Join us for a guided walking tour presented by the Art Gallery of Hamilton in partnership with the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, beginning with a meet-and-greet, light refreshments, and an introduction at the Centre before exploring the city on foot. Led by Simon Orpana, the tour highlights historic buildings and industrial sites throughout Hamilton, connecting the city’s manufacturing legacy to the themes of the Made in Hamilton exhibition.

Workers Arts and Heritage Centre: The Workers Arts and Heritage Centre was started over 25 years ago by an ambitious and dynamic group of labour historians, artists, and union and community activists who saw a need for a community museum that could celebrate the history of workers and labour. As a community museum and arts centre, we offer a diverse array of exhibitions, workshops, educational programs, digital projects, and community events that explore perspectives in labour history, social justice, and contemporary labour issues. WAHC also has a permanent collection of artifacts that relate to labour history and workers’ experiences. We bring together members of our community, unions, local arts organizations, workers’ groups, and artists to share and celebrate the stories of working people. WAHC is housed in the heritage-listed Custom House building.

Simon Orpana is an artist and educator whose work explores the intersection of culture, history and social change. His graphic history Showdown!: Making Modern Unions (with Rob Kristofferson, 2016) explores the pivotal role Hamilton workers played in changing Canada’s labour landscape through the 1946 Stelco strike. Gasoline Dreams: Waking Up from Petroculture (2021) uses comics to argue that addressing the global climate catastrophe is not primarily a technological or scientific challenge, but a cultural and political one.

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