Hamilton has a special place in my heart: it’s a chill, inspiring city where you get to just exist. I’m a Calgary kid, born and raised, but I connect with Hamilton because it’s like being back home. I’ve recently spent a lot of my time here filming Run the Burbs and it really inspires me. When I’m filming outdoor scenes in the suburbs, it feels like a throwback to being a kid again. You step outside and it’s warm, there’s people mowing their lawns. Then you can see kids playing basketball and hear others running through sprinklers. When we’re filming a lot of the scenes, neighbours will come out with lawn chairs and sit outside and watch us. There’s this calmness to it.
On weekends, I explore the city. I tend to do a circular tour. Part of that is mapping out some vintage toy stores like Bounty Hunter Toys and Retrosaurus. I love reconnecting with my childhood. I shared this toy store adventure with my kids.
I was surprised to find a large Vietnamese population here. There’s one strip mall with a Vietnamese restaurant, a Chinese butcher shop and an Asian grocery store — and that feels a lot like home. When you’re a person of colour looking to go to the suburbs, the fear is that it will be void of any of your own culture. To find and experience hubs like this in Hamilton makes me feel really connected to it. This city brings me joy because, in my 30s, I’m okay to trade in the hipster cool for this city’s organic cool, with these good places serving good food and doing good things.