[Video] Hamilton is in their hearts

This summer, four recent McMaster graduates set out to experience the best of what their
hometown has to offer. The goal: for Avishka Juta, Carly Ciufo, Jennifer Juliao and
Kristin Archer to be tourists in their own city.

“We commuted to school during our undergrad,” said Ciufo. “Going through Hamilton on
the bus, we'd see so many interesting spots, thinking it would be really cool to
check them out.”

They put the plan into action with the “I Heart Hamilton Tour.”

The tour has stopped at the city's best-known landmarks, including the Royal Botanical
Gardens and the Harbourfront, but the four friends also made sure to visit some hidden
local gems on James and Locke Streets.

“For us, it was the perfect opportunity to finally get to know the arts scene in Hamilton
better,” said Archer. “We're all art enthusiasts and jumped at the chance to see festivals
and exhibits in our own community.”

The friends, who hail from Dundas and Stoney Creek, say their perception of Hamilton
has changed for good this summer.

“Hamilton sometimes gets a bad rap,” said Juliao. “I'd tell newcomers that you really
have to see the city for yourself, and not just listen to what others say about it.”

In addition to making custom “I Heart Hamilton” t-shirts, they also started a href=”http://ihearthamilton.tumblr.com/”>blog to document their travels.

Although the summer is drawing to a close, the four friends say the tour doesn't have to
end, and anticipate extending the tour into the fall and winter.

“We're going to keep up the blog as long as it's in demand,” said Juta. “There's a lot
more to explore in the city and we're happy to share it with everyone.”