The late Dave Hanley is city’s citizen of the year
The city’s chamber of commerce is posthumously recognizing Pop Up Hamilton co-founder Dave Hanley as 2017 citizen of the year.
Hanley, who died last fall, moved to Hamilton in 2013 and quickly earned praise for boosting the city’s culinary reputation by staging creative dining extravaganzas in surprise locations.
The popular fedora-wearing entrepreneur, known for publicly espousing “mad love” for his community, was also a dedicated volunteer and supporter of charitable causes like Food4Kids.
Hanley co-founded the Pop Up Hamilton culinary adventure business with wife Nicole Longstaff, who will accept the “bittersweet” honour on her husband’s behalf next month.
“It’s an incredible honour; I wish he was here to receive it,” said Longstaff, adding she appreciates the support offered by countless residents following Hanley’s death.
“That love he felt for Hamilton was certainly returned ... Thank you for the mad love.”
The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce annually recognizes a citizen or citizens who have made “significant” contributions to the city and “brought outstanding and remarkable attention” to the community.
“It’s unfortunate that it often takes tragedy to reveal just how beloved a person is,” said chamber president Keanin Loomis in the announcement of the award Tuesday.
“For the permanent impression he made on the soul of our community and the role Dave played in leading and bringing attention to Hamilton’s epicureal renaissance, there is no better choice as Hamilton’s Citizen of
the Year.”
The Royal Bank of Canada Citizen of the Year award will be presented at a ceremony March 6 at the RBG Rock Garden.
At the same event, Lucia Marchionda will be awarded The Hamilton Spectator Youth Volunteer of the Year award for 2017.
The award recognizes citizens, 19 years or younger, whose volunteer activities have made a difference in the Hamilton community.
Marchionda is a Grade 12 student at Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School in Stoney Creek.
She has amassed more than 3,000 volunteer service hours over the last four years and co-ordinates an annual Smiles for Kids fundraiser that has raised more than $6,000 for the McMaster Children’s Hospital.