Ward 3 Community Update - August 12

Dear Neighbours,

Mid summer is here and there are still so many great ways to enjoy our beloved city and take in all that it has to offer!

In this edition of the e-newsletter, you’ll read about important updates from jam-packed Council, Standing Committees and the Board of Health agendas where we made key decisions on critical issues facing our city and communities. It also includes major updates from staff on the City’s cybersecurity recovery, climate action priorities, new procurement policies that prioritize Canadian jobs and industries, and new protocols to assess green energy projects seeking municipal support. 

Amidst this, we continue to stand firm against the rise of hate-based incidents and extremist organizations in our city. I am working with community partners, City staff and HPS to address the concerns and needs many neighbours have reached out to my office with. Together, we will continue to support affected communities and to ensure Hamilton is a place beaming with belonging, love and respect for all.

You’ll also find news on community pop-ups (including a pool party at Birge Park!), Hamilton Stadium’s 10th Anniversary event,  job opportunities with the City and other opportunities to connect, celebrate, and get involved.

As always, should you have any local, municipal issues you’d like some support with, please contact my office at ward3@hamilton.ca, by phone at 905-547-2702, or by joining us at one of our upcoming pop-up events listed below. Thank you for your continued engagement and care for our community.

Yours in community,

Nrinder Nann

RESPONDING TO HATE & EXTREMISM

Historically, we know that in times of economic insecurity, white supremacy and violent extremism increases. People become susceptible to “othering” based on identity instead of critically examining the systemic root cause of economic insecurity.

Hate-based incidents and criminal offenses increased by 35% in 2024, specifically, Hamilton Police Services reported 106 hate-based criminal offenses, and 191 hate/bias incidents that occurred in 2024. With recent incidents on Canada Day targeting racialized businesses in Ward 3, the CBC investigative journalism piece exposing the rise of clubs using city parks to train for race wars, as well as an anti-trans billboard and white supremacist graffiti, many Hamiltonians worry these rates will continue to rise.

As such, two motions I moved at Council last Wednesday to advance what we can do as a municipality passed unanimously.

One motion focused on the City of Hamilton’s responsibility to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all residents, visitors, and staff on City property and public spaces. The motion directed staff to provide an update on staff training, protocols and procedures for responding to hate incidents occurring on City property, parks and in public spaces, including HSR buses and transit-related infrastructure. This update will also include an outline of what residents can expect in terms of resources and/or support from the City when hate incidents occur on City property.

The other motion calls on our provincial and federal municipal associations to work with those levels of government to do their part. The provincially mandated Community Safety & Wellbeing Plans every city in Ontario are required to put together don’t have the adequate funding needed to address the plans. Cities cannot be expected to fund this work through property taxes, and we need the Province to stop abdicating their duty to fund the plans they mandated. 

The motion also calls on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)  to ensure the federal government includes hate mitigation and response through direct funding to municipalities through the Building Safer Communities Fund during the upcoming federal advocacy days later this fall. As I serve on the Board of FCM, I know that these rising incidents of hate are a concern across the country, and I will report back on our efforts to secure this much needed federal fund for Hamilton.

TESTING BLACK SOOT UPDATE

Earlier this year, my colleagues from Wards 2 and 4 joined my office in advancing a motion at the Board of Health to address the ongoing presence of black soot in our lower-city neighbourhoods. The motion directed Public Health Services to work with a third-party vendor on a feasibility study that would explore options for particulate matter (black soot) testing in Wards 2, 3, and 4. It also called for the development of a community engagement strategy to ensure that the lived experiences of residents help shape a local response plan.

This study will be funded equally by the capital discretionary accounts of all three Wards involved, with an upset limit of $15,000.

At the most recent Board of Health meeting on July 28, I voiced concerns when staff reported a delay in reporting back through the Outstanding Business List from Q2 to Q4 2025, pushing the work into 2026. I sought to separate the technical analysis from the community engagement strategy so as to get the work moving more quickly, rather than bundling them together under one contract, which was posing to be a challenge to find an appropriate vendor. This will also ensure the community engagement component is completed in a manner that enables residents to be heard, their lived experiences to be part of the data, and recognizes their participation is key to accountable redress of the situation.

Board of Health members agreed, and we moved to split the work so the components could proceed concurrently with a more nimble strategy. I will report back further when staff provide an update on the overall implementation strategy.

COLLABORATING FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY WITH ST ANTHONY CHURCH

Earlier this year, I met with the Church community and the Mayor’s office to hear their concerns related to safety and security in the surrounding area of their property on Barton Street E. This area of Ward 3 has unfortunately been experiencing cases of extreme violence and crime for some time.

Sadly, the laneway and parking lot have been the scene of reckless driving, shootings and violent crime. I saw the video footage they shared with Hamilton Police Services and it is truly concerning.

Improving community safety and well-being is a priority for the City of Hamilton and working collaboratively with residents and community partners is key in advancing it. So, I worked with the Church community, City Staff and my office on a strategy to close the laneway and secure the site. The Church site owners have purchased the alley from the city, and have met with the adjoining neighbours to ensure access to their own property would not be deterred.

I moved to allocate up to $50K of Ward 3 Discretionary funds to install a fence to deter any further breaches and to send a clear signal to criminal elements that their activity is not welcome here. Hamilton Police are working to address the pattern of activity in the area, however, as we all know, prevention is key. And in some cases, like this one, crime prevention, increased safety and security comes in the form of a fence.

ANNUAL UPDATE ON THE CITY’S CLIMATE ACTION STRATEGY

Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy Annual Update presents where our city stands in the fight against climate change and what it will take to meet our goals to mitigate the impacts.

This year’s report recommends that Hamilton accelerate its current Net Zero by 2050 target to 2040, citing new modelling that confirms this shift is both feasible and advisable. The change would bring significant financial, health, and climate benefits to Hamilton sooner, as well as better align with the most recent global climate science. That means, it is more economical to advance climate solutions that also provide health benefits.

To support this next phase of work, staff recommended the use of up to $100,000 from the City’s Climate Change Reserve to update Hamilton’s “Low Carbon Scenario” modelling and refresh our community’s mitigation and adaptation plans. This would include updated emissions data, public and stakeholder consultation, and revised pathways for achieving real reductions.

At the same time, it’s clear that we need to have serious conversations about where barriers to action still exist, and how City Council can help clear the way.

The City cannot mandate that community partners like private businesses and industry accelerate their climate efforts, but we can work in partnership to enable their action. This means looking at how to eliminate municipal-level barriers, to facilitate expedited approvals for climate-related actions, and to explore the potential for municipal policy enhancements to support climate action.

We need more clarity from staff on what those barriers are and what policy enhancements might be possible. This could include identifying zoning or permitting challenges, outdated standards, or missed opportunities for City-wide incentives. These are areas where Council can, and should, give clear direction.

The update also confirms that overall greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise in Hamilton, with the largest increases coming from the industrial, transportation, and commercial building sectors. Once again, ArcelorMittal Dofasco (AMD) is the largest individual emitter by a wide margin, being responsible for 78% of total emissions from major industrial sources in the city. That’s nearly ten times higher than the next-highest emitter.

We need to ask: Is it time for a new municipal strategy to directly and transparently confront AMD’s polluting legacy?

The company is part of federally and provincially funded decarbonization plans with nearly $2 billion pledged in 2021 to cut emissions by 60%, but the City’s current approach to AMD often stops at abstract conversations about decarbonization timelines or trade issues. While I deeply understand the current impact of the US tariffs on Canadian steel manufacturing and the direct impact on Hamilton workers losing their job, residents also continue to live with the health and environmental consequences of this pollution every day.

If we’re willing to have honest conversations about other polluters, we must rise to this collective leadership moment to ask how a triple bottom line that integrates real solutions that serve workers, the environment, human health and AMD’s economic sustainability can be achieved. This includes examining solutions together like a community benefit agreement, relief funding, or a compassionate investment strategy. 

This report potentially opens the door to those conversations, but it’s up to us to walk through it.

The Ward 3 Office will continue pushing for stronger, community-first action on climate that reflects the lived reality of Hamiltonians, especially in the industrial core. We’ll also continue to support staff through clear motions, collaborative partnerships, and community consultation to make sure the city’s strategy delivers outcomes.

CYBER SECURITY ACTION PLAN: REBUILDING WITH TRANSPARENCY

At the July 30th General Issues Committee meeting (GIC), Council received a comprehensive update from staff on the February 2024 cybersecurity attack, one of the most significant of its kind in Canada. This ransomware event disrupted nearly 80% of the City’s systems, with attackers demanding $18.5 million to unlock the data, which we refused to pay.

The update made clear what many residents suspected: this was a crisis made worse by long-standing underinvestment and outdated digital infrastructure. The City’s own insurer has denied a $5 million claim, citing non-compliance with basic cybersecurity protocols, specifically, the incomplete rollout of multi-factor authentication (MFA) across departments. Though a pilot began in 2023, with the hope of full implementation by early 2024, the pilot was not yet implemented by the time of the attack.

The failure to prioritize cybersecurity over many years has cost residents dearly, not only in terms of financial impact, but in public trust.

As a result of the incident, and Council’s commitment to rebuilding, the City has adopted an Enterprise Governance Model (EGM), which is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to digital initiatives, aiming to align all government departments and agencies with a shared vision and strategic outcomes. The goal of this model is to bring all departments under one unified digital oversight framework, ensuring stronger alignment, better cost control, and more agile risk management across all technology projects moving forward.

There are now 21 priority projects underway to rebuild and improve City systems. These range from restoring unrecoverable applications to replacing end-of-life platforms. Two of these projects have already been completed, and 81% are beyond the initial planning phase. While some delays are being experienced due to vendor and staffing challenges, overall progress is on track.

Of the $30.4 million approved for this critical work in 2025, just $41,000 has been spent to date, and is consistent with expectations for this early phase. Spending is expected to ramp up significantly in 2026, with projections of $14.5 million.

While I’m encouraged to see tangible progress and a more accountable governance structure in place, I remain focused on ensuring full transparency, rigorous oversight, and continuous public communication as this rebuild unfolds. Residents deserve nothing less.

STRENGTHENING LOCAL PROCUREMENT AMID U.S. TARIFFS

Council approved significant updates to the City of Hamilton’s Procurement Policy that will strengthen our local economy, increase resilience, and help safeguard city services from the volatility of international trade politics.

As the U.S. government continues to impose tariffs, particularly on Canadian steel and aluminum, Hamilton is taking proactive steps to ensure our infrastructure projects and city services remain protected and cost-effective.

These new policy amendments will prioritize buying local and Canadian, while still ensuring fiscal responsibility and quality. Here’s what’s changing:

1. Preference will now be given to Canadian and non-U.S. businesses when awarding contracts.

2. U.S.-based companies will only be considered under specific, limited conditions—such as for health and safety, operational necessity, or when it’s demonstrably in the City’s best interest.

3. A new “Schedule C – Provisions in Response to Tariffs” has been added to our Procurement Policy, creating a clear framework for how Hamilton will respond to future trade disruptions.

4. The City Manager has been given limited delegated authority to respond quickly to new or changing tariff conditions, while still maintaining public oversight through Council reports.

This policy shift is not just about protecting Hamilton’s budget. It’s also about standing up for our workers, our industries, and the values of fair, sustainable trade. Staff will report back to Council in late 2025 with updates on how tariffs are impacting the cost of city services, along with strategies to mitigate future risks.

I’m especially encouraged by the City's plan to develop a local sourcing strategy for Canadian steel and aluminum, in collaboration with our construction sector, engineers, and architects. This is another key step toward building a more resilient and just local economy.

ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS REQUESTING MUNICIPAL SUPPORT

As a result of a motion I tabled, City staff reported back on recommendations for municipal due diligence in reviewing proposals by energy storage companies seeking the City’s endorsement of their bid submissions to the Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).

Energy Storage Systems improve grid reliability, support renewable energy projects, provide back up power, and can provide significant climate action benefits. Some key considerations from a land-use and location perspective include: noise, potential natural heritage and agricultural impacts, thermal runway, set backs, facility lifecycle, and more.

I appreciated staff’s recommendations that stressed the importance placed on community awareness and engagement, as well as, consideration of community benefits to secure local benefits and/or share in project revenues so they can be reinvested into the community.

Such a Community Benefit Agreement would be contingent on the project proponent being successful in their bid into the IESO procurement process. As an example, Haldimand County requires that a proponent commit to providing an annual monetary contribution, of $1,100 per megawatt of Project Contract Capacity, over the life of the project, up to a maximum amount of $300,000 per year per project. 

Where we landed is to empower staff to implement an interim protocol to balance the need for due diligence while also ensuring our city benefits from much needed green energy solutions.

🌊☀️ POOL PARTY AT BIRGE PARK! ☀️🌊

Join us this Thursday, August 14 from 2pm-4pm at Birge Park Pool for a splashin’ good time! 

We’ll have games, popsicles, snacks, face paint and some fun in the sun! We’ve also invited the Barton Village and Ottawa Street BIA’s to join in on the fun. You’ll have a chance to win gift cards/prizes to spots in each community area, so be sure to swing by and join in on the good times!

It’s also a chance to ask any questions about local, municipal issues like all of our Ward 3 Councillor Office Pop Ups!

📍Birge Park Pool

📅 Thursday, August 14

⏰ 2pm–4pm

Let’s make a splash, Ward 3! 💦

WARD 3 COUNCILLOR POP-UP OFFICE HOURS

We’re hitting the parks, neighbourhoods, and local events all summer and fall long. Drop by a Ward 3 Office Pop-Up to chat about local issues, get updates, or just say hello! Here’s where you can find us:

August

💦 August 14, 2PM–4PM - Birge Park Pool Party!

September

🌱 September 16, 11AM–1PM – Depave at Barton & Emerald

🚲 September 28 – Open Streets (Time TBC)

October

🍂 October 7, 2–4PM – Bishop’s Park (Wesley location in case of bad weather)

🏘️ October 30, 3–5PM – 430 Cumberland

December

⛸️ December 31 – Community Skate (Time TBC)

We’re looking forward to connecting with neighbours across Ward 3 — see you out there!

CURRENT ROADWORKS IN WARD 3

As many of you have likely seen, multiple roadworks are underway in #OurWard3. I am proud to confirm that the current works, those completed, and those slated for 2026 are the largest investment in Ward 3 roadways in decades.

• Wilson St Reconstruction - Steady progress underway addressing all the subsurface infrastructure replacement and bump out construction where subsurface work is not needed. Once these works are complete, the next phase will commence with road resurfacing, two way conversion, cross walks, tree plantings and bench placements.

• Wentworth St - Final paving is anticipated to take place once the Wilson St works are complete, in coordination with Cathedral Secondary School administration.

• Sherman Ave - Sidewalk repairs and bump-outs are well underway. The intersection at Cannon and Sherman is anticipated to go through a closure to address subsurface infrastructure needs. We will provide an update when we have a confirmed date of closure.

• Springer Ave - Resurfacing and sidewalk repairs have been completed. Traffic calming solutions will be discussed with the adjacent residents and Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School community in the fall.

BERNIE MORELLI RECREATION CENTRE TEMPORARY CLOSURE FOR MAINTENANCE

The Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre will be closed from Monday September 8 to Sunday September 28, 2025 to allow for scheduled facility maintenance and improvements.

During this closure, work will include:

• Draining, cleaning, and regrouting of the pool

• Minor tile repairs in the changerooms

• Paint touch-ups and enhancements throughout the facility

• Stripping and waxing of floors across the building

The City will update the Recreation Centre’s website and post on-site signage this week to inform patrons of the closure.

These upgrades are part of ongoing efforts to ensure the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre remains a safe, well-maintained, and welcoming space for all community members.

HAMILTON POLICE SERVICES HATE BASED GROUPS & ACTIVITIES UPDATE

You may have seen the recent CBC article about “active clubs” — white nationalist groups that are growing across parts of Canada, including here in Hamilton. If you haven’t read it yet, you can find it here: CBC Article – White Nationalist 'Active Clubs'

Like many of you, we’re deeply concerned. These groups promote hate, racism, and violence — things that have no place in our communities. We know this kind of news can feel upsetting and even frightening, especially for those who are already targeted by hate and discrimination.

We want to assure you: we see you, we hear your concerns, and we stand with you.

Now more than ever, it’s important we look out for one another and continue to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. If you witness or experience any hate or bias-related incidents — big or small — please report them. Every report matters. It helps us respond, support those impacted, and hold people accountable.

How to Report a Hate or Bias Incident:

• Call 911 in emergencies or if you feel unsafe.

• Report online: https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/report-crime/online-reporting/report-hate-crime-online 

• Non-emergency line: 905-546-4925

Let’s continue to work together to ensure our city is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive place for everyone. We thank you for your ongoing strength, unity, and commitment to standing against hate in all forms.

2025 HAMILTON LITERARY AWARD SUBMISSIONS

Hamilton Public Library, gritLIT: Hamilton’s Readers and Writers Festival and Hamilton Arts Council are thrilled to announce that submissions are now open for the 32nd annual Hamilton Literary Awards! We’re seeking submissions of books published in the calendar year of 2024 📖

How to Submit:

📖 Firstly, check to see if your book qualifies! Visit the link in our bio or https://www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/literaryawards to read the eligibility criteria.

📖 Authors in the Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry and Children's Literature categories must create a profile on The Arty Crowd: https://www.theartycrowd.ca . For assistance with creating your profile, please contact community@hamiltonartscouncil.ca  

📖 Then, submit a .PDF of your book along with your $20 entry fee. The deadline to apply is August 24th, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.

We want to ensure the entry fee doesn't prevent anyone from participating in the Literary Awards program. If the entry fee is a barrier for you, please contact programs@hamiltonartscouncil.ca for assistance.

Ready to submit? Visit https://www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/literaryawards for all the details you need to submit your application.

CLOSURE OF WADING POOLS DURING HEAT WARNINGS

The Recreation Division closes all wading pools due to Extended Heat Warnings issued by the Medical Officer of Health due to the health and safety of staff and residents. Extended Heat Warnings are issued when there are three or more consecutive days observed with daytime highs greater than or equal to 31°C or three or more consecutive days with a Humidex of 40°C or greater.

Health and safety concerns include:

• Wading pools operate during peak, mid-day sun exposure

• Wading pools lack shade infrastructure to provide heat relief for staff supervising

• Staff do not have access to climate controlled spaces or the ability to cool off during breaks

• Greater difficulty balancing chemicals in ranges required to operate

We understand that heat relief is important to residents during heat events and encourage visiting amenities which remain open to cool down, including spray pads, free swims at all outdoor and indoor pools, or other community cool down spaces.

For more information, please visit:

• https://hamilton.ca/outdoorpools

• https://www.hamilton.ca/people-programs/public-health/environmental-health-hazards/heat-warnings-heat-related-illness#during-an-extended-heat-warning 

HAMILTON STADIUM 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Join us for Step Onto the Field: Celebrating 10 Years of Hamilton Stadium — a free, family-friendly event with music, entertainment, mascots, cheerleaders, and a chance to walk the same turf where legends have played. Whether you’ve been cheering from the stands or just love what this space means to our city, this is your moment to step onto the field!

What to Expect:

• One-hour time slots with free tickets (book in advance!)

• On-field activities for all ages

• Appearances by mascots and cheerleaders

• Music, entertainment, and video features on the stadium’s big screen

🕛 Sessions:

Session 1: 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Session 2: 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Session 3: 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Session 4: 3:00pm - 4:00pm

🎟 Reserve Your Free Ticket Now at the Hamilton Stadium Anniversary Event page — Entry is free, but a ticket is required for your one-hour visit. Tickets are limited, so don’t miss your chance to get yours!

📍 All sessions: Enter via Gate 3 (Melrose Ave) / Exit via Gate 5 (Balsam & Beechwood)

Let’s come together and celebrate 10 incredible years of community spirit at the heart of Hamilton!

PUT YOUR SKILLS TO WORK AT THE CITY OF HAMILTON!

The City of Hamilton is hiring!

There are current job postings for a variety of roles to help make our community the best place to raise a child and age successfully. From keeping our streets and parks in top shape, to supporting recreation programs, to working behind the scenes in administration, there’s a role for every skill set. If you’re looking for work that makes a difference where you live, explore openings at: https://cityofhamilton.bamboohr.com/careers.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT MASTER PLAN

The City is in the process of developing the 2025 SWMMP. This comprehensive plan covers key areas of the municipal waste system, including:

• Waste collection and processing

• Recycling and disposal infrastructure

• Optimization of landfill use

• Encouragement of waste minimization practices (reduce, reuse, recycle)

The plan is guided by principles such as taking responsibility for residual waste, promoting environmental protection, improving economic efficiency, and supporting public health and safety.

Public feedback is key to defining our way forward in this work. The City is actively seeking community feedback on:

• Current waste management practices and how they can be improved

• Community priorities around recycling, composting, and waste reduction

• Potential new programs, policies, or technologies

• Barriers residents face in participating in waste diversion efforts

Engagement from this project will help shape a more effective, inclusive, and community-centered waste management strategy. To have your say, please visit: https://engage.hamilton.ca/solidwastemp. 

STREET TREE PLANTING PROGRAM

The City of Hamilton plants street trees on the publicly owned portions of roads in front of homes, businesses, institutions, etc. The City is always looking for locations to plant trees to achieve our target of 40% canopy coverage and you can help by requesting a City tree in front of your home. 

Getting your tree is as easy as 1-2-3!

• Submit the online request form below or call 905-546-2489

• A Forestry Investigator will visit the site to select an appropriate tree species and schedule the tree for planting

For more information, please visit: City of Hamilton Tree Planting Program.

MCMASTER DISCOVERY PROGRAM

A free, non-credit course for adults in the Hamilton area who want to experience university in a supportive and welcoming learning community! 

This year’s course is called: The Past, Present, and Future of Working in Hamilton with 11 classes taking place on Saturdays from September - November at 10:30am - 2:15pm in-person on campus.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://artsci.mcmaster.ca/discovery-program/ 

CHILDREN’S GARDEN FALL FESTIVAL, SEPT 13

Mark your calendars for our second annual Children's Fall Harvest Festival! As the leaves turn golden and the air gets crisp, we come together to celebrate the season's bounty and the joy of harvest. It’s a time to enjoy nature’s gifts, connect with others, and discover the wonders of autumn.

Be sure to check out the Children’s Garden Project website for more info at: www.childrensgardenproject.com. 

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

---

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Ward 3 Community Update - July 18

Dear Neighbours,

I hope you have been able to find consistent and enjoyable ways to stay cool during these heatwave and heat warning days. On that note, it has been a blast connecting with and seeing so many young #OurWard3 neighbours enjoying the new Woodlands Park Splashpad to cool off. 

It is important to note that during official heat warnings, our beloved Supie program experiences a pause due to worker health and safety requirements. During the Ward 3 Pop Up at Powell Park this week, it is clear how many young people and families take advantage of the additional recreation services. Luckily, we had a mega Connect Four, a bubble machine, chalk and cold popsicles to offer residents as they cooled off under the shade of trees and talked with my team and I about city matters. Be sure to check here to stay informed of what supports you can rely on during heatwaves and warnings.

In an effort to share information and awareness, I want to inform neighbours that a number of hate-based incidents have occurred in Ward 3 since July 1st. To provide more context, local businesses were tagged with racist, white supremacist and extremist hate symbols. As well, reports have been filed expressing concern about Active Clubs using Myrtle Park and Gage Park. In fact, CBC has now released a story after a month-long investigation into the emboldened presence of Active Clubs in Hamilton and the nearby region.

Active Clubs are part of a decentralized white supremacist and neo-Nazi network that has grown globally in recent years, increasingly moving from online forums to real-world training groups and anti-immigration protests. Active clubs bill themselves as defenders of Canada’s European roots offering a path to community and fitness. But some experts regard them as the fastest-growing extremist threat in Canada.

To report any hate-based activity you may witness please do so through the following two links:

1. HPS Hate Unit 

2. Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre

I have informed Hamilton Police Services Hate Unit and all the appropriate City divisions about this activity to help inform a coordinated approach. I’ve also reached out to Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) and Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI) to discuss how to best support our communities looking for support at this time. I will share more information, tips and tools over the summer to support community safety and wellbeing in the face of these hate-based incidents.

As always, should you have any local, municipal issues you’d like some support with, please contact my office at ward3@hamilton.ca, by phone at 905-547-2702, or by joining us at one of our upcoming pop-up events listed below.

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

CITYHOUSING HAMILTON DELIVERS 82 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES AT 55 QUEENSTON RD & 1620 MAIN ST. E

On Monday July 14, I was proud to officially open 82 brand new affordable homes as President of the CityHousing Hamilton Board of Directors at 55 Queenston Rd and 1620 Main St E in Ward 4.

Alongside community members, funders, service partners, and fellow Board Members Vice President Harris, Secretary Treasurer Councillor Hwang, and Citizen Board Members Plug-Buist and Andrus, we celebrated the transformation of this site into new homes rooted in accessibility, sustainability, and belonging.

These two buildings are among CHH’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis and needs in our city in real and tangible ways. And it was made possible because Former Ward 4 Councillor Merulla moved to acquire the property with City funds that fell into a hotbed of criminal activity and seeded this transformation story.

With 161 new deeply affordable units added across four sites in the past year alone, I’m grateful to CHH staff who worked diligently to make this possible.

We also marked the upcoming opening of a childcare centre on site, thanks to our partners at YWCA Hamilton. This centre will add 26 licensed toddler and preschool spaces, turning this development into a true hub for community growth.

Built to Passive House standards, these homes are not only energy efficient but are also designed to offer greater comfort, sustainability, and long-term livability for residents.

All residents will also have access to CommunoAuto, SoBi bike memberships, and of course access to HSR and DARTS to support active transportation options including proximity to a future LRT stop.

We are not just building housing, we are building community.

ALTERNATIVE VOTING METHODS & VOTE TABULATION TECHNOLOGY FOR CITY ELECTIONS & BY-ELECTIONS

This past week at Council, I supported staff’s initial recommendation to authorize online voting as an additional accessibility option in our local elections. Unfortunately, the majority of Council voted against moving forward with this measure expressing concerns it wasn’t secure enough due to a significant amount of misinformation circulating about the process.

The truth is staff recommended an online voting portal with several embedded safeguards in place that require advanced validation prior to voting. It’s important for residents to know that Hamilton already successfully piloted online voting in the 2025 Ward 4 School Board Trustee by-election. Despite a low voter turnout overall, over 45% of those who cast a ballot in that race chose to do so online. The system requires multi-factor authentication, account verification, and vote confirmation protocols. It was also subject to rigorous security and accessibility standards.

Councillor Hwang shared some critical facts about the Neuvote System that are important for our neighbours to know about:

1. Data is housed on Neuvote servers and not shared or hosted on City of Hamilton infrastructure, which means it would not be subject to a breach if the City were to experience a cyber security incident again.

2. Neuvote uses the most advanced cryptographic protocols available for online voting.

3. An example of excellence guiding Neuvote is The Estonian Protocol - Estonia has been using online voting since 2003, and has withstood cyber attacks from Russia since its inception without a single data breach or failure.

4. Neuvote is unique as it reinforces each digitally cast ballot with a printed cryptographic paper ballot.

5. Neuvote is also the first company to support the development of standards for online voting in Ontario, and the system is fully compliant with the Digital Governance Standards Institute.

6. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) did a post 2022 elections wrap up, sharing that 217 municipalities out of 417 had online voting during the 2022 Municipal Election, which showed a 24% increase in online voting across Ontario.

7. Markham received a Municipal Innovation award for leadership and its approach to online voting in the 2022 Municipal Election.

In Council, I also raised questions about the equity implications of voting access. For many residents, including people with mobility issues, parents with young children, shift workers, and those without access to convenient polling locations, online voting can be a more accessible and empowering way to exercise their democratic rights. Neuvote is currently fully compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and also fully supports translating materials into multiple languages to reach diverse populations.

While the City Clerk confirmed that online voting does not necessarily increase overall voter turnout, it was notable to learn that voters between the ages of 50 and 60 were most likely to use the online option during the pilot. That tells us that it’s not just “young people” calling for digital voting. It’s also residents across age groups seeking convenience, flexibility, and accessibility.

I remain committed to supporting innovations that improve accessibility and preserve the integrity of our democratic process. Our work to modernize civic participation must be rooted in facts, not fear or misinformation.

STADIUM FIELD USE & ACCESS FOR BERNIE CUSTIS SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Over the past three years, I have been pushing to ensure the City is facilitating improved access for Bernie Custis Secondary School students to the Hamilton Stadium and field. And though the number of hours has been going up every year, it still hasn’t met the mark of enabling Physical Education classes to be able to do so.

Unfortunately, due to the existing agreements with the TiCats and Forge FC, there are finite weeks when field availability is significantly impacted. That said, during the last HWDSB Liaison Committee meeting, when this issue was raised and discussed, staff committed to identifying ways to make further improvements.

In meeting with City Facilities staff this week, Public Works staff committed they will work with BCSS staff, administration and teachers to review the Physical Education class schedules and to look at the bye-weeks when the TiCats and Forge FC are not playing in town to identify even more alignment for student access.

Thank you to all the Ward 3 high school students, their families and teachers, and Trustee Miller who have reached out to my office requesting support in delivering tangible solutions on this matter. I look forward to providing further updates in the Fall.

INAUGURAL AUTONOMOUS BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING

On July 7, the newly established semi-autonomous Board of Health held its first official meeting, marking a historic shift in how public health decisions are made in our city. 

As mover of the initial motion last term that helped get us here, it has been a long and informed process of structural change for greater inclusivity and connection with community voice for public health in Hamilton. 

This change means that Public Health governance in Hamilton is no longer being done exclusively by elected members of Council. It also means it is no longer a Sub-Committee functioning as a recommending body, but instead has become the decision maker of items under the Health Promotions Act. 

Ontario Public Health Standards: Requirements for Programs, Services and Accountability (2021) also requires the following:

• Every Board of Health is to comply with Public Health Standards for mandatory program / services

• Board of Health accountable for good governance practices to ensure effective functioning 

• Requires by-laws and policies on variety of health related matters

The current composition of the board is six members of Council, six members of the public, plus one education representative. Councillor Kroetsch was appointed Chair by the BoH members and Dr. Ameil Joseph was appointed Vice-Chair.

At its first meeting, the Board advanced two key priorities:

• Embedding Health Equity Methods and Analysis across all Public Health reporting

• Exploring the feasibility of implementing Wastewater Surveillance across Hamilton

These are the kinds of evidence-based, equity-driven conversations we’ve long needed, and now they’re happening with community voices at the table.

WOODLANDS PARK IS BLOOMING - HAVE YOUR SAY ON WHAT COMES NEXT!

It’s been a joy to see Woodlands Park come alive this summer with the sound of kids laughing, families gathering, and neighbours cooling off in the brand new, beautiful, accessible, and vibrant spray pad completed in 2024. The new spray pad is already a community favourite, and seeing it so well loved has been a huge win for our neighbourhood and a proud moment for me as your Councillor.

But we’re not stopping there!

Woodlands Park is one of the oldest parks in the city, and it remains a vital, well-used space in #OurWard3. The City is now looking ahead to the next phase of enhancements, and your voice is needed to help shape that future.

We want to hear what you think should come next. Are shade and seating a priority? Would more trees or walkway upgrades make the space more welcoming? What about improvements to the soccer field, fitness equipment, or traffic buffering along Barton Street?

Here are just a few of the things we’re asking for your input on:

• Walkways and circulation

• Safety and comfort features

• Tree canopy and green infrastructure

• Fitness and recreation options

• Parking and traffic buffering

Take the Community Survey and tell us what matters most to you. Your feedback will directly influence how we prioritize the next steps in the park’s renewal.

Have your say here: https://engage.hamilton.ca/woodlandspark 

Let’s keep building a Woodlands Park that reflects the energy, creativity, and care of the people who use it every day.

CANADIAN LIQUIDS PROCESSORS (15 BIGGAR AVE) UPDATE

Thank you to all the residents, businesses, and community stakeholders who attended the recent meeting regarding the operations at Canadian Liquids Processors (CLP) at 15 Biggar Avenue.

As shared, CLP is now operating as a waste transfer station under Ontario’s new producer-responsibility model for recycling, which shifted management of the Blue Box program to Circular Materials on April 1, 2025. This change means the City of Hamilton is no longer responsible for curbside collection or the supply of blue boxes.

While this shift was anticipated, my office received no advance notice about the changes at this particular site, including months of construction related to CLP’s expanded operations. Because the site is zoned for industrial use and already licensed, no public notification was legally required, which is a frustrating reality that we continue to challenge.

At the meeting, residents raised serious concerns about odours, noise, site maintenance, and traffic impacts. As a direct result of my office’s research and recommendations, CLP has now created a community webpage to share updates, outline steps being taken to address concerns, and improve transparency moving forward. Please be sure to check out the site at goodneighbourclp.com.

If you missed the meeting, you can view the recording here. 

If you have ongoing concerns, here are a list of ways you can report them:

Air, Odour, or Noise Complaints (MECP):
moe.tips@ene.gov.on.ca
905-521-7650 (Mon–Fri) | 1-800-268-6060 (after hours)
Be sure to request a reference number for follow-up.

Site Maintenance Issues (City of Hamilton):
mle@hamilton.ca
905-546-2782 (business hours) | 905-546-CITY (after hours)
Submit a complaint online

Company Feedback:
info@emterra.ca 

When submitting any complaint, include your contact info, the location of concern, and relevant details including date and time. Please also cc Kerry Le Clair, Ward 3 Community Climate Action Coordinator, at kerry.leclair@hamilton.ca so our office can help follow up.

Thank you to everyone who continues to raise these issues. Your voices are helping shape real accountability and a better path forward.

WENTWORTH ST. N ROAD PILOT RESULTS

Wentworth Street N is one of Hamilton’s first arterial road pilots that reduces the posted speed limit to 30 km/h on such a roadway. This was a result of a motion I brought forward in 2022 after speaking with the family of a young neighbour who was seriously injured when struck by the driver of a truck beside Cathy Wever Elementary School.

When trying to champion reduced speeds near schools, it was determined that all major arterial roads had a provincial standard of traffic regulations that required a limit no lower than 40 km/hr. In Ward 3, we have five schools that are on major arterial roads. I had all those roads reduced to 40 km/hr, and since then, staff have been working to help improve safety enhancements for all road classifications.

The results of the pilot are now in - 30km/hr will remain in place! Despite changes to posted speed, full-time protected parking, the addition of a pedestrian crosswalk, and physical changes to the road, driver speeds remained high with an average speed of 44 km/h. While no collisions involved pedestrians or cyclists, and no injuries were reported during the pilot period, the data shows how challenging it is to shift driver behaviour, even with posted speed limit reductions.

This is not a unique challenge to Hamilton. Cities across the country are struggling to lower speeds on arterial roads. That’s why City staff are now working with the Transportation Association of Canada on national guidance for safer road design in lower-speed zones to help inform stronger policies and interventions.

A full update to Transportation’s Traffic Calming and Speed Limit Policies is expected by the end of 2025, with new tools and stronger measures to help create safer streets.

As a #VisionZero city, we must prioritize child safety and community wellbeing not just in words, but through urgent and meaningful infrastructure changes. My ongoing focus is to ensure that the Ward 3 Complete Streets Study and other roadway recommendations are implemented as a priority, and our neighbourhoods become a model for safe, equitable mobility across Hamilton for all road users, of all ages and abilities.

🌊☀️ POOL PARTY AT BIRGE PARK! ☀️🌊

Join us on Thursday, August 14 from 2pm-4pm at Birge Park Pool for a splashin’ good time! We’ll have games, popsicles, snacks, face paint and some fun in the sun!

It’s also a chance to ask any questions about local, municipal issues like all of our Ward 3 Councillor Office Pop Ups!

📍Birge Park Pool

📅 Thursday, August 14

⏰ 2pm–4pm

Let’s make a splash, Ward 3! 💦

CATCH US IN COMMUNITY AT ONE OF OUR WARD 3 OFFICE POP-UPS!

We’re hitting the parks, neighbourhoods, and local events all summer and fall long. Drop by a Ward 3 Office Pop-Up to chat about local issues, get updates, or just say hello! Here’s where you can find us:

July

🌳 July 24, 4–6PM – Hayward Park

August

🎉 August 16, 12–4PM – Hamilton Stadium 10th Anniversary Celebration (free ticketed event; ticket information to come)

September

🌱 September 16, 11AM–1PM – Depave at Barton & Emerald

🚲 September 28 – Open Streets (Time TBC)

October

🍂 October 7, 2–4PM – Bishop’s Park (Wesley location in case of bad weather)

🏘️ October 30, 3–5PM – 430 Cumberland

December

⛸️ December 31 – Community Skate (Time TBC)

We’re looking forward to connecting with neighbours across Ward 3 — see you out there!

HAMILTON POLICE LAUNCH BALANCED APPROACH TO OPEN DRUG-USE UNDER BILL C-5

In response to growing community concerns and in alignment with federal legislation, the Hamilton Police Service (HPS), supported by St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton - Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic, has launched a new initiative targeting open illicit drug use in public spaces.  This approach, rooted in both public safety and compassion, aims to address substance use as a health issue, not just a criminal one. 

Click here to learn more about what we are doing to address open drug use in Hamilton.

Effective January 2025, officers have begun implementing a balanced response under the framework of Bill C-5. While public drug use remains an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA 4(1)), HPS is committed to a response that upholds public safety while also offering pathways to support through voluntary referrals, education, and de-escalation where appropriate.

Key elements of the approach include:

• Voluntary Referrals to the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton for confidential, low-barrier treatment.

• No Criminal Consequences for those who decline treatment referrals.

• Escalating Enforcement in cases involving threats to public safety, children, or other aggravating factors.

All drugs encountered are seized, and officers follow strict protocols including background checks, documentation, and, where appropriate, involvement of support teams such as Social Navigator.

In the first 100 days:

• 287 arrests were made for simple possession;

• 65 individuals were referred to the RAAM clinic;

• 14 trafficking charges were laid, alongside recovery of multiple weapons.

This is about finding the right balance between enforcement and empathy. We’re protecting our community while offering real support to those ready to seek help.

HAMILTON PUBLIC HEALTH INVESTIGATING TWO CONFIRMED CASES OF MEASLES

Hamilton Public Health is currently investigating two confirmed, travel-related cases of measles in Hamilton residents in an adult and infant from the same household.

While Public Health is directly contacting individuals who may have been exposed, they’ve also issued a public notice for several locations where other community members may have come into contact with the measles virus:

Potential Exposure Locations:

1. Service Ontario – 50 Dundurn St. S
   July 7, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

2. Costco Ancaster – 100 Legend Ct
   July 7, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm

3. Upper Gage Clinic & Gage Pharmacy – 1050 Upper Gage Ave
   July 9, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm

4. Ellen Fairclough Building – Service Ontario (main lobby, elevators, 4th floor)
   July 9, 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm

If you were at any of these locations during the dates and times listed, please take a moment to review the following information.

What to Watch For:

Even if you’re vaccinated, please monitor for measles symptoms for 21 days after potential exposure. Symptoms can start 7–21 days after infection and include:

• High fever (38.8°C/101°F or higher)

• Cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes

• Fatigue, drowsiness, irritability

• Red, blotchy rash that appears a few days after the fever

• White spots inside the mouth (called Koplik’s spots)

What You Should Do:

• Check your vaccination status. You need two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (MMR or MMRV) if you were born in or after 1970. Most people born before 1970 are considered protected. If you’re unsure, contact your health care provider or call Hamilton Public Health at 905-546-2424 ext. 7970.

• Avoid contact with high-risk individuals (infants, pregnant people, immunocompromised individuals) and high-risk settings (schools, childcare, healthcare settings) if you haven’t had two doses.

• If you develop symptoms, stay home and call your doctor or Public Health before visiting any clinic or hospital, so precautions can be taken.

If your child attends school or childcare and only has one dose of the measles vaccine, they may need a second dose and could be temporarily excluded until that’s received. Contact your healthcare provider and inform them your child may have been exposed to measles. To check or update your child’s immunization records, you can visit: hamilton.ca/reportingvaccines.

If you have any concerns about your exposure, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Public Health at publichealth@hamilton.ca. 

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION STRATEGY - HAVE YOUR SAY!

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the City’s 10-Year Downtown Revitalization Strategy engagement so far. The feedback collected from residents, businesses, and community stakeholders has been vital in identifying the key challenges, opportunities, and aspirations for Hamilton’s downtown.

On July 9, 2025, City staff and project consultants presented an interim report to the General Issues Committee summarizing the engagement activities to date. The report outlines major themes heard from the community and provides insight into the emerging vision, guiding principles, and next steps for the strategy. The report is available under Item PED24163(c) on the Meetings, Agendas & Video page (under the July 9 GIC agenda).

Later this month, a more detailed “What We Heard” summary will be shared publicly to reflect the full scope of community input.

What’s next?

Phase 2 of the project will begin shortly, focusing on developing the strategy’s priority actions based on the feedback received. We invite you to participate and share your feedback on the future of Hamilton’s Downtown Revitalization Strategy. Ideas, stories, questions, and feedback can all be submitted at https://engage.hamilton.ca/ourfuturedowntown.

Additional engagement opportunities will begin in September 2025, where the public will be invited to review and comment on the draft actions.

This strategy will help shape a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable downtown over the next decade, reflecting the needs of residents, visitors, businesses, and community partners alike.

Stay tuned for updates and future engagement opportunities.

SAFE APARTMENTS BY-LAW

Hamilton’s new Safe Apartment Buildings By-law No. 24‑054 takes effect January 1, 2026. It will:

• Require annual registration of all rental buildings (2+ storeys, 6+ units)

• Evaluate shared areas (grounds, lobbies, parking, elevators, gyms, garbage rooms) and publish a maintenance score

• Mandate Tenant Service Request (TSR) processes with set response timelines

This by-law aims to boost safety, cleanliness, and accountability, and give tenants and landlords clear tools to report and resolve issues. (It does not apply to condos, care homes, co‑ops, or lodging homes.)

We need your input!

Help us define fair, meaningful evaluation criteria and scoring levels that reflect real resident and owner experiences.

Take the survey by visiting: engage.hamilton.ca/safeapartments

YARD MAINTENANCE BY-LAW REVIEW

The City of Hamilton is updating the Yard Maintenance By-law to better support naturalized yards like pollinator gardens, native plantings, and rewilded spaces while maintaining community standards and safety.

We’re looking at:

• Defining what counts as a “naturalized area”

• Setting turfgrass height limits

• Expanding the list of nuisance weeds

This review is part of Hamilton’s Biodiversity Action Plan and aims to support residents making greener choices in their yards.

We want your input!

Tell us how you define naturalized gardens, your experiences with native planting, and your thoughts on grass height and weeds.

Take the survey at: engage.hamilton.ca/yard-maintenance-by-law-review

Photo Credit: CBC Hamilton

OTTAWA STREET NORTH’S CRAFT CRAWL SERIES!

Join us EVERY Saturday in July from 1pm–7pm for a sidewalk showcase and street stroll of some of Hamilton’s best small biz magic!

🛍️ Crafters, makers, and small business owners are invited to set up along the sidewalks of Ottawa Street North. It’s first come, first served—just make sure the storefront you’re in front of isn’t already being used by that business.

✅ No fee to participate

❌ No tents allowed

♿ Keep the sidewalk accessible at all time

We ♥️ the businesses that call Ottawa Street home. Pop in and visit your favourites and find new ones too! 

📣 Spread the word and support local!

Questions? Email info@shopottawastreet.com 

BARTON VILLAGE SUNDAY MARKET

This Sunday July 20 from 9am-1pm, the Barton Village Sunday Market is back and it’s your chance to snack, shop, and soak up summer right here in #OurWard3! 🍓🌻

Come enjoy:

🛍️ Local produce, plants & flowers, handmade goods, and tasty treats

🎨 Artisanal vendors + good vibes

You can find the market at Powell Park (53 Birch Ave), with both street parking and a nearby lot to make your visit easy.

Can’t make this one? The good news is the market runs every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month until October!

Whether you’re on the hunt for your next favourite jam (edible or musical), or just want to connect with your neighbours, we hope you head out to enjoy your Sunday at the park! ☀️

GREEN VENTURE’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY, JULY 23

Check out our magical activities! Tickets are now available for The Magic of Nature: Green Venture’s 30 Year Anniversary Party.

Make and take home your own tantalizing tea or salubrious salve! Curate your own beautiful blend inspired by nature in partnership with the wonderful @bothsidesstudio.

RSVP at www.greenventure.ca/the_magic_of_nature.

Come enjoy a cozy evening with games, interactive stations (including our iconic smoothie bike 🥛🚲), and more, all on the magically decorated EcoHouse grounds!

This event supports future community greening initiatives. Stay tuned to learn more about prizes, food, and community building at this very special event.

FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS, AUG 1-3

Mark your calendars! The 2025 Festival of Friends is bringing the party to Gage Park from August 1–3 and the lineup is stacked! Get ready to dance to Sister Sledge, rock out with The Trews, sing along to Brett Kissel and Dan Mangan, and throw it way back with The Sugarhill Gang.

With live music, food vendors, artisans, and family-friendly fun all weekend long, it’s one of the best ways to soak up summer in the city. See you at the park!

For more information and a full list of details, please visit: https://festivaloffriends.ca/

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

---

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Ward 3 Community Update - June 20

Happy Summer Solstice Neighbours,

Community events, festivals and celebrations have already kicked off as the weather has warmed. It was great to celebrate the nominees and recipients of the Hamilton Arts Awards, officially launch the epic and new Woodlands Park Spray Pad, do the ceremonial tip-off for the Queer Dimes 3x3 Basketball tournament, enjoy the annual Barton Village BIA Fest, and popped in on the Filipino Festival at Gage Park over the past week.

This coming weekend is equally jam-packed with exciting ways to spark joy in #OurWard3:

• This Saturday, I’ll be joining our friends at the Children’s Garden Party at Gage Park and popping by FrancoFest with my family before we head to the Arkells’ concert at the Hamilton Stadium. 

• And on Sunday my team and I will be poppin’ up at Open Streets on King St E at the Wentworth Hub. We’ll be set up with freezies and laptops to continue our community based office hours to support your municipal service requests and questions.

As always, if you need any support navigating a municipal issue, my team and I are just an email away at ward3@hamilton.ca, by phone at 905-547-2702, or by joining us at one of our upcoming pop-up events listed below.

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

HAMILTON PARAMEDICS ANNUAL UPDATE

This presentation was Chief Sanderson’s final with Hamilton Paramedic Services prior to retirement, marking 50 years in paramedic services. His exemplary public service leadership has resulted in a complete turn around in statistics related to dispatch and service innovations.

While the number of emergency medical responses increased by almost 5% in 2024, Paramedic response time improved by 25 seconds from 2023 and we experienced just 2 code zeros, this is unprecedented in recent history.

In 2024, HPS and the City of Hamilton formally recognized the Juravinski Hospital Emergency Department team for leading the way to reduce offload delays. An offload delay occurs when the hospital does not accept responsibility for the care of a patient from paramedics within 30 minutes of the ambulance arriving at the Emergency Department. The provincial government standard stipulates that transfer of care (TOC) of patients should occur within 30 minutes 90% of the time. Paramedics are required to remain with and care for the patient until the hospital is ready to accept the responsibility for their care.

In 2024, paramedics spent a total of 22,192 hours in excess of 30 minutes in hospital Emergency Departments. (the provincial standard is 30 minutes.) This represents a second year of improvement, with an 18% decrease or 4,880 fewer hours of paramedics waiting at hospitals over 30 minutes compared to 2023. This program is being rolled out with St. Joe’s Hospital and Hamilton General Hospital.

