Hamilton Votes 2022: Meet our 6 municipal election columnists

Between now and Oct. 24, 2022, Hamilton residents have some important decisions to make: Will youvote in the municipal election? Who will receive your support formayor, councillor and school board trustee?

With a handful of councillors and the mayor not running for re-election, we know there will be change in the city.

The role of CBC Hamilton is to provide essential information around the voting process, candidate platforms and big questions facing city leaders. It is also to amplify the voices and concerns of local residents and what they hope to see in the city's next chapter.

With that in mind, we asked six Hamilton residents, representing arange of geographical locations, ages and interests, to reflect on the issues they think are missing from election campaign conversations so far or need underscoring.

Their perspectives are some of those we saw as missing from the broader Hamilton media landscapeand by sharing their viewpointshere, we hope to highlightinsightsthat may not always be given at a platform during election time andinspire deeper conversations on the issues they care about.

Read theircolumns on CBC Hamilton the first is here and join CBC Hamilton and these columnists for a community discussion on the election. The discussion is at the Hamilton Public Library onOct. 15, 2022, at 2 p.m.(You can also findall ourelection coverage here.)

Gavin Stephens

Gavin Stephens (he/him) is a standup comedian who skilfully balances playful irony and morbid silliness.He is known for his (really) quick wit and stream of consciousness comedic style. Gavin has been featured in Montreal andToronto's Just For Laughs Festivals, as well as the Cape Town Comedy fest, and Austin's SXSW, alongside comedy legends Margaret Cho, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Kindler, Reggie Watts, Hannibal Buress and Marc Maron. He has been named one of the "10 Funniest Canadians" by StarTV and chosen as Best Local Stand-up Comicin NOW Magazine's Readers Choice poll. He's appeared on CTV and the Comedy Network in The Buzz, Comedy Inc., and on CBC's Debaters and The Baroness Von Sketch Show. When he's not performing or hosting the Uncolonized podcast, he can be found practising his knitting or cheering on the Raptors. His perfect day includes watching cartoons, reading comic books and watching indie wrestling.

Currently lives in: Ward 3

How long have you lived in Hamilton?I've lived in Hamilton for 10 years, originally from Toronto.

Favourite spot in the city? Pier 8 during the day. It's a nice little relaxing place during a bike ride. Also Playhouse Theatre, having an indie movie theatre in the city is so important, also being able to watch John Carpenter movies on the big screen.

Three words to describe how you feel about the future of this place:Anxious. Fascinated. Hopeful.

What's keeping you inspired right now?I guess what's keeping me inspired is the current independent nature of the Canadian comedy industry.

AnabelleRagsag

AnabelleRagsag (she/her/siya, a gender-neutral pronoun in Tagalog)is co-founder of Filipinas of HamOnt, a volunteer-run initiativethat engages in equity and anti-racist advocacy, events, and education programming by Filipinas for Filipinas in Hamilton and beyond. She serves asthe 2022-2023 Stephen Lewis Social Policy PhD Fellow at McMaster University's School of Social Work, and studied previously at the University of the Philippines and Carleton University. Before joining McMaster in 2021, she held policy development and evaluation positions locally and abroad and actively engages with different community spaces in Hamilton.

Currently lives in: Ward 14

How long have you lived in Hamilton?10 years.We moved here for my husband's postdoc at McMaster and my daughter was born a year later.

Favourite spot in the city?The stretch of Bayfront and Pier 8. I grew up near bodies of water like what Bayfront offers. In there, I feel at home.

Three words to describe how you feel about the future of this place:Hopeful. Evolving. Creating.

What's keeping you inspired right now?Seeing how ordinary people navigate the difficulties in the pandemic every day.

Rain Hye

Rain Hye(he/him) is a 2020 McCall MacBain scholar who is in the pursuitofjustice through all that he does. He became involved in his community at age 15, where he was first involved with YWCA Hamilton. In 2017/2018, Rain worked for a Hamilton city councillor, and at this time was also an elected student trustee in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. In October 2017, he co-founded Model City Hall Hamilton, a non-profit and conference to engage youth in municipal politics. Rain has worked with several organizations in Hamilton, including the Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO), Hamilton Students for Justice (HS4J) and most recently the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI), where he conducted research on the experiences of Black and racialized municipal candidates in Hamilton. Rain is currentlyin Montral, where he is a police-free schools organizer and a second year Gender, Sexuality, Feminist and Social Justice studies major at McGill University.

Currently lives: Between Hamilton and Montreal

How long have you lived in Hamilton?I've been here my whole life, aside from a few brief stints. I've lived everywhere in this city, from Westdale (Ward 1) to Purnell on the Mountain (Ward 14), to Waterdown (Ward 15), to the west Mountain (Ward 8), to downtown (ward 2) and the east end (Ward 3). Right now I live between my parents and sister's place,so wards 8 and 14. I'd say I've lived in Hamilton for about 16 years combined.

Favourite spot in the city?It's clich but the roof of Jackson Square. I feel like that's a quintessential spot if you grew up in Hamilton.

Three words to describe the future ofHamilton:Anti-racist (aka safe for Black people and People of Colourto live and grow up). Youth-led (it better be).Decolonized (aka led and governed by Indigenous people).

What's keeping you inspired right now? If I'm being completely honest, my little baby niece and her mom (my sister) are keeping me inspired at the moment. When I think about why I'm concerned with the future of the city, ultimately it's because my niece and all the kiddos in this city will be the people to inherit whatever problems we leave them. It's not acceptable for us to leave it in a way that is not salvageable.

Sonia Hill

Sh:kon sewakwekon, Sonia ionkiats. Kanien'keh:ka niwakenwenhtsio:ten. Tiotstenhrakwnhtare kenkere. Hi there! My name is Sonia Hill (they/them). I am Mohawk, Lebanese and mixed European. I have family ties to Six Nations and was born and raised in the city and suburbs of Hamilton.I am a proud non-binary, femme, two-spirit, urban Indigenous person, friend, partner, aunty, kitty mom, cousin, sibling, neighbour and more. Fierce love for the folks who make me feel at home, my community, keeps me going. Currently, I'm completing a Masters degree in Sociology at McMaster University. I am the director of the Indigenous Sustenance Reclamation Network (ISRN), the coordinator for Kahnekanoron, which is housed within ISRN, and co-chair of the Indigenous Solidarity Working Group with CUPE3906.

Currently lives in:Tiotstenhrakwnhtare (It Is Floored with Stone Slabs or Ward 10 in Stoney Creek)

How long have you lived in Ohrnwakon (Hamilton)?I've lived in Ohrnwakonfor 26 out of the 27 years of my life. So far, I've lived in downtown, on the east mountain, in the east end, west end, in the Meadowlands, and in Dundas.

Favourite spot in the city? The beach by my house. I'm super privileged to have beach access at Lake Ontario in Hamilton and visiting the water since moving here has been deeply nourishing.

Three words to describe how you feel about the future of this place:Hopeful.Intertwined.Excited.

What's keeping you inspired right now? The relationships that ground me in community and keep me from retreating into the woods forever.

Shayyan Husein

Shayyan Husein(he/him) is a Grade 12 student at Orchard Park Secondary School in Stoney Creek, a teen ambassador graduate fromCanada Learning Codeand an avid sports player. He spends his free time tutoring coding languages to younger students, playing sports with friends and actively researching about his religion and the future/development of technology.

Currently lives in:Stoney Creek (Hwy 8 / Grays Rd)

How long have you lived in Hamilton?I have lived in Hamilton for a year and a half now aftermoving from Mississauga.

Favourite spot in the city?Ridge Road Lookout (or Ridge Road Viewpoint). The scenic view over the city combined with the beautiful greenery makes for a great photography spot! As quiet and calm as it is, this spot allowsyou to ponder to yourself and relax while you watch over the city.

Three words to describe how you feel about the future of this place: Digital.Inclusive. Attentive.

Digital: Future technology helps with advancements of some older places throughout the city, as well as helping residents in Hamilton right from their homes (e.g. Hamilton city website/applications to help residents and accessible data for residents to track recent citystatistics).

Inclusive: Allowing anyone and everyone regardless of race, religion or gender to freely join in many community activities spread throughout Hamilton.

Attentive: Listening to the community's feedback and providing us with what we need (e.g. providing affordable and accessible public transit).

What's keeping you inspired right now?There is not a physical thing that is keeping me motivated but a mindset the mindset of improvement. There can always be an improvement, whether that be physical, mental or spiritual improvement, it comes in all different categories. As someone who continuously thrives in every subject, sport or interest I have, the mindset of improvement is what keeps me motivated. In life, improvements can always be made and I have experienced numerous times that with hard work comes great results.

Mohamad Bsat

Mohamad Bsat(he/him)is a Filipino, Lebanese, andPalestinian first-generation Canadian. His family moved here when he was nineyears old from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He is a staff lawyer practicing within housing and human rights at the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic (HCLC). Within his role, he is a member of the anti-racism andanti-oppression steering committee within HCLC, additionally he is a member of the anti-racism provincial advisory committee for theAssociation of Community Legal Clinics of Ontario. Mohamad is an avid runner and is the founder of the running crew Air Up There. Mohamad is passionate about social justice and creating equity within athletics.

Currently lives in: Ward 3

How long have you lived in Hamilton?I've been living in this ward for the last eightmonths, but have been living in Hamilton since 2018, previously in Ward 2. I'm a settler on stolen land.

Favourite spot in the city?Myfavouriteplace in thecityis more like an area: Old Guelph Road between the RBG arboretum and York Road. It's one of myfavouriteplaces to run and bike. It's just outside downtown that it's quiet and serene, but also close enough that I can get there by foot or bike quick enough.

Three words to describe how you feel about the future of this place:Hopeful. Concerned. Enthusiastic. I have these feeling all at the same time, it sounds odd but Hamilton makes you feel a way.

What's keeping you inspired right now?Any time I feel hopeless or lethargic about the work I'm in, I'm often invigorated by two things: A) the clients I work with. I'm always amazed about their ability to stand up for what they believe despite having the system stacked against them, yet they have courage to fight back against really difficult circumstances. And B) the youth advocates in ourcity, particularly the Hamilton Students for Justice.Seeing how much this group of young activists care about thecitywe live in gives me hope and a renewed spirit to keep fighting back against an unfair and unjust system.

For more of CBC Hamilton'smunicipal election coverage:

• This municipal election, why is Hamilton's police budget so taboo?
• Want to get elected in Hamilton? Study finds campaign success doesn't come cheap
• Everything you need to know about voting in Hamilton's 2022 municipal election