High Five to 5 years

I can’t believe it’s been five years. Where has the time gone?

It seems like only yesterday when Rebuild Hamilton was conceived alongside a few of my fellow journalist students at Mohawk College as a second year project. We came up with the idea to promote the city. At first the blog featured a few videos and reports on LRT and other political topics that were hot at the time (those have since been deleted), but after the class was finished I decided to continue with the blog and to write about the city.

It became my own.

After reading blogs like Raise The Hammer, I Heart Hamilton, and This Must Be The Place, I was inspired. And I had decided writing about architecture was my calling. It felt natural to me. 

Things started slowly. For two years I was essentially writing for myself. Nobody read my blog, nobody really listened to what I had to say, but I wrote anyways. I wanted to prove to myself that my voice really did matter and what I was doing would make a positive impact on this city. 

And finally, one day, it all clicked.

Since then it’s been a roller coaster ride. Last year I was interviewed on 900 CHML and Global News, CBC Hamilton and The Spec wrote a story about me, I was giving architecture tours to McMaster students and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and I capped the year off with the Hamilton Independent Media Award for Best Journalist Arts and Culture.

This year I’ve been writing articles for Biz Magazine and Hamilton Magazine, and I’m currently working on a book (hopefully). Pinch me.

I finally feel like I’ve made a difference.

It’s never been about money. I’ve barely made anything doing what I do. I do it because I love Hamilton, I love architecture, and I love writing. This city drives me. My readers drive me. For that, I’m grateful.

Special thanks to my family and friends, Bill Curran, Kristin Archer, Seema Narula, Drew Hauser, Ryan McGreal, Graham McNally, Donna Reid, David Premi, Agata Mancini, Graham Crawford, Matt Green, Brandon Donnelly, Sarah Gelbard, Toon Dreessen, Stephanie Trendocher, Kelly Bennett, Steve Kulakowsky, Jason Thorne, Jeff Feswick, Jason Allen, Mary Louise Pigott, Suzanne Zandbergen, David Capizzano, Keanin Loomis, Ryan Moran, Kurt Muller, Debbie Spence, Ken Coit, and many, many others.

Here’s to 5 more years. I love you, Hamilton. Thank you.