In Ward 3, we saw 12,849 calls for paramedic supports and services. These range as:

• Unknown: 1864

• Breathing Problems: 1778

• Fall: 1197

• Sick/General Malaise: 1120

• Chest pain: 923

• Unconscious: 870

• Traumatic injuries: 692

• Abdominal pain: 690

• Overdose/poisoning: 646

• Transfer: 448

• Behavioural problem: 447

• Convulsion/seizure: 359

• Diabetic problem: 356

• Bleeding(non traumatic): 227

• MVAC: 209

• Cardiac Arrest/VSA: 201

• Stroke: 177

• Back Pain: 176

• Headache: 100

• Allergies/Envenomations: 76

• Standby: 70

• Environmental Exposure: 57

• Burns/Explosion: 24

• Eye Problem: 24

• Childbirth/Labour: 23

• Inhalation: 21

• Bleeding in Pregnancy: 20

• Choking: 20

• Emergency Coverage: 19

• Electrocution: 8

• Other: 7

WARD 3 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE GRANTS

At Council this week, I moved the Spring Allocation of the 2025 Ward 3 Community Resilience Grants to 23 applicants.

The total requests received, totalled over $50,000 for a pot of only $36,000 in available funds! We were blown away by the interest and proposals that were submitted. These are truly small grants to seed resident-led initiatives that help build resilience, belonging, and a sense of community across our ward. And the funds come from the Ward 3 Non-Property Tax Revenue Account which accrues through fees paid to the City for a Bell tower at the Stadium. The one stipulation of the funds is that they must be spent within Ward 3 and approved by Council.

In consultation with the City staff who administer the Community Enrichment Fund, our new adjudication and reporting process my office has implemented allows for a more transparent allocation and outcomes of the funds. It has also opened the door for people, groups, and programs that are new to my office and to help expand the line of sight on all the great work underway in our neighbourhood - and we have a pretty good pulse on what is going on!

The successful applicants in this round are:

• Eva Rothwell Centre: $2500 for costs associated with staff training and continuing education.

• Barton Village BIA: $1525.50 for costs associated with providing potable water at their annual outdoor festival.

• Tune in Foundation: $2500 for costs associated with the launch and execution of the Future Kings Summit.

• Pinch Bakery & Plant Shop: $1000 for costs associated with the Sherman Ave Street Party.

• STAC Hamilton: $2500 for costs associated with transportation for Ward 3 residents to attend programming in their new location out of the ward.

• Open Hearts Theatre: $2500 for costs associated with story gathering arts project in the Keith Neighbourhood.

• Afro Canadian Caribbean Association: $2500 for costs associated with programming and food at their seniors meetings that take place in Ward 3.

• L’Arche Hamilton: $2500 for costs associated with providing day programming in Ward 3.

• Tapestry Theatre Collective: $2500 for costs associated with arts-based research around the meaning of home.

• Excel in Style: $2500 for costs associated with programming to connect, mentor and educate Black and racialized youth in textured hair care, styling, and well-being supports.

• Better Days Book Club: $1150 for costs associated with space rental and subsidized books for BIPOC participants of the book club that will examine and discuss social issues and build community.

• The Children’s Garden Project Canada: $2500 for costs associated with the development of a multifunctional garden bed that will serve as a children’s book, seed, and toy library at Gage Park.

• St. Ann Catholic Elementary School Council: $2500 for costs associated with bringing vibrancy, equity, greening, and community resilience to their paved schoolyard.

• Micah House Refugee Reception Services: $2352 for costs associated with invigoration of communal space and collaboration with a local muralist.

• Rooney’s Cafe: $500 for costs associated with monthly artist talks.

• Imagine in the Park: $400 for costs associated with SEAT rental for their children’s literacy festival at Gage Park.

CANADIAN LIQUIDS PROCESSORS @ 15 BIGGAR AVE

As of last week, my office learned from Ministry of the Environment (MECP) staff that Canadian Liquid Processing is now operating a waste transfer station at the 15 Biggar Avenue location. It is now a provincially contracted recycling facility that is part of the recent switch to a producer-responsibility model. Beginning April 1, 2025, the Blue Box program in Hamilton, including curbside collection and supplying blue boxes to residents, will be managed by Circular Materials not by the City of Hamilton.

Although we were aware of the coming changes to municipal waste collection related to recycling across the city, my office was not provided notification of specific change in operations at local waste transfer sites, including CLP. Neither were we notified in advance of the preceding months of construction on the site, which we now believe is related to their expanded operations. While incredibly frustrating, this is not uncommon and is fully permissible under the provincial building code. Because CLP is already operating a licenced waste processing facility in an area zoned for industrial activities (M5) there was unfortunately nothing about their taking on private blue-box recycling that would have typically required community notification. 

My office has been in touch with CLP's plant manager and advised them of the overwhelming negative impacts on local neighbours stemming from the facility's operations and asked that representatives from their operations (including parent company Emterra) participate in a community meeting we are organizing. 

They have tentatively agreed, and we are working on suitable dates for a public meeting, which may be either virtual or in person. I will keep everyone posted on the confirmed date of the meeting via social media and email to those who have reached out to my office. 

In the meantime, it is important that you report your concerns.

• Please report all air, noise and odour pollution concerns to the MECP under whose jurisdiction those impacts fall. You can report your concerns anytime by using the online reporting tool or by emailing moe.tips@ene.gov.on.ca or by phone Monday to Friday – 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 905-521-7650 or to the Spills Action Centre after hours and on weekends at 1-800-268-6060.

It is really important to ask the person you’re speaking to for a reference number for your complaint. The same goes if you prefer to email: moe.tips@ene.gov.on.ca – please request a reference number. If you share this with my office, we can help you to follow up and ensure your complaint is being taken seriously.

• I would also encourage you to share your concerns directly with the company by email at info@emterra.ca. 

• If you are concerned about site conditions regarding property maintenance such as trash blowing out onto the road or neighbouring properties, mud tracking, idling vehicles etc, please contact City of Hamilton by-law staff. 

For all complaints, include the following information: your contact info, the address or location of the complaint, and details about the complaint including dates and times. Call: 905-546-2782 from Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm and press Option 1 to speak with a Clerk. Outside of regular business hours – Please call 905-546-CITY (2489). Email: mle@hamilton.ca or use the online complaint form. 

• Copy my office on your complaint: Whether you are reporting to the MECP, City or to EmTerra, or the City, cc Kerry Le Clair, Ward 3 Community Climate Action Coordinator at kerry.leclair@hamilton.ca on an email or share who you spoke with in by-law, we can amplify your concerns and help you to get a thorough response.

Thank you to the residents, local businesses and other community stakeholders for flagging your concerns to date. I am hopeful that together we can ensure the company mitigates your concerns thoroughly and establishes a protocol of community expectations going forward.

HYDRO INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES COMING TO DUNSMURE, GROSVENOR AVE N & OTTAWA ST. N AS PART OF LRT PHASE 2 EARLY WORKS 

As part of early works to support the future Hamilton LRT project, Alectra Utilities will be upgrading overhead hydro infrastructure along several streets in Ward 3, including Dunsmure Road, Grosvenor Avenue North, and Ottawa Street North.

On these streets, Alectra crews will be:

• Removing and installing new poles, anchors, transformers, and electrical conductors.

• Completing minor excavation along the municipal road allowance.

• Performing tree trimming to ensure safe clearance from overhead wires.

• Working primarily on the north side of Dunsmure, and the east sides of Grosvenor and Ottawa.

Construction is scheduled to begin July 2, 2025, and is expected to be completed by February 2026. Most work will take place weekdays between 8am and 5pm.

What to Expect:

• Increased presence of construction vehicles and equipment.

• Temporary driveway access disruptions where work is taking place.

• Occasional scheduled power interruptions (advance notice will be provided directly by Alectra).

• Restoration of any impacted road, sidewalk, or driveway surfaces once work is complete.

We understand that construction can be disruptive, and appreciate your patience as this important infrastructure work is carried out. These upgrades will improve the reliability of local electricity service and prepare the area for the future LRT line.

For project-specific questions, please contact: Martin Washburn at Alectra Utilities by phone at 289-795-7396 or email at martin.washburn@alectrautilities.com. 

For questions related to the Hamilton LRT project, please email hamilton@metrolinx.com, or call 905-521-1003.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF BIRCH AVE DOG PARK

I want to share an important update with residents about the temporary closure of the Birch Avenue Leash-Free Dog Park, effective June 13, 2025.

The City has made the decision to close the park as a precautionary measure to help protect the health and safety of dogs who use the space. I know this is disappointing news, especially for those of you who rely on the park for regular off-leash time with your pups.

The closure comes after the City received a concern from a Ward 3 resident about the potential health impacts of the soil at the site. Following that, soil testing was conducted earlier this year. The results showed that some of the samples exceeded current provincial standards for parkland use. While the site does not pose an immediate risk to human health, we don’t yet have enough information to say whether there may be impacts on dogs who come into close contact with exposed soil.

Out of an abundance of caution, the dog park is now closed until further notice. A closure sign has been posted, and the fenced area is locked to the public.

The City is currently working with an environmental consultant to do further testing with dogs specifically in mind in order to better understand the potential impacts and determine next steps. I’ve been in ongoing communication with City Parks staff to stay updated on:

• When the park may be able to reopen, and

• What supports are available for residents and their pets in the meantime.

In the interim, I encourage residents to explore nearby leash-free dog parks, including:

• Ward 2 Dog Park at 371 Wellington Street North

• Rail Trail Dog Park at 175 Ferguson Avenue South

I recognize that this closure may be an inconvenience, and I appreciate your patience and understanding as staff work through this issue with care and caution. Once further testing is complete and we have more clarity, I’ll be sure to share the next update.

If you have questions about the closure or the soil testing process, you can reach out to Rory Doucette, Manager of Parks, at rory.doucette@hamilton.ca.

CATCH US IN COMMUNITY AT ONE OF OUR WARD 3 OFFICE POP-UPS!

We’re hitting the parks, neighbourhoods, and local events all summer and fall long. Drop by a Ward 3 Office Pop-Up to chat about local issues, get updates, or just say hello! Here’s where you can find us:

June

🛴 June 22, 10AM–12PM – Open Streets
🌳 June 26, 4–6PM – Hayward Park

July

🌿 July 15, 3–5PM – Powell Park

August

🎉 August 16, 12–4PM – Hamilton Stadium 10th Anniversary Celebration (free ticketed event; ticket information to come)

September

🌱 September 16, 11AM–1PM – Depave at Barton & Emerald
🚲 September 28 – Open Streets (Time TBC)

October

🍂 October 7, 2–4PM – Bishop’s Park (Wesley location in case of bad weather)
🏘️ October 30, 3–5PM – 430 Cumberland

December

⛸️ December 31 – Community Skate (Time TBC)

We’re looking forward to connecting with neighbours across Ward 3 — see you out there!

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, JUNE 21

Everyone is welcome to join the City of Hamilton for a free afternoon of culture, community, and celebration at West Harbour James Street Plaza featuring:

• Indigenous performances

• Indigenous artisan vendors

• Local food trucks

Event Schedule: 12pm - 4 pm

• Indigenous artisan vendors

• Local food trucks

• Indigenous stage performances

Stage Schedule:

12pm - 12:45pm Community Drummers

1pm - 1:15pm Welcome - Traditional Opening - Land Acknowledgement 

1:15pm - 1:20pm Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch - Greetings

1:20pm - 1:25pm - Mayor’s Message

1:25pm - 2:20pm - Joe Martin - Smoke Dancers 

2:30pm - 3pm - Nikki Shawana - Hoop Dancers

3:15pm - 3:45pm - Lacey Hill - Singer/Songwriter 

3:45pm - 4pm - Traditional Closing

A full vendor list is available at National Indigenous Peoples Day |City of Hamilton.

HAMILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SOCIAL IMPACT SURVEY

Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC) has partnered with Hamilton Public Library for a nationwide initiative to measure the social impact of public libraries across Canada.

Have your say by completing a short online survey at www.hpl.ca/culc-survey before Wednesday, July 2. 

Whether you are a Member or an occasional user, your opinions are valuable. Your anonymous feedback will help improve HPL services and build a better understanding of how we can support Hamilton and the surrounding communities.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR CITY OF HAMILTON WARD 8 COUNCILLOR BY-ELECTION

Nominations are now open for the City of Hamilton Ward 8 byelection. This election will fill the vacant Ward 8 City Councillor seat, providing an important opportunity for residents to have a voice in shaping municipal priorities and addressing the community's needs.

Individuals who meet the requirements for candidacy are encouraged to submit their nominations to participate in the democratic process.

Eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Canadian citizen;

• at least 18 years old;

• reside in, or are the owner or tenant of land in the City of Hamilton, or the spouse of such owner or tenant;

• are not prohibited from voting under subsection 17(3) of the Municipal Elections Act (MEA) or otherwise by law; and

• are not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

Eligible candidates interested in filing their nomination to run for this office are asked to book an appointment with Elections staff by calling 905-546-4408 or emailing elections@hamilton.ca. 

Nominations will be accepted until August 8, 2025, at 2pm.

A full list of candidates will be available online by August 12, 2025.

Voting will be held on September 22, 2025, with advance polls on September 20 and 21, 2025. More information about how and where to vote will be available at a later date.

For more information on the nomination process, visit www.hamilton.ca/Elections or contact elections@hamilton.ca. 

CITY OF HAMILTON TRANSITIONS TO NEXT GENERATION 9-1-1 NETWORK

The City of Hamilton has officially transitioned to the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) network, which is a major milestone in strengthening public safety and emergency response services across our city.

In collaboration with the Hamilton Fire Department and Hamilton Police Service, this upgrade places Hamilton among the first ten cities in Ontario to adopt this advanced system. NG9-1-1 enhances the way emergency calls are handled, helping first responders act more quickly and effectively in times of crisis.

This multi-stage upgrade offers several improvements to our traditional 9-1-1 services:

• Faster, more accurate data: Emergency Operators can now access caller location and phone number more quickly and reliably.

• Stronger cybersecurity: Enhanced security features reduce the risk of system downtime.

• Improved reliability: Backup systems ensure emergency services remain uninterrupted.

• Future-ready features: The system is built to support text messages and live emergency video calls in the future.

This upgrade ensures Hamilton meets federal requirements to modernize emergency services by 2027, as outlined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

There is no change or disruption to how residents access 9-1-1. This behind-the-scenes upgrade makes emergency services more efficient, more secure, and better prepared to respond when it matters most.

Over $10.5 million in provincial funding has supported Hamilton’s transition to NG9-1-1 since 2022. This investment has enabled the City, alongside Bell Canada and Solacom, to implement an integrated call handling system that improves communication between Emergency Operators and first responders on the ground.

As Hamilton grows, so does the need for modern, resilient systems that can meet the evolving needs of our community. NG9-1-1 is a meaningful step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents.

NOMINATIONS FOR HAMILTON’S ACCESSIBILITY AWARDS ARE NOW OPEN!

Nominations are now open for the second annual Accessibility Awards, recognizing individuals, groups, and organizations that are making Hamilton more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.

Led by the Accessibility Committee for Persons with Disabilities (ACPD), these awards celebrate meaningful contributions that advance accessibility and universal design in our city. Whether it’s through leadership, innovation, advocacy, or inclusive practices, this is an opportunity to highlight those helping to build a barrier-free Hamilton.

Nominate someone today by submitting a nomination online at: hamilton.ca/AccessibilityAwards. The deadline to submit is July 18, 2025.

Award recipients will be celebrated during the fourth annual Accessibility Fair, happening on Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 11am - 3pm in the Hamilton City Hall Forecourt.

This community event is a great opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate accessibility progress across Hamilton. For more information, questions about the awards or nomination process, please contact:

Cindy Mutch, Manager, Community Initiatives by emailing cindy.mutch@hamilton.ca. 

Let’s continue working together toward a more accessible Hamilton for everyone.

HELP SHAPE HAMILTON’S ROAD SAFETY FUTURE: VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN (2026-2031)

The City of Hamilton is developing its next Vision Zero Action Plan, which will guide road safety initiatives from 2026 to 2031. This follows the City’s first Vision Zero Action Plan (2019–2025). We are engaging residents, visitors, and businesses to help inform this next phase and ensure it reflects the community’s experiences and priorities when it comes to roadway safety.

To access the survey, please visit the Engage Hamilton website at: www.engage.hamilton.ca/vision-zero-2026-2031

FRANCOFEST, JUNE 20-22

Join in on FrancoFest this June 20-22 in Gage Park for a free, outdoor Francophone festival celebrating French language and culture through music, art, food, and family activities.

For the most up-to-date festival and line-up information, visit the FrancoFEST website.

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, JUNE 20-22

National Indigenous Peoples Day will be celebrated at Battlefield Park (77 King Street West, Stoney Creek, Hamilton) with the 28th Annual Soaring Spirit Indigenous Festival and Pow Wow. 

The festival includes a day of education and cultural activities, ceremonies, live entertainment, and the Native Arts, Craft, Trade & Food Show. The Pow Wow takes place on Saturday and Sunday, featuring sunrise ceremonies, drumming, dancing, music, and art. The event is open to all.

For more information, please visit the National Aboriginal Days Soaring Spirit Festival Facebook page.

THE CHILDREN’S GARDEN PARTY @ GAGE PARK, JUNE 21

🌻 Calling All Little Planters and Garden Enthusiasts! 🌻

Are you ready for the ultimate garden extravaganza? Join us for an unforgettable day bursting with fun and excitement at our 4th annual Children’s Garden Party Day!

Don’t miss out on:

🎨 Enchanting Entertainment: Be mesmerized by live performances and captivating shows that will leave you spellbound!

🌻 Crafty Creations: Let your imagination run wild with hands-on arts and crafts stations where you can create your own masterpieces!

🚶‍♂️ Adventure Awaits: Embark on exciting garden tours led by our friendly guides who will reveal the hidden treasures of our magical garden!

❓ Brain-Teasing Trivia: Put your knowledge to the test with fun and engaging trivia games that are as entertaining as they are educational!

🎁 Fantastic Prizes: Win amazing prizes and take home special goodies that will make this day even more memorable!

🌿 Creative Workshops: Explore your green thumb with interactive workshops that will inspire you to nurture your love for nature!

And what’s a party without treats? Indulge in scrumptious cake and refreshing lemonade that will sweeten your day!

Get ready to make memories that will last a lifetime! Mark your calendars, spread the word, and get set for a garden party like no other!

Please visit the Children’s Garden Party Eventbrite page to RSVP. We hope to see you at this very special event!

🌸 Let’s grow together!

OPEN STREETS ON KING ST. E (FROM GAGE AVE - JOHN ST), JUNE 22

Make the streets your playground! Open Streets temporarily closes selected streets to vehicular traffic, transforming them into lively spaces where people can walk, bike, skate, and engage in various activities.

Open Streets is ON – Heat, Rain, or Shine!

The event is moving forward this Sunday June 22nd from 10am to 4pm! With the predicted hot temperatures, please take steps to protect yourself throughout the day!

To stay safe and comfortable:

• Dress appropriately for heat (light, breathable clothing and hats recommended)

• Drink water often – bring reusable water bottle and refill stations are available

• Take regular breaks and seek shade

• Recreate and activate safely – know your limits and watch for signs of overheating

• St John’s Ambulance will be on site at the Wentworth Hub.

Cooling supports available:

• Water Stations throughout the route: Find Water Tap stations at Wellington, Wentworth & Bernie Morelli Hubs. Cups are provided and we encourage you to bring your own reusable drinking container.

• Misting Stations: Find misting stations near the City of Hamilton tents at the Wentworth Hub & Sherman Hubs

• City of Hamilton Tents: If you need additional shade, emergency water or juice, locate the City of Hamilton tent closest to you at the John, Wellington, Wentworth, Sherman and Bernie Morelli Hubs. Find shade, support, or rest.

IT’S YOUR FESTIVAL, JUNE 28 - JULY 1

Round up the family for a weekend of festivities in the park when It's Your Festival returns to Gage Park this summer. 

Bring friends and family together for a great time this long weekend. Headliners this year include Spoons, Jay Douglas, Goddo, and The Northern Pikes. With a jam-packed lineup of music, entertainment, art, and food, It's Your Festival is sure to be something for everyone. 

For the most up-to-date festival information, visit the It's Your Festival website.

DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY AT EVA ROTHWELL CENTRE

Eva Rothwell is proud to host Dolly Parton's Imagination Library as one of their initiatives to help raise early literacy rates, prepare children for Kindergarten, and instill a love of reading at a young age. 

They are currently focused on enrolling children who live within the L8H, L8L, L8M, L8N, L8P, and L8R postal codes, with a goal of expanding the program throughout Hamilton. Their program would not be possible without our community partnerships and donors, if you wish to make a donation please visit the CanadaHelps website.

For more information about the program, or to enroll, please contact:

Chelsey Simmonds

905-526-1558 ext. 407

chelsey@evarothwell.ca 

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

---

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Ward 3 Community Update - May 30

Dear Neighbours,

Summer is just around the corner, and our neighbourhoods are beginning to bloom with life, like garden beds being planted, sidewalks buzzing, and community events returning to our local parks and public spaces. I hope you’ll take a moment to check out our upcoming calendar of Ward 3 Pop-Ups and explore the many ways we’re showing up across the ward this season. These events are a great way to connect with your neighbours and raise local concerns directly with my team and I.

We’re also on the cusp of summer recreation program registration, and I encourage you to take advantage of the wide variety of programs available to residents of all ages. Advanced viewing of program listings is already live, with registration opening June 11th at 8AM. Visit hamilton.ca/recreation to learn more.

While the sun is starting to shine, our work at City Hall remains focused on the concerns I continue to hear from many of you—ensuring our streets are safer and smoother, holding problem property owners and bad-faith players to account, and expanding access to public space.

At the Council table, I recently brought forward a motion to improve road conditions on several streets that residents have long flagged, and called for changes to the Demolition Control By-law to better address public safety issues posed by vacant, derelict buildings, especially those near schools.

We also continue to make progress on our city’s housing and shelter strategy. I remain committed to transparency and accountability, including around the Barton Tiffany Shelter’s funding and operations. These investments are vital to supporting some of our most vulnerable neighbours with dignity and care.

And finally, I’m incredibly proud to share that we’ve secured a $900,000 investment into the future New Vision Music Hall—a community space that will support local arts, culture, and creativity for years to come.

There’s a lot ahead this summer, and as always, I welcome your feedback, questions, and ideas. You can reach my office by email at ward3@hamilton.ca, by phone at 905-547-2702, or join us at one of our upcoming pop-up events.

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

DEMOLITION CONTROL BY-LAW CHANGES

At GIC last week, we received a report back on the motion the Mayor and I moved in the fall about how the City can better deal with derelict, neglected buildings across Hamilton.

I recognize there is a difference between vacant heritage and non-heritage buildings and that the authority to enforce the work overall has gaps. It is also clear that discretionarily seeking compliance has been part of the problem leading to some of the negative experiences we are having in our city.

I appreciate the Acting Director of Municipal Licensing & Enforcement identifying the need for consistent application of enforcement standards of maintenance and safety of properties. It is the unreasonable timeline of achieving compliance and enforcement that residents have told me they are utterly frustrated with and it erodes public trust and confidence.

This staff report was specific to the buildings near Gore, however, the systemic and policy issues span city-wide, leading to serious public safety concerns. In Ward 3, we have a number of examples of this gap, including the buildings at the corner of King St E and Emerald and the vacant buildings on Ottawa St, adjacent to Memorial School. 

A report on the King St E buildings will be coming to Planning Committee over the summer. The Ottawa St buildings have been deemed in poor state of repair but are not deemed to be at the state requiring demolition. It only takes one look at them, the proximity to Memorial Elementary School fence, and hearing from neighbours about other negative aspects. City staff in MLE and the Building Division are in touch with the owner of the three properties who has yet to apply for a demolition permit.

In an effort to help get structural movement on vacant, derelict buildings that are beyond repair, I was able to successfully move an amendment to the staff report to include the following:

• That staff report back on suggested revisions to the Demolition Control By-law to enhance the city's ability to address public safety concerns of vacant, derelict residential and commercial buildings that are known to attract criminal activity, pests and vermin, and pose greater safety risks, including but not limited to, being adjacent to schools as a sensitive land-use area.

As part of this work, staff will also be engaging with Fire, Police and local Schools as key stakeholders to help inform a go forward plan.

It is my expectation, when staff report back with recommendations in Q4 this year we will have a clear path on how the City can more proactively address states of disrepair and neglect that attract criminal and negative behaviour, public safety, and neighbourhood pride concerns.

ROAD REHABILITATION PUBLIC WORKS MOTION

At the Public Works Committee on May 20th, I tabled a motion that would bring much-needed investment to several neighbourhood streets in Ward 3. Residents have long flagged deteriorating road conditions on these streets, and Engineering Services through their asset assessment process has now confirmed that many are in poor or very poor condition.

Through this motion, I’m seeking approval for a comprehensive resurfacing plan that covers design and construction for the following streets:

• Cheever Street (Shaw to Mars)

• Connaught Avenue South (Main to King)

• Douglas Avenue (Shaw to Mars)

• East Avenue North (King to Robert & Barton to Birge)

• Keith Street (Emerald to Wentworth)

• Niagara Street (Munroe to Burlington)

• St. Matthews Avenue (Barton to Birge)

We’ve identified $2.6 million in available funds through a mix of Ward 3 resources: the 2018 Surplus for Neighbourhood Roads, the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCB), the Minor Maintenance Fund, and the Discretionary Ward 3 Capital Re-Investment Reserve. If approved, design work would begin in 2025, with construction anticipated in 2026.

These investments are critical to improving everyday service levels, reducing long-term maintenance costs, and making our neighbourhoods safer to walk, bike, drive, or roll through.

I’ve also heard from many of you asking whether Cheever Street between Burton and Keith could be fully paved. I’ve flagged this to Transportation Staff and will report back once I have an update.

Thank you to all of the residents who continue to raise these local priorities. Your voices have helped shape this motion. I’ll keep you posted on the next steps after it comes to Council for final approval.

FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES (FCM) ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2025

This term, Council appointed me as the rep to FCM. I have had the immense privilege of serving on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) board over the past year and several committees over the past three years. 

Municipalities are at the forefront of some of the biggest issues we face across the country at this time. With the addition of the tariff threats coming from the United States, it has never been more important for municipalities to work together and be involved in a Team Canada approach to these most important issues of our time.

I am in Ottawa from May 28 to June 1 along with Councilors Tadeson, Hwang and Kroetsch for the Annual Meeting. I have already had the opportunity to meet with many colleagues across the country and have participated in some very important sessions, like combatting disinformation, delivering accessibility in transit, met with Hamilton MPs at Parliament Hill, and heard directly from Prime Minister Carney what we can expect to tackle the housing crisis, stimulate growth, tend to infrastructure and thriving communities. I look forward to bringing much back to the City of Hamilton.

I am also running for re-election as a board member to FCM for a two-year term. Hamilton has already seen much benefit from having a consistent voice at this table and I hope to be able to continue.

WARD 8 COUNCIL SEAT VACANCY

Earlier this month, Councillor John-Paul Danko was elected as the new Member of Parliament for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas.

Under Ontario’s Municipal Act, this makes him ineligible to continue serving on City Council. As required by law, Council has now officially declared the Ward 8 seat vacant.

A report outlining the available options of either appointing a replacement or holding a by-election, will be presented at the June 11 General Issues Committee meeting. A final decision will be made by Council on June 18, 2025.

I want to be transparent with residents that I will be voting in support of a by-election to fill the Ward 8 seat. I believe it’s vital for residents in every ward to choose their own representative through a democratic process.

I’ll continue to keep you updated as this process unfolds.

NEW VISION MUSIC HALL

A motion I brought forward last term identified a clear and persistent gap city-wide: the lack of multi-use community space, particularly for arts-based programming and accessible meeting spaces.

I’m proud to share that Council has now approved a $900,000 investment toward the New Vision Music Hall, building on work across two terms to bring much-needed, creative community space to our neighbourhood. This investment is embedded in a formal agreement for City use of the space, much like the successful model used at the Braley Centre.

This is part of a multi-year strategy that aligns with our broader economic development goals, community engagement priorities, and the Downtown Hamilton Revitalization & Night Time Economy Strategy. It supports the Chamber of Commerce’s vision while delivering on long-standing community-identified needs.

The New Vision Music Hall will be open to residents from across Hamilton and will help us diversify the kinds of programming we can offer, from arts and cultural events to meetings and gatherings. By leveraging an existing neighbourhood asset, we’re closing a critical gap and building a stronger, more connected Hamilton.

TEMPORARY BARTON TIFFANY SHELTER UPDATE

As Hamilton continues to confront the housing and homelessness crisis, Council remains committed to ensuring that everyone in our community has access to safe, dignified shelter, especially those who have been historically underserved by the traditional emergency shelter system.

At the May 21st General Issues Committee meeting, staff presented a detailed breakdown of capital and operational expenses for the Temporary Barton Tiffany Shelter. This report was requested by Council to ensure full financial transparency around the project and its implementation.

Capital Investment: $7.9 Million
The total capital cost of the project increased from the originally approved $2.8 million to approximately $7.9 million. This increase reflects the complexity of the site and the scope of work required, including environmental remediation, infrastructure servicing, site preparation, and compliance with building codes and safety standards. The work also included significant upgrades such as electrical rewiring of shelter units to meet CSA standards.

Expanding Access to Shelter
The Barton Tiffany site provides 80 of the 272 new beds added through the City’s Temporary Emergency Shelter Expansion initiative. This location is especially important because it fills a critical service gap by offering shelter to couples and individuals with pets, which are populations often excluded from traditional shelters.

Fully Funded Through Existing Resources
Although project costs increased, staff were able to fully fund the shelter through a strategic reallocation of previously approved municipal funds, alongside successful applications for federal and provincial support. Federal funding of $5.2 million and provincial funding of $586,000 has been applied to cover costs, with no need for additional taxpayer investment beyond what was already approved in 2024.

Operational Costs: $4.05 Million for 2025
The shelter’s operational model was designed to respond to the specific needs of those experiencing homelessness in encampments. With 24/7 staffing and intensive wraparound support, services include case management, harm reduction, food provision, and site maintenance. These supports are aimed at helping residents remain sheltered and move toward permanent housing solutions.

Accountability and Impact
Public dollars must be used responsibly and with care. This report affirms that City staff are managing this project with financial diligence while advancing the goals of Hamilton’s housing strategy. Investments in sites like Barton Tiffany are critical to reducing the harms of homelessness and ensuring our community has the capacity to support people in crisis.

UNLICENSED CANNABIS RETAILER UPDATE

For the past 3 weeks, I have been working with city staff and services to address the unlicensed cannabis store that opened up at 1111 Main St E.

The City of Hamilton Licensing By-law does not have a Schedule associated with Cannabis Retailers as this is within the jurisdiction of the Province and specifically the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

In other words, the cannabis retail sector is granted a license to operate only at the authority of the provincial government.

When bad faith cannabis retailers open up shop without a license, as is the case at 1111 Main St E, it is Hamilton Police Services that can act to shut them down.

I encourage neighbours to continue to report this unlicensed cannabis business at the AGCO website here: https://www.iagco.agco.ca/prod/pub/#  and to HPS by calling 905-546-4925.

As for municipal by-law violations, this property has many that the City has acted on:

• Building without permits

• Security cameras pointed at sidewalk

• Parking on sidewalk

Let’s work together in keeping the community pressure up on this bad-faith “business” by reporting them each day they are in operation. 

Also consider joining me in contacting our elected provincial government representatives to urge the AGCO to expeditiously enforce violations of their licensing criteria and process.

JIMMY THOMPSPON POOL REPAIRS UPDATE

Thank you for your continued patience while preliminary work was underway to address the sewage drain line issue at the Jimmy Thompson Pool.

Following a site visit last Friday by a pipelining specialist, it was confirmed that the affected drain could be repaired using a relining method, thus avoiding further excavation or full pipe replacement. Given the pipe’s age (over 95 years old), crews took proactive steps to re-line the section running from the women’s change room to the southeast side of the building.

I’m happy to share that repairs were completed ahead of the original June 2nd timeline, with approximately 100 feet of 6” clay and cast-iron pipe successfully re-lined and tested. While some backfilling remains, it will not impact programming or site operations.

Recreation staff have been notified that cleaning can now be scheduled, and the facility will reopen once this final step is complete.

Thank you again for your understanding and support as we work to keep this community hub safe and accessible.

VACANT UNIT TAX REMINDER

As of May 23, 2025, over 96% of residential properties citywide have submitted their Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) declarations, including many here in Ward 3. Thank you to everyone who has already completed their declaration.

In Ward 3, 10% of properties still need to declare. If you haven’t submitted your declaration yet, there’s still time — Council approved the deadline be extended to May 30, 2025 (today), giving residents a final opportunity to avoid being automatically deemed vacant and charged the 1% VUT. A reminder that all revenue generated from collecting the VUT will go towards municipal efforts to address more affordable housing solutions.

Submitting your declaration is quick and easy:

1. Online at hamilton.ca/vacantunittax
2. By phone at 905-546-2573
3. In person at City Hall and any Municipal Service Centre

Final notices were sent out on April 23rd, and an additional courtesy reminder was mailed during the week of May 12th.

Need help? The VUT team continues to provide phone and in-person support to assist residents with their declarations.

Let’s get Ward 3 to 100%! Your declaration helps ensure a fair and accurate tax process for everyone.

CHIMNEY SWIFT ROOSTING AND/OR NESTING SITES IN WARD 3

In the spring and summer, you may hear high-pitched chattering calls and look up to see what looks like a bat-like looking bird flying erratically above you. Those are Chimney Swifts, who spend almost their entire time airborne. At night, they roost or nest in chimneys. 

Chimney Swifts can't perch; they cling to the vertical walls within chimneys. Historically, Chimney Swifts used large, hollow trees for nesting and roosting, but these habitats are becoming more and more scarce. They now depend on chimneys for habitat. 

Since the 1970s, the Canadian population of Chimney Swifts has declined by almost 90%. One of those reasons is due to more and more chimneys being capped, steel-lined, or torn down. We can help. To learn how to be a good Chimney Swift host, visit: Birds Canada - Chimney Swift Host_national_2023 - Page 1

WOODLANDS PARK SPRAY PAD OPENING!

Join us for the official opening of the Woodlands Park Spray Pad at the Barton Village Festival on Saturday, June 14th! We will have some form of cake to officially kick-off the spray pad at 10AM. 

The festival starts at 11AM and will take place at Woodlands Park and along Barton Street East (between Wentworth & Sanford) transforming the adjacent street into a vibrant pedestrian zone full of local flavour, music, art, and connection!

What’s in store:

🎶 Live music & street performances
🎨 Art battles & busker pods
👧🏽 Kids Zone with fun activities
🍔 Tasty eats from Barton’s best
🛍️ A curated vendor market
🌱 Community outreach & resources

We will be set up for a Ward 3 Councillor Office Pop-Up from 11AM–1PM in Woodlands Park, as well. My team and I will be there to help you navigate local issues, connect with City Services, and chat about what matters most to you.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

CATCH US IN COMMUNITY AT ONE OF OUR WARD 3 OFFICE POP-UPS!

We’re hitting the parks, neighbourhoods, and local events all summer and fall long. Drop by a Ward 3 Office Pop-Up to chat about local issues, get updates, or just say hello! Here’s where you can find us:

June

🛴 June 22, 10AM–12PM – Open Streets
🌳 June 24, 4–6PM – Hayward Park

July

🌿 July 15, 3–5PM – Powell Park

August

🎉 August 16, 12–4PM – Hamilton Stadium 10th Anniversary Celebration (free ticketed event; ticket information to come)

September

🌱 September 16, 11AM–1PM – Depave at Barton & Emerald
🚲 September 28 – Open Streets (Time TBC)

October

🍂 October 7, 2–4PM – Bishop’s Park (Wesley location in case of bad weather)
🏘️ October 30, 3–5PM – 430 Cumberland

December

⛸️ December 31 – Community Skate (Time TBC)

We’re looking forward to connecting with neighbours across Ward 3 — see you out there!

CITY INVESTS IN 1200 NEW AFFORDABLE & SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS

The City of Hamilton is taking action to further address the housing crisis. Over the next three years, the City will invest in the development of approximately 1,200 new affordable and supportive housing units, providing safe and affordable homes for Hamiltonians.

The City will invest $17.8 million in 2025, combining surplus funds from 2024 with the 2025 budget. The funding for these eight projects will support 147 affordable and 25 supportive units.

Hamilton City Council committed $4 million annually for affordable housing and $10.3 million annually for supportive housing over three years, as part of the 2024 tax budget.

In January 2025, $8.2 million from this commitment was allocated to fund 11 projects that will help deliver 440 affordable housing units and 435 supportive housing units. These projects were chosen for their financial viability, community impact, and construction readiness, ensuring a timely boost to Hamilton’s housing supply.

Looking ahead, the City estimates an additional $15 million investment in 2026 to support two new projects that will add 105 affordable and 51 supportive units. 

These investments are part of the City’s long-term vision for housing security and community well-being. The Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap (HSIR) guides these efforts, ensuring a research-to-action approach. Under this plan, a total of 21 housing projects are expected to create approximately 692 affordable and 511supportive additional housing units by 2027.

Projects receiving funding are at various stages of development, from pre-construction, construction and post-construction phases. Funding will be strategically allocated to support each stage to ensure timely delivery of these much-needed housing solutions.

Investment Highlights:

• Over the next three years, approximately 1,200 new housing units will be built to support singles, families, Indigenous people, women, and women-led Households.

• 21 total projects

• 692 affordable units added

• 511 supportive units added

• In 2025, funding will accelerate the construction of supportive housing units for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

• Expansion of affordable housing options, with tenants selected from the Access to Housing waitlist and By-Name list to prioritize those in greatest need.

• 261 rental units set to begin construction in 2025 will receive funding to enhance affordability.

• 10 affordable ownership units will be funded, helping more residents achieve homeownership.

For more information, visit the City of Hamilton Housing Secretariat Division webpage.

CITY SPRAY PADS NOW OPEN

As the weather warms up, spray pads across Hamilton are now open, offering families and neighbours a fun and free way to cool off outdoors.

Located in many local parks and playgrounds, these unsupervised water play areas feature upright sprayers and ground jets activated by motion sensors, helping to conserve water while keeping the fun going.

Hours of Operation

Spray pads operate daily from 10AM - 8PM during the warmer months, typically from May through September. The water systems are on timers and only run during operational hours when activated by users on-site.

Supervision Reminder

While spray pads are designed for kids, they’re not supervised by City staff, so caregivers are reminded to stay close and keep an eye on children while enjoying the space.

Check Before You Go

Want to know if your local spray pad is open? Use the City’s interactive map to see a spray pad’s status here.

SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAM REGISTRATION OPENS JUNE 11th

Looking to keep the kids active, try something new, or make the most of summer in the city? The City of Hamilton’s summer recreation program registration is just around the corner!

Registration Dates:

• June 11–13, 2025

• Registration opens daily at 8:00 AM

From swim lessons to sports, arts programs to fitness classes, there’s something for everyone.

To help make your registration experience smoother, you can browse all available programs in advance by visiting: www.hamilton.ca/recreation 

Mark your calendar, explore your options, and get ready to dive into summer programming across the city!

SUMMER READING CLUB TURNS 55 AT HPL!

Join Hamilton Public Library’s (HPL) Summer Reading Club (SRC), which runs from June 28 to September 2. Complete fun activities, earn stickers, and great prizes!

Celebrate with free family-friendly kickoff events on Saturday, June 28. Pick up an SRC Boarding Pass and register in person or online to get started. Visit www.hpl.ca/src-launch for a listing of summer programs, including cute animals and exciting performers!

BOOKMOBILE HAMILTON WATERFRONT VISITS

HPL's Bookmobile will visit Hamilton's waterfront (77 Harbourside Way) every Saturday throughout the summer. HPL Staff will lead games, activities, programs, and recommend library materials every Saturday from 1 pm to 3:30 pm. See you there! Visit www.hpl.ca/bookmobile for a list of Bookmobile sites across Hamilton.

SUPPORT A GREENER FUTURE & WIN BIG! 

The Children’s Garden Project Canada is holding its first-ever fundraiser, and you could win big while supporting free gardening programs for local kids at Gage Park!

Grand Prize: 2 tickets to see Shania Twain LIVE, plus a meet & greet with the Queen of Country-Pop!
50/50 Raffle: Win cash while helping grow free, hands-on garden education for children and families.

Ticket sales end June 22nd — with all prize draws taking place on June 23rd!

Learn more and grab your tickets: https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/tcgpc. Thank you for helping Hamilton’s young gardeners bloom! 🌻

SUMMER READING & STEAM BUDDIES VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

Looking to volunteer this summer? Summer Reading and STEAM Buddies Volunteers help children who have finished Grades one through six to continue reading throughout the summer. The program runs from July 7th until August 18th and encourages reluctant readers to enjoy reading through educational board games and activities.

If you are interested in volunteering for the 2025 Summer Reading and STEAM Buddies program, please complete the online volunteer application form before or on June 4th, 2025.

31ST ANNUAL POWER OF THE PEN WRITING CONTEST

Get writing this summer! The annual contest is open to writers ages 12-18 who can submit their original poetry and short stories in English, French, or both languages. Cash prizes are awarded to the 1st- and 2nd-place winners. Each entry also qualifies for the Hamilton Association for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art Maitland Banting Silver Quill and Young Poet awards. The winner in each category receives $250.

Digital submissions are due on or before September 30th, 2025, at www.hpl.ca/power-pen by completing the contest entry form. For more information, rules, and prizes, visit the Power of the Pen webpage.

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

---

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Ward 3 Community Update - May 9, 2025

Dear Neighbours,

I hope you enjoy some special moments acknowledging and honouring those who have nurtured and supported you and all the special kiddos in your lives this Mother’s Day.

In this e-newsletter, I’m sharing several updates from Committee and Council deliberations as well as updates on key initiatives and events in #OurWard3! 

One event I especially want to highlight is the joint Ward 3 & Ward 4 Housing Fair happening on Wednesday May 14 from 6pm-8pm at Bernie Morelli Rec Centre. Whether you live in Ward 3 or 4, this is your chance to connect directly with the Housing Secretariat, other City staff, local housing providers, and us, your Councillors about upcoming affordable and supportive housing projects underway in your neighbourhoods.

I also want to take a moment to thank Hamilton Fire Services, Eva Rothwell Centre, and Inner City Outreach Ministry for coordinating a community fire safety effort in the Keith Neighbourhood. A big thank you to the 40 volunteers who went door-to-door to check smoke detectors, share fire safety tips, and connect residents with helpful resources. Special shout out to the volunteer base from the Hamilton Family Health Team, CareGo, Bryans, PMI, and ArcelorMittal Dofasco.

As always, if you need any support navigating a municipal issue, my team and I are just an email away at ward3@hamilton.ca or by phone at 905-546-2702

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

TAILGATING & HAMILTON’S ALCOHOL POLICY

Last week at Public Health Sub-Committee, we received a report from staff with recommendations to update the 2011 Municipal Alcohol Policy (MAP). 

Alcohol is often present in our community for celebration, sporting events, and other social gatherings — traditions I know many Hamiltonians cherish. At the same time, new and compelling evidence is prompting cities across Canada, including ours, to re-examine how alcohol is accessed and consumed in public spaces.

We now know that even low-to-moderate alcohol consumption is linked to serious health risks, including heart disease, stroke, and seven types of cancer. As our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Richardson pointed out, in Hamilton, the local impact is stark: each year, alcohol contributes to an estimated 208 deaths, 1,073 hospitalizations, and over 9,000 emergency department visits.

Importantly, alcohol use isn’t just a personal health issue — it’s a public safety issue. Increased access to alcohol is consistently associated with higher rates of accidents, injuries, chronic health conditions, and violence. And the presence of alcohol in our community traditions also influences a new generation of drinkers. For many households, it is not associated with good times and instead, it is a precursor to harm.

The connection between alcohol and gender-based violence (GBV) is staggering, especially for us in Hamilton where rates have reached an epidemic level. Irrefutable research and evidence shows a 47% increase in GBV and harassment linked to early and prolonged alcohol use at sporting events. While the recent staff report referenced violence generally, it did not speak specifically to GBV — something I believe must be addressed more directly in future reports.

The purpose of updating the MAP is not to end social gatherings, ban fun, or much enjoyed traditions like tailgating. It’s to ensure that alcohol use aligns with the best available public health data — helping reduce harms while still allowing for safe and joyous community events.

There’s been some confusion around tailgate parties, so let me clarify:

• Yes, tailgating can still happen in Hamilton. Technically, tailgating events involving alcohol require a permit from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). If hosted on City property, organizers must also consult with our Special Events Advisory Team (SEAT). City by-laws currently don’t prohibit drinking in parking lots as they are not covered under the 2011 version of the MAP.

I recognize the broader ways diverse members of our Hamilton community celebrate and there is importance of preserving public spaces for celebration. I also respect the need to update our policies to ensure our city is full of safer spaces for everyone to be. However, the staff report and recommendations did not provide enough clear options to hold tailgate events safely and legally, while still upholding our duty to minimize harm. So, I was among the Council members who voted to oppose the Public Health report.

We owe it to our residents to get this right, and until then, the status quo remains.

UPDATE ON GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS

At the most recent Planning Committee meeting, we reviewed the recommended Green Building Standards (GBS) aimed at supporting more sustainable development in Hamilton’s urban areas.

These recommendations are the result of meaningful, in-depth engagement with many local stakeholders including local industry professionals, the development community and the Climate Action Advisory Committee. The consultation was thorough, and the recommendations reflect a strong consensus built through collaboration. The final list of standards were also informed by best practices other municipalities in Ontario have already implemented. I want to acknowledge and thank everyone who contributed their time and expertise to this process — the standards reflect a thoughtful and practical approach to climate-forward development.

During the General Issues Committee (GIC) meeting last week, majority of my colleagues landed on the side of referring a report specific to implementing the GBS to a future meeting in early Q4 2025 with direction to include cost impact analysis. This stems primarily from an assessment in the development community who state that projects are delayed due to a cooling in the private housing market and the impact of supply chain in the context of the US tariffs, reducing preferred profit margins. 

At Council this week, my colleagues agreed with me that the standards themselves do not need further amendment and thus the report from Planning Committee will simply be tabled to this fall to be deliberated with the revised Implementation Report.

On the basis that it’s a matter of timing and alignment, not a re-evaluation of the standards, I supported the referrals. Honouring the work done through consultation is an important part of maintaining trust and momentum on climate action. I look forward to seeing this item return in the fall so we may move forward in building a more sustainable Hamilton together. 

INVESTING IN MORE COMPLETE STREETS & SAFER PEDESTRIAN ACCESS

During Public Works Committee last week, I tabled two motions to further discretionary investments on road safety improvements that matter to residents in Keith, Stinson and those who live along neighbourhood roads across our ward.

In 2021, my office worked with Transportation staff to launch a Complete Streets Review across key Ward 3 neighbourhoods. The goal: make our streets safer for everyone — whether you're walking, biking, rolling, or driving. The final report was completed in 2024 with over 325 recommendations.

I have already invested in implementing the short-term improvements and we are ready to move into more medium-term ones. I allocated an additional $200,000 investment from the Ward 3 Capital Re-Investment Reserve — bringing the total budget for this work to $650,000. These funds will support the next phase of traffic calming and safety improvements recommended in the Complete Streets plan.

