LIUNA Station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids LIUNA Station
Former CNR station building
Location	360 James Street North Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Coordinates	43°15′57″N 79°51′53″W / 43.2658°N 79.8646°W / 43.2658; -79.8646
Owned by	LIUNA
History
Opened	1931
Closed	1993
Former services
Preceding station Canadian National Railway Following station Bayview toward Sarnia Grand Trunk Railway Main Line Oakville toward Montreal Stoney Creek toward Suspension Bridge Niagara Falls– Toronto Local stops Aldershot toward Toronto Terminus Hamilton– Allandale Aldershot toward Allandale Dundas toward Owen Sound Owen Sound– Hamilton Terminus

LIUNA Station is a special building in Hamilton, Ontario. It used to be a busy train station. Today, it is a popular place for big events like weddings and parties. It's known as a banquet and convention centre.

LIUNA Station: A Historic Building

LIUNA Station was once called the CN Railway James Street Station. It was built a long time ago, between 1929 and 1931. The Canadian National Railway company built it. A famous architect named John Schofield designed the building.

A Protected Piece of History

This building is very important to Canada's history. It is a National Historic Site. This means it's a place that tells a big part of our country's story. It is also protected by special laws. These laws include the Federal Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act. The City of Hamilton also protects it under the Ontario Heritage Act. In 1999, parts of the building got even more protection from the Ontario Heritage Trust. This helps make sure the building stays safe for many years.

From Train Station to Event Centre

For many years, LIUNA Station was a busy train hub. In 1967, a company called GO Transit started running commuter trains. These trains helped people travel between Toronto and Hamilton. Later, in 1978, all other passenger train services moved to Via Rail.

However, train travel changed over time. In 1992, Via Rail closed its stations in Burlington, Hamilton, and Dundas. They moved all their services to the new Aldershot GO Station. Then, in 1993, GO Transit also closed the James Street station. They moved their remaining services to the Hamilton GO Centre. This new station was only about one and a half kilometers south.

After the station closed, the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) bought the building. They worked hard to fix it up and make it new again. In 2000, the old train station reopened as LIUNA Station. Now, it's a beautiful place for all kinds of special events. It has big rooms and catering services for weddings, dances, and other gatherings.