Green crusader and beach strip protector Jim Howlett was a ‘true Hamiltonian’

Jim Howlett was one of Hamilton's leading green crusaders.

Howlett - who died April 9 of cancer - was one of those people who came from the Hamilton beach strip and won a public spotlight, like Santa Claus Jimmy Lomax and union leader Bob Jaggard.

Howlett, former head of the Hamilton Beach Community Council, criticized, campaigned and lobbied against pollution and the operations of companies and agencies on the bayfront.

The auto mechanic kept an eye on plumes from the steel plants, opposed the Red Hill Creek Expressway and went after Ontario Hydro when it clear-cut trees along the Beach Waterfront Trail in 2015.

This is not some swamp in the middle of nowhere," he said. This is the Beach Waterfront Trail."

One of his biggest targets was the Hamilton Port Authority. He complained about its expenses, policies and its treatment of small inlets along the waterfront. He reported illegal fill dumping in the Sherman Inlet by the HPA's predecessor, the Hamilton Harbour Commission, which prompted a federal cleanup order.

He was appointed by city council to the HPA in 2018 and the HPA wouldn't accept him, saying he was banned from its property.

I've probably challenged the port authority, and the harbour commissioners before them, more than anyone in the city," he said. We're all adults ... I would hope we can all work together in a collegial manner."

He got on the HPA board, and served on its successor, the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority, until his death. Howlett served on the Hamilton Conservation Authority from 1998-2015, including as chair, and was a member of the advisory group that looked at plans to clean up Randle Reef. He was chair of the Hamilton Halton Sources Protection Authority between 2002 and 2015.

He ran for the Green Party in Hamilton East in the 1999 provincial election and when he sought the Ward 5 council seat after councillor Chad Collins was elected MP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek in 2021.

At the April 12 council meeting, Ward 5 Coun. Matt Francis and Mayor Andrea Horwath remembered Howlett. Francis called him an irreplaceable and unique man" and said, Jim just didn't have an answer. He had a solution."

The mayor said Howlett was a true Hamiltonian, through and through. A big loss to his family, but to the community as well."

Collins said Howlett gave the bulk of his free time since the early 1990s to advocate for clean air, soil and water.

He pushed all levels of government to make the beach community, the harbour and our city a priority," Collins said. Much of the progress we've witnessed in and around the harbour can be attributed to Jim's efforts."

Howlett's wife, Carol, said her husband was probably motivated to green issues because he loved living on the beach strip. The couple moved there in 1987, two years after marrying.

Just being down here, and seeing how great it was, he wanted to make sure that it stayed that way," she said.

This also included uncovering shipwrecks. He helped identify half a dozen ships just off Confederation Park.

On the Hamilton Beach Community Facebook page, residents were saddened by the death of Howlett. Adam Young called him a Beach Legend."

Howlett was born Nov. 29, 1960, in Hamilton. He was raised by his dad (Gary, a mail carrier) and his grandmother. He went to Westmount High School and then Mohawk College. He ran a shop behind his home, but his wife said he could rebuild a car engine and a watch."

Howlett is survived by his wife, Carol, children, Jessi, Katie and Aaron, and grandson, Evan. He is also survived by his sister, Faith.

A celebration of life is set for May 3, 6.30 p.m., Bethany Gospel Chapel, 155 Gage Ave. N.

Daniel Nolan can be reached at dannolanwrites@gmail.com