In the Keith neighbourhood, students walking to Bennetto Elementary School currently have no nearby controlled crossings at Victoria Ave N or Wellington St N — despite needing to cross both to get to school safely. Complicating factors include an active railway. That’s why I moved a motion to fund the technical design work, at an upset limit of $20,000, for new signalized pedestrian crossings at both locations, with plans for construction to be funded in the 2026 Capital Budget.

In Stinson, while there is already an all-way stop at East Ave S & Hunter St E, near Bishop’s Park, there are no other safety measures in place for kids and residents walking or biking to the park. Staff will be adding ladder markings to the intersection and will continue assessing where else more speed humps can go in.

Thank you to everyone who provided direct input on these roadway safety improvements and have helped shape this work. Safer streets don’t just happen — we build them together!

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY ON BARTON-TIFFANY TEMPORARY SHELTER

Both at General Issues Committee and at Council, we had robust discussions about the cost overruns and the need for public accountability on the implementation of the innovated temporary shelter and community service hub at the Barton-Tiffany site Council approved to save lives and provide a all season option for the unhoused from living encamped.

We learned that majority of the overages had to do with site preparation and some additional electrical and heating upgrades required on each unit to bring them to Canadian standards. However, the unit price of each temporary and foldable unit was actually less expensive than Canadian made ones used in Nova Scotia. The spent $7.5 million for 200 Pallet shelters across the province, bringing the per unit price to $37,500. The units we have in Hamilton came in around $32,000.

The primary reason for the cost overrun was that the land was not shovel-ready, and the scale of the required environmental work introduced a delay to the initial project schedule. Nonetheless, the City prioritized this due diligence to ensure the highest standard of health and safety for future residents and staff.

Given the urgency, staff had limited time to conduct formal site visits, prepare detailed environmental design plans in advance, or develop full technical specifications before procurement. These limitations contributed to higher costs as additional design, safety, and compliance needs were uncovered during implementation. In the future, a more structured planning and procurement phase would help reduce unknowns and avoid mid-stream modifications. 

A procurement review is now underway based on City policy that requires a detailed review once the deliverables of the contract are in place. 

A key learning staff have shared is that validating vendor capacity and reviewing technical documentation early — especially with new providers — is essential to managing risk. Future initiatives would benefit from a formal prequalification process, including early assessment of vendor readiness. Having partners who were flexible and solution-oriented during the project was key to overcoming challenges and staying on track. 

The silver lining in this is that the City received federal and provincial funding specifically allocated to municipal initiatives that support residents to move from encampments. For this, I am proud of the work I was able to do with my colleagues across Canada through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for the fund. The City applied to the federal Encampment Response Plan fund in November. It has been confirmed that we have received $5.26M that will be applied to this project. An additional $586,970 was received from the provincial Encampment Response Initiative funding that is also being applied to this initiative and will help offset the city’s initial contributions coming from the Housing Sustainability Investment Reserve account.

As a final step of public accounting, Council unanimously requested a report with the cost estimates, overages and funding sources applied to this initiative. Both staff and Council remain committed to transparency and accountability throughout every stage of project delivery. 

I will update Ward 3 residents on this final line by line accounting when it is received by Council.

TEMPORARY CLOSURES ON ESCARPMENT RAIL TRAIL FOR CLEAN-UP WORK

My team and I have been actively flagging resident concerns and requests to staff to support a comprehensive clean-up along the Rail Trail here in Ward 3, and I want to inform residents that sections of the Escarpment Rail Trail — beginning at the base of the Wentworth Stairs and continuing up to the escarpment lookout near the Kenilworth Stairs — will experience temporary closures and delays to support encampment cleanup efforts.

Trail Impact Schedule (from 7am-3pm each day):

• Friday, May 9

• Saturday, May 10

• Monday, May 12

During this time, crews and vehicles will be active on the trail. For the safety of all users, through access may be paused at times, and minor delays are expected for both pedestrians and cyclists passing through the work zone.

I’m pleased to see this work moving forward and appreciate your patience as it is carried out with care and safety top of mind.

JIMMY THOMPSON POOL: TEMPORARY CLOSURE

I’m writing to provide an important update regarding the ongoing closure of Jimmy Thompson Pool (JTP).

The Facilities Team continues to work diligently with plumbing specialists to resolve a complex issue affecting the building’s original drain infrastructure. After exposing a section of the pipe, plumbers identified that a clay pipe—lined with cast iron—is delaminating, causing persistent blockages. This combined storm and sanitary drain line runs from the women’s changeroom, through the crawl space behind the reception desk, to the men’s changeroom and ultimately to the catch basin at Balsam Street.

Due to its combined nature, this pipe poses a flood risk to the changerooms during heavy rain events. To mitigate immediate concerns, the affected section has been isolated. Further investigation is needed to determine a long-term solution.

A Pipe Lining Specialist will be on site this Friday to assess whether their product can effectively address the issue. We will provide a further update following this assessment on Friday afternoon.

In the meantime, JTP will remain closed. Staff are currently working to relocate or cancel scheduled swim lessons, drop-in programs, school board bookings, and swim club rentals from this evening through early next week.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we prioritize the safety and integrity of the facility.

WOODLANDS PARK WASHROOM UPDATE

I’m pleased to share an update on the restoration of the Woodlands Park washroom facility following the fire that occurred on January 2, 2024.

Immediately after the fire, the site was secured and assessed for safety. Over the past several months, the City has been working through the necessary steps to restore the washroom structure, which has served the community for over 50 years.

A full structural assessment has been completed, damaged debris was safely removed, and the City engaged in public consultation to help guide next steps. Coordination also took place with the City’s insurance adjustor. A building permit was issued on April 4, 2025, and construction crews began mobilizing on-site the week of April 28, setting up fencing and preparing for the build.

Roof trusses were delivered this week, and construction is expected to be completed in approximately two and a half months. I went by earlier today, and you can see the new wooden trusses going up!

Throughout construction, all other park amenities—including the playground, splash pad, soccer field, pathways, and multi-use court—remain open and accessible.

A 24-hour mobile security team continues to monitor the site, with signage posted for residents to report any concerns. The public artwork “Woodlands Park: Ghost Landscape”, previously installed on the washroom building, has been safely removed and is being stored. The City is working closely with the artist to ensure the artwork is preserved and properly reinstalled in the future.

Portable washrooms will be available as needed during the construction period. Thank you for your continued patience as we work to restore this important community facility and ensure Woodlands Park remains a vibrant, welcoming space for all.

45-47 OTTAWA ST. N BUILDINGS IN DISREPAIR

Earlier this year, the Mayor and I moved direction for staff to report back how the City may more proactively address problem, vacant properties that have either endured damage through fire or other circumstances that leave them in states of disrepair to be more expediently brought into compliance due to the public safety risk they pose. This report is scheduled to come back to Committee later this month.

I am working with local residents to address two properties at 45 and 47 Ottawa St North that are posing safety concerns in proximity to Memorial Elementary School.

I can confirm the following has taken place on this file:

• Contractors attended and cleaned up the properties - April 25, 2025.  

• Order to Comply for Open to Trespass under the Vacant Building By-law, service April 23, 2025

• The City’s Building Division has assessed the buildings as in poor condition though not in imminent threat of collapse. My office has flagged the public safety concerns regarding proximity to the school and access to the site by children. As well as the site attracting pests, undesirable activity, etc.

• Confirmed the properties on the Vacant Building Registry, last renewed March 21, 2025 

Next steps:

• MLE staff to attend for Property Standards inspection for reassessment. 

I will also be moving a motion for a staff report on this property and for staff to assess whether demolition would be the best course of action. I will provide another update on these properties in the next e-newsletter.

CPKC UPDATE

Our team recently met with André Hannoush, Director of Government Affairs & Communications at CPKC Rail, to discuss important resources and information for residents living near their rail corridors in Hamilton.

Highlights from our meeting include:

🔹Emergency preparedness training

🔹CPKC’s sustainability and vegetation management plans

🔹Community investment updates

🔹Guidelines for development near railways

Got questions about rail operations? Contact CPKC Community Connect at communityconnect@cpkcr.com or 1-800-766-7912.

For emergencies, residents can call CPKC Police Dispatch: 1-800-716-9132.

You can find all the links and resources on CPKC’s community page at: https://www.cpkcr.com/en/community?target=community-faq. 

Many residents will be interested in the 2025 vegetation plan and pesticide spraying details which can be found at: https://www.cpkcr.com/content/dam/cpkc/documents/english/pdfs/community/Ontario-spray-schedule.pdf. 

Pesticide spraying along the Hamilton CPKC line starts on May 20th.

WARD 3 & WARD 4 HOUSING INFORMATION FAIR, MAY 14

Join us for a free drop-in event to learn more about each affordable and supportive housing project slated for Ward 3 & 4 in Hamilton.

As part of the City’s housing strategy, staff from a range of City departments and housing providers will be on hand to share how we’re working together to expand affordable and supportive housing options locally and to continue to build inclusive, thriving neighbourhoods.

Whether you live in Ward 3 or 4, this is a chance to connect directly with City staff, local housing providers, and your Ward Councillors. Bring your questions, your ideas, and your love for your neighbourhood.

🗓️ Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025

⏰ Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

📍 Location: Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre (876 Cannon St E)

✨ What to Expect:

✅ Chat with City staff and non-profit housing providers

✅ Explore housing programs and upcoming developments

✅ Meet your Ward 3 & 4 Councillors

✅ Share what makes your neighbourhood special

✅ Learn about supports that help build a stronger, more connected Hamilton

No registration needed — just drop by! Let’s keep the conversation going and shape a Hamilton where everyone has a place to call home.

WARD 3 OFFICE POP-UP: 30 SANFORD AVE N, MAY 27

We’re continuing the Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups this year and bringing our office hours directly into the community! ✨

Join me and my team for a Ward 3 Office Pop-Up to help you navigate local issues, City Services, and what matters most to you!

Over the past two terms, residents have told me that they really value these in-person pop-ups as a way to connect and have their concerns addressed directly.

🗓️ Monday, May 27

🕑 2PM – 4PM

📍 City Housing Hamilton - 30 Sanford Ave N

Whether you’ve got a question, concern, or just want to say hello — we’re here for it. Let’s keep building a connected and thriving Ward 3, together.

BARTON-TIFFANY TEMPORARY SHELTER REACHES FULL CAPACITY

Hamilton’s temporary Barton-Tiffany Shelter site is now fully occupied, providing 80 unhoused residents with dignified shelter and access to vital supports. This milestone marks a major step in the City’s ongoing efforts to expand shelter capacity while working toward longer-term affordable housing solutions.

Operated by Good Shepherd in partnership with the City of Hamilton, the site includes 40 heated and cooled cabins (20 single and 20 double occupancy), showers, washrooms, laundry trailers, and common spaces for residents and staff. Residents receive 24/7 on-site support, including case management, health and mental health care, addiction services, and daily meals. The low-barrier design accommodates couples, individuals with pets, and provides secure storage for personal belongings.

Since fall 2024, Hamilton’s shelter system has expanded by 272 beds—an 80% increase—with the Barton-Tiffany Shelter contributing 80 of those beds. This is the first significant increase in the City’s shelter capacity since the pandemic. The site is designed to be flexible and may be redeployed for emergency responses beyond its current use.

To prioritize safety and dignity, the City focused on direct placements from encampments when bringing the shelter to full capacity. This approach has already led to a measurable reduction in encampments across the city.

This temporary site is just one part of the City’s broader strategy to ensure every Hamiltonian has a safe place to call home.

FREE TREE GIVEAWAY

The City’s annual Tree Giveaway is back — offering small native trees and shrubs to Hamilton residents to plant at home. You pick it up, plant it, and help grow our city’s green future.

Giveaway Dates:
Bayfront Park: April 26, May 10 & May 31
Mohawk College: May 3 & May 24
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (rain or shine!)

Pre-registration is required, and it’s one tree/shrub per property. Bring your driver’s license or property tax bill to pick up your leafy new friend.

Let’s grow together #HamOnt!

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HAMILTON’S DOWNTOWN

The City has launched a 10-Year Downtown Revitalization Strategy to shape a shared vision for a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving downtown core — reflecting what matters most to residents, businesses, and community partners.

A strong downtown is key to a strong Hamilton — it creates jobs, supports the local economy, strengthens community connections, and enhances public spaces and quality of life.

We want to hear from you!

Phase 1 of the project is all about public engagement — gathering your ideas, values, and creative visions for the future of downtown Hamilton. Whether you want to share a story, post an idea, ask a question, or fill out a survey — there’s a way to participate that works for you.

Visit engage.hamilton.ca/downtown to get involved and see upcoming engagement events.

Together, we can co-create a downtown that reflects the heart and soul of Hamilton.

SUPPORT A GREENER HAMILTON - RAIN BARRELS ON SALE NOW!

The City of Hamilton has partnered with Enviro World for the Annual Online Rain Barrel Sale, running from April 16 to May 31, 2025. This is a great opportunity to reduce your water bill, conserve water, and help protect our city’s stormwater infrastructure — all from your own backyard.

What You Get

For $70 (tax included), each 55-gallon rain barrel includes:

• Insect-resistant stainless steel screen

• Easy setup for single or multi-barrel use

• Childproof lid and stable, square design (ideal for corners)

• All required hardware included

• One-year warranty

Delivery Details

• Free delivery within all Hamilton wards

• Orders begin arriving the week of June 1, with all deliveries completed by June 14

• Payment methods: Credit, debit, or PayPal

Why Use a Rain Barrel?

• Save money on your water bill

• Help your plants thrive with rainwater

• Prevent runoff and protect your home’s foundation

• Reduce strain on Hamilton’s stormwater system

Order now at: enviroworld.ca/hamilton
Don't miss your chance to make a sustainable impact at home!

Photo credit: CBC Hamilton

SEW HUNGRY RETURNS TO OTTAWA STREET N, MAY 10!

Get ready, Hamilton! Sew Hungry, the city’s most delicious street festival, is back on Saturday, May 10, 2025, and it’s bringing an unforgettable lineup of food trucks, local restaurants, live music, and retail fun to Ottawa Street North.

From Barton to Main, Ottawa Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6:00am to 11:00pm to make way for this beloved all-day food and shopping rally.

Bring your appetite and your crew, and spend the day:

🍔 Sampling eats from a huge variety of food trucks

🍽️ Visiting local restaurants and cafés

🛍️ Exploring unique shops and boutiques

🎶 Enjoying live music and entertainment

Whether you're a foodie, a music lover, or just looking for a fun way to spend a spring day, Sew Hungry has something for everyone.

👉 For the latest updates and vendor lineup, visit www.sewhungry.com.

Don’t miss out—come hungry, leave happy!

GET RAIN READY WITH GREEN VENTURE!

Looking to manage stormwater on your property, support pollinators, and help fight climate change? The Rain Ready Rebate Program, funded by the City of Hamilton and delivered by Green Venture, is here to help!

You could receive up to $5,000 to build features like:

• A rain garden

• A permeable driveway

• A rainwater harvesting system

• And more!

Eligible expenses include native plants, consulting fees, landscape materials, and permeable pavement—making it easier than ever to green your property and support sustainability.

Applications close on June 1, 2025.

👉 Apply today or learn more at www.greenventure.ca 

Don’t miss your chance to make your home more climate-resilient and beautiful—get Rain Ready!

STAC SUMMER SPORTS CAMP: HIGH ENERGY FUN FOR AGES 10-14!

Looking for a dynamic, active summer experience for your child? The STAC Summer Sports Camp is a high-energy, multi-sport program designed for youth aged 10–14. Campers will rotate through a variety of sports and activities while building confidence, teamwork, and fitness in a fun, inclusive environment.

📍 Location: 243 Queen St N, Hamilton

💲 Admission: $250 per session

👥 Limited to 15 youth per session—register early!

This camp blends fun, fitness, and mentorship in a safe space where kids can thrive.

🔗 Register now at: STAC Summer Camp

Give your child a summer to remember—active, inspiring, and full of movement!

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

---

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Ward 3 Community Update - April 17, 2025

Dear Neighbours,

It is so nice to feel the warmth of the sun and see the spring flowers shooting up from the ground these days. I hope that wherever you find yourself, that you can take a few moments to enjoy some air and take in the sounds and sights of spring around you in our wonderful city.

This month, the Ward 3 team has been supporting residents to complete their Vacant Unit Tax Declarations due on April 30th. As of April 9, there are just over 3600 undeclared properties in Ward 3. If you still need to submit yours, my team and I are here to assist.

Join us for drop-in hours at the Bernie Morelli Rec Centre to get help from the Ward 3 team with completing your declaration: Thursday, April 24 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. We’ll have iPads available and our team ready to walk you through the process, making it easy and stress-free.

This issue of the newsletter is full of many updates and I encourage you to take some time to scroll through and get caught up on the good work my office and I have been able to do on your behalf. There are also many great initiatives and opportunities created by community groups and organizations for your engagement in the ward. I hope to see you soon!

And a final reminder, the Ward 3 Office will be closed for the Easter Weekend on both Friday April 18, and Monday April 21. To see the complete list of City service impacts this long weekend, including the HSR and waste collection service, visit the City’s website here.

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

LONG LIVE HAMILTON BIKE SHARE!

Congratulations Hamilton Bike Share!

Last week at General Issues Committee, Council unanimously approved staff’s recommendations to ensure sustainable and predictive funding for Hamilton Bike Share — and I was proud to continue supporting it on behalf of #OurWard3 residents.

In a time when so much feels uncertain, securing stable funding for social infrastructure like our award winning Bike Share gives our communities the ability to continue making healthy, active, and dignified choices about how we move through our city.

As a city that has declared gender-based violence an epidemic, this kind of investment also supports a safer and more accessible public realm — one where everyone has fuller rights to their city. A solution that enables folks to safely get closer to their end trip destinations.

This approval invests in e-bike and expansion to serve more parts of the city as well.

A heartfelt thank you to the many residents and advocates who delegated, organized, and kept the wheels turning over the past 10 years. And special thanks to Peter Topalovic, Project & Program Manager, Sustainable Mobility, for your leadership and dedication to this work.

This is a major milestone for Hamilton’s active transportation future — and a win for equity, safety, and climate resilience.

HAMILTON’S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING ASYLUM SEEKERS & REFUGEE CLAIMANTS

At General Issues Committee last week, we approved funding to extend transitional housing services for refugee claimants through December 2025, with the option to continue this support into 2026 and 2027. This decision ensures that critical shelter beds and wraparound services remain in place as more individuals and families arrive in our city seeking safety and stability.

This work is deeply important to me—because behind every statistic is a person who’s endured displacement, crisis, and uncertainty. As a Sanctuary City, Hamilton has made a commitment to protect and support those seeking refuge. These programs help us uphold that promise with dignity and care. And the work our sector partners do also ensures that the compounding need for housing and shelter options across our city are being addressed fulsomely and enabling people to transition through supports and towards a more stable life.

Here’s how it’s working:

• Wesley Urban Ministries provided transitional housing to 637 individuals in 2023, with an impressive 92% success rate in helping people secure long-term housing.

• Good Shepherd Centres supported women in crisis with a 94% success rate in transitioning from temporary shelter to permanent homes.

• Refuge Newcomer Health continues to operate a referral and coordination hub that connects newcomers to culturally responsive services, including housing and healthcare.

These results show the power of community partnerships in creating real impact—and why it’s so important that we keep investing in them. As your Councillor, I’ll continue advocating for long-term funding from federal and provincial governments, so Hamilton isn’t left to carry this work alone.

Thank you for supporting a city where everyone—no matter where they come from—can feel safe and supported.

CLARIFYING ENCAMPMENT RESPONSE & CLEAN UPS

Residents continue to share concerns about encampments and debris along the rail trail, escarpment, surrounding and other greenspaces in the ward. My office has been actively engaging with City Staff and the Coordinated Encampment Response Team (CERT) to ensure outreach, enforcement, and clean-up efforts are being prioritized in these areas so we may directly respond to your inquiries. I’m also adding information here in the e-newsletter to ensure everyone has access to the same information.

• Encampments Along the Rail Trail & Escarpment
  As it relates to the multiple reports of encampments and waste accumulation along the Keddy Trail between Claremont Access and St. Joseph’s Drive, Outreach Teams were notified last week and again this week, and staff continue to monitor the site closely.
  
  Encampment enforcement in the 1km radius surrounding temporary shelter locations is a priority for CERT and is actively monitoring the area through regular weekly patrols. The Rail Trail, especially areas like the Claremont Parkette, are receiving frequent attention—trespass notices are being issued and clean-ups are occurring several times per week.

• Clean-Up Challenges on the Escarpment
  Cleaning up the escarpment presents unique challenges due to uneven terrain and limited equipment access. Staff are using hand tools and hauling debris with ice fishing toboggans to accessible road collection points. While this slows the process, Parks Staff are doing their best—and community reporting helps immensely. If you notice debris or waste, please report it to encampments@hamilton.ca so it can be logged and scheduled for action.

• Ownership & Responsibilities
  The escarpment lands are a mix of City and CPKC (Canadian Pacific Kansas City) properties. Each manages their respective areas, and CPKC is currently working with the City’s Encampment Team to address clean-ups. The Rail Trail itself is on City property and falls under the Parks By-law and enforcement jurisdiction.

• What About Litter in the Right-of-Way?
  Litter along streets like Charlton or the Rail Trail is handled based on its source:
  
  1. General litter (like coffee cups or roadside trash) is handled by Roads Staff through routine spring clean-up.
  2. Encampment-related debris is handled by the Parks Team in coordination with CERT.

• What to Expect After Reporting
  Once a report is received, Municipal Law Enforcement will respond within 48 hours to confirm receipt and share basic information about the coordinated response. Before any clean-up happens, the site must be inspected to determine if it’s an active encampment or abandoned. If individuals are present, Housing Focused Street Outreach may be engaged to support them in accessing services.
  
  Clean-ups are often completed in tandem with enforcement, ensuring that once a site is vacated, it can be cleared promptly. However, due to the fluid nature of encampments, some sites see individuals return shortly after being cleared, which may cause delays or the appearance that no action has been taken.

• How to Help
  We encourage residents to report concerns about debris, encampments, or unsafe conditions directly to encampments@hamilton.ca. Accurate and timely reports help the City’s response teams coordinate efforts more effectively.

We appreciate your care for our community and your patience as teams work to balance compassion, safety, and the maintenance of our public spaces.

SUNDAY PARKING ENFORCEMENT

For years, Sundays have been a blind spot when it comes to parking enforcement in Hamilton—and it’s time for that to change.

Right now, there are no regularly scheduled Parking Control Officers between 5:45am and 10:00pm on Sundays, creating long-standing challenges for public safety, accessibility, and traffic flow—especially in dense neighbourhoods and near busy local businesses where parking turnover matters.

That’s why I’ve brought forward a motion for City Staff to explore expanded parking enforcement to include Sundays. This would support neighbourhood livability, improve customer service, and help address unsafe or unauthorized parking practices.

Staff will be conducting a full review and reporting back to Council in late 2025 with options for implementation, staffing, and costs—so we can build a more responsive and balanced approach to parking citywide.

SIKH HERITAGE MONTH

Happy Vaisakhi Hamilton!

Thank you to the organizers of the annual Sikh Heritage Month @shmhamilton event at City Hall this past Saturday.

I was proud to join Mayor Andrea Horwath, Trustee Paul Tut, the guest speakers and presenters for this year’s truly inspiring event focused on the theme “Challenging the Darkness”.

It was wonderful to connect with Rosey Kaur the founder of The Patka Box @early_concepts  designed for school and recreation centre staff to support young Sikhs who may need support retying or adjusting their sacred hair top knots.

As well as Navjot Kaur, founder of Saffron Press @saffronpress and author of incredible picture books to connect kids of all ages to the stories and experiences of Sikhs.

Listening to Dr. Arashpreet Singh @a.p.s.rhythm founder of Gurmat Sangeet Taksal and accomplished musician in sacred Sikh and classical Indian music who filled Council Chambers with beautiful Sikh prayers and hymns.

And as every year, it was wonderful to catch up with friends and community while officially kicking off Sikh Heritage Month. As the first and only Sikh elected to Hamilton City Council, it is truly an honour for me.

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY AT INDWELL’S ACORN FLATS

On April 8, I was proud to join the Mayor, Justin Lewis - Director Housing Secretariat, other City Staff, Indwell, and community partners to officially celebrate the groundbreaking of Indwell's Acorn Flats — a new 23-unit supportive, affordable housing project right here in #OurWard3.

This 3-storey building will offer:

• 21 two-bedroom and 2 three-bedroom units

• 6 barrier-free units

• Passive House design for ultra-low energy use and emissions

• Shared amenities like onsite laundry and common space

Affordability is guaranteed at 70% or less of median market rent for 20 years, helping to ensure long-term housing security for Hamiltonians who need it most.

This project is only possible because of a mix of funding from the City, community donations, and innovative tools like the Hope & Homes Hamilton Community Bond, which contributed $934,000 to bring Acorn Flats to life.

I remember touring the site with Graham Cubitt before I was elected Ward 3 City Councillor and imagining with him what could be possible to safely house a diversity of households while also tending to multi-generational community building. Delivering on that vision is what drives me most as your Councillor and I look forward to welcoming our new neighbours in homes they can be proud of!

We need more of this. More housing that is supportive, accessible, sustainable, and truly affordable.

MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMING TO 120 WENTWORTH ST. N

I'm pleased to share that City Planning Staff are recommending the approval of Indwell’s proposal to bring 50 much-needed affordable housing units to the site of Wentworth Baptist Church in the heart of the Gibson neighbourhood.

To make this possible, a portion of the existing building—specifically the eastern section—would be removed, while the main sanctuary of the church would be preserved and thoughtfully integrated into the development. The proposed four-storey building will add 50 new homes and include 14 parking spaces (13 underground and one at grade).

Currently, this property is zoned Neighbourhood Institutional (I1) and designated “Neighbourhoods” in both our Urban Structure and Land Use Designations. It’s also identified as “Civic and Institutional” in the Gibson Neighbourhood Plan— a designation that doesn’t permit this kind of residential development. That’s why staff are recommending an amendment to the Neighbourhood Plan to reflect the proposed use as “Institutional and Medium Density Apartments.”

This proposal meets the policy requirements of the Provincial Policy Statement (2024) and the Urban Hamilton Official Plan. It supports the creation of a complete community by adding diverse housing options that are compatible with the character of the neighbourhood, and it makes smart use of existing infrastructure and public transit access.

We’ve heard clearly from many in the community who support this initiative. Letters of support were submitted by several residents and community partners, each underscoring how critical affordable housing is in our neighbourhood. I have to say it is always great to see Ward 3 resident voices directly on the agenda at Planning Committee!

You can read the full staff report here: Report PED25106.

Together, we’re building a more equitable and inclusive Ward 3 — one that leaves no one behind.

ZONING APPROVED FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT 87-109 ASHLEY ST

An application for a zoning amendment was approved at Planning Committee last week, and ratified at Council, for a six-storey residential building on Ashley St. This step reflects changes based on community feedback and guidance from City Staff.

The proposed development will eventually include 136 residential units, made up of four studio apartments, 83 one-bedroom units, and 49 two-bedroom units. It also includes 89 parking spaces, 68 long-term bicycle parking spaces, and 16 short-term bicycle parking spaces.

An important note is that the original proposal included development on lands at 124 Steven Street. In response to staff feedback and discussions, the applicant has removed this property from the application, ensuring a more focused and context-sensitive design.

At this stage, only one registered concern was brought forward by a resident, related to potential sun/shade impacts on nearby properties. City Staff have reviewed the shade study and determined that there would not be significant loss of sunlight to adjacent backyards. Additional review of sun and shadow impacts will also occur during the Site Plan approval stage, offering another opportunity to ensure that neighbouring properties are respected and protected.

This kind of gentle intensification adds much-needed housing options while making efficient use of existing infrastructure and contributing to a more walkable, bikeable, and connected Ward 3.

You can review the full staff report here: Report PED25081

As always, I’m grateful to residents who take time to engage in the planning process. Your voices help shape thoughtful development that serves the needs of our neighbourhood today and into the future.

455/457-459 KING ST. E DEMOLITION UPDATE

I’ve been advocating for the demolition of 455 and 457–459 King St. E since the facade first fell off — properties that have long been a safety concern for residents here in #OurWard3.

After Council approved the demolition, further issues were uncovered, including asbestos, structural instability, and impacts on the neighbouring building at 461 King. These challenges required additional funding and permits, including a Corridor Development Permit from Metrolinx due to the proximity of the future LRT corridor.

This stretch of King St.E is more than just a transit corridor—it’s an active transportation route used daily by families and children attending St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School. Ensuring safety in this area is absolutely essential. The risk of falling debris meant a full sidewalk closure, and while a single lane has since been converted for pedestrian use, the longer this site remains unstable, the longer that disruption continues.

I’ve been consistently asking staff for updates and progress — because these buildings need to come down. Clearing this site is essential not only for community safety and walkability, but for moving forward with a commitment to positive city building.

So far, asbestos has been removed, utilities disconnected, and interim stabilization completed. Remedial work of the adjacent building at 461 King is on track to wrap up this month, clearing the way for full demolition.

City Staff will issue an update on the projected demolition date after this remedial work to esnure the neighbouring building is completed.

Thank you to the many residents who’ve raised concerns and advocated for change here. I’ll continue sharing updates as we move forward.

UPCOMING 2025 ROAD WORKS ACROSS WARD 3

I have worked with Transportation, Transportation Planning and Engineering Services to pull together a comprehensive list of road work scheduled for implementation this year. This breaks down into: Road Resurfacing, Road Reconstruction, Safety Enhancements & Other Capital Works, and Sidewalk Improvements. Below is a breakdown for you and your neighbours to anticipate what is coming versus works already underway (like the ones in both Gibson and Stipley on Wilson, Wentworth, and Sherman).

Road Resurfacing

An additional $5.5 million has been allocated to the Transportation Division’s city-wide Preventative Road Maintenance Program in the 2025 Capital Budget. This funding boost will support essential preservation work, including resurfacing and overlaying of arterial, collector, residential, and rural roadways across the city. This will all help maintain the safety and durability of our roads for all road users while prolonging the usable lifespan of them until major sub-surface upgrades or reconstructions are needed.

The following road segments in Keith and Industrial Sector B will be resurfaced this year:

• Macallum St: Burlington St E to Wentworth St N

• Wilfred St: Oliver St to Burlington St E

• Oliver St: Wentworth St N to Wilfred St

The works will begin in June and continue through to November 2025. Before any construction begins, City Staff will deliver notices directly to residents and businesses that may be impacted — including my office, so we can help ensure the process goes smoothly.

Road Reconstruction

When road resurfacing is coupled with addressing sub-surface infrastructure, it becomes classified as a road reconstruction. Water Main upgrades are planned on the following two roads in the Gibson neighbourhood: 

• Myler St 

• Milton Ave 

These works are scheduled to take place this summer and will involve digging and reconstructions as part of broader infrastructure improvements to ensure high-quality water service, increased water pressure, and upgraded sewer systems in the area.

Notices have begun to be circulated in the neighbourhood directly impacted. Some important things for you to consider depending on the type of property owner or user you are:

• If you are a commercial property owner and you’re planning any underground utility work or service upgrades, now is the time to coordinate with a private contractor ahead of City works.

• If you’d like to inquire about widening your driveway approach ramp or installing one, please contact Parking Operations at parking@hamilton.ca or 905-540-6000 (residential), or Corridor Management at 905-546-2424 ext. 4577 (commercial).

• Local and emergency access will be maintained throughout the construction period.

If you have questions, regarding  you can also contact staff lead Gabriela Tokarska at gabriela.tokarska@hamilton.ca.

We appreciate your patience as these upgrades roll out—they're critical investments in safer streets, stronger infrastructure, and better neighbourhoods in #OurWard3.

Safety Enhancements & Other Capital Works

The Stinson community has been identified for priority pavement markings to help drivers to be more aware of sharing the roadway with pedestrians. What you can expect going in this summer include:

• New ladder crossing like at intersection of East Ave S and Hunter St E. closest to Bishops Park. 

• Enhanced markings with a new depave project along the Claremont Access off Victoria.

The Delta West neighbourhood finally received their much anticipated pedestrian-activated crossing at Maple Ave and Ottawa Street which is now up and running! This intersection is a key school walking route, but for too long it’s been a hotspot for safety concerns like speeding vehicles, blocked sightlines from parked cars, and tight pinch points where the road narrows.

Also taking place this year, a new signalized pedestrian crossing will be designed by staff on Victoria Ave N at Ferrie St E and Wellington St N at Simcoe St E. This requires substantive design and planning because of the proximity to active rail lines and will help facilitate safer routes to Bennetto Elementary School for residents in the Keith neighbourhood. It won’t be implemented until 2026 once the costing has been confirmed.

Sidewalk Improvements

As part of the city’s ongoing sidewalk improvements, the following areas will see sidewalk tiles that pose a tripping hazard, need repair or replacement will take place. Unlike previous years, Ward 3 will see improvements across many neighbourhoods:

• Emerald St. E (almost at King)

• Holton Ave S

• 44 Stirton St

• Wilson St. & Greenaway Ave

• 49 Wilson St

• 14 Morris Ave

• 141 Maplewood

• 60 Harvey St

• Main St. E (between Gage Ave & Delta)

Also big news for the Keith neighbourhoods is that through a motion at Public Works Committee last week, I moved to have Mars Ave adjacent to North Central Community Park to be assessed for a brand new, continuous sidewalk along the north side of Mars — from Wentworth to Emerald. This important piece of public infrastructure is important to line up given the expanded open space currently being added to North Central Community Park.

BARTON-TIFFANY TEMPORARY SHELTER REACHES FULL CAPACITY

Hamilton’s temporary Barton-Tiffany Shelter site is now fully occupied, providing 80 unhoused residents with dignified shelter and access to vital supports. This milestone marks a major step in the City’s ongoing efforts to expand shelter capacity while working toward longer-term affordable housing solutions.

Operated by Good Shepherd in partnership with the City of Hamilton, the site includes 40 heated and cooled cabins (20 single and 20 double occupancy), showers, washrooms, laundry trailers, and common spaces for residents and staff. Residents receive 24/7 on-site support, including case management, health and mental health care, addiction services, and daily meals. The low-barrier design accommodates couples, individuals with pets, and provides secure storage for personal belongings.

Since fall 2024, Hamilton’s shelter system has expanded by 272 beds—an 80% increase—with the Barton-Tiffany Shelter contributing 80 of those beds. This is the first significant increase in the City’s shelter capacity since the pandemic. The site is designed to be flexible and may be redeployed for emergency responses beyond its current use.

To prioritize safety and dignity, the City focused on direct placements from encampments when bringing the shelter to full capacity. This approach has already led to a measurable reduction in encampments across the city.

This temporary site is just one part of the City’s broader strategy to ensure every Hamiltonian has a safe place to call home.

FREE TREE GIVEAWAY

The City’s annual Tree Giveaway is back — offering small native trees and shrubs to Hamilton residents to plant at home. You pick it up, plant it, and help grow our city’s green future.

Giveaway Dates:
Bayfront Park: April 26, May 10 & May 31
Mohawk College: May 3 & May 24
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (rain or shine!)

Pre-registration is required, and it’s one tree/shrub per property. Bring your driver’s license or property tax bill to pick up your leafy new friend.

Let’s grow together #HamOnt!

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HAMILTON’S DOWNTOWN

The City has launched a 10-Year Downtown Revitalization Strategy to shape a shared vision for a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving downtown core — reflecting what matters most to residents, businesses, and community partners.

A strong downtown is key to a strong Hamilton — it creates jobs, supports the local economy, strengthens community connections, and enhances public spaces and quality of life.

We want to hear from you!

Phase 1 of the project is all about public engagement — gathering your ideas, values, and creative visions for the future of downtown Hamilton. Whether you want to share a story, post an idea, ask a question, or fill out a survey — there’s a way to participate that works for you.

Visit engage.hamilton.ca/downtown to get involved and see upcoming engagement events.

Together, we can co-create a downtown that reflects the heart and soul of Hamilton.

SUPPORT A GREENER HAMILTON - RAIN BARRELS ON SALE NOW!

The City of Hamilton has partnered with Enviro World for the Annual Online Rain Barrel Sale, running from April 16 to May 31, 2025. This is a great opportunity to reduce your water bill, conserve water, and help protect our city’s stormwater infrastructure — all from your own backyard.

What You Get

For $70 (tax included), each 55-gallon rain barrel includes:

• Insect-resistant stainless steel screen

• Easy setup for single or multi-barrel use

• Childproof lid and stable, square design (ideal for corners)

• All required hardware included

• One-year warranty

Delivery Details

• Free delivery within all Hamilton wards

• Orders begin arriving the week of June 1, with all deliveries completed by June 14

• Payment methods: Credit, debit, or PayPal

Why Use a Rain Barrel?

• Save money on your water bill

• Help your plants thrive with rainwater

• Prevent runoff and protect your home’s foundation

• Reduce strain on Hamilton’s stormwater system

Order now at: enviroworld.ca/hamilton
Don't miss your chance to make a sustainable impact at home!

WARD 3 HAMILTON STADIUM GOOD NEIGHBOURS MEETING, APRIL 23

Hey Stadium Neighbours!

We’re hosting a Good Neighbours Meeting with City Facilities Staff on Wednesday, April 23 from 6:30pm–8:00pm to keep the conversation going on local stadium-related concerns.

If you live nearby, we’d love to hear from you — let’s keep building solutions together.

This will be a hybrid meeting and pre-registration is encouraged to ensure we can accommodate your participation!

For more info or to register: email ward3@hamilton.ca 

EASTER BUNNY HOP FESTIVAL, APRIL 19

The Gibson and Landsdale Neighbourhood Association (G.A.L.A.) invites you and your little ones to their Easter Bunny Hop at Powell Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.

Join them for an afternoon full of springtime fun:

• Sweet treats for the kids

• Classic games and playful activities

• A joyful “bunny hop” parade around the park

It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season with friends and neighbours — don’t forget your bunny ears!

For more information, please contact eventsatgala@gmail.com. 

ROOTS TO JUSTICE WORKSHOP, APRIL 19

You can register on the Eventbrite website HERE for the free Roots to Justice Wormshop to reserve your spot!

Participants will learn how to hand sew a worm plushie using recycled fabric with local artist, Birdie Gerhl!

Materials will be provided but we encourage you to bring your own fabric scraps from home. You will also get to take home your creation and go home with a small sewing kit!

Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

Accessibility: Masks are strongly encouraged and will be provided. We will also have an air purifier running during the workshop. The venue is wheelchair accessible. If you have any questions or additional access needs that require accommodations, please email us at: rootstojustice@gmail.com 

ROOTS TO JUSTICE EARTH DAY CLEAN-UP, APRIL 22

Join Roots to Justice for a park clean up day as they gear up for the growing season at their community garden at J.C Beemer Park. 

Tools, PPE (personal protective equipment) and light refreshments will be provided. Please bring your reusable water bottle if you have one! 

No registration necessary.

GREEN VENTURE BARTON DEPAVE SITES CLEAN UP, APRIL 22

Join Green Venture on Tuesday, April 22nd, from 4:00pm–6:30pm as they clean up litter from our 7 pollinator gardens along Barton St. 

Litter cleanups improve soil health, prevent pollution, and keep our community beautiful. This is an inclusive event, and everyone is welcome to explore the native gardens.

Let’s make a difference together! Sign up through the link on their website here.

BEAUTIFUL ALLEYS CLEAN-UP, APRIL 26

Join Beautiful Alleys on April 26th to clean up Hamilton’s beautiful alleys, parks and neighbourhoods!

When: Saturday April 26th, 9am – 1pm
Where: Barton Village BIA – 659 Barton Street E

Register on their website here or email hamiltonalleys@gmail.com to sign up.

This event is in partnership with: Barton Village BIA and A Greener Future

STIRTON TOT LOT/UNITY COMMUNITY PARK CLEAN-UP, APRIL 26

Time again for a little spring cleaning!

Please hang out with us on April 26th (10am-12pm) to do a lil' spruce up of our lovely Unity Community Park.

If the weather isn't too dismal, we'll be joining others in alleys and greenspaces across the city for the Beautiful Alleys cleanup.

CN TRACK GANG CLEAN UP, MAY 3

The CN Rail Track Gang Spring cleanup is on Saturday May 3rd and will be focused on cleaning up the area between Wentworth & Wellington streets. Volunteers will be meeting at Birge Park Pool for 9am. Cleanup supplies and lunch will be provided.

See you there!

HAMILTON INJURED WORKERS SOCIAL, APRIL 30

Join Hamilton Injured Workers on April 30th from 7pm-9pm for an Injured Worker Social! 

This will be a recurring bi-monthly event for injured workers (and friends and family) to have a casual opportunity for conversation and connection. This is a drop-in event, so feel free to pop in or stay for the whole event, whatever works for you!

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

---

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Ward 3 Community Update - March 28, 2025

Dear Neighbours,

As we welcome the season of renewal, I’m excited to share important updates and opportunities in our first of the Spring editions of our e-newsletter. The warmer weather enables more outdoor works, a buzz of energy, and my personal favourite, the sound of birds chirping. These positive vibes are welcome in otherwise stressful times. 

In the face of national economic attacks impacting Hamilton disproportionately and threats by the US President on sovereignty, we also have the opportunity to flex our value-based priorities in the federal election on April 28th. A trade war with our closest neighbour makes it clear that more than just reacting to today’s crises, we must focus on Canada’s future prosperity. Get to know your candidates and be sure to vote!

Another thing Hamiltonians continue to do is rally for our local businesses! Hats off to everyone who helped out Nanny & Bull’s, the beautiful new hangout at 627 Barton St. E who endured a break & enter and theft within weeks of opening. If you’re looking for a new experience, go show them some love.

You’ll find important updates on initiatives aimed at enhancing safety and well-being in our city, including the endorsement of Gender-Based Safety Audits and the ongoing work to address critical infrastructure improvements in our ward. There’s also exciting news about Hamilton’s involvement in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and upcoming events and opportunities for you to get involved in.

As always, I appreciate your continued engagement. Should you require assistance navigating city services or systems you can contact my office at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

Together, we can continue to build a strong, vibrant, and inclusive community.

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

PRIORITIZING SAFETY & WELL-BEING: GENDER BASED SAFETY AUDITS IN HAMILTON

Thank you to YWCA Hamilton, community partners, and City of Hamilton staff for their dedication and collaboration in engaging residents to deliver this foundational work on gender based safety. The city-wide Gender Based Safety Audit marks a critical step toward building a safer and more inclusive city, where everyone feels more secure and has better opportunities to thrive. It also speaks to how our city can continue to forge forward as a place of belonging for all.

As part of the report, Council has officially endorsed a definition of community safety and well-being that adopts the Ministry of the Solicitor General:

“The ideal state of a sustainable community where everyone is safe, has a sense of belonging, opportunities to participate, and where individuals and families are able to meet their needs for education, health care, food, housing, income, and social and cultural expression.”

The United Nations report, “Cities Alive: Designing Cities That Work for Women,” highlighted the importance of gender-responsive urban planning. Without it, cities often reinforce inequalities that limit women’s social and economic opportunities, health, safety, and access to justice.

Locally, statistics have painted a concerning picture. In Hamilton, only 34% of women reported feeling safe walking alone after dark, compared to 63% of men. Additionally, 34% of women experienced unwanted sexual behavior in public, compared to 15% of men.

While the report outlined immediate actions the City can take, the real opportunity for public excellence lies in implementing the mid-term and longer-term recommendations. This work will be aligned with Hamilton’s broader Community Safety and Well-Being Plan to ensure that gender-based safety concerns are considered at every stage of policy, planning, and service delivery.

As we move forward, I remain committed to ensuring that these recommendations lead to innovation and substantive progress, making Hamilton a city where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered.

STRENGTHENING HAMILTON’S VOICE AT THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES

I’m honoured to share that Council endorsed my candidacy to stand for re-election to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) 2025 and 2026 Board of Directors term. This is an exciting opportunity to continue to bring Hamilton’s perspectives to the national table, ensuring that the voices of our communities are heard and reflected in decisions and federal advocacy that impact municipalities across Canada.

I’m also pleased to share that Hamilton will be well-represented at the FCM Annual Conference and Trade Show in Ottawa from May 29 to June 1, 2025. Council has approved Councillors Hwang, Tadeson, Kroetsch, and myself to attend this event. The conference provides a vital platform for municipal leaders to advocate for local priorities, share best practices, and collaborate on solutions that address the challenges facing cities across the country.

Mayor Horwath will also be in attendance to fulfil her role at the national Big City Mayor’s Caucus, where Mayors discuss national priorities for all municipalities. The timing of the FCM Annual Conference in Ottawa is opportune as a new federal government will be in place then. And FCM’s voice has been instrumental in shaping the national housing strategy, infrastructure investment priorities, and informing the federal government in the past. It is critical that we use this opportunity to ensure the Prime Minister, Ministers, and MPs commit to building a strong and resilient country starting in our local communities, our engines of economic prosperity.

By participating in these forums, I’m committed to continuing Hamilton’s leadership in advancing policies that foster equity, sustainability, and innovation in our communities. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to these critical conversations and ensure that Hamilton’s priorities remain front and centre on the national stage.

BRIGHTSIDE PARK UPDATE

The future home of Brightside Park is the former location of a glass manufacturing factory and has seen heavy industrial use for over 100 years. To build a park on former industrial lands, the City of Hamilton is required to undertake an environmental reporting process to obtain approvals from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP). This reporting and approvals process takes many years.

In September 2024 the MECP completed a review of environmental reports submitted for the Brightside Park project. To address the feedback received from this review, more soil sampling and testing will need to be undertaken on the site in 2025 and the environmental reporting and approvals process will continue until 2027.

The park construction project is planned to go to tender in 2027 pending funding and MECP approvals. The construction timeframe is two years so it’s anticipated Brightside Park will be open to the public in 2029.

I’m so disappointed this provincial process for approvals is taking so long and that the project continues to see delays. This park ought to be a priority project for the province and a demonstration of how two orders of government can align to deliver a much needed uplift to our community. It ought to be viewed as a generational project transforming polluted and industrial lands into an active green space and that delivers net climate positive impacts.

City Staff continue to work diligently through all new environmental testing requirements received by the Ministry and will update the timeline on the website periodically.

For more detailed information on Brightside Park, please visit: www.hamilton.ca/brightsidepark. 

WILSON ST & SHERMAN AVE N RECONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

Construction work has begun from Wentworth to Sanford as part of the City of Hamilton’s Transportation Master Plan. Wilson Street will be converted from one-way to two-way traffic, with streetscaping improvements, new traffic signals, intersection enhancements, and upgraded pedestrian infrastructure, including bump-outs and enhanced bus pads. These changes aim to improve safety and accessibility for all road users.

For Ashley Street, between Wilson Street and Century Street, work will include sewer replacement, road resurfacing, and minor sidewalk replacements.

For more information, visit the Wilson and Sherman Improvements StoryMap.

WARD 3 OFFICE VACANT UNIT TAX & POP-UP OFFICE HOURS

To ensure Ward 3 residents are well supported in completing your Vacant Unit Declarations with accuracy, the Ward 3 office team is hosting two VUT clinics combined with our Pop-Up Office Hour events! We will be ready to assist you at the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre on the following two dates:

1. April 15 from 10am to 12:30pm and 

2. April 24 from 6pm to 8pm

My team and I will be on hand to help with completing your Vacant Unit Tax submission and to provide support with any municipal issues you may be having trouble navigating. Whether you have questions about city services, concerns about your neighborhood, or need help connecting with resources, we’ll be available in person to listen and assist.

