Dundas, Ontario

This article refers to Dundas, a constituent community of Hamilton, Ontario since 2001, in south central Ontario. For the former Dundas County in eastern Ontario, see Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties, Ontario.

Dundas, Ontario, Canada held a town charter between 1848 and 2001. Its nickname is the Valley Town.

The population has been stable for decades at about twenty thousand, largely because it has not annexed rural land from the protected Dundas Valley Conservation Area. Now operated by the Hamilton Conservation Authority, the area links up directly and indirectly with the Bruce Trail. Other green spaces include the Dundas Driving Park, Veterans Park and Cootes Paradise.

Notable events are the Buskerfest in early June, while the Dundas Cactus Festival is held annually in August.

Downtown Dundas (May 2005) looking westward.

History and politics

History and politics to 1974

The town of Dundas was incorporated in 1847 as part of Wentworth County. It was named by John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, for his friend Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, a Scottish lawyer and politician who never visited North America.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Dundas enjoyed considerable economic prosperity through its access to Lake Ontario via the Desjardins Canal, and was an important town in Upper Canada and Canada West. It was later surpassed as the economic powerhouse of the area by Hamilton, but for decades it led in importance. A number of Ontario cities (including Toronto) retain streets named Dundas Street, which serve as evidence of its onetime importance. Dundas was once the terminus of Toronto's Dundas Street (also known as Highway 5), one of the earliest routes used by Ontario's first settlers.

With the establishment of McMaster University in nearby west Hamilton in 1930, Dundas gradually became a bedroom community of the university faculty and students, with a thriving arts community. Dundas has a large community of potters and several studio shows/walking tours of the town feature their work each year.

Amalgamation with Hamilton has been proposed on a number of different occasions throughout the history of Dundas, particularly in the 1970s at the time of the formation of the city of Cambridge from a number of smaller towns including Galt, Preston and Hespeler.

Instead, Dundas and Hamilton became two of six second-tier municipalities in the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth. There was rough parity between Hamilton and suburban or rural members of the regional council, and it seemed likely that Dundas and other smaller communities like Ancaster had preserved their identity from encroachment by Hamilton.

History and politics 1974-2001

On March 1st, 1976 Town Council proclaimed Dundas the "The Cactus Capital of Canada." This gave rise to the Cactus Festival as the Chamber of Commerce and the Dundas Jaycees were looking to create a summer festival with a strong theme.

In 1995, the issue was resurrected when a Progressive Conservative provincial government under Mike Harris was elected with a stated platform (the Common Sense Revolution) of cost-cutting and reduction of bureaucratic waste. Several proposals for amalgamation were made during the first Harris government, but no formal steps were taken towards amalgamation as they were in many other Ontario municipalities.

Nevertheless a "Dundas Forever" campaign was launched within the town, which took out newspaper ads and distributed signs and bumper stickers promoting the continuation of Dundas' town status. Some observers suggested that the residents of the suburbs were being self-serving, as their present status entitled them to many of the benefits of Hamilton while avoiding the negatives (chiefly high property taxes).

During the 1999 provincial election, the amalgamation question became a significant election issue. Toni Skarica, the Progressive Conservative MPP for Wentworth North, a riding made up largely of the suburban towns in which amalgamation was an issue, explicitly promised that amalgamation would not happen if he were re-elected, despite apparently contrary statements from his government.

In early 2000, the results of a citizen-organized poll on amalgamation were published. The poll claimed a 30% turnout of eligible voters, and a 90% vote against amalgamation. In February, the Harris government announced that Dundas and the rest of Hamilton-Wentworth would be amalgamated to create a new City of Hamilton. In late February 2000, Skarica resigned his seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as an act of protest.

