Some of the most interesting people we met in 2025, from a teen inventor to a winning Muay Thai fighter

Every December, we remind you of some of the most interesting stories CBC Hamilton shared throughout the year.

The year 2025 was another filled with stories about local people doing remarkable and inspiring things — from a barber rebuilding his life to an artist-turned-fighter to a photographer who was in the right place at the right time earlier this year.

Here's a look back at just a few of the most interesting people in the Hamilton area whose stories were shared with you in 2025. (You can click on their name to be taken straight to their section.)

As a young teen, Jéda Anderson took the words of a former student of Eden High School in St. Catharines, Ont., who told her he felt like the only Black kid at the school, and turned them into action.

With the help from Future Black Female — Niagara group that wants to see all Niagara schools set up Black Student Associations — she eventually created Eden's first Black Student Association, the Black Affinity Club.

The club has helped people at the school feel seen and supported, she said, and has served as a safe space for Black students.

Anderson, who is now a student at Brock University, said she's happy she was able to lead the club during its early years.

"I'm just really proud that we got our voices out there. I'm really proud to not only see myself, but my peers really get out there and be bold and to showcase who we are," she said.

You can occasionally find Edie Bruins on busy Hamilton intersections or at a popular local park with a monopod and nice-looking camera.

Her mission? Document fashionable folks walking down the street.

Bruins, a 25-year-old multimedia creator and video editor based in downtown Hamilton, has been capturing the outfits of people around the city in her series called "What is Hamilton Wearing Today?"

"I wanted somebody to capture me walking in a cool outfit in Hamilton. And I was like, 'well, no one's doing that, so I should start recording these videos,'" she said.

While Hamilton is no metropolis, Bruins said there are a lot of interesting people and subcultures to capture here.

"In Hamilton, I feel like there's a gritty realness. People are just wearing what they want to wear outside," she said.