This is also a great opportunity to get the support you need and connect directly with my team. We look forward to connecting with you there!

BISHOP’S PARK LIGHTING UPDATE

Residents have recently shared their concerns regarding a light pole in Bishop’s Park not being in working order. Parks Staff have confirmed with me that the light in question was damaged due to a fire that occurred in the park, and as a result, an entirely new light pole needed to be ordered. This usually takes a 6 to 8 week period to receive the needed parts and to do the install.

I can confirm that the necessary parts have been ordered, and staff have confirmed that the new light pole is expected to be installed within the next 2-4 weeks (by mid-April).

Thank you for your patience as Parks Staff work to restore the light pole in Bishop’s Park and for continuing to care so much about your community and working with the city to ensure such issues are addressed.

AROUND THE BAY ROAD RACE & HSR DETOURS - MARCH 30

On Sunday, March 30, 2025 many HSR routes will be on Detour due to the Around the Bay Road Race. For more information about the Around the Bay Race, please visit: www.bayrace.com. 

Road Closure Overview (Detour times are approximate)

• James Street - Barton Street to Burlington Street from 7:30 am to approximately 3:30 pm. 

• Bay Street - Stuart Street to Strachan Street from 7:30 am to approximately 3:30 pm. 

• Strachan Street - James Street to May Street from 5 am to approximately 3:30 pm. 

• Burlington Street - James Street to Kenilworth Avenue from 8 am to approximately 11:30 am. *Buses can operate eastbound along Burlington Street from Sherman Avenue easterly. 

• Woodward Avenue - the northbound lanes (between Nikola Tesla Blvd. and Eastport Drive) will be closed from 9 am to approximately 11:30 am. 

• Beach Boulevard - Woodward Avenue to Eastport Drive from 9 am to approximately 12 pm. 

• Eastport Drive - Beach Boulevard and North Shore Boulevard from 9 am to approximately 12:30 pm. 

• North Shore Boulevard - Eastport Drive to Plains Road from 9 am until approximately 1 pm. 

• York Boulevard - Plains Road to Locke Street from 8 am until approximately 2 pm. 

• Dundurn Street - at York Boulevard - will be closed to all traffic from 8 am until approximately 2 pm.

For a full list of details, please visit www.hamilton.ca/aroundthebaydetours.

CHANGES TO HAMILTON’S BLUE BOX PROGRAM STARTED APRIL 1

As of April 1, 2025, the City of Hamilton will no longer manage the Blue Box Program. Circular Materials, a not-for-profit organization, will take over, with GFL Environmental Inc. collecting curbside recycling.

The Transition Period will be between April 1 – Dec 31, 2025. There will be no changes to collection days, methods, or accepted materials during this time. Neighbours are reminded to continue to use:

• One blue box or clear bag for containers

• One blue box or clear bag for paper and cardboard

Starting January 1, 2026: The Common Collection System will launch across Ontario, and changes to collection days or methods may occur. Updates will be shared as they become available.

💡 Questions or Concerns?

🔗 Email: HamiltonRecycling@gflenv.com 

📞 Call: 1-844-415-4351

For more info on blue box collection, visit hamilton.ca/blueboxtransition 

TEAM UP TO CLEAN UP - SPRING EDITION

Team Up to Clean Up is a year-round city-wide community cleanup program that helps keep public places in your neighbourhood clean and safe for everyone. This program provides all the tools you need to run a community cleanup including gloves, and specially marked recycling and garbage bags. You can host a clean up event on City property including parks, trails, alleyways, streets and parking lots.

For more information, please visit www.hamilton.ca/teamuptocleanup.

Photo of a variety of spring flowers.

BIODIVERSITY IN HAMILTON VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE, APRIL 2

All Hamiltonians are welcome to join online to learn how individuals, communities, local government agencies, and non-profits can take action to protect biodiversity, better understand our natural areas, and support long-term protection of our watershed. Experts and landowners are invited to join a conversation to discuss successes and opportunities to address global climate change and biodiversity loss at a local level, together.

Information will be available about Hamilton’s Biodiversity Action Plan, Watershed Action Plan, and the Natural Areas Inventory project. Each event will have a brief presentation about these initiatives, with time for comments and discussion.

This event is being presented in collaboration with the Hamilton Conservation Authority, City of Hamilton, and Hamilton Naturalists’ Club.

For more information, or questions about event, contact:

Kasia Zgurzynski, Natural Areas Inventory Coordinator at the Hamilton Conservation Authority by email: kzgurzynski@conservationhamilton.ca 

CHILDREN’S GARDEN PROJECT: LET’S GET GROWING WORKSHOP SERIES

The Children’s Garden Project is so excited to share our 2025 Event Calendar with you!

• Let’s Get Growing - Saturday April 5

• Family Planting Day - Saturday May 17

• Children’s Garden Party - Saturday June 21

• Fall Harvest Festival - Saturday September 13

• Garden Bedtime Bash - Saturday October 18

• Garden Keepers’ Sessions - Every Thursday from May 22 - October 16

Make sure you’re following usThe Children’s Garden Project on Instagram and their website for more event-specific information and announcements in the near future.

🌸 Let’s grow together!

LABOUR IN THE BODY: A MOVEMENT WORKSHOP, APRIL 5

Join facilitators Heidi McKenzie and Alex Morgan on Saturday April 5, from 1:00pm-2:30pm at the Workers Arts & Heritage Council to explore a movement workshop on labour in the body.

How does the work you do sit inside your body, shaping the movements, postures, and pains you may feel? How does your work affect you? In this workshop, explore how the work we do impacts us. 

Heidi McKenzie invites you to develop greater self-awareness in order to release holding patterns that develop in how our work shapes us. Alex Morgan facilitates movements in which participants explore how their bodies hold the traces of our work. Under guidance of the facilitators, participants build movement experiences they can use in their own self-care routines.

More information and tickets are available here.

MOBILE CANCER SCREENING COACH, APRIL 7

The Mobile Cancer Screening Coach brings breast, cervical and colon cancer screening programs to residents who experience barriers to screening. 

The mobile screening coach will be at The Centre on Barton on Monday April 7 from 8am-4pm.

Anyone who is unable to access screening elsewhere, such as their family doctor’s office, can come to the Mobile Coach. All that is needed is a health card or Interim Federal Health Benefits. To book an appointment, call 905-975-4467 or toll-free at 1-855-338-3131 to speak with the receptionist or leave a message and we will return your call.

ACCA’s STRESS-FREE & CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT THROUGH YOGA WITH HEATHER GREAVES, APRIL 14

Find your balance with the amazing Heather Greaves who is hosting a 6-week program designed starting on April 14th to help participants build resilience, manage chronic pain, and develop a deeper awareness of how unrecognized stress affects their well-being. Through yoga, somatic movement, breathing techniques, and mindfulness, participants will learn practical tools to enhance self-care and support long-term wellness. 

Click here for more details and registration.

GREEN CLEANING WORKSHOP, APRIL 10

Discover eco-friendly cleaning solutions for a healthier home!

Date: April 10
Time: 1 PM - 3 PM
Location: Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg, 24 Smith Ave - Parent Education Room

What’s Included:

• Hands-on experience with natural cleaning products

• Tips for a toxin-free home

• Take-home kit** of your own eco-friendly cleaners!

Join us and make a positive change for you and the planet!

Register Now! Contact (905) 549-4884 ext. 3 .Spaces are limited! Let’s clean green and keep our homes sparkling! ✨🌍

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES GALA, APRIL 12

Roll Up Your Sleeves, Workers Arts & Heritage Council’s third annual spring un-gala, is back and it’s shaping up to be quite the evening. 

Get your Canadian tuxedos ready because Roll Up Your Sleeves is not just a fundraiser supporting WAHC’s year round operations—it’s an opportunity to celebrate working people’s art, culture and history! 

There will be raffle prizes, a peek into our permanent collection, music from Hamilton’s own EYE.SHA, the opportunity to try your hand at pulling your very own letterpress print designed by Greg Smith of Blind Pig Press, and beverages courtesy of Clifford Brewing Company

It’s also the last chance to catch WAHC’s current exhibitions: What We Inherit in the CUPE/SCFP Gallery and Steelworker Legacies in the Community Gallery.

Get your tickets now! You’re not going to want to miss it.

ESSENTIAL OIL BRACELET MAKING WORKSHOP, APRIL 14

Embrace relaxation and create your own aromatic bracelet!

Date: Monday, April 14
Time: 1 PM - 3 PM
Location: Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg, 24 Smith Avenue - Parent Education Room

What You’ll Experience:

• Discover the soothing benefits of essential oils

• Craft a personalized bracelet infused with your favorite scents

• Enjoy a serene atmosphere while connecting with others

Perfect for stress relief and mindfulness!

Take home a beautiful bracelet that not only looks good but also promotes well-being.

Register Today!
Contact Jackie at (905) 549-4884 ext. 3
Limited spaces available!

COLLECTIVE ARTS - CALL FOR ART: WINTER 2025

Collective Arts Call For Art is closing soon to emerging artists worldwide for their chance to submit art and appear on Collective Arts products such as beer, spirit bottles, non-alcoholic beer and cocktails, merchandise, and more. Selected art will be featured and released on our products available anywhere and everywhere you can buy Collective Arts.

2025 SUBMISSION SCHEDULE

WINTER: January - March
SPRING: April - June
SUMMER: July - September
FALL: October - December

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

---

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Ward 3 Community Update - March 7, 2025

Dear Neighbours,

Happy International Women’s Day! 

This week our office hosted the annual Ward 3 Townhall at the Morelli Centre. Thank you to everyone who attended in person and virtually. We will be posting a summary video and Q&A to my website and issuing a special e-newsletter to share it the week of March 17th.

We also co-hosted a How to Delegate workshop for neighbours in Ward 3 & 4 who are experiencing negative impacts of a black, sticky, soot-like substance outside their homes, on their vehicles, outdoor toys, gardens and city playgrounds. See the article below to learn more about the motion coming to Public Health Sub Committee on March 17th. 

There are other important updates in this e-newsletter for you to check out below. As always, if you require assistance navigating city services or systems you can contact my office at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

Have a great spring break!

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

ENCAMPMENTS & CITY PARKS BY-LAW

The City’s Encampment Protocol, which permitted individuals to camp overnight in compliant public spaces has come to an end. The municipality remains committed to proceeding in a manner that upholds human rights and supporting those living unhoused across our city. The Housing Focused Outreach team will continue their work connecting with folks living encamped with alternative shelter options and support services. The hours of Outreach will resort back to 9am-5pm for these services in an effort to redirect resources that were used to enact the Encampment Protocol towards reinstating the Parks By-law. This by-law prohibits camping on City-owned properties, including parks.

The Housing Focused Outreach team will no longer be the lead team responding to complaints and concerns sent to the City about encampment sites. Residents are advised to stop using the unsheltered@hamilton.ca email for this purpose. Instead, with Council’s ratification of staff’s report Coordinated Encampment Response Post-Protocol on Wednesday this week, Municipal Law Enforcement will be the lead. You can submit your emails to encampments@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-2782 going forward.

What to Expect
During General Issues Committee, I asked a number of clarifying questions to ensure residents are aware of what this new coordinated approach will look like. In a nutshell, it is important to know there will be no “raid-like” nor an excessive force approach rolling out this week for mass removal of each and every person and their belongings in City parks.

Here is how it will roll out:

1. A complaint or concern about an encampment site can be emailed to encampments@hamilton.ca or by calling 905-546-2782. The email and phone number are monitored Monday to Friday during regular business hours (8:30am-4:30pm).

2. MLE will intake complaints within 48 hours, notify relevant teams, and connect individuals with available supports such as shelter beds, outdoor shelter units, reunification services, or other appropriate supports.

3. HPS will assess the urgency of each case, prioritizing enforcement based on health and safety risks. They will continue to fulfill their core policing standards as each case dictates.

4. HPS will issue an order, and both HPS and MLE will work together to seek compliance.

5. The plan for clean up and restoration will also be assessed on a site by site basis. When staff have that clarity, I anticipate we will receive those updates and will be able to share information at that time.

While complaints will be addressed promptly, residents should expect up to a 5-day window between filing a complaint and enforcement action being taken. 

Broader Service Impacts

• In terms of service adjustments, JC Beemer Park will no longer have 24/7 bathroom access, reverting to seasonal hours. The 1km radius rule around shelter service areas will remain, with MLE proactively monitoring Ward 3 locations closest to those facilities with expanded shelter capacity on a weekly basis.

• As Municipal Law Enforcement Officers focus on enforcing the Parks By-law, response times for other by-law matters will be affected.

• Access to showers and hygiene facilities at recreation centres will remain accessible to those living unhoused moving forward.

Again, there will be no immediate mass removals this week. The transition will take time and requires careful coordination between enforcement teams, outreach services, and other City departments. The City appreciates residents’ patience and understanding as enforcement efforts ramp up. The City staff have been very clear about remaining committed to acting promptly while ensuring a thoughtful and compassionate approach.

We all need to continue to balance community needs of public safety, preserving green space for outdoor recreation, and providing support and accessible options to individuals seeking shelter. This approach is the City’s best approach to achieve this going forward.
Reporting Encampments

To report an encampment in a City park, please contact the Coordinated Encampment Response Team at encampments@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-2782. The email and phone number are monitored Monday to Friday during regular business hours (8:30am-4:30pm).

Quick Facts or Addressing the Crisis:

• The City’s 2025 tax budget includes a $192 million investment in housing and homelessness programs. These investments will increase access to affordable and social housing, shelters and encampment supports, and much needed tenant support programs to keep people housed.

• As part of a broader emergency response, the City has added 192 temporary shelter beds as well as an 80-bed temporary outdoor shelter site, representing an 80% increase in Hamilton’s shelter system.

• The City’s Whole of Hamilton Housing Approach aligns with Ontario's Big City Mayors (OBCM) 'Solve the Crisis' campaign, urging all levels of government to take immediate action on homelessness, mental health and addictions.

SNOW REMOVAL DEFICIENCIES & OPPORTUNITIES MOTION

As reported last e-newsletter, I tabled a motion at Public Works Committee last week seeking staff to report back on snow removal improvements and addressing service levels on narrow roadways.

Councillor M. Wilson collaborated to add an amendment to the motion at Council to look at contract service delivery as well.

The final motion directed staff to:

1. Provide recommendations on how to address snow removal deficiencies and opportunities on narrow roadways. Including, but not limited to boulevards, within existing resources to be in place by the 2026 Snow Removal program, and;

1. A temporary and time sensitive solution be deployed in the 2025 winter season to address snow removal service levels within current operating costs. 

2. Review existing snow removal contracts to assess optimal operational outcomes during a snow event to be included in upcoming contracts;

The motion was approved at Council. We anticipate a report back from staff and will share details of their findings when it is posted to Public Works Committee later this year.

MOTION ON SOOT COMING TO PUBLIC HEALTH SUB-COMMITTEE - MARCH 17, 2025

On Thursday March 6th we co-hosted a micro workshop with our Ward 4 colleagues. Along with some of our most engaged neighbours, we rallied together to talk about a soot-related motion that will go to Public Health Committee on March 17th.

Our goal was to encourage affected residents to bring forward their lived experiences to delegate to the Committee. If you would like to read the motion, learn more about delegating or watch a recording of the workshop please email kerry.leclair@hamilton.ca. 

WENTWORTH ST RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE

With the weather warming, construction along Wentworth Street is progressing and staff anticipate reopening the roadway on Monday, March 17, 2025 (barring any unforeseen weather events that could delay work). This milestone marks a significant step forward in the revitalization of this key corridor and fulfilling LRT enabling works while investing in much needed upgrades as a city.

Updated Access Information

As we approach the reopening, here is what you need to know about accessing key parking areas:

• Cathedral High School Parking Lot: Access will remain off of King Street, just east of Wentworth.

• Wilson & Wentworth Parking Lot:

• Accessible from Wilson Street by turning south onto Wentworth.

• Accessible from Wentworth Street proper, via King Street.

While Monday, March 17, may require some adjustment as drivers and pedestrians navigate the new routes, we anticipate that by Tuesday, March 18, all access points will be functioning smoothly.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation throughout this project. We appreciate your support as we work towards improving our community’s infrastructure. Stay tuned for further updates, and please continue to follow all posted signage and detours as final touches are completed.

For more details on the Wentworth reconstruction project, visit the interactive story map: Wentworth Street Revitalization.

PROUD TO SUPPORT EXCEL IN STYLE AT BERNIE CUSTIS SECONDARY SCHOOL

I am thrilled to support Excel in Style, an incredible event by Lohifa Pogson Acker that celebrates textured hair styling, education, and community connections for Hamilton’s youth.

This event is all about ensuring young people (ages 5-19) have access to hairstyles, haircuts, and hair care education, while also connecting with textured hair specialists in our community. How great is that?!

While the event is currently sold out, there is a waitlist for those still hoping to attend.

If you or someone you know could benefit, reach out to @lodidthat to learn more or join the waitlist here.

I’m proud to continue to support initiatives that meet our youth where they are at while also empowering and uplifting our community here in #OurWard3!

VACANT UNIT TAX UPDATE

Many residents have successfully submitted their VUT declaration forms and more continue to on a daily basis. That said, we’ve also heard from many of you still experiencing some challenges. Here are some key updates to assist you:

1. Delayed Notices & Tax Bills: Some VUT declarations and property tax bills have been delayed due to Canada Post issues. The City is monitoring the situation and will update on potential penalty waivers at the March 5th Council meeting.

2. Phone Line Backlog: High call volumes (VUT, tax bills, snow clearing) are causing delays. New option: Leave your VUT declaration on voicemail with your roll number & access code, and staff will confirm.

3. Online Portal Issues: If you’re facing errors, try accessing during off-peak hours. A fix is in progress! Hard copy forms are also available at MSCs & Libraries and will soon be online.

4. Primary Residences Must Declare: Many didn’t realize ALL property owners must declare, even for primary residences. The City is working to improve clarity in future notices.

5. Fees & Penalties Clarification: The $10K fine applies only to fraudulent submissions, not late filings. A late fee waiver for 2025 was not well communicated, and this will be corrected.

6. Purpose of VUT: VUT aims to increase housing supply, not directly address affordability. Future messaging will reflect this more accurately.

The City is actively working on solutions and appreciates your patience!

The Ward 3 Team will also be hosting two Vacant Unit Tax support sessions to assist residents who may not have access to internet, or require additional help in filling out their declaration. You can join us at the following locations and dates:

📍 Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre Cafe

• Tuesday April 15 from 10:00am-12:30pm

• Thursday April 24 from 6pm-8pm

More info: www.hamilton.ca/vut 

ATTENTION EMERGING ARTISTS: 2025 SHIRLEY ELFORD EMERGING ARTIST COMMISSION PRIZE

The call for submissions to the 2025 Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Commission Prize is now open and you are invited to apply! This opportunity for emerging artists to create new work is presented and supported by the Hamilton Community Foundations’ Shirley M. Elford's Artist Fund.

Hamilton artists practicing professionally for less than 5 years can submit for a $2000 commission to create work that explores contemporary themes related to Hamilton’s evolving identity, which will be presented at the 2026 City of Hamilton Arts Awards. This call is open to artists in any discipline who are 18 years or older and have lived in Hamilton for the past 2 years or more.

For details and the application visit contact artsawards@hamilton.ca or 905.546.2424 ext 7612. Deadline is March 14, 2025.

HAMILTON COMMUNITY SAFETY SURVEY LAUNCHES: HAVE YOUR SAY!

Hamilton Police Service, in partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University, is launching a community safety survey to better understand residents’ concerns and help shape future safety initiatives.

“This survey is an important opportunity for residents to share their experiences and help shape a safer Hamilton for everyone,” said Chief Frank Bergen. “Your input will guide evidence-based strategies to improve safety and quality of life in our community.”

Who Can Participate?

📍 All Hamilton residents are encouraged to take part.

How to Access the Survey?

💻 Online: Visit the survey link.
🚪 In-Person: Laurier students will be conducting surveys door-to-door and throughout the community.

Key Details:

✅ Confidential & Anonymous – Your responses are private.
⏳ Open Until March 31 – Don’t miss your chance to participate!

Developed by researchers at Wilfrid Laurier University, the survey explores neighborhood safety, experiences with crime, and confidence in community resources. The findings will help identify safety gaps, inform policies, and strengthen collaboration between the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Police Service, and community partners.

“We are committed to ensuring every voice is heard,” said Dr. Tarah Hodgkinson. “The diverse perspectives of Hamilton residents will help us better understand safety concerns and develop meaningful solutions together.”

Get Involved – Your Voice Matters!

💬 Complete the survey online or with Laurier students going door-to-door.
📩 Need assistance? Contact Dr. Tarah Hodgkinson at thodgkinson@wlu.ca or 1-548-889-4323.

Join us in shaping a safer Hamilton—your input makes a difference!

CITY OF HAMILTON OFFERING TAX BILL SUPPORT TO IMPACTED PROPERTY OWNERS

Due to ongoing postal delivery issues, some property owners have not yet received their tax bill or may have received it close to the February 28, 2025, due date. The City of Hamilton recognizes this inconvenience and is taking steps to assist property owners.

New Deadline: March 31, 2025
To allow more time for payment, the City is extending the deadline for the February 28, 2025, installment to March 31, 2025, without the usual 1.25% late penalty charge.

Important: The second installment of the 2025 Interim Property Tax Bill is still due on April 30, 2025. Payments made after this date will incur penalty charges.

How to Avoid Delays & Late Fees:
💳 Pre-Authorized Payments
✔️ Choose from flexible payment plans
✔️ Avoid late fees and penalties
✔️ Spread payments into smaller, manageable amounts
✔️ Free to enroll!

Learn more & sign up to Pay your Property Tax:
📧 eBilling – Get Your Tax Bill Faster!
✔️ Receive your property tax bill electronically
✔️ Secure & convenient
📌 Register today: www.hamilton.ca/tax 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Our goal is to make property tax payments as smooth and stress-free as possible.

2025/2026 WASTE GUIDE & BLUE TRASH TAGS

Starting March 3, 2025, residents will begin receiving the 2025/2026 Waste Guide along with 12 blue trash tags in the mail. Delivery will take place over two weeks. If you hear of mailing issues in your ward, please contact Jacquie Colangelo, Project Manager of Community Outreach at jacquie.colangelo@hamilton.ca, and she will work with Canada Post to resolve them.

Trash Tag Transition:

• Green trash tags expire on March 28, 2025.

• Blue trash tags take effect on March 31, 2025.

• Waste collectors will continue accepting green tags throughout April, though this is not publicly advertised. Residents should be encouraged to switch to blue tags by the expiry date.

What's Inside the 2025/2026 Waste Guide?

This year’s guide includes essential updates, such as:
✔️ Blue Box Program changes (effective April 1, 2025)
✔️ What Goes Where sorting information
✔️ Seasonal yard waste collection: March 3 – December 5, 2025 (Yard waste can also be taken to a Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.)
✔️ Solid Waste Management Master Plan update
✔️ Holiday collection calendar

Additional Waste Guides & Trash Tags:

A supply of Waste Guides and blue trash tags will be delivered to your City Hall office between March 10–14, 2025. If you need additional copies, contact Jacquie.Colangelo@hamilton.ca.

Residents can request 14 additional trash tags for use between April 2025 and March 2026 by:
📍 Visiting a Municipal Service Centre or City Hall
📞 Calling 905-546-CITY (2489)

Thank you for helping keep Hamilton clean and informed!

BLUE BOX PROGRAM CHANGES COMING APRIL 1, 2025

Residential Blue Box programs in Ontario are moving to a new collection system that is fully funded and operated by producers of recycling materials. The new collection system will make recycling easier by standardizing what can be recycled across Ontario. This will be a big change for residents regular practices and it is important for everyone to be informed of what to expect in the weeks to come.

Starting April 1, 2025, Hamilton’s Blue Box program will be operated by Circular Materials Ontario. This includes the collection and processing of blue box materials in Hamilton.

More information about this transition can be found here.

Photo of a variety of spring flowers.

SPRING TIDE BULB SHOW: MARCH 7-16

🌸✨ Spring is in the air!✨🌸

The City of Hamilton’s Annual Spring Tide Bulb Show: Cherry Blossom Festival is taking place here in #OurWard3 at the Gage Park Greenhouse from March 7–16, 2025!

Wander through hundreds of blooming spring bulbs, shop the Flower Market & Café, and take part in fun DIY workshops & family activities.

📍 Gage Park Greenhouse

🕘 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily

🎟 Free admission & parking

🙏 Donations to Hamilton Food Share appreciated

Don’t miss the first sights, sounds, and scents of spring! See you there! 

LIVE STORY READINGS WITH THE CHILDREN’S GARDEN PROJECT & PANDAMONIUM PUBLISHING HOUSE, MAR 8-9 & MAR 15-16

Join Pandamonium Publishing House and their talented team of authors over the weekends of March 8-9 & 15-16 to enjoy live book readings as part of our Children’s Activation Centre at this year’s Spring Tide Bulb Show!

Pandamonium Publishing House specializes in turning your literary dreams into reality with ease and expertise. From stunning cover designs to effective marketing strategies, their dedicated team handles every detail, ensuring your book gets the attention it deserves!

Please visit our event page to RSVP. We can’t wait to see you there!

🌸 Let’s grow together!

MARCH BREAK FUN AT HAMILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY BARTON BRANCH! MARCH 7-16

Looking for exciting activities to keep the kids engaged this March Break? The Barton Branch has a fantastic lineup of free in-branch programs designed to spark creativity, imagination, and learning! Check out these great events happening throughout the week:

LEGO Club
Saturday, March 9 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Saturday, March 16 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Build, imagine, and play with LEGO! Let your creativity run wild with endless building possibilities.(Ages 4-12)

Craft Cart
Monday, March 11 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Friday, March 15 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Unleash your artistic side with a variety of fun and engaging crafts.(Ages 4-12)

Imagination Stations
Tuesday, March 12 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Create with our STREAM kits and educational toys for a hands-on, learning-filled experience.(Ages 4-12)

Family Storytime: Get Ready to Read
Wednesday, March 13 | 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Bring the whole family and enjoy a lively storytime to help little ones develop early literacy skills.(Ages 0-4

Family Stay and Play
Wednesday, March 13 | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
After storytime, stay for social and playtime with other families.(Ages 0-4)

Nature's Ninjas
Thursday, March 14 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PMA captivating, interactive, live animal exhibit!
Come and learn about nature’s stealthiest creatures.(Ages 4-12)

Board Games and Puzzles
Saturday, March 16 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Drop in for some friendly competition and puzzle-solving fun.(Ages 4-12)

Join us for a week filled with creativity, learning, and fun at Barton Branch! No registration required—just drop in and enjoy. We can’t wait to see you there, and for more information about the entire line-up of Hamilton Public Library’s March Break events, please visit https://events.hpl.ca! 

FREE BUTTON MAKING & ART HANG, MAR 22

Join REcreate Studio and Roots to Justice in a free button making workshop and art hang! 🎨
📍 486 Barton St. E

🕘 March 22 from 3pm-5pm

Participants will get to design and make their own buttons using a button-making machine. They'll pick or design images, cut them to the right size, and put everything together with the essential parts like a plastic shell, backing, and graphic. You'll walk away with a cool wearable piece of art.

We also invite participants to bring their own projects for a chill art hang.

Come socialize and learn more about our plans for the Roots to Justice garden this season! Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

GREEN VENTURE’S LAIDLAW GARDEN CELEBRATION, APRIL 27

The Laidlaw Garden Celebration will teach attendees how to design a rain garden, collect rainwater, and deepen our connection with local Indigenous knowledge. This is an exciting day led by Green Venture featuring community engagement, learning, and celebration!

Join us for: 

🌿 Indigenous speakers sharing knowledge about environmental stewardship, traditional teachings, and the significance of water.

💧 Low Impact Development in action! Learn about stormwater reduction, rain gardens, permeable surfaces, rain tanks, and eco-friendly gardening practices.

🌻 Activities for kids!

Donations for plant replacements at the Laidlaw community garden are welcome!

RSVP here.

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

---

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Ward 3 Community Update - February 18, 2025

Dear Neighbours,

This weekend was snow-joke!

Phew, after moving so many shovel loads on the sidewalk outside my home and repeatedly digging out from windrows, I am grateful to the city crews that worked day and night to clear roads and sidewalks based on service levels.

In December 2024, Public Works Committee reviewed an information report that indicated the price tag for windrow removal by plows at $24M to $27M annually for new equipment and operations. This cost would be reflected by a 2% tax levy increase.

That said, there are many bonafide complaints about this snow storm winter removal service. Please continue to send your photos and details to roadsnorth@hamilton.ca and copy my office at ward3@hamilton.ca. I also acknowledge there are some historical areas like narrow boulevards where snow removal has not met baseline clearing for years. It is my hope that through discussion at Public Works Committee we can get this resolved for the 2026 Winter Snow Removal standards.

There are other important updates in this enewsletter for you to check out below. As always, if you require assistance navigating city services or systems you can contact my office at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

BUDGET 2025 UPDATE

Last week, Council finalized amendments to the 2025 Tax Supported Budget. Under the new Provincial regulations for Strong Mayor Powers, the amended budget will be reviewed by Mayor Horwath to consider the use of any veto powers. Then, Council will either adopt or override the veto with a two-thirds majority by March 9, 2025. It is important to note, this is not a city-led change in the process but a provincial one. Subsequently, it has been a learning curve for everyone to adjust to this newer budget process.

Councillor Maureen Wilson served as Chair of the Budget Committee and brought an impeccable adherence to due process and fairness throughout it. Though there were some growing pains in determining which amending motions were in order, Council members did approve some adjustments that resulted in further tax savings.

At this point, we sit at 5.62% increase versus the 5.66% we started with at the end of January.

There are many challenges significantly impacting residents and businesses across the city. The added uncertainty from tariff threats by the US President are coming in so chaotically that it re-emphasizes the critical need for municipal governments to govern in manner that is balanced and informed.

I believe Council has done our best to set a budget to reflect the needs of the City system and the needs of our communities. A lot of the problems we face as a city aren’t ours to solve alone, they are beyond our scope, responsibility and capabilities, and yet we have chosen to respond to deter the situation getting even worse.  

We are responsible for operating a City in 2025 and diligently building a better one for future generations to thrive in. City building must be upheld in an era where the status quo is no longer feasible as we face infrastructure reaching end-of-life and in dire need of investment.

A breakdown of cost savings and cost drivers

1. Efficiencies & Savings - The Mayor’s directive asked staff to look at everything and find efficiencies. Based on the presentations we received, about $55M was found through various means to reduce the tax impact - a reduction of about 4.2%.

2. Housing - Investments to address the housing crisis truly requires all levels of government working in a coordinated and aligned way. Yet, housing is approaching an annual $130M tax-supported expense that is a provincial responsibility. That’s roughly a 10% impact on our overall budget - a very significant impact. We’re making the decision to do so because it is what is right for our City.

3. Two percent of the 5.6% increase is the result of provincial and legislated services (0.5%) which Council has no ability to adjust. The Hamilton Police Services budget and 911 improvements (1.5%) represents a little over a third of the total overall City budget this year.

The capital budget started just over 2% and reductions brought it in at 1.6% of the increase. This increase is to address crumbling infrastructure - roads, infrastructure and facilities in an aging city. 

The final large bucket is the various City services and boards, including library, coming in at 2.1%, but it was shaved a bit off in the last meeting, to roughly a 2% increase for operating the City.

It is important to acknowledge that running a city has gotten much more expensive. Especially an aging city that needs investment.

I supported reductions where money would be spent better, more wisely, and efficiently. I did not support unnecessary spending despite the rhetorical spin some are ascribing to the final rate as frivolous. I did not support amendments that would compromise long-term gains that have a tangible impact on keeping Hamiltonians affordably housed, like the Safe Apartments program and anti-renovictions by-law implementation, which after start-up costs end up being based in cost recovery, meaning reduced tax levy impact over the years. In my opinion, some of the motions were counter productive and did not support city building to ensure future generations can thrive here together. 

All that to say, I believe we have landed on a rate that does a good job of balancing needs and investments.

CITY-WIDE GENDER BASED VIOLENCE COLLABORATION

At Emergency & Community Services Committee, we approved a $100,000 infusion into gender-based violence and intimate partner violence programming and services for survivors across the city. Rural women are facing rising levels of GBV, and along with other recommendations, Council is addressing the gaps. None of the investments this year have a tax levy impact and were funded through existing operating funds.

CHH NEW & REPAIRED AFFORDABLE HOMES

I had the pleasure of formally opening and cutting the ribbon on CityHousing Hamilton's newest affordable housing building delivering 55 homes at 106 Bay St N. It is a mix of family-size and single units with more than 80% being deeply affordable rent-geared-to-income and the other 20% set at half the market rate. This community-oriented building exemplifies inclusive, sustainable, and affordable urban living, right in the heart of downtown Hamilton. It is just one example of our ongoing commitment to tangibly address the housing crisis in our communities with excellence.

This building represents the best of what cities can do when we prioritize building affordable housing in sustainable ways. By leveraging existing lands, like the under-utlized municipal parking lot that used to be on this site, the city enabled CHH to demonstrate infill leadership. This high-performance building delivers on greener residential development standards as CHH’s baseline commitment to climate action to ensure future generations can thrive together longer. The extra thick walls cut energy costs, provide insulation, heat and cold retention, as well as noise dampening, which makes a big difference in terms of quality of life for urban living. With the addition of solar panels covering more than a quarter of the energy needs of the entire building as well.

CHH also lined up strategic partnerships with Communoatuo and Hamilton Bike Share to support diverse and affordable active transportation options for our neighbours living here, including connectivity with existing HSR routes.

As President of CHH and Chair of the Board, I get the privilege of cutting the ribbon, but truly the congrats go to every CHH staff team member who has dedicated excellence in delivering this great building. In talking with one of the tenants, he shared that while moving in he bought a brand new TV for the first time in his life. "I finally feel settled and secure in my housing enough to do this." 

By the end of December, we completed the repair of 466 units in the CHH portfolio bringing us to a 98% completion rate and all repaired units are either occupied or have residents moving in soon. The remaining 10 units have asbestos related issues and will require more time to complete.

In addition to that, over the past six months, CHH has added 79 brand new homes in Hamilton, with the target of another 82 to be opened by summer 2026.

As President of CHH, I am proud of pushing for these priorities at the Board level. It is through joint leadership with CHH staff that we are able to deliver these results and continue our role as non-profit housing leaders in Hamilton.

TOWN HALL: NEW & FINAL DATE, MAR 4

My team and I initially had to reschedule the Annual Ward 3 Townhall due to a tragic and unexpected death in my family. Then the Ontario Provincial Election was scheduled to take place on February 27, 2025, resulting in a new date for the Ward 3 Townhall on Tuesday March 4, 2025 from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre, with the option to virtually participate.

This event will serve as an opportunity to provide a fulsome annual update to neighbours from across #OurWard3 and an opportunity for neighbours to ask questions and share your experiences and ideas. A full agenda and more details will be provided soon.

All are welcome and we encourage you to pre-register so we may best accommodate your participation. Child-minding is available with pre-registration and light refreshments will be provided. To register, please use this link, contact ward3@hamilton.ca, or call 905-546-2702.

WARD 3 SPRING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE GRANTS INTAKE NOW OPEN

Applications opened on February 14th for the Ward 3 Community Resilience Grants!

Do you have an idea that could strengthen our community, foster resilience, or bring neighbors together in #OurWard3? Now’s your chance to bring it to life with support from the Community Resilience Grants program!

📅 Apply now to fund projects that focus on:
✨ Building community connections, engagement, and capacity
✊🏾 Empowering residents to engage in local initiatives
👥 Delivering lasting and positive impact to our local communities

This grant is designed to support projects that directly impact and uplift our Ward 3 neighborhoods. We can’t wait to see the creative and impactful ideas from our residents!

While organizations are welcome to apply, preference will be given to initiatives that are resident-led and can demonstrate outcomes which are community-focused and that will be delivered in Ward 3 neighbourhoods.

How to Apply:
Visit the link in bio or check out the application form at nrinder.ca/communityresiliencegrants. 

Applications close on March 30, so don’t miss this chance to apply and make a difference!

LRT DEMOLITION NOTICE

There will be an upcoming demolition in Ward 3 as part of the Hamilton LRT project. Demolition is scheduled for late February at 1177, 945, and 949 King Street East. Approximately 55 nearby residences will be notified by Metrolinx about the planned work.

Additionally, three demolitions are planned for this spring (weather permitting) at 927 King Street East. To ensure these activities do not impact the structural condition of neighbouring properties, Metrolinx subcontractors, OZA Inspectors, will be conducting pre-condition visual inspections of nearby buildings. Notices will be delivered to affected residences, informing them that OZA will be reaching out to schedule inspections.

If you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us. If your office receives any related inquiries or concerns, we would appreciate it if you could direct them to hamilton@metrolinx.com.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The Black community has contributed significantly to the history and cultural diversity of the City of Hamilton. In 2023, the Black History Month Council, in partnership with Black-led organizations and the City of Hamilton came together to launch the first official Black History Month campaign “We Are Hamilton – Black History Remembered”. Through this collaborative initiative, images and biographies of 17 Black Hamiltonians have been profiled, with two more individuals - Reverend George Edmund Fitzgerald and Haydain Neale -  added to the list of honourees in 2025.

The Black-led organizations who have made this initiative possible include: Afro Canadian Caribbean Association, Ghana Association of Hamilton, Haitian Association of Hamilton, Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre, Hamilton Black History Council, Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, Nigerian Canadian Association of Hamilton and District, Refuge Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health, Jamaica Foundation Hamilton, Melanin Market and Sandbox Studios.

The City of Hamilton would like to thank the Black History Month Council and Black-led organizations in Hamilton for their ongoing contributions and efforts to profile, celebrate and raise awareness of Black Hamiltonians who have made significant contributions to our city. The images and biographies of the 19 Black Hamiltonians honoured through this work will be profiled during Black History Month in February in select City facilities, including Hamilton Public Library branches, recreation centres, and City Hall.

VACANT UNIT TAX DECLARATION NOW OPEN

The declaration period for Hamilton’s Vacant Unit Tax is now open. All residential property owners must submit their 2024 occupancy status - even if the property is a principal residence or exempt. Declarations can be made online at hamilton.ca/VacantUnitTax or by phone at 905-546-2573. The deadline to submit is Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

The Vacant Unit Tax is designed to increase Hamilton’s housing supply by encouraging property owners to keep residential units occupied. After covering administrative costs, tax revenues will be reinvested into affordable housing initiatives.

Properties that were vacant for more than 183 days in the previous calendar year will be charged a 1% tax on their current assessed value. This tax will be added to the final property tax bill, mailed in June 2025.

Exemptions

Certain properties are exempt from the Vacant Unit Tax, including:

• Principal residences

• Recent property sales

• Major renovations (with a valid building permit)

• Owner’s passing

• Owner in hospital or long-term care

• Properties under court order

• Non-profit housing

Resources for property owners:

To assist with the declaration process, the City of Hamilton has created two videos:

1. A short explainer video outlining the Vacant Unit Tax program.

2. A step-by-step instructional video on submitting a declaration online

Both videos can be found at hamilton.ca/VacantUnitTax.

If a declaration is not submitted by April 30, 2025, the property will be deemed vacant, and the Vacant Unit Tax will apply.

For full details, including FAQs and instructional videos, visit hamilton.ca/VacantUnitTax or email vacantunittax@hamilton.ca with any questions.

HAMILTON HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION & SOCIAL, FEB 22

Hamilton’s Civic Museums and the Hamilton Wentworth Heritage Association invite you to celebrate Hamilton’s rich history and heritage.

Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Dundurn Castle, Coach House, 610 York Blvd.

This event is free to the public and will feature a series of short talks on heritage matters affecting Hamiltonians. The event will be informal, and we will be celebrating the dedicated citizen volunteers and staff who contribute to the heritage sector.

No RSVP or tickets are required to attend. For more information or to ask questions, please contact christopher.redford@hamilton.ca.

LET’S TALK TAXICABS: TAXICAB BY-LAW REVIEW

On December 5, 2023, Hamilton’s City Council approved a motion to review the taxicab industry given the industry’s evolution. No thorough review of Schedule 25 has occurred since the 2007 repeal and replacement of the City of Hamilton Licensing By-law. Residents can review the current taxicab by-law here.

The City of Hamilton is conducting a review of taxicab services to ensure that the taxi by-law meets the current and future needs of residents and groups. The Let’s Talk Taxicabs engagement initiative will help us to understand the needs and concerns of our community regarding taxicab services in Hamilton.

Engagement will focus on these areas:

• Taxicab usage

• Taxicab fare regulation

• Opinions on safety and service satisfaction

• Accessible taxicabs

• Training requirements

• Taxicab driver trends

• Accessible Taxi Financial Incentive Pilot Program

We want your thoughts on current taxi services and areas of improvement that are important to you and other community members in Hamilton. To better engage with different stakeholders, two different online surveys are available:

• Survey for the general public

• Survey for taxicab drivers and plate owners

Your experiences and opinions will help determine the future of the City of Hamilton's taxicab regulations. Information gathered through these surveys will be used to guide our review and support possible revisions to Schedule 25 of the Licensing By-law 07-170.

For more information and to access the survey, please visit: https://engage.hamilton.ca/letstalktaxicabs

URBAN FOREST STRATEGY

The Urban Forest Strategy (UFS) is a plan to ensure the long-term health of Hamilton’s urban forest through preservation and planting. It is a community-developed vision with actions to guide us in maintaining and growing the urban forest.

Hamilton's urban forest includes all publicly and privately-owned trees and supporting vegetation in the urban area.

The urban forest includes more than Hamilton's natural areas. Individual trees and groups of trees along streets, in backyards, parks, and commercial areas within Hamilton's urban boundary are also part of the urban forest.

We all know that trees are important. Trees are often called “green infrastructure” because they provide many valuable ecosystem services. These services include improving air and water quality, mitigating and controlling flooding, beautifying neighbourhoods, reducing energy use, providing habitat for wildlife, and providing recreation opportunities.

However, pressures on trees are increasing, due to pests and diseases, drought and severe weather from climate change, development, and invasive species.

For more information about the Urban Forest Strategy and to take the survey, please visit: https://engage.hamilton.ca/urban-forest-strategy.

Photo of teenagers in Hamilton Children’s Choir. Photo Credit: Choral Nation

HAMILTON CHILDREN’S CHOIR 50TH BIRTHDAY PARTY FUNDRAISER, FEB 22

Hamilton Children’s Choir is excited to invite you to their 50th Birthday Party Fundraiser on February 22 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Bridgeworks! It’s going to be a day filled with fun, laughter, and music, and we’d love for you to join them in celebrating half a century of joyful singing.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Face Painting: Let imaginations run wild with colorful creations.

• Music Bingo: Put your musical knowledge to the test!

• Live Choir Performances: Enjoy the beautiful voices of our talented choristers.

• Silent Auction: Bid on fantastic items and experiences to support HCC’s next 50 years.

• Bake Sale & Cake: Indulge in delicious homemade treats and a slice of birthday cake!

• Pizza: Grab a slice for lunch—no one will go hungry!

• And More Surprises: Stay tuned for extra fun sprinkled throughout the day!

Kids 12 and under get in free, so bring the whole family! And yes, the event is licensed—parents can toast to 50 years of beautiful music. Your ticket and participation help ensure that Hamilton Children’s Choir can continue to inspire, educate, and empower young voices in our community. Invite your friends, make some memories, and help us make this 50th birthday celebration one for the books!

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased here!

GREEN VENTURE’S LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT DESIGN CHARETTE, FEB 27

Want to design your own garden but don’t know where to start? Join our Low Impact Development Design Charette for a hands-on workshop! Using a real-life example, we’ll guide you through site analysis, key design considerations, and collaborative problem-solving with fellow community members.

Space is limited to ensure a personalized experience. The event takes place at Pinch Bakery & Plant Shop with refreshments available for purchase.

Bring your creativity and let’s talk design!

This is a FREE event. Sign up to attend this event on our website - RSVP to save your seat!

ALICE IN BLOOMLAND

Tumble down the rabbit hole into “Alice in Bloomland,” a wondrous botanical experience at Royal Botanical Gardens where reality bends and blossoms into a world of curiosity for all ages! Inspired by the pages of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this floral showcase weaves together the magic of horticulture, the whimsy of floral design, and the marvel of visual arts to create an enchanting indoor wonderland straight out of a dream. On now until March 30th.

HPL IN YOUR INBOX

Get the best HPL has to offer sent right to your inbox.

Hamilton Public Library is working to make your member experience awesome! We want to make it easier than ever for you to receive important information and news about our programs, collections and events.

Subscribe to our eNewsletter and be the first to know what’s happening at HPL. 

We value your privacy, and therefore, we will not sell, rent or share any of your personal information. If you change your mind at any time, you can unsubscribe or change your preferences simply by clicking the link at the bottom.

Subscribing Is Easy

1. Enter your email address, first name, and postal code. 

2. Check your email and click the link to confirm your subscription.

3. Sit back and enjoy more of the HPL news, updates and information that you want and need.

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

---

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Ward 3 Community Update - January 28, 2025

Dear Neighbours,

It has already become a busy start to the year as we progress into February. From updates on the City’s budget process, including water rate increases and tax-supported budget deliberations, to changes in the encampment protocol and the City’s efforts toward housing solutions, there are many important developments I want to bring to your attention. 

I’m also excited to invite you to the upcoming Annual Ward 3 Town Hall now scheduled for March 4th to provide you with an opportunity to connect, review what has been completed on behalf of Ward 3 residents in 2024, what’s anticipated in 2025, and to ask questions, and share your ideas. 

Infrastructure improvements are underway, such as traffic signal enhancements at Cannon and Sanford and updates on the Wentworth Street reconstruction project. This newsletter also highlights a variety of community events and opportunities, from gardening workshops at Seedy Saturday to a research study on Digital Safety and Security led by McMaster University and SWAP Hamilton.

I encourage you to explore the full details in this month’s updates and join us in building a stronger, more connected Ward 3. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office by contacting ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET

Hamilton’s 2025 Budget process is underway.

Council ended 2024 with a review and confirmation of the 2025 water rate budget to continue to address the growth related and infrastructure needs related to water services. The multi-year plan sees an increase of just under 10% ($96 annually for the average household) to meet our current service and infrastructure needs city wide.

The preliminary projection for the 2025 Tax Supported Budget was 8.2%. It was then brought down to 6.9% prior to the holiday break. Since then, staff have found further efficiencies and offsets and are currently reporting a 5.7% increase in residential property taxes. 

The proposed 2025 Tax Budget was prepared in alignment with the Mayoral Directive to Staff (MDI-2024-03), as well as Council’s priorities imperative: 

• Responsive to economic challenges that residents are facing, particularly the cost of living and the ongoing affordability crisis. 

• The 2025 budget aims to balance strategic investments in essential services, while maintaining affordability for tax and ratepayers. 

How staff went about meeting the directive include measures that achieve the following: 

• New and expanded revenue streams and prudent utilization of debt and reserves.

• Protect the City’s credit rating and long-term financial stability. 

• Balance demands with affordability challenges, while addressing multi-year investment plans. 

• Pursue provincial and federal investments to support housing-related initiatives. 

• Consider urgent pressures including improvements to transportation, infrastructure (roads & transit), cyber response and recovery investments, and climate response initiatives. 

• Thorough review of budget submissions. 

• New investment requests must demonstrate their capacity to advance Council-identified priorities

• And, expanded public engagement by promoting online tools.

