Protests in the Valley: The Red Hill Parkway and a City Divided

In August 2003, the quiet forests and meadows of Hamilton’s Red Hill Valley became the stage for one of the city’s most significant civic protests. Residents, environmental activists, and Indigenous land defenders gathered to oppose the construction of the Red Hill Valley Parkway—a long-debated highway project that threatened to reshape both the landscape and the community.

What began as a dispute over development quickly grew into a broader conversation about the environment, urban planning, reconciliation, and the future of Hamilton itself. Protest camps were set up, marches and vigils were held, and citizens from all walks of life found themselves drawn into a deeply personal struggle over land, heritage, and progress.

This exhibit introduces the story of those protests: the people who stood in defense of the valley, the voices that called for change, and the legacy that continues to shape Hamilton’s identity today.