In the summer of 2000, a by-election was held in the new riding of Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot. The PCs attempted to counter the anger at amalgamation by running a star local candidate, Priscilla de Villiers, but the election went to Ted McMeekin, a Liberal and the former mayor of Flamborough, who made his displeasure at amalgamation very evident. Mark Coakley, a Hamilton lawyer and television personality, campaigned as this riding's first provincial Green Party candidate. The electoral riding is now called Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale.

On January 1 2001, all municipalities of the former two-tier Hamilton-Wentworth Region, including Dundas, Stoney Creek, Flamborough, Ancaster and Glanbrook, were formally amalgamated under the name the City of Hamilton. This act garnered considerable controversy amongst residents of Dundas and other nearby communities.

Despite Dundas now to being referred to as Hamilton, citizens of this small town still proudly call their valley Dundas.

Demographics

The 2001 census population of Dundas was 24,394. By the 2006 census, the population had increased slightly, to 24,702.

The racial make is:

• 93.9% White
• 1.4% Asian
• 1.1% Chinese

The main religions:

• 43.5% Protestant
• 26.9% Catholic
• 3.8% other Christian
• 5.8% other religion
• 20% no religion

Age Structure

• 0-14 years: 18.2%
• 15-64 years: 63.7%
• 65 years and over: 18.1%

Arts

Fine Arts

Carnegie Gallery

Dundas is home to the Dundas Valley School of Art. Marion Farnan and Emily Dutton established it in 1964, and it became a non-profit corporation three years later. Since 1970, it has been located in the former Canada Screw Works building from the 1860s. It began a full-time diploma programme with McMaster University in 1998.

The Carnegie Gallery is housed in the 1910 Carnegie library building and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005. It is run by the Dundas Art & Craft Association and hosts art exhibitions, book readings, concerts and a gift shop.

Music

"Dundas, Ontario" is also the title of a song from the album Start Breaking My Heart by the artist Caribou (formerly Manitoba), a native of the town. The town has produced other independent artists including Junior Boys and smaller bands such as Dundas & Winter Equinox.

Folksinger Stan Rogers, who died in an airplane crash in 1982, was born in Dundas as well. He is best remembered for his unofficial Nova Scotia anthem.

Dundas is home to the Dundas Valley Orchestra. The DVO is an amateur, community orchestra and was founded in the fall of 1978 by Arthur Vogt. Many have made the DVO a way station on route to successful musical careers. Former conductors include Rosemary Thomson, Michael Hall, Stephane Potvin. The DVO is currently conducted by Dr. Glenn Alan Mallory.

Film

Town Hall during filming.

Because of Dundas' early 20th century downtown architecture it was the location for the telefilm Haven and a Chrysler commercial. Also Cabin Fever,Swarm and Wrong Turn made use of Dundas locations.

In early December 2004 The West Wing did some filming; remaking parts of Dundas (Town Hall, a residence, Cabin Fever and Deluxe Restaurant) into New Hampshire locales. The three episodes aired in late January and early February 2005. Several dozen fans of the show braved chilly weather to witness the snails pace of television filming and grab autographs and photos with celebrities. Even some young people unfamiliar with The West Wing bore witness to the proceedings because "there's nothing better to do on a Sunday in Dundas."

In December of 2005 major filming was done for 'Man of the Year' starring Robin Williams and Christopher Walken. Mr. Williams delighted townsfolk, taking time for pictures and autographs in the downtown core.

Schools

• Dundas Central Public - Elementary School
• Dundana - Elementary School
• Central Park - Elementary School
• Sir William Osler - Elementary School
• St. Augustine - Catholic Elementary
• St. Bernadette - Catholic Elementary
• Dundas District - Middle School
• Parkside - High School
• Highland - High School

Famous residents

• Actor and comedian Dave Thomas from SCTV grew up in Dundas.
• Canadian physician William Osler was raised in Dundas.
• Folk Singer Stan Rogers was raised in Dundas.
• Musician Daniel V. Snaith, also known as "Manitoba" and "Caribou", grew up in Dundas and wrote a song called "Dundas, Ontario".