Beloved Pop Up Hamilton co-founder posthumously recognized for his ‘mad love’ of Hamilton.
Original Publish Date: February 21, 2018 | Updated: February 21, 2019
The city’s chamber of commerce is posthumously recognizing Pop Up Hamilton co-founder Dave Hanley as 2017 citizen of the year.
Hanley, who died last fall, moved to Hamilton in 2013 and quickly earned praise for boosting the city’s culinary reputation by staging creative dining extravaganzas in surprise locations.
The popular fedora-wearing entrepreneur, known for publicly espousing “mad love” for his community, was also a dedicated volunteer and supporter of charitable causes like Food4Kids.
Hanley co-founded the Pop Up Hamilton culinary adventure business with wife Nicole Longstaff, who will accept the “bittersweet” honour on her husband’s behalf next month.
“It’s an incredible honour; I wish he was here to receive it,” said Longstaff, adding she appreciates the support offered by countless residents following Hanley’s death.
“That love he felt for Hamilton was certainly returned … Thank you for the mad love.”
Dave Hanley’s ‘mad love’ immortalized by Hamilton Artist
Hamilton remembered an amazing man and community member, Dave Hanley, with the unveiling of a statue in his honour on Sunday.
The co-founder of “Pop Up Hamilton” was immortalized outside of restaurant row on King William St. with a bronze statue of a wine bottle and his trademark fedora.
A statue in his memory by local artist Alica Dusil was unveiled on Sunday. – Gary Yokoyama,The Hamilton Spectator