Hamilton Economic Summit

MEDIA RELEASE

Design Cafés Invite Young People to Help Plan Future Event

HAMILTON February 5, 2009: The Hamilton Economic Summit has introduced a new element to help
address the need to involve local students and youth in the collaborative process of renewing our community.
“Senior community leaders at last year’s summit emphasized the importance of asking young people to share
their ideas on how Hamilton can become one of Canada’s top communities of choice for the next
generation,” says Richard Ward Allen, senior advisor, Hamilton Economic Summit. “We have responded by
introducing a post-summit event focused exclusively on young people age 15 to 25.”
It will take place at McMaster Innovation Park located in west Hamilton on May 7, 2009. A special
committee has been established to organize a day-long experience that delivers on the goal of engaging
young people in defining Hamilton’s future and then sharing their ideas with the community at large.
The organizing committee believes it is essential to invite young people into the work of planning the event.
To this end, the committee is hosting five informal design cafés across Hamilton beginning the week of
February 16. Each café will include a brief presentation highlighting numerous aspects of our local economy
followed by an open discussion on how young people envisage creating a more vibrant, prosperous and
opportunity-rich Hamilton — ideas that will inform the design of the May 7 event.
Energetic young people interested in making a difference in our community are encouraged to attend a
FREE Design Café offered in various locations on the following dates:

Tue Feb 17 The Freeway Cafe 333 King Street East Downtown Hamilton
Wed Feb 18 The Carnegie Gallery 10 King Street West Downtown Dundas
Thu Feb 19 Boston Pizza 135 Upper Centennial Parkway Upper Stoney Creek
Fri Feb 20 The Old Powerhouse Restaurant 21 Jones Street Downtown Stoney Creek
Mon Feb 23 Flamborough YMCA 207 Parkside Drive Waterdown

All cafés run from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, follow a similar format and include light refreshments. To register,
e-mail Patricia at p.dieryck@hamiltonchamber.on.ca specifying your preferred location or call 905-522-1151
x 237 and leave a message. Youth are encouraged to share the opportunity with others and to bring a friend
~ the more participants, the better!
In an age when quality of place is a powerful magnet for attracting and retaining top talent, it is essential that
metropolitan areas offer what young people increasingly look for in a home community: Connectivity to
nature, an aesthetically pleasing built environment, a rich diversity of people and perspectives, and plenty of
work opportunities.
Says Allen: “Inviting students and youth to document and share their vision of a community they will one
day inherit makes good sense.”

Organizing Committee for May 7 Event

Richard Allen, Hamilton Economic Summit
Christopher Cutler, Path Employment Services

…/2
 -2-
Grace Diffey, Hamilton Community Foundation
Charlie Hendershott, ArcelorMittal Dofasco
Patrick Elliot, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Jeremy Freiburger, Imperial Cotton Centre for the Arts
Norm Grey, Canadian Youth Business Foundation
Alice Bradbury, Golden Horseshoe Biosciences Network
Lynda Lukasik, Environment Hamilton
Matt Thompson, McMaster University
The Hamilton Economic Summit is a community initiative facilitated by the Hamilton Chamber of
Commerce and delivered in partnership with the City of Hamilton and the Jobs Prosperity Collaborative.

- 30 -

Media Contacts
Laura Jackson
Communications Coordinator
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
l.jackson@hamiltonchamber.on.ca | 905-522-1151 x 230

Richard Ward Allen

Senior Advisor
Hamilton Economic Summit
rallen@mountaincable.net | 905-572-0363 (cell)

NOTE to Editors: The actual Hamilton Economic Summit will take place on Wednesday May 6 at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Hamilton. More details will be released shortly. Visit
hamiltonchamber.on.ca and click on Hamilton Economic Summit for details.