Zoë is in her fifth year of the Combined Honours Health Studies and Geography program at McMaster University. Her academic interests include urban geography and planning, field work, and healthy environments. Her personal interests include cycling, hiking, and attending sports games. Zoë wanted to be a part of CityLAB because of her interest to apply the skills and knowledge gained at McMaster University to real world, local issues. She is interested in creating healthy sustainable cities and she wants to learn more about Hamilton. Her favourite part of the city is James Street North with all of the different stores and opportunities to try new food.
Daniel Blum
Daniel is in his fifth year at McMaster, sticking around to be a part of CityLAB! After studying psychology for many years and coming up with far more questions than answers, he is very excited to learn and explore in a much broader context. Daniel is dedicated to working within an intersectional framework and promoting accessibility and inclusivity to make sure everyone can love this city just as much as he does. When he is not studying, Daniel can be found crafting marvelous lattes or working with Hamilton’s wonderful LGBTQ2SIA+ organizations. In his downtime, he enjoys creating illustrations or wandering off to various corners of the city in search of delicious new foods to try.
Daniel hopes to pursue a Masters degree in community psychology, and knows that this CityLAB experience will be an exceptionally valuable experience moving forward. More than that, it is not only a learning experience; it is also a chance to give something back to the community which has cared for, uplifted, and encouraged Daniel since the day he arrived on Hamilton’s doorstep.
Hana Brath
Hana is a third year Health Sciences student at McMaster University, with a background in contemporary art. Her academic interests include health equity, the ways in which urban planning and architecture influence public health, and contemporary art as a means for civic engagement. She really cares about learning from and caring for older adults in the community. She has done a lot of research focused on optimizing health for older adults and is passionate about age-friendly cities. She is equally passionate about the intersections between inter-sectional feminism and public health. She enjoys being active by playing ice hockey, running with her dog, hiking, canoeing, camping and traveling. She spends her time cheering on the Montréal Canadiens, or finding the best coffee and ice cream in Hamilton. She really enjoys exploring Hamilton to find new cafes, restaurants, and art galleries. She enjoys cycling and running and being active in her pursuits - she's a bit of an adrenaline junkie - and she really wants to go skydiving. She spent a month backpacking in the Yukon, which she considers one of the most incredible experiences of her life. Her favourite meal is breakfast, which is peanut butter and banana toast. In her downtime, she loves listening to and discovering new music, designing cityscapes, taking photos, and sculpting. She's a native Torontonian and the City remains close to her heart. She will rep the East End until she dies, although at some point, she would love to live near the mountains. Moving forward, she hopes to find communities that help her to grow as a person and work towards a collective greater good.
Victoria Bentley
If you ask Victoria, she hails from the Okanagan Valley despite having lived in too many places to count over the years. An enthusiastic and curious spirit, she has spent the majority of her youth exploring a wide range of interests, gravitating towards music and literature, while supporting herself working in the service industry. After many years of enjoying a diverse range of experiences, Victoria is passionate about attending to and empathizing with many of those who struggle within our society. In fact, Victoria hopes to pursue a career in social work at McMaster University. Since she moved to Hamilton in 2015, she has honed a fervent interest in food and wine, as well as devoted much of her attention to community development, public policy, and learning about the world through travel. In choosing to attend CityLAB this semester, Victoria hopes to further her ability to think about complex problems and work alongside those with similar motivation. Additionally, she hopes that through the learning and networking associated with this program, that she will be able to make strides toward her desire of influencing policy decisions for the benefit of those less fortunate.
Grace Bryson
Grace is in her third year of Biology with a minor in Chemical Biology at McMaster University. She was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. In her free time, Grace loves drawing, designing, and practicing yoga. She also loves hiking and being outdoors whenever she can. Cootes Paradise is one of her favourite places in Hamilton because it is so accessible and it provides the opportunity to be immersed in nature away from the hustle and bustle of campus. You can find Grace at Marci's Bakery at the Hamilton Farmer's Market indulging in their amazing vegan treats! Grace is very passionate about animal advocacy and wildlife efforts, and would love to incorporate this into her future work. Grace joined CityLAB because she enjoyed the interdisciplinary aspect of the course and the ability to work in small group settings.
Zoe Davidson
Zoe is a Toronto native, but calls Hamilton her home! She is crazy about Hamilton and loves to discover new cafes by bike or rollerblades. When not patronizing coffee shops or weaving her way through the stalls of the Hamilton Farmers Market, you might find her playing a game of Ultimate Frisbee or running on the Waterfront trail. Zoe is currently in her fourth year of the Arts and Science program with no specialization to speak of! Her broad range of academic curiosities include Critical Animal Studies, Environmental History, Ecofeminism, and Educational Theory. She’s currently pursuing a thesis investigating the ethical implications of Robotic Milking Technology on Ontario dairy farms and the changing realities and representations of both cow and farmer. Zoe came to CityLAB excited at the prospect of bridging her theoretical interests in environmentalism and education with her passion for the Hamilton community. She hopes to become a more civically engaged environmental advocate with an understanding of the processes and procedures that influence policy development.
