Westdale, Ontario

Westdale is a residential neighbourhood in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada centred on the quaint Westdale Village shopping district and located near McMaster University. 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.

Westdale name origins

On 29 March, 1923, real estate agents and politicians announce the winning name, (Name the neighbourhood contest), at the "Royal Connaught Hotel" in downtown Hamilton. 6,170 people were gathered for the official announcement. Rev. Canon Percival Lawrence 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". cite book|title=Hamilton our Lives and Times|first=Brian |last=Henley |publisher=The Hamilton Spectator|year=1993|id= ISBN 0-9697255-0-7]

Pre-European Occupation

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 Ontario, they found the region populated by native people. They 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, along with the Huron, 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.Fact|date=May 2008

Pre-Westdale History

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 afterwards, the boundary was adjusted and the lots west of present-day Paradise Rd. 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.

History

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. Fact|date=May 2008

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 Ontario Court of Appeal 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 BIA, the Ainslie Wood/Westdale Community Association of Resident Homeowners (AWWCA) and McMaster University recently formed the Campus Town Association. The CTA was formed to address concerns facing both the community and the University.²

Politics

Westdale is currently part of the Federal and Provincial riding of Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale and is represented by David Sweet and Ted McMeekin respectively. On the Municipal level, Westdale is part of Ward 1 and is represented by Brian McHattie.

Education

Aside from McMaster University, 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.

References

*1. http://www.thesil.ca/article.pl?sid=06/10/26/1647246
*2. http://www.westdalevillage.ca/campus.htm

External links

* [http://westdalevillage.ca/ Westdale Village]
* [http://www.westdalehousing.com/ Westdale Housing - McMaster Student Housing directory]
* [http://www.awwca.ca/ Ainslie Wood/Westdale Community Association of Resident Homeowners]
* [http://www.mywestdale.com/ MyWestdale - Westdale schools alumni directory]
* [http://www.macstudenthouses.com/ Student Housing - McMaster Off-Campus Student Houses]