Council and staff take seriously our need to balance the economic challenges that residents are facing and protecting Hamilton’s long-term financial stability. This includes protecting the City’s AAA credit rating and ensuring we’re not passing on a bigger infrastructure deficit to future generations.

This month, my Council colleagues and I will work towards approval of the Tax Supported Operating and Capital Budget, with a goal to provide final approval by the February 12, 2025 Council meeting. With changes brought forward by the Provincial Government, the final approval for the budget rests with the Mayor.

Residents can have their input directly heard by the Budget Committee by participating in the interactive budget tool at https://engage.hamilton.ca/budget2025.

RESCINDING THE ENCAMPMENT PROTOCOL

Last week Council ratified the decision made on a motion brought forward by Councillor Spadafora to rescind the Encampment Protocol. This motion essentially fast tracks my motion from September 2024 to have staff report back on sunsetting the protocol in a manner that complies with all required human rights laws by the end of this quarter.

The details of the motion are as follows:

(a) That the City of Hamilton Encampment Protocol be rescinded as of March 6, 2025; 
(b) That the General Managers of Healthy and Safe Communities, Planning & Economic Development, and Public Works, report back at the February 26, 2025 GIC meeting with the necessary resources and staffing needed to transition from the current Encampment Protocol to the City of Hamilton Parks Bylaw.
(c) That Housing Services staff be directed to continue working with local social agencies to find shelter space for those living in encampments; 
(d) That Municipal Law Enforcement (MLE) and Parks staff be directed to dismantle all encampments as well as clean and restore parks to the inviting, safe, and green recreational spaces they once were, to be enjoyed by City of Hamilton taxpayers and their families.

As I said in Council last week, according to the AMO paper released earlier this month, with housing and homelessness data from across the province, enforcement alone will not effectively stop encampments. It is only through investment in transitional and affordable housing, social services, and tenant and housing protections that prevent folks from losing their homes that we will see the easing of this crisis in Hamilton and across the province. 

Enforcing encampments and our parks by-law is not a solution to homelessness and to folks who have not been able to find adequate shelter in Hamilton or access the health and social services they most desperately deserve. I have repeatedly called on both the federal and provincial governments to take their responsibilities for health and housing seriously and solve the crisis unfolding in our neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, it has only resulted in a few municipalities getting an inadequate amount of funding to offset some of the cost for existing efforts. 

I voted in support of this motion because Council has approved historical investments to shelters and supportive housing to both right-size our shelter system with lower-barrier options and increase the number of supportive units available. For Ward 3, this includes 138 new shelter beds, 180 non-profit housing units already built and occupied, and an additional 230 new homes approved through the city’s Affordable Housing Project Stream which will include supportive and transitional housing as well.

My Council colleagues and I need to continue our work putting forward bonafide solutions to increase the number of housing units available in each Ward across the City to truly solve homelessness. And we will forever remain limited in achieving such a target without the provincial and federal government being aligned to a target that seeks to eradicate homelessness.

I await the staff's report back about how the parks by-law will be practically enforced and how previous directions declaring some areas as non-compliant based on proximity to both outdoor and indoor shelter services will be impacted. I will also share with residents what the service standards, revised reporting process, and the enforcement timelines will look like in a future e-newsletter.

MUNICIPAL LAND TRANSFER TAX

At GIC last week, we received a report back from staff on possible revenue streams following a motion last spring from Councillor Maureen Wilson seeking to help inform future decisions by Council on various ways other cities generate revenue to reduce the burden on property tax rates. Among options such as a municipal tax on alcohol or tobacco sales, and changes in parking, was information on a Municipal Land Transfer Tax. 

We heard from many delegates on this issue and my office received a number of emails and calls as well. This was an information report only. There were no staff recommendations or proposed actions to pursue for Council at this time.

I understand it is being reported by some in the community that they effectively prevented Council from pursuing the Land Transfer Tax. This is not entirely accurate, as I stated, the report was simply to gather information about alternative revenue generation paths other cities have taken.

BARTON/TIFFANY SHELTER PURCHASE REVIEW

At Council last week, I supported Councillor JP Danko’s motion calling for a review of the details of the Barton Tiffany shelter structure provider and outdoor shelter operator single-source contracts including compliance with City purchasing policy and contract terms. The motion also called for a financial evaluation in terms of value for money. 

I support this motion because the outdoor shelter ought to have been completed by November 2024 as part of the temporary solutions to the housing and humanitarian crisis unfolding in our neighbourhoods. We are now two months behind the target. I believe the motion outlines a path to get the information behind the procurement details into public view and provide Council members the opportunity to ask questions.

VACANT UNIT TAX

Since mail was delayed at the end of last year, Council has approved new timelines for the Vacant Unit Tax program. The new start date is February 10, 2025, and there is an extended submission deadline of April 30, 2025. Additionally the penalty will be waived for late declarations made after April 20, 2025 for the 2024 self-declaration year only.

For any residents who have a vacant unit, or who wish to see more information on this program, you can find it on the City’s website here.

JAMESVILLE REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE

An adjournment of the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing scheduled for February 18, 2025, will be requested due to the ongoing settlement negotiations related to 405 James Street North (Jamesville) with CN Rail. While significant progress has been made, additional time is needed beyond the start of the February 18th hearing to reach agreements. 

The adjournment means the hearing will not be rescheduled. The parties are also requesting a case management conference from the Ontario Land Tribunal as early as May or June 2025. This conference could be used to provide an update to the tribunal, request hearing dates, or be converted to a settlement hearing.

The partnership between CityHousing Hamilton, Indwell, and the Jamesville Redevelopment Limited Partnership, supported by the City of Hamilton, will replace the former 91 townhouses and create a diverse, inclusive, mixed-income urban community in Hamilton’s North End. The redevelopment aims to replace an ageing, outdated residential complex with a new mixed-income community that combines publicly owned social housing, non-profit affordable housing, and market units in an intensified site adjacent to the West Harbour GO station. 

For more information, visit the CityHamilton Housing Jamesville Redevelopment webpage.

TOWN HALL: NEW & FINAL DATE, MAR 4

My team and I initially rescheduled the Annual Ward 3 Townhall due to a tragic death in my family. Then the Ontario Provincial Election was scheduled to take place on February 27, 2025, resulting in the date of the Ward 3 Townhall being changed to Thursday March 4, 2025 from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre, with the option to virtually participate.

This event will serve as an opportunity to provide a fulsome annual update to neighbours from across #OurWard3 and an opportunity for neighbours to ask questions and share your experiences and ideas. A full agenda and more details will be provided soon.

All are welcome and we encourage you to pre-register so we may best accommodate your participation. To register, please use this link, contact ward3@hamilton.ca, or call 905-546-2702.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL ENHANCEMENTS: CANNON ST. E & SANFORD AVE N

The City of Hamilton is beginning the process of enhancing the traffic signal at Cannon Street East and Sanford Avenue North.

The work involves the supply and installation of traffic signal infrastructure, and curb/sidewalk reconstruction. These improvements also include AODA enhancements.

AODA enhancements are improvements to the infrastructure in support of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This includes items such as Tactile Walking Surfaces Indicators which are proposed.

The contract has been awarded to Decew Construction. Construction is scheduled to commence in January 2024, and will be substantially completed in February 2024, weather permitting. Modifications to traffic signal infrastructure, operation, layout and pavement markings have been incorporated into the works.

As construction progresses, you may experience some inconveniences such as noise, dust, temporary roadway disruption and restricted traffic movements. Every effort will be made to complete the work in a timely manner and to keep any inconveniences to a minimum. We ask for your patience during this period. However, for the duration of the project, the City of Hamilton on-site inspector will be made available to explain the sequence of work and answer any construction-related questions.

Staff ask for your co-operation during this period and request that any questions regarding this project be directed to:

Bob Popovich
Project Manager, Traffic Design and Construction
Bob.Popovich@hamilton.ca 

Nick Pongetti
Traffic Inspector, Traffic Design and Construction 
Nick.Pongetti@hamilton.ca 

WENTWORTH STREET RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE: KING ST. E TO WILSON ST

Construction updates are moving forward in Ward 3, with key projects impacting roads and transit in the coming months. The Wentworth Street project did experience some weather related impacts but is now on track to be fully paved and line-painted by mid-February 2025. Once this section reopens, work will shift to Wilson Street between Wentworth and Sanford. 

The closure of Wilson Street is expected to begin around July or August 2025, with the initial section closed from Wentworth to Sherman Avenue. Future closures along Wilson will occur, but not for several months after this phase. During the closure, HSR transit services to the high school will be affected, so residents are encouraged to plan accordingly.

Delays along Wentworth may affect the completion timeline for related projects, including the Cannon and Sherman intersection. Staff will continue to aim to finish by the end of 2025 and will provide further updates should this change. Start dates for intersection work will depend on progress along Wilson and will be shared by Staff once confirmed.

Updates on the final paving and line-painting for Wentworth, as well as firm timelines for Wilson Street closures, will be provided within the next month. Thank you for your patience as we work to improve our community’s infrastructure.

For any questions or concerns, residents can contact:

Dennis Perusin
Senior Project Manager Sub Surface LRT
dennis.perusin@hamilton.ca

WINTER RESPONSE STRATEGY

The City of Hamilton, along with community partners, have launched a comprehensive Winter Response Strategy to better address the needs of those experiencing homelessness during the winter months.

The program is effective from December 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025 and is not tied to the City’s Cold Alert system like it was previously. The offerings as part of the response will be available ongoing during this time period, regardless of the temperature outdoors.

This program represents an elevated standard of winter response service, surpassing the city's prior offerings, with the aim of providing a more effective response to the community's needs, specifically for the unhoused.

To offer protection for and safety throughout the winter season for unhoused individuals, these measures will be implemented:

• Overnight Drop-In & Evening Warming Spaces

• Daytime drop-in, overnight drop-in and overnight warming spaces within Hamilton will be made available.

To determine if there is available space at a specific location, please contact the number listed for that service.

Willow’s Place - 196 Wentworth St. N.

• Call 905-528-5100 press 8; then 3

• 45 overnight warming spaces, all women, Two Spirit, trans- and non-binary people

• 24 hours/day 7 days/week

YWCA Carole Anne’s Place - 75 MacNab St. S.

• Call 905-522-9922 ext 100

• 40 overnight drop-in spaces, all women, Two Spirit, trans- and non-binary people

• 6 pm to 1 pm, nightly (enhanced from 10 pm to 1 pm)

Mission Services: Night Link - 196 Wentworth St. N. Door 8

• Call 905-528-4212

• 25 evening warming spaces, all genders

• 5:30 pm to 11 pm / 7 days a week

These services are specific to additional supports in place December 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 and hours are subject to change.

RENOVATION LICENSE & RELOCATION BY-LAW

Hamilton's Renovation Licence and Relocation By-law 24-055, also known in the community as the Anti-Renovictions By-law, is in effect as of January 1, 2025 to address bad faith evictions and protect tenants. This includes new requirements for landlords to comply with when they want to complete renovations where vacant possession of a unit is required. The By-law applies to all rental housing units anywhere in Hamilton.

Starting January 1, 2025, all landlords must apply for a renovation licence within seven days of serving an N13 notice to tenants to vacate their rental unit for extensive repairs or renovation.

For more information, on Ontario’s first ever Anti-Renoviction By-law and what is expected of landlords, please visit the City’s Renovation License & Relocation By-Law website.

WE REDUCE SINGLE-USE PROGRAM

Food establishments such as restaurants or coffee shops that receive waste collection services through the City of Hamilton, could be eligible for the City’s We Reduce Single-Use business recognition program. The recognition program will certify and recognize food establishments that fully participate in the City’s green bin and recycling diversion programs, and who already reduced, or are planning to reduce, disposable, single-use, and takeaway items.

Single-use Plastic or Takeaway Items

• Food-related single-use plastic and takeaway items are generally disposed of after one use, such as plastic cutlery, fast food & take-out containers, and plastic bags. Thousands of these items are used across the City every day, and most cannot be recycled or composted and end up as litter, and eventually in the landfill.

Reducing Environmental Impact

• Reducing the number of single-use plastic and takeaway items generated in Hamilton and properly using diversion programs such as the green bin, helps extend the life of our landfill, reduces costs to the City and minimizes pollution and litter, helping keep Hamilton clean and green.

Recognition from the City

• All food establishments certified in Hamilton’s ‘We Reduce Single-Use’ program will be recognized and profiled by the City on public forums such as the website and social media channels. You will also receive a window decal to display for customers. This extra publicity may drive more environmentally conscious customers to your business.

Please visit the City’s We Reduce Single-Use business recognition program to submit an application.

CAMP KIDACA REGISTRATION OPENS SOON!!!

Registration for Camp Kidaca summer camps begins February 12 at 8am! Programs and fees will be available for review on Monday February 3 at http://hamilton.ca/campkidaca

YWCA’S NEWCOMER YOUTH CAREER LAUNCHPAD, JAN 30

YWCA Hamilton’s JOIN Immigration and Settlement Services is offering a FREE one-day certificate & employment preparation workshop for newcomer youth aged 15 – 29. You’ll gain skills, certifications like Point of Sale Digital Cashier Training certificate and Customer Service Training certificate, resume and cover letter help, job fair prep, and exclusive job fair access!

Event Details:

• Thursday, January 30th, 2025 @ 9 AM to 4 PM

• YWCA Hamilton, 75 MacNab Street South, Hamilton, ON

• Open to girls, women and gender-diverse youth aged 15-29, Permanent Resident, Protected Person, Convention Refugee, Live-in Caregiver/Temporary Foreign Worker (valid work permit) and/or Ukrainian national and/or dependent.

Registration is available online here.

HAMILTON BLACK HISTORY MONTH LAUNCH, JAN 31

The Hamilton Black History Council, in partnership with Hamilton Black-led organizations, the City of Hamilton, and Hamilton Public Library, invites community members to the 2025 Black History Month Launch – The Art of Community on Friday, January 31, 2025, from 12:00pm-2:30pm at the Hamilton Public Library Central Branch.

This free event will feature the works of artists Roger and Kareem Ferreira and Dawn Grant Artistry, a marketplace showcasing local vendors and artists, and refreshments.

As part of this year’s We Are Hamilton – Black History Remembered initiative, two new honourees will be recognized for their remarkable contributions: Reverend George Edmund Fitzgerald Horton and Haydain Neale. Since the initiative launched in 2023, 19 Black Hamiltonians have been celebrated for their invaluable contributions to the history and cultural diversity of our city.

CELEBRATE ALL THINGS GARDENING AT HAMILTON'S 14TH ANNUAL SEEDY SATURDAY, FEB 1

It's back! Central Library is the place to be on Saturday, February 1st, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for the return of Seedy Saturday in partnership with Green Venture. This FREE event brings together a wonderful community of garden-minded vendors, environmental groups, and local organizations. By donation - donations to Green Venture are welcome! 

The Fourth Floor will be buzzing with gardening experts, seed swaps, vendors, workshops, kids' activities and more. It's the ‘go-to’ place to be if you're interested in gardening, edible gardening, pollinator gardens, sustainability, heirloom and organic seed supplies, and more! You can enjoy a wide range of vendors and exhibitors.       

1. A community seed exchange, where you can take home what you want to grow this year! 

2. Seed and garden supply vendors selling quality seeds with heritage and heirloom varieties

3. Free garden workshops and educational demonstrations throughout the day

4. Opportunities for meeting and networking with local gardeners, experts, community groups

5. Children’s Activities

For any inquiries, send an email to garden@greenventure.ca 

BLACK VOICES AT THE MARKET, FEB 8

HARRC and the Market will celebrate Black History Month with an event that amplifies Black voices, shares the stories of Black-owned businesses, and creates space for reflection and connection. Experience the richness of the African diaspora through food, culture, and meaningful conversations.

Highlights:

• Afrolicious Catering

• Panel Discussion

• Community Quilt Making

• Resources and Support

Date: February 8th
Time: 10 AM - 3 PM

SWAP RESEARCH STUDY IN DIGITAL SAFETY & SECURITY IN SEXWORK

McMaster University researchers and SWAPHamilton asked my office to share with you that they are looking for volunteers 18 years of age and older of all gender identities who identify as current or former members of the sex work profession in the City of Hamilton and surrounding area to participate in 12 arts-based and zine-making workshops on digital security and safety. 

Participants are welcome to attend some or all workshops. The workshops will take place at the YWCA Hamilton (5 MacNab St S, Hamilton, ON L8P 3C1) on Thursday evenings, each involving approximately 1.5 hours of your time. As compensation for your participation in the 1.5-hour workshop, you will receive a $40 grocery card at the end.

For more information, please visit: bit.ly/digital-safety-zines

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Peace on Earth & Joy to All

Dear Neighbours,

Acts of compassion, kindness and contribution put the spirit of this holiday season in action. As we each wind down the year in our own ways, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to each of you who are able to show up with compassion, generosity, and kindness across the ward and in our city.

I know for many, 2024 has been a challenging year - we see our neighbours struggling to make ends meet, folks with nowhere to live, and an ever increasing use of emergency food services by children and youth. All against a backdrop of what feels like emboldened hate and division.

And yet, we also have great examples of care in our communities. We had a tremendous turn out of food and donations during the CPKC Holiday Train event last month. My office received so many fantastic applications for resident-led initiatives in Ward 3 that aim to build resilience and community strength in our neighbourhoods. It has also been such a pleasure to connect with Ward 3 neighbours throughout the year about the different ways you work to support each other and offer more.

Seeing this gives me hope that together we will see brighter days ahead!

I always say in #OurWard3 we belong to each other. And it is true across our beloved city. Thank you for all the ways you have shown up for others this year. You make Hamilton shine with love and respect.

My wish for us all is that we may enjoy both joy and peace over the holiday season and carry both into the new year. As we take time to rest and reflect, may we also recommit to living our values in community for the year to come. We belong to each other and we need each other too!

Reminder that all City of Hamilton administrative offices will be closed from December 25 to January 1 and will reopen on January 2, 2025. We ask for your patience and understanding as my team cycles through vacation time, my office will be operating in reduced capacity from December 23 to January 3, 2025.To learn more about holiday hours for other city services click here. 

And, if you find yourself wanting to gather in good vibes, join me for a Community Skate or some hot chocolate and treats on December 31st at the Serafini Skate Pad at the Morelli Centre from 11am to 1pm.

Peace and joy to you!

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Grand Opening of 257 King William St. Supportive Housing Project, Ward 3 Community Resilience Grant Recipients, Gage Park Encampment Updates, and more

Dear Neighbours,

As we approach the end of the year, there’s much to celebrate and look forward to in our vibrant community. I’m thrilled to share two upcoming events that will bring us together as neighbours and foster connection across #OurWard3.

Ring in the New Year at the Ward 3 Community Skate!
Join us on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Serafini Ice Pad at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre. This family-friendly event is the perfect way to close out 2024 and welcome 2025 with skating, music, and complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. Let’s skate into the New Year together!

Save the Date for the Annual Ward 3 Town Hall!
Mark your calendars for the Ward 3 Town Hall on Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre. This is an opportunity to hear a detailed annual update, ask questions, and share your thoughts for the year ahead. Pre-registration is encouraged—details are included below.

I also encourage you to read through the full e-newsletter, as it’s packed with valuable updates and information about programs, services, and opportunities in Ward 3. Stay informed and engaged with everything happening in our community!

I look forward to seeing you at these events and connecting with you as we celebrate our community and shape the year ahead.

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

A festive tree adorned with colorful lights stands beside Hamilton City Hall. A banner reads "Council & Committee Updates," and the word "Hamilton" is visible in lit-up letters in the background.

CELEBRATING THE GRAND OPENING OF 257 KING WILLIAM STREET SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT

As President of CityHousing Hamilton, I had the privilege of celebrating the Grand Opening of 257 King William Street, a groundbreaking supportive housing project that provides 24 permanent homes for individuals in our community who recently were homeless.

This project represents the power of collaboration, with financial contributions from federal, provincial, and municipal governments, as well as a service partnership with Indwell.

Key Highlights:

• Transforming an under-utlized municipal parking lot into affordable housing

• 24 permanent supportive housing units designated for Black, Indigenous, and racialized individuals, with a focus on those experiencing chronic homelessness

• 24/7 on-site health and social supports tailored to the needs of residents

• Built with sustainability in mind, featuring solar panels and a passive house design standards

• Funded through the Rapid Housing Initiative ($6.5M), COCHI ($1.9M), and City of Hamilton ($1.2M)

It was great to join Mayor Horwath, Minister Tassi, MP Collins, CHH CEO Sweedland and Jessica Brand from Indwell to share a few words about the importance of these homes and celebrate this achievement with community partners and neighbours. The building is a testament to what can be accomplished when we prioritize housing, health, and social equity.

The first residents have already begun moving in, marking the start of a new chapter filled with hope and opportunity.

Thank you to CHH staff for their exceptional work for a funding-ready project that looks beautiful and provides a home full of dignity. Thank you also to everyone who played a role in bringing this project to life. Together, we are making Hamilton a more inclusive, supportive, and sustainable city. 

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

588 BARTON ST. E TAX GRANT SUPPORTING REDEVELOPMENT INCLUDING HOUSING

A Tax Increment Grant application for the redevelopment of 588 Barton Street East was approved at General Issues Committee and ratified by Council. The project aims to transform a vacant two-story commercial building into 22 rental residential units. Though I don’t like to see the loss of commercial buildings on Barton, this re-purposing makes sense and will provide its future residents walking access to Powell Park and the Barton library branch.

Estimated construction costs are $1.84 million, and the redevelopment will significantly increase the property’s assessed value, resulting in higher property tax revenue for the City. Under the Barton/Kenilworth Tax Increment Grant Program, the project is eligible for a grant estimated at $79,156 over nine years. This program incentivizes revitalization along the Barton Street East and Kenilworth Avenue North corridors, aligning with the City's broader goals for urban regeneration and economic growth.

This redevelopment offers several benefits:

• Reuse of a vacant property, reducing pressure on greenfield lands.

• Support for local infrastructure and transit through increased population density.

• Enhanced housing options and potential increase of economic activity in the Barton Street commercial district.

The grant payments, based on the municipal tax increment from the redevelopment, will start with full coverage for five years and gradually decrease until the ninth year. By year six, the City will begin retaining a growing share of the increased tax revenue.

This project reflects the City's commitment to revitalizing key areas, supporting local economic development, and addressing housing needs. The grant will help ensure the successful transformation of the property while fostering long-term community benefits.

REALIGNED COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM

Council approved staff’s recommendation to better resource community gardens across the city. This will result in dedicated staff leads who residents can work with to plan, administer, manage, and support the operations of community gardens. This recommendation comes as a result of declining volunteers city-wide resulting in overwhelm for those that remain doing the work. 

These gardens form important elements of Hamilton’s parks and greenways. They serve as gathering nodes that help strengthen neighbourhoods, provide beautification to neighbourhoods, and create healthy and complete communities. These spaces contribute positively to the health of the environment, economy, and social/public realm.

Some of these garden programs are managed entirely by City staff, while others like the community gardens program and pollinator gardens program are community-led, with varying levels of staff support. There is ongoing community interest and desire for community gardens and pollinator gardens, but the upkeep can be a challenge for community members, highlighted by delegations asking for support. In some cases, public demand for these gardens has outpaced the resourcing of staff or existing spaces. 

While staff want to assist, challenges such as current service levels, resources, and division of responsibilities are impacting the way these programs are administered. Currently, the community gardens program and the pollinator gardens program are managed by the Office of Climate Change Initiatives, while all other garden programs are managed by the Environmental Services Division. Because these garden programs are managed by different City groups, there are inefficiencies and redundancies. From a customer service lens, the decentralized model leads to ambiguity and becomes difficult to navigate for both City staff and interested community groups. 

Ultimately, volunteer efforts by engaged residents need better service from the City to support and oversee work on City property. And, having dedicated staff leads achieves that.

The final decision to hire two (2) Full Time Employees and to dedicate a vehicle at a cost of $372,493, will be referred to the 2025 Tax Operating Budget Process. 

WARD 3 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE GRANTS

My motion for the Fall Allocation of the 2024 Ward 3 Community Resilience Grants passed at Council earlier this week.

My office received 26 applications for the fund, for a total request of over $109,000 for a pot of only $17,000! We were blown away by the interest and programs that were submitted. These are truly small grants to seed resident-led initiatives that will be awarded twice yearly in a Spring and Fall cycle.

Reading through all of the applications, it was really hard to narrow the recipients down to the ones who were selected. There are some really great initiatives happening in Ward 3 and I look forward to supporting the unsuccessful applicants in other ways in the new year.

This is a reimagining of how money is granted from the former Bell Tower Funds. These funds are revenues that come from a tower at Tim Horton’s Stadium and that must be spent within the Ward. Not only does this new process allow for a more transparent and equitable allocation of the funds, it has also opened the door for people, groups, and programs that are new to my office and help expand the line of sight of all the great work underway in our neighbourhood - and we have a pretty good pulse on what is going on!

The successful applicants in this round are:

• Club 30: $2200 to support tenant engagement and activities at the CityHousing Hamilton building located at 30 Sanford Ave

• Steel Town Athletic Club (STAC): $2200 for costs associated with supporting food security to program participants in Ward 3

• The Children’s Garden Project: $2200 for costs associated with the Annual Children’s Fall Harvest Festival which takes place at Gage Park

• SOPEN: $1750 for the Community Care Educational Series to take place at 541 Eatery & Exchange in Ward 3

• HAMSMART: $1750 for costs associated with Food Services programming that targets vulnerable residents in Ward 3

• Ward 3 Yellow Pages: $1250 for costs associated with developing and implementing the Ward 3 "Yellow Pages"

• Eva Rothwell Centre: $1500 for costs associated to the QWEER Program

• Hamilton Chinese Association: $2200 for costs associated with Lunar New Year and May Asian Heritage Month

• Somali Community in Hamilton: $2200 for costs associated with youth sports programming in Ward 3

I can confidently say there is so much good work always underway in #OurWard3!

UPDATE ON FOOD & HUNGER NEEDS IN HAMILTON 

At Emergency & Community Services Committee meeting last week, staff provided an update on food affordability and food insecurity in our community, reflecting data from 2022 to 2024. This analysis underscores the challenges facing residents as rising food and housing costs outpace incomes, particularly for low-income households.

The Ontario Nutritious Food Basket (ONFB) estimates the weekly cost of nutritious food. It reveals that a family of four faced weekly costs of $266 in both 2023 and 2024, an 8% increase from $247 in 2022. When paired with increasing rental costs and rising grocery prices, many households in Hamilton are struggling to meet basic needs, resulting in a rise in food insecurity.

In 2023, 27.3% of Hamilton households experienced food insecurity, up from 18.1% in 2022, with similar trends seen across Ontario. That means more than 1 in 4 households are struggling to put food on the table. This marks a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels, where 17.9% of households in Hamilton were food insecure in 2019.

These findings are echoed in a recent report by Feed Ontario, released on December 2, 2024 which examined food bank usage across the province between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. Over one million Ontarians accessed food banks during this period, with 40% being first-time users. Compared to 2019-2020, food bank usage in Ontario has surged by 86%, highlighting the deepening crisis.

There are thousands of children in Hamilton struggling through each weekend without food. Food4Kids Hamilton has had to expand the number of schools they are supporting.

Food insecurity has severe consequences beyond nutrition, contributing to chronic illnesses, mental health challenges, and increased strain on healthcare systems. The data highlights the urgent need for systemic solutions, including enhanced income supports, affordable housing initiatives, and robust community food programs, to address this growing issue. And this is where we need your voice in calling on all our local MPPs and MPs for systemic solutions.

Given these staggering statistics, if you have the financial means, please consider supporting local efforts to combat food insecurity. A monetary donation to Hamilton Food Share can have a significant impact, or you can donate food items to local community fridges, food banks, or any of the incredible organizations set up to help meet food access needs. Every contribution counts in supporting our community during these challenging times.

For more information on food affordability and local resources, visit the City’s website: Monitoring Food Affordability in Hamilton.

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

GAGE PARK ENCAMPMENT UPDATE

Gage Park is a beloved public park. I know that many people are upset about the damage uncovered this week. It was rather surprising to see the intricate extent of digging that was uncovered through a proactive encampment visit by Hamilton Police Services. According to HPS, two people were found to be responsible for the digging and were apprehended.

My office began reporting loss of power to light posts at the park on December 2. Public Works staff have assessed the damage and continue to work to make the park safe for all users, and to ensure adequate repairs are completed in a timely manner.

I have received several emails inquiring how this wasn’t detected earlier given the intricate network of the trenches and the depth of two of the larger holes. Even though Housing Focused Outreach staff visit both compliant and non-compliant sites regularly to engage with individuals living encamped, the digging was well hidden. The actions of the two people found to be responsible have resulted in eleven tents that people were living needing to relocate to other areas in the park or different sites all together.

In order to be effective in their efforts, outreach staff are not dressed in uniform, and thus not easily identifiable to the public. They continue to connect folks to the supports they need including information about the new shelter beds to give them safer, warmer spaces for the winter. Housing Services has confirmed to me that Outreach work occurs both in the day and evening and has resulted in 486 unhoused residents, including those living encamped, transition to being housed between January-September city-wide this year.

412 BARTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS

A big congratulations to St Matthews House and their partners for nearing completion of new senior focused housing at 412 Barton St E.

On a day dedicated to collaboration and community, key partners and City Staff gathered to celebrate the progress of this transformative project. This initiative is more than just a construction effort; it is a step toward addressing Hamilton's urgent need for deeply affordable housing.

The project will provide 15 deeply affordable housing units designed to offer more than just shelter. With wrap-around services addressing food security, mental health, mobility, and more, 412 Barton will be a safe haven and a place for residents to thrive.

The project’s success reflects the dedication and hard work of the City’s Housing Secretariat, which secured funding through programs such as the Rapid Housing Initiative and the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative, as well as the tireless fundraising efforts of St. Matthew’s House.

As 412 Barton nears completion, this milestone reminds us of what is possible when governments, community organizations, and residents work together. It is not just about bricks and mortar but about creating dignity, safety, and belonging for Hamilton’s most vulnerable.

Together, we are building a brighter future for Hamilton—one home at a time.

WARD 3 COMMUNITY SKATE - DECEMBER 31, 2024 11AM

Ring in the New Year with a Community Skate in Ward 3!

Join us for a fun community celebration at the Serafini Ice Pad at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

This is a lovely way to cap off 2024 and welcome 2025 with family, friends, and neighbors.

Here’s what’s in store:

• Skating for all ages

• Complimentary hot chocolate and cookies to keep you cozy

• Music with you skate

Location: Serafini Ice Pad at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre
Date: Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm

We hope to see you there as we skate into the New Year together in community and with another opportunity to foster belonging and connection!

WARD 3 TOWN HALL - JANUARY 30, 2025 6PM-8PM

Join us for the annual Ward 3 Town Hall on Thursday January 30, 2025 at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre from 6:00pm-8:00pm. 

This event will serve as an opportunity for me to provide a fulsome annual update to neighbours from across #OurWard3 and an opportunity for neighbours to ask questions, share their experiences, and ideas for city services for the year ahead. A full agenda and more details will be provided in the new year. 

All are welcome and we encourage you to pre-register so we may best accommodate your participation. To register, please use this link, or contact ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

MAINTENANCE CLOSURE - NORMAN PINKY LEWIS RECREATION CENTRE

It is time for some much needed maintenance of the pool at Norman Pinky Lewis Centre.

The pool will be closed as of today, Friday December 13, 2024 until Sunday January 26, 2025 for facility maintenance.

Maintenance includes: 

• Deep clean and re-grout of both pools and some areas on the pool deck

• Replacing of three ladder steps that are cemented into the side of the pool

• Minor tile repair throughout

• Scraping flaking paint and repainting majority of pool deck wall

• In the rest of the facility, some minor painting in the viewing area hallway and in the activity room.

 Programming Impacts:

• Gym programs will continue to run at Cathy Wever and the After School Program will be accommodated at Powell Park. 

• There will be no interruption or impact to most of the dryland activities. 

• Drop-in youth room times are cancelled for this period.

• A 9-week winter swim lesson program will still be offered, but with a delayed start. It will however run through March Break and back onto the spring program. 

• Staff will also be working with their rental contacts to find alternate accommodations at neighbouring facilities.

• Shower Program – this program will be relocated to Central Memorial Recreation Centre for the duration of the closure.

Thank you for your patience as the facilities team ensures our assets are well maintained.

Close-up of hands typing on a laptop keyboard. Overlaid text reads "City Services Update." A wooden table and the laptop dominate the background.

HOLIDAY SHUT DOWN FOR CITY ADMINTRATION

All City of Hamilton administrative offices will be closed from December 25 to January 1 and will reopen on January 2, 2024. To learn more about Holiday hours for other city services click here.

ENHANCED WINTER RESPONSE STRATEGY: DECEMBER 1, 2024 - MARCH 31, 2025

The City of Hamilton has launched its Enhanced Winter Response Program, designed to provide consistent and accessible support for unhoused individuals throughout the winter months. Unlike previous years, this program operates independently of the City’s Cold Alert system, ensuring that these essential services remain available regardless of outdoor temperatures.

This elevated standard of service reflects the City’s commitment to addressing community needs with greater effectiveness and care, particularly for those experiencing homelessness.

The following services are now in place to provide safety and protection during the coldest months:

Overnight Drop-In & Evening Warming Spaces:

Willow’s Place

• 45 overnight warming spaces for women, Two Spirit, trans-, and non-binary people

• 196 Wentworth St. N., Hamilton

• Call: 905-528-5100 (press 8, then 3)

• Available 24/7

YWCA Carole Anne’s Place

• 40 overnight drop-in spaces for women, Two Spirit, trans-, and non-binary people

• 75 MacNab St. S., Hamilton

• Call: 905-522-9922 ext 100

• Hours: 6 PM–1 PM daily (extended from 10 PM–1 PM)

Mission Services: Night Link

• 25 evening warming spaces for all genders

• 196 Wentworth St. N., Hamilton, Door 8

• Call: 905-528-4212

• Hours: 5:30 PM–11 PM, 7 days a week

Note: These services are part of the Enhanced Winter Response Program and are effective only from December 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. For ongoing services and supports, please visit the City’s Preventing & Ending Homelessness page.

By ensuring access to these critical services, the City of Hamilton reaffirms its dedication to supporting the unhoused community and fostering safety throughout the winter season

PROVINCE ISSUES CHARGES TO CITY OF HAMILTON FOR BURLINGTON & RUTHERFORD SPILLS

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has charged the City of Hamilton in connection with two sewage spills. Hamilton City Council received information about the charges through a confidential report that was presented at General Issues Committee on December 4. As this matter is before the courts and to respect this process, the City will not be providing further comment at this time. 

The City of Hamilton proactively informed the community about both spills when they were initially discovered. The two spills include: 

• November 22, 2022: Burlington Street and Wentworth Avenue North area 

• January 9, 2023: Rutherford Avenue at Myrtle Avenue area 

In response to the Burlington Street spill in November 2022, Hamilton Water staff implemented a pilot Risk-based Inspection Program targeting other areas of the combined sewer system where similar sewer cross connections could be present. This program led to the discovery of the Rutherford Avenue spill. 

In November 2023, Hamilton City Council approved transitioning the pilot into a permanent Enhanced Sewer Inspection Program. This initiative aims to ensure a sustainable and healthy sewer system. The program's primary goal is to eliminate dry weather discharges into the environment, protecting waterways, and promoting public health.

TENANT SUPPORT PROGRAM: PROTECTING TENANTS’ RIGHTS IN HAMILTON

The City of Hamilton is committed to supporting low-income tenants at risk of eviction through the new Tenant Support Program (TSP). Building on the success of the Tenant Defense Fund Pilot Program, the TSP offers critical resources, legal representation, and support to help tenants protect their housing rights.

Who Can the TSP Help?
The TSP supports tenants who are:

• Facing Eviction Notices:

• Received an N13: Notice to End Tenancy for demolition, repairs, or conversion of the unit.

• Received an N12: Notice to End Tenancy for personal use by the landlord, buyer, or family member.

• Facing Above-Guideline Increases (AGI):

• Rent increases beyond the legal limit, applied for by landlords at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).

• Filing T6 Applications:

• Requesting repairs or maintenance through the LTB.

Partner Organizations Offering Specialized Support
The TSP is funded by the City of Hamilton and administered in collaboration with:

• Hamilton ACORN

• Housing Help Centre Hamilton and Area (HHCHA)

• Hamilton Community Legal Clinic (HCLC)

Each partner organization provides expertise and guidance tailored to tenants’ specific challenges.

Raising Awareness
To ensure tenants know their rights and how to access this support, the City and its partners are promoting the TSP through social media, advertising, and community outreach.

Why This Matters
The Tenant Support Program is part of Hamilton’s broader efforts to prevent bad faith evictions, combat homelessness, and ensure stable housing for all residents.

For more information or assistance, contact tenantsupport@hamilton.ca.

VACANT UNIT TAX UPDATE & PUBLIC EXPLAINER VIDEO

The City of Hamilton has introduced a Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) to help tackle the affordable housing crisis by encouraging property owners to make underused residential units available. The tax, set at 1% of a property’s assessed value, applies to residential units vacant for more than 183 days in a calendar year. Revenue generated from the VUT will be reinvested into City housing programs to support affordable housing initiatives.

Hamilton joins cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa in implementing this measure. Property owners are required to submit an annual declaration on their property’s occupancy status. Failure to submit the declaration will result in the unit being deemed vacant and subject to the tax.

Principal residences are not subject to the VUT but still require a mandatory declaration.

To learn more about the VUT and its role in strengthening housing in Hamilton, watch this video: Vacant Unit Tax Video.

For more details, visit the City of Hamilton’s VUT website.

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

NAME THE PLOW

It’s back! The City of Hamilton’s Name the Plow Program is here for 2024, and we need your creativity to help us name our fleet of hardworking snowplows.

Think you’ve got a pun that will melt our hearts? Or a name that’s snow-tacular? Submit your ideas and let your imagination shine!

How to Participate:

Submit your suggestions by December 15

Visit www.hamilton.ca/NameThePlow for details

Winning names will be displayed on our plows this winter!

Let’s make winter in Hamilton even more fun—one plow name at a time. 

HOW TO DISPOSE OF YOUR TREE

Natural Christmas trees are collected curbside the first and second week of January on your regular collection day.

• Place trees curbside by 7 am only on your collection day. Trees should be clear of snow and ice and easily accessible for collection.

• DO NOT place trees on top of or behind snow banks.

• Remove all decorations (bulbs, lights, tinsel), stands and bags prior to collection.

• Trees longer than 2.1 m (6.9 ft) should be cut in half.

• Maximum of 5 trees will be collected

• Real wreaths will be collected with natural Christmas trees. Remove all decorations before placing at the curb.

If you have a Christmas tree for disposal after the second week of January, you can bring your tree to a Community Recycling Centre for free.

PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN SURVEY

Help Shape the Future of Public Art in Hamilton!

The City of Hamilton’s Public Art Master Plan (PAMP) is the City's blueprint for transforming public spaces into vibrant, meaningful, and creative places that celebrate our community’s unique identity.

Over the past few years, the PAMP has:

• Added 11 permanent public art pieces

• Engaged over 10,000 residents in a transparent public art process

• Supported local artists and creative industries

• Enhanced gathering spaces, fostering safety and connection

• Celebrated Hamilton’s stories and strengthened neighborhood identity

Now, as we look ahead to 2026-2036, it’s time to renew our plan and imagine the future of public art in Hamilton. This re-imagined vision will reflect our city’s growth and the evolving social, cultural, and artistic values that shape our community.

What is public art?

• Art created by or in collaboration with artists

• Found in accessible public spaces managed by the City of Hamilton

• Murals, functional designs, installations, and more

We want to hear from you!

Your voice matters in shaping Hamilton’s future. Join the conversation and help define how public art can enhance our city for years to come.

👉 Learn more and share your ideas by completing the survey at: https://engage.hamilton.ca/publicartmasterplan

ONLINE PRENATAL CLASSES

The online prenatal program is free to Hamilton residents. It can be done at your own pace, using a computer or mobile device.

Topics covered in the program are:

• pregnancy

• birth

• breastfeeding

• newborn care

This interactive program includes videos, activities and audio/closed captioning options.

When you register you will:

• receive an email from Hamilton Public Health with a code that is needed to log into the program

• have the option to receive a phone call from a public health nurse

• be able to take part in a virtual prenatal class to learn more about breastfeeding

Virtual Breastfeeding Class

In addition to the online program, a virtual prenatal breastfeeding class is available for you to attend that will provide more information about breastfeeding and how to get off to a good start. It will build on the information that is covered in the online program. You must be registered for the online prenatal program and it is recommended that you complete the breastfeeding module prior to attending. This class is currently available in English only.

The virtual class is offered twice each month:

• Every 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 pm

• Every 4th Saturday of each month from 10 am to 11:30 am (for December, class will be offered on Dec. 21, 2024)

If you have already registered for Online Prenatal and would now like to register for a Virtual Breastfeeding Class, please email prenatal@hamilton.ca 

Transition to Parenthood Virtual Class - NEW

This is a new virtual class that is available for you to learn more about understanding your newborn, sleep, crying, infant feeding, emotional health, and so much more! It will build on the information that is covered in the online prenatal program. It is highly recommended for you to be registered for the online prenatal program. This class is currently available in English only. 

• The virtual class is offered on Saturday, December 14 from 10 to 11:30 am

• Check back for additional classes offered in 2025.

Phone Call from a Public Health Nurse

A phone call from a Public Health Nurse is available to you. You will be asked about:

• you and your growing family

• how we can support you during and after your pregnancy

• how we can connect you with supports in Hamilton related to your needs

LOW INCOME SENIOR UTILITY REBATE

You may apply at any time during the year up until and including the last day of February of the following year.  You are encouraged to apply as soon as you receive your 2023 Notice of Assessment(s) from Canada Revenue Agency.  Owner or spouse cannot apply for a deferral for more than one property in any year.

NEW in 2024: An additional $145 Seniors Utility Rebate is available for those that qualify for the Seniors Tax Rebate, provided the property has an active metered water account.

To apply, complete a 2024 Seniors (65+) Tax Rebate Form(PDF, 822.58 KB) and submit:

By mail:

City of Hamilton

Corporate Services Department, Taxation Section

71 Main Street West, 1st Floor, PO Box 2040 STN LCD 1, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 0A3

Fax: 905-546-2449

In person: Bring the completed form and all supporting documentation to Hamilton City Hall or to your local Municipal Service Centre.

A string of warm lights with a glowing bulb in focus. Text in front reads "Community Events & Opportunities." The background is softly blurred, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

HAMILTON WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL

Celebrate the Winter Solstice– the return of light after the longest night of the year– at Hamilton Winter Solstice Festival on Dec. 21st at Corktown Park. There will be performances by dancers and musicians, installations by video artists, and a parade featuring everyone in attendance. There will be a fire. Learn more about performances and interactive activities here. 

WARD 3 ADVENT WINDOWS DEC 1-31

It's that time of year! For the month of December homes light up a decorated window, on an assigned night, and keep it lit until December 31st.

Check out the calendar and locations so people can walk around and see the latest display. 

Hamilton Bike Share is also teaming up with Ward 3 Advent and Cycle Hamilton to host a winter group ride Wednesday December 18th at 6pm departing from Gage Park bike share hub. Folks are invited to participate in slow rolling through Ward 3 to check out some festive window decorations with post ride hot cocoa to celebrate. Dress warmly and bring lights to decorate your bike share steed or personal bike! - the more the merrier! 

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

2025 Budget, CityHousing Hamilton vacancy & repair updates, protecting renters and more

Dear Neighbours,

First off, a big thank you to the thousands of residents who showed up and contributed at the CPKC Holiday Train this past weekend. 

This year marks the train's 26th year, spreading holiday cheer and raising money, food, and awareness for people struggling with food insecurity. CPKC generously donated $10,000 to Hamilton Food Share, and on top of that, our Hamilton community came through by donating $5,437.96 as well as 4,120 lbs of food at the event! Thank you to all our neighbours and volunteers for helping us #FeedTheHammer this holiday season!

As we launch into the last month of the year, there are many updates to share as we begin our year-end work. As such, this e-newsletter has many important updates, so please do take some time to read through it. 

As always, should you need some support navigating municipal services or issues, my team and I are here to support. You can reach us at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2701.

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann

A festive tree adorned with colorful lights stands beside Hamilton City Hall. A banner reads "Council & Committee Updates," and the word "Hamilton" is visible in lit-up letters in the background.

2025 BUDGET

This month, the 2025 Budget process launched. The preliminary projection for the 2025 Tax Supported Budget estimates a 6.9 per cent increase in residential property taxes and a 9.95 per cent combined increase for water and wastewater fees to meet our current service and infrastructure needs city-wide.

Council and staff are taking into consideration the economic challenges residents are currently facing. This is imperative, particularly with the rising cost of living and the ongoing affordability crisis Hamiltonians are experiencing. 

To this end, the Mayor directed staff to:

• Identify new and expanded revenue streams, 

• Prudent use of debt and reserves

• Pursue both provincial and federal investments

• Identify and articulate all redundancies and inefficiencies that will be addressed

• And, any new investment requests (business cases) by city departments, boards and agencies must clearly demonstrate their capacity to advance council-identified priorities.

Council must also be mindful to protect the city’s AAA credit rating to ensure long-term financial stability. This combined approach enables Council to foster a city built on trust, tangible results, and a commitment to accountability, all while ensuring fiscal prudence. 

Residents can have their input directly heard by Budget Committee through a number of ways. 

1. You can delegate in person or via a pre-recorded video delegation

2. You can write in, or

3. You can participate through this interactive tool

The next public delegation date is Monday, January 20, 2025 at 3pm and all you have to do is submit a Request to Speak before a Committee of Council. To submit your comments in writing you can email Legislative Coordinator Angela McRae at angela.mcrae@hamilton.ca 

You can find the schedule here.

CHH VACANCY & REPAIRS UPDATE

Affordable housing is a critical priority in our community, and I’m pleased to report as President of CityHousing Hamilton (CHH) that we are seeing important progress across our 7,100 unit portfolio on the targets I have championed through the Board and Council.

The 476 unit target for the priority repair list is also on target. Of these, 90% (430 units) have been fully renovated and are already housing families, with the remaining 46 units actively under renovation with completion dates to be met by year end.

As of October 31, 2024, CHH’s vacancy rate stands at 3.49%—a significant improvement and on track to meet our 2% target. Of 249 vacant units portfolio-wide beyond the repair target mentioned above, 168 are actively being renovated, 41 are awaiting contractor work orders, and 40 are in the inspection and scoping phase. These efforts ensure that more units are becoming available for Hamiltonians in need of housing.

This year alone, I am proud to announce that CHH has housed 676 households—a significant increase compared to 559 in 2023 and 444 in 2022. With affordable housing demand at an all-time high, this represents meaningful progress in providing stability and housing opportunity for residents on the Access to Housing waitlist.

Every unit returned to service represents another step toward reducing housing insecurity and ensuring CHH is doing everything we can to provide more Hamiltonians with access to safe and affordable homes. 

I want to extend deep appreciation to CHH staff who have addressed many system changes to enable this progress and you remain tireless in their pursuit of being part of the solutions at a time of housing crisis.

PROTECTING RENTERS: UPDATES ON TENANT ASSISTANCE GUIDELINES

City Council recently approved updates to the Tenant Relocation and Assistance Guidelines, which provide critical support for tenants facing displacement due to redevelopment, renovations, or other changes in rental housing.