Sabrina Danicola
Sabrina is a fourth year student studying Honours Sociology (Specialist Option) at McMaster University. With Sociology being the broad study of societies, Sabrina is passionate about addressing social inequality and exploring community’s methods for taking action, particularly the building of respectful relationships between the community and local academic institutions (i.e. Experiential/Community-Engaged Education). Sabrina spends time exploring these academic interests as a Student Partner with McMaster’s Office of Community Engagement by consulting and developing workshops and resources to build student, staff and faculty capacity in carrying out McMaster’s Principles of Community Engagement. She hopes to apply her knowledge to CityLAB and be a part of a beautiful example of interdisciplinary community-engaged education! Outside of academics, you can find Sabrina jogging along the streets of Hamilton, cuddling up with a book at a local cafe, or blogging about critical issues (such as menstrual hygiene management inequity). From Art Crawls to waterfalls to community connectedness, the city has become Sabrina’s new home and place of passion.
Franklin Duru
Franklin loves to learn new things, currently he has an infatuation with taking apart cars, bikes, and other mechanical devices to find out how they work. In addition, he is passionate about drawing, and he is excellent at painting. Franklin is also fluent in English, Spanish, and Igbo!
Ciaran Egan
Ciaran is in his third year of Peace Studies and Geography with a minor in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) at McMaster University. He is a very excellent local history buff, and some call him a local encyclopaedia! He has an active interest in orienteering and urban exploration. Ciaran loves the Hamilton community and hopes to see the City evolve. As a fun fact, Hamilton has 100 waterfalls!
Miranda Floreano
Miranda is a fifth year Honours Life Science student with a focus in Environmental Science and Sustainability at McMaster University. Her academic interests include sustainability, conservation, biodiversity, the link between environmental health and human health, and fieldwork. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, hiking, being immersed in nature, and genealogy. She became interested in CityLAB through many of her courses where she learned how sustainability plays a critical role in our future and is a necessity to our society and economy. The CityLAB course has provided her with the opportunity to apply her knowledge of environmental issues and climate change towards creating a healthier Hamilton. Her favourite part of the city is the escarpment with all of its trails and waterfalls.
Anna Gorman
Anna is a third year Arts and Science student at McMaster University. Her passions include baking, art, and houseplants – she’d like you to know her pothos vine is flourishing. Anna’s interests also lie in human interaction, how we work, play, live, and behave in certain spaces, and how cities function. She is intellectually curious about climate change mitigation and adaptation. Her love for Hamilton is what brought her to CityLAB, and she is a strong believer that it is crucial for us to be involved and give back in our communities in any way that we can. Academically, she is looking to pursue an MSc in Planning and CityLAB is the perfect way for her to immerse herself in the field to see if it really is the right path for her. Her energy and passion are an asset to us here at CityLAB, and she always strives to make the world a better place. Her favourite place in Hamilton, and not-so-guilty pleasure, is Ola’s bakery… but can we blame her?
Christiana Kiervin
Christiana is defining the great line between what it means to find yourself in the city, while critically reflecting on all of its intricate components. In order to do this she frequents dog parks with her loyal companion Louie, and goes for brunch at local cafes. Her expressiveness comes from her love to write creative letters to her friends. In essence, she loves urban exploration. Christiana joined CityLAB due to her passion for the environment. Her hope is to connect to the world by stepping outside of her McMaster bubble.
While going for long drives and listening to what she considers “good playlists,” she laments on her favourite quote by Dean Spanley, “only the closed mind is certain”. In her own words, this means that she should be “exploring uncertainty, and be open to the unexpected”. She is currently going into her fourth and final year of the Honours Bachelors of Science - Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour program.
Adam Khalaf
Adam can be defined as a soul filled with excitement, passion, and sauce. Currently in his last year of Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies at McMaster University, Adam joined CityLAB with the hopes of translating his global advocacy work to the local Hamilton community. Being part of McMaster’s Model United Nations, Adam has had his fair share of international relation work with emphasis on sustainable development and diplomacy. Other than his love for coffee and soccer, he is an avid fan of R&B/Soul music. You can probably find Adam either around the City exploring new coffee shops or on the outskirts of campus running some sort of MACMUN event. Adam is excited to add CityLAB to his list of passions and is hoping to make the most out of his time at the CityLAB Semester in Residence course.
Katie Kinsman
Katie is in her third year of Political Science with a specialization in Public Law and Judicial Studies at McMaster University. She was born and raised in Guelph, Ontario but has discovered a love for Hamilton having lived here for the past three years. When she is not hiking in Pukaskwa National Park, Katie is training for the 2019 Tough Mudder obstacle course. You can often find her studying, relaxing at Mulberry Street Coffeehouse, or out exploring new restaurants across the city. She was interested in joining the CityLAB Semester in Residence because it provided a great opportunity to get out of a traditional classroom setting and try a new learning environment. Katie is excited to become more engaged in the Hamilton community and collaborate with her peers to leave a lasting impact.
