Road named in honour of former economic director Neil Everson
Ancaster Business Park fitting location for tribute to man devoted to bringing jobs to city
While Bill Everson was driving with his father, Neil, to work they passed Canada Bread in the Red Hill Industrial Park. It was one of the largest companies Neil, as economic development director, enticed to relocate in Hamilton.
Bill asked his father, who had a smile on his face as they passed by, whether he liked the smell of bread.
No, said Neil. “I love to see all those cars in the parking lot. Each one of those cars represents an employee who can earn enough to feed a family.”
It was a testament to the attitude and work ethic of Neil Everson, the longest-serving economic development director in the city and the Hamilton-Wentworth Region, said friends and Hamilton officials.
“He was a man that wanted to do all that he could so others wouldn’t have the same worries” of feeding their families, Bill said during a ceremony Oct. 5 to rename Cormorant Road to Neil Everson Way.
Norm Schleehahn, director of economic planning who worked with Neil for 25 years, said the majority of Hamilton’s business parks would be empty without Everson’s efforts.
“He is renowned for many groundbreaking achievements,” Schleehahn said as Everson’s family listened.
Everson convinced Canada Bread to build a 388,000-squarefoot facility, which opened in 2012, helped land a Maple Leaf meat processing facility in 2014, and worked to sell out a large portion of the Ancaster Business Park by convincing Tim Hortons and Stackpole Automotive to set up shop.
“Stackpole was a game changer,” said Schleehahn.
The company now has its global headquarters in Ancaster, employing almost 1,000 people, a larger workforce than Stelco, in two manufacturing facilities.
Since Stackpole moved into the Ancaster Business Park in 2004, the park has grown to to 570 acres with 218 businesses and about 3,800 employees. Just along Cormorant Road, there is about one million square-feet of manufacturing space in existence because of Everson, said Schleehahn.
“The Ancaster Business Park is an economic engine of the city of Hamilton,” said Glen Norton, the city’s economic development director.
Everson worked endlessly at a time when it was difficult to get business people to think about Hamilton and the possibilities that awaited them here, he said.
Norton says Hamilton is now experiencing an “unprecedented degree of interest” from businesses in Toronto and other areas.
“This is now a preferred location for manufacturing,” he said.
Naming a road after Everson in the Ancaster Business Park is a “very fitting tribute to a man who did so much for this city’s turnaround,” said Norton.
A few years ago Everson’s family noticed he was forgetting things. They simply chalked it up to their father being under stress, said Bill.
But the forgetfulness became more pronounced. Everson was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 57.
Now 60, he retired two years ago, and lives in a long-term care facility in the final stages of the disease.
Hamilton councillors honoured Everson in late 2017 at a ceremony at city hall, recognizing his accomplishments.
“He never let the disease affect his career,” said Bill. “He continued until he was unable to do the job.”
Bill showed Neil a photograph of the new street sign that has his name. He smiled, knowing what it represented, said Bill.
“He was so thrilled about it finally being a reality,” said Bill.
“Thank you for making my father so welcomed and loved at work. You changed his life for the better.”