Hamilton’s interest in real estate began early, sparked by a high school co-op term at a residential brokerage. That experience opened the door to the Urban Development program—a unique pathway that blends planning, geography, sociology, law, and economics. “The program introduces you to every segment of the industry, from commercial brokerage to property investments and development financing,” he explains. “Urban Development lets me connect my interests in real estate and entrepreneurship with a broader understanding of how cities function. It’s practical and produces industry leaders.”

One course has stood out above the rest: GEOGRAPH 3461F – Land Use and Development Issues. Hamilton calls it his favourite, crediting Dr. Gilliland for creating an immersive, interactive learning environment. “The first half of the course was completely field-based. We toured downtown London and a development site with local experts guiding us through real-world challenges,” he shares. “Dr. Gilliland also brought industry professionals into the classroom—developers, brokers, and planning specialists—which gave us an inside look at how decisions are made.”

Across Urban Development, Hamilton has thrived in multidisciplinary classrooms. “Taking courses across departments puts you in rooms with people who think differently,” he says. “Pairing business with geography, sociology, and law gives you a more balanced, real-world education. It helps you tackle problems from multiple angles.”

Outside the classroom, Hamilton has built an impressive portfolio of professional experience through Western’s Co-op program. During his first summer, he worked at BMO Private Wealth, gaining sales experience—cold-calling, qualifying leads, and booking meetings. He credits his first-year interactions with classmates from diverse backgrounds for strengthening his communication skills. “I spoke with dozens of people every day. Many were successful entrepreneurs who shared strong perspectives on taking risks and building meaningful work. Those conversations reshaped how I think about career growth.”

His second Co-op experience took the form of the Morrissette Entrepreneurial Summer Internship, where $10,000 in funding and facilitated professional introductions allowed him to build and test a business venture. “I explored different ideas before finding a bigger opportunity in the event-rental space, which I’m now pursuing,” Hamilton says. “Co-op strengthened my resilience, communication, and accountability. It pushed me to take calculated risks while staying grounded in my long-term goals.”

Hamilton also emphasizes the importance of building relationships with faculty—something he only began prioritizing this year. “I rarely used office hours in first and second year,” he admits. “Now, I tell first-year students to go early and build those connections. Being in a smaller program makes it easier, and when I’ve asked, my professors have been wonderful about connecting me with alumni, especially during my search for internships.”

Beyond academics and Co-op, Hamilton has immersed himself in Western’s vibrant extracurricular community. His leadership roles include: Foot Patrol – Operations Manager, Geography Peoples’ Society – VP Academics, Residence and Faculty Soph, Residence Front Desk Clerk, and Social Science Students’ Council – Professional Development Coordinator.

Each role has created meaningful opportunities for growth and connection. As GPS VP Academics, Hamilton helped coordinate Meet the Profs, creating informal conversations between students and faculty. As a Faculty Soph, he built strong bonds within the Social Science community and loved seeing his former first-years continue to stay close. Under the Social Science Students’ Council, he hosted Coffee Chat 101, sharing best practices, sample scripts, and follow-up strategies—tools he created himself. He is now leading planning for a major career fair, with a goal of bringing 30 employers to campus in January.

“These roles have enriched my time at Western,” Hamilton says. “I’ve gained mentorship, friendships, and growth across so many areas.”

Through all these experiences, one theme stands out: the strength of the Social Science community. “The community is driven and supportive,” he shares. “Upper-year Social Science students look out for the first- and second-years. Helping one another is built into the faculty culture.”

For incoming students, Hamilton offers this advice:
“Get involved early and stay involved. Use office hours. Stay on top of your work but still make time for your social life—university goes by fast. Most importantly, be consistent: show up, communicate clearly, and follow through.”

Celebrate Tyson Hamilton’s journey with us, and stay tuned for more inspiring stories in our Meet Our Students: Celebrating Success Stories series.