Hamilton Waterfront Trust, which was established in 2000 as a separate legal entity from the city to support waterfront development and enhancement projects, will officially dissolve on March 31, 2026.
All programming, services, and assets, such as the Pier 8 outdoor rink, harbour tours, the waterfront trolley, music and entertainment events, and community bookings, will be taken over by the City of Hamilton on April 1, 2026.
The city says that there will be “no interruption to waterfront services” and that “residents and visitors can expect the same waterfront programming and public access they enjoy today.”
The city says that the Hamilton Waterfront Trust “has played an important role in supporting projects and programming that expanded public access to the waterfront and contributed to the vibrancy of the city.”
Hamilton City Council decided to integrate the Hamilton Waterfront Trust into city operations for a number of different reasons, including to strengthen oversight and financial controls, improve transparency and public accountability, align waterfront operations with municipal governance standards, and deliver services more efficiently through existing city operations.
The dissolution of the Hamilton Waterfront Trust is the final step in what has been a phased transition.
The City of Hamilton assumed management of the former Discovery Centre at 57 Discovery Drive (now called 77 Harbourside Way) back in February 2023.
The city will be giving the building to the Hamilton Public Library, where they plan to open a new Indigenous-focused library branch.
Renovations and conversion costs have been estimated at $15 million.
Plans include “a library services area, Indigenous community gathering space, exhibits and gallery space, cafe, and visitor amenities.”
The building was originally built in 2004.
Commenting on the changes, Hamilton City Manager Marnie Cluckie said, “This transition brings consistency in governance, reporting and financial controls. Our focus now is ensuring a smooth operational transition so residents and visitors continue to enjoy the waterfront programming and experiences they value.”
Hamilton Waterfront Trust coordinated approximately $6.3 million in investments in the waterfront while it operated.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
