#OurWard E-newsletter & Updates

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Key topics: Encampments, housing, parks

Nrinder Nann 2023-07-14 Nrinder Nann 2023-07-14

Greenbelt Lands, Encampment Protocol, HSR Fare Assist

Dear Neighbours,

I want to take a moment to acknowledge that many neighbours are feeling anxious about the air we breathe here in Hamilton. A two-year air quality study found high levels of carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene throughout the urban area. This report was funded by Health Canada and coordinated by the City of Hamilton in partnership with Environment Hamilton. The author of the study is Dr. Matthew Adams, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment at the University of Toronto Mississauga who states "almost every one of our measurements was above the guidelines…indicating elevated concentrations.”

This is precisely the reason why in April I moved a motion from Council to oppose the provincial Site Specific Sandards (SSS) that have historically enabled our industrial neighbours the permission to spew these toxins into our air. Stelco’s SSS expired in June 2023 and ArcelorMittal Dofasco is also up for renewal. We can no longer enable companies to make profits with a disregard to the health impact they are having on our residents.

The Ward 3 Office will be hosting a community workshop and dialogue on the topic this September. We will be joined by health and environmental experts to ensure residents have all the information they need. It is my goal to create a group of engaged residents who want to work with my office to affect change on this topic this term of Council. We will post more details about this important meeting in a future issue of our e-newsletter and through social media. Until then, if you want to connect on this issue or other climate concerns, please contact Kerry Le Clair, the Ward 3 Climate Action Community Coordinator directly at kerry.leclair@hamilton.ca

As always, my office is here to support you, and encourage you to please contact us at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Photo of Councillor Nann at a podium during Council. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates"

Provincial Amendments to Greenbelt Lands in Hamilton

On December 16, 2022, the Province removed approximately 795 hectares of land in the City of Hamilton from the Greenbelt Plan. On February 8, 2023, the City of Hamilton opposed the removal of these lands from the Greenbelt Plan Area.

Notwithstanding the City’s opposition, the effect of the Province’s decision is that the lands are no longer within the Greenbelt Plan Area. Furthermore, the Province has indicated that these lands are to be developed for residential uses to support the Province’s goal of facilitating the construction of 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years across Ontario.

Based on the initial Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) posting, it is staff’s understanding that it is the intent of the Province that significant progress on approvals and implementation is to be achieved by the end of 2023, and that development must be substantially underway by no later than 2025. It is staff’s expectation that the Province will use its powers to enact Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZO) as the means by which development rights on the former Greenbelt lands will be established.

Furthermore, the province has assigned a Provincial Land and Development Facilitator to confidentially meet with municipalities, with respect to any private development proposals and associated community benefits within these lands.

I opposed the direction to meet with the provincially appointed facilitator in this exercise of manufactured consent. However, the direction did pass this Friday at Council. Unlike the provincial government, the City will be hosting a public meeting with the purpose of obtaining public input as to the City’s priorities and expectations.

Encampment Protocol Update

In May, Council directed City Staff to engage residents to develop a new Encampment Protocol that applies a human-rights and health focused lens. Public engagement was open for feedback via the Engage Hamilton website until June 30th, through three public meetings that were held across the City, as well as through individual emails and calls. Thousands of Hamiltonians have responded.

Currently, City staff are compiling the feedback provided and are drafting solutions to provide recommendations to Council. The revised Encampment Protocol will be presented to General Issues Committee on August 14th, 2023.

My office team and I have been in daily communication with residents wanting to discuss encampments. We acknowledge it has been a challenging time for many. I whole-heartedly believe that we can get to the real solutions if we are able to stay focused on them together.

Guiding shared use of public space is essential, especially in Ward 3 neighbourhoods where access to green space is limited. Our parks are part of everyone’s health and wellbeing, and key for healthy and thriving children. The proposed protocol will aim to address items like: waste, litter, needles, safety, security, proximity to fence lines, washroom and hygiene facilities, etc. This is important for the safety of all park users including those living there encamped.

The conversations with neighbours has also made it clear that it is important for more people to know about the work being done on the frontline. For example, the Hamilton Social Medicine Response Team is visiting encamped residents multiple times a week with both nursing, wound care and psychiatric services. Other volunteer groups are building friendships and supporting the basic needs of unhoused residents to survive. Many faith-based organizations are providing food and water. The more teams like these, along with the City’s Housing Outreach staff, that can get in, build relationships and provide care, the more likely we will be in successfully transitioning folks to permanent housing. The challenge is that this work takes time and it may appear as though progress is not being made when simply looking at encampments from the outside.

We are in the fight of a generation with other levels of government to get their heads in the game around investing in and delivering truly affordable housing, mental health access and addiction services.

I am proud of my work at the same time in supporting local pilots to demonstrate the success of the Council approved direction for a “human-rights, health-focused housing approach to addressing encampments”. In fact, we worked on a pilot last year with a group of 21 residents who were living encamped, 19 of whom remain permanently housed with the ongoing supports they need to succeed. That is 19 people no longer living in tents in the city, many of whom were living encamped in Ward 3.

I am very driven to demonstrate the same for nearly 200 who remain living in tents across the City, and again, we will not be able to deliver on this as a City Council unless the province and feds get to the table with us.

The final protocol will not be perfect. However, it will be a place to build from. And the real solution remains adequate and supportive housing for everyone!

HSR Fare Assist Program

Since the pandemic, transit ridership has recovered to 94% at the fare box, which indicates that people are back to using public transportation to commute and access various locations in the City.

At General Issues Committee (GIC) on July 12th, Council was presented with the new HSR Fare Assist Pilot Program that will be in effect January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026. Through the new Fare Assist Pilot Program residents will be able to access a 30% discount on single-ride PRESTO fares for the whole family with eligibility based on total household income regardless of age or ability. This will require suspending the existing HSR Temporary Transit Fare Special program and the Ontario Works Affordable Transit Pass For the duration of the pilot.

Information to support the creation of this new pilot program was obtained from public consultation through the Engage Hamilton website where an overwhelming amount of residents expressed support of this new pilot program.

77% say Fare Assist will allow them and their families to use transit more
83% say Fare Assist will save them money on transportation costs
78% strongly agree or somewhat agree that it is a good and fair subsidy program for transit

Council ratified the motion to implement the pilot program on Friday July 14th, and City staff will be developing an extensive communication program to inform the community and support the application process soon.

Once this information becomes available online and in paper format, my office will provide the links for residents to submit their applications to the appropriate City department.

Image of houses in the ward. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates"

New Roadway Construction at Wentworth & Niagara Streets

Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) has sent out a notice to residents living near the Pier 14 construction project, close to the northern ends of Wentworth and Niagara Streets. HOPA is working with the City of Hamilton traffic department on traffic management and signage approaching that area.

Residents in the neighbourhood may experience some noise and vibration as normally associated with road construction. Contractors will adhere to the noise control bylaw regarding construction timeframes. HOPA will be monitoring along with the contractors on the job to ensure any potential dust or dragout is mitigated.

There is also a small demolition associated with this construction work. The demolition will take place over approximately two days in July using an excavator, with attention to minimizing any dust.

Ward 3 Office Pop-Up: August 17th at Crown & Press Gallery

The #OurWard3 team will be hosting our Office Pop-Ups in the community across different neighbourhoods to connect one-on-one with neighbours to help address your questions, concerns, or ideas.

Many residents shared how much they appreciated connecting in this way last year. Not all of our neighbours have access to internet or email and can’t reach us that way. We will be putting up posters in adjacent shops and with other stakeholders to help get the word out in advance of the time and date we will be in your area.

Our next pop-up is scheduled for Thursday, August 17th from 9:30am - 12:00pm at Crown & Press Gallery (303 Ottawa St. N). Light refreshments will be provided. I look forward to connecting with you and offering access to the support of my team soon!

New Roadway Construction at Wentworth & Niagara Streets

There is also a small demolition associated with this construction work. The demolition will take place over approximately two days in July using an excavator, with attention to minimizing any dust.

Ward 3 Office Pop-Up: August 17th at Crown & Press Gallery

The #OurWard3 team will be hosting our Office Pop-Ups in the community across different neighbourhoods to connect one-on-one with neighbours to help address your questions, concerns, or ideas.

A photo of the washroom facility at JC Beemer Park. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Service Updates"

Filming on Biggar Ave - July 17th

Biggar Avenue between Sherman Ave and Lottridge St will be closed on Monday, July 17 from 7am–11pm for filming. Motorists are advised to take an alternate route.

Should you have questions or concerns about film activity or crews, please contact the Film Office at 905-546-4233 or film@hamilton.ca.

A photo of different coloured flowers in a garden . Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Events"

Barton Village Open Streets - July 16th

The countdown is on to the first Open Streets on Barton of the summer!

Join us the Barton Street Village BIA on Sunday, July 16th from 11am-4pm as Barton Street East will be closed to vehicles from Victoria Ave N to Sherman Ave N.

Walk or roll down the street and enjoy live music, a kids zone, community outreach, a curated vendor market, business showcases, and more.

Many of our businesses have wonderful patios to enjoy a bite to eat as you explore!

Health Equity Community Meeting - July 20th

The City of Hamilton, the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC), and the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI) invite you to attend a Health Equity Meeting on Changing the Structure of the Hamilton Board of Health.

The meeting will be held at the Hamilton Public Library Central Branch on thursday July 20 from 5:30pm-7:30pm and are looking for participants to:

Provide feedback on the structure of the Board of Health
Learn how health inequities impact Black, Racialized, and Indigenous residents in Hamilton
Participate in focus group discussions

Participants will receive a $20 gift card for their time. Interested individuals are asked to contact HARRC at info@harrc.ca or HCCI at info@hcci.ca for more information or to register.

Pinch Bakery & Plant Shop Weekly Market

Pinch Bakery & Plant Shop are organizing a weekly market under the grapevines of their patio space featuring a mix of some other great vendors popping up throughout the summer!

They’ll have slushies, cold brew, chalk and plants of course! Be sure to stop by and say hi on Thursdays from 3:00pm-6:00pm.

For any vendors interested in popping up on Thursdays, please email Pinch Bakery & Plant Shop at info@shopatpinch.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!

Nrinder Nann 2023-06-23 Nrinder Nann 2023-06-23

Encampment Protocol, Air Quality, Mental & Neurological Health

Dear Neighbours,

Happy summer!!

As the final weeks of school are upon us, I wanted to send a special shout out and congratulations to all of the elementary and high school graduates in Ward 3. As you embark on this next phase of education or go off to new adventures in life, I hope you cultivate a deep sense of pride and worthiness with all that you do. I wish you a fun and safe summer break - and, don’t forget to check out the fun summer programming at our recreation centres and libraries.

Thank you to the residents who joined me last week at the Ward 3 Office Pop up at The Oaks: Ain-dah-ing. It was great to connect face to face and to support your municipally focused needs. It was also great to get the input of neighbours regarding the upcoming Wilson St and Sherman Ave reconstruction projects. Check out our upcoming events below!

I also wanted to introduce you to Soraya Gallant. They have officially joined the Ward 3 Office Squad as our temporary Administrative Assistant to cover for Alex Weinberger, my Executive Assistant who will be off on parental leave effective June 30th, 2023. So, for those of you who have been working with Alex W on files, you can expect correspondences with Soraya going forward. As always, please contact my office at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

As always, my office is here to support you, and encourage you to please contact us at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Photo of City Hall with yellow, and tulips in front of the Hamilton sign. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates"

Encampment Protocol - Community Meeting Update - June 27

As part of the development of a new encampment protocol and strategy, the City is hosting community meetings to get public input.

Join myself and the Councillors M. Wilson, Kroestch, Hwang, Cassar and A. Wilson, along with City staff on Tuesday, June 27th at the Hamilton Convention Centre (1 Summers Lane) from 7pm to 9pm.

In addition to the new larger space, there will also be:

Childcare for children ages 12 and under (space is limited so please arrive early)
HSR Fare Support (bus tickets will be available)
Light Refreshments

I look forward to seeing you there.

Also, a reminder that the draft Encampment Protocol remains open for feedback from residents until June 30 and can be accessed at https://engage.hamilton.ca/encampments. Please provide your input!

Air Quality, Mental & Neurological Health

Emerging data points to a connection between air pollution and mental and neurological health impacts. Hamilton Public Health does not currently collect data on air pollution and the links to mental and neurological health outcomes.

So, this week Council supported my motion calling on Public Health Staff identify the resources needed to develop, in partnership with the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH), McMaster University and other local stakeholders, a suite of evidence-informed indicators that can be used locally to monitor the impact of air pollution on mental and neurological health outcomes for future Health Check reports.

This would need to be approved in the 2024 budget process to fund, In the meantime, staff will bring back a report on what Public Health needs in order to implement this project.

Upcoming Special GIC for Stormwater Funding Review

On June 28, my Council colleagues and I will be meeting to discuss a report on stormwater funding. As you will recall, last term, Clr Danko and I moved to have this review done.

The City’s stormwater management program helps protect the public, private property, infrastructure and the environment from flooding, erosion and poor water quality from the stormwater runoff. The program includes infrastructure such as sewers, pipes, and stormwater ponds.

In November 2022, Council tasked staff with hiring a consultant to put this report together and make recommendations for a new stormwater funding model based on the following five principles:

1. Fair and Equitable – Customer contributions are proportional to their impact on the system and the cost to run the system

2. Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable

3. Affordable and Financially Sustainable – Provides sustainable, predictable and dedicated funding. Uses full cost pricing to meet entire stormwater revenue needs at the City’s desired level of service.

4. Justifiable – Residents and businesses understand how much they contribute to stormwater management and for what the money is being used.

5. Simple to Understand and Manage

Any rate changes will not come into effect until 2025.

You can view the report here. If you wish to register to delegate at the meeting, you can email clerk@hamilton.ca. I will share the outcome of this meeting with you in a future e-newsletter.

Woodlands Park Encampment

Over the past three weeks, there has been an influx of unhoused residents living encamped at Woodlands Park. Part of the influx was a direct consequence of the enforcement of the encampment behind Whitehern Historic House beside City Hall. My office also received confirmation that Hamilton Police Services actively participated in relocating residents there.

I have stressed importance to the City’s encampment response team to best coordinate their response among By-Law, Housing, Paramedics and Police to address the emerging needs. The team confirmed that HPS is no longer engaging in actively moving unhoused residents going forward. I can also confirm that the City’s Housing Outreach Team is on site daily to connect with residents in an effort to identify pathways for their housing options.

My office has also been working with community partners in the Barton Village BIA (541 Eatery & Exchange and Helping Hands) to address the strain on local resources for supports and services like access to food, wound care, harm reduction, and social connection for unhoused residents that has resulted from the influx. Clr Kroetsch and I have provided non-property tax funds to help bolster these supports until a more sustainable plan is coordinated by the City.

The Hamilton Social Medicine Response Team (HamSMRT) has is connecting with residents onsite three times a week coordinating peer-based litter management, water, food, nursing and psychiatric supports as well.

I have been in daily contact with residents and businesses adjacent to Woodlands Park related to litter, public safety, theft, parking and the health and safety of the residents in Woodlands Parks. I acknowledge this is a challenging time and many are feeling stressed as a result of this situation. My team and I will continue to help triage your concerns to ensure we can best manage this crisis together.

JC Beemer Park

A critical incident occurred on Thursday morning in the park. Hamilton Police Services has stated that it is unclear that the incident has any connection at all to the encampment. An arrest was made of an individual with the charge of aggravated assault. Hamilton Police Services are not seeking additional suspects, however, are continuing their investigation and are requesting anyone with information to please call police at (905) 546-4921 or tbland@hamiltonpolice.ca or Crime Stoppers at 1800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at www.crimestoppershamilton.com.

Ward 3 Pop-Ups - July 13 9:30am-12:00pm

The #OurWard3 team will be hosting our Office Pop-Ups in the community across different neighbourhoods to connect one-on-one with neighbours to help address your questions, concerns, or ideas.

Our next pop-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 13 at 9:30am at Rooney’s (724 Main St. E). Light refreshments will be provided. I look forward to connecting with you and offering access to the support of my team soon!

A photo of the Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Service Updates"

Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse Closed - June 25

The Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse will be closed to the public on Sunday, June 25th from 9am to 5pm for a private event

Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre Closure Extended

In our previous e-newsletter we shared that Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre would be closed from June 13th to 22nd for regular maintenance. The Ward 3 Office was advised by Recreation Staff that the contractors completing the tile work in the main hallway outside of the pool change rooms have experienced an unanticipated delay and will need to continue their work on Friday June 23rd and possibly into the weekend.

They will reopen on Friday June 23rd as planned and will continue to run their gym and EarlyON programs however, they will be relocating the majority of their aquatic program to Jimmy Thompson Pool from Friday June 23rd to Sunday June 25th, with the exception of one Parent & Tot swim on Friday morning that will be canceled. All other swims during these three days will be offered at the same time and will be free for residents to attend.

Train Rides at the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology

Catch a ride on a miniature train operated by the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers and tour the museum with donation. This event is free on select weekends for Train Days this summer! Visit this link for more information.

Tobacco and Vaping Enforcement

Hamilton Public Health Services is stepping up enforcement efforts to ensure local retailers are complying with the Province’s Smoke-Free Ontario Act in an effort to help keep harmful tobacco and vaping products out the hands of youth. For more information please visit this link.

Mission Services New Men’s Shelter - Community Open House - June 30

Mission Services will be hosting a Community Open House for their new Mens’ Shelter location at 400 King St. E on Friday June 30th from 3:00pm-6:00pm. Tours of the new shelter will be available during this time and we hope that you are able to attend and check out this new space and learn in detail about the services they intend to operate.

Greater Hamilton Health Network Women's Health Event - July 12-13

The Greater Hamilton Health Network is hosting a Women’s Health Event to provide health and social services, food, donations, and giveaways on July 12th and 13th from 1:00pm-4:00pm at Willow’s Place (196 Wentworth St. N).

This event is open to women, trans women, and gender diverse individuals experiencing homelessness, underhoused, or those who would benefit from this type of health and social service event. For more information, please visit: https://greaterhamiltonhealthnetwork.ca/

Roots to Justice Youth Mentorship & Drop-in Garden Sessions

Roots to Justice is a grassroots organization committed to connecting communities in pursuit of food justice and their mentorship program will be running from July 1st to October 30th. Youth ages 15-19 will tend to the garden and attend workshops in order to learn more about gardening and food insecurity. Participants will leave with a sense of how to use gardening to make their life more sustainable.

No experience is required, and this is a good opportunity for youth new to gardening to take the first step. Those with experience are welcome too, as this is a collaborative program for all to learn from one another. An honorarium and gift cards will be provided for all youth attending the program.

For youth that are interested click on the link below to fill out the form provided. If you have any questions, email us at rootstojustice@gmail.com, or message us on Instagram @roots2justice.

Youth Mentorship Signup Form

STAC Basketball Summer League

STAC Summer League is back with their 3x3 program! Players ages 10-18 can expect to get 30 minutes of skills development followed by breakouts of 3-4 games, and be supported by highly skilled and experienced coaches and trainers.

Registration is available for the following ages / demopraphics:

Girls 10-14
Girls 15-18
Boys 10-14
Boys 15-18

Please visit: https://app.teamlinkt.com/register/find/stac to register today!

Photo of a butterfly on yellow daisies. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Opportunities for Residents"

Biodiversity Action Plan

Hamilton has a diversity of unique natural heritage features, including Dundas Valley, Cootes Paradise, Beverly Swamp, the Niagara Escarpment, Eramosa Karst, among many other woodlands, wetlands, and waterways.

These areas are home to a variety of plant and animal species, and contribute to a broader, regional ecosystem that contribute to the unique identity of Hamilton and provide a refuge for people, animals, birds, insects and plants alike.

At the moment Hamilton is facing a biodiversity crisis, with species and habitats threatened by pollution, invasive species, climate change impacts, as well as habitat loss and fragmentation. In response, the leaders in Hamilton’s conservation community and the City of Hamilton have partnered to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan for Hamilton.

Your feedback is needed on the draft Biodiversity Action Plan and how the 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework targets could be included as local targets.

You can share your ideas on the documents, complete a survey, or share a story about how Hamilton’s biodiversity has impacted you at https://engage.hamilton.ca/biodiversityplan.

Board of Health’s Governance Structure

Over the past several years, good governance in public health has increasingly been a local, provincial, and national focus. Locally, the Board of Health has discussed changing their governance structure since March 2021 following community delegations and governance education sessions.