Here’s what the updates mean for those who rent:

1. Enhanced Tenant Relocation Assistance

• The revised guideline ensures tenants receive fair and consistent support if they are displaced.

• This includes a methodology for calculating rent gap compensation, which helps tenants manage the financial difference between their current rent and the cost of a similar home.

2. Alignment Across Policies

• These guidelines now align with Hamilton’s Renovation License and Relocation By-law. 

• This means the same rent gap compensation formula will apply across all policies affecting tenants in these situations.

3. Annual Updates to Stay Fair

• The rent gap compensation amounts will be updated annually to reflect current market conditions, ensuring they remain fair and relevant.

I want to extend my gratitude to the City staff who worked on this and to the renters who spoke up to provide feedback on the earlier iteration of the rent gap rate. Your insights and experience were invaluable in shaping these new rates and ensuring the policy addresses the real challenges faced by our neighbours.

These changes are an important step forward in protecting renters and ensuring housing policies work for everyone.

BUILDING A BETTER MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE FOR HAMILTON

Mental health and addictions challenges affect every corner of our city, and it’s clear that we need better, more coordinated ways to support people in times of crisis. I’m excited to share some updates about Hamilton’s progress toward creating an integrated, compassionate mental health crisis response system.

This work is in response to Council’s request to have the award winning Toronto model for Crisis Response reviewed by staff and to see how we may benefit from it here.

This week, Council approved key steps to improve how our community addresses mental health emergencies that include City Staff working closely with the Greater Hamilton Health Network (GHHN) and other partners to improve how mental health services are delivered. The goal is a better coordinated and more streamlined, integrated system that connects residents to the right supports when they need them most.

Additionally, Council and Staff will continue to push for sustainable funding from provincial and federal governments to expand mental health and addiction services locally. This is critical to ensure that we have adequate resources to meet ever growing needs.

Staff will also be developing a plan for an integrated mental health crisis response, tailored to Hamilton’s unique needs. This system will focus on a single point of access and coordinated follow-up services, ensuring that residents can easily connect to the help they need.

To simplify access for residents, staff will explore the feasibility of implementing a 211 response system. This system would act as a clear access point for non-police-related mental health emergencies, making it easier to connect people in crisis to the appropriate supports.

Our community often bears the brunt of gaps in the mental health system, and many of us have seen the impact of these challenges on our neighbours, friends, and families. This work is about creating a system that prioritizes trauma-informed care, compassion, and accessibility, and I’m proud to see Hamilton taking steps to make this a reality.

As always, I’m grateful to City staff, partners, and residents for the ideas and energy driving this work forward. Together, we can build a crisis response system that meets the needs of our community and reduces harm with professional expertise.

TAKING ACTION TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY & PRESERVE HAMILTON’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Hamilton’s buildings and structures are an essential part of our city’s history, character, and daily life. Both recent and older building collapses in the city have raised serious concerns about public safety and the state of some of our aging structures.

City Council is committed to addressing these concerns head-on to ensure our built environment remains safe, secure, and livable. I discussed this issue with the Mayor earlier this year as an area needing improvement, especially due to our experiences with the buildings at the corner of King St. E and East Ave. As such, the Mayor moved a motion that I seconded that directed staff to conduct a thorough review of  building collapse incidents, including:

• A complete history of City interactions with the affected buildings, such as inspections, bylaw enforcement, and permits.

• An analysis of the causes behind these collapses to understand what went wrong and how to prevent similar events in the future.

The City will also compile an inventory of structures across Hamilton that have a history of safety issues, including:

• Property standards violations.

• Bylaw enforcement or building code concerns.

This inventory will help prioritize actions to address potential risks, and Staff will review current enforcement processes related to building safety and property standards, identify gaps, and recommend updates to ensure:

• Faster, more effective enforcement.

• Increased accountability for property owners who neglect maintenance.

To better protect public safety, staff will propose updates to key policies, such as the Property Standards Bylaw. These changes aim to modernize and strengthen our approach to ensuring building safety across the city, and a preliminary report with findings and potential interim recommendations will be presented to Council in early 2025. This will ensure we’re moving forward quickly while developing long-term solutions.

Our community is home to many historic and aging buildings that define our neighbourhood’s character. Ensuring these structures are safe is vital for protecting residents, preserving our heritage, and maintaining trust in the systems that safeguard our city.

CHANGES TO COUNCIL & COMMITTEE SCHEDULES

This week, Council approved the 2025 Council and Committee schedule and we will be adjusting our schedule to be more in line with other municipalities and to better allow for scheduling of Sub-Committees and other meetings that are necessary for good governance.

Where currently we have 2 rounds of Council and Committees each month, in 2025 we will move to a 3-week rotation. The first week will have Committee meetings, followed by the Council week. Then the third week will be available for Sub-Committees and other necessary meetings to occur.

One of the key reasons I supported the recommendations in this report at Governance Committee is the scheduling challenge facing those of us who serve on Standing Committees, Sub-Committees, Boards and agencies. As a member of Council who serves as Chair or Vice-Chair for various committees and the CHH Board, there have been challenges maintaining quorum as agenda items go long and other meeting start times begin. The current approach also puts a strain on staff who prepare reports for committees impeding the ability of staff to do the necessary work between cycles and not provide sufficient time for public notice of final reports.

Ultimately, this is a structural adjustment improvement. This is not seeking to simply reduce the number of Committee and Council meetings - but instead enable members of Council to work better and enable more opportunity to hear from residents as well.

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALK AUDIT - DEC 6

Do you know of a damaged, uprooted, or misaligned sidewalk tile that could pose a trip hazard or barrier to accessible mobility? Your input is crucial to improving the safety and accessibility of our neighborhood.

I like to provide an opportunity for direct engagement by residents to collect sidewalk repair suggestions. Roads Staff are currently preparing for next year’s repairs to ensure critical safety-related locations are included in the 2025 program. So, please take a moment to submit your sidewalk repair location suggestions for us to incorporate.

You can assist by doing the following:
📸 Take a photo of the affected sidewalk.
📍 Include the exact location.
✉️ Email your submission to ward3@hamilton.ca by December 6, 2024.

Together, we can ensure our sidewalks are safer and more accessible for everyone in #OurWard3. 

UPDATE ON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM RECONSTRUCTION IN GAGE PARK

I’m excited to share an update on the Children’s Museum renovation, a project that will revitalize this beloved community space. Construction of the new addition is nearing completion, with most of the work expected to be finished by the end of the year. Exterior site work faced some delays due to unanticipated sewer repairs, but those have now been resolved. Crews are working on parking lot curbs, paving, and landscaping as long as the weather allows, though some of this work may need to wait until the ground thaws next spring.

Inside the museum, exhibit installation and accessory fit-ups are scheduled to take place during the first and second quarters of 2025. We are on track to reopen the museum in the summer of 2025, providing an enhanced space filled with new and exciting exhibits for children and families to enjoy.

Thank you for your patience and support as we complete this important project. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Children’s Museum next summer!

UPDATES ON WENTWORTH & WILSON STREET PROJECTS

I’d like to share updates on two key infrastructure projects happening in our community. These improvements will enhance road safety, accessibility, and overall connectivity in Ward 3.

The work on Wentworth Street is progressing well. Here’s the latest timeline I’ve received from Staff:

• Watermain construction: Expected to be completed in the next two weeks.

• Sidewalk improvements: Concrete work will be completed over the coming week.

• Paving schedule: If weather and conditions allow, paving will be finished before Christmas. If not, paving will occur in the first week of January 2025.

We appreciate your patience as these critical upgrades are finalized.

Additionally, Staff have also indicated that starting early January 2025, Wilson Street will undergo improvements with a full road closure between Wentworth and Sanford. Here’s what to expect:

• Closure is planned for the week of January 6th or January 12th.

• Impacted groups, including local schools, businesses, and HSR transit, have already been notified.

• A resident notice detailing the closure and alternative routes will be distributed in the coming weeks. A copy will also be shared with our office for transparency.

We understand road closures can be inconvenient, but these upgrades are essential for improving safety and accessibility in our neighbourhood.

During the construction, there will be no through access on Wentworth Street from King Street to Wilson Street. Cathedral High School will be accessible from Wilson Street.

If you have any questions or concerns about these projects, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to build a better Ward 3 for all.

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES IN ANTICIPATION OF MAIN ST 2-WAY CONVERSION & LRT WORKS

Starting in December, Main Street will undergo some lining upgrades to the existing sewer mains to rehabilitate them, and prolong the lifespan by approx 50 yrs. This work will result in some road closures on the following dates and at the following locations:

1. 398 Main St E

• When: December 2–4 (72 hours straight, weather dependent).

• Traffic Impacts: Reduced lanes on Main St. Temporary closures on Emerald and Tisdale.

• HSR Impact: No impact.

2. 12 Princess St

• When: December 5 (24 hours straight, weather dependent).

• Traffic Impacts: Right lane closure on Birch Ave.

• HSR Impact: No impact.

3. 789 Main St E

• When: December 5, 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (weather dependent).

• Traffic Impacts: Reduced lanes on Main St.

• HSR Impact: No impact.

4. 129 Main St E

• When: December 5, 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (weather dependent).

• Traffic Impacts: Reduced lanes on Main St.

• HSR Impact: No impact.

5. 545 Main St E

• When: December 2 (7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m., weather dependent).

• Traffic Impacts: Reduced lanes on Main St E.

• HSR Impact: No impact.

6. 595 Main St E

• When: December 3 (7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m., weather dependent).

• Traffic Impacts: Reduced lanes on Main St E.

• HSR Impact: No impact.

7. 639 Main St E

• When: December 4 (7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m., weather dependent).

• Traffic Impacts: Reduced lanes on Main St E.

• HSR Impact: No impact.

8. 417 Burlington St E

• When: December 6 (7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m., weather dependent).

• Traffic Impacts: Lane restrictions on Burlington St.

• HSR Impact: No impact.

Crews will work overnight whenever possible to reduce traffic disruptions. While these upgrades are essential, we understand they may cause some inconvenience. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to improve our infrastructure.

If you have any questions or concerns about this work, feel free to reach out to our office.

Close-up of hands typing on a laptop keyboard. Overlaid text reads "City Services Update." A wooden table and the laptop dominate the background.

REMINDER FOR RESIDENTS: LAST YARD WASTE PICKUP!🍂

The final curbside yard waste collection for Ward 3 in Hamilton is scheduled for December 4, 2024. After this date, yard waste will no longer be picked up until the spring collection begins in March.

What Can You Put Out?
✔️ Leaves
✔️ Branches (under 4 ft long and 2 inches in diameter)
✔️ Garden trimmings
✔️ Plants

How to Prepare Your Yard Waste:
✅ Use brown paper yard waste bags or labeled, reusable containers.
✅ Bags/containers must weigh under 23 kg (50 lbs).
✅ Place items at the curb by 7:00 AM on collection day.

Missed the Date?
You can drop off yard waste at the City of Hamilton Community Recycling Centres year-round. For hours and locations, visit hamilton.ca/waste.

Let’s finish the season strong by keeping our yards clean and ensuring waste is properly sorted! 🍁

CHECK OUT OUR NEW LOOK! RECREATION HAMILTON LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION

The Recreation Division has launched a new online registration, facility booking and membership system for programs and services on November 21, 2024. Most active users of the previous system have been migrated to the new system and sent an email notification with information on how to access their account.

If you have:

• a Recreation Assistance Program subsidy

• an active participation pass or clip card,

• an active rental contract,

• a balance on your family account, or

• registered for recreation programs within the last two years.

An account has been created for you and the identified main contact will receive a notification to the email address on file with instructions on how to access and review the account.

Please be patient while staff are transitioning to new software. 

Beginning November 21, 2024 an email notification from communication@xplorrecreation.com will be sent to active users with instructions for reviewing family accounts will be distributed.

For any questions or assistance, please contact the Recreation Team at recreation@hamilton.ca or 905-546-3747.

THE ORDER OF HAMILTON - OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS

The Order of Hamilton recognizes the exceptional voluntary contributions of individual Hamiltonians in building a better and improved Hamilton. Individuals residing in the City of Hamilton at the time of the awarding of the Order must have demonstrated an exceptional voluntary contribution to community building and/or service in the City of Hamilton. Their contributions must be determined to have gone above and beyond their professional contributions to the City of Hamilton.

How To Nominate:

• Online - Nominations can be completed and submitted online at Order of Hamilton | City of Hamilton

• In-person - Forms are also available in-person at Hamilton City Hall, all City of Hamilton Service Centres and at any branch of the Hamilton Public Library.  

The nomination form must be accompanied by at least one letter of reference from someone other than the nominator and with the signed agreement of the person being nominated. 

Completed nominations packages can be sent to: 

Office of the Mayor

Re: Order of Hamilton

71 Main Street West, 2nd Floor

Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5

Nomination Submission Deadline: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 4:00 pm

When is the Order awarded: The recipients will be awarded at the Mayor's New Year's Levee taking place in January 2025.

HOME WINTERPROOFING PROGRAM - FREE ENERGY UPGRADES FOR HOMES IN NEED

The Mayor’s Task Force on Transparency, Access, and Accountability (MTFTAA) is looking for your ideas and feedback on how to increase transparency, accountability, and access within the City of Hamilton. This consultation builds off various City-led consultations such as the Reimagining Public Participation Consultation and Our City Survey done in 2022.

There are four ways you can participate in this public consultation:

• Complete the survey and the ideas tools below

• Submit written submissions to clerk@hamilton.ca

• Attend public delegations on November 19th

From past consultations we understand that members of our community often feel they are not included in City decision making and want to know more on how City activities or decisions impact your local neighborhood. We also know that the services our community feels function well are things like our Libraries and Bookmobiles, Fire and Paramedic services and our parks and open spaces. Whereas community members want to see improvements in other areas such as community housing, social services, traffic and roadways as well as building permits.

The responses to this consultation will inform a final report which will make specific recommendations to City Council on how to improve the following:

• Public access to productively engage with the City of Hamilton: Ensuring that community members and organizations have clear, accessible channels for participation and feedback in city governance.

• Transparency regarding City of Hamilton activities and decisions: Increasing the visibility and openness of the City's operations and decision-making processes to build trust and accountability.

• The City of Hamilton demonstrating accountability to our communities: Implementing measures to ensure that the City’s actions and decisions are responsive to the needs and concerns of its diverse population, fostering a sense of responsibility and reliability.

• Propose practical steps to enhance trust: Developing clear and feasible next steps aimed at building and maintaining trust between the City of Hamilton and its residents.

Public Delegations

Delegations will be held at Hamilton City Council Chambers on November 19, 2024.

• November 19, 6 pm - Council Chambers

Learn how to participate in the delegation process

CHANGES ARE COMING TO RECYCLING IN HAMILTON

Starting January 2025, Hamilton is updating its recycling program to make it easier and more effective for everyone to reduce waste and keep our city green. Here’s what you need to know:

What’s Changing?

• New Materials Accepted: More plastics and materials will be recyclable, including some that were previously considered garbage! Stay tuned for a full list.

• Clear Bag Requirement: To improve sorting and reduce contamination, recyclables must now be placed in clear bags instead of loose in bins.

• Simplified Sorting: Say goodbye to confusion! Hamilton is moving toward a single-stream system, so all recyclables can go together.

• Enhanced Education: The City will launch new resources to help residents recycle correctly and avoid contamination.

Why These Changes?

These updates align with provincial standards and aim to increase the amount of waste diverted from landfills. Hamilton’s recycling contamination rate has been too high, and these steps will help improve efficiency and reduce costs.

What Can You Do Now?

• Start getting familiar with what goes where. A new recycling guide will be delivered to homes in December!

• Spread the word! Share these updates with your neighbors and friends to ensure everyone is prepared.

• If you need help or have questions, visit hamilton.ca/recycling for more information.

By working together, we can keep Hamilton clean and sustainable for generations to come. 🌍 Let’s all do our part!

A string of warm lights with a glowing bulb in focus. Text in front reads "Community Events & Opportunities." The background is softly blurred, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

LEVEL UP SYMPOSIUM - NOV 30 

The Level Up Business Advisory Symposium is presented by Empowerment Squared’s Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Network (SWOBEN) and BLK OWNED HamOnt for program participants and all entrepreneurs. This event offers current and aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to get key advice and insights from industry experts. Food from local vendors will be supplied. Learn more here.  more here. 

WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL 2024 OPEN STUDIO - DEC 4-21

Please sign up early for the lantern workshop and introduction sessions, suitable for ages 10 and up (under 12 need adult accompaniment). 

Dropin (after your intro session) OPENSTUDIO: Monday-Friday,1-5pm to create your own work of art to wear,carry or display at the festival. Make a ligh tart piece during a workshop,or start one in an instruction session and finish it later. During open studio hours you may create your own pieces, or work with Melanie on the fire sculpture. All the pieces created at the studio will be exhibited in the storefront window until the day the festival. Pick up your artworks on Saturday December 21,at the Corktown Park Winter Solstice Festival Welcome Station by 5pm to show them off during the evening and then take them home.

Introduction Sessions: Dec 4,5,7
Turn your recycled cartons into stars, learn to make art with papier maché and crochet with glow yarn. The introduction sessions will get you started on projects that may require more time. Drop in after the introduction session to finish your work during our open studio hours, Mon-Fri 1-5 Note: No open studio during scheduled workshops. 

Learn more here. 

GORE PARK TREE LIGHTING - DEC 6 

Folks are invited to join in downtown Hamilton for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Gore Park! This festive evening will be filled with holiday cheer and free family activities. Learn more here. 

CITY OF HAMILTON 2024 NATIONAL HOUSING DAY EVENT - DEC 9 

Folks are invited to join for a morning of presentations and panel discussions about housing in Hamilton with specific focus on the City's Tenant Support Program. Learn about the latest initiatives, resources, and opportunities available for affordable housing in Hamilton. Connect with local experts, community organizations, and fellow residents passionate about creating a more inclusive and sustainable housing landscape. Learn more here.

COMMUNITY GAME NIGHT - DEC 14 

STAC Basketball is hosting their 3rd Annual Community Game Night on December 14th from 4pm-9pm at Bernie Custis School. Ticket proceeds will go towards the continued support of their programs. Audience members can expect free pizza and drinks, as well as a STAC basketball shirt. Learn more here. 

ACTIVE CONNECTIONS FREE DROP IN - TUESDAYS SEP 10 - DEC 17 

Presented by the Alzheimer Society, folks are invited to join for 45 minutes of light exercise followed by activities designed to promote social, mental, and emotional well-being. Light refreshments will be provided. Every Tuesday from 10:30am-1pm at Eva Rothwell Centre (460 Wentworth St. N. Hamilton).

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Ward 3 Newsletter - November 15, 2024

Dear Neighbours,

My office has received many inquiries about the unjust death of Erixon Kabera. At this time, there is no further information than that which was reported in the media. It was inspiring to see hundreds gathered outside City Hall yesterday in honour of his life and to collectively call for answers to the circumstances surrounding his death. For residents wanting to show up at this time, you can contribute to the GoFundMe campaign his family has started.

My office also received reports of Lifesaver Park being used as a site to gather for those who participated in the Jackson Square demonstration calling for Mass Deportation Now this past weekend. According to an investigative journalist from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, this demonstration mimicked white supremacist tactics seen in other parts of the world like those by Australian white supremacist networks who also dressed in all black, hiding their faces behind ski masks, while holding up a banner that read “Mass Deportations Now”. 

I was proud to join Hamilton based organizations and elected leaders in condemning the action as fascist rhetoric that is rooted in anti-immigrant beliefs and aiming to intimidate Hamiltonians based on hate. There is no place for hate in our city and I am grateful for so many of our neighbours who actively foster a sense of belonging in our communities.

As always, should you require any assistance with any municipal issues, my office team is here to help. You can email us at ward3@hamilton.ca.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

SOLVING THE CRISIS VS USING THE NOTWITHSTANDING CLAUSE

I believe it is the role of every level of government to not only uphold human rights but to tend to the conditions that advance them. 

The only solution to homelessness is housing.

There has been a lot of regrettable rhetoric spoken to “justify” stripping unhoused folks of Charter protected human rights, including blaming human rights defenders for the state of encampments in cities across Ontario.

Let’s be crystal clear, defending human rights has not created the humanitarian crisis we see unfolding in our communities and parks. It is the result of provincial policy failures and the lack of federal investment into affordable housing over the past 30 years.

It is my opinion that it is both a proof of character and a lack of capacity to lead on complex issues that a small number of Mayors in Ontario have fallen for baiting by Premier Ford to ask him to use the Charter of Rights and Freedom’s notwithstanding clause to bypass the court system and allow them to evict encampments — even when there is nowhere else for people to go.

This is all in reference to the same 2023 ruling in Waterloo I have been informing residents of in various issues of this e-newsletter. The Court ruled that clearing the Waterloo encampment would be unconstitutional: the city couldn’t remove the encampment without providing adequate shelter beds, and to do so would be a violation of homeless people’s Section 7 Charter-protected right to life, liberty, and security of the person.

Suggesting its use is also a distraction tactic by the province to embroil city councils in this debate with our residents rather than focus on well-thought out solutions to the crises we are facing, and tangible pathways to regain balance in the use of our public spaces.

If the province or members of this or other council want a list of tools to actually solve the crisis, you know, to tend to the conditions that advance human rights, then allow me to point out what the consensus based Big Cities Mayor Caucus put forward in the Solve The Crisis Campaign:

• Appoint a responsible ministry and Minister with the appropriate funding and powers as a single point of contact to address the full spectrum of housing needs as well as mental health, addictions and wrap around supports.

• That this single Minister strike a task force with sector representatives including municipalities, health care leaders, first responders, community services, the business community, and the tourism industry to develop an Ontario Action Plan.

• Provide municipalities with the tools and resources to transition those in encampments to more appropriate supports, when deemed necessary.

• Commit to funding the services our unhoused population needs, community by community, to fill in gaps in the system.

• Invest in 24/7 community hubs or crisis centres to relieve pressure on emergency departments and first responders.

These well thought out recommendations were endorsed unanimously by Hamilton City Council on October 23, 2024, where the vote was 16-0, everyone was there. This past Wednesday, a motion initially tabled for the next General Issues Committee was brought directly to council asking for Hamilton City Council to request the Premier to also use the notwithstanding clause. It was defeated by a vote of 9 to 6.

Those of us with the privilege of being elected are expected to do difficult work, including solving the housing and homelessness crisis — not to take away the Charter rights of those most impacted by the crisis.

In summary, the province needs to stop its distraction tactics. The $3B used to give $200 to each person before an election could have gone to eliminate homelessness province wide. It sure would go a heck of a lot further than the abysmal allocation of $202 million across the province to address homelessness.

FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

During Emergency & Community Services Committee, Chief Cunliffe and Hamilton Fire Services presented the community fire risk assessment.

The report noted that Wards 3, 2, and 4 (most fires to least) consistently had the most incidents of fires from 2020 – 2022. These wards represent an average of 45% of the total fires/year across the City.

The primary causes are all preventable, and that is what is so very concerning about this report. Among the preventable behaviour that has led to fires, smoking and not adequately extinguishing the smoking material was the main behaviour. In fact, fires caused by smoking increased 106% from 2020 to 2022.

Whether you are a renter or homeowner, please check your smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarms. Please contact Fire Prevention Services if you need any fire prevention support.

LRT PROCUREMENT UPDATE

As Chair of LRT Sub-Committee I was so pleased to see the announcement last week with Mayor Horwath, Minister Sarkaria and Minister Tassi about the issuance of the Request for Qualifications for the Hamilton LRT . 

This marks a major milestone to move this transformational public transit project for our city forward! 

Metrolinx has posted a Discover article featuring two new artist's conceptual drawings, including one depicting the future grade separation on King Street East near Gage Avenue located in #OurWard3. The future underpass will allow light rail vehicles (LRVs) to travel under the existing CP rail line separating the two lines to ensure reliable, continuous movement along the LRT route.

Artist depiction of the future grade separation on King Street East near Gage Avenue.

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

SIDEWALK AUDIT - HELP IDENTIFY SIDEWALK HAZARDS IN #OURWARD3!

Do you know of a damaged, uprooted, or misaligned sidewalk tile that could pose a trip hazard or barrier to accessible mobility? Your input is crucial to improving the safety and accessibility of our neighborhood.

The Councillor’s office has previously engaged with the community to collect sidewalk repair suggestions. Now, as Roads Staff prepare for next year’s repairs, we have an opportunity to ensure critical safety-related locations are included in the 2025 program.

To assist, please:
📸 Take a photo of the affected sidewalk.
📍 Include the exact location.
✉️ Email your submission to ward3@hamilton.ca by December 6, 2024.

Together, we can make our sidewalks safer and more accessible for everyone. Thank you for helping keep #OurWard3 walkable!

455&457-459 KING ST E UPDATE

On April 24, 2024, City Council approved the demolition of the vacant properties at 455 and 457-459 King Street East. After initial inspections by the contractors, it became clear that more work was needed to address asbestos and other health and safety issues, leading to some additional costs. City staff then brought these updates to Council for approval on August 21, 2024. Contractors are on site today (Friday November 15) removing interior asbestos and will continue on site for completion of this demolition. 

We understand that this area is an active transportation route for families, with many residents, cyclists, and pedestrians passing through daily. We appreciate the patience of nearby residents and businesses, as well as those who use this route to get around. 

Work has now begun, with utilities and underground lines already shut off at the site. In the coming weeks, likely within the next 45 days, residents will start to see a more visible presence as the contractors prepare for the demolition.

Demolitions of older buildings come with extra complexities, especially when it comes to ensuring the health and safety of everyone involved. The City and contractors are working hard to complete this as smoothly and quickly as possible, with minimal impact on the community.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to revitalize this space. Please know our media team is also preparing a release with regard to this demolition. 

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE NOV 18-19

Please be advised that there will be a temporary road closure at Tisdale St. & King St  to facilitate prep work for 2-way conversion on Main and the LRT. Starting November 18th at 7pm until November 19th at 7am. 

TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE - NOV 18-19

Please be advised there will be a temporary lane closure on Main St E at Tisdale St. S to facilitate prep work for 2-way conversion on Main St and the LRT. Starting November 18 at 7pm to Tuesday, November 19 at 7am.

VACANT TAX

Keep an eye out in your mail for a flyer with important information about the Vacant Unit Tax. Starting Jan 2025, all residential property owners must submit a mandatory occupancy declaration. The Flyer contains key dates and important information. http://hamilton.ca/VacantUnitTax

NEW RECREATION ONLINE REGISTRATION

The City of Hamilton Recreation Division is launching a new online registration, facility booking and membership system for programs and services on November 20, 2024. Most active users of the current system will be migrated over to the new system and will receive an email notification with information on how to access their account. As of November 20th, there will be access to browse and preview the winter course offerings online as well as videos on how to use the online system in preparation for registration day. Learn more here. 

COMMUNITY SAFETY & WELL-BEING PLAN

Hamilton is revising its existing Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan and we want to hear from you. The CSWB Plan brings together multiple sectors, including social services, health care, law enforcement, education and community organizations to address the root causes of community safety and well-being.

Hamilton’s CSWB Plan was developed by the City of Hamilton and community partners and was unanimously adopted by Hamilton City Council on June 23, 2021. Under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 municipalities are required to develop a CSWB Plan using the provincial government’s CSWB Framework.

The CSWB Plan aims to create a sustainable community where everyone feels safe, has a sense of belonging and can access the services they need. It focuses on four key areas:

• Social development: Improving the social determinants of health and reducing the probability of harm.

• Prevention: Implementing proactive programs to address risks before they result in crime, harm, or victimization.

• Risk intervention: Reducing the need for incident response by preventing issues before they occur.

• Incident response: Providing immediate responses to urgent situations.

The CSWB Plan is designed to enhance safety and well-being in Hamilton by collaboratively addressing key social challenges.

To learn more about the progress that has taken place to date, please visit: www.hamilton.ca/safetyandwellbeing

MAYOR’S TASK FORCE: IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY & ACCESS

The Mayor’s Task Force on Transparency, Access, and Accountability (MTFTAA) is looking for your ideas and feedback on how to increase transparency, accountability, and access within the City of Hamilton. This consultation builds off various City-led consultations such as the Reimagining Public Participation Consultation and Our City Survey done in 2022.

There are four ways you can participate in this public consultation:

• Complete the survey and the ideas tools below

• Submit written submissions to clerk@hamilton.ca

• Attend public delegations on November 19th

From past consultations we understand that members of our community often feel they are not included in City decision making and want to know more on how City activities or decisions impact your local neighborhood. We also know that the services our community feels function well are things like our Libraries and Bookmobiles, Fire and Paramedic services and our parks and open spaces. Whereas community members want to see improvements in other areas such as community housing, social services, traffic and roadways as well as building permits.

The responses to this consultation will inform a final report which will make specific recommendations to City Council on how to improve the following:

• Public access to productively engage with the City of Hamilton: Ensuring that community members and organizations have clear, accessible channels for participation and feedback in city governance.

• Transparency regarding City of Hamilton activities and decisions: Increasing the visibility and openness of the City's operations and decision-making processes to build trust and accountability.

• The City of Hamilton demonstrating accountability to our communities: Implementing measures to ensure that the City’s actions and decisions are responsive to the needs and concerns of its diverse population, fostering a sense of responsibility and reliability.

• Propose practical steps to enhance trust: Developing clear and feasible next steps aimed at building and maintaining trust between the City of Hamilton and its residents.

Public Delegations

Delegations will be held at Hamilton City Council Chambers on November 19, 2024.

• November 19, 6 pm - Council Chambers

Learn how to participate in the delegation process

SHARE YOUR VISION FOR COPPS PIER PARK - NOV 16

A student-led team from City Lab Hamilton is partnering with the City of Hamilton Placemaking team to raise awareness and increase engagement at Copps Pier Park located within Pier 8. The event aims to identify barriers people experience with space and pinpoint positive aspects of the park. They would like to understand residents’ perspectives to help transform the park into a vibrant place the community can enjoy. Free hot chocolate will be offered. Learn more here. 

TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE - NOV 21

This event commemorates the 25th anniversary of Trans Day of Remembrance and is open to all community members and their support people. There will be a candlelight vigil, sharing space and storytelling, as well as art and button making. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Happening at the Youth Wellness Centre (38 James St. S - 2nd Floor) from 5pm-7pm. Learn more here. 

HAMILTON WOMENS ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH EVENT - NOV 21

The Woman Abuse Working Group, in collaboration with the Native Women's Centre, is hosting Hamilton's annual event in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The event will explore ending violence and murder of Indigenous women and girls, and deepen collective understanding of building meaningful collaboration to support gender based violence efforts using a respectful and culturally informed manner. Learn more here.

UNIMAGINABLE: A FILM SCREENING FOR NATIONAL HOUSING DAY - NOV 21

To celebrate National Housing Day, Playhouse Cinema will be hosting a special screening of Terrance Odette's documentary, Unimaginable. Follow Lance Dingman as he navigates housing, basic income, and mental wellbeing challenges. Stay for a panel discussion with local experts on these crucial topics. Learn more here. 

ACCA 45th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - NOV 23

The Afro Canadian Caribbean Association is hosting their 45th anniversary celebration gala Forward Together: A Journey Through Time and Beyond. This special evening is dedicated to reflecting on the community’s remarkable legacy, celebrating the collective progress and envisioning the future we aim to build together. Taking place November 23rd, 2024 at 5:30pm. Learn more here. 

CPKC HOLIDAY TRAIN - NOV 23

On November 23, the roughly 1000-foot CP Holiday Train is rolling into Hamilton with 14 brightly decorated rail cars to the south side of Gage Park, along Lawrence Road at 7:30 pm. Performances by American Authors and KT Tunstall. Free family concern event for all ages from 8pm to 8:40pm. Hamilton Food Share will be collecting food and cash donations. Be sure to bring along non-perishable food contributions such as tuna, beans, rice, pasta, cereal and baby food to the event. Learn more here. 

HAPPY HOLIDAY MARKET - NOV 23

Hamilton Vintage Community is hosting their annual Holiday Market at the Cotton Factory. With over 60 vintage curators and vintage inspired makers as well as food and drink from The Hearty Hooligan. Free admission from 11am-4pm. Learn more here. 

BARTON VILLAGE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & FUNDRAISER - NOV 25

Join the Barton Village BIA for an evening of visioning followed by entertainment including live music, refreshments, games, prizes, raffles, and more! The event will be taking place on Monday November 25, 2024 at Westinghouse HQ (286 Sanford Ave N) with the AGM commencing at 6pm followed by the fundraising event! Tickets for the event are $25 each.

To RSVP for the AGM only, please email info@bartonvillage.ca. To purchase tickets for the event/fundraiser, click here. 

TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE ANNUAL DINNER - NOV 27

Folks are invited to join for an observation of TDOR created by various service providers throughout Hamilton, in honour of those lost to or living in violence. Happening at Compass Community Health (438 Hughson St. N) from 4:30pm-7:30pm. Bus tickets will be provided. Learn more here. 

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Temporary Shelter Bed Update, Federal Government & Development Charge Freeze, Project Updates, Weekend Events & More

Dear Neighbours,

With Halloween around the corner, many of you are really stepping up your home decorations! I invite neighbours to share your decorations with me on social media. Please tag me so we can add your home in the round up reel we’ll post. Also, the City is selling the 10-pack Recreation Tickets again as an option of things for you to give out to trick or treaters. You can buy yours at the Morelli and Pinky Lewis Recreation Centres. Please visit www.hamilton.ca/recpasses for more information.

My office is rounding our community meetings this fall with the Ward 3 Complete Streets Plan meeting next Tuesday. We had the highest turn out and input rate of any other city roads project for our plan. I really want you to come and see the final plan I will be allocating funds towards implementing. You can participate online or in person. And the final Pop Up community hours for my office this year will be at City Housing Hamilton’s First Place. You can find out more details on both meetings below!

As always, should you require any assistance with any municipal issues, my office team is here to help. You can email us at ward3@hamilton.ca.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Aerial view of a residential area of downtown Hamilton surrounded by autumn trees with vibrant foliage. The text “Council & Committee Updates” is overlaid on the image in bold letters.

DISTANCE SEPARATION FROM CONCENTRATION OF TEMPORARY SHELTER BEDS

I’d like to clear up some confusion circulating about exemption zones as it relates to the current Reducing Homelessness & Managing Encampments Plan (RHME Plan). 

My approved motion to remove some parks and greenspaces as compliant sites from the Encampment Protocol is directly related to bringing consistent application of the City’s work within the plan to prevent the over-concentration of encampments in the area of shelter supports.

The motion I moved at General Issues Committee last week and that was ratified at Council this week will prohibit encampments in some greenspaces that are within a 1km radius adjacent to 123 new temporary shelter beds in Ward 3 that are concentrated within a 4 block area.

The Council approved RHME Plan increases the existing shelter system by 192 beds, a 56% increase, and implements an 80-bed temporary outdoor shelter with wrap-around supports. The Plan also establishes a 1km radius to be set around the Barton-Tiffany outdoor shelter. Of the much needed 192 bed expansion to the shelter system, 138 of the 192 bed expansion, will operate in Ward 3, of which 123 beds are within a four block area.

This distance separation will minimize impacts on and from the surrounding area and will be applied to the specific four block area once the 192 temporary shelter beds are operational. 

The sites to be non-permissive will be:

• J.C. Beemer Park/Tweedsmuir Park

• Bishop’s Park

• Claremont Access Parkettes

• 298 Hunter Street East (green space west of Claremont Access)

• Carter Park

• Myrtle Park

• Rail Trail between extension of Wellington Street South and Sherman Avenue South

I will provide further updates to let residents know when the shelter beds are online and these spaces are no longer permissible encampment locations.

For those neighbours inquiring why Gage Park and the Delta Parkette are not included, and are concerned that removing the above locations will result in encampments “spreading to other already concentrated areas”, I would like to help you understand why you don’t need to be concerned.

The entire premise of the RHME Plan is to support residents moving out of encampments and into various shelter options. The City’s Outreach Team has already begun connecting with those living encamped to get access to the supports and services they need and begin suggesting which shelter option best matches their needs. The 80 bed temporary outdoor shelter at Barton-Tiffany offers the most access and fewest barriers to supports. It is the City’s anticipation that encamped residents will likely opt to move from parks to this site, which means less tents in parks overall.

As I have shared in previous emails, there is an active court case against the City of Hamilton with regard to previously disallowing encampments that led to the Encampment Protocol. When City’s don’t have sufficient and accessible shelter space to accommodate folks currently living encamped and actively remove barriers to service needs, then those municipalities cannot prevent individuals from living encamped. This prohibits the City from eliminating the Encampment Protocol in its entirety. We should receive an update on these court proceedings in December at which point I will share an update with residents.

In the meantime, I wanted to take a moment to remind neighbours that I moved a motion earlier this fall at Council to have staff report back to Council in Q1 2025 about the feasibility of sunsetting Encampment Protocol and identify whether the Parks By-law will be permissible to enforce.

Finally, I would request that you please provide any correspondence on these, or other Ward issues to the ward3@hamilton.ca email. By emailing me here you allow my staff and I to properly log and triage all correspondence to ensure timely and thorough responses.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & DEVELOPMENT CHARGE FREEZE

In April 2024, as part of their budget, the federal government announced a $6B Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to be made available to provinces and municipalities if certain conditions are met. One such condition is that Municipalities freeze their Development Charges (DCs) for 3 years at April 2, 2024 rates.

In the last round of Committee/Council, we received an information report from staff about this plan. Staff estimate that the potential fiscal challenges for the City of Hamilton could be a shortfall between $130M and $260M as the result of this three-year freeze. Without a guarantee that the federal funding will equal or exceed lost revenue, this has the potential of costing City of Hamilton tax and ratepayers significantly more in our 2025 Budget process.

Development Charges are fees paid by developers to the municipality to cover costs incurred by the City to provide infrastructure and services to the new residential developments. These services can include items such as roads, bridges, water supply, waste disposal, police, fire, paramedics, parks, playgrounds, arenas, and community centres. 

This freeze will mean the City is going to have to either defer investment on these types of services and infrastructure or significantly raise the tax rate to be able to pay for them. And that is not an option. We need growth to pay for growth. And if the Federal and Provincial governments want to continue incentivising developers to build homes, they have to find a manner to do so that doesn’t then download the cost of payment to our residents. 

My motion will now go to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) requesting that they add this issue to their December advocacy days with Members of Parliament. And as Hamilton’s representative on the FCM Board of Directors, this will enable me to have very clear marching orders as I participate in the federal lobby days in Ottawa in December with my counterparts from across Canada.

FEDERAL ENCAMPMENT FUNDS & PROVINCIAL MATCHING

The Government of Canada has announced a $250 million dollar funding initiative to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness with the intention of a fifty-fifty cost sharing agreement with provincial governments, bringing it to $500 million. So far, federal discussions with the Province of Ontario have not led to meaningful progress on a cost-sharing funding agreement.

The Government of Canada is willing to work directly with municipalities if necessary, however, without the provincial government cost-sharing, Ontario municipalities will receive less.

For context, in 2024 the City of Hamilton is investing $185.9 million dollars into housing and homelessness solutions, 67% funded directly by municipal taxpayers. And our current temporary shelter expansion work will cost $18M.

On Wednesday, I successfully moved a motion that will have the Mayor act on behalf of the City of Hamilton to request that the province re-engage with the federal government to ensure Ontario municipalities have access to the same funds as municipalities in other provinces. Additionally the City will work directly with our partners in the federal government to maximize this funding opportunity. It is my hope that the cost of services and supports that provide viable options for those living encamped will be paid by these funds and bring back some costs savings to the Hamilton taxbase.

SOLVE THE CRISIS CAMPAIGN

I have written about the Solve The Crisis campaign in previous issues of this newsletter. It is an important piece of advocacy led by the Ontario’s Big City Mayors group to urge the provincial government to adequately address and resolve the mental health and housing crisis we are seeing.

While municipalities are at the frontlines of dealing with this crisis, it is actually the responsibility of the Provincial Government to provide funding and solutions to it. The federal government has also not lived up to their promises to address the issue.

This campaign gives residents a united voice from across the province to demand the provincial government take the needed action that will make real changes in our neighbourhoods.

To learn more and to sign the petition, please go here.

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

WARD 3 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE GRANT - APPLICATIONS CLOSE NOV 15TH

A reminder that the Ward 3 Community & Resilience Grant is still accepting applications until November 15th. The goal of this grant is to support a program or initiative that promotes equity, inclusion, resilience, and community-building work in our neighborhoods. If you are a resident, community group or organization that has an idea for a program or initiative, this is for you! 

While organizations are welcome to apply, preference will be given to initiatives that are resident-led and can demonstrate outcomes which are community-focused and that will be delivered in Ward 3 neighbourhoods.

We have moved to an online application process. Successful applications will be approved through a motion passed at City Council. Fall 2024 applications are due by Nov 15, 2024. Apply here. 

If you need help filling out the application form, please reach out to the Ward 3 Team at ward3@hamilton.ca. For more information about the criteria and application process, please visit: www.nrinder.ca/communityresiliencegrants

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE - WENTWORTH STREET OCT 28 - DEC 2024

To facilitate water main installation and road resurfacing Wentworth Street between King Street and Wilson Street will be closed. During the closure, there will be no through access on Wentworth Street from King Street to Wilson Street. Cathedral High School will be accessible from Wilson Street. Learn more here. 

WARD 3 CAVELL AVE DEPAVE

We’re very excited to announce that the first City-led depave project has happened here in #OurWard3 at 193 Cavell Ave adjacent to Hamilton Indoor Go-Karts.

This transformative depave project is the first of its kind in Hamilton and is in response to the City’s Urban Forestry Strategy, which aims to increase the urban tree canopy to 40% by 2050.

The fact that it’s happened in a neighbourhood where such an initiative might not be expected is a bonus!

A depaving project involves removing a surface like asphalt or concrete and replacing it with landscaping surfaces for the gardens and trees.

At this location, staff removed 684 square meters of asphalt, replacing it with grass and planting several new street trees

We are hopeful that this project will lead to more City-led depaves in the future not only within Ward 3, but also city-wide. The next depave scheduled for #OurWard3 is on Victoria Ave S off the Claremont Access. 

WOODLANDS PARK SPRAY PAD IS COMPLETE!

After months of construction, I’m excited to share that the Woodlands Park Spray Pad project is officially complete!

There are some minor finishing touches that will need to be done over the next week or so, but I’m very happy to announce that this project has finally come to fruition. The City really tried to have this complete in the summer, however with the previously reported roadblocks, just were not able to. The spray pad is closed and we will have an official opening next summer.

It has also been really lovely receiving all of the emails from neighbours sharing how happy they are with the work being done. There is a true excitement in the community in anticipation of using the spray pad, sun shelter and seeing children enjoying it next summer. Thank you to the adoptees of Woodlands park, the Barton Village BIA and everyone who participated in the initial input sessions, and who have reached out to us and to staff for their work on this project.

Here are a few pictures of the completed works. Pop by next time you are in the area to check it out yourself.

WARD 3 OFFICE POP-UP AT FIRST PLACE - NOVEMBER 12

My team and I will be hosting a Ward 3 Pop-Up at First Place in the Bagshaw Room on Tuesday November 12 from 5pm-7pm.

Our pop-ups are a way for me and my team to connect with residents one-on-one about municipal issues and to work with you directly. The format will be first come, first served, and you can expect to be greeted as well as be asked to provide contact information so we can follow up with you as needed.

These mini appointments will be 5-10 mins long and we will aim to address your issue on the spot. If your issue requires a follow up, we will aim to be in touch with you within a week.

Many residents have shared how much they appreciate connecting in this way, as not everyone has access to internet or email to reach us in those ways.

We welcome some face to face opportunities to connect with neighbours and are looking forward to seeing you there!

A view of an HSR bus and traffic along Barton St. E. The text "City Services Updates" is overlaid on the image.

TEMPORARY SHELTER EXPANSION WEBSITE UPDATE

The City’s Housing Services Division launched a dedicated section on the City website to provide timely updates and essential information on our ongoing efforts to implement recommendations within the Reducing Homelessness and Managing Encampments Report. This update has been integrated into the “Emergency Shelters & Drop-ins” page on the City website, and can be accessed directly at: www.Hamilton.ca/TemporaryShelterExpansion  

This page will be updated over time, and will feature the following key components:

1. Information Section: A clear and structured section focused on the initiatives approved by Council.

2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): A FAQ section will address common concerns to date from residents and partners, covering topics such as the rationale behind the temporary outdoor shelter, the types of services offered, the low-barrier model, and how the City is ensuring environmental safety and success measurement of these initiatives.

3. Status Updates: The website will offer timely status updates on the implementation of these initiatives, with the first update already posted. These updates will also include links to relevant Council reports and provide transparency on key milestones.

4. Community Feedback Portal: A feedback form will allow residents to submit questions or concerns directly through the site. This feedback will be reviewed and incorporated into future updates and reports. A summary of the feedback received will also be included in Council updates, ensuring a loop of communication between the City and residents.

5. Reports and Resources: Links to all relevant Council reports and resources will be available on the page, ensuring that the public has access to the full breadth of information surrounding these initiatives.

6. Ongoing Communications: we are committed to keeping the community informed on key milestones, and this website will serve as a central hub for sharing updates on the City's efforts. As we move forward, any new developments, including community meetings, operational changes, or additional resources, will be posted here to maintain transparency.

This update is a crucial step in our commitment to ensuring residents and partners have easy access to detailed information and the latest developments. We encourage you to share this with residents in your wards who may be reaching out to ask questions about these initiatives, so that they can stay informed and engaged with the ongoing progress.

BARTON STREET FUNCTIONAL DESIGN

My office co-hosted a community input session with wards 1, 2, 4 and City Staff on October 17, 2024 at Westinghouse HQ in #OurWard3. 

Staff reviewed the upcoming road configuration options for the Barton Street corridor between Locke St N and the Red Hill Valley Parkway. This large-scale infrastructure project enables the city to take care of much needed subsurface waterworks while also reconstructing Barton St in a manner that best facilitates community life and vitality.

The project also includes renewing and upgrading municipal services and utility relocations. This approach is aligned with the City of Hamilton 2022-2026 Council Priorities, specifically Priority 2 which seeks to ensure that neighbourhoods are cared for and vibrant, and that people can move around safely and effectively no matter how they travel. Improved active transportation and pedestrian space will provide better access to all residents, provide an alternative to other modes of travel, and help create a more active and vibrant streetscape and neighbourhood.

I think it is important for residents to understand the stages of this project clearly:

1. Review Scope & Needs

2. Functional Design Options

3. Public Input on Functional Design Options

4. Final Design

5. Public Review of Final Design

6. Make final tweaks

7. Scope out Project Tender for construction

8. Phased Construction

My office will keep neighbours updated on the next steps as this multi-year project develops and moves through the stages above. In the meantime, you can watch the presentation and provide direct input now at https://engage.hamilton.ca/bartonstfunctionaldesign. You can also register for a monthly engagement newsletter. 

CYBERSECURITY UPDATE

The City continues to make significant progress in recovering and rebuilding efforts following the  cybersecurity incident earlier this year. Approximately 70% of the City’s total applications have been successfully restored. Almost all services are operating in a full or modified state, with more than half of the City’s services fully operational and the remaining services available through a revised or alternative process.

For more information, visit the city’s website.

WWF’S ONE PLANET CITY CHALLENGE 2024 - WE LOVE CITIES

Hamilton has been selected as the national winner of World Wildlife Fund’s One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) 2024, recognizing the City’s innovative climate action.

The OPCC is a global competition with over 900 cities participating since 2011!