Francis Lao
Francis is a third year student in the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program. Academically speaking, he is interested in rheumatology, immunology, and overdose prevention and response. He is at CityLAB to enhance his knowledge about the city and to take an active role in his community. He is an avid rock-climber and competitive yoyo-er.
Priya Moraes
Priya studies people; however, she doesn’t believe that her degree defines her. She is the sum of her varied experiences, including 16 months of travelling abroad for her anthropology studies. She is interested in using fieldwork to develop policy solutions targeted at real needs and cultural values of community members. On a more lighthearted note, she enjoys learning about indigenous knowledge and art forms, which she was able to explore on her recent travels to New Zealand. Here, her outdoor education also flourished, and she loves being close to nature. She is passionate about hiking, scuba-diving, surfing, paddle-boarding and canoeing (although she claims that she is just a beginner). Her goal is to try as many new things as possible, as she believes that the more you experience, the more you can learn about yourself. Fittingly, she has a bucket list to see every country in the world.
In her spare time, Priya loves making and listening to music. She thinks a playlist is the window to the soul. She often finds that can't put down a book (especially not the Scorpio Races), and can spend hours watching netflix, especially Brookyln 99 and the good place. She is proud to call Hamilton home. She loves looking out over the escarpment, biking around the city (despite the terrors of main street) exploring new areas of the city, and trying new foods or experiences. Moving forward, her plan is no plan: she hopes to see what life brings to her.
Corey McKibbin
Corey is a thoughtful and hilarious addition to the community at CityLAB. Coffee in hand and a politely amused smile on his face, Corey brings a dose of sunshine into our classroom. Behind his light hearted demeanor, he is also a deep thinker. He always seems to have a quick-witted comment or complex argument to add to a discussion. It is fitting that he is currently in his third year of Honours Philosophy with an interdisciplinary minor in Community Engagement at McMaster University. As a result, he has also developed into an incredibly talented writer. Though he enjoys writing, he is also passionate about reading. Unsurprisingly, his favourite genre is philosophy, specifically bioethics. He enjoys meaningful conversations, sleeping in on Sunday mornings, hanging out in Toronto with friends, and watching horror movies and quirky TV shows like Over the Garden Wall. Corey studied at a musical high school, playing baritone at the national and international level before he turned 17. He continues to play in his free time when he is not working a night shift or taking a stroll through Cootes.
His passion for community engagement began at a young age and has only grown as he pursues higher education. He is thrilled to put his talents to use at CityLAB this semester. After all this, Corey can perhaps be summarized best from his favourite quote by Walt Whitman: "Happiness, not in another place but this place... Not for another hour but this hour"
Lindsay Nooren
Lindsay is a fourth year Honours Sociology and Political Science student at McMaster University. She has a variety of diverse interests including sports, baking, travelling, volunteering, and learning about the world – not all at the same time, but she is working on it. Lindsay also has a deep interest in understanding how climate change is affecting the world. Originally from a small farm town, Hamilton is her adopted home – and by extension, the Ti-cats are her adopted team. Overall, she loves the city as it has given her so many opportunities and experiences. Lindsay believes that CityLAB seems like a great opportunity to give back to the community. On top of this, she would like to pursue a Master’s in International Relations, and hopes to continue to give back to the global community. Her favourite place in Hamilton is Mountain Brow Park at sunset with a scoop of ice cream. If you can’t find her here, you can find her in a coffee shop, listening to some indie-folk and sipping on a hot chai tea.
Kyle Pinheiro
Kyle is a fourth year Political Science major currently studying at McMaster University. He decided to join CityLAB because he is excited for an opportunity in which change can be brought about at a grassroots level, while offering a fantastic experience for experiential learning. Kyle enjoys all levels of politics, starting from municipal engagement to federal political interests. He even ran as a candidate in the 2017-18 McMaster Student’s Union Presidential election. While Kyle enjoys all sports, he loves playing basketball and is an avid football fan. He is open to all sorts of music, aside from country, and really enjoys classic rock. He also loves to jam out on his electric and acoustic guitars. Kyle looks forward to being able to bring about change in the community through his kind and considerate attitude, dedication to his peers and friends, and passion for development.
Anisha Rao
Anisha is a Hamilton native! She is currently in her fourth year of the Honours Life Sciences program with a double minor in Community Engagement and Sustainability at McMaster University. She came to CityLAB to work with like-minded individuals who are as passionate about community engagement and improvement as she is! Aside from her philanthropic passions, Anisha is also very interested in yoga and travelling; she hopes to visit every continent at least once throughout her lifetime. With respect to the City, Anisha's favourite places to go in Hamilton include Webster's Falls and Dundas Peak. You can find her doing dancer's pose by a waterfall on a beautiful day.