Supie | City of Hamilton

A teenage Supie sits on the ground at a park with several children, drawing with chalk on the concrete.

Supie, Rich in Traditions and History

The Supie program is celebrating 117 years in 2026. Though there are similar programs across Ontario and throughout Canada, Hamilton is believed to have the longest continually running program in the country.

Summer Supie: June 29 to August 28, 2026

Supie Rules & Expectations

The Supie program offers free drop-in programs during the summer for children at neighbourhood park locations across the city. Programming varies based on participants in attendance and weather, and may include active games, crafts, circle games, or use of equipment/supplies.

Important Supie reminders:

Staff do not replace parent/guardian supervision. Children are allowed to join or leave activities or the park when they want.
All programs are free of charge.
All programs require check in with staff and collection of basic information (name, age, phone number).
Programming is weather dependent, and all efforts will be made to adjust activities before cancelling. Locations are subject to change without notice.

Park Locations

Monday to Friday 10 am to 3 pm

No program on July 17 and July 31 or during weather cancellations

What to Bring to Supie

To have a positive and enjoyable program experience, children should bring each day:

healthy snacks
refillable water bottle
hat
sunscreen
running shoes/athletic sandals (no flip flops)

Anyone attending recreation programs are expected to behave in a manner which ensures their own safety and the safety of other participants, staff and volunteers. If a participant does not follow the rules, they will not be allowed to participate.

Supie staff are in the parks to lead and run programs. Supie staff do not replace parent/guardian supervision.

If the weather is not appropriate for outdoor activities (e.g. rain, thunder, lightning, heat or smog warnings), Supie activities will be modified to ensure participant safety. Supie programs may be cancelled in the event of extreme weather or if it is unsafe for children to participate.

Not all programming is appropriate for large groups, including crafts or activities that require a set number of kits or items. Supie staff will adjust programming based on the number of children present.

All children participating in the program must also provide their name and contact number for attendance tracking and follow up, if required. Names can be provided individually by a main contact of the large group, or by asking the Supie staff for a form to provide in advance or at one time. Daycares may provide the childcare phone number as the participant contact information.

Supie staff do not replace adult supervision and staff will not prevent a child from leaving the park or play area. Childcare providers assuming responsibility for others’ children must ensure an adult stays on site and is actively supervising children in their care (ie: within eyesight and earshot of program)

In the event of an accident or injury, staff will complete a form to document the situation and any first aid provided by staff. These forms are internal documents only to the City of Hamilton.

Date modified

June 22, 2026

Want to Suggest a New Supie Park Location?

Parks hosting Supie programs each summer are carefully selected based on previous year’s attendance and historical success, park amenities available, other community programming or recreation services available, and to ensure equitable distribution across the City.

Parks with a Supie program must meet some minimum amenities to ensure quality programming and the health and safety of participants and staff. Some minimum park features typically include:

Mature trees with adequate shade for group programming
A pavilion or shade structure for programming in rain or inclement weather
Large flat, grass field for active games and programming
Washroom facilities or space to secure a portable washroom
Water features (fountain, splashpad) or access to water for handwashing, drinking and/or water games
Walkability and easy to access from neighboring communities

If you would like to suggest a park that you think meets the requirements above, please complete the form below and our Supie team will visit to complete a Supie Suitability Assessment for consideration in future seasons.