new friends in the library as we select our books and play with the train set. My children will learn French through the schools' immersion program, and we appreciate the convenient day-care arrangement. I love to see my children thriving in a caring community that will cater to their needs at every age and stage. I catch myself feeling nostalgic over yesterday.
I can walk everywhere, and I do. I love Westdale's greenscape and parks, the old trees,the diversity,the amazing schools, the caring community. Can I pick one thing I love above all others?
Alice Sabourin, Vice-President, AWWCA, Spring 2005 newsletter, p. 5
Why did I move to Westdale? After living in
Dundas 17 years, virtually my entire married life,
I needed to find an affordable home that would
accommodate my two teenaged boys and me.
Their dad had chosen an apartment in the east
part of Dundas, and I wished to disrupt their
lives as little as possible. My older boy attended
Westmount Secondary School and needed good
access to city buses. My younger son, who
attended Dundas District Middle School, needed
to be near friends.
Dundas homes that met these requirements were selling above the asking price even before the "For Sale" signs were put up, so my agent directed me to the listings in the west end of Hamilton. The house we chose certainly turned out to be ideal. The street is home to a mixture of young families, those with teens,"empty- nesters," and student houses. Having chosen to live close to Princess Point, not exactly next door to campus, the students seem to be mostly in their later years, as opposed to "frosh," and are usually quiet and studious. In fact, they have been friendly, courteous, and helpful. Oh, there have been a few occasions of less-desirable behaviour, but these incidents can and do happen in any neighbourhood.
I grew up in the southwest part of the city and had friends who lived in Westdale. One of my sisters had spent most of her child-rearing years in a house on Bond Street, so I was familiar with the area. Once here, I was pleased to exchange my walks through the Carolinian forest of the Dundas Conservation Area near my former home for trails of the Royal Botanical Gardens and my strolls or bike rides along the Rail Trail in Dundas for the Bayfront Trail, which is well lit at night and much more used. Best of all, these former haunts, as well as the friends and neighbours of my former home, are just a short distance away.
I love being able to walk easily into the "village" and visit the library, coffee shops, cafés, pubs, the theatre, all the stores and services—so convenient!
Churchill Fields is one of the best park facilities to be found anywhere, and we love to skate on the rinks in the winter. My hockey-loving son can always find some buddies to join in friendly competition. Then, of course, there's nature's rink at Princess Point, with toboggan hills too! In addition to all this free activity, we have the Dalewood Recreation Centre and Coronation Rink and Pool in easy proximity. My younger son is now enjoying new friends at Westdale Secondary School, where he has the advantage of access to wonderful, unique,and diverse programs. There is also a great diversity of cultures and religions, in an atmosphere of learning, acceptance, and understanding. My older son is now enjoying his first year at McMaster and has been making good use of the transit system to get around from our house to the Mountain, to Dundas, and to campus—it is all close and convenient. Our neighbours have made us feel welcome and safe—what more could we want?
First published in the Spring 2005 newsletter, p. 6. Valerie Minden lived in Westdale North. She joined the AWWCA at the Westitalia event September 2004. Sadly, she passed away March 25, 2008.
Five years ago, my wife and I began looking for a house to
buy. We had lived for two years in the Strathcona neighbour
hood and for another two years in the Locke Street neighbourhood. We were looking
for somewhere we could put
down roots, be active members in the community, and
raise our family.
We looked at houses in the southwest, Dundas,and Westdale, preferring the features, lifestyle, and amenities of these lower-city neighbourhoods to the sprawling suburbs on the Mountain. We appreciated all that Dundas and the southwest had to offer, but we chose Westdale.
My wife and I are not from Hamilton. We met at McMaster University in 1990. During our time at McMaster, we enjoyed walks through Westdale's wonderful neighbourhood and occasionally visited Westdale Village to attend the Westdale Theatre or to shop and eat. I remember thinking then what a beautiful neighbourhood it was.
