No longer are the car bumpers in the downtown Tim Hortons parking lot met with the waves of Lake Timmicaca. The well-known puddle, which was once a consistent feature at the location, has not been visible for months, as reported by CBC Hamilton. The city has confirmed that in 2026, the puddle will be gone for good.
An official work permit has been granted to the property owner, a corporation associated with Tim Hortons, to address the storm sewer system beneath the parking lot and ensure proper drainage. The property owner has already conducted an engineer’s assessment and hired contractors for the upcoming repairs. According to Dan Smith, the acting director of licensing and bylaw, the repair work is scheduled to commence in early spring 2026, taking into account weather conditions.
Smith mentioned that there have been no recent complaints regarding the puddle. Despite this, city licensing staff will continue to oversee the property until the standing water issue is fully resolved.
Tim Hortons did not provide any comments in response to inquiries about the water accumulation, commonly known as Lake Timmicaca, the necessary repairs, or the actions taken to mitigate flooding. Lake Timmicaca has gained attention over the past decade due to its persistent presence and substantial size, with approximately a foot of water covering most of the John Street S. parking lot at any given time.
Residents have noted the significance of Lake Timmicaca during each spring thaw and summer rain, leading to art creations, photographs, and discussions on platforms like Reddit. Last March, during the period of a CBC Hamilton report, a truck was observed draining the storm sewer beneath the puddle.
Max Rose Begg Goodis, a Hamilton resident and enthusiast of Lake Timmicaca, expressed understanding that the puddle’s era is concluding as downtown undergoes gentrification. Goodis remarked that the disappearance of visual landmarks amidst developments like the LRT project has become a common sight in Hamilton. Nevertheless, the memory of Lake Timmicaca will endure in the hearts of the community.
Quoting lyrics from the song “Closing Time” by Semisonic, as featured in the album “Big Shiny Tunes 3,” Goodis reflected, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”