A celebration of the legacy of the Hamilton-born blues master.
Hear the music and stories of Hamilton's Jackie Washington as performances by Ginger St. James with Big Rude Jake, Paul Benton and the Stewart Memorial Community Choir. The pioneer was Canada's first black disc jockey and a multi-award winning performer in the blues and jazz worlds.
The first Hamilton Public Library building opened on September 16, 1890 by the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen on the north side of Main Street West. In 1913, a new main library opened. This building was replaced in 1980 by Central Library, at the current location on York Boulevard.
In 2010, Central Library re-opened after approximately 18 months of renovations. Central Library opened with a newly revitalized first floor, which includes a Community Living Room that takes advantage of natural light. The Ontario Library Association honoured Central in 2012 with an Architectural and Design Transformation award.