In an ongoing series discussing Hate in The Hammer, we feature two very special guests, Cameron Kroetsch and Lyla Miklos discussing the relationship between our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and our civic institutions. Both Cameron and Lyla are active and engaged citizens of Hamilton as well as the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Police, Power, Politics are on the agenda. Graham asks who wields the power, and are we being well served by it? This is an episode you don't want to miss.

Bio's about our guests:

Lyla Miklos is an award winning activist, administrator, broadcast journalist. Born in Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island, North West Territories (now Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut) in 1974, Lyla has called Hamilton, Ontario her home since 1982. Lyla is a graduate of Mohawk College's Media Studies program and a Mohawk College Alumni of Distinction. She has been working in the media and communications industry for over two decades and is a self-identified queer, feminist, activist for over two decades. She helped create and served as President of Mohawk Pride, Mohawk College's first official club for two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and more (2SLGBTQIA+) students. She was instrumental in forming the GLBT Advisory Committee for the City of Hamilton, later sitting on it as a member and Interim Chair. Lyla was a part of the organizing committee of Hamilton Pride for over a decade, chairing it in 2005 and 2002.

Cameron Kroetsch moved to Hamilton in 2014 and is a 2SLGBTQIA+ activist and advocate. He is a member of LGBTQ Advisory Committee, a board member of Hamilton Pride dedicated to bringing the LGBTQ community and the city of Hamilton and surrounding areas together. His background includes bing a labour relations professional, sometimes writer, and a passionate non-profit sector volunteer who cares about democracy in government and community advocacy.

Hamilton as a growing city, 2SLBGTQIA+ issues, as well as the Ward 2 community continues to be the focus of Cameron’s ongoing advocacy. Cameron has deep ties in each of the neighbourhoods and is passionate about rebuilding the relationships between those neighbourhoods and the City by tapping into the existing expertise of the many Ward 2 residents that he’s met and worked with. Cameron joined the Corktown Neighbourhood Association’s Executive Committee when he saw the opportunity to engage residents about ongoing development. He also co-organized the People’s Plan for Downtown campaign that helped to dramatically improve the City’s “Downtown Secondary Plan”. He worked with over 20 other community leaders to advocate for progressive changes to the plan. The campaign was successful in lobbying for changes to affordable housing, tenant displacement, heritage preservation, and community consultation – all things that are central to Cameron’s vision for a better Ward 2. He lives in Ward 2 with his partner Derek.

:: Produced and edited by Alex Zafer ::