City of Hamilton honours Frank A. Cooke with terminal renaming for contributions to transit

HAMILTON, ON – The terminal located at 1 MacNab Street South (formerly MacNab Transit Terminal) will be renamed the Frank A. Cooke Transit Terminal in recognition of Cooke’s significant contributions to his community through his employment at the Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) and his volunteer work.

The renaming will begin on August 21, 2022, with the installation of new signage at the terminal, followed by the updating of HSR route materials in time for the start of the fall schedule which begins on September 4. Additionally, the City will host a civic dedication ceremony in honour of Frank Cooke on September 11, 2022.

Frank Arthur Cooke began his transit career in 1946 as a cashier with HSR and retired as General Manager in 1985. He died in 2014 at age 100.

In 1950, as a purchasing agent, Cooke brought the first trolley buses to Hamilton and oversaw the sale of Hamilton’s old street cars.

A passionate transit champion, he served as a long-time member of the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) and president from 1970 until 1971. He was also inducted into the CUTA Hall of Fame for his contribution to urban transit. 

Cooke’s impact on transit extended beyond Hamilton, assisting in the start up of transit services in several southern Ontario cities including Galt (now part of Cambridge) and Guelph. 

Cooke’s sense of civic duty extended beyond his career in transit. He was involved in a voluntary capacity with the Hamilton Downtown Rotary Club, PROBUS Club, Tourism and Convention Bureau and was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee. He also volunteered tutoring students with visual disabilities and was active in minor sports.

The transit terminal opened in 2011 and serves as a central hub for downtown Hamilton transit. The terminal features heated platforms, bus shelters, a landscaped green roof, enhanced accessibility and public washrooms. Currently, ten transit routes utilize the terminal, totalling more than 7,250 arrivals and departures weekly. The request to rename the terminal was approved by the Facility Naming Sub-Committee in spring 2022.