Seven years later, when we were considering our options, we came to appreciate even more the jewel that Westdale is. We had heard about the strong community and the excellent schools within walking distance. Most importantly, we found that Westdale provided what we valued in a community: a mix in size, form, and cost of housing; a huge park, hiking trails, and Cootes Paradise within walking distance; a true village centre where we could shop, go to the library, eat, get a haircut, do our banking and dry cleaning, as well as spend time with friends—all without getting into a car. We also appreciated the energy and vitality brought to the area by the university students, and the various amenities offered by McMaster.
Over the 4 1/2 years during which we have lived in Westdale, we have discovered many more things about the neighbourhood and the people who live here that have added to the list of reasons why Westdale is a model community. It is hard to imagine living anywhere else.
Michael Bordin, First published in the Spring 2005 newsletter, p. 7
As a new immigrant, I missed the greenery of the tropics during my four years in Toronto. When I accepted a new job in Hamilton, I was delighted to see trees everywhere. During a six-month commute, I looked for an area to live in that was beautiful, well cared for and close to nature ...I settled on Ainslie Wood/Westdale. The easy access to the lakefront, a beautiful campus, and all those little stores that were family businesses said welcome to a new-comer. On the fringe there were farms, fresh produce, waterfalls, and a marvellous botanical garden. Ainslie Wood/Westdale has always been a great place to show off to out-of-town visitors—it is part of a city, yet with a character of its own.
Jeanne Bernard, First published in the Autumn 2005 newsletter, page 5
I chose to live in the Ainslie Wood/Westdale neighbourhood because there is no other place that I would rather be. Indeed, it's the best place to live in the City of Hamilton. I love all the clean air, beautiful parks, nature areas, and walking/biking trails that are only steps away. I walk to work, I walk to shop (even downtown), I walk to visit my friends, plus I have easy access to public transit that can take me almost anywhere I need to go (including Toronto). But the best thing about the Ainslie Wood/Westdale neighbourhood is its people—a wonderful mix of university students, faculty, and area residents living in harmony in their modest homes.
Paul Faure
I recently moved to Hamilton from Toronto,where had I lived for more than 30 years. We moved west so that I could be closer to my aging parents, who live in the Woodstock area. With my husband still working in downtown Toronto, we found ourselves looking in Westdale and Ancaster. At the time there was next-to-no resale housing available in Westdale, so we decided on Ancaster. It is too bad that Westdale did not have housing available at the time we were looking, because Westdale is where I spend a lot of time.
The many lovely shops in Westdale have made this a destination shopping area for me. I have coffee there regularly with my friends. My church is in Westdale. The flower shops have attracted my business too, because I love to send flowers for special occasions. I love the fact that I can park my car and walk to all my necessary destinations in Westdale. I even take my dogs for grooming at the Westdale Dog Salon. The Westdale Theatre is a great place to see a movie—I love the movies that arrive there, and I am not bombarded with loud sound or with endless advertisements. My friends from Toronto now visit me to attend a movie. The best bookstore and service I have ever experienced is Bryan Prince Bookseller. I make a regular visit there each Christmas with my list of book titles to buy for the children in my life. The staff are among the most friendly and knowledgeable bibliophiles in the business. The Casual Gourmet is also a store I cannot live without; since coming to Hamilton I have made it my wedding–gift store of choice. "The" Boutique is simply a joyful place in which to shop, with its fine selection of artistic pieces of jewellery and accessories—all against a background of classical music. The Global Village Market is the only place for me when it comes to coffee on the run and samosas for lunch. At Weil's Bakery I had to discipline myself to resist the danishes, cinnamon rolls, and scrumptious oat cookies; I now go into Weil's only when I have been watching my diet long enough to know that I will not do major damage when I treat myself.
Westdale has everything I need to be content. Although I do not live there,I can truly say that Westdale is one of the most beautiful residential areas anywhere. The tree-lined streets and the variety of shops are simply splendid. Since I have not been in every store or restaurant yet,I expect that there are still more treasures to be discovered in Westdale.
Trish Strung, First published in the Spring 07 newsletter, p3