In February 2023, Council directed Public Health Services staff to engage in consultation to identify issues and opportunities with the current Board of Health’s governance structure. Based on the results of this consultation, staff are to report back with options and recommendations for changing the Board of Health’s governance structure to the Governance Review Sub-Committee by the end of Q3, 2023.
To learn more and provide your feedback, please visit: https://engage.hamilton.ca/bohgovernance.

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!

Nrinder Nann 2023-06-09 Nrinder Nann 2023-06-09

Airport Economic Growth Input, Liveable Basic Income

Dear Neighbours,

I am feeling very grateful for the change in weather pattern that has helped alleviate some of the risk from the heavy smoke in the air from the wildfires. Having said that, it is important to stay alert to how you can best take care of yourself and others when the Air Quality Health Index goes back up again. Please check out the information below.

It is frustrating to know that in the 2019 budget, the provincial government slashed the Ontario Emergency Firefighting Services by 67% which amounts to $142.2M. Climate change is a factual reality that each level of government must act on responsively when determining annual investments and policy changes. I’m proud of the work of Council to protect sensitive wetlands near a development site in the Airport Economic Growth District. It was a demonstration of putting the values of ecological sustainability in the context of what is usually viewed only through an economic lens. More on this important decision below in the Council & Committee section.

There are many events this month that I want to ensure you save the date for: Wilson St 2-Way conversion meeting, Office Pop-ups, King St Open Streets, Encampment Protocol meeting, and the opening of much anticipated #OurWard3 businesses. As well as, opportunities for your direct input. I look forward to seeing you this month!

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Airport Economic Growth District - Amending development plans for ecological sustainability

During Wednesday’s Council meeting, we approved several conditions to improve ecological sustainability and environmental standards related to a site specific development plan in the airport growth area on Dickenson Road. Through leadership from Councillors Cassar, Tadeson and A. Wilson and the openness of the developer Panattoni, who has demonstrated environmental practice leadership in projects globally, we were able to advance clear standards to protect wetlands, natural heritage and put our stewardship in action.

The multiple amendments included measures to monitor ecosystem health, better green standards for the development, and enabled ownership transfer of the wetland and nearby woods to the city.

I seconded a portion of the amendments with Councillor M. Wilson which spoke to updating the Energy and Environmental Assessment Report. The developer will be required to outline specific sustainability measures including consideration of measures such as heat pumps, green roofs, solar installations or other onsite renewable energy generation, greywater re-use, and permeable paving treatments.

It is through collaboration like that which was demonstrated on this file on Wednesday that this new term of Council’s commitments can be seen and felt. Personally, it is so refreshing compared to the previous term.

New Poet in Place Program

During Planning Committee, I was pleased to move the approval of a new Poet in Place program. The Tourism and Culture Division will implement a two-year pilot program from January 2024 to December 2025 that will link a formal civic poet role with placemaking as a way to further Hamilton’s identity as a community.

The Poet in Place will write and read poetry, deliver workshops, and implement placemaking projects and performances of original works of poetry or spoken word. Applications will open Q4 2023 and the position to be filled and program is set to begin Q1 2024. My office will certainly help get the word out when the application cycle opens. Stay tuned.

Guaranteed Liveable Basic Income

We often speak to the need for upstream solutions. Basic Income is exactly that and it delivered transformative impacts to over 1000 residents who participated in the provincial pilot program that abruptly ended in 2019. Many Ward 3 residents were among the 1000 in the pilot and when it was prematurely stopped, it created an irresponsible tail spin for many participants and was a form of systemic harm.

I was happy to support Clr McMeekin’s motion at Council that calls for collaborative action among higher levels of government to put in place basic income to transform lives and enable people to thrive in healthier communities.

It would mean our neighbours could afford housing, food, medicine, or further their educational aspirations. Basic Income has stabilizing power. It is among the real, tangible supports that has demonstrated economic return on investment.

Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups Are Back!

The #OurWard3 team will be hosting our Office Pop-Ups in the community across different neighbourhoods to connect one-on-one with neighbours to help address your questions, concerns, or ideas.

Many residents shared how much they appreciated connecting in this way last year. Not all of our neighbours have access to internet or email. We will be putting up posters in adjacent shops and with other stakeholders to help get the word out in advance of what time and date we will be in your area.

Our first pop-up is scheduled for Thursday June 15 at 9:30am at Indwell’s Royal Oaks (225 East Ave N). Light refreshments will be provided. I look forward to connecting with you and offering access to the support of my team soon!

Sherman-Wilson Two-Way Roadway Community Meeting - June 22: 6:30pm at 196 Wentworth St. N (at the side entrance)

On June 22nd from 6:30pm-8pm, my office will be co-hosting a community meeting with Public Works staff to get your input on two upcoming roadway reconstruction projects.

Both of these projects are LRT related and will address subsurface infrastructure, including water mains, while also providing an opportunity to redo our roadways with a complete streets design. Wilson Street from Victoria to Sherman will be converted to two-way and Phase 1 Sherman Ave from King St southbound to the tracks will require resurfacing due to underground infracture work.

The meeting will take place at the Community Kitchen space at Mission Services Centre at 196 Wentworth St N. Please use the side entrance. RSVP is required to ensure we do not exceed capacity. Please email my office at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

A photo of Ward 3 from the Mountain Brow with smoky skies from the Quebec wildfires. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Service Updates"

Air Quality Health Index Update

Clean Air Day in Canada was this past June 7th, and what a time it was to be celebrating this day. Even on a “good” day, our airshed in Hamilton is seriously compromised. Many neighbourhoods in the City and throughout #OurWard3 are breathing air laden with particulate matter and a funky mix of contaminants, but now we’ve got wildfire smoke drifting in from across the country, and suddenly those good-ish days are far worse - especially if you are in an at-risk population.

Here are some ways the City is supporting the public and our community during this period of poor air quality:

Support for vulnerable residents:

Libraries, recreation and drop-in centres are available to individuals in need of relief

Housing-Focused Street Outreach Team is continuing to visit the City’s unhoused residents to advise on the air quality issues as well as supports available

Hamilton Paramedic Service Social Navigator Program continues to visit unhoused residents to provide health supports and linkage to services

Other Updates:

Ban on open air burning – Hamilton Fire issued an immediate ban on all open air burning in the City of Hamilton. This ban suspends all approved Open Air Burning Permits.

For more information, please check Environment Canada’s Air Quality Health Index for Hamilton and the latest special air quality statement to determine the current risk levels and see their advisories about exposure. For general information about forest fire smoke and its impact on your health, please the Ontario Ministry of Health’s public information webpage. You can also see real-time data from Hamilton’s air quality and airborne pollution monitoring network.

Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre Closure

Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre will be closed from June 13th to 22nd for regular maintenance. To find a rec centre near you, visit: https://www.hamilton.ca/things-do/recreation/locations.

Better Homes Hamilton Program

The City of Hamilton is on a mission to acheive net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. One City Council approved initiative is the design and development of a Home Energy Retrofit Program Opportunity, previously known as HERO, has now been rebranded as the Better Homes Hamilton program.

The Better Homes Hamilton (BHH) program is meant to provide a low barrier access to property owners with upfront capital in order to retrofit their buildings to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve energy efficiency, and to live more comfortably. The pilot is scheduled to launch before the end of 2023 with the objective to provide up to $1 million in loans to homeowners. The pilot stage of the program is targeting approximately 50 homes with each property able to receive a maximum no-interest loan of $20,000.

You can now sign up for the pre-launch list as an interested home owner.

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Crown & Press Gallery Grand Opening - June 16th

Crown & Press Gallery invites you to their Grand Opening on Friday June 16, from 5pm-10pm. Admire curated art, mingle with several of our artists, and kick back with live music starting at 7pm. You can relax in their renovated art deco space and enjoy their cafe menu with espresso, coffee, and tea options.

Hamilton Public Library - Barton Branch Planting Event - June 17th

The Green Venture team and community volunteers will be coming together to beautify the boulevard gardens with native plants at the Hamilton Public Library Barton Branch on Saturday June 17 from 9:30am-12:30pm. For more information please visit: Beautify Barton: Planting at Hamilton Public Library - Green Venture

Pinch Plant Shop Soft Opening - June 17th

There’s a new Plant Shop in town! Pinch Bakery & Plant Shop is excited to finally open their doors and welcome all of their neighbours and future friends at their new 183 Sherman Ave N location on Saturday June 17th from 10am-3pm.

They’re still building their kitchen, but the rest of the building is ready, and they’ll be offering a variety of indoor tropicals. Joining in the festivities will be: Ace Gang, Sunny Pie Rolls, Reform Goods, Community Fridges Hamilton, Noise Pollution Rock School, and Together Design Studio. If all of this wasn’t enough, you can top off your visit with a slushie and a free slice of cake!

Join Us for Open Streets Hamilton! - June 18th

On Sunday, join me and hopefully hundreds of others on June 18, 2023 from 10am to 2pm for Open Streets Hamilton! King Street East will be closed to vehicle traffic and opened for participants to walk, roll, cycle and stroll along this 3.6 km temporary park. Please note, the King Street closure will begin at 7am and re-open by 4pm.

From Gage Avenue to John Street you can participate in family friendly activations at John Street and Ferguson Station as well as future LRT stops in #OurWard3:

Wellington Hub - trishaw rides with Cycling Without Age, The Listening Bench, Zumba & Movement with YWCA, People Make Hamilton sign, LRT engagement and info, and E-Scooter Demos with Bird Canada.

Wentworth Hub - a multisport zone featuring ParaSport Ontario with 12 wheelchair basketball sport chairs to try, a Pickleball Court and activities with Forge FC and Hamilton Tiger Cats, plus you can visit the HSR redesign consultation bus.

Sherman Hub - New Hope’s bicycle rodeo and cycling education along with a bike repair station, Green Venture’s lightning bike and the Hamilton Public Library Bookmobile, and just east of Sherman you’ll find Hamilton Bike Share at their King and Barnesdale hub.

Gage Hub - “snack size” movement classes from The Move Room, family friendly activities with City of Hamilton Recreation and Boys and Girls Club, WILD Outside scavenger hunt, a native plant giveaway, a pirate ship with FrancoFEST, Roller Derby, and environmental services interactive displays at Morellie Rec Centre.

The street will be transformed into additional public space with physical activity stations

and other activities throughout. And many of our business neighbours will be taking advantage of the increased pedestrian realm with more seating and spaces to shop.

Call to Action - Keith Neighbourhood Community Clean-Up - June 24th

The Inner City Outreach Ministry has partnered with Action Pest Control Services and #OurWard3 Office to host a community clean-up day on Saturday, June 24th from 9am-2pm.
We are looking for volunteers to help in this neighbourhood effort. Will you join us? If you can, please email my office at ward3@hamilton.ca.
Restricted items include: yard waste, concrete, tires, paint cans, and food waste. For more information, please contact Karen at 905-318-1242.

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Proposed Encampment Protocol

Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, communities across Canada have increasingly grappled with the need to find solutions that address the needs of both people living in encampments and the broader communities they exist within.

Encampments are the result of several conditions including:

a lack of affordable housing, particularly with supports;
limited emergency shelter space;
an opioid epidemic;
untreated and exacerbated mental health issues;
a broader lack of affordability for basic needs; and
insufficient resources at a municipal level to address these issues.

As such, encampments are likely to exist for the foreseeable future in lieu of significant intervention from other levels of government. The needs of people experiencing homelessness and the regulatory and governance landscape has evolved over the past few years, which means that the City of Hamilton needs to change with it to ensure we can compassionately and responsibility support and assist unhoused Hamilton residents.

As we reported in the previous e-newsletter, the public engagement on the encampment protocol is ready to roll. Also, there will be an in-person public engagement session at City Hall on Tuesday June 27 at City Hall from 7pm-9pm.

Board of Health’s Governance Structure

Apply to Serve on a City of Hamilton Agency, Board or Sub-Committee

Get on board! Recruitment to serve on a City of Hamilton agency, board and sub-committee is now open. For more information, the full list of positions and how to apply, visit http://hamilton.ca/Committees.

Recreation Leader in Training (Ages 13-16)

Calling all 13-16 year olds! Start your journey to become a successful camp or recreation leader in #HamOnt. Register for the upcoming Recreation Leader in Training session (July 10 – 14, 2023) today! For more info and to register, please visit: http://hamilton.ca/youthrec.

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!

Nrinder Nann 2023-05-26 Nrinder Nann 2023-05-26

Adequate Temperature By-Law, Encampment Protocol, Keith Neighbourhood Health Equity Initiative

Dear Neighbours,

It has been a busy couple of weeks since our last newsletter went out. In this round of Council and Committee, we dealt with a number of important topics. These included:

Adequate Temperature By-law
Encampment Protocol
A Health Equity Initiative
Litter Clean-Up Service Standards.

I have included detailed information on all of these topics below.

As you read this, I am in Toronto for a 4-day conference with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). I am looking forward to learning from other municipal leaders across the country, from panels and workshops that share best practices, and innovations other Cities are applying. Cities are at the forefront of confronting complex realities. FCM provides an important collaborative and advocacy platform that empowers municipalities and enables future generations to thrive in healthy communities across Canada.

I am also running for election to the FCM Board of Directors and hope to be able to serve Hamiltonians and folks from across the country in that role.

Last week, the posting period for the parental leave coverage in my office closed. We saw a lot of interest from community in joining the #OurWard3 Office squad and thank everyone who applied. We had over 320 applicants - a record number for our office! We began interviews this week and look forward to making a decision soon.

There are a number of events and community meetings that are coming up and they are itemized below. Hope to see you soon!

Please feel free to contact my office at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Adequate Temperature By-Law

At Public Health Committee last week, we heard from many delegates and renters about the importance of having a by-law that deals with maximum heat. As summers get warmer, we are seeing more heat-related medical issues and fatalities. As such, the City is looking into how to ensure landlords maintain adequate temperatures in their rental units all year long. In the winter this means we have a minimum temperature, and in the summer, we need a maximum.

At Council this week, we ratified a motion that, among items to include in the 2024 budget cycle, calls for:

Staff in Licensing and By-Law Services Division to prepare an information report for Q4 of 2023 to identify the 2024 priorities and timelines for the development of new by-laws, including an Adequate Temperature By-law and report back to Planning Committee

Staff in Healthy and Safe Communities report back to Emergency and Community Services Committee on the feasibility of developing a municipal program to support low income tenants with the cost of running air conditioning units and to support retrofits of private purpose built rental housing. This report will also come back in Q4 of 2023

Staff report back on the feasibility of tracking heat-related deaths and illnesses in Hamilton

I will share more on this important topic for many of our neighbours who rent.

Encampment Protocol

No one wants people to have to live encamped in our City, including me. For over 1600 neighbours in our community, the pressures of an out-of-control, profit-driven housing market and the compounded health emergencies of addictions and mental health have made stable housing out of reach. Canada has recognized that adequate housing is a fundamental human right. However, when there is insufficient housing and shelter space for people experiencing homelessness, Ontario courts are requiring municipalities to stop evicting encamped residents.

On Wednesday May 17th, General Issues Committee reviewed a proposed encampment protocol by City Staff that was directed to centre a human-rights and health-focused approach.

The proposed protocol outlined a number of prohibitions, spatial requirements, and a listing of where not to set up encampments. If adopted, it would require encamped neighbours to move without any clarity on how they would be supported to comply to meet new expectations. It remains true that an enforcement-led response to encampments won't solve homelessness nor lead to healing for the folks living encamped nor their housed neighbours. The only solution is safe, affordable and dignified housing - which is not a quick fix.

Council previously approved my motion to fast track the repair of nearly 500 City Housing units currently vacant - to be occupied as fixed over the next 18 months. And, the reality remains that our shelter system is still not able to meet the needs of those living encamped.

So, the proposed protocol was not approved. Instead, Council provided direction to staff to open up a 30-day comment period on it. Council also directed staff to examine the best practices for sanctioned encampment sites used across different municipalities in Canada and report back with proposed site criteria and locations in Hamilton. This could include the provision of portable washrooms, showers, waste receptacles, sharps containers, and peer-led site maintenance.

My office will circulate the links for the online public comment links for the proposed encampment protocol. Additionally, the Ward 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, and 13 offices are collaborating to host a joint hybrid community meeting on June 27 to open up this important community dialogue to discuss the encampment protocol and other solutions moving forward.

As such, the existing approach is, the primary goal of Housing Focused Street Outreach workers continues to be finding housing solutions for residents currently unsheltered. From May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023 a total of 34 individuals were successfully housed out of a total of 303 individuals engaged. Securing appropriate affordable housing for individuals experiencing homelessness continues to be a challenge and often housing alone is not sufficient. In many cases individuals experiencing chronic homelessness require health-based and other supports to ensure successful housing is maintained.

I appreciate that this is a complex issue for all our neighbours. City staff are currently working through the direction provided by Council, and more updates will be provided as they become available. Should you be concerned for the welfare of encamped residents, please email unsheltered@hamilton.ca.

Keith Neighbourhood Health Equity Initiative

Council supported my motion to allocate Ward 3 Non-Property Tax revenues from the Bell Tower Funds to assist in a neighbourhood-wide health equity initiative in the Keith Neighbourhood.

Recent demolitions in the Keith Neighbourhood has driven vermin from industrial to residential areas and residents have been experiencing a drastic rise in Norway rats, which are rodents notorious for evading prevention efforts that Public Health recommends as they burrow in the soil.

Hamilton Public Health has no active pest control program, nor a neighbourhood-wide pest control program and when they attended the neighbourhood to investigate the issue, it was confirmed that the infestation is not due to property standards issues.

The risk to public health and the potential for transmission of communicable disease, as well as the erosion of dignity, quality of life and general wellbeing is being negatively impacted as this infestation continues, which is why Council has allocated these funds. This initial will reduce the proliferation of communicable diseases while also assisting with resident-led clean ups and building neighbourhood resiliency.

Litter Clean Up

This week, Council ratified a motion from Public Works Committee regarding litter clean up and the City’s service level standards. Litter on our streets and in our parks is an issue across Ward 3 and much of the lower City and is a frequent concern I share with staff.

This motion directs staff to:

Conduct a service level review across all divisions in the Public Works Department that are responsible for both proactive and reactive litter collection in the public realm.

Ensure the review includes, but is not limited to, parks, cemeteries, right of way including roads, sidewalks, alleys, streams and municipal properties.

Report back before the 2024 Budget deliberations on any operational or budgetary changes that may be required to address these service levels.

I am looking forward to the results of this motion and to seeing less litter across Ward 3 and the entire City.

Main Street Two-Way Conversion Meeting - May 29: 6:30pm, Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre

Neighbours across many neighbourhoods in #OurWard3, especially those who live adjacent to Main St E, have been eagerly awaiting details on the next phase of implementing the two-way conversion. As a Council champion for this project, I am pleased to provide an update and to announce that the time for your input has come!

My office will be hosting an in-person meeting at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre (876 Cannon St. E) to review the current draft for resident input. If you would like to register for this event, please contact the Ward 3 office at ward3@hamilton.ca by 5pm on Monday May 29th.

Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups

Once again, I will be hosting Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups around the ward as a way for residents to connect directly with me in community. The next two are booked for:

June 15: 9:30am to noon - Royal Oaks Dairy (225 East Ave N)
July 13: 9:30am to noon - Rooneys (724 Main St E)

Sherman-Wilson Two-Way Roadway Community Meeting - June 22: 6:30pm at 196 Wentworth St. N (at the side entrance)

My office will be co-hosting a community meeting with Public Works staff for two roadway reconstruction projects Wilson Street (Victoria to Sherman) and Phase 1 of Sherman Ave (King southbound) on June 22 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm at 196 Wentworth St. N (at the side entrance).

Encampment Protocol Community Meeting

My office is co-hosting a community meeting with Wards 1, 2, 4, and 12 to solicit public feedback on the Encampment Protocol. We are currently working with our ward colleagues on arranging a date and time for this meeting. As soon as we have a date and time available, my office will provide an update. Stay tuned!

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Touch a Truck & Tropical Greenhouse Tour- May 27

On May 27, from 9am-1pm join City Staff at Gage Park for the "Touch-a-Truck & Tropical Greenhouse Tour" to commemorate National Public Works Week. At this family friendly event, explore various vehicles and equipment used to maintain our city or take a guided tour of the Tropical Greenhouse!

Children’s Water Festival - June 1

The Hamilton Children’s Water Festival will be taking place on May 30 and June 1, 2023. This festival is an opportunity to educate grade 4 students in the city about the importance of water conservation, awareness, respect, science technology, history and health.

The ultimate goal is to foster decision-makers, initiate the process of behavioural change, to empower children to initiate change within their homes, schools and communities, and to encourage children to become catalysts for change by taking information and new found respect back to their own environment.

