Raise the Hammer
100in1Day is a day meant to inspire, to envision positive change and to in some small way implement that change, even if only for a day.
By Matthew Sweet
Published May 31, 2015
this article has been updated
The upcoming 100in1Day Hamilton festival is the right event at the right time.
Our city is in the midst of an unprecedented period of community involvement with all manner of changes taking place. The community is leading Hamilton like never before, and on June 6 the community is set to demonstrate in a physical, tangible way what positive change looks like in the city.
100in1Day encourages hundreds of one-day community-based "urban interventions" meant to spark and inspire positive change with things like street art, urban gardens, beautification projects, social events, and improvements in city infrastructure all being profiled in a city-wide festival.
One need only look to the recent light rail transit (LRT) funding announcement to see the power of community leadership. LRT in Hamilton has its roots in a vision brought forward by members of the community. They articulated that vision and inspired thousands to buy in to that vision.
100in1Day is a day meant to inspire, to envision positive change and to in some small way implement that change, even if only for a day.
100in1Day follows in the footsteps of other recent events in Hamilton's community-led urbanism scene: The wave of tactical urbanism activities that led to the City's adoption of a host of more pedestrian friendly intersection designs; the thousands of petition signatures and dogged determination of the Yes We Cannon campaign that resulted in the Cannon Street Cycle Track; the revitalization of James Street and the explosive popularity of Art Crawl and SuperCrawl; annual Open Streets events that invite the community to experience a street from a new perspective. The list goes on.
100in1Day is the next event in Hamilton as a part of that tradition. 100 urban interventions have already been planned all across the city.
From a puppy kissing booth to put a smile on your face, to Cycle Hamilton using street art to highlight the state of cycle-ability of city streets, to a cigarette butt cleanup, all manner of activities are showing Hamilton a vision of a beautiful, friendly city.
It's the city we all know and love, the city we call home, with the spotlight shone on some of its best aspects and highest aspirations.
Visit hamilton.100in1day.ca to find out what is taking place on June 6 and plan your day to visit as many as you can.
If you have a great idea for an urban intervention of your own, you have until midnight on Friday, June 5 to register!
Update: updated to reflect the change that the deadline for submissions has been extended to Friday, June 5 and to note that the total number of registered events has reached the 100 milestone.
By KevinLove (registered) | Posted June 01, 2015 at 10:40:45
If I had more time, here is what I would have done.
Since I am an Army veteran and June 6 is the anniversary of D-Day, I would have put on a public installation of Canadian troops storming the beaches of Nazi-occupied France… while carrying bicycles. Call it cyclists with attitude.
For example, see the photographs here:
By Treester (anonymous) | Posted June 01, 2015 at 15:14:14
On a side but related note or question, any information about what the city is doing to increase the number and type of trees in Hamilton? We really don't have enough in downtown areas.
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