Hamilton was chosen from a shortlist that included Peterborough and Calgary, and as the national winner, Hamilton will now participate in WWF’s We Love Cities competition, which is open exclusively to OPCC finalists. 

This competition invites the public to vote for their favourite city, show their support, and offer suggestions on how we can enhance our sustainability efforts. 

We Love Cities runs throughout October, concluding on World Cities Day, October 31. The global OPCC winners will be announced in November 2024 at the UN World Urban Forum in Cairo. 

To cast your vote, share what you love about our city, or share your ideas about making our city better, please visit: https://welovecities.org/city/hamilton

HALLOWEEN FUN AT POWELL PARK - OCT 26TH

Powell Park is transforming into a Halloween wonderland with crafts, games, and even a 12-foot skeleton (perfect for those spooky selfies!). Join Officer Tags for a costume parade and fill up those loot bags. Its a community event you won’t want to miss! Be sure to register early. Happening at Powell Park at 11am. To register email eventsatgala@gmail.com. Learn more here. 

HALLOWEEN HAUNT ON OTTAWA ST NORTH - OCT 26TH

Get ready for a spooktacular day at Halloween Haunt on Ottawa Street North! Saturday October 26th from 10am to 1pm. Folks are welcome to join at East Kiwanis Parkette for a hauntingly good time filled with complimentary face painting, crafts, and a Halloween photo booth! Costumes encouraged, so come dressed to impress! Learn more here.

KIDICAL MASS IN WARD 3 - OCT 27TH 

Hamilton's 3rd Kidical Mass is on Sunday October 27 Gage Park near the playground 1pm-3pm. Happening Rain or Shine for a ride around the park and surrounding neighbourhood. Helmets are required and parents must ride with their children. Costumes are optional. Look for the giant bear! Riding will be done as a group so that no one gets left behind.

HARRC COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT EVENT - OCT 28TH

This gathering will provide an opportunity to highlight the critical work that Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) has undertaken over the past year to address racism in Hamilton and share their hate incident data. Taking place on Monday, October 28th at 6pm at 1 James St. North, Second Floor, McMaster University Continuing Education (Jackson Square). The event will include guest speakers and discussions regarding ways to respond to racism and hate in Hamilton. Learn more and register here. 

HAMILTON DAY - NOV 1-3 

Our city-wide celebration of Hamilton and small business is coming up next weekend! There will be some trivia, guided tours, music, art, and all kinds of other experiences. It's also a good time to get out to your favourite Ward 3 business and show some support. Learn more here. 

HAMILTON WOMENS ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH EVENT - NOV 21ST 

The Woman Abuse Working Group, in collaboration with the Native Women's Centre, is hosting Hamilton's annual event in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The event will explore ending violence and murder of Indigenous women and girls, and deepen collective understanding of building meaningful collaboration to support gender based violence efforts using a respectful and culturally informed manner. Learn more here. 

BARTON VILLAGE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & FUNDRAISER - NOV 25

Join the Barton Village BIA for an evening of visioning followed by entertainment including live music, refreshments, games, prizes, raffles, and more!

The event will be taking place on Monday November 25, 2024 at Westinghouse HQ (286 Sanford Ave N) with the AGM commencing at 6pm followed by the fundraising event! Tickets for the event are $25 each.

To RSVP for the AGM only, please email info@bartonvillage.ca. To purchase tickets for the event/fundraiser, please visit: https://www.bartonvillage.ca/event-list 

ACTIVE CONNECTIONS DROP IN - TUESDAYS SEP 10 - DEC 17 

Presented by the Alzheimer Society, folks are invited to join for 45 minutes of light exercise followed by activities designed to promote social, mental, and emotional well-being. Light refreshments will be provided. Every Tuesday from 10:30am-1pm at Eva Rothwell Centre (460 Wentworth St. N. Hamilton).

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

New Green Building Standards, New Parking Penalties, Toxic Drug Alert, Grant Opportunities and More

Dear Neighbours,

The days have shortened, the weather has cooled, and the leaves have started changing colour - a time of year when I begin to take stock of what has been accomplished and what remains priority. It is a time when we collectively bring our attention to gathering with friends, loved ones, and families to celebrate and give thanks. Whether you do so in ceremony, ritual or quietly in solitude, I hope you are able to pause and reflect on what you are grateful for and what you can commit to doing better going forward.

You may have noticed this newsletter is arriving to you in a different format than usual - an email with a weblink. We are working out some technical kinks and have pivoted to this format for now. The aim is to re-establish an embedded format where you don’t have to link but simply open your email and begin reading the most recent issue of the newsletter.

There are many important updates from Council and Committee meetings, upcoming infrastructure projects impacting neighbourhoods in Ward 3, and great upcoming events and opportunities for you to be aware of.

As always, should you require any assistance with any municipal issues, my office team is here to help. You can email us at ward3@hamilton.ca.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

A large butterfly sculpture stands amidst colorful flowers and tall grasses in a garden setting, with modern glass buildings across from City Hall and a cloudy sky in the background. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates".

REDUCING HOMELESSNESS & MANAGING ENCAMPMENTS

It remains a priority of the City to balance the important needs of unsheltered people living in encampments, who deserve to be treated with empathy and respect, with the responsibility to ensure our communities are safe and vibrant places for all residents. The City and all our service partners continue to do what is possible with the level of resources currently available to manage the existing encampment sites. 

Last month, I reported on the Council approved plan to increase the existing shelter system by 192 beds, a 56% increase, and to implement an 80-bed temporary outdoor shelter. Of the much needed 192 bed expansion to the shelter system, 138 beds will operate in Ward 3, of which 123 beds are within a four block area.

The sites for shelter expansion in Ward 3 are as follow:

• 50 beds operated by Good Shepherd at the former Cathedral Boys School on Main St E-  for men and gender diverse individuals

• 8 beds operated by Mission Services Men’s Services on King St E - for men and gender diverse individuals

• 15 beds operated by Mission Services at Emma’s Place on Wentworth - for women and gender diverse individuals

• 20 beds at Wesley's Special Care Unit on Main St E - for all genders

• 45 beds at the Asylum Seekers Assistance Program for all genders provided operated by Wesley and Refuge Newcomer Health on Main St E

I have raised the concern about the concentration of the 123 additional shelter beds within a 4 block area and the existing encampments in adjacent parks. I requested staff to apply the same 1km radius that will be set around the Barton-Tiffany outdoor shelter to prevent over-concentration in areas of Ward 3. Details on which parks, parkettes and greenspaces this will include will be reported back by staff at the next General Issues Committee meeting in this month. 

The dire need for increased supports and services is clear in the presence of encampments across the city, the number of emergency room visits, and the inadequate income support, and our ever-growing lists of individuals and households in need of affordable housing. And as I stated last newsletter, Hamilton Council is not sitting by and doing nothing. In fact, the City of Hamilton continues to invest disproportionately towards the spectrum of solutions needed to address the crisis. Below is a graph that illustrates the breakdown. 

Infographic showing Hamilton's housing investments. Total of $185.9 million: $125 million from the city, $41 million from Ontario, $19.9 million from Canada. Areas: Affordable Housing $21.3M, Supports $23.5M, Housing $9.85M, Shelters $33M, Encampments $8.3M.

By way of a motion I seconded, Council has directed staff to itemize our expenses related to addressing the needs of those living unhoused to seek federal and provincial funding for cost recovery. 

Ensuring our parks and neighbourhoods are vibrant and safe spaces for all requires more and more resourcing than it has even before. And it is infact more costly than investing in the upstream supports and services both the province and federal government can address through the various ministries responsible for housing and health.

A reminder to residents that if you have concerns of a specific site, please email unsheltered@hamilton.ca

GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS 

Passing the new Green Building Standards for our city is a massive achievement. Staff have done an incredible job of putting together a suite of standards to improve the environmental performance of new industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential developments within the urban areas of our city. 

The Green Building Standards will aid in evaluating development applications through the lens of sustainability, energy, and climate resilience, by providing performance requirements across a range of Impact Categories for buildings and site design. 

The five overarching Green Building Standards Impact Categories are: 

• Energy & Carbon: Promotes energy-efficient buildings that lower operating costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve building resilience; 

• Ecology & Biodiversity: Preserves, restores, and enhances the natural environment within the development area; 

• Water: Reducing potable water use for indoor and outdoor water uses, water metering, and rainwater management; 

• Waste Management & Materials: Reducing waste generation during construction and the operational phases of development; and, 

• Community & Urban Design: Promotes a sense of place by preserving heritage and cultural features, local food production, healthy practices, and inclusion. This Impact Category includes educating residents on sustainability features in their community. 

The development of the Green Building Standards was informed by City of Hamilton’s current sustainability initiatives and priorities, engagement with interested parties, and provincial and local policy and regulations. These standards are a critical path to advance our city in real and tangible ways towards sustainable city building.

During the Planning Committee, I supported moving away from a “pilot period” to provide better predictability and stronger messaging to the broader community that these standards are the new standard going forward, and any future changes will seek to strengthen the capacity of developments to help achieve the climate targets we have set to achieve by 2050. Committee also directed staff to work with the newly formed Climate Action Advisory Committee to review the standards and make any further changes for Council’s approval prior to them being implemented.

We have seen non-profit affordable housing providers like CityHousing Hamilton and Indwell leading in housing development that already meet and exceed green building standards. I look forward to seeing more of it in the private development sector as a way to meet the new standards ratified by Council

CHANGES TO PARKING PENALTIES & FEES

Last week, Planning Committee members approved recommendations to increase various parking penalties to better enable consistency and efficiencies with parking enforcement. Parking penalties are applied to enforcement of our parking by-laws and serves a number of important purposes, such as:

• helping to maintain traffic flow, 

• ensuring safety for vulnerable road users, 

• and helping to manage on-street and off-street parking supply

It is important, to ensure, that parking penalty amounts are set at a rate that encourages compliance but are also reasonable and fair to residents. 

Based on a review of current penalty amounts, as well as, a comparison to other jurisdictions, staff are recommending adjustments to certain on-street penalties which you can review in detail here.

Two areas I wanted to ensure neighbours are aware of have to do with parking in bike lanes and on sidewalks. If you are found to be parking while obstructing a bicycle lane or sidewalk, the fine is now set to $200. This change in fine has been established to ensure greater attention and to deter negative parking practices and to safeguard vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. 

Any increase in penalty revenue collected from paid parking penalties will be incorporated into the operating budget as part of the 2025 budget process.  

To report a parking violation please call (905)-540-6000 or email parking@hamilton.ca

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

WILSON AND SHERMAN MEETING RECAP

Thank you to all the neighbours who attended the Community Info Session in-person and virtually about the upcoming Wilson St and final phase of the Sherman Ave roadworks.

We reviewed the detailed design, timeline and construction process information. The City staff team did a great job responding to each and every question posed. Rest assured the team aims to deliver a quality project with a commitment to being good neighbours during the construction phase. 

If you live on Wilson, Sherman, Ashley or Wentworth in the construction zones and have questions, you will be receiving a letter in your mailbox that includes direct contact information of the project manager who can help address your concerns. Please hold onto that letter for future reference. I’ll also post an update both on social media and in future newsletters when construction gets underway.

Reminder this infrastructure project entails new water mains, complete road reconstruction, two way conversion, benches, trees, and better pedestrian realm. 

To learn more about the project, check out the project details on the city’s website here.

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER FOR NATALIE RECAP

Over 200 neighbours from across Hamilton gathered in the Keith Neighbourhood last Saturday to participate in the community fundraiser for Natalie and exceeded the $10,000 goal!

Big thanks to Pure Energy Dance Studios, Mandy Lea, Diana Jacobs, Harvey’s, Bonnie Sneddon-Davies, Jennifer Boscher, Ticats & Tim Hortons Field Staff & Volunteers, and all the volunteers!

If you were unable to attend, you can still donate via a GoFundMe campaign launched by family members of Natalie.

BARTON ST FUNCTIONAL DESIGN STUDY & PUBLIC MEETING - OCT 17th

On October 17 at 6:30pm at the Westinghouse HQ, the City is holding a public information meeting for the Barton Street Functional Design Study. This is an opportunity for residents in Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4 to learn more about the project and provide feedback.

Your input will help shape the future of Barton St. Please let us know if you will be attending by filling out this form. 

If you are unable to attend, you can still participate and offer your feedback through the online  survey here. 

WARD 3 COMPLETE STREETS PLAN - Oct 29th

Join the Ward 3 Team and City Staff for a hybrid Community Meeting on Tuesday October 29 from 6pm-8pm with the in-person portion taking place at the Morelli Recreation Centre.

The Ward 3 Complete Streets Study kicked off with resident input in October 2021 with an initial target of July 2022 for a final report. It was undertaken to review the traffic conditions in all the neighbourhoods in Ward 3 to create a plan to improve safety on the local and collector neighbourhood streets; not arterial roads. The project focused on traffic speeds, stop-sign compliance, accessibility issues and cut-through traffic to recommend specific improvements within Ward 3 Neighbourhoods. All of this occurred with robust and direct resident participation during the pandemic with over 800 residents engaging in the process.

As staff worked to finalize the 200+ recommendations, they had to coordinate these recommendations with both the Main Street Two-Way Conversion and LRT projects. We are now ready for a community meeting to highlight the short, medium, and long-term measures identified within the report after extensive assessment.

On October 29th, Staff will break down the implementation items by neighbourhoods in the ward to ensure investment lands equitably to address the deepest safety concerns as priority. This meeting will review the project, as well as address the works completed to date, and discuss timelines for the remainder of the work to be completed moving forward.

Please be sure to RSVP with the Ward 3 team by emailing ward3@hamilton.ca so we may best accommodate your participation. We look forward to seeing you there!

WARD 3 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE GRANTS - NOW OPEN 

The Ward 3 Community & Resilience Grant program is managed by the Ward 3 Councillor’s Office. The goal of Ward 3 Community & Resilience Grant program is to support residents, community groups and organizations in Ward 3 - with a focus on programs and initiatives that promote equity, inclusion, resilience, and community-building work in our neighbourhoods. While organizations are welcome to apply, preference will be given to initiatives that are resident-led and can demonstrate outcomes which are community-focused and that will be delivered in Ward 3 neighbourhoods. 

Grant funds come from the former Bell Cell Tower Funds (Non-Property Tax Revenue) allocated to Ward 3 and are replenished annually. Cell Tower revenues were deposited to City revenue and transferred to reserves that were established for Ward-Specific purposes. These funds are discretionary, meaning I need to put forward motions to direct staff on how to allocate the funds. 

In an effort to help manage the intake and selection process, we have moved to an online application process. Successful applications will be approved through a motion passed at City Council. There are two annual application periods - one in the spring and one in the fall. Fall 2024 applications will be due by Nov 15, 2024.

If you need help filling out the application form, please reach out to the Ward 3 Team at ward3@hamilton.ca.

For more information about the criteria and application process, please visit: www.nrinder.ca/communityresiliencegrants 

A person installs a smoke detector on a ceiling. The text "City Services Updates" is overlaid on the image.

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK - CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARMS

Fire Prevention Week 2024, taking place from October 6 to 12, emphasizes the life-saving importance of working smoke alarms in every home. This year’s theme, "Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!" encourages residents to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of their homes, including the basement.

“Working smoke alarms provide the earliest warning of fire, giving you and your loved ones precious time to escape safely,” said Fire Chief David Cunliffe, Hamilton Fire Department. “This Fire Prevention Week, we’re reminding everyone to make sure their smoke alarms are installed correctly, properly maintained, and ready to save lives.” Learn more here.

COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT FUND - APPLICATIONS DUE NOV 15th

Applications for the City Enrichment Fund are now open with 7 funding areas: Agriculture, Arts, Communities, Culture & Heritage, Community Services, Digital, Environment and Sport & Active Lifestyles. Staff are hosting public Information sessions in all program areas to provide an overview of the CEF program, submission requirements, and application support. 

Infographic for the City Enrichment Fund. Applications open, apply by November 15 at 4 pm. Seven funding areas: Agriculture, Arts, Communities, Culture & Heritage, Community Services, Digital, Environment, Sport & Active Lifestyles.

The deadline for all applications is Friday, November 15, 2024 at 4:00pm. Learn more: hamilton.ca/CityEnrichmentFund  #HamOnt

CITY OF HAMILTON HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT 

The city of Hamilton is currently undertaking a Housing Needs Assessment to explore current and future housing need, demand, supply, and affordability, and provide insight into the key drivers behind the housing markets within Hamilton communities. This Housing Needs Assessment will validate Hamilton's key housing gaps, and provide detailed ward-by-ward information to help guide implementation of the Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap (HSIR). For those who were not able to attend the recent pop-up events, there is an online survey that you can participate in here. 

HAMILTON POLICE SERVICE OFFERING FARADAY BAGS

The faraday bag is a small pouch designed to store vehicle key fobs and block the electronic signals they emit. Auto thieves have devices and technology to detect and use the signals to start a vehicle parked in a driveway, without actually using the key fob. It is strongly recommended that in addition to placing the key fobs inside the faraday bag, vehicle owners store the bags as far away as possible from main level exterior doors and windows of the home. 

The faraday bags can be picked up at the front reception area of Station 20, located at 2825 King Street East in Stoney Creek. 

 See the YouTube videos below which provide information about the bags and how auto thieves utilize electronic signals to steal vehicles.

Faraday Pouch - Do Car Key Signal Blockers Work? Keyless Entry Security 

These are the most stolen vehicles in Canada 

A healthcare professional in a blue uniform with a stethoscope holds a tablet. The words "Public Health Updates" are displayed on a transparent overlay. The background is blurred, showing other medical staff and patients.

HAMILTON DRUG ALERT: RISK ASSOCIATED WITH METH IN THE COMMUNITY

Hamilton Public Health Services wants the community to be aware that recent meth samples have tested positive for fentanyl and xylazine. This is a serious risk concern as it can lead to drug poisonings. Community reports have linked two drug poisonings occurring this week to meth containing fentanyl. 

Here are some resources and info on how health and social service providers can help: 

• Alert individuals using street drugs and their families/ friends of the potential increased risk of drug poisoning. Encourage harm reduction strategies with clients and community members:

  • Avoid using alone or use at the Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site (70 James St. S). Drug checking services are also available at the CTS.

  • Call a friend, family member or the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677 (NORS) for anonymous 24-hour support before and while using substances.

  • Use a smaller dose (low and slow).

  • Use new harm reduction supplies every time you use.

  • When injecting, boil your drugs an extra 30 seconds to reduce chance of infection.

• Provide the following education to people who use drugs, their friends and family:

  • Recognize the signs of a drug poisoning.

  • Call 911 when drug poisoning is suspected.

  • Perform CPR as necessary.

  • Administer naloxone. With more potent drugs, there is a possibility that a person will require more than one dose.

• Providers are encouraged to:

  • Visit www.hamilton.ca/naloxone for a FREE naloxone kit and training.

  • Refer clients to addiction treatment, consumption and treatment services, and drug withdrawal services.

  • Prescribing or managing opioids according to most recent guidelines.

For more information related to this alert, please email Harm.Reduction@hamilton.ca. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to a collaborative response to the drug poisoning crisis in Hamilton.

For additional resources please visit Hamilton Harm Reduction Services website

A diverse group of young people raising their hands together joyfully, with the text overlay "Community Events & Opportunities." The background is an outdoor setting with trees and sunlight.

WE’RE ALL NEIGHBOURS HERE: AN IMMERSIVE ART EXPERIENCE - OCT 17-19

Organized by Helping Hands Street Mission, this Immersive Art Experience will include art from many different disciplines and will highlight the nuances and experiences of those living unhoused or marginally. Be a part of an immersive art event that invites you into a space of curiosity and storytelling. Let’s listen, learn, and create change together in our city. This event will also include elements/stations with kids in mind and will aim to be physically accessible to as many as possible. Learn more about the event and ticket information here. 

CHARGED UP FOR CHANGE YOUTH FORUM - OCT 19

Afro Canadian Caribbean Association of Hamilton presents Charged Up For Change, an exciting event focused on creating positive impact in the Hamilton community. Get ready to be inspired by engaging speakers, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities to equip young leaders with tools, knowledge, and confidence to advocate for DEI and Anti-Racism in Hamilton and beyond. Learn more and register here. 

2nd ANNUAL HAMONT YOUTH SUMMIT - OCT 22

High School aged students are invited to participate in the second annual HamOnt Youth Summit. In partnership with the HamOntYouth Steering Committee, the City of Hamilton is excited to engage young people from across Hamilton. The event is designed by youth for youth, to inform, engage, celebrate, and educate youth in our community. It’s an opportunity for young people to come together, share ideas and take action toward a better future for Hamilton. 

Learn more and register here. 

SWAP HAMILTON PHOTOVOICE PROJECT 

Earlier this year the McMaster Office of Community Engagement Research Shop reviewed the experiences of sex workers in Canada. Their report, released in July, analyzes sex workers’ experiences during interaction with the police and when accessing health care. HamiltonSWAP has also been conducting a City of Hamilton photovoice needs assessment project in collaboration with the YWCA as part of the #Hamont’s Gender-Based Safety Audit to learn about the issues sex workers face around safety, violence and social exclusion by asking the question “What would make sex work safer?”.  Learn more about the project here.

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Reducing Homelessness & Managing Encampments Update, Safety Enhancements on Escarpment Stairs, Review of Keith Neighbourhood Safer Streets Plan & More

Dear Neighbours,

Happy Fall!

You may have noticed we did not send out an e-newsletter earlier this month. And this one is arriving to you in a different format, as we are sending it to you via link format. We are working out some technical kinks and have pivoted to this format for now.

September was a busy month at Council and in the community. As such, this is a longer e-newsletter than usual and I encourage you to take some time to catch up on all the incredible work underway and upcoming.

Thank you to all our neighbours who joined the efforts for the CN Track Gang, St Clair Laneways, and Beautiful Alleys fall clean ups over the past two weekends. It was good to connect with many of you while actively improving our communities. I’m grateful, as always, to those who organize and coordinate everything to enable everyone to participate safely while also having fun. If you would like to join us next Spring, please reach out to my office and we can connect you to the crew nearest you!

As always, should you require any assistance with any municipal issues, my office team is here to help. You can email us at ward3@hamilton.ca.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

REDUCING HOMELESSNESS & MANAGING ENCAMPMENTS UPDATE

I often say, the role of each level of government is to not only protect human rights, but to tend to the conditions that advance them.

However, when it comes to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in every town and city in Ontario, we are limited. We do not have the financial capacity to do it alone as cities.

As recognized by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in their recent report, “encampments are the latest expression of a homelessness crisis decades in the making. These encampments are a tragic result of cracks in the foundations of our housing, health, and social systems and are a public policy failure by successive provincial and federal governments. A lack of intergovernmental cooperation and lack of integration of effort, and insufficient supply of affordable housing have compounded matters.”

Municipalities are often caught balancing the important needs of unsheltered people living in encampments, who deserve to be treated with empathy and respect, with the responsibility to ensure our communities are safe and vibrant places for all residents.”

“In a province as prosperous as Ontario, homeless encampments cannot be the best we can do for our residents, communities, and businesses...”

It cannot be said enough, we need the provincial and federal government to work with municipalities on aligned strategies and funding to tend to the conditions we are facing in our city.

And yet we cannot sit by and do nothing. Council has acted to respond to the need for wrap around supports and accessible shelter options.

Council approved a plan to increase the existing shelter system by 192 beds, a 56% increase, and implement an 80-bed temporary outdoor shelter.

The temporary outdoor shelter (previously referred to as a sanctioned site) will be located at the Barton-Tiffany Lands in Ward 2. This outdoor shelter will be run by Good Shepherd in collaboration with the City, Greater Hamilton Health Network and other service providers. It will include wrap-around supports and services to help transition folks into housing.

The 192 bed increase will begin implementation this Fall while the outdoor shelter is anticipated to begin intake in December. While no municipality can require everyone currently living encamped in our parks to move into any of these shelter spaces, we know from direct outreach that many will choose to make use of these additional, low barrier, spaces.

Of the much needed 192 bed expansion to the shelter system, 138 beds will operate in Ward 3, of which 123 beds are within a four block area.

At Council, I raised concern about the concentration of these additional shelter beds with the existing encampments in adjacent parks. I requested staff to apply the same 1km radius that will be set around the Barton-Tiffany outdoor shelter to prevent over-concentration in Ward 3. Details on which parks, parkettes and greenspaces this will include will be reported back by staff at a General Issues Committee meeting in October.

Along with the Mayor, I have also directed staff to reach out to the appropriate federal and provincial ministries to access the recently announced federal funding to support communities in managing encampments and addressing homelessness to help cover the costs of the strategy outlined above.

An an effort to maintain our obligations as a City, while also balancing the responsibility to ensure our parks are safer for all, I collaborated with my Council colleagues on a motion to direct City staff to report back in Q1 2025 on enforcement of the Parks and Streets By-law, and changing or sunsetting the existing Encampment Protocol in a manner that is compliant with the Charter and current case law.

Staff are confident that the addition of these beds will make a tangible difference by providing better options than to live encamped in municipal parks.

The City does ask for patience over the coming months while folks living encamped who consent are transitioned successfully to these expanded shelter spaces.

All the while, I remain committed to pulling every lever available to the City to maintain the affordable housing stock we already have, while also delivering more deeply affordable and supportive housing across Hamilton.

SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS ON ESCARPMENT STAIRS

In response to a motion I moved in 2023 to improve safer use of escarpment stairs, staff have provided an update on measures taken to date.

To improve resident safety while commuting and exercising, safety upgrades to all Escarpment Stairs in Hamilton have been made over the summer. These upgrades include hired security in the evening, lighting upgrades, cameras, and more.

If you have any feedback on how these measures are working, please contact the City’s main line at 905-546-2489.

REVIEW OF KEITH NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER STREETS PLAN

On September 10th, an 11 year old neighbour in the Keith neighbourhood was struck by a car while waiting for her school bus by a driver having a medical episode. She has endured life-altering injuries. While the child, her family and loved ones, peers and the local community focus on the long road to recovery and healing, at Public Works Committee, I moved a motion directing staff to review the incident to identify what further measures can be taken to improve street safety in the area.

The Ward 3 Complete Streets Study recommendations for the area will also be reviewed to identify what can be implemented as a priority, as well as a review of school bus stops with the school boards representatives who serve on the Hamilton Strategic Road Safety Committee.

No child should feel vulnerable while waiting at a designated school bus stop. And as a #VisionZero city we must prioritize the child pedestrian’s needs at the centre of our roadway design and interventions. As we continue to implement the Complete Streets Study recommendations, it is my hope #OurWard3 can be an area of best practice city-wide.

In addition to the work above, I have allocated Ward 3 discretionary funds from the Non-Property Tax Revenue Account to ensure the costs for closing the road for a Keith Neighbourhood community-led fundraiser to take place on Saturday October 5. More information about this fundraiser is listed below in our Community Events & Opportunities section.

TRUCK ROUTE VIOLATIONS ONLINE REPORTING TOOL

As Chair of Truck Route Sub Committee, and as a result of hearing feedback from the community around enforcement of the new Truck Route system, I championed and supported the implementation of new Truck Route Violation Reporting Tool.

In conjunction with the City and the Hamilton Police Service, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new Truck Route Violation Reporting Tool, which has been designed to empower Hamilton residents to play an active role in supporting a safer and more compliant use of Hamilton's transportation network.

This reporting tool allows residents to report any truck route violation they observe in their community. By submitting location-specific feedback, residents can help the City, and Hamilton Police Service, monitor efficiently allocate resources and address non-compliance issues. 

• User-Friendly Interface: The reporting tool is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, ensuring that residents can submit their observations and upload a picture of the violation;

• Location-Specific Feedback: Reports can include precise locations, allowing for more accurate tracking and enforcement of truck routes; and,

• Collaborative Effort: Feedback submitted through the tool, will be reviewed by both the City, and the Hamilton Police Service, to address truck route issues effectively.

The introduction of this reporting tool is a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to enhance road safety and maintain the integrity of designated truck routes. By empowering residents to report violations, we aim to prevent damage to infrastructure, and improve safety on our streets for all. 

We need your direct participation!

The Truck Route Reporting Tool can be accessed on the City’s website at: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/getting-around/driving-traffic/truck-route-network 

ERASE GRANT TO SUPPORT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT 575 WILSON ST

At GIC last week, we approved an Environmental Remediation and Site Enhancement (ERASE) Grant to Cielo Residential Inc, who is the residential developer at 575 Wilson St.

Neighbours may be familiar with this site. It is currently a vacant lot, that has been used as parking in the past, across from the east end of the Park Furniture building at Sanford and Wilson. Cielo Residential Inc intends to build townhomes on this land, but first needs to deal with the contamination.

This grant, regularly accessed in these types of scenarios across the city, will enable them to do so, and for the proposed development to proceed. 

The planned redevelopment of the Site includes five duplexes (four fronting Wilson Street and one fronting Greenaway Avenue) totalling ten residential rental units consisting of five two-bedroom and five three-bedroom units. This will provide much-needed housing to the GALA Neighbourhood.

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

HEALTH CENTRE & COMMUNITY KITCHEN OFFICIALLY OPEN AT EVA ROTHWELL CENTRE

I had the honour of joining a truly inspiring collaboration of people and organizations Wednesday, September 25th in cutting the ribbon and celebrating the official opening of the Health Centre and Community Kitchen at Eva Rothwell Centre.

I want to thank Dr. Brian McKenna for his incredible leadership and commitment to addressing health inequities in our city and honing in on the need to bring health services to neighbourhoods without access to primary care. The clinic will be run by Hamilton Family Health Team in partnership with the Greater Hamilton Health Network.

The clinic has already seen over 170 patients and aims to have 1000 in its roster, and offers a new clinical space where local families and neighbours can access primary care. There is access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner, mental health counselors, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, registered dietitians, and more. Plans are already underway for a phase two expansion to deliver a range of mental health services in a purpose designed space.

The Turkstra Family Kitchen has been already pumping out daily food programming and offers nutritional education for all ages. I had the pleasure of running a workshop teaching children about the digestive system and how to make smoothies! Can’t wait for the next Cooking With Your Councillor session.

This type of collaborative and innovative healthcare service delivery model makes the greatest difference in the lives of patients and the wellbeing of communities.

Honestly, I was holding back tears throughout the event. It was just so moving, in these divisive and challenging times, to share in a community-centred win. To see equity put in action, changing the old way of doing things, and literally addressing systemic injustices.

The Eva Rothwell Centre is already such a critical hub for the Keith community and now it shines even bright with services steeped in love, care and respect for our neighbours.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

CANADIAN TIRE DEVELOPMENT

The Canadian Tire Real Estate Investment Trust held a Community Meeting on Tuesday September 24th to discuss their plans to replace the retail store and gas bar at Victoria Ave and Main St E with a multi-residential development.

They are proposing two 25-storey towers linked by a pedestal offering 576 residential units. These breakdown into 20 Bachelor, 343 One-Bedroom, 180 Two-Bedroom, and 33 Three-Bedroom units proposed. The ground-level units will be configured similar to townhouses that are scoped as live-work spaces.

When I met with the development team, I emphasized how important the retail store is to the area and encouraged them to consider integrating a new retail store within their final development. They have proceeded with a residential-only focused development plan for community input.

It is important to recognize that there are no immediate plans to close the Canadian Tire store at this location. The planning application process is expected to take several years, during which the store will remain open. And a representative from Canadian Tire responded to questions from residents stating they are open to looking at potential relocation of a retail store near the downtown, however, made no commitments.

No final decisions have been made about the redevelopment of the property and Canadian Tire is committed to engaging with stakeholders throughout the planning application process, with further opportunities to engage at future stakeholder consultation events. An amendment to the secondary plan will also be required for height limit facilitation, which will also lead to a public consultation process.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or have feedback to provide, you may contact Mike Crough MCIP RPP Principal – Planner directly via email at mike.crough@arcadis.com or by phone at 905-546-1010 x 63114 for more information.

WARD 3 POP-UP AT NORTH CENTRAL COMMUNITY PARK, OCTOBER 8

My team and I will be hosting a Ward 3 Pop-Up at North Central Community Park on Tuesday October 8 from 5pm-7pm.

Our pop-ups are a way for me and my team to connect with residents one-on-one about municipal issues and to work with you directly. The format will be first come, first served, and you can expect to be greeted as well as be asked to provide contact information so we can follow up with you as needed.

These mini appointments will be 5-10 mins long and we will aim to address your issue on the spot. If your issue requires a follow up, we will aim to be in touch with you within a week.

Many residents have shared how much they appreciate connecting in this way, as not everyone has access to internet or email to reach us in those ways.

We welcome some face to face opportunities to connect with neighbours and are looking forward to seeing you there!

FALL SPEED CUSHION INSTALLATIONS

My office received an update from the Traffic Operations Team that they have completed their review of speed cushions as directed by my office. These flagged locations were back-checked against the Ward 3 complete streets study and everything is cleared through that. The speed cushions are being added to the Ward 3 complete street study’s recommendations based on our review since they fit into the objectives and criteria of the study. As such they will appear in the final version.

 Since they are being incorporated into the Ward 3 complete streets study, they are warranted/justified, and therefore a motion is not required. They are being added to the fall 2024 installation list.

 For your information, speed cushions will be installed on the following streets:

• Garfield Avenue South between Dunsmure Rd and Main St E

• Fairholt Road South between King St E and Vineland Ave

• Fairholt Road South between Dunsmure Rd and Main St E

• Barnesdale Avenue South between King St E and Vineland Ave

• Spadina Avenue between King St E and Vineland Ave

• Connaught Avenue South between Dunsmure Rd and Main St E

• Connaught Avenue South between King St E and Dunsmure Rd

Further Complete Streets Plan items will be outline during the upcoming meeting on Oct 29th. There are more details for this meeting lower down in this e-newsletter.

BARTON ST FUNCTIONAL STUDY COMMUNITY MEETING, OCTOBER 17

Please join the Ward 3 Team and City Staff on Thursday October 17 from 6:30pm-8:30pm for an important meeting on the Barton Street Functional Design.

This is a long-awaited roadway infrastructure project for many in the area.

The City is now at the stage of reviewing road configuration options for the Barton Street corridor from the Red Hill Valley Parkway to Locke Street North. The goal and intended outcome of the study is to identify a preferred design plan that provides:

• Enhanced safety

• Efficient movement for all users

• Enhanced active and sustainable transportation

• Improved pedestrian space and a vibrant streetscape

The study is applying a Complete Streets approach which considers the needs of all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and motorists, to create a safe, accessible, and vibrant street for everyone. The project also includes renewing and upgrading municipal services and utility relocations. 

This approach is aligned with the City of Hamilton 2022-2026 Council Priorities, specifically Priority 2 which seeks to ensure that neighbourhoods are cared for and vibrant, and that people can move around safely and effectively no matter how they travel. 

Please join us to learn more about the scope of work and to provide some direct input towards the options under review.

Pre-Registration is encouraged so we may be ready to accomodate your fullest participation. We will off a hybrid option for those unable to attend as well.

🚌🚴🏽‍♂️🚶‍♀️👨🏾‍🦽‍➡️👩‍🦼‍👩🏿‍🦼‍➡️🚗

WARD 3 COMPLETE STREETS PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING, OCTOBER 29

Join the Ward 3 Team and City Staff for a hybrid Community Meeting on Tuesday October 29 from 6pm-8pm with the in-person portion taking place at the Morelli Recreation Centre.

The Ward 3 Complete Streets Study was undertaken to review the traffic conditions in all the neighbourhoods in Ward 3 to create a plan to improve safety on the local and collector neighbourhood streets; not arterial roads. The project focused on traffic speeds, stop-sign compliance, accessibility issues and cut-through traffic to recommend specific improvements within Ward 3 Neighbourhoods. 

The study takes a holistic approach that integrates community feedback with technical analysis and develops a plan to respond. Over the course of the project more than 1200 unique data points were generated through community feedback. Results of the study were an iterative process of evaluating solutions to develop recommendations. Final recommendations are to implemented over time in a phased approach.

Across the last couple of years, a number of short-term items identified have already been completed within Ward 3 as a direct response to concerns raised by local residents. Starting back in Fall 2022, 52 speed cushion locations in total have been implemented to-date as traffic calming across neighbourhoods with more planned for implementation in Fall 2024/Spring 2025.

As staff work to finalize the 200+ recommendations, plus coordinate these recommendations with both the Main Street Two-Way Conversion and LRT projects, a community meeting has now been scheduled to highlight the short, medium, and long-term measures identified within the report after extensive assessment. 

Staff will break down the implementation items by neighbourhoods in the ward to ensure investment lands equitably to address the deepest safety concerns as priority.

Short-term measures are relatively quick to implement and have already begun with the speed cushion installations. Medium-term (projected timing 1-3 years) and long-term (projected timing 5+ years), include more complicated design items such as intersection bumpouts, curb radii reduction, raised intersections, raised crosswalks and cross-section modifications which require design, capital budget funding approvals and construction.

This meeting will review the project, as well as address the works completed to date, and discuss timelines for the remainder of the work to be completed moving forward.

Please be sure to RSVP with the Ward 3 team by emailing ward3@hamilton.ca. We look forward to seeing you there!

Graphic of a diverse group of people of all abilities with the Hamilton sign at City Hall in the background. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Services Updates".

NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH & RECONCILIATION

To commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the City of Hamilton’s Indigenous Relations team will host a sunrise ceremony and afternoon event at West Harbour – James Street Plaza on September 30, 2024.

The events allow the community to come together to commemorate and honour residential school survivors, their families, and communities. The sunrise ceremony will be held around a sacred fire with an Elder/Firekeeper at 7:00am.

The afternoon event will commence at 1:00pm, and will be filled with Indigenous knowledge sharing, a Mohawk Institute Survivor Speaker, education, and reflection.

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day was established by Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor who told her story of how her shiny new orange shirt was taken from her when she attended her first day of school at the St. Joseph Mission residential school. In 2021, the Federal government declared that the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation would also be observed annually on September 30 to honour First Nations, Inuit and Metis survivors and their families to ensure that public commemoration of their history and the legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

The City remains committed to advancing truth and reconciliation through the ongoing implementation of its locally-focused Urban Indigenous Strategy.

LANDMARKS & MONUMENTS REVIEW: HONOURING OUR INDIGENOUS ROOTS

The first phase of the City’s Landmarks and Monuments Review is focused on gathering community opinions and qualitative data. This feedback will guide future decisions about how to represent Indigenous stories and history at the Queen Victoria, Augustus Jones and United Empire Loyalists monument sites.

The goal of this project is to provide a more equitable, balanced, and inclusive representation of Indigenous histories and contributions, supporting reconciliation and education about colonial history in Canada.

From September to October 2024, community members will be able to attend in-person sessions across Hamilton. During these sessions, they will watch an Indigenous Perspectives Educational Video, which offers insights into monument sites from some Indigenous Perspectives. After the video, participants will be invited to provide feedback in a survey.

The in-person sessions will take place from 5:30pm-7:30pm on the following dates and locations:

• Tuesday October 1: Aboriginal Health Centre

• Wednesday October 2: Six Nations Community Hall

• Thursday October 3: Wards 1 & 2 - City Hall

• Wednesday October 9: Ward 13 - Dundas Town Hall

To ensure broad participation, the video and second survey will also be available online via www.engage.hamilton.ca/landmarksreview from September 9 to October 31.

FALL GARDEN & MUM SHOW, OCTOBER 4-13

It’s that time of year! The #HamOnt Fall Mum Show is taking place October 4-13 at Gage Park and this year the theme is: Candy Land!

This year, over 100,000 blooms and 200 varieties of Chrysanthemums will transport attendees to a sweet-themed Candy Land, brought to life with stunning scenes and creative displays by the City’s Horticulture Section. 

Visitors can explore vibrant candy-themed villages, including Cupcake Commons, Peppermint Forest, and Gingerbread Gardens.

There will be fun-filled activities at the Children’s Activation Center on the weekends hosted by the Children’s Garden Project in collaboration with the Dundurn Kitchen Garden and the Hamilton Children’s Museum.

Ward 3 welcomes everyone at the Gage Park Greenhouses from Oct 4th to 13th daily from 9am to 7pm!

Tickets are available at the door and online hamilton.ca/mumshow.

HAMILTON REGIONAL INDIAN CENTRE’S 3RD ANNUAL TRUTH & RECONCILIATION GATHERING - SEPTEMBER 27-28

Join HRIC for their 3rd Annual Truth & Reconciliation Gathering, E Yeti ya da nohs da:t Ogwak sa dah “Lifting Up Our Children” on Friday September 27 and Saturday September 28 at the Gage Park Bandshell.

Please find the list of scheduled events below:

BEAUTIFUL ALLEYS FALL CLEAN UP - POWELL PARK, SEPTEMBER 28

Join the Beautiful Alleys team on Saturday September 28 from 9am-1pm in Powell Park to help clean up the park and neighbouring areas. Lunch and refreshments will follow after the clean up starting at 1pm.

OTTAWA ST BIA ANNUAL SIDEWALK SALE & CRAFT CRAWL, SEPTEMBER 28

Saturday September 28th from 10am-4pm join the Ottawa St. BIA on Ottawa Street North for a day full of shopping, free activities, music and more. 🎉

The Vaudevillian will fill Ottawa Street with the sounds of their 1930's Jug Band Ragtime Blues and a FREE musical washboard workshop! (Location: East Kiwanis Parkette, at Ottawa St N at Edinburgh Ave.)

• 12:30pm-1:00pm Musical Performance

• 1:30pm-2:15pm FREE Washboard Workshop (all supplies included)

• 2:30pm-3:00pm Music Performance

Come lounge in a hammock set up on Edinburgh or Britannia, participate in a street wide scavenger hunt, join us for free crafts, play a round of corn hole with your friends, grab something to eat, and shop all the amazing sales, experiences and markets Ottawa Street has to offer.

ENVIRONMENT HAMILTON & MCMASTER UNIVERSITY - WHAT’S THE GRIME STUDY

Environment Hamilton (EH) has partnered with Dr. Sarah Styler of McMaster's PARTICLES research group on a new project that will sample dust fall aka soot (or grime as it is referred to by many) across the lower city.

EH is currently mapping out potential volunteer locations and will be reporting to the community their findings, as well as recommendations on how to safely deal with this widespread problem. We would love to see affected households in Ward 3 take part in the study! To learn more and to register to participate please email whatsthegrime@environmenthamilton.org.

KEITH NEIGHBOURHOOD FUNDRAISER - OCTOBER 5

The Keith Neighbourhood will be hosting a community fundraiser on Saturday October 5, 2024 in honour of a young neighbour who experienced life altering injuries after an accident on September 10, 2024.

The event will be held on Keith St between Emerald St and Douglas Ave and include a BBQ, live music, raffle prizes, a 50/50 draw, and donation jars to raise funds for the family to help with anything they need during this difficult time.

For more information, please contact Diana at 289-442-2780 or by visiting the Keith Neighbourhood Facebook page.

FIRST ANNUAL GREATER GOLDEN HORSESHOE DIVERSITY AWARDS

The First Annual Greater Golden Horseshoe Diversity Awards will take place on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. 

This inaugural event brought to you by EMpower Strategy Group will bring together hundreds of attendees from across the region, including organizational leaders from various sectors. The awards will recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace and beyond.

“Through these awards, we aim to shine the spotlight on the trailblazers showing extraordinary dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, honour their achievements, and spark inspiration for others to follow their lead in creating environments where everyone can thrive,” said Evelyn Myrie, Founder and CEO of EMpower Strategy Group.

Nominations are now open in the categories of Organizational Diversity and Inclusion Leadership, Senior Leader Diversity Champion, Community Diversity Champion and Youth Diversity Champion (16-24 years). Awards criteria along with an online nomination form can all be found at https://www.empowerstrategygroup.com/diversity-awards 

EMpower Strategy Group provides support to organizations to help them move from ideas to action. We help our partners create an actionable approach that embeds EDI within the DNA of your organization. Already have training in place, but worried about getting it right? Do you have policies that reflect your diversity goals? Not sure if you’re doing enough? Sustainable progress will not be achieved if DEI is driven in a silo. EDI must be embedded within the DNA of an organization, identified as fundamental to its success and naturally woven into the fabric of its business, customer and workforce strategies.

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Solving the Homelessness & Health Inequity Crisis, Adequate HVAC Systems in Schools, The Health of our Waterfront & More

Dear Neighbours,

I don’t know about you, but all those Halloween decorations in the store already have me filling my calendar with more of the amazing summer-vibe events still left to enjoy across the city.

One that I hope you will be joining me at is the Ward 3 Pool Party at Birge Pool on Thursday August 22 from 2:30pm-4:30pm. While we can’t host the party IN the pool, we will be just outside, set up with snacks, cool refreshments, giveaways and games! Reminder that Birge Pool is a zero-cost to users recreation service offered in #OurWard3 all summer long. 

As shared before, my e-newsletter rate is tied to Council meetings. In the summer, we have two one-week consolidated Committee & Council meetings. As such, this August issue is a fulsome one. I hope you will take the time to read it in detail.

I will be joining the Mayor, Councillor Hwang, Councillor Kroetsch, Councillor Cassar, and staff in Ottawa for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario until Thursday, August 22nd to advocate for the investments and partnerships we need with the provincial government to address the humanitarian crisis of homelessness and health inequity unfolding in our neighbourhoods.

My office remains open, though our response rate will be delayed as my office team members cycle through their summer vacations. You can email us at ward3@hamilton.ca.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Photo of Hamilton City Hall in summer with florals. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates".

SOLVING THE HOMELESSNESS & HEALTH INEQUITY CRISIS

Municipalities are on the frontlines of complex social and health issues, but lack adequate resources, tools and expertise to solve them. The rising number of homeless encampments and the human toll of the opioid crisis are a symptom of deeper system failures that hurt our social and economic prosperity. Also, residents and businesses are being impacted, and people need to feel safe in our downtowns and public spaces.

Province-wide there are approximately 235,000 people living homeless. The province’s shelter system is 97% full and tens of thousands of new supportive housing units are needed, according to a Housing Ministry document. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario recently shared that there are over 1,400 encampment sites in cities and towns across the province.

Encampments in Hamilton - Going Forward

Here in Hamilton, we have nearly 300 residents known to be living encamped while there are 1600 Hamiltonians experiencing homelessness on the By Name List. Over the past 12 months, the Encampment Protocol has provided City Staff and our community partners direction and guidance to try and address one of the most urgent crises facing our city. The Protocol was never intended to solve homelessness, rather to manage the reality resulting from unprecedented shelter and affordable housing supply shortages, lack of adequate mental health and harm reduction services access.

The City of Hamilton is also currently in a court challenge of our by-laws as it relates to people living encamped on city lands. Until the courts make a decision, the city must diligently manage the encampment crisis while we also work steadfastly towards the solutions that are needed to address the humanitarian crisis people are enduring in our city.

It is for this reason, that Council is unable to make further amendments to the proximal distance requirements for the Encampment Protocol that many neighbours wanted to see as it relates to proximity to private properties and pathways. That said, Mayor Horwath issued a directive to staff to prepare an implementation plan to enable sanctioned, temporary outdoor shelter site(s) and report back to GIC on September 18, 2024. 

It is important to note, even with the provision of fully supported sanctioned encampment site(s), not all encamped residents will choose to live within the sanctioned sites. Building of sanctioned encampment sites will still require maintenance and enforcement of the encampment protocol throughout the City. In the report back anticipated in September at the General Issues Committee, we will hear more details in the recommendations from staff for this plan.

The City continues to urgently pursue realistic, financially responsible, and legally feasible solutions that respect the rights and priorities of the Hamilton community.

The Response of Higher Orders of Government

As Hamilton’s representative on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, I have advocated for the federal government to come to the table in real ways. The National Housing Advocate confirmed that the federal government has allocated $250 million in dedicated funding to address encampments. This encampment specific funding will support human rights-based community action plans that commit to a housing-first approach to ending encampments, and include supportive and transitional housing, housing-focused services, and rent supplements specifically dedicated to individuals living in encampments or experiencing homelessness. 

They intend to have this money in communities starting in fall 2024 while also encouraging provincial and territorial partners to match the investment.

This Saturday, I will be travelling to Ottawa with the Mayor, other Councillors and staff as Hamilton’s official delegation to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to meet with Ministers in health and housing to advocate directly to the province to partner with the City of Hamilton on the real solutions.

I am cautiously optimistic that the province will meet the call to action from the Ontario Big City Mayor’s Solve the Crisis campaign to address the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded over the past four years in our communities.

Police Services and Encampments

In the meantime, I wanted to also clarify the role of policing as it relates to the compounding crisis of homelessness and health inequity.

Housing Services confirmed that HPS prioritizes their city-wide enforcement of the Encampment Protocol based on a series of criteria. 

• The first priority is where the whole encampment is non-compliant (in other words, there is nowhere in the area, or no changes to the encampment that could achieve compliance);

• The second priority is where a compliant encampment could be achieved in an area, but there are various compliance issues. 

It is very important to report any encampment locations where criminal activity has been witnessed directly to HPS. I have been assured that HPS continues to carry out their core policing business as it relates to addressing the criminal and/or violence occurring in every Ward 3 neighbourhood, including those adjacent to encampment sites and that which is reported at encampments.

I also want to help our residents understand Hamilton Police Service’s role and authority as it is related to drugs and mental health that residents have observed in public and in our parks. Superintendent Dave Hennick confirmed the following during the General Issues Committee on August 12th:

• According to the federal Controlled Drugs Substances Act, officers have discretion to act according to the situation that an individual is in. This discretion may or may not lead to arrest. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/pl/charter-charte/c5_1.html

• In Ontario, the Mental Health Act permits police officers to apprehend, not arrest, individuals if the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is acting in a disorderly manner and is a threat or at risk of causing harm to themselves or others.

Residents are reminded to report any active crime or theft that has occurred to the following:

• To report criminal activity by phone, call 905-546-4925. If the address is West of Sherman, ask for Division 1 Area Crime Managers, if it is East of Sherman, ask for Division 2 Area Crime Managers

• To report criminal activity using the HPS Online Reporting Tool: https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/report-crime/online-reporting

• To report criminal activity anonymously via Crime Stoppers: 905-522-TIPS or www.crimestoppershamilton.com 

• When making a report, please be sure to record or ask for an incident report number. This number is what my office needs to follow up with HPS on behalf of residents. 

• If you witness an emergency of any variety, please call 911.

For those of you who have read this fulsome update, I hope you can better understand what informs my decision making. It would be easy to just jump on the bandwagon of expressed fear and anger. However, I remain committed to balanced, evidence-based decision making and helping inform our community why this is not a scenario for retail politics. 

It is time for transformation for our communities and each council member in every municipality, big/small, urban/rural, are all on the same page - we cannot do this alone and we need the Governments of Ontario and Canada to take immediate action to solve the homelessness and mental health crisis gripping our communities.

Please consider signing on to the Solve the Crisis campaign to send a clear message to call on the provincial government to take immediate action on homelessness and mental health issues.

ADEQUATE HVAC SYSTEMS IN SCHOOLS

This week, I tabled a motion at the Public Health Committee requesting to work with the local school boards to determine their capacity to provide Hamilton schools with adequate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to address air quality and room temperature concerns.

We experienced an extended heat warning that lasted six days (June 17-22) during the school year of 2023-2024. To date, Hamilton has experienced three heat warning and/or extended heat warning events totaling 8 days (post June 22, 2024) during the 2024 secondary school summer session. Some school spaces are also used for summer camps.

As a parent of an elementary school student, I know first hand that there are several classrooms across the City of Hamilton that fail to have adequate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems year round.

And, many parents wrote to my office sharing that your children suffered heat exhaustion and other heat related illnesses that also prevented their attendance at school.

Though funding for HVAC systems in our schools is solely a provincial jurisdiction, Hamilton Public Health has an important role to fulfill in understanding the health inequities in our communities. This data enables Hamilton City Council to advocate to the province for adequate funding to address the growing health concern as we experience more and longer heat warnings due to climate change.

The motion will be deliberated at the Public Health Committee meeting on September 3rd, 2024.

THE HEALTH OF OUR WATERFRONT

Natural disasters continue to increase as our climate changes. Ongoing impacts of climate change can be seen in Hamilton. The increased wet weather which flushed so many materials into our harbour, coupled with the heat this summer, has facilitated the proliferation of toxic algae at the waterfront.

Councillor Maureen Wilson and Councillor Cameron Kroetsch moved a motion at Council to look at how the city can prevent outbreaks of toxic algae blooms in the future.

In the questions to staff about the specific algae bloom we are experiencing, staff confirmed that disturbing this algae species is detrimental to the health of the water, the creatures who live in it, and can become an airborne concern as well. As it is broken up, it proliferates. 

The health of our water is a joint responsibility of each member of Council and it is an ongoing priority for me. Not only as your Ward 3 Councillor, where we will eventually see more public access to the waterfront when the vision for the former Stelco lands at Steelport comes to fruition, but today, as a settler and a member of City Council where we start each meeting stating a land acknowledgement. Land acknowledgements aren’t simply words to be recited, but an active statement of commitment to act responsibly.

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

WARD 3 COMPLETE STREETS UPDATE

The Ward 3 Complete Streets Study was undertaken to review the traffic conditions in all the neighbourhoods in Ward 3 to create a plan to improve safety on the local and collector neighbourhood streets; not arterial roads. The project focused on traffic speeds, stop-sign compliance, accessibility issues and cut-through traffic to recommend specific improvements within Ward 3 Neighbourhoods. 

The study takes a holistic approach that integrates community feedback with technical analysis and develops a plan to respond. Over the course of the project more than 1200 unique data points were generated through community feedback. Results of the study were an iterative process of evaluating solutions to develop recommendations. Final recommendations are to be implemented over time in a phased approach.

Across the last couple of years, a number of short-term items identified have already been completed within Ward 3 as a direct response to concerns raised by local residents. Starting back in Fall 2022, 52 speed cushion locations in total have been implemented to-date as traffic calming across neighbourhoods with more planned for implementation in Fall 2024/Spring 2025.

As staff work to finalize the 200+ recommendations, plus coordinate these recommendations with both the Main Street Two-Way Conversion and LRT projects, a community meeting will be scheduled with the residents this Fall to highlight the short / medium and long-term measures identified within the report after extensive assessment. 

We will break down the implementation items by neighbourhoods in the ward to ensure investment lands equitably to address the deepest safety concerns as priority.

Short-term measures are relatively quick to implement and have already begun with the speed cushion installations. Medium-term (projected timing 1-3 years) and long-term (projected timing 5+ years), include more complicated design items such as intersection bump outs, curb radii reduction, raised intersections, raised crosswalks and cross-section modifications which require design, capital budget funding approvals and construction.

I look forward to hosting a community meeting for City staff this Fall to connect with our neighbours directly and to report next steps to implement the Complete Streets Study to improve the overall road safety and contribute to better neighbourhoods.

MAJOR RECONSTRUCTION & ROAD WORKS PROJECT - WILSON, WENTWORTH & SHERMAN AVE N COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING - SEPTEMBER 26, 6:30PM-8:30PM

Please hold the date for a Community Information Meeting on September 26th from 6:30pm-8:30pm regarding the upcoming construction and two-way preparations related to Wilson St, Sherman Ave, as well as a portion of Wentworth and Ashley.

The comprehensive roadway works project are in part early LRT works that require updating the capacity of our watermains. These works enable the City to implement other redesign priorities to enhance the safety of our neighbourhoods and to better enjoy our public realm.

BISHOP’S PARK FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS

Thank you to the 30 attendees who took time to join City staff and I to discuss the future of Bishop’s Park, and to Wesley for hosting our satellite meeting location.

Many features in the park are “end of life” meaning they are aged, due for replacement, or brought up to more current standards. And with it being smaller than most parks, we will be able to facilitate a faster revitalization of it than usual.

This meeting was a preliminary scan of what the local community would like to see for staff to work with. This will inform a longer engagement process that will enable residents to provide input on a final design and features that Public Works staff will use for budgeting and implementation.

The City of Hamilton preserves mature trees wherever possible, so the final landscape design will incorporate the existing trees, with plenty of room for pollinators and biodiversity. Staff also clarified that because this greenspace is small, it may not be feasible to put in everything residents want. For example, a more traditional playground may not be appropriate in the space. That said, there could be play-based, interactive features on the future fence that could accommodate music making or other age-inclusive features.

Staff also confirmed that the water fountain that I previously allocated discretionary Ward 3 capital funds to install will require water lines being installed. We’ll also be able to add a water spout to support watering any future pollinator garden. As such, the park will need to be fenced off for the construction period. The project is being tendered and when confirmed, we will circulate an update with timelines and local impacts. It could be either this fall or next spring.

I also addressed several questions about the revised Encampment Protocol, enforcement and what solutions the city is pursuing and advocating for to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in our neighbourhoods.

83-85 EMERALD ST. SOUTH UPDATE - CONDITIONAL APPROVAL PACKAGE

Last year my office shared the redevelopment plans of Realty Holdings Group, the owners of the former Emerald Lodge.

You may remember that they hosted multiple community meetings to discuss their redevelopment plans to turn this building into affordable rental housing units while retaining the existing building and adding an addition to the rear.

Staff have confirmed that the Site Plan Control Application for this location has received conditional approval and will now move to the Planning Committee for final approval.

HSR NEW BUS MAINTENANCE & STORAGE FACILITY:  DUST & DRAGOUT IMPACTS

For many months, we have been escalating complaints from residents about the impacts of dust and dragout resulting from the construction of HSR’s new bus maintenance and storage facility. We have a recent update to share that we hope will bring relief to neighbours. 

This City-owned facility, which takes up several city blocks from Hillyard St. to Birch Ave between Brant St. and the CN Rail tracks, will be mostly hard capped (paved over with concrete or asphalt) by the end of August which will reduce the volume of dust generated dramatically. City staff also tell us that a dedicated  street sweeper is being used regularly along Hillyard Street, Brant St. and Birch Ave to mitigate the remaining dust impacts. 

Regarding our reporting of improper use by the construction company’s vehicles of roads in the area that are not designated truck routes, they have asked the company to adhere to the proper routing, along with requesting increased enforcement by Municipal By-Law. 

For more information on the project and details of the City’s dust mitigation plans, visit https://www.hamilton.ca/hamilton-transit-bus-maintenance-storage-facility-design#frequently-asked-questions

If you notice any further dust or other air quality concerns in the area, please contact #OurWard3’s kerry.leclair@hamilton.ca.

WARD 3 POP-UP AT BIRGE PARK - SEPTEMBER 24, 5PM-7PM

My team and I will be hosting a Ward 3 Pop-Up at Birge Park on Tuesday September 24 from 5pm-7pm..

Our pop-ups are a way for me and my team to connect with residents one-on-one about municipal issues and to work with you directly. The format will be first come, first served, and you can expect to be greeted as well as be asked to provide contact information so we can follow up with you as needed.

These mini appointments will be 5-10 minutes long and we will aim to address your issue on the spot. If your issue requires a follow up, we will aim to be in touch with you within a week.

Many residents have shared how much they appreciate connecting in this way, as not everyone has access to internet or email to reach us in those ways.

We welcome some face to face opportunities to connect with neighbours and are looking forward to seeing you there!

Graphic of a diverse group of people of all abilities with the Hamilton sign at City Hall in the background. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Services Updates".

REIMAGINING NEIGHBOURHOODS: RESIDENTIAL ZONES PROJECT

Reimagining Neighbourhoods, is the City’s Residential Zones Project to update zoning and implements Council’s direction to provide more housing options to residents across the City. The City of Hamilton aims to provide homeowners, renters, developers, and the general public access to information and planning tools to learn how zoning changes will provide the opportunity for more housing choice and more affordable housing options and more sustainable and equitable growth across the City. 

Through this summer engagement, staff have been out in the community, informing residents of the work that continues on the Residential Zones Project. 

For those interested in learning more about this project, staff will be present at the Ottawa Street Farmers Market on Saturday August 24. Information can also be found on the project’s website at www.hamilton.ca/residentialzoning. 

CITY OF HAMILTON CONFIRMS FIRST CASE OF BAT RABIES IN 2024

Hamilton Public Health Services received confirmation of its first positive rabid bat since August 2023. A Hamilton resident is now being treated by healthcare providers due to exposure. This serves as a reminder to stay away from bats and other animals that can carry rabies such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, as well as stray or unknown cats and dogs.

Rabies is a fatal virus that affects mammals, including humans, and is most commonly spread by wild animals like raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite. However, saliva can also enter the body through scratches, open wounds or mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes.

Hamilton currently has an outbreak of rabies, mainly in raccoons and skunks with 330 animals testing positive since December 2015. In addition to raccoons and skunks there has been one fox and two stray cats test positive. Bats have tested positive for rabies almost every year in Hamilton.

It is important to take precautions to avoid contact with rabid animals.

Tips to prevent rabies:

• Always keep a safe distance from, and avoid contact with wild animals including raccoons, skunks, bats, unknown dogs and cats and other wild animals. Rabies can make animals aggressive or it can make them appear sick, scared, or friendly.

• Bat-proof your home.

• Call Hamilton Animal Services at 905-546-2489 if you see a dead, sick or strangely acting raccoon, skunk, bat, or other wild animal.

• Do not feed, help, handle, relocate any wildlife or keep them as pets.

• If you are bitten by an animal, or had direct contact with an animal’s saliva, wash the wound with soap and water, seek medical attention immediately or call Public Health Services at 905-546-2489.

• Vaccinate your pets against rabies, keep rabies vaccinations current for dogs and cats to protect them, and prevent any spread to people.

• Contact your vet if your pet is in contact with a wild animal, including bats.

For more information about rabies, visit www.hamilton.ca/rabies.

HSR INCREASING EVENING & WEEKEND SERVICE STARTING SEPTEMBER 1

Starting Sunday, September 1, HSR will be increasing their evening and weekend service frequency on many routes. These service changes mark the eighth year of the City of Hamilton’s Council-supported Ten-Year Local Transit Strategy, which aims to grow ridership, improve connections and enhance the overall transit experience.

A $0.10 increase on PRESTO fares will be implemented on Sunday, September 1, 2024. Details are available at hamilton.ca/HSR/fares.

Fall 2024 Highlights:

• Sunday & holiday service on Routes 16 Ancaster, 18 Waterdown Mountaineer, myRide Waterdown, and 51 University.

• Late-night service on Routes 3 Cannon, 10 B-Line, 16 Ancaster, 18 Waterdown Mountaineer, myRide, and 51 University.

• Increased Sunday service frequency on Routes 3 Cannon, 4 Bayfront, 16 Ancaster, 22 Upper Ottawa, 23 Upper Gage, 24 Upper Sherman, 25 Upper Wentworth, 26 Upper Wellington, 27 Upper James, 34 Upper Paradise, 41 Mohawk, and 43 Stone Church.

The fall service schedules will be in effect from September 1 to December 28, 2024.

LANDMARKS & MONUMENTS REVIEW: HONOURING OUR INDIGENOUS ROOTS

The focus of the Landmarks and Monuments Review survey is to collect qualitative data concerning resident and stakeholder opinions about including more Indigenous stories and history at the Queen Victoria, Augustus Jones and United Empire Loyalist monument sites.

The goal of this project is to provide a more equitable, balanced, and inclusive representation of Indigenous histories and contributions, supporting reconciliation and education about colonial history in Canada.

The survey will be open between August 13 to 30, 2024 and only takes five minutes to complete.

Results from this survey, in-person engagement sessions held in the fall and a second survey, will all be shared with Council in Q1 2025.

The Sir John A. MacDonald monument site will be addressed in the second phase of this project.

Please consider sharing your feedback on how we can better represent Indigenous stories and history at the Queen Victoria, Augustus Jones and United Empire Loyalist monument sites. Fill out the survey from August 13 to 30: https://engage.hamilton.ca/landmarksreview 

Photo of one of Green Venture’s depaves along Barton St.E. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Events & Opportunities”.

LATINO FEST AT GAGE PARK - AUGUST 16-18

Hamilton Latino Festival is a multicultural annual event that has been taking place since 2018, and you are invited to come celebrate Latin culture, community, and cuisine this summer at Hamilton Latino Festival in Gage Park!

There will be plenty to do throughout the weekend with food, drink, music, entertainment, and activities. Whether you bring the entire family or explore with your friends, Hamilton Latino Festival is a place where everyone can come together and celebrate.

For full event information, visit the Hamilton Latino Festival website.

OPEN STREETS & POP-UPS AT PIER 8

While not in #OurWard3, we love to see community events happening throughout the city and the Mini Open Streets and Pop-Ups at Pier 8 events have a fun and fantastic line-up of events happening throughout the rest of August! Please check out the dates below:

• August 17: Kidstock @ HWT Patio (57 Discovery Drive) from 10am-4pm

A Woodstock-esque music and arts festival designed with kids in mind. Featuring live bands, jam sessions for kids, crafts and activities, tie-dye, family-friendly food, and interactive moments for kids of all ages. There will be programming for babies, toddlers, and older kiddos so bring the whole family down!

• August 20: Outdoor Movie Night Screening of School of Rock @ Gantry Crane (base of Catharine St. N) from 8pm-11pm

Screening the 2003 beloved School of Rock with a special pre-show rock n roll performance led by Noise Pollution Rock School with an opportunity for attendees to join an interactive jam session. Seating and refreshments available or feel free to bring your own!

• August 20: Mini Open Streets at Pier 8 from 6pm-8pm

Join the Open Streets Team for an event filled with fun and community spirit for all ages. New Hope Bikes will be on site with their Ride Smart Rodeo for folks to enjoy. 

• August 23: ABBA Dance Party @ HWT Patio (57 Discovery Drive) from 6pm-10pm

An all ages, family friendly dance party featuring the music of ABBA with disco vibes, activities and vendors. Put on your dancing shoes and boogie down to Pier 8! DJs A Side B Side will have you dancing up a storm!

• August 24: HVC Vintage Market @ HWT Patio (57 Discovery Drive) from 11am-4pm

Hamilton Vintage Community will be holding their annual market with the best vintage, antique and retro vendors. Shop for something special, eat delicious food and enjoy our final event of the season at the beautiful Pier 8!

A reminder that all events are free and accessible. Please check out Mini Open Streets and the Pop-Ups at Pier 8 websites for more information.

COMMUNITY AIR POLLUTION MEETING - AUGUST 19

Join community members to share experiences and plan actions to improve our air quality and address industrial air pollution. 

Our next meeting is Monday August 19, 6:30-8pm at the 541 Eatery & Exchange (aka the Button Cafe) located at 541 Barton Street East. 

The venue is accessible through the side door entrance, and washrooms are wheelchair accessible. Coffee and tea generously provided by the 541 Eatery and Exchange. For more info please email breathe.easy.hamilton@gmail.com.

GREEN VENTURE BI-WEEKLY STEWARDSHIP STROLLS - AUGUST 20

Join us for our biweekly Stewardship Strolls with Green Storage! 

Next Stroll: Tuesday, August 20th

Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Meet at: 342 Barton St. East

Engage in meaningful community service as we explore native gardens, enhance our local greenspaces, and keep Barton Street vibrant. We’ll help with litter pickup, plant care, and foster a cleaner, greener environment. More information and sign up is available here!

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Addressing Homelessness & Managing Encampments, Ward 3 Pop-Ups & More

Dear Neighbours,

We have been experiencing such a range in weather locally this summer, which is a further reminder about the importance of integrating and investing in climate resilience in our city building efforts. 

Next Tuesday, July 23rd, my office will be hosting an Office Pop-Up at Lucy Day Park from 4pm to 6pm. The City’s Climate Office will also be in attendance to get your input and share information about the City’s Climate Action Strategy. We’ll have some refreshments on hand and all are welcome!

As always, please reach out to my office for any municipal or city service related support by emailing ward3@hamilton.ca or by calling 905-546-2107.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Photo of Hamilton City Hall in summer with florals. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates".

ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS & MANAGING ENCAMPMENTS

Let me start off with acknowledging again, no one wants to see tents in City parks and not one member of Council believes encampments are a solution to the compounding crises we are facing as a city. 

As you may remember from the last e-newsletter, Council has approved increased shelter capacity and outreach efforts to work toward providing our neighbours who are living encamped with supportive housing options to transition from living encamped toward housing solutions.

At General Issues Committee (GIC) last week, I was able to successfully pass a motion to have staff look at parks that are currently under construction and make recommendations for changes to the Encampment Protocol that will allow for a city-wide approach to protect necessary investment in our parks. 

At the next GIC, on Monday August 12th, we will also receive a series of reports with recommendations from staff on encampments including updates to the Encampment Protocol and the possibility of pursuing sanctioned sites in order to help alleviate the negative impact to shared use of our local parks.

Sanctioned Encampment Sites

Councillor Hwang successfully moved a motion at this round of Council and Committee to request staff to provide a report in August about the potential of moving toward a model of sanctioned encampment sites. 

Sanctioned encampments have been tested in various municipalities across Canada. They are proving to be an effective, temporary sheltering option with better coordination of services and supports to those living there. It would also be a better way to uphold the rights and dignity of unhoused neighbours until the required investments are made to enable more permanent housing solutions. 

Some concerns I have heard from residents about sanctioned encampment sites, specifically those citing A Better Tent City, is that people housed there haven’t moved on and it has become more permanent than anticipated. This is not necessarily the norm. We do not know this to be the case in Halifax or other locations. Also, in Hamilton’s encampment management to date, we have had success in moving people from encampments to permanent housing. 

If Council decides to move toward a sanctioned site model that is operated by the Municipality with sectoral partners from health and social services, as opposed to a private interest, there will be a requirement for outcomes that may not exist in another model. 

The Shift has put together guiding documents that creates a national standard on managing encampments. If we think about a well-run refugee camp, for example, we can see that there are already national and international standards that exist in providing dignified open air shelters. 

Necessarily, these must include things like:

• Food

• Facilities

• Medical Services

• Proper elevation of tents and living structures

I will be using these principles to guide my engagement and decisions on this topic when it comes to Council.

Should you wish to delegate to GIC in August on any of these issues, you can find more information here on how to do so.

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

METROLINX STAGE 4 ARCHEOLOGICAL WORK AT 1175 MAIN ST. E

On August 6, a team of professional archeologists as well as field monitors will be undertaking a Stage 4 archaeological assessment, which will start on Tuesday, August 6 at 8am (weather permitting).

This assessment is taking place because in earlier stages of the archaeological assessment, historical artifacts were found that required further investigation and a more detailed excavation and documentation is required.

This Stage 4 assessment will include digging on the property next to the north side of Main Street E where archaeologists will dig small test holes to find any important historical features, and then use small mechanical equipment, such as a skid-steer, to remove the top layer of soil in the relevant area. If they find any significant features, they will dig them out by hand and record their findings.

Should you have any questions regarding the archeological work, the Hamilton-Niagara Community Engagement team is available by phone at 905-521-1003, or by email at hamilton@metrolinx.com. 

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE - BALSAM AVE

Please be advised that Balsam St N between Cannon St E and Beechwood Ave, will be temporarily closed to through traffic from 8:00am-6:00pm for crane works at Tim Horton’s Field on Wednesday July 24, 2024.

UPCOMING WARD 3 POP-UPS

#OurWard3 Pop-Ups are continuing throughout the summer and into the fall season. My team and I will be hosting a Ward 3 Pop-Up on the following dates and times:

• Tuesday July 23rd from 4pm-6pm at Lucy Day Park

• Tuesday August 6th from 2pm-4pm at Myrtle Park

• Tuesday September 24th from 5pm-7pm at Birge Park

Our pop-ups are a way for me and my team to connect with residents one-on-one about municipal issues and to work with you directly. The format will be first come, first served, and you can expect to be greeted as well as be asked to provide contact information so we can follow up with you as needed.

These mini appointments will be 5 -10 minutes long and we will aim to address your issue on the spot. If your issue requires a follow up, we will aim to be in touch with you within a week.

Many residents have shared how much they appreciate connecting in this way, as not everyone has access to internet or email to reach us in those ways.

We welcome some face to face opportunities to connect with neighbours and are looking forward to seeing you there!

BISHOPS PARK COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING - AUGUST 13TH

As mentioned in our previous e-newsletters, due to the cyber security incident and the 10 week impact to most capital works projects, the community meeting my office hoped would take place this June is now scheduled for Tuesday August 13th, 2024 in a virtual format. There will also be an in-person satellite space set up, and we are just firming up the location as the Central Memorial Rec Centre is not available due to summer programming.

At this meeting, City staff will respond to the requests related to a play structure, improved accessibility, maintenance of existing trees and other issues raised by neighbours. To be transparent, none of this currently has any allocated funding and is not formally on the capital works master plan. As such, any changes would require a financing plan.

We will be delivering flyers in the Stinson neighbourhood this upcoming week, as well as requesting the help of the Stinson Community Association to get the word out.

BIRGE PARK COMMUNITY POOL PARTY

My office and I are planning to host a pool party and community gathering at Birge Park this summer!

This event will be open to all and will have light refreshments and activities for kids. Stay tuned and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for the announcement.

DEVELOPMENT AT 87-109 ASHLEY STREET

The Planner who is working for the developer who intends to build a multi-unit residential building at this location will be hosting a virtual community meeting in mid August. This meeting will provide updates on the plans based on staff and resident feedback from their meetings last year.

Currently, the final date and time for this meeting has not been set, nor has the website been updated yet, but the meeting will occur before the next e-newsletter goes out. Residents in the immediate area will receive a flyer notification of the meeting once the date and time are set, and the project website will be updated prior to that as well.

If you are interested in learning more or attending the meeting, please contact Craig Rohe, the Planner for the Developer, directly. You can reach Craig at: crohe@gspgroup.ca

Graphic of a diverse group of people of all abilities with the Hamilton sign at City Hall in the background. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Services Updates".

HAMILTON’S INAUGURAL ACCESSIBILITY AWARDS

This year marks the first year for Hamilton’s new Accessibility Awards, an initiative designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of individuals, groups, and organizations that have improved accessibility for persons with disabilities. This awards program underscores the City of Hamilton’s commitment to acknowledging and valuing significant contributions to advancing accessibility in our city.

The Accessibility Committee for Persons with Disabilities (ACPD) proposed these awards in February 2022. In June 2023, City Council approved establishing this annual awards program to be presented at the ACPD-hosted Accessibility Fair.

Some key dates to remember are: 

• Nomination Period: July 18 - August 15, 2024.  Nomination forms can be found at www.hamilton.ca/AccessibilityAwards 

• Selection Process: August 15 – September 4, 2024.

• Awards Presentation: September 26, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Hamilton City Hall Forecourt. Awards for an individual, a community organization or group, and a business will be presented during the Accessibility Fair. The ACPD will play a crucial role in the selection process.

For a list of complete details and information, please visit, www.hamilton.ca/AccessibilityAwards 

CYBERSECURITY INCIDENT RESPONSE

The City of Hamilton is making further strides with its cyber incident recovery and restoration efforts. The City is maintaining momentum by safely and securely restoring additional services, and more are planned to return soon.

Focused on a customer-centric approach, the most recent updates on restored services include:

• Bus Annunciator System: providing transit commuters with next-stop announcements and onboard updates. 

• Real-time Bus Route Information: available through third-party applications like Google and Transit. Trip planning in the Apple app will resume shortly, once enabled by Apple. Thanks to the General Transit Feed System (GTFS), Transit customers can now view both the scheduled and real-time bus information, which will significantly improve the trip planning experience.

• Restoration of GISNet: internal GIS Services used by staff and a critical component of the City’s public service delivery in support of development processes, public health initiatives, transportation operations, and the delivery of water and wastewater services.

• Visitation Rates Tracking at the Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse: ensuring compliance with occupancy numbers through accurate and ongoing visitor tracking. During the time when this system was down, staff were manually checking attendance numbers to the facility to ensure compliance.

• Processing Building Permit Applications: the City has resumed processing nearly 1,000 online building permit applications that were stalled due to the cyber incident, enabled the restoration of the ProjectDox system. New building permit applications should still be submitted in person at City Hall, 3rd Floor, 71 Main Street West, Hamilton.

• Dental Services Scheduling: normal business processes for scheduling dental appointments have resumed. Regular dental programming for adults and seniors restarted on Friday, July 12, with services for children resuming on Monday, July 22.

Additionally, the City expects the following services to resume in the coming weeks:

• Coordinated Service Delivery for Homeless-Serving Partner Agencies: the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS), a database that supports access, collection, and sharing of real-time client information so that individuals and families needing support are prioritized and referred to appropriate services.

• Bus Location and Scheduling Adherence and Monitoring: the Streets Computer-Aided Dispatch/Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) system for monitoring the location and schedule adherence of buses for both safety and service.

For the latest information, a full list of service disruptions, and answers to frequently asked questions, visit hamilton.ca/cyberincident.

Photo of one of Green Venture’s depaves along Barton St.E. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Events & Opportunities”.

BAYFRONT PARK CLEAN-UP WITH BAY AREA RESTORATION COUNCIL & A GREEN FUTURE, JULY 24

Join BARC and A Greener Future for an evening litter clean-up at Bayfront Park on Wednesday July 24 from 6:00pm-7:30pm!

We will be scouring the shoreline to pick up litter and make our harbour clean and green. Gloves, trash bags, and refreshments will be provided.

After the clean-up, we will sort and categorize the collected waste. This activity helps us understand the types of litter that are most common in our area and strategize for future waste reduction efforts.

Please visit the Bayfront Park Clean Up EventBrite page to register!

FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS - AUGUST 2-4

The 2024 Festival of Friends featuring The Village People, War, The Washboard Union, Crash Test Dummies, and more will take place on the weekend of August 2nd - 4th in Gage Park. 

The Festival of Friends is an outdoor music, art, and crafts festival in Hamilton, Ontario. It has been produced annually since 1976. Admission to the Festival has always been – and will always remain – free to everyone. The full schedule now online at https://festivaloffriends.ca.

JOIN GREEN VENTURE’S URBAN GARDENING CLUB 

Green Venture’s Urban Gardening Club offers workshops, volunteer opportunities, and occasional experiential group outings. 

This free club is a friendly and inclusive space for you to meet like-minded individuals and improve your gardening literacy. Our workshops focus on environmentally-conscious urban gardening.

Garden club members can use the knowledge they learn at the meetings to support green spaces around the city. Green Venture offers various volunteer opportunities throughout the year for folks of different skill levels and interests.

To sign up, visit their website and register. Meetings are often held at Pinch Bakery and Plant Shop in #OurWard3 at Sherman and Barton.

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!

Rental Protection Policy, Affordable Housing, CHH New Housing Units & More

Dear Neighbours,

First off, I want to wish a heart-filled congratulations to all graduates from #OurWard3. Whether you have completed elementary, highschool or post-secondary, it is always a pleasure to celebrate your hard work and achievements. 

Dare to dream big, always seek joy, and may your future unfold with a deep sense of worthiness as you strive towards your goals with your very best efforts 🎓💐🏅🏆. And a big thank you to all the educators and school staff for supporting our kiddos!

Reminder that there are many free #CanadaDay celebrations happening across the city this weekend and on Monday. Food trucks, live entertainment and a fireworks finale at 10pm has been planned by the City’s Tourism team at Bayfront Park. Also in #OurWard3, It’s Your Festival has kicked off and will take over Gage Park for the longest running and largest multicultural celebration of Canada Day in Ontario. I’ll be emceeing the official Canada Day Ceremony at the Bandshell at 12:50pm after the Citizenship Ceremony. Pop by for some cake and to say hi!

The Ward 3 Office will be closed until Tuesday July 2. For a summary of city services impacted by the long weekend, please see the City Services update below. Also, a reminder that in the summer, our e-newsletter schedule goes down to one a month to coincide with summer Council meeting schedule.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Photo of Hamilton City Hall in summer with florals. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates".

RENTAL PROTECTION POLICY

In an effort to address the affordable housing crisis, Council has approved a multi-prong housing strategy that includes preserving the existing rental stock. The new rental protection policy addresses the loss of housing through demolition and conversion to condos.

Council ratified this new policy on Wednesday thanks to the tireless advocacy and collaboration by Hamilton ACORN members and current tenants.

Under the new permit system, before rental buildings of six units or more meet the wrecking ball, the city can require owners to set up plans to secure similar places for tenants to live.

Other hallmark measures include a requirement to replace demolished units and provide “gap payments” to cover higher rent while tenants wait to return to new buildings at previous rates.

The rental-replacement bylaw, on track for implementation starting January 2025, also includes provisions to protect tenants caught up in condo conversions as the city aims to maintain Hamilton’s affordable market housing stock.

Councillor Alex Wilson, Ward 13 and I successfully amended the policy at Council to ensure exemptions and definitions aligned across different city policies and to see better calculations for rental rates. Here is the report from last week’s Planning Committee for more details on this latest measure to protect our neighbours who rent.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEW PROJECT STREAM = +230 NEW UNITS IN WARD 3

The Housing Secretariat reported on the first set of successful applications for Hamilton’s new Affordable Housing Project Stream. The intent of the Project Stream is to organize new affordable housing construction projects on an annual basis to meet the objectives set out in the Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap, the Housing and Homelessness Action Plan, and Council Priorities. These projects apply for municipal funding and cost sharing in the effort to secure provincial and federal funds. We have allocated $23 Million annually to assist housing providers in building new affordable housing across our city.

In total, 26 applications were submitted. 12 were successful. Of the successful supportive housing projects coming forward, 6 will be in Ward 3. The City’s Housing Secretariat will meet with the successful proponents to finalize agreements and letters of intent before more details can be released. What I can share is that this will enable an estimated 230 new affordable housing units to be built by Hamilton Is Home coalition partners in different neighbourhoods in our ward. This is on top of the 183 new units I have supported since 2018 which are already built and occupied by our Ward 3 neighbours.

Once the agreements have been finalized, my office will work with the Housing Secretariat for an open house style community meeting to overview each site and project scope to ensure residents are well informed of the affordable housing solutions we are working to deliver. Once the date is confirmed, we will circulate information via this e-newsletter and on social media.

CHH NEW HOUSING UNITS UPDATE = 161 NEW UNITS IN WARDS 2 & 4

At the City Housing Hamilton board meeting this week, we received an update on our new housing projects currently in development. There are four projects with a total of 161 units with expected occupancy beginning as early as this summer through to November 2025.

At 257 King William, City Housing Hamilton will open 24 supportive housing units in partnership with Indwell who will be providing the wraparound services for tenants who will be housed directly from the City’s By Name List where residents who are experiencing homelessness have been identified through various outreach and housing services.

The building at 106 Bay St. N., which contains 55 mixed units, is slated to open October this year for residents on the City’s Access To Housing List and for internal transfers from other CHH units where neighbours may be under or over housed.

Forty mixed-sized units at 55 Queenston are projected to be open in March 2025 with an additional 42 units at 1620 Main St. E, right next door, to be completed and occupied in November next year. The tenants here will also be referred from the City’s Access To Housing List and for internal transfers from other CHH units where neighbours may be under or over housed.

As President of CHH, I want to thank our incredible staff team who work innovatively and tirelessly. Their dedication has enabled nimble work as soon as the financing for these projects was secured. The board and staff continue progress on our strategic plan to level up our organization and cultivate homes and belonging full of pride that all Hamiltonians can celebrate.

MANAGING ENCAMPMENTS

Let me start off with acknowledging again, no one wants to see tents in City parks and not one member of Council believes encampments are a solution to the compounding crises we are facing as a city. 

As reported in the last e-newsletter and on my social media platforms, Council has approved changes to better manage the reality of encampments across the city in the Encampment Protocol.

Key to this strategy is increasing the number of shelter beds available and reducing barriers to access them, in order to enable more residents currently lying encamped to opt into shelter services. Right now, we have 365 temporary and permanent beds, plus 208 hotel overflows. The recent report endorsed by Council on Wednesday enables 275 additional beds:

• 110 men

• 55 women & non-binary

• 55 couples = 110 people

Twenty-five percent of the 275 beds will be pet friendly to help reduce barriers that currently prevent residents living encamped from accessing shelters instead.

In addition to increasing shelter capacity, more outreach services have also been allocated to connect directly with all residents living encamped. This is essential for connecting folks to the services they need most. For details on the changes to the protocol, please review this report. 

Additional amendments tabled by Councillor Danko to help address concerns that all of Council has been receiving to the protocol will be reported in August. These include:

(i) Private Property Line minimum distance increase from 10m to 25m

(ii) Construction Site minimum distance increase from 25m to 100m 

(iii) Funeral Home minimum distance change from classification of Funeral Home to Active Business 

(iv) Pathways minimum distance increase from 5m to 50m 

(v) Heritage Designation distance increase from 5m to 50m and add monuments & memorials to the classification.

Enforcement remains an area residents want to see change and with a report back on further measures coming in August, I remain hopeful we will improve the situation for us all. We need those residents lying encamped to abide by the protocol in order for any of this to work.

I have heard from many residents that you would like to see sanctioned encampments to provide shelter and these supportive services, away from City parks. Some neighbours have asked, “Why can’t we do what Halifax did?”

It is important to note, that the Nova Scotian government bought 100 tiny homes at a cost of $7M to assist the City of Halifax to set up their sanctioned encampment. Their province also came to the table with the funding for the operations and support services. 

The realm of authority to address mental health and addiction services is the Province. Hamilton City Staff and Council continue to advocate for increases to these supportive services to help residents in need towards a path to healing and recovery. However, they just are not investing in these services, leaving cities across the province to pick up the pieces as best we can until they do. This places a further strain on existing health services and leads to conflicts and harm in our neighbourhoods.

The idea of a sanctioned encampment, which I have supported since last term, will return to Council for deliberation this summer, should Councillor Hwang’s Notice of Motion to have staff report back with initial costing in time for the GIC meeting in August be approved.

I will send out a further update on what residents can expect to see on the ground as a result of these encampment protocol amendments next week. I encourage you to follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/nrinder_ward3 or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NrinderWard3/ to stay up to date on this topic.

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

WARD 3 POP-UP AT OPEN STREETS - JULY 23

The #OurWard3 Team will be hosting a pop-up at Lucy Day Park on Tuesday July 23 from 4pm-6pm.

Our pop-ups are a way for me and my team to connect with residents one-on-one about municipal issues and to work with you directly. The format will be first come, first served, and you can expect to be greeted as well as be asked to provide contact information so we can follow up with you as needed. 

These mini appointments will be 5-10mins. We will aim to address your issue on the spot and if it requires follow, we will aim to be in touch with you within a week.

We look forward to seeing you there!

CHILDREN’S GARDEN

I was so pleased to once again stand in community with everyone who attended the 3rd Annual Children’s Garden Party. I was so proud to support this initiative back in 2021, when it first began, with a placemaking grant from the City of Hamilton. It has since flourished into a special space growing in physical size and programming thanks to the dedicated team who steward it. 

Seeing these gardens bloom is a highlight for me every time I walk through Gage Park. I see how the careful design and tending draws people in. I see how people relish in the wonder that comes with connecting to the soil, plants and all living things that fill this space.

I would like to thank our community partners, volunteers, and Little Planters for their hard work and dedication. Co-founders Hazel, Michael, Anais (Little Planter) for your initial spark for this idea and dedication of the years to sustain it.

To the core volunteers - Victoria, Jessica, Marc, Megan, Amy, Alexis, Genie (Little Planter), Caroline, Alison, Neeta, and Danielle for your consistency and commitment to community.

And to the City staff who helped enable the initiative and the Parks staff, Horticulture team, and Museums staff who continue to be active partners.

Thank you so much for all you’re doing to help the Children’s Garden thrive.

DEPAVING AT LAIDLAW UNITED

Thanks to a collaboration between Laidlaw United Church and GreenVenture, another pocket of #OurWard3 is greener, more climate resilient, and brimming with the ability to welcome different pollinating species at the corner of Ottawa and Cannon.

Last Saturday, 60 dedicated volunteers transformed over 2000 square feet of pavement, concrete, and lawn into beautiful green spaces. Their hard work will better manage stormwater and provide resources and habitat for local species.

Also a big shout out to Green Communities Canada for sponsoring the Living Cities program. As our friends at GreenVenture have said “Their commitment to creating equitable, abundant, and thriving green infrastructure across Canada is inspiring! 🌎🌿

To all who took part in funding, planning and planting, your commitment to community is at the heart of this project and it shows. Thank you!

If you haven’t seen this incredible transformation yet, I encourage you to head over and take it in.

ROAD RESURFACING WORKS - BALSAM AVE & DUNSMURE RD

Balsam Ave between Cannon and Main, and Dunsmure Road between Prospect and Gage are scheduled for resurfacing, curb to curb, this August. I have requested residents receive a written notice to their mailboxes to outline the date and details of the works to take place. 

This work was funded through the Ward 3 Maintenance Account to address the multiple failure points of the roadway. I will be meeting with City staff later this summer to review other roadways on the asset management list that are in a state of disrepair to itemize other priority roads for resurfacing versus reconstruction.

The September e-newsletter will be a dedicated issue on roads to ensure residents are aware of all traffic safety and roadway projects scoped out for the remainder of this year and into 2025.

Photo of an outdoor pool. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Services Updates".

CANADA DAY

All City of Hamilton administrative offices will be closed on Monday, July 1 and will reopen on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. 

For emergencies involving roads, water mains, sewer systems, and safety issues, please call 905-546-2489 (CITY).

Reminder: Waste collection will occur on the day after your regularly scheduled collection day next week, due to Monday's holiday.

Also, Hamilton Fire is reminding residents to celebrate safely. Attend a public fireworks display to minimize risks. If you plan on setting off fireworks, be sure to set off and dispose of them safely on your own property.

For a full list of services affected, please visit: https://www.hamilton.ca/alert/canada-day-weekend-whats-open-and-whats-closed 

OUTDOOR POOLS OPEN JUNE 28 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

Residents are encouraged to stay active and cool this season by enjoying the City’s outdoor pools opening June 28 and other outdoor programs such as Fitness at the Park and Supie starting on July 2.

The City’s outdoor pools open on Friday, June 28 for daily drop-in programs, as weather permits until September 2, at the following locations: 

• Ancaster Lions Outdoor Pool

• Birge Outdoor Pool

• Chedoke Outdoor Pool

• Coronation Outdoor Pool

• Green Acres Outdoor Pool

• Inch Park Outdoor Pool

• Parkdale Outdoor Pool

• Rosedale Outdoor Pool

• Victoria Park Outdoor Pool

• Walker Outdoor Pool

Wading pools begin opening on July 2 and will close on August 23, offering free, supervised shallow water areas for children in the following parks: 

• Andy Warburton Wading Pool

• Gage Park 

• Jesse Patterson (Huntington Recreation Centre)

• Powell Park   

• Dundas Driving Park’s wading pool is open from June 24 to September 2.

For more information on operating hours, swim schedules, programming and locations, please visit www.hamilton.ca/outdoorpools 

SUPIE PROGRAM: JULY 2 - AUGUST 23, 2024

The Supie program is celebrating 115 years in 2024. Though there are similar programs across Ontario and throughout Canada, Hamilton is believed to have the longest continually running program in the country.

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.

There are three weekly Supie Programs that take place in #OurWard3 Mondays through Fridays from 10:30am-3:30pm in:

• Belview Park

• Lucy Day Park

• Powell Park

There are also pop-up Supie Programs taking place weekly at the following locations and times:

• Mondays at JC Beemer Park from 10:30am-12:30pm

• Tuesdays at North Central Community Park from 10:30am-12:30pm

For a full list of all Supie Programs and information, please visit the Supie Outdoor Programs website.

YOUTH REC WEEK: JULY 15-21, 2024

Join us for YouthREC Week (July 15 – 21) and participate in FREE events for young people (12-17 years) in Hamilton, and learn more about recreation employment and training opportunities. Registration is required for some events.

For more information, please visit: hamilton.ca/youthrec.

RAIN BARREL SALE

The 2024 Rain Barrel Sale is now ONLINE. Barrels can be purchased and delivered to your home for only $70 each (includes taxes and delivered for free). The sale ends Sunday, July 21. Visit http://hamilton.ca/rainbarrelsale for more information.

Photo of someone waving a Pride Flag. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Services Updates".

PRIDE RECAP

Love. Respect. Freedom. Justice. 

These four words together have always been what I celebrate during Pride every year. Who we love and how we love is an expression of our human spirit and deserves to be celebrated in peace.

And yet, every year, during Pride, acts of hate towards 2SLGBTQIA+ neighbours occurs - a Pride flag was recently burned at a Stoney Creek elementary school.

This is why it is so important to engage in the act of taking up space and being visible. And thanks to the care and organizing by EveryBodyCrew, Pinch Bakery & Plant Shop and Hamilton Craft Studios we had a lovely neighbourhood #PrideMarch and Community Fundraiser here in #OurWard3 in support of YWCA’s Speqtrum program and to celebrate belonging in community this past weekend.

Thank you to all the organizers and volunteers for hosting such an inclusive grassroots event.

MCMASTER DISCOVERY PROGRAM

The McMaster Discovery Program (MDP) is a free, non-credit university course for adults in the Hamilton area who want to experience university in a supportive and welcoming learning community. The program aims to create opportunities for local residents who have faced barriers to accessing post-secondary education to take part in a process of learning and discovery in the liberal arts tradition, to inspire a passion for lifelong learning, and to foster engagement and mutual learning between McMaster University and the communities it aspires to serve.

Applications are now open!

This year's course is called "Home, Movement and Migration" and will be taught by Dr. Mirna Carranza. The course will aim to explore various factors impacting migration as well as various paths to integration and the making of one’s ‘home’. It will allow participants to explore questions such as, “what does it mean to be home, or to be away from home?”, and “how do immigrant and refugee communities navigate migration, construct transnational identities, and experience life in their new communities while building and recreating home for themselves and their families?”

The course features 11 in-person sessions held on Saturdays between September and November on campus at McMaster. Each session will run from 10:30am-2:15pm, including a break for a shared lunch.

For more information, please visit our website: https://artsci.mcmaster.ca/discovery-program/

HAMILTON-HALTON WALK FOR LUPUS ONTARIO - JULY 7

Please join us for the in-person Hamilton-Halton WALK for Lupus Ontario on Sunday, July 7!

The WALK for Lupus is Lupus Ontario’s largest provincial fundraising and awareness event. It began over 23 years ago with a single walk and has grown into an event involving thousands of participants throughout Ontario. Over the years, the WALK for Lupus has raised over $1 million to fund the Lupus Ontario Geoff Carr Research Fellowship, support and education programs for lupus patients and their families, and advocacy projects aimed at improving programs and services for lupus patients.

Registration is available at: https://secure3.convio.net/lupon/site/TR/Events/General?pg=entry&fr_id=1080 

---

If you have events or volunteer opportunities you would like the Ward 3 office to get the word out on, please email ward3@hamilton.ca.

Do you have any photos you are proud of from across the ward?

Share your favourite #OurWard3 photos with me by either sending them to ward3@hamilton.ca or by using the hashtag #OurWard3 on social media!