I am excited and looking forward to attending this festival on June 1 to see the future generation of water conservationists learning and growing!

Join Us for Open Streets Hamilton! - June 18

On Sunday, June 18, 2023 from 10am-2pm, King Street East will be closed to vehicle traffic and opened for participants to walk, roll, cycle and stroll along this 3.6 km temporary park.

King Street East will be closed from Gage Avenue to John Street with family friendly activations at John Street and Ferguson Station as well as future LRT stops at: Wellington, Wentworth, Sherman and Scott Park (Bernie Morelli Rec Centre).

The street will be transformed into additional public space with physical activity stations and other activities. Please note, the King Street closure will begin at 7am and re-open by 4 pm.

Seniors Kick Off Information & Wellness Fair - June 20

June is Seniors Month and to celebrate the City is hosting a FREE Information and Wellness Fair at Sackville Hill Seniors Recreation Centre (780 Upper Wentworth Street) from 10am-2pm on Tuesday June 20th, 2023.

Registration for this event is required and can be accessed at: www.hamilton.ca/seniorskickoff. Please be sure to RSVP before the deadline of Tuesday June 13, 2023.

Cycle Hamilton Bike Day - June 1

Join us and Cycle Hamilton for Bike Day on June 1st at City Hall!

The #OurWard3 group ride with myself, Councillor Kroetsch, and Julia Hamil will be leaving from Gage Park at 7:30am on June 1 and heading to City Hall where there will be treats, coffee, bike tune-ups, and more!

For more information, please check out www.cyclehamont.ca or visit them on Instagram at @cyclehamilton.

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LGBTQ Advisory Committee Survey

The LGBTQ Advisory Committee is seeking input from the broader Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ residents of Hamilton regarding the committee’s name.

The goal of the name change is to be more reflective of the communities that the committee represents.

The LGBTQ Advisory Committee exists to eliminate barriers experienced by Two Spirit & LGBTQIA+ communities by giving voice to the perspectives of Two Spirit & LGBTQIA+ individuals and evaluating the City on its related efforts.

The Committee does this by making recommendations to Council and staff so the City of Hamilton will excel in providing services to and interfacing with members of the Two Spirit & LGBTQIA+ communities.

The survey is available until May 31st and can be accessed at https://engage.hamilton.ca/lgbtq-advisory-committee-name-change.

Royal Botanical Gardens Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report

ERA Architects Inc are currently developing a Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report on behalf of the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) for three sites at the RBG. As part of their study, they’re seeking community input on the use, history and cultural heritage value of RBG, including peoples’ experiences, activities, and favourite places on site.

They’ve developed a very brief survey that they’ve asked our office to circulate to #OurWard3 community. The survey will be accepting submissions until June 16, 2023.

If you would like to contribute your feedback to the survey, please visit: http://bit.ly/RBGEngagementSurvey

Should you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact Emma Abramowicz, Senior Project Manager at EmmaA@eraarch.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!

Nrinder Nann 2023-05-11 Nrinder Nann 2023-05-11

Term of Council Priorities, Two-Way Main St. Conversion, Urban Trees, Short Term Rental licensing

Dear Neighbours,

We’ve had a rainy few weeks and I am happy to have the sun back out. The benefit of the rain though, is that it has brought in some more beautiful flowers and greenery. I know I am enjoying walking the Ward 3 neighbourhoods and parks and seeing all the new flowers in bloom. I hope you’re also able to take some time to enjoy the lush greenery and beautiful flowers around us.

The nicer weather also brings a return to many outdoor festivals and events around #OurWard3. This Saturday, Ottawa Street will be closed down for the 10th anniversary of the annual Sew Hungry event, and the Family Planting Day at the Children’s Garden at Gage Park will also be happening. I have shared more details on both below.

As you continue reading this newsletter you will find many more informative updates on various City Services, and engagement opportunities for residents.

With this Sunday being the celebration of Mother’s Day, I am sharing that I recognize this can be a complicated day for many. My wish is that we may all find some peace and joy this weekend as we celebrate, remember, and consider the mothering we give and receive in our lives.

Please feel free to contact my office at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Term of Council Priorities

Last Friday, Council members participated in a Special General Issues Committee meeting to collaboratively identify three priority areas for measurable outcomes this term. The three areas include:

Ecological and Economic Sustainability
Liveable Neighbourhoods
Trust and Transparency at City Hall

Over the coming weeks, a small working group of the Mayor and some Councillors will define the priority areas further with measurable targets so we may report with accountability as a Council to the city as a whole. These three priority areas will also enable City staff to filter through the outstanding business list and prepare for the subsequent annual budgets with a clearer focus as well.

Two Way Main Street Conversion

City staff have been working diligently on the implementation plan which integrates design principles from the city’s Complete Streets Design Manual and aims to enable safety for all road users along Main St E between King St E (the “Delta” intersection) and Longwood Rd. This includes public transit passengers, pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists. The two-way conversion plan will also incorporate a climate change lens by considering additions such as urban trees and permeable surfaces in the planning process.

There will be three Public Information Sessions this month. One online and two in-person meetings that are being co-hosted by the Ward 1, 2, & 3 offices to give residents who prefer to see the information off screen a chance to provide input directly and speak with staff.

Online - Thursday, May 18 from 6-8pm. Advance registration is required here.

In-person Session #1 - Thursday May 25 at 7pm at City Hall

In-person Session #2 - Monday May 29 at 6:30pm at the Bernie Morelli Rec Centre. To register, please contact ward3@hamilton.ca.

I look forward to seeing you at the in-person sessions!

Partnership with Education Institutions for Urban Trees

At Public Works Committee last week, we approved two motions that enable the City to pursue partnerships with educational institutions across Hamilton to help meet the urban tree canopy goals.

Then at Council on Wednesday this week, we added non-profit and faith-based organizations to the mix. This enables the City to work with more partners to achieve our targets together in community. The organizations then take on the maintenance, upkeep of the trees and that shared ownership is a great opportunity for community members: children and others to be part of the effort to restore our environment.

The first of these City provided trees to be planted in Ward 3 will be at Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School this Saturday during the Community Clean Up Day on May 13.

If your school may be interested in taking up this opportunity during the 2023 planting season, please email us at ward3@hamilton.ca and we will direct your request to the appropriate staff.

Short Term Rental Licensing Regime

On January 25, 2023, City Council approved a new by-law to license and regulate Short-Term Rentals in the City of Hamilton, and endorsed the implementation plan to develop, administer and enforce the licensing of Short-Term Rental units.

The Report specified that staff would begin to receive Short-Term Rental licenses on June 1, 2023.

Phase 1 of the implementation of Short-Term Rental licensing was scheduled to be completed in May 2023 with the finalization of a Communication Plan, Enforcement Strategy, and the establishment of the appropriate data management systems to allow for the collection and reporting of necessary metrics.

On April 26, 2023, City Council directed staff to report back to Emergency and Community Services (E&CS) committee in August 2023 with a full suite of options to halt renovictions within the City, namely a city-wide Licensing by-law, a standalone Renovictions by-law, and a suite of enforcement options.

In response to this direction, the priorities of Licensing & By-law Services will need to pivot to accommodate. Therefore, the implementation of the Short-Term Rentals licensing program has a revised timeline for the acceptance of Short-Term Rental licenses. This will be shifted to December 2023. For more information or questions, please email Monica Ciriello at monica.ciriello@hamilton.ca.

We’re Hiring! Ward 3 Administrative Assistant

Join #OurWard3 office squad! We’re hiring for the position of Ward 3 Administrative Assistant in a Temporary Full-Time role for parental leave coverage.

This temporary full-time position, works closely with me and the rest of the Ward 3 team to provide the essential role of excellent administrative support, case file management, financial administration, research and report development, as well as community and stakeholder relations.

This team member has the ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with residents, team members, partners to the Ward 3 office, City staff, other members of Council, and is able to help resolve issues as well as find solutions. This detailed oriented position will be for the period of June 2023 - May 2024.

If you’re interested in applying, or know someone who is, please check out the job posting here, and submit your resume by end of day on Monday May 15, 2023.

Stinson Community Safety Meeting

At a community meeting about temporary shelters held in March, residents raised community safety and crime related concerns - such as vandalism, break-ins, property theft, and aggressive behaviour - in and around the Stinson neighbourhood. This followed similar reports my office had received and already reported to Hamilton Police Services (HPS).

I offered to organize a community safety meeting to bring together residents and members of HPS for residents to raise these safety and crime related issues directly with HPS. We hosted that meeting earlier this week and more than 50 residents joined us in the hybrid format.

The meeting provided an opportunity for anyone in attendance to ask questions of HPS and to raise safety concerns they had around the neighbourhood. Representatives from HPS committed to engaging with #OurWard3 residents through local community groups, newspapers, and through updates to my office that we can share here and on social media. They echoed the importance of reporting incidents to the HPS anytime there is anything concerning, as this is the data that helps to determine resource allocation.

I have committed to hosting community safety meetings with HPS around the ward to help ensure that resident concerns are heard and addressed by the Police services. As your Councillor, my role is to facilitate meetings such as these and to ensure that residents are heard and that clear next steps stem from the meeting. Ultimately, individual Councillors, and Council as a whole, cannot dictate operational procedures of HPS but we can join our neighbours in advocating for increased responsiveness.

Additionally, HPS will be providing a list of resources to the Ward 3 office for distribution. Once we receive them we will provide them to residents.

Anyone who wishes to make a formal resource allocation or staffing request, can do so by delegating to the Police Services Board.

Community Led Project to Survey Gibson

Last fall, the Gibson and Landsdale Areas, also known as the GALA Herald shared news of the Landsdale Neighbourhood Inventory. This community-led, volunteer-powered project is the work of Built Environment Hamilton, the registered not-for-profit that’s grown out of the Friends of St. Giles.

What started out as the Landsdale Neighbourhood Inventory is now the Gibson-Landsdale Neighbourhood Inventory.

This work is guided by City Staff and follows the City of Hamilton’s Built Heritage Inventory Strategy. For more information about these inventories, please visit www.hamilton.ca/heritageinventory.

To learn more about the history of the Gibson-Landsdale neighbourhoods, and the buildings that have already been designated, please visit the GALA Herald website at www.galaherald.ca.

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Hamilton Water Scheduled Maintenance: Saturday May 13

Hamilton Water provided #OurWard3 office with notice of an upcoming temporary lane closure near the intersection of Burlington Street East and Wellington Street North, where Hamilton Water will be performing scheduled maintenance work at this location on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

During this time, traffic will be reduced to one lane, and street parking will be limited. Work will begin Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. and is anticipated to be completed no later than 2:00 p.m.

Automated Traffic Enforcement Update

Driver behaviour complaints continue to be shared with my office. Neighbours continue to report that there is excessive speeding, especially late at night, along Kings St E and Main St E. We also continue to hear that cut through traffic is zipping through our neighbourhood roads. The Ward 3 Complete Streets design recommendations are part of a suite of interventions we are implementing to make our roads safer. This update includes details on two other specific tools: Red Light Cameras (RLC) and Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE).

Ward 3 has the second highest number of violations at red light cameras which signifies people are blowing red lights. This driver behaviour makes our roadways unsafe to all users. As a deterrent, the red light camera violation fee is set at $325 provincially through the Provincial Offences Act.

The new RLCs to be installed in #OurWard3 will be located at:

Cannon Street East at Wentworth Street - Westbound
Burlington Street East at Ottawa Street North - Eastbound

Additionally, existing RLC’s on Wilson Street at Wentworth Street North and Sanford Avenue North be decommissioned to coincide with the two-way conversion of Wilson Street – Victoria Avenue to Sherman Avenue, scheduled for reconstruction in 2023/2024, and subsequently relocated to:

Cannon Street East at Gage Avenue North - Eastbound

Nineteen new Community Safety Zones (CSZ) have been designated across the city. This designation also enables the use of Automated Speed Enforcement cameras in these zones which results in an average fine of $75 for speeding.

The new Community Safety Zones in #OurWard3 are:

Gage Avenue South between Lawrence Road and Main Street East
Lawrence Road between Gage Avenue South and Ottawa Street South
Victoria Avenue North between Robert Street and Shaw Street
Birge Street between Wellington Street North and Victoria Avenue
Lottridge Street between Beechwood Avenue and Cannon Street East
Gage Avenue North between Beechwood Avenue and Cannon Street East
Victoria Avenue North Charlton Avenue East and Wilson Street
King Street East between Emerald Street South and Wellington Street North
King Street East between Gage Avenue South and Lottridge Street
Main Street East between Gage Avenue South and King Street East
Wentworth Street North between King Street East and Barton Street East
Ottawa Street North between Cannon Street East and Barton Street East

If you witness dangerous driving and excessive speeding, you are encouraged to call Hamilton Police Services at: 905-546-4925. Tip: try to jot down the make, model, colour, license plate of the vehicle and make note of the time and location of the poor driver behaviour before reporting.

City of Hamilton Rain Barrel Sale

The Ward 3 office is happy to share that Hamilton Water’s annual online Rain Barrel Sale has begun.

Rain Barrels are a great way to capture water that normally would go into the sewer and divert it to garden and other outdoor uses. Rain Barrels also help with stormwater management by reducing the load on the sewer systems during a heavy rainfall.

From now until May 31, residents can visit our website at www.hamilton.ca/rainbarrelsale to order their rain barrels for $85 each with taxes included and free delivery.

Deliveries will be completed throughout the sale, and all deliveries will be completed no later than June 16, 2023.

For more information, or if you have questions, please contact Chris Wilson, Program Manager Outreach and Education at 905-546-2424 ext 2901.

Bernie Morelli Facility Maintenance Closure: June 13 - June 22

City Recreation Staff provided my office with a notice for an upcoming Facility Maintenance closure of Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre from Tuesday June 13 to Thursday June 22, 2023.

This closure is necessary to address the broken tiles in the hallway outside of the staff offices and change rooms.

Staff have strategically scheduled this closure after the completion of spring registered programs and before the start of summer programs in order to minimize impact to residents

Photo of children’s hands holding soil with plants. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Events"

Children’s Garden Project: Family Planting Day

The Children’s Garden Project’s family planting day is quickly approaching and will be taking place on Saturday May 13, 2023 from 10am - 12pm at Gage Park.

The wonderful garden friends and volunteers have been patiently growing seedlings and planning what The Children’s Garden Project will grow this year, and now it’s finally time to plant!

Bring your garden gear and join them to get everything prepped and planted for the 2023 season, as well as to have some fun learning how to take care of the garden.

This is a drop-in event open to all children and their families, with adult supervision required for attending. Also, please remember to bring your own snacks and beverages for this event.

Sew Hungry - May 13

Sew Hungry will feature over 30 food trucks, a beer garden, live music, and an activity zone. For more information on specific vendors and food trucks, as well as an interactive map, please visit www.sewhungry.com.

Photo of a microphone in the forefront and a blurry image of an audience in the background. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Opportunities for Residents"

Hamilton Community Benefits Network LRT Meeting - Wed May 24 - 6:30-8:30pm

My office is sharing that the Hamilton Community Benefits Network is hosting a series of educational and interactive community dialogue sessions about the Hamilton Light Rail Transit and Community Benefits this month.

The LRT Community Dialogue session for #OurWard3 will be held on Wednesday May 24th from 6:30-8:30pm at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre (876 Cannon St. E).

These sessions will be in-person and are family friendly. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Masks are highly encouraged and will also be provided. Please register here.

For more information about the Hamilton Community Benefits Network, please visit: www.hcbn.ca.

Urban Expansion Areas Survey & Public Consultations

In 2022, six areas of land called Urban Expansion Areas were added to the City’s Urban Area as part of a Provincial decision on the City’s Official Plan amendment to plan for growth to 2051.

To guide the planning for these new growth areas, the City is:

Establishing a Policy Framework outlining requirements for Secondary Plans in Urban Expansion Areas
Developing Secondary Plan Guidelines to guide all future secondary planning processes for Urban Expansion Areas

These Urban Expansion Areas will become new communities and neighbourhoods, and the City wants to hear your thoughts on what is important to you in planning for these areas.

The public consultation will be both virtual and in-person. Dates to participate include:

An online survey is available until midnight on May 26 at engage.hamilton.ca/growinghamilton
A LIVE Virtual Information Meeting held on Monday, May 15 from 7:00 – 8:30pm (registration is available at engage.hamilton.ca/growinghamilton)
A drop-in open house on Wednesday, May 17 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Hamilton Central Library, Hamilton Room (main floor), 55 York Boulevard.
A second drop-in open house on Wednesday, May 24 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Mount Hope Community Centre, 3027 Homestead Drive.

If you have questions, or want to be added to the project mailing list, please contact UEAplanning@hamilton.ca. If you have any accessibility requirements in order to be able to review the material and provide comments, please contact Mark Kehler at Mark.Kehler@hamilton.ca or by phone at 905-546-2424 Ext. 4148.

John Howard Society of Hamilton, Burlington & Area Student Jobs

John Howard Society of Hamilton, Burlington & Area (JHSHBA) are currently recruiting for two Canada Summer Jobs positions:

Program and Service Assistant
Reception and Administrative Assistant

These positions are 8 weeks in duration, have an immediate start date and pay $15.50 per hour.

If you know a post secondary student who might be interested in joining JHSHBA for the summer, please have them send their resume to Donna de Jong (she / her / elle), Executive Director at ddejong@jhshba.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!

Nrinder Nann 2023-04-27 Nrinder Nann 2023-04-27

Renovictions, Housing Stability, Rain Carbon & Community Events

Dear Neighbours,

Thank you to all the neighbours who participated in the community clean ups with Beautiful Alleys last weekend. Your efforts have helped beautify #OurWard3. If you missed out or want to do more, the CN Tracks clean up is coming up in May (see Community Events below).

Also, we are working with Roads staff to set up an in-person information session on the much anticipated Main Street Two-way Conversion Plan. It will take place the week of May 22nd. Stay tuned, as we will promote the event online and ensure it is in our next issue of this e-newsletter.

As you will see, this update is a long one. It has been a productive and busy Committee and Council cycle with a lot of emphasis on housing.
As always, if you have any questions or need assistance navigating a City service issue, please contact the #OurWard3 Office Squad at ward3@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-2702.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Renovictions & Tenant Defense Fund

Last term, Council approved a clear direction for staff to pursue - to report back the ways and means of implementing a New Westminster style by-law in Hamilton to deal with the issue of renovictions. At last week’s Emergency Community Services Committee meeting, we received a report that did not fulfill this direction. The report failed to meet the needs of renters in Hamilton who face aggressive and predatory practices in the private housing market across the city.

Renovictions is the practice of bad faith eviction using an N13 notice under the Residential Tenancies Act and issued to tenants when a landlord uses the premise of performing substantial repairs and renovations to vacate units and turn around and jack up rents for a higher profit margin.

Staff also reported that the Tenant Defence Fund has had a successful track record supporting tenants fighting against bad faith N13 notices from landlords. It was also reported that Ward 3 experiences the highest rate of N13s filed and experiences of renovictions. Ward 3 has the second highest renter population in Hamilton and I have an obligation to respond to our renting neighbours needs in our communities.

So, I moved to expand the Tenant Defence fund to include N12 notices, as well as, increase and continue funding the program. I also moved to have staff go back to the drawing board to fulfill the initial direction and bring back a comprehensive anti-renoviction suite of by-laws, policies and tools to bring an end to this practice in the city. At Council, Councillor Kroetsch amended the motion to be even more clear and specific to bring back the initial reference of the groundbreaking by-law regime developed in New Westminster, BC to ensure staff succeed in meeting the needs of our community.

All this was possible thanks to the tremendous organizing effort of tenants across the city supported by ACORN Hamilton. Proving again that when we work with our residents, we can achieve more and hopefully foster a city where all residents feel their rights are protected while also preserving affordable rental housing in the private market.

Tackling Vacancies at City Housing Hamilton (CHH)

Earlier this year, we identified 476 units currently vacant due to need of repair or renovations within the City Housing Hamilton portfolio. Almost annually last term, while serving on the Board of Directors for CHH, I inquired about the vacant unit count and it became clear to me that we did not have a robust enough inventory system to be accountable as an organization.

This became one of the priority items to be addressed through the strategic review that Clr Maureen Wilson and I pushed for last term.

New CHH CEO Adam Sweedland, hit the ground running in his role and has been moving swiftly on actioning the 2023-2027 Strategic Action Plan. This week at the CHH Board meeting, CEO Sweedland tabled the Vacancy Renewal and Management Plan to address the vacancy challenges going forward and to reverse the failing trend to date.This plan establishes accountability and oversight. The plan will serve to achieve two key performance outcomes:

To recalibrate CHH’s ability to sustain and keep pace with unit turnovers on an ongoing basis; and
Establish a manageable trajectory to reset the current backlog of units and achieve the recommended reduced target (2%) by December 2024.

This week, Council approved a financing solution I tabled to get the 476 units repaired and occupied on an accelerated track. This $5.7M funding strategy includes:

$2.792M from 2022 dividends from both Hamilton Utilities Corporation and Alectra
$900,000 in CityHousing Hamilton Reserve funding
$1,000,000 in Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) funding; and
$1 million conditional grant to CityHousing Hamilton be funded via an internal loan from the Hamilton Future Fund Reserve

As President of the CHH Board, I am committed to ensuring CHH invests in our existing housing stock. And, I am confident that the above plan will ensure we fulfill CHH’s core business mandate to house people while also maintaining units so residents feel proud of their home.

Housing Stability and Investment Roadmap Strategy

There is no simple answer in solving the housing crisis and it will take a concerted effort from all levels of government prioritizing investment into housing and health supports. With that said, we are in an era of the housing crisis that requires municipalities to plan and take deliberate action.

At General Issues Committee last week, Council adopted the new Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap Strategy that rests across four pillars for action:

Build - new construction of affordable housing
Fix - maintaining and preservation of existing units
Buy - through strategic land and building acquisition
Support - through a system of care approach focused on the provision of housing-based supports.

This roadmap was developed in partnership with community organizations to prioritize best housing investments that will yield maximum community benefit. Key to this strategy is to establish an Affordable Housing Secretariat Division within the Healthy and Safe Communities Department to lead the implementation of the Strategy. The Secretariat is tasked to work across departments and divisions to develop and recommend an annual program of work to be approved by Council each year and to report annually on progress.

For more information, please read this report.

Image of industrial smoke stacks with an orange filter. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates"

Industrial Site Specific Standards - Rain Carbon

Rain Carbon is a Ward 4 company that distills coal tar from the steel industry. The company sent out notifications about two public meetings on April 14th and April 18th. The meetings were a requirement of an “order to prevent discharge of contaminants” issued in November 2022 to the company by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).

Kerry from our Ward 3 team attended one of the meetings alongside Ward 4’s Clr Hwang and Ward 4 Constituency Assistant, Pascale Marchand. Together, they spoke at length with Rain Carbon’s technical manager and project consultant.

Rain Carbon has until May 1st to submit an application to renew the Site Specific Standards that permit emissions of two carcinogenic chemicals that exceed the usual thresholds allowed by the MECP. We have used the term exemption to describe this form of regulatory permission for our industrial neighbours, however the MECP states it is instead “a pathway to compliance”. We learned that while Rain Carbon is working towards using BACTs (best available control technologies) to reduce their emissions and plan to switch from carbon to petroleum as a feedstock source in the future, they could not ensure that this would be the last time they seek a Site Specific Standard renewal.

This is not the only industrial neighbour that has been granted Site Specific Standards to exceed emissions guidelines, and will likely continue to ask for that permission to be renewed. To this end, following last month’s Board of Health meeting, Council passed a motion that I moved, to have Mayor Horwath communicate to the provincial environment minister that the City of Hamilton opposes continued special permissions for contaminants above provincially regulated general air standards - especially for known carcinogens.

We want to recognize the degree of fear and confusion that these poorly explained notifications caused to the Ward 3 community who received them. Part of our ongoing efforts to build respectful relationships with our industrial neighbours is urging them to improve when and how they communicate with the communities their operations impact. We thank the many residents who have reached out to us with their questions and concerns about this issue and encourage you to keep in touch with us with further comments. There will be an opportunity to publicly comment on Rain Carbon’s application care of the province's Environmental Registry soon and we will be sure to share guidance on how to do so when that time comes.

We are also in conversation with our Ward 4 colleagues about co-hosting a community workshop on air quality standards, particularly Site Specific Standards, in the coming months.

Photo of Gage Park entrance way with purple flowers in the forefront. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Service Updates"

Pothole Repairs

The start of the spring season can bring on an increasing number of potholes across our roadways. While roads are built to repel water, changes in temperatures, freeze thaw cycles, heavy rain, and traffic can cause damage to road surfaces.

Hamilton road crews are currently working diligently to patch potholes throughout the city, with the busiest roads being addressed first. While crews complete their own inspections of roadways, residents and motorists are asked to report potholes by contacting the City’s Customer Service Contact Centre during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at 905-546-CITY (2489). When reporting potholes, please provide detailed information such as location (street addresses or intersections) and estimated size of the pothole.

Public Works 2023 Summer Services

The Public Works Department recently sent an update to City Councillors about the 2023 summer program which outlined some key park services to share with residents. Updates include information on trash pick-up, litter removal, spring clean-up and potential service level reductions.

Waste Collection Service:

Trash receptacles are strategically distributed in parks to encourage litter control
During the summer, some receptacles are moved in response to other needs such as events, or to reduce illegal dumping and vandalism in some areas

Ground Litter Removal & Spring Clean-Up:

Ground litter, refuse, and other waste is removed from parks prior to mowing and trimming of green space to ensure the safety of City Staff and to prevent damage to machinery
Clean-up and mowing typically takes about 4 weeks for staff to complete, and is often dependent on the location and how much work is needed to clear the park
This work is primarily done by student staff, but is often supplemented by individual or community driven volunteer clean ups

Staffing Shortage & Potential Service Level Impacts:

Parks has seen a decline in applications from summer students this year
As the majority of the work is completed by student staff, City Staff are warning that there may be a potential reduction in some aesthetic services like trimming around fence lines and other objects.

As always, if you have questions, or need support in navigating a concern at one of #OurWard3 parks, please reach out to our office at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

Photo of remaining chimney structure at 832 King St. E and a threatened species of bird called a Chimney Swift. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "LRT Updates"

Preserving Species at Risk along the LRT Corridor

The Hamilton LRT demolition at 832 King St. E has been taking place over the past month or so, but you may have noticed that there is a structure remaining on the property.

Prior to demolition works, and working with Six Nations of the Grand River, it was discovered that the building’s chimney was a habitat for a species of bird called the Chimney Swift (Chaetura Pelagica).

Chimney Swifts are listed as threatened on the Species at Risk public registry, which has resulted in prioritizing a plan to retain and stabilize the existing chimney in order to protect this at risk species of bird.

Metrolinx is required to continue to monitor the site and should the birds migrate, then they will be able to proceed with future plans.

CN Track Clean Up - May 6

On Saturday May 6th at 9:00am, CN will be teaming up with Beautiful Alleys to do a spring clean up from Victoria Avenue to Cheever St. If you are interested in helping with this large clean up and want more information, please email hamiltonalleys@gmail.com.

Green Venture Seedling Sale - May 6

Join Green Ventures at their EcoHouse located at 22 Veevers Drive, Hamilton, ON for a fun-filled, family friendly, seed sale event from 10:00am-4:00pm. You can shop a wide assortment of organic seedlings while taking in the rich history of EcoHouse and all it has to offer. You’ll also be able to connect with local organizations about how you can make a great impact in your garden. Walk-ins are welcome, but you can also RSVP to the annual seedling sale here.

Stinson Community Safety Meeting - May 8

Due to multiple incidents of property damage, theft, and policing in the Stinson Neighbourhood, my office has arranged a meeting with Hamilton Police Services for the local community safety.
Please join us for this hybrid meeting on Monday May 8th, 2023, from 6:30 - 8:00pm at Central Memorial Recreation Centre. RSVP’s are required to ensure there is enough seating for everyone, as well as for our office to provide a virtual meeting link for those who wish to participate online. Please contact ward3@hamilton.ca, or call 905-546-2702 to reserve your space.

Sew Hungry - May 13

Ottawa Street BIA’s Sew Hungry event is celebrating its 10th anniversary and we want you to join in on the food focused fun on Saturday May 13th from 11:00am-8:00pm on Ottawa Street between Main St. & Barton St.
Sew Hungry will feature over 30 food trucks, a beer garden, live music, and an activity zone. For more information on specific vendors and food trucks, as well as an interactive map, please visit www.sewhungry.com.

Barton Village BIA Community Meetup

Join the Barton Village BIA on the 4th Wednesday of every month for a community meet up at 9:30am at Woodlands Park. The group will gather, chat about the neighbourhood, and do a little clean up of the park together. Coffee and juice will be available, and everyone is welcome!

Hamilton Craft Studios - Drop in Programs & Summer Camp for Kids!

Did you know that our friends at Hamilton Craft Studios have a great lineup of drop in programs for the community to participate in? Programs include movement for makers, queer craft club, ceramic studio drop-in, and fibre arts brunch club! Full information on each program can be found directly on their website at: https://hamiltoncraftstudios.com/collections/clubs-drop-ins

Not only do they have drop in programs for the community, but this summer they have a great all day summer camp program for kids ages 7-12. For more information on the camp programs they are offering, please visit: https://hamiltoncraftstudios.com/collections/summer-camp-2022

Photo of City workers planting flowers near City Hall. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Opportunities for Residents"

United Way Period Promise

Nearly one in four Canadian women have struggled to buy period products for themselves or their children. Menstruating transgender and non-binary individuals face additional barriers to accessing period products.

The City of Hamilton’s United Way Committee is collecting donations of packaged menstrual/period products and infant and baby supplies to help those in need up until May 31st, 2023. The Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse is the drop off location for residents in #OurWard3. Simply drop off products with staff during the Greenhouse’s operating hours of 9:00am-5:00pm.

For more information please visit uwhh.ca/periodpromiseor read the UWHH Period Promise Fact Sheet or contact unitedway@hamilton.ca.

City of Hamilton Student General Labour Jobs

Work at the City of Hamilton this summer! The City of Hamilton is hiring for General Labour positions for youth ages 18-24. For more info and to apply, please visit http://hamilton.ca/jobs (Job ID 20431)

Strategic Transportation Network Review

The City of Hamilton is conducting a strategic transportation network review to support Hamilton’s growth. The City is expected to grow by 236,000 people and 122,000 jobs by 2051. This anticipated growth will create more travel demand and the need for additional transportation infrastructure to manage this demand, while protecting the environment, supporting economic development, and maintaining a high quality of life.

The Strategic Transportation Network is hosting a virtual public information session on Tuesday May 9th at 5:30pm. To join the meeting and access the link, please visit: https://engage.hamilton.ca/stnr

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!

Nrinder Nann 2023-03-30 Nrinder Nann 2023-03-30

2023 Budget, Infrastructure Investments, City Housing, CTS, Community Engagement

Dear Neighbours,

Ramadan Mubark to all our Muslim neighbours. May this month of Ramadan bring all much needed sense of community, joy, and peace.

Spring has finally sprung and with it comes the annual neighbourhood clean ups coordinated by the Beautiful Alleys teams. If you would like to sign up and participate this year, please see participation options here

This time of year, as the snow melts, the weather warms, and the wind picks up, my office tends to get an increase in reports of potholes and garbage around the ward. You can report any of these issues by calling 905-546-CITY (2489). Potholes can also be reported by email to roadsnorth@hamilton.ca. Please be sure to provide details on location, approximate size, and any other important details.

With regard to garbage, a reminder that homeowners are responsible for cleaning and maintaining their properties (this includes garbage that may blow onto it). If you have concerns about garbage on private property, please send an email to mle@hamilton.ca. If the garbage is on public property, you can report it to wasteenforcement@hamilton.ca to have it logged to the appropriate parties for cleanup.

This newsletter provides many updates on the 2023 Budget, items from Council and Committee, safer streets and staircase closures, Ward 3 award winners, and many events coming up in our neighbourhoods.

I am looking forward to spending more time outside with my family, enjoying the warmer and longer days. I hope you’re able to do the same.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

2023 Budget

Over the past three months, Council has received some very sobering news as it relates to the reality of financial pressures facing all households across Hamilton. There is a widespread reality that many are approaching being one paycheque away from losing housing or an inability to cover all cost of living expenses.

The Mayor asked staff to come up with a package of financial adjustments to reduce the 2023 budget tax impact from 6.7% to just under 6%. This motion preserves all of the important investments we are making in the people of Hamilton, and through some creative and thoughtful solutions, offers a more manageable increase to our constituents.

I supported the motion and am glad we are protecting the advancements necessary to help address the deep housing and health needs across our neighbourhoods. Some key investments this Budget provides are:

An increase of 30% in the City’s housing budget over 2022 levels to $70.1 million, making addressing the housing crisis one of the City’s top investments

Enhancements to critical services and supports for our aging and growing population. Such as: paramedic services, climate change initiatives, and supporting the most vulnerable in our communities

Investments to address our ageing infrastructure and roads as well as, transit improvements totaling $3.3 million, which includes 49,000 hours of additional service

The 2023 Budget has now been ratified by Council. For further highlights on what this budget will address you can go here.

Infrastructure Investments

Council ratified two of my motions to Public Works Committee this session that will see infrastructure investment into two Ward 3 parks.

At Powell Park, we will install a second net to complete the basketball court, as well as a fence behind it to protect pedestrians using the walkway. This used to be a complete court and was well used by local youth, until the second net was removed in the 90s. Staff anticipate being able to install this over the coming months. I will share an updated timeline as soon as I have it.

At Birge Park we will see the installation of a permanent water source. This will allow residents to easily water the community gardens in the summer, and volunteers will use the water to create a community rink in the winter.

Updates Regarding Temporary Shelters in Ward 3

At the March 23 Emergency and Community Services Committee we heard from Housing Services staff on the state of shelters and housing in our City. In order to temporarily meet the growing housing needs in the short term while staff work to right size shelter services and build/repair units toward the 10-year goal of eliminating homelessness, they recommended and Council ratified the following:

The temporary shelter at 378 Main St E remain open until May 31, 2023 at the latest. Intakes have already ceased, and as Arkledun units are ready and available, residents and staff will be moving over to that location. May 31 is the absolute last day the shelter will be open

A temporary shelter be opened at 46 West Ave S for up to 20 unsheltered single women and non-binary individuals to address additional emergency system pressures. This shelter will be open until March 31, 2024.

My office requested that Housing Services host a Community Information Meeting ahead of ECS Committee so residents could ask questions about this recommendation. At the meeting, Good Shepherd confirmed that there is no plan for the use of the space at 378 Main St E once the shelter is decommissioned. They also confirmed that there will be security in place at that location to prevent trespassing. Additionally, they committed to security, including patrols, around 46 West Ave S.

City Housing Hamilton

City Council is the Shareholder of City Housing Hamilton (CHH) and approved my motion to fund bringing 476 vacant units back online through repairs. In the March 10th e-newsletter, I shared that as President of CHH, I moved a motion at the Board of Directors to tackle the maintenance backlog with Councillor Kroetsch as the seconder. This investment in addressing the state of good repair has no tax levy impact to residents of our City. The total investment is $5.7M to repair these units and have them all occupied by December 2024.

I will bring forward a funding motion to General Issues Committee in April to do this important work, and create more quality, safe and affordable housing for our residents.

Chedoke Update

March 3, 2023, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) amended their Order related to the Chedoke Creek Remediation. The amendment required that the City complete the in-water targeted dredging work on or before August 31, 2023.

Following the amendment, City staff had further discussions about that deadline and our ability to meet it. As a result of this meeting, the Ministry extended the deadline to October 31, 2023 to complete the remediation work and staff is confident that they can meet this date.

CTS at 746 Barton St. E

On March 14, 2023, I sent a letter to The AIDS Network’s (TAN) Board of Directors to ensure shared understanding of the motion I brought forward at the Feb 22nd Council meeting. That motion amended the Board of Health’s endorsement of 746 Barton St E for TAN’s application to the Ministry of Health for a CTS to include a caveat for robust community engagement including a clear plan and process to address neighbourhood impacts.

Hamilton Public Health staff have also met with TAN staff to learn more about their plans while also offering support. I will keep residents posted as I receive further updates.

Photos from left to right are of waste collection bins, pedestrians walking in a crosswalk, a water sampling station, and the Wentworth Stairs. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Service Update"

Safer Streets & Pedestrian Crossings

We will continue to implement recommendations from the Ward 3 Complete Streets review this spring with the installation of 12 speed humps across the ward. More locations will follow in fall 2023.

I have also submitted a Notice of Motion for safety enhancements at the Maple/Ottawa intersection. This intersection is one that many families use to get to school each day, and is one with limited visibility and will benefit from safety enhancements. As this borders on Ward 4, Councillor Hwang and I have worked together to direct funds to the implementation of an intersection pedestrian signal (IPS) at this location.

Wentworth Staircase Closures

The Wentworth Stairs (between the Sherman Access and Concession St.) will be closed due to road reconstruction work along Mountain Park Ave, until a projected completion date in October. The lower portion at the Rail Trail entrance at Charlton Ave to the Sherman Access, a popular destination for exercise and commuting, access will remain open.

The Ward 3 office acknowledges this is a loss of a vital active transportation link between Ward 3 residents and the mountain, some who commute to the hospital and other places of work on Concession Street. We have flagged this for staff and will provide any updates we receive.

Waste Collection Change: Residents on South Side of Cannon St. E between Sherman Ave N and Wentworth St. N

There is a waste collection change for residents that live on the south side of Cannon St. E between Sherman Ave N. and Wentworth St. N.

If you are a resident that lives in this area, your waste collection day changed from a Tuesday to a Wednesday effective March 22nd, 2023.

Waste Management is making this change to streamline waste collection services and to better align staffing and equipment resources to provide efficient service to these residents.

A letter has been mailed to those residents affected, and staff have visited each property to provide a door knocker as a secondary outreach measure to ensure residents are aware of the change. If any residents have questions around this change, or waste collection for the area, please email: wastemanagement@hamilton.ca.

Water Sampling Stations: 2023 Installations

Hamilton Water conducts routine monitoring of our water distribution system to meet regulatory requirements for contents such as chlorine, residual, and microbiological in order to assess water quality.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges were encountered with respect to accessing existing sampling locations within buildings. To allow for a more representative sample and reduce access concerns Hamilton Water has increased its use of sampling stations.

This year, Hamilton Water will be installing water sampling stations on the following streets in Ward 3:

Mars Ave
Clinton St
Dunsmure Rd

For more information, please visit: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/water-wastewater-stormwater/water-treatment-distribution/drinking-water-0

Left: photo of Easter eggs with designs in a basket Right: photo of woman volunteering in a community clean up. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Engagement & Events".

Children’s Garden Project - Little Planters Series: Let’s Start Growing Workshops

Registration is now open for the FREE and FUN Little Planters Workshops happening on April 1st, 2023 at the Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse starting at 9:30am. For more information or to register, please visit the Children’s Garden Project EventBrite page.

Annual Ottawa Street Bunny Hop: Saturday April 8 from 11am - 2pm

Spring into action and head down to Ottawa Street North for a hopping good time! They will have crafting for kids, free face painting and most importantly, an egg hunt with local businesses. Look for the felt bunny in participating businesses windows, and enter for a treat (while supplies last). Rain or shine, can't wait to see you there! Event page with more information can be found here.

Germania Club Annual Easter Egg Hunt - April 8 at 12pm (noon)

Enjoy refreshments, lunch, and an egg-cellent afternoon at Germania Club Park located on Lake Niapenko in Binbrook! Cost is $8 per child and includes a light lunch, drink, Easter goodies, and children’s craft table. Registration by April 1st is required. To register, please call Anna Fischer at 905-549-0513.

Beautiful Alleys and Neighbourhood Clean Ups - April 23rd 9am to 1pm

Join in on April 22nd from 9am to 1pm to help Keep Hamilton Clean and Green! Pick an alley or join a team. Meet up at one of the central locations across #OurWard3 or start in your own backyard. For more information, visit the Facebook Page.

Exploring Inclusionary Zoning as an Affordable Housing Tool

The City of Hamilton is exploring the feasibility of adopting a tool known as Inclusionary Zoning to help increase the supply of affordable housing locally.

Inclusionary Zoning requires new market rate residential development or redevelopment within a Protected Major Transit Station Area (PMTSA) to include a certain percentage of new affordable housing units. The City is currently planning for 20 PMTSA’s in the lower city, which include 17 LRT stations, and 3 GO stations. These also include the LRT stations along the King St. E corridor between Ottawa St. and Wellington St. in Ward 3.

Before a municipality can adopt an Inclusionary Zoning policy framework, the Province requires municipalities to conduct a detailed assessment of the potential impacts Inclusionary Zoning may have on the overall housing market within the City.

The City of Hamilton has created a Consultation on Housing Needs Assessment Draft Report & Addendum Letter for residents to provide feedback on by May 31st, 2023. You can access the draft report and provide your feedback here.

For more information on how Inclusionary Zoning works in Ontario and the other project components required, please visit: www.engage.hamilton.ca/inclusionaryzoning.

City of Hamilton is Hiring Summer Students!

Want to work at the City of Hamilton this summer? We’re hiring for summer student positions in Parks, Recreation, Museums and more. For more info and to apply, please visit http://hamilton.ca/summerjobs

Photo of a group of people smiling and clapping their hands. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Recognition"

Hamilton Heritage Awards: Exciting News for Ward 3!

This year marks the 14th annual Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee (HMHC) Heritage Recognition Awards. As a Ward, we want to congratulate this year’s award recipients, and celebrate the significant contributions of property owners, educators, developers and volunteers in the conservation of Hamilton’s heritage.

In particular, we would like to recognize and congratulate all of the award recipients in Ward 3 for highlighting our ward’s strength and resiliency.

Here is a list of the Ward 3 award recipients:

Indwell for The Oaks
16 West (280 Main St. E.)
Cataract Power / Factory Media Centre
Woodlands Park: Ghost Landscape
The Friends of St. Giles
Green Venture De-Pave on Barton
Vivian Chang — student artist at Bernie Custis (colouring book illustration work)
DR Masonry for Laidlaw Memorial restoration work — also based in the Ward at 20 Lloyd St.
Schubert Traditional Craftwork for 33 Ontario Ave.

You can see the full list of winners from across the city, and read more about the HMCH Heritage Recognition Awards here.

Congratulations to Vanessa Memeh, Ward 3 Student at Cathedral Highschool!

Vanessa Memeh, a Ward 3 student in grade 12 at Cathedral highschool, has recently been named a Loran Scholar and is making history as one of 36 students nationwide to receive this award out of a total of 4,800 applicants.

The Loran Scholarship is Canada’s largest, and most comprehensive scholarship that is granted to young people on the basis of their character, commitment to service in their community, and their leadership potential.

Vanessa has been a member of Cathedral Student Council and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School board Anti-Racism Committee. She also chairs the Cathedral Gael Guides, a committee that organizes events to build school spirit and plans initiatives to bridge the gap between International students; is on the school’s Media Team, is a past volunteer at St. Ann’s Parish, holds a part-time job, is a Youth Advisor for People for Education and Content Collaborator for UpstartEd, and volunteers with the ArcelorMittal Dofasco soccer program.

Congratulations Vanessa! We look forward to seeing you continue to shine brightly!

Please join me in congratulating Vanessa on this incredible achievement!

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!

Nrinder Nann 2023-03-13 Nrinder Nann 2023-03-13

International Women's Day, Temporary Shelter @ 378 Main St. E, Sidewalk Repairs, City Housing Update

Dear Neighbours,

Thank you to all who attended the Community Meeting with Hamilton Water on Feb 28 to discuss the combined sewer and stormwater misconnections and historical sewer odour issues in the Burlington St E area. Hamilton Water recorded the meeting and once they have completed their edits, we will share it.

There was also good engagement regarding the private development rental housing project in Stinson at the former Emerald Lodge. The developer (Realty Holdings Group) has listened closely to the input and my office will share updates on the file as it relates to the City approvals side in an upcoming e-newsletter.

In honour of International Women’s Day, I popped by the Eva Rothwell Centre Mom’s Group to connect with multiple generations of moms from the Keith Neighbourhood. This group was started by Carole MacVicar whose dedication and service over the years to moms and children was recently acknowledged with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Citizen of the Year Award. Carole’s unwavering commitment to people through volunteer work is a true testament to community-building. To learn more about the various programs offered at the centre, please visit their website.

Special shout out to the students and staff at Prince of Wales and Memorial elementary schools who I got to join for The Great Big Crunch event in recognition of nutrition month. Thank you also to the dedicated volunteers who help ensure kids across #OurWard3 have something good to eat everyday.

This newsletter includes a number of updates from Council and on the Temporary Shelter at 378 Main St E, sidewalk repairs, truck routes, road closures, engagement opportunities, and many events in Ward 3.

Personally, I’m looking forward to spending quality time with my daughter during her Spring Break this week. The Ward 3 Office Squad will remain responsive and available if you need any specific support.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Snowy photo of City Hall with “Hamilton” sign illuminated purple. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates"

Update - Temporary Shelter at 378 Main St E

Due to labour and supply shortages the opening of the Good Shepherd women’s housing project on Arkledun has been further delayed and possession is now scheduled for April, 2023 as a result. This impacts the decommission date of the temporary women’s shelter at 378 Main St E.

On March 23rd, Housing Services staff will be recommending to Emergency and Community Services Committee that the temporary shelter remain open until May 31, 2023. This would be the absolute latest date it will remain in operation. Staff are working diligently to accomplish the transition sooner. I have confirmation that this will be the final time that City staff will recommend extending the shelter at this location and will speak to that at ECS.

In collaboration with Good Shepherd, Housing Services have already initiated shelter decommissioning plans. As residents move over to Arkledun or into other housing placements, there will continue to be fewer residents using the shelter at this location over the coming two months as no new intakes will take place.

It has been clear that the women and family shelter systems are under-resourced and will need to be ‘right-sized’ to accommodate the need we see in our communities. While staff work toward ‘right-sizing’ the system, they are also recommending that the overflow space on West Ave serve as a temporary buffer to the women and family shelter system for up to 20 residents until Dec 31, 2023, to ensure the City is not displacing unhoused residents onto the streets.

The report will be posted on the City’s website between March 17th & 20th.

I have asked Housing Services to host a Community Information meeting to answer any questions community may have. The meeting has been scheduled on March 21st from 6:30-8pm. Good Shepherd will also be in attendance.

My office has reserved space at Central Memorial Recreation Centre to host the hybrid meeting. Pre-registration will be required as there is a physical capacity of only 20 people in person.

In person - please email ward3@hamilton.ca to register to attend.

Virtual - if you would like to join online, please register here.

Sidewalk Repairs

This year, the Landsdale neighbourhood will see improvements to our sidewalk tiles with repairs and replacements. City staff have identified 126 major trip hazards in this neighbourhood. In order to ensure all the required repairs could be made, a total investment of $200,000 has been allocated from the Ward 3 Minor Maintenance account, as well as, from this year’s Capital and Operating budgets.

I will continue to put yearly funding toward neighbourhoods, improving our sidewalks so we can ensure all residents can safely get to where they are going. When this important tile replacement work is occurring, please be sure to avoid the wet concrete. If you see anyone tampering with it, please contact 905-546-CITY.

CHH Update

This term, I have the honour of serving as President of the Board of Directors for City Housing Hamilton. Last month we approved a new Strategic Plan that emphasizes investment in transformative projects across our housing portfolio to maximize social benefits and contribute to the long-term financial sustainability of the organization.

Along with my board colleagues, we will be paying close attention to addressing safety concerns, operational improvements that support positive communities across the CHH portfolio of buildings, and to ensure empty units are addressed quickly so more residents can live in dignified and affordable housing.
We are also working on a plan to have 476 units online for occupancy by the end of December, 2024.

Last week, I toured CHH’s newest building - a 103 unit building at 8 Roxanne Ave that includes 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units. Also, 20% of the units include accessibility modifications with aging in place design considerations. The building is built to passive house standards to reduce its energy consumption, costs and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. And, it is designed to use 40% less energy and emit 44% less GHG than a traditional building.

One of my favourite interior design touches is the window sills big enough for a cozy reading nook or plant haven! These units are well designed with quality finishings, and I was also impressed with how warm the windows were to the touch on a cold day.

Tenants begin moving into the building in April with units first made available to households previously living in the former housing in the Roxborough area.

Left: Blurry picture of a blue truck driving beside a Hamilton bike lane. Right: Photo of the Barton Bus stopping at one of its stops. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Service Update"

City to Begin Installing New Truck Route Signage Next Week

Starting next week, the City will be installing new and modified truck route signage throughout Hamilton to implement the recommendations of the 2022 Truck Route Master Plan Update.

Key changes include:

the restriction of trucks over 4-axles from traveling within areas of the downtown and other parts of the lower city (Ward 3 areas of impact are King St, Main St, Sherman Ave N, as well as Victoria Ave & Wellington St up to the Claremont Access)
removal of selected streets from the truck route network
modifications to certain time of day restrictions.

These changes aim to improve overall community livability and contribute to improved environmental and public health outcomes, while supporting regional economic prosperity.

Signage installations will take approximately six weeks to complete, with over 600 signs being installed throughout Hamilton, beginning in the lower city then expanding to other areas. All installations are expected to be complete by April 30, 2023, weather permitting.

Members of the community who identify trucks disobeying the City’s By-law can report it to Hamilton Police Service via the non-emergency line at 905-546-4925.
For more details, visit:www.hamilton.ca/truckroute

Upcoming Road Closures & HSR Delays

Over the next few weeks there will be a few road closures and anticipated HSR delays for filming, water-main installation, development works, and the Around the Bay Road Race. The road closures and HSR delay details are as follows:

March 14th, 7am to 11pm - HSR Delays - Barton St. Route between Ottawa and Balmoral due to filming.
March 14th, 8am until March 16th, 5pm - King William St - from Steven St to Ashley St for a water-main installation
March 20, 9am until March 31, 2023 at 9:00pm - King William St from Wellington St to Jarvis St starting for development works.
March 26th - Around the Bay Race - expect delays from 6am to 4pm with impacts on York Blvd, Plains Rd, Queen St, Bay St, Dundurn St, King St and eastbound Nikola Tesla Blvd from Parkdale to Woodward.

Recycling & Waste Calendar & Tags Arriving Soon!

The 2023/2024 Recycling and Waste Calendar along with 12 pink trash tags will be mailed out to residents beginning Friday March 10, 2023, continuing over a two week period.

A few items highlights from the calendar for your attention:

Seasonal weekly yard waste collection resumed Monday March 6, 2023 and continues until Friday December 8, 2023. Residential yard waste can be taken for free to a Community Recycling Centre all year round.

Residents are encouraged to download the Recycle Coach Waste App and to follow our programs on social media;

An updated “What Goes Where?” sorting poster provides tips to reduce single use plastics and reporting illegal dumping;

Waste Collection Safety tips and proper disposal of hazardous waste; and

Provincial blue box program information in advance of the April 2025 transition.

As in previous years, residents can request an additional 14 trash tags to be picked up or mailed to them for use between April 2023 and March 2024. This can be done by visiting a Municipal Service Centre or City Hall, calling 905-546-CITY(2489) or by requesting them electronically.

Left: Photo of Building at 832 King St. E that is scheduled for demolition for the LRT. Right: Image of proposed Hamilton LRT vehicle driving down a street. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "LRT Updates"

Upcoming Building Demolition at 832 King St. E

This weekend Metrolinx began their demolition of 832 King St. E to enable works required for the Hamilton LRT project. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of March.

Residents and businesses near demolition sites can anticipate noise from excavators and construction equipment, and the removal of debris. Hours of work will be weekdays, 7am to 5pm, and the work will occur over one weekend at the start of the demolition. The contractor, Budget Demolition, will abide by all City of Hamilton bylaws for dust mitigation.

One section of sidewalk will be closed along King St E for the duration of the demolition. Pedestrians are asked to please exercise caution near all demolition areas and follow the direction of signage.
For general information, please contact Hamilton Community Engagement: 905-521-1003 Hamilton@metrolinx.com.

If you require urgent assistance after business hours, contact Del Management Solutions at 1-833-213-0813.

LRT Subcommittee

The first meeting of the LRT Subcommittee for the 2022-2026 term will take place on March 31st at 10am. I look forward to joining my colleagues along the LRT corridor on this Committee to help ensure excellence in the design, construction and communication processes. As I discussed with City Staff and Metrolinx last month, and will continue to reiterate in Committee, excellent communication with residents and businesses along the LRT corridor will be imperative as we move toward the early works and construction timelines.

Photo of a Muslim family of five walking together holding hands. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Updates"

The Carlisle Retirement Residence Closure & Transition to Wesley

On February 21st, the Ward 3 Office received notification from the Carlisle Retirement Residence regarding their closure and the leasing of their building to Wesley - a local non-profit, offering support for people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and barriers in the community.

The private retirement home will cease operations within 120 days. The current residents are all being transitioned to new retirement homes with a fulsome approach centring the needs of residents and families. Any questions around the Carlisle Retirement Residence move can be directed to Julie Curtis at 226-935-8406.

Meanwhile, Wesley will be moving to 467 Main St E over the winter of 2023-2024. The programs they offer range from refugee resettlement, transitional housing to child care, youth and family programs. The site will provide housing primarily to newcomers who will live in individual suites with support from Wesley staff and allied professionals. The other population to receive live-in support are clients in the harm reduction and managed alcohol program who require special care.
All other Wesley programs at 52 Catharine, including the Special Care Unit, will also be moving to the new site except the Wesley Day Centre, a drop-in centre for unhoused people, which is closing on March 31, 2023. Please visit Wesley’s website for more information or email info@wesley.ca.

Graphic Images of community events. Left to right and top to bottom the graphics are: Barton Village Community Meetup on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 9:30am; Spring Bulb Show at Gage Park from March 10-March 19 free entry and parking; Barton Street Library image. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Events"

Spring Bulb Show Kicks Off this weekend at Gage Park

Spring is in the air at the Gage Park Greenhouse. The Spring Tide Bulb Show will be in full bloom beginning this Friday, March 10 and will run until Sunday, March 19, 2023.

The theme this year is “Spring at the Cottage” and features over 45,000 plants including tulips, pansies, snapdragons, daffodils and more. Stroll leisurely among the displays or participate in our family friendly scavenger hunt.

The event this year also features a vendor marketplace, café and flower shop on site. The show is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking is free, however food and monetary donations to Hamilton Food Share are encouraged.

Hamilton Public Library Barton Events

Be sure to check out all of the wonderful programs taking place @hamiltonlibrary Barton Branch this March. For program dates and times, please visit www.hpl.ca/barton.

Revitalization of HPL Barton Branch Grounds - Planning Session

Green Venture, Hamilton Public Library, the Barton Village BIA, the GALA Community Planning Team, Adele Pierre Landscape Architect, and the City of Hamilton’s Ward 3 have joined forces to continue greening Barton Village Boulevards.
This summer, the Hamilton Public Library Barton Branch will be revitalizing their outdoor space by adding more inviting and naturalized elements. Join us at 5pm on Tuesday, March 14th at the Hamilton Public Library Barton Branch to learn about the project and provide your input on design concepts for the space. More information and registration (required) at the link below!

Barton Village Community Meetups starting this spring!

Starting Wednesday March 22nd at 9:30am, the community surrounding Barton is welcome to gather together to connect, chat about ideas, share thoughts, and rally community around the incredibly valuable resource that is Woodlands Park. Join us!

Images of Opportunities for Engagement from left to right: A Black librarian smiling with the words now hiring; City of Hamilton sign in the background with a graphic of diverse people and abilities in the forefront.

Advisory Committees Recruitment

Help shape our city and join one of the various resident roles on our agencies, boards, and committees. Serving in this role enables residents to support decision making at the City. We strongly encourage applications from all equity-deserving groups, including persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2IA+, Black, Indigenous, and racialized people, and women. You can find more information here.

City Job Opportunities

The Hamilton Public Library is currently looking to hire students for their 10 Summer Literacy Worker positions. More information on the role and how to apply can be found in the job description here.
The City is currently hiring for various roles and throughout various departments. If you are interested in finding out more about which positions are available, please visit the City’s careers website.

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!

Nrinder Nann 2023-02-24 Nrinder Nann 2023-02-24

2023 Budget, Encampments, CTS, 1083 Main St E, Spring Rec Programs, Agencies, Boards and Committee recruitment, Engage Hamilton Surveys, and Ward 3 Events

Dear Neighbours,

I hope you had a restful and fun Family Day weekend!

This week we welcome Alex McGillivray to the Ward 3 Office Team as our new Resident Liaison. Alex brings with her a wealth of experience in communications and community building and we are thrilled to have her in the office.

Alex is a graduate of McMaster University and has worked in the non-profit world for the past 16 years where she focused on providing support to individuals and families living with a hereditary health condition. Outside of work, Alex is the creator and leader of Every Body Crew with Steel Town Athletic Club, and enjoys hiking, cycling, and traveling. She is also an avid reader, runner, and has completed two triathlons.

Alex joins Alex Weinberger, my Executive Assistant, and Kerry Le Clair, the Climate Action Coordinator in providing exceptional service to all Ward 3 residents with a full office team complement.

As we transition Alex into the role, we want to thank you for your patience over these past few weeks that our response times have been longer due to being short-staffed. Our regular social media communications will also be ramping up this Spring along with a new schedule of community-based Ward 3 Office Pop-ups.

Many updates to share with you this newsletter. Please scroll down for details. As always, please follow my office on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay up on the day-to-day updates we post. If you need to connect with us directly, please email ward3@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-2107.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

2023 Budget

On February 6, we heard from many delegates on their priorities and concerns for the 2023 Budget. Delegations covered a number of topics, from the need for increased safety measure on escarpment stairs, to the need for the City to become a Living Wage employer, to a Just Recovery, and what we saw the most delegations on was the proposed $12M increase to the Hamilton Police Services budget.

While we were not ultimately able to hear from each delegate, the ones who we did hear from all spoke clearly about their vision for an inclusive and just City. The remaining delegates who had been registered for this day, have been rescheduled to Monday, February 27 and I look forward to hearing from them as well.

In March we will wrap up City budget deliberations. The current rate of inflation is 6.8% and our overall tax levy impact is likely to come in around there.

Moving from an Encampment Enforcement to a Human-Rights, Health & Housing Focused Approach

Recently, GIC voted to approve stop gap funding to Spring 2023 of the current model used by the City to respond to encampments. During the meeting, staff were also directed to work with stakeholders in developing a new protocol for encampments that integrates a human-rights, health and housing approach. These meetings are already underway.

There was good discussion among Council about the need to explicitly ensure the funding was not for enforcement focused but instead a housing led-model. To ensure we are measuring our progress and documenting impacts of this work, I moved to direct staff to develop an evaluative framework and bring back a report when we need to formally reallocate the remainder of the full $1.3M for this work.

This is significant and timely progress, especially in light of the recent Ontario Superior Court ruling and OHRC recently provided a statement urging municipalities to do better. Municipal by-laws that prohibit people experiencing homelessness from erecting encampments could be unconstitutional if there are not appropriate shelter alternatives available.

The AIDS Network’s Proposed Consumption Treatment Services Site at 746 Barton St E

At Council, I amended the Board of Health’s (BoH) endorsement of The AIDS Network’s (TAN) application for a Consumption & Treatment Services (CTS) site at 746 Barton St. E as a direct response to concerns shared with me by residents about inadequate community engagement to date.

The amendment embeds the commitments TAN made during their delegation to the BoH for robust community engagement. The expressed a commitment to pursue a “CTS of excellence” with their partners: Hamilton Social Media Response Team, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, De dwa da - dehs nye Indigenous Health Centre, and Alternatives for Youth. They intend to collectively draw on best practices/lessons learned from neighbouring CTS sites.

CTS sites in other cities can show us tangible ways towards success and excellence here. For Kitchener’s CTS site, regular problem solving among neighbours who live in close proximity, other stakeholders, & partners has been key to proactively address issues raised. What was assumed by concerned residents to be doom & gloom actually resulted in the opposite as they adequately addressed safety and possible negative impacts with extensive community-based planning prior to opening the site. Active participation in both a Community Advisory Group and a Community Safety Table were the structures that enabled this collaborative work.

My amending motion at Council also directs Public Health to be an active partner moving forward so we can establish accountability for the area should the CTS application be approved by the Provincial and Federal governments.

There is a difference between inciting fear and being afraid. When we stigmatize CTS users, we ignore the realities of who is accessing these services in our community. When we work together to address valid concerns, we can focus on saving lives.

The growing demographic of users are male workers in construction trades and emergency services. In fact, local Hamilton unions like IBEW Local 105 have been steadily training members on how to use Naloxone for their membership’s health and safety. And, Hamilton Police Services endorsed the proposed CTS site on Barton St E back in November 2022.

With an opioid death rate 45% higher than the provincial average, this Council must act and support the spectrum of harm reduction services needed in our city and advance progress on the Hamilton Drug Strategy.

As this file moves through the different levels of approvals, my office will continue to provide updates on the status.

1083 Main St E

Our neighbours at 1083 Main St E have gone more than 8 weeks without running water to their units. They called Municipal Law Enforcement on Dec 28, and a Property Standards Order was issued on January 5, 2023 with a compliance date of January 24, 2023. Unfortunately, the landlord did not restore water in that timeframe and made an appeal to the Property Standards Committee, as is their right under the Ontario Building Code.

The meeting of the Property Standards Committee occurred this week on Feb 21. The City’s prosecutor and the landlord’s paralegal entered a joint submission to the committee. They confirmed the order and the need for water to be restored, but agreed that the timeline could not be confirmed until after the Landlord Tenant Board hearing on March 8. They further agreed that the landlord would take over from the City in providing water to the tenants.

I have been working closely with tenants, staff and my colleagues to identify any and all municipal leavers that would allow for water to be restored as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, without an active anti-renovictions by-law regime already in place, there is no straightforward path. (Which is why it is so critical to get input to the Engage Hamilton renovictions survey and advance this work)

In a motion to Council on Wednesday, I directed staff to:

take all available actions under the City’s by-laws, including the Vital Services by-law, to expediently restore water;

proactively monitor and ensure sufficient supply of safe potable water be provided to tenants until such time the service is restored;

provide regular communications and updates to tenants with respect to the ongoing property standards matter; and to report back to Planning Committee on this matter.

change current bylaws that would be needed to ensure that enforcement mechanisms are available to address issues like this.

I also asked Housing Services to support the tenants directly in case they are required to vacate the building for repair work to take place.

No resident of our City should be denied vital services, including heat, water, and electricity, to their home for any extended period of time.

Unfortunately, as the provincial government continues to refuse to adequately deal with landlord tenant issues, the municipality must find new ways to step in and protect residents from bad faith landlords.

Left: Picture of a child with their arms up on the edge of a pool. The Child is looking up and to the right and smiling. They have teal goggles pulled up on their forehead. Right: Picture showing pylons blocking a lane of traffic along King St E for road work. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Service Update"

Spring Recreation Programs

It’s almost time for spring recreation program registration! Registration for recreational programming in most rec centres in Ward 3 and the lower City opens on March 1 at 8am. For more information on programming and registration, please click here.

Road Work and Blocked Lanes along King St E

East Ave - The closure at East Ave where the building facade fell off is still required due to safety issues. I have followed up with staff to get a clearer timeline on when we can expect that lane of traffic to be open again and how we can compel the necessary work to happen more expediently. I will share that update when I have it.

Wentworth Ave - More recently, we have also seen lane closures around Wentworth Ave. Before the end of the last term, I reported a potential sinkhole to staff. They identified that it was a hydro box under the street. Staff diligently reported that to Hydro and continued to follow up on it. Unfortunately, Hydro did not take action until the issue became urgent and required more work and lane closures.

Upcoming Building Demolition at 832 King St. E

This weekend Metrolinx began their demolition of 832 King St. E to enable works required for the Hamilton LRT project. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of March.

LRT Subcommittee

Coalition of Hamilton Indigenous Leadership - Indigenous Histories of Hamilton

The Indigenous Histories of Hamilton project documents and celebrates the Indigenous histories of Hamilton by creating an Indigenous Hamilton archive. The archive is created through conversations with Indigenous leaders and community, and by gathering resources. The Coalition of Hamilton Indigenous Leadership (CHIL) will be sharing these remembrances from local Indigenous leaders, news articles and engaging in dialogue about what these moments of their community have meant to other residents and families. You can follow along in the learning and discussions on their Instagram here.

83 Emerald St S Redevelopment - Community Consultation - Feb 27th, 2023

Realty Holdings Group, the owners of the former Emerald Lodge, is hosting a second community meeting next week to discuss their redevelopment plans for 83 Emerald St S.

They plan to redevelop this building into affordable rental housing units and intend to retain the existing building and add an addition to the rear. They are hosting meetings to gain insight from the community and to answer questions. Next week’s meeting will be held at Central Memorial Recreation Centre at 93 West Ave S on Feb 27 from 5-7pm.

If you are not able to attend the meeting and have any questions or concerns, please contact rentals@realtyholdingsgroup.com.

Graphic Images of community events. Left to right and top to bottom the graphics are: Hamilton Community Legal Clinic International Women’s Day Event on March 8; Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council Logo; Three lifeguards and a mascot pose in front of the wave pool at Wild Waterworks: Three women bus drivers pose in front of an HSR bus. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Events"

Meeting with Hamilton Water - Eva Rothwell Centre - Day, Feb 28th, 6:30pm

Hamilton Water is hosting a meeting with the Ward 3 Office to discuss the recently discovered sewage spills and to answer questions residents may have about what occurred. Hamilton Water will be sharing information on the sewer system, historical odour issues, and will be able to answer questions about the cross connections. All residents are welcome to join.

The meeting is happening on Feb 28 from 6:30-8pm at the Eva Rothwell Centre at 460 Wentworth St. N.

Hamilton Community Legal Clinic - International Women’s Day Event

The Hamilton Community Legal Clinic is hosting an International Women’s Day Event on March 8 from 11am-2pm at Bridgeworks at 200 Caroline St N. There will be speakers, entertainment, and a light lunch. For more information, please go here.

HSR - Women Taking the Wheel Information Session

In an effort to recruit more women drivers, the HSR is hosting a Women Taking the Wheel Information Session to hear from a panel of women as they share their experiences about driving a bus and working for HSR. The event is taking place on March 8 from 6-8pm at Mohawk College. For more information and to register, please go here.

Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council - Immigration Exhibition Launch

The Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council is launching their Immigration Exhibition on March 9 from 11am-1pm at the David Braley Centre on Main St E. Join us and network with community members, enjoy entertainment and celebrate local immigration achievements over the past year. To RSVP, go here.

Free Lifeguard Certification at Wild Waterworks over March Break

Wild Waterworks is hosting a free Lifeguard certification course March 13-17 at McMaster Ivor Wynne pool. Folks who successfully complete the course will also receive guaranteed employment.

To qualify, candidates must meet these criteria:

16 years old
Bronze Cross Certification
Standard First Aid & CPR-C Certification
Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination

For more information, please go here.

Left: Graphic of a line of apartment buildings. Right: Graphic of people in front of ‘Hamilton’ sign at the City Hall forecourt. Six people stand and look at each other, one person is in a wheelchair. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Opportunities for Engagement"

Recruitment for citizen members to serve on City of Hamilton Agency, Board and Sub-Committee

Engage Hamilton - Renovictions Survey

The City of Hamilton is currently engaging resident feedback on developing a new renoviction bylaw. Following a motion I moved last term, the Housing Services Division has engaged a consultant to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a rental licensing bylaw in Hamilton, similar to New Westminster, BC, to help deal with this issue. Residents are invited to participate in the survey here. It is open until March 5, 2023.

Engage Hamilton - City Services and Assets Review Survey

The City of Hamilton is currently engaging resident feedback on city services in three categories - Hamilton Police Services, Parking Services, and Waste Management Services. Providing feedback will assist the City to measure how effectively these services are being delivered and to ensure future planning of services aligns with customer needs. You can participate in the Police Services survey here, the Parking Services survey here, and Waste Management Services here. All three surveys close on March 20, 2023.

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!

Nrinder Nann 2023-01-31 Nrinder Nann 2023-01-31

2023 Budget and Delegation Opportunities, Truck Routes, Short-Term Rentals, Volunteer Opportunities & Events in Ward 3

Dear Neighbours,

Happy Lunar New Year!

We hit the ground running after the holiday shut down and it has been a busy few weeks with combing through 103 resumes and conducting interviews for our new Resident Liaison position. We will have a new team member joining us on February 21st to continue towards a standard of excellence in the support my office provides Ward 3 residents. Thank you to everyone who applied and considered joining the team. In the next E-Newsletter, we will announce our new team member and remind you of who is here to serve you and in what capacity.

It has been a busy January with the 2023 Budget process well underway, resumption of regular Standing Committee and Council meetings as well. Many Ward 3 residents have been delegating to provide their opinion and requests for consideration on important issues for our neighborhoods and the City. Many have been first time delegates as well, a strong indicator of how engaged our neighbours are. The final public delegation day for the 2023 Budget is on February 6. In order to delegate, you must register in advance.

Coffee with your Councillor will resume in March and we will also be releasing a list of Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups for the Spring & Summer soon. If you don’t already, please follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay up on the day-to-day updates we post.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

2023 Budget

Last week Council ratified the 2023 Tax Supported Capital Budget. This budget supports $285.7M in infrastructure projects in 2023. We have several major capital projects slated for Ward 3 which I will report in detail in upcoming e-Newletters.

The proposed 2023 Tax Supported Operating Budget as presented would result in an estimated residential property tax increase of 5.4%.

We received presentations from each Division and it is clear, this year is facing some incredible financial pressures with inflation, supply chain impacts, labour challenges of recruitment and retention, rising interest rates, ongoing COVID-19 recovery impacts, and cost-share agreements with higher levels of government on many necessary social impact programs.

I take my responsibility as a Councillor to ensure we balance providing robust and equitable services to all residents against the backdrop of rising costs of living that are becoming unmanageable for more and more neighbours.

You can find more information on the 2023 Budget here.

Truck Routes

Last week, Council also ratified the new truck routes bylaw. This means staff will begin implementing new signage with an emphasis on the permissive route in the lower city. This should be completed by Spring 2023. Staff are working with Hamilton Police on what enforcement of the new bylaw will look like and have been asked to put together a proactive mechanism by which residents can submit violation concerns should they witness a truck on an incorrect route. This will most likely be in the form of an app or an interactive interface. There will be an update on that component in the spring. This is an exciting step forward for road safety and I will keep you posted as both enforcement and compliance concerns will be updated to a spring Public Works Committee meeting.

New Short-Term Rental Regulations

Council ratified a new by-law to apply to short term rentals. This action was a necessary response to the loss of units in the long term rental market, the ongoing affordable housing crisis and skyrocketing rents.

A similar by-law to the one approved at Council last week in Toronto resulted in a 61% decrease in short-term rental units. It is my hope that this by-law will have a similar effect locally and free up housing stock for longer-term rental units for our residents. Emily Power, a local renter and urban planning graduate student who delegated at the Planning Committee estimates the regulation could return upwards of 650 family-sized apartments to long-term rental stock.

This by-law will ban commercial operators with multiple properties listed on sites like Airbnb while still enabling those homeowners who rent out a portion of their property for short-term can still do so with a license and proof of principal residence. The by-law will come into effect in June.

Vacant Homes Tax Ratified

The Vacant Homes Tax has officially been ratified by Council for implementation. This is part of a suite of policies Council is taking to ensure that we are addressing the affordable housing crisis by encouraging vacant homes to be occupied.

This policy will charge 1% to vacant properties that don’t qualify as exempted and will start being charged in 2024. It is a key measure in advance of a surge of development we can anticipate along the LRT corridor and other parts of the city. It is also the final step of a new tax policy I have championed since 2019.

Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters

Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelter (HATS) came before the Emergency and Community Services (ECS) Committee with an update as Councillors considered staff recommendations to restart the site selection process for city lands and proper community consultation. During the delegation, we learned that the location that had already undergone community consultation (Sir John A. MacDonald School) was no longer being considered as a preferred site by HATS. They clarified that they instead prefer Cathedral park, a portion of the Barton/Tiffany lands, or a portion of the future Brightside Park lands in the current state. None of which have seen community consultation or discussion. And so, ECS Committee members voted to approve the staff recommendations.

In the days between Committee and Council, it was clear that there remained other concerns and information my Council colleagues wished to see in order to make the most informed decision on the initiative. There has been an over-emphasis on site location and not enough emphasis on outcomes for the residents that HATS aims to serve.

What will the intake process be? How is equity being accounted for in that process?
What is the operational plan, who is the provider, is an agreement signed?
What is the community consultation framework and timeline?
And finally, what is the site selection process?

So, with Councillor Hwang, I moved a new direction to have staff work with HATS to clarify in certain terms the questions above and provide the group with the best practices and accountability frameworks of the homeless serving sector to consider integrating into their initiative. Staff will then report back to ECS Committee with recommendations on how to proceed with implementation.

Left: Picture of City worker in an orange work vest doing work in a sewer. Right: Picture of plants inside Gage Park Greenhouse. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Service Update"

Rutherford/Myrtle and Kinrade Ave Sewage Spills

Hamilton Water staff, as part of the proactive sewer inspection pilot program, discovered two issues in Ward 3 this month. The first was a sewage spill due to cross connected sewers at Rutherford and Myrtle in Ward 3. Unfortunately, this cross connection meant that approximately 59 million litres of sewage has been going into Hamilton Harbour from this location since 1996.

The second was the discovery of an issue on Kinrade Avenue. The issue was with a single sanitary sewer lateral connection from a home on Kinrade Avenue. In this instance the sewer lateral was connected to the proper sewer (a combined sewer), but staff found that there was a design issue at this location that allowed some of the sanitary sewage from this home to impact a storm sewer. At this location there is a designed overflow connection from the combined sewer to the storm sewer that can be active during wet weather. Based on staff’s preliminary investigation it appears that some quantity of the sanitary sewage from the home in question has been impacting the storm sewer since 1982 when that storm sewer and overflow connection were constructed.

In both cases, the City of Hamilton quickly made the repairs and reported the issues to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Spills Action Centre.

Hamilton Water will continue to inspect the City’s sewer system looking for these types of issues at the same time that we implement actions to respond to the MECP Order resulting from the Burlington Street and Rutherford Avenue sewage spills, which was received this month. To date the Proactive Sewer Inspection Pilot Program has completed inspections for 173 of 292 maintenance holes. Unfortunately it is clear that we will continue to find these types of issues. A part of the February 13th PWC report that staff are preparing will be recommendations for an ongoing communications process, including the creation of a registry that will be publicly accessible on the City’s website to report the findings.

Gage Park Greenhouse

Due to wind damage to the roof of the greenhouse on Dec 24, 2022, the Gage Park Greenhouse was, unfortunately, closed until last week. The temporary repairs to the damage were completed quickly, however the permanent fix took longer than anticipated. We are happy to share that the greenhouse reopened on January 25. If you visit, you may notice that some work is still required, however, staff are able to facilitate repairs safely while open to the public at this stage of the work.

Especially in the cold weather, the greenhouse is a City-wide destination for residents and staff are committed to maintaining the hours of the greenhouse any time it is safe to do so.

CityApp

The 5-year contract with the vendor of CityApp is ending and, due to low uptake and the City’s ability to perform this work in a similar way on the new website, CityApp is being discontinued as of February 1, 2023. As of February 2, 2023, the app will no longer be available for download and the City will no longer maintain or push content.

CityApp users are also invited to sign up to receive the City of Hamilton’s e-newsletter here.

Three City of Hamilton apps remain available for download for residents. HSRNow can be downloaded from iOS and Google Play, Recycle Coach is available from iOS and Google Play, and finally Passport Parking can be downloaded from iOS and Google Play.

Snow Removal

With a snowstorm behind us and the possibility of more snow on the way, I wanted to take the opportunity to remind residents that the City is now clearing sidewalks on all Priority 1 roadways as well as Priority 2A roadways where transit operates and all transit stops. If you want more information on the City’s sidewalk clearing service levels and to see a map of roadway classifications, you can go here.

For residents who have to clear their own sidewalks, you have 24 hours to do so from the end of the snowstorm or declaration of a Significant Weather Event. If you or your neighbour needs assistance with removal, you can contact the Snow Angels program to be added to their waitlist for support.

During storms, our office receives a high volume of snow-related complaints and we are unable to respond to each one. We will, however, ensure each concern is sent to the Roads Department to be actioned. You can also contact the City’s Contact Centre at 905-546-2489 to report an issue or complaint.

Left: Picture of podium in City of Hamilton Council Chambers where delegates stand to present to Committee. Middle: Graphic for Keep Hamilton Clean and Green. Right: Photo of Tim Horton’s Field. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Opportunities for Engagement"

Public Delegation Opportunity - Budget 2023 - Feb 6th

On February 6, 2023, residents will have a final opportunity to delegate to Council on the 2023 Budget. You can find more information about this opportunity here. To register for an in person or virtual delegation, or to submit a video delegation please email clerk@hamilton.ca. For a video delegation the deadline is noon on Feb 2, 2023, and for virtual or in person delegation requests, they must be received by noon on Feb 3, 2023.

Good Neighbours Meeting - Tim Horton’s Field - Feb 9th, 6:30pm

A Good Neighbours Meeting will be held on February 9, 2023, from 6:30pm-8:00pm for residents who live adjacent to the stadium at Tim Horton’s Field.

The meeting will be hosted in a hybrid format.

You can attend in person: Tim Horton’s Filed, 64 Melrose Ave, Gate 3 Premium Entrance, 2nd floor in the City Lounge.

Or register to join online here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lUfyyvQERj-FcovS5euOsw

If you have any questions or concerns you wish to raise ahead of the event, please contact my office at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2107.

Meeting with Hamilton Water - Eva Rothwell Centre - Feb 28th, 6:30pm

The meeting is on Feb 28 from 6:30-8pm at the Eva Rothwell Centre at 460 Wentworth St. N.

Clean and Green Neighbourhood Grant

Keep Hamilton Clean & Green Committee offers a Clean & Green Neighbourhood Grant of up to $1000 for community green projects and initiatives including those that address litter, illegal dumping, graffiti, beautification and environmental stewardship. Grant applications will remain open until February 17, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.

Community groups can apply by visiting: www.hamilton.ca/cleanandgreengrants

Graphic from Harlo Capital showing plans for development at the former Studebaker Lands. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community & Development Updates"

Harlo Capital and the Former Studebaker Lands

Many of you, especially our neighbours living in Keith, have been curious to know what is upcoming and planned on the former Studebaker lands near Victoria St. N and Ferrie Street. The new owners are Harlo Capital, the same group who will be re-developing the Hamilton City Centre site.

The first part of the news is that the City has received the areas labelled “Park Expansion Area” in the image below which will be turned into passive greenspace by the City’s Landscape team and joined with the North Central Community Park.

The current applications submitted are for a self-storage facility (see A on the image) to be operated by Green Storage and two industrial/warehouse spaces (see F on the image) operated by Harlo. They are aiming to begin construction this Spring and opening both buildings in early Fall 2024. To learn more about the plans as laid out by the owners, Harlo Capital contact them directly Geoff Nelles, Senior Vice-President, Real Estate and Operations, Harlo Capital gnelles@harlocap.com or visit www.harlocapital.com or www.greenstorage.ca

Graphic from Harlo Capital showing plans for development at the former Studebaker Lands.

832 King St E - Building Demolition

The apartment building at 832 King St E (at Holton) purchased by Metrolinx for the Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) project will be demolished this winter. A final timeline for demolition will be shared by Metrolinx at a later date and we will share it as soon as we get it.

In the coming weeks demolition contractor, Budget Demolition, will be undertaking precondition surveys at several properties in the adjacent neighbourhood. Pre-construction surveys are generally required for documenting the existing condition of properties located in close proximity to a construction site.

To ensure demolition activities do not affect the existing condition of neighbouring properties, Metrolinx subcontractors will be conducting visual inspections of properties. A representative from Oza Inspections LTD will be asking for access beyond the property line and in some cases may require access to the interior of your property. This will take place in the month of February, weather permitting.

The Hamilton-Niagara Community Relations team is available by phone or email 905-521-1003 / E-mail: Hamilton@metrolinx.com

83 Emerald St S Redevelopment - Community Consultation - Feb 23rd and 27th, 2023

Realty Holdings Group, the owners of the former Emerald Lodge, is hosting two community consultations to discuss their redevelopment plans for 83 Emerald St S.

They plan to redevelop this building into affordable rental housing units and intend to retain the existing building and add an addition to the rear. They are hosting two meetings to gain insight from the community and to answer questions.

The two meetings will be held at Central Memorial Recreation Centre at 93 West Ave S on Feb 23 from 2-4pm and Feb 27 from 5-7pm.

If you are not able to attend the meeting and have any questions or concerns, please contact rentals@realtyholdingsgroup.com.

GALA Community Planning Team Meeting - Feb 4th, 10AM

The GALA Community Planning Team is hosting a meeting at the Powell Park Clubhouse this Saturday to begin discussions on how neighbours want to proceed with the group and future efforts. Neighours are encouraged to indicate their interest in attending via their Facebook Page Event.

Stipley Lions Club Valentines Dance - Feb 4th

The Stipley Lions Club is hosting a Valentine’s Dinner/Dance on Saturday, February 4, 2023. Doors open at 5pm and dinner is at 6:30. Tickets are $60 per person and all proceeds from the event will be going to The Hub to support their work in our community.

If you want to attend, please register by Feb 2 by contacting stipleylionsclub@gmail.com. Unfortunately, tickets at the door will not be available unless pre-arranged through the Stipley Lions gmail account.

Hamilton Winterfest - Feb 2nd-20th

Hamilton Winterfest is happening again Feb 2 to 20 at locations around the city, including in Ward 3. Winterfest will see over 60 community-led events that range from classical concerts, to exhibitions, workshops and classes, science and sports, to swing dancing and story-time. You can find more information on this festival here.

In addition to enjoying the festival, you can sign up to volunteer and help with the operation of the festival. You can find out more about volunteer opportunities here.

Frost Bites - Feb 15th-20th

The 2023 Frost Bites community-embedded festival centres on nourishment and social justice, using art as an entry point to deepen our understanding on a myriad of urgent topics. From hands-on creative workshops for kids and their grownups to welcoming theatrical offerings each evening, festivities take place in the community at the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre (876 Cannon Street East), Theatre Aquarius Arts Centre (191 King William Street, across from Theatre Aquarius), and on the HSR transit route between them.

Featuring curated shows, live music, community discussions led by local changemakers, participatory storytelling sessions, skating lessons and demonstrations, a DJ dance party on the ice, and a handmade lantern-led procession of light in Ward 3, there is so much to keep the whole family engaged for a week in February. With a focus on low and no-cost activities, Frost Bites was developed in the community and for the community, and we invite you to join your neighbours to participate in the arts this winter!

For more information, head over to https://hftco.ca/frost-bites/

Coldest Night of the Year - Feb 25th

The Coldest Night of the Year is an annual family-friendly walk to raise money for local charities that serve residents who are facing food insecurity and homelessness. It is occurring on Feb 25 this year. You can find out more information and register to participate 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!

Nrinder Nann 2022-12-19 Nrinder Nann 2022-12-19

Bill 23, 2023 Budget and Delegation Opportunities, Free Parking, Volunteer Opportunities & Events in Ward 3

Dear Neighbours,

It is an honour to be writing to you again as your Ward 3 City Councillor! Thank you so much for your support. We accomplished so much together in my first term and I am looking forward to more community and city building with you over the next 4 years.

Since inauguration on November 16th, Council has approved the Rate Budget, toured each ward across the city to better inform the decisions we will make together as a Council, and had our first round of Committee and Council meetings. After spending a month working together, I am encouraged by the collaborative approach and look forward to a productive term of Council.

With the holidays upon us, I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a joyous, restful and happy holiday season. May you enjoy gathering with family and friends and find some downtime to rest and relax after a busy few years. I wish you all health and happiness for 2023!

Our Ward 3 office staff are also taking some much-needed time to relax and enjoy family over the holidays. The office will be closed Dec 23, 2022 to Jan 2, 2023. We will reopen rested and excited to serve #OurWard3 at 9am on Jan 3, 2023. If you have any urgent municipal needs during that time, please call 905-546-2489 (CITY).

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

I have been nominated and appointed as Chair of Public Works Committee and President of City Housing Hamilton. I will continue serving on the Emergency Community Services Committee and have joined the Planning Committee. We are selecting the remainder of our Council duties for sub-committees in the new year. I will provide a publicly accessible listing of them all in the new year at nrinder.ca

Below are some key updates I wanted to share from our first round of committee and Council meetings.

Bill 23

Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 was passed by the Government of Ontario on November 28th and received royal assent. Unfortunately, the Conservative government chose to use the transitionary period between municipal elections and inauguration of Councils across this province to table and pass a piece of legislation that will have never before seen impacts to environment, local planning decision making, housing affordability, and the ability of cities to cover the cost of development without passing it directly on to residents.

Despite the timing, staff provided sound comments and recommendations in opposition to Bill 23 ahead of consultation deadlines. Finance staff have estimated that the More Homes Built Faster Act could cost the city between $14 million and $25 million a year in foregone development fees. So, on December 7th, Council asked the province to walk back the legislation, enable the city to maintain a firm urban boundary and continue city building in a more sustainable, inclusive way.

One quarter of the Greenbelt the provincial government proposes to develop is located in Hamilton, enabling private development on prime agricultural soil and environmentally sensitive land. The impact will be substantive on the local ecosystem.

Hamilton is facing a housing crisis, however Bill 23 does little to assist with addressing this. There is nothing in the Bill that obligates developers to ensure the homes are affordable or attainable. The legislation also takes away protections for maintaining existing affordable housing units and will weaken municipal levers that work to protect tenants from renoviction and demoviction. Inclusionary zoning, a progressive housing approach that encourages more mixed income development, is also now limited to only 5% of total units built in any new development along transit oriented corridors.

In addition to Council’s vote to oppose Bill 23, Council also approved asking MPPs Lumsden and Skelly to appear before Council at a future GIC meeting to answer questions about this bill.

2023 Budgets

Budgets are how governments put what is valued most into action. It is our opportunity to invest in a city that is a great place to live and work now and for future generations.

That said, we are facing increased costs to the city due to inflationary pressures, labour shortages and supply chain issues. Council will need to ensure we invest in asset management and support our infrastructure needs as a city while facing a lot of uncertainty about how we will pay for new infrastructure now that the province has changed the development charges framework through Bill 23. There are also service level impacts locally from the decision by the provincial government to surplus billions of dollars while both the education and health care systems remain underfunded. It is going to be critical to explore revenue generation through a Land Transfer Tax and other fees for service so we can balance the tax rate while also investing in what our city needs and the excellence our residents deserve.

The City of Hamilton has the second oldest water system in Canada, and one of the oldest sewage systems in the nation. Council approved a Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Rate budget for 2023, which supports a 6.49 per cent combined rate increase. This will enable the city to meet our targets infrastructure renewal, regulatory compliance and investment in the future of the water, wastewater and stormwater systems.

We will be deliberating on the Capital Budget recommendations we have received and will be hearing from each division of the City as to the Operating Budget in the new year. A final public delegation date is set for Feb 6, if you are interested in more information, please follow this link. To register for an in person or virtual delegation, or to submit a video delegation please email clerk@hamilton.ca. For a video delegation the deadline is noon on Feb 2, 2023, and for virtual or in person delegation requests, they must be received by noon on Feb 3, 2023.

Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters

At Emergency Community Services Committee on December 1, we received delegations, a staff report, and a request from HATS (Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters) for $100,000 per year for 3 years for their housing proposal. HATS is proposing to set up a tiny shelter community composed of 10 private huts with communal washrooms and cooking facilities as a housing option for folks who are currently unhoused with the goal of moving them from the huts into permanent housing. You can find more about them here.

The staff recommendation for funding included Housing Services surplus dollars that would otherwise annually go toward keeping people housed. I could not ethically reallocate funds that would keep people housed to any other initiative. And, it is my hope that my Council colleagues agree in the new year to find an appropriate funding source for this pilot.

The proposed location was a private site at 647 Barton St. E. During the presentation it became clear that the location didn’t fit all of their own identified selection criteria. I stated clearly my concerns that the site would not provide refuge and instead leave HATS residents vulnerable to harm. Instead, I proposed that City staff work with HATS to secure a public site that would be a better and safer fit for this pilot project. This will all come back to committee in January for a final decision.

I believe in providing a safe refuge as identified as being important by unhoused folks. If we are going to centre those voices, then let’s enable the best version of this project and ensure the structures can be built and occupancy supported this winter.

I remain committed to addressing the housing crisis we face here in Hamilton, and that includes ensuring that every dollar we spend toward delivers real and lasting population impacts including permanent housing and robust wrap around supports.

Left: Free pre-holiday parking graphic. Right: Photo of a child smiling on the edge of the pool with goggles pulled up on their forehead. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Updates"

Burlington St Sewer

On November 22, the City learned that there was a leak in the combined sewers at Burlington and Wentworth Streets that had been leaking sewage into the bay since 1996. Staff immediately informed Council and the public and undertook steps to stop the flow and contain the leak. The ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks have investigated the spill and we have yet to receive their final report.

In the meantime, my office is working with Hamilton Water to host a community meeting with any residents interested to learn more about the details and the plan to prevent this from occurring again. This meeting will take place in the new year and we will provide a one month meeting notice once the date is set.

Winter Recreation

The Serafini Skate Pad at the Bernie Morelli Rec Centre opened over the weekend. Staff are on site to maintain the ice and patrol the pad until 10pm each evening and access to the rink is free. In addition to the ice pad, there are weather-dependent community-led rinks that can be set up at Myrtle Park, Gage Park and Woodlands Park.

This winter, get outside and try a new winter activity like snowshoeing at King Forest Golf Course, disc golf at both city golf courses. For more details visit https://www.hamilton.ca/things-do/recreation/programs/outdoor-programs

E-billing for Property Taxes

The City of Hamilton has launched a new eBilling service for property tax bills. Residents can now enroll on the City’s website at www.hamilton.ca/tax to receive upcoming property tax bills electronically.

Once enrolled, residents will receive all future property tax bills electronically, until such time as they cancel or sell their property. To enroll, users require their property specific tax roll number and access code, as identified on their latest property tax bill.

If you wish to enroll and need your access code, you can call 905-546-2489 (CITY) or email taxsupport@hamilton.ca to get the access code sent by mail to the address on file for the property. Additional information about the new eBilling service, including the detailed FAQ attached, is available at www.hamilton.ca/tax.

Free Parking

Residents can enjoy free parking in Hamilton’s Business Improvement Areas until December 24. Park for up to 2 hours for free in any of these Ward 3 locations:

Barton Village BIA
International Village BIA
Ottawa St BIA

Many headshots of people side-by-side. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Opportunities for Engagement"

Public Budget Delegation Opportunity:

Tim Horton’s Field Community Liaison Meetings

Following the Community Meeting last year, representatives from Tim Horton’s Field have agreed to regularly community liaison meetings with neighbours. They have set two dates for this in 2023 - Feb 9 and July 20, both from 6:30-8pm in a hybrid format. We will share more details on participating in these meetings once we have them from staff.

Calling Volunteers for GALA Planning Team!!

The GALA Planning Team is recruiting volunteers to help make GALA a vibrant and inclusive place to live, work, and play. If you live in the Gibson or Landsdale neighbourhoods and want to get more involved in local community building, please consider joining the team. Email gala.hub.chair@gmail.com for more information about the recruitment process or find them on Facebook here.

Left: Graphic for Queer Family Drop-In. Middle: Graphic for Eva Rothwell Pantry Needs. Right: Graphic for Shop Local Hamilton. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Support"

Queer Family Drop-Ins

Barefoot Babies hosts a queer family drop-in the first and third Tuesday of every month. The next one is December 20 from 10-11:30a at 164 Ottawa St N. Though technically in Ward 4, all queer families are welcome.

Give the gift of Local

Barton Village BIA, Ottawa St BIA, and International Village BIA shops offer so much for your holiday gifting list. Spend the holidays shopping small and supporting local.

Eva Rothwell Food Pantry

Eva Rothwell’s Food Pantry has seen a 48% increase in use this year. As you plan for gathering with family and friends this holiday season, consider a donation of food and hygiene products to help the Eva Rothwell Centre make the holiday season easier for some of our neighbours

Photo of masked people moving through an indoor space. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Public Health Updates"

Vaccines

Hamilton Public Health Services Mountain Vaccine Clinic at LimeRidge Mall (999 Upper Wentworth St., Hamilton) is now offering walk-in flu shots for all residents 6 months and older. The clinic will be offering both flu and COVID-19 vaccines until it closes on December 21, 2022.

Hamilton Public Health Services have also started offering walk-in flu shots at it’s mobile vaccine clinic sites. In addition to this, residents can access both COVID-19 and flu shots at pharmacies throughout the City.

Mask to Support our Community to Stay Healthy this Holiday Season

Healthcare systems remain strained in our City and across the Province. As we celebrate the holidays with family and friends, please keep ventilation in mind and consider masking in busy indoor space.

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!

Nrinder Nann 2022-09-01 Nrinder Nann 2022-09-01

Children’s Museum Expansion, Fall City Updates, Volunteer Opportunities & Events in Ward 3

Dear Neighbours,

Wishing everyone a great Labour Day weekend and a smooth and safe back-to-school next week.
Congratulations to #OurWard3 Trillium White Award winners! The judging for the coveted Red Award will be announced in September.
Kevin “KTriggz” Williamson, a young MC who grew up in #OurWard3 hosted the third 905Fest in Woodlands Park this past weekend. This grassroots hip hop festival aims to create a platform to raise up local talent while also removing the stigma of the supports people need to turn to while facing obstacles in life. Thanks to everyone who came by to spread some love.
Thank you to everyone who has visited one of the twelve Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups this summer. This direct outreach enabled residents without email and who don’t use social media to get the support they needed and for me to listen directly to their concerns and requests.
The Ward 3 Office will be closed this coming Monday, September 5 on Labour Day, and will open again on Tuesday, September 6. You can contact the City’s general line for any issues involving roads, water mains, sewer systems, public health and safety issues by calling 905-546-2489.
I will be holding one final Coffee With Your Councillor for this term to connect with neighbours, on Tuesday, September 13. Please join me live one more time on Facebook and Instagram to talk about the issues that matter most to #OurWard3.
This e-newsletter includes City service updates, engagement and volunteer opportunities, and events upcoming in September across Ward 3. And as always, updates on public health and vaccine availability.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Federal Funding Supports Gage Park Children’s Museum Renovation & Expansion

The Children’s Museum at Gage Park received the federal funding we were hoping for as a City to get this renovation and expansion underway.
This renovation will include lots of improvements to the heritage building’s accessibility, such as: barrier-free entrances and bathrooms; an elevator; level floors and ramps throughout; visible and audible alarms; large print, high contrast and braille signs; coordination with the CNIB for informative digital media support; QR code assistance for the visually impaired; parking spots for disabled persons; and, high contrast guide strips on pathways and stairs.
As well, the expansion of the building will provide additional program spaces, a large outdoor gathering space, a children’s garden featuring native plantings, and two outdoor patio play spaces.
Construction is scheduled to begin this fall, and wrap up Fall 2023.
Thank you to all the residents who participated in the consultation process. Like many of you, I can’t wait for our kiddos and community to enjoy this renewed and more accessible space!

HSR Fall Schedule – September 4 - December 31

The 2022 Fall schedule will take effect on Saturday, September 4. As part of the new schedule, HSR will be implementing service improvements relating to year six of the Ten Year Local Transit Strategy. In addition to the strategic service improvements, the following changes will also go into effect:

• Regular weekday schedules will resume on routes 3, 6, 7, 8, 21,22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 35, 41.
• Route 44 Rymal will service Confederation GO before continuing to Stoney Creek Smart Centre (Centennial Walmart). Customers leaving Walmart will now board on the platform on the west side.
• MacNab Transit Terminal will be renamed Frank A. Cooke Transit Terminal (FRAC TERM) effective September 4, 2022.
• The HSR myRide on-demand pilot will continue to operate in Waterdown during the fall schedule.
• As part of the Ten-Year Local Transit Strategy, a $0.05 increase will go into effect on Thursday, September 1, 2022

The fall schedule will go into effect beginning September 4 and operate until Saturday, December 31. For more information on the Fall schedule, please visit here.

Fall Recreation Programming Registration – Opens September 14 & 15

Fall recreation programs are available for review as of August 29. To browse programs by age and program category, please visit here. Registered programs for Fall 2022 are scheduled to begin October 3. Program registration starts at 8 am on September 14 and 15. Please visit here for how to register.

Please note that online registration is required for all programs. If you have any questions, or require assistance, please email recreation@hamilton.ca.

2022 Municipal Election – October 24, 2022

Hamilton's next municipal election is October 24, 2022. To find out if you are eligible to vote and to see the many options available this time around visit the City's Municipal Election Voters page.

To find out who is running for councillor, mayor, and trustee, visit the Nominated Candidates page.

Take Back the Night – Volunteer Training Session – September 10
SACHA is looking for volunteers to join their team on Saturday, September 10th for a full day of essential event training, in preparation for Take Back the Night 2022 (September 15th). The training includes anti-racism and anti-oppression, de-escalation, event logistics, and more. This volunteer training will be in-person on September 10th between 10 am and 4 pm. Please note that masks will be required.

If you are interested in volunteering, or know someone who is, please fill out the application here. Applications will be accepted until September 7th. For more information, visit the application form above.

Please reach out to sabreina@sacha.ca if you have any questions or concerns.

Discovery Centre Site Strategy Development – Survey Closes September 23
The City of Hamilton is developing a strategy for the Hamilton Waterfront Trust Centre (former Canadian Marine Discovery Centre museum) property and adjacent lands. This City-wide asset has tons of potential - have your say by taking the community survey here before September 23rd. To learn more, please visit: engage.hamilton.ca/discoverycentre.

Community Fridges HamOnt – Volunteer to Fridge-Check
Community Fridges HamOnt is looking for volunteers to help out with daily fridge-checks. Several fridge-checks happen every day to ensure the community fridges are running safely & respectfully. More folks on board will allow the team to better support each other, and account for fluctuating availability. This project is entirely mutual aid and community-run.

On site tasks include disinfecting & tidying (with provided supplies), confirming safe temperatures, and confirming all donations fit within the donation guidelines. You'll also be asked to send an update, providing pictures & noting any issues, on their Slack channel (the app they use to organize).

One of the fridges is in the Crown Point neighbourhood, at 204 Ottawa St. N. Technically in Ward 4, we know that a lot of Ward 3 residents rely on and support this community fridge.

For more information, please visit here. To register as a volunteer, please see here.

Movies in the Park – September 10
All neighbours are welcome to join the last of the summer’s free Movies in the Park event on Saturday, September 10th in Woodlands Park (501 Barton St. E). Big thanks to Barton Village BIA and Playhouse Cinemas who have partnered to bring community together and enjoy family-friendly movies this summer. Sing 2 will be the feature movie to wrap everything up, at 8 pm until 11 pm.

For more information, please visit here.

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes – September 14
Walk a Mile in Their Shoes is an event organized by YWCA Hamilton, that raises funds and awareness to end gender-based violence. YWCA Hamilton relies on funds raised by Walk a Mile in Their Shoes to provide supports, advocacy and services to women, girls and gender-diverse people experiencing violence. From safety, shelter and transitional living to peer-check ins, counseling and safety planning, YWCA provides life-changing and life-saving supports to survivors.

Neighbours are welcome to register to join the Awards Ceremony & Walk (In-Person) on September 14 from 11 am to 1 pm, at the Hamilton City Hall Forecourt; as well as, to participate in virtual Walk Week activities September 7-14.

For more information, and registration, please visit here.

Take Back the Night 2022 – September 15
This year, SACHA is excited to share that Take Back The Night will be happening in person, on Thursday September 15. TBTN is a community event to bring awareness to issues of sexual violence, gender-based violence, and street harassment. SACHA’s annual event allows neighbours to gather collectively as women, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people in solidarity and empowerment, and to fight for changes in our community that center survivors experiences and voices.

Details of TBTN’s schedule are as follows:
6 pm–8 pm: Community Tables, Indigenous Market and Live Music
8 pm–8:15 pm: Rally and keynote speakers
8:15pm: March

For more information, please visit here.

Monkeypox Virus & Vaccination
Monkeypox is a rare viral disease. It can cause fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes and tiredness. About 1 to 3 days after these symptoms a rash can develop. It is usually spread by very close contact with someone who has Monkeypox. Most people recover from Monkeypox on their own within 2 to 4 weeks. However, some people can get seriously sick.

Anyone can get Monkeypox. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) the risk of infection is low for the general population. Monkeypox typically does not spread easily between individuals. When spread does occur it is most often through contact with body fluids from an infected person. Most transmission of Monkeypox in Canada has occurred between close contacts like intimate partners or household members.

For information on vaccine eligibility, and upcoming Monkeypox vaccine clinics, please visit here. Please note that all Monkeypox vaccine clinics are appointment only.

COVID-19 Vaccination Availability
Booster doses for children aged 5-11 years of age are anticipated to be available soon. To stay up to date on the latest updates and vaccine eligibility, please visit here.

It is strongly recommended that immunocompromised individuals 18+ and other previously eligible and high-risk individuals, receive their fourth dose of vaccine if they have not already.

This includes:
• Individuals aged 60+;
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18+; and
• Residents of local long-term care homes, retirement homes, or an Elder Care Lodge and older adults living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services

COVID-19 vaccines are available for young children aged six months to under five years. Parents and caregivers of this population are able to book appointments for their young children as of this date.

You can book a vaccine appointment online if you:
• Have an Ontario health card (green photo health card OR red and white health card)
• Have an email address OR a cell phone that can receive SMS messages (texts)

If you do not have access to online booking, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment. Translation services are available by phone.

Vaccine Access
For a full list of vaccine clinics across the City, please see here: https://www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.

Additionally, residents are also encouraged to check with local pharmacies who are offering COVID-19 vaccinations.

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!

Nrinder Nann 2022-08-18 Nrinder Nann 2022-08-18

30 km/hr School Zone on Wentworth, Committee, Powell Park, Upcoming Events in Ward 3 & more

Dear Neighbours,

This e-newsletter features some major updates from the concentrated Council & Committee week, including a big win for our community for reducing speeding, as well as, updates to the City’s adaptation and transformation of services for people experiencing homelessness. You will also find some shoutouts to neighbours who have helped to foster a sense of belonging and community in #OurWard3.

There are two more Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups for the month of August. Please see the Ward 3 Updates section of this e-newsletter for the details - and save the dates to join us at either.

Finally, there are so many events across Ward 3 in the coming few weeks– we have listed a few for you to consider!

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Ongoing Safety Enhancements on Wentworth Street North at Cathy Wever Elementary School
Last week, Council approved my motion to have Wentworth Street reduced to 30 km/hr in alignment with School Zone speed limits and to implement further safety enhancements to the roadway. I brought this motion forward 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.

In the past, when trying to champion reduced speeds near schools sooner, 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. Since then, however, it has become clear that the classification of a road does not prevent safety enhancements. Therefore, the direction to staff in this motion was deemed in order. I look forward to the changes being implemented soon to help neighbours feel safer walking to and from school, the rec centre, and when attending community programs.

Updates to the City’s Adaptation and Transformation of Services for People Experiencing Homelessness
Before the pandemic, it was already clear that our shelter systems did not have the capacity to meet existing needs. And during the pandemic, the surge of people experiencing homelessness increased. Not only were there not enough beds, the need for additional health-focused supports was past the allocated funding. Especially so for women, non-binary, and trans folks, as well as families. The province dispersed funding to enable cities to set up emergency temporary shelters to help maintain physical distancing in shelters and add more beds. Like many cities, Hamilton relied on hotel rooms for a temporary emergency increase in capacity for the shelter system. The City also established a temporary shelter at the former Cathedral Boys School on Main Street. These measures helped ensure people were safe and cared for at a time when the direction for all of us was to stay home.

The City of Hamilton has been working with our shelter support system and not for profit social housing providers to put together a plan towards more permanent solutions. Getting to the ultimate goal of adequate housing for all requires multiple transitionary steps. Council approved a suite of staff recommendations. I wanted to ensure residents were aware of these two changes specific to Ward 3:

1. The Cathedral Temporary Shelter on Main has been extended to operate until March of 2023 based on needs. This aligns with the timeline for the new permanent women-focused shelter, housing and supports project headed by Good Shepherd at 35 Arkledun Avenue coming online. There is no plan to turn this temporary shelter permanent. To stay up to date on this, please visit here.

2. Increasing Men’s Shelter capacity - Mission Services plans to relocate from 325 James Street North to 400 King Street East. At this new location in Ward 3, still requiring to meet planning approvals, there will be a total of 108 beds. Council allocated funding to support the capital work in order to deliver more permanent shelter beds contingent on all planning approvals being met.

3. Housing Sustainability and Investment Plan - a long-term strategy that will be developed by Staff responding to the current housing crisis that builds on existing efforts and initiatives under way. It includes having all City Departments, community stakeholders from multiple sectors, private industry and other external partners including provincial and federal levels of government to work together to address the broad spectrum of housing and supports needs in Hamilton.

I raised concerns both at ECS Committee and at Council that as private development booms downtown we are witnessing the active displacement of people historically served by various social support agencies. It is creating a strain to social cohesion in some areas of Ward 3 where we have the highest number of shelters and residential care facilities than any other area in the city. This type of over concentration is poor integrative and sustainable planning.

That said, the City does not have the authority to stop an organization from setting up to offer shelter services. And they are desperately needed. I have requested Mission Services prepare and roll out a robust community engagement process this month to directly address local questions and concerns. They have committed to this. You can direct your questions to Mission Services at 905-528-4212 or at admin@mission-services.com.

Powell Park Refresh
During the pandemic, Powell Park became the site of violence, hate based graffiti and intimidation targeted against Indigenous, Black, Racialised, and 2SLGBTQIA+ neighbours. The park is slated for complete reconstruction in 2024. In the meantime, I’ve been working with residents to reinvigorate this beloved community park to be a place of positivity, belonging and to encourage all youth and families to enjoy it.

The changes began last fall thanks to resident leadership. Meghan Schuurman, Justin and Joanna Aitcheson, Sasha Reimer and Jonathan Woof were successful Placemaking Grant recipients bringing painted pathway games to encourage toddlers and younger kids alike to step, jump, twirl and stay active.

Brenda Duke, Emily Debenedictis, and Michelle Secord also received a Placemaking Grant that enabled Kyle Joedicke to create an incredible Indigenous mural this summer in the Woodland-art style. It is designed to be a teaching mural that connects viewers to better understand the clans that belong to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

Sharifa Patrick, a resident of Ward 3, delivered a vibrant mural on the basketball court where my office also had a new backboard and rim installed. Her piece was informed in part by Vince Kuber and other neighbours who wanted to encourage youth to feel comfortable to continue playing, practicing and engaging in friendly competition after being subjected to threats that they don’t belong here. This is Sharifa’s first public mural, and I think she knocked it outta the park! ;)

Chris Perez led the mural to transform the clubhouse. He shared with me that the floral energy in his mural is meant to bring a sense of positivity and belonging to the park. The Jasmine flower is a source of connection for neighbours who descend from all over Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean and Pacific Islands. He painted the flowers in the path of a basketball being bounced celebrating the energy and spirit of game play.

Thank you to Leon and Scott of Concrete Canvas for working with my office, City staff and BIPOC residents to help transform the vibe with the basketball and clubhouse murals funded through the Ward 3 Office.

And finally, the playground structure with the blocked-off slide has been replaced! The new structure came from Hayward Park and was refurbished to be installed at Powell Park. I encourage neighbours and your families to come check out the love and hardwork that has been put into reclaiming Powell Park.

Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups – 2 More in August!
There are two more Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups this month. Please see below for the dates, times, and locations of both, and join the Ward 3 Team to connect one-on-one to address your needs around municipal services, and other issues.

• Wednesday, August 24 – 1-3 pm
Myrtle Park (13 Delaware Ave)

• Wednesday, August 31 – 1-3 pm
Powell Park (53 Birch Ave)

Reminder to neighbours that many issues require consultation with City Staff, so we may not be able to bring everything to immediate resolution. Where that is the case, we will be sure to follow up and keep you in the loop as we work toward getting you the answers and support you need.

In order to assist you best during our pop-ups, please be prepared to to follow these Terms of Engagement:

• Please wear a mask, respect distancing and COVID safety
• To receive support, be prepared to provide your name, address and contact information
• Read and follow our Community Standards and Guidelines
• Each appointment with Councillor Nann and/or staff is limited to 15 minutes
• In order to maintain privacy with residents, we will ask folks waiting to sign up on the sign-in sheet to be called upon when it is your turn.

The Pop-Up at Powell Park on August 31 will conclude the Ward 3 Office roaming casework initiative for this term. Please help spread the word about the schedule above. We look forward to connecting with you soon.

Safer Streets Now Update – Main Street Reconfiguration
As part of the Council approved motion Councillor Wilson and I brought forward to develop safety enhancements along Main Street and King Street, construction is underway to reduce Main Street from five lanes to four lanes. As of Monday, August 15, crews have begun overnight work to reduce the number of travel lanes on Main Street from five to four between Dundurn Street and Sherman Avenue.

As part of the lane reconfiguration, a pedestrian buffer will be added to the south lane of Main Street and bumpouts will be implemented at various locations along the street. This measure will help reduce the number of side swipe collisions throughout the corridor due to narrow lane widths. Additionally, a designated bus-only lane will be implemented in the south lane at Main Street and MacNab Street and a transit signal will be added at the intersection to give transit buses priority.

The restriping of lanes and associated works will take place during the overnight hours and is expected to take five nights to complete, wrapping up by August 20, 2022, weather permitting.

Motorists are reminded to pay close attention to the updated pavement markings, be aware of traffic conditions and anticipate delays. Motorists are also reminded to pay attention to other measures including the implementation of No Right Turn on Red restrictions and leading pedestrian signal intervals at intersections along Main Street and King Street.

The reduction of five lanes to four on Main Street means that it is now technically applicable for implementing the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) technology we have. This motion was approved at Public Works Committee last week, which means that we will see the implementation of ASE on Main in the first quarter of 2023.

Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC)
Licensed child care operators that expressed an interest in proceeding with the CWELCC application will be undergoing a budget review process throughout the month of August. All providers must opt-in or opt-out no later than September 1, 2022.

Child Care Operators Opt-In - If a licensed child care operator chooses to opt-in to the CWELCC system, parents and families will receive a 25% child care fee rebate back-dated to April 1, 2022. This rebate must be received within 60 days of the licensed child care operator opting-in and child care rates will be reduced by 25% within 31 days of opting-in. By January 1, 2023, child care rates will be reduced by a further 25%for a total of 50% reduction.

Child Care Operators Opt-Out - If a child care operator chooses to opt-out of the CWELCC system, the provider must notify families in writing within 14 days of opting-out. For families, this means that child care rates will not be reduced by 25% and they will not receive a 25% rebate in fees. Families have the option to transfer their child(ren)to another child care provider with sufficient notice.

For updates regarding licensed child care operators status and information about the CWELCC system, please visit here. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Chase, Director Children's Services and Community Services Division at 905-546-2424 ext. 3590 or via email at jessica.chase@hamilton.ca.

Congratulations to Heather Bond on Kensington Avenue S in #OurWard3 for winning the 2022 Trillium Award for her absolutely gorgeous garden. This award is presented in recognition of excellence in landscape design, maintenance, and effort to beautify properties which encourage community pride. I’ve had the privilege of seeing Heather’s garden up close and personal. She has created a true oasis!

Children’s Garden Project – Garden Care Session – August 19, 5:30 - 6:15 pm
The Children’s Garden is holding another Garden Maintenance Session this coming Friday, August 19 from 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm. This is a great opportunity for kids and families to learn how to take care of the garden and plants, and connect with nature.
Please make sure to bring: snacks, water bottles, hat, masks, sunscreen, garden attire/comfortable clothing.
Please note: parents/guardian/caregiver will need to be present for all activities and sign waivers and consent forms. To learn more, please visit here.

Trees & Air Quality Walks – August 23 & 25
Please join Environment Hamilton and Hamilton Naturalists' Club at either of the below 'Trees & Air Quality' walks.
• Windermere Basin Park
Tuesday August 23 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm
• Pier & Copps Promenade
Thursday August 25 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm
For more information, please visit here.

905 FEST – August 28, 11 am - 7 pm
Neighbours of all ages are welcome to join the annual 905 FEST at Woodlands Park on Sunday, August 28. It will run from 11 am to 7 pm, with local musical performances, vendors, and food. There will also be fundraising for non-perishable goods through this event, which will all go to the Living Rock Youth Services.

This festival is organized by Kevin Williamson, a hip hop artist in Hamilton, as well as the owner and operator of record label Freedom of Speech Entertainment. The artist grew up in this area, and created 905 Fest to give back to the community, as well as, to spread awareness towards at-risk youth in Hamilton.

Admission is free, and all are welcome. Check the event out here for more details.

Overdose Awareness Day – August 31, 11 am - 3 pm
All are encouraged to join HUCCHC for an event on August 31 from 11 am to 3 pm for Overdose Awareness Day. The event will include: truth hearing on the impacts of the opioid epidemic, naloxone training, community partner tables, giveaways and light refreshments.

It is an opportunity to learn about what you can do, and to learn about how you can support your neighbours, friends, family, and community.

For more information, please call 289-678-1367 or email ctsadministration@hucchc.com.ds, please keep ventilation in mind and consider masking in busy indoor space.

Monkeypox Virus & Vaccination
Monkeypox is a rare viral disease. It can cause fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes and tiredness. About 1 to 3 days after these symptoms a rash can develop. It is usually spread by very close contact with someone who has Monkeypox. Most people recover from Monkeypox on their own within 2 to 4 weeks. However, some people can get seriously sick.

Anyone can get Monkeypox. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) the risk of infection is low for the general population. Monkeypox typically does not spread easily between individuals. When spread does occur it is most often through contact with body fluids from an infected person. Most transmission of Monkeypox in Canada has occurred between close contacts like intimate partners or household members.

For information on vaccine eligibility, and upcoming Monkeypox vaccine clinics, please visit here. Please note that all Monkeypox vaccine clinics are appointment only.

COVID-19 Vaccination Availability
It is strongly recommended that immunocompromised individuals 18+ and other previously eligible and high-risk individuals, receive their fourth dose of vaccine if they have not already.

This includes:
• Individuals aged 60+;
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18+; and
• Residents of local long-term care homes, retirement homes, or an Elder Care Lodge and older adults living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services

COVID-19 vaccines are available for young children aged six months to under five years. Parents and caregivers of this population are able to book appointments for their young children as of this date.

You can book a vaccine appointment online if you:
• Have an Ontario health card (green photo health card OR red and white health card)
• Have an email address OR a cell phone that can receive SMS messages (texts)

If you do not have access to online booking, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment. Translation services are available by phone.

Vaccine Access
For a full list of vaccine clinics across the City, please see here: https://www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.

Additionally, residents are also encouraged to check with local pharmacies who are offering COVID-19 vaccinations.

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!

Nrinder Nann 2022-08-05 Nrinder Nann 2022-08-05

Safer Streets Progress Updates, Woodlands Spray Pad Final Design, Office Pop-Ups in August & more

Dear Neighbours,

Like many of you, I saw the disturbing video of a man making hateful remarks towards 2SLGBTQ+ people, racialized residents, and a woman while riding on an HSR bus near Gage Park. He made threats and continually harassed passengers before exiting the bus.
The individual has now been arrested and he has been charged with assault and uttering threats. It is important to remember you can turn to the Hamilton Anti Racism Resource Centre, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic and the Canadian Anti-Hate Network for support and assistance in incidents like this.

We must keep vigilant in our efforts to foster belonging and justice - because all our neighbours deserve to feel safer in Hamilton.

Next week is another packed week of concentrated Council and Committee meetings. Much like July, there will be many updates to follow in the next e-newsletter. This newsletter includes Monkeypox and COVID-19 vaccination resources, Ward 3-specific and City-wide updates, and tons of opportunities to get involved in our community this August.

The Ward 3 Office Pop-Up schedule for August is now confirmed. Please see the Ward 3 updates section of this newsletter for the list of locations, and save the dates to join us at any of these opportunities to connect in person on city services, and other issues that matter to #OurWard3.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Automated Speed Enforcement Expansion
The City is preparing to expand Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) as a tool to address speeding and improve roadway safety enhancements on Main Street and King Street along Wards 1, 2 and 3. Once approved by Public Works Committee next week, it would result in early 2023 implementation.

ASE is an automated system that uses a camera and a speed measurement device to help enforce speed limits in school zones and community safety zones. If a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit in an ASE-enforced area, the ASE system captures an image that is stored and reviewed by a Provincial Offences Officer. The ticket, which contains a digitized copy of the image and an enlargement of the plate portion, is mailed to the registered plate holder.

This technology can only capture so many lanes of traffic, which is why we have not been able to apply it to date on Main and King Street. Now that Main and King streets will see lane reductions as part of the current phase of immediate safety enhancements, it will now be technically applicable for ASE use. This is a major win to address excessive speeding and ensuring that drivers are held accountable for speeding.

ASE has also now been deployed at Victoria Avenue, from Charlton Avenue East to Wilson Street as previously approved as part of the City’s Community Safety Zones work.

Flooding and Drainage Improvement Framework
It is well known that the City has a massive infrastructure deficit, requiring some major investment strategies to tackle. At Public Works, City staff will be presenting a 10 to 20 year strategy for improving flooding and drainage in the combined sewer system in Hamilton. The current sewer system is woefully out of date and strained, and this report aims to address it.

Recommended strategies include:

- Managed sewer separation, an effort to build separated storm sewer infrastructure within the Combined Sewer System (CSS) where it does not currently exist today.
- Connecting that new infrastructure to existing or new storm sewer outlets, conveying storm water flow to the natural environment and reducing inflow to the existing combined sewers.
- Increasing sewer system service to the community through sewer rehabilitation, underground storage, major system conveyance improvements, inlet controls, green infrastructure, and private property measures.
- New trunk sewer opportunities have also been proposed as options to help increase City sewer capacity.

The completed assessment has recommended a significant capital investment and infrastructure program that carries an estimated 10-year cost of $367M, a 20+ year cost of $404M, for a total program value exceeding $1B.

Council & Committee Schedule – Week of August 3 – 12
Check out the published meeting agendas for the Council & Committee meetings being held this week and next. Please note, agendas can change, and often you will find revised agendas prior to the meeting. Council will be held on August 12th to ratify the decisions of standing committee.

• August 4 – General Issues Committee
• August 8 – General Issues Committee
• August 9 – Planning Committee
• August 10 – Board of Health
• August 11 – Public Works
• August 11 – Emergency & Community Services Committee
• August 11 – Audit, Finance & Administration Committee

2022 Municipal Election – October 24, 2022
Hamilton's next municipal election is October 24, 2022. To find out if you are eligible to vote and to see the many options available this time around, visit the City's Municipal Election Voters page.

To find out who is running for councillor, mayor, and trustee, visit the Nominated Candidates page.

Monkeypox Virus & Vaccination
Monkeypox is a rare viral disease. It can cause fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes and tiredness. About 1 to 3 days after these symptoms a rash can develop. It is usually spread by very close contact with someone who has Monkeypox. Most people recover from Monkeypox on their own within 2 to 4 weeks. However, some people can get seriously sick.

Anyone can get Monkeypox. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) the risk of infection is low for the general population. Monkeypox typically does not spread easily between individuals. When spread does occur it is most often through contact with body fluids from an infected person. Most transmission of Monkeypox in Canada has occurred between close contacts like intimate partners or household members.

For information on vaccine eligibility, and upcoming Monkeypox vaccine clinics, please visit here. Please note that all Monkeypox vaccine clinics are appointment only.

COVID-19 Vaccination Availability
It is strongly recommended that immunocompromised individuals 18+ and other previously eligible and high-risk individuals, receive their fourth dose of vaccine if they have not already.

This includes:
• Individuals aged 60+;
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18+; and
• Residents of local long-term care homes, retirement homes, or an Elder Care Lodge and older adults living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services

COVID-19 vaccines are available for young children aged six months to under five years. Parents and caregivers of this population are able to book appointments for their young children as of this date.

You can book a vaccine appointment online if you:
• Have an Ontario health card (green photo health card OR red and white health card)
• Have an email address OR a cell phone that can receive SMS messages (texts)

If you do not have access to online booking, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment. Translation services are available by phone.

Vaccine Access
For a full list of vaccine clinics across the City, please see here: https://www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.

Additionally, residents are also encouraged to check with local pharmacies who are offering COVID-19 vaccinations.

Phase 1 - Ward 3 Complete Streets Implementation Plan
The first round of roadway safety enhancements reported in the Ward 3 Complete Streets Report will be implemented this fall. This will include speed hump installation in the streets listed below. Staff are completing a detailed field review of the following locations this week to confirm feasibility of speed cushions.

• Smith Ave from Barton St E to Cannon St E
• Belmont Ave from King St E to Dunsmure Rd
• West Ave N from Barton to King William
• Lottridge St from King St E to Rosemont Ave
• Lottridge St from Beachwood Ave to Clinton St
• Rosslyn Ave N from Roxborough Ave to Barton St E
• Emerald St N from Cannon St E to Barton St E
• Emerald St S from Stinson St to Main St E
• Balmoral Ave N from Barton St E to Cannon St E
• Balmoral Ave S from Maple to Montclair Ave
• Glendale Ave N from King St E to Barton St E
• Holton Ave from Main St E to King St E
• East Ave S from Stinson St to Main St E

All adjacent residents will receive a notice in your mailbox when the installation will take place. Should you have any questions, please contact Brad Wyllie, Project Manager (Acting) – Roadway Safety, at 905-546-2424 ext. 1713 or brad.wyllie@hamilton.ca.

Woodlands Park Spray Pad – