Westdale, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Westdale is a residential neighbourhood in Hamilton, Ontario
, Canada
. It is centred on the Westdale Village shopping district and located near McMaster University
. Westdale has been the heart of the Jewish community of Hamilton for many years. It is bordered to the north by Cootes Paradise
, an extensive nature reserve marking the western end of Lake Ontario
, to the south by Main Street West, to the east by Highway 403, and to the west by McMaster University.
, they found the region populated by native people, who were referred to as the Neutral Nation
because of their neutrality in the disputes between the Iroquois Confederacy and the Huron.
In the mid-seventeenth century, the Neutral Nation and the Hurons were defeated by the Iroquois Confederacy. Eventually, Ojibway from what is now northern Ontario began to push southwards and displace the Iroquois and occupied the land until they themselves were displaced by European pioneers.
Following the transfer of the land from the Township of Barton to the Township of Ancaster, the land upon which Westdale is now located became lots 57 through 60 of Concession 1.
Early settlers of these lots include the Forsyths, Ashbaughs, Clines, Paisleys, Buttrums, Brambergers and Strouds. Land use was primarily devoted to agriculture.
In 2006 a few Westdale homeowners calling themselves WADS (Westdale Against Drunk Students) staged a rally to protest the student population and called for the McMaster pub, Quarters, to be closed. McMaster responded by setting up a mediation between surrounding homeowners and student residents, as well as clarifying that Quarters closing would not fix the problems residents were facing, as students would just go to other bars located in Westdale. Over 200 people attended the rally. After a sting operation the Ontario Provincial Police charged the Bar with liquor license violations alleging the Bar over-served its student patrons. Recently, the Court of Appeal for Ontario found the bar had violated the law by over-serving a patron who went on to run down a pedestrian with his truck. The case, McIntyre v. Grigg, made Canadian legal history when it awarded punitive damages against a drunk driver patron.
The Westdale Village BIA, the Ainslie Wood/Westdale Community Association of Resident Homeowners (AWWCA) and McMaster University
formed the Campus Town Association in late 2004. The CTA was formed to address concerns facing both the community and the university.
and Ted McMeekin
respectively. On the Municipal level, Westdale is part of Ward 1 and is represented by Brian McHattie
.
, three public schools are located in Westdale: Westdale Secondary School
, Dalewood Middle School, and George R. Allan Elementary School as well as Columbia International College
, a private boarding school for international students, and Hamilton Hebrew Academy, a private Jewish Day School.
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is centred on the Westdale Village shopping district and located near McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
. Westdale has been the heart of the Jewish community of Hamilton for many years. It is bordered to the north by Cootes Paradise
Cootes Paradise
Cootes Paradise is the largest wetland at the western end of Lake Ontario, on the west side of Hamilton Harbour. It is bordered by the cities of Hamilton and Burlington, Ontario, Canada. It is owned and managed by the Royal Botanical Gardens , a private charitable status organization. These lands...
, an extensive nature reserve marking the western end of Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, to the south by Main Street West, to the east by Highway 403, and to the west by McMaster University.
Etymology
On 29 March 1923, real estate agents and politicians announced the winning name of a "Name the Neighbourhood" contest, at the Royal Connaught Hotel in downtown Hamilton. 6,170 people were gathered for the official announcement. Rev. Canon Percival Lawson Spencer won $200.00 for his submission of the "Westdale" name. Other names that were seriously considered for the neighbourhood include Westhome, Vimy Ridge, Bridgeton, Woodlands Park, Surrey Park and Bridgeview.History
Archeological surveys have shown that the land south of what is now Cootes Paradise was once occupied by successive cultures of aboriginal peoples. In the early seventeenth-century, when the first French explorers and missionaries visited the western edge of Lake OntarioLake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, they found the region populated by native people, who were referred to as the Neutral Nation
Neutral Nation
The Neutrals, also known as the Attawandaron, were an Iroquoian nation of North American native people who lived near the shores of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.-Territory:...
because of their neutrality in the disputes between the Iroquois Confederacy and the Huron.
In the mid-seventeenth century, the Neutral Nation and the Hurons were defeated by the Iroquois Confederacy. Eventually, Ojibway from what is now northern Ontario began to push southwards and displace the Iroquois and occupied the land until they themselves were displaced by European pioneers.
Survey
Following the creation of Upper Canada in 1791, the land upon which Westdale is now located was surveyed as part of the Township of Barton. Shortly afterward, the boundary was adjusted and the lots west of present-day Paradise Road were incorporated into the Township of Ancaster. This area of the township situated below the escarpment was commonly referred to as the Gore of Ancaster.Following the transfer of the land from the Township of Barton to the Township of Ancaster, the land upon which Westdale is now located became lots 57 through 60 of Concession 1.
Early settlers of these lots include the Forsyths, Ashbaughs, Clines, Paisleys, Buttrums, Brambergers and Strouds. Land use was primarily devoted to agriculture.
Founding
Westdale was founded in the 1920s (in conjunction with McMaster's 1930 founding in Hamilton) as one of Canada's first planned communities. Spearheaded by W.J. Westaway's development company Westdale Properties and a contingent of local investors on the Westaway Citizens Committee, the project aimed to stimulate an upscale Protestant environment. Established on what had been predominantly farmland, its shopping district was constructed on King Street, the western end of a major Hamilton route. The major housing developments branched from Sterling Street, a wide tree-lined lane that ends at McMaster's east campus gates.Present
Although urban development has reduced the isolation once integral for Westdale's modelled environment, the Village persists as an established shopping destination for West Hamilton residents. The Westdale Business Improvement Association represents over 70 businesses located in the immediate Westdale area. The Westdale community is contained between Highway 403, Main Street West and the areas east of McMaster. In addition to many small businesses, Westdale is also home to a grocery store, a branch of the Hamilton Public Library, and branches of three major banks.Student housing
The increase of McMaster's student population in recent decades has resulted in many Westdale homes being rented out to students.In 2006 a few Westdale homeowners calling themselves WADS (Westdale Against Drunk Students) staged a rally to protest the student population and called for the McMaster pub, Quarters, to be closed. McMaster responded by setting up a mediation between surrounding homeowners and student residents, as well as clarifying that Quarters closing would not fix the problems residents were facing, as students would just go to other bars located in Westdale. Over 200 people attended the rally. After a sting operation the Ontario Provincial Police charged the Bar with liquor license violations alleging the Bar over-served its student patrons. Recently, the Court of Appeal for Ontario found the bar had violated the law by over-serving a patron who went on to run down a pedestrian with his truck. The case, McIntyre v. Grigg, made Canadian legal history when it awarded punitive damages against a drunk driver patron.
The Westdale Village BIA, the Ainslie Wood/Westdale Community Association of Resident Homeowners (AWWCA) and McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
formed the Campus Town Association in late 2004. The CTA was formed to address concerns facing both the community and the university.
Politics
Westdale is currently part of the Federal and Provincial riding of Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale and is represented by David SweetDavid Sweet
David S. Sweet is a Canadian politician who began serving his first term of office in January 2006. He is a former CEO of Promise Keepers Canada.-Political career:...
and Ted McMeekin
Ted McMeekin
Ted McMeekin is a politician residing in Flamborough Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale for the Liberal Party of Ontario...
respectively. On the Municipal level, Westdale is part of Ward 1 and is represented by Brian McHattie
Brian McHattie
Brian McHattie is a Canadian politician, environmentalist and lecturer who is a Hamilton Municipal Councillor.McHattie was born in Weston, Ontario and, in 1987, moved to Hamilton...
.
Education
Aside from McMaster UniversityMcMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, three public schools are located in Westdale: Westdale Secondary School
Westdale Secondary School
Westdale Secondary School is a public high school founded in 1931 in Hamilton, Ontario. It is the second oldest high school in the city of Hamilton and is located in Westdale Village, a suburb in the west-end of the city. It is administered by the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board...
, Dalewood Middle School, and George R. Allan Elementary School as well as Columbia International College
Columbia International College
Columbia International College is the largest private boarding preparatory school in Canada, with an enrollment of more than 1,700 students from over 70 countries in the world. The school is located in Hamilton, Ontario, in the residential neighborhood of Westdale, near McMaster University and...
, a private boarding school for international students, and Hamilton Hebrew Academy, a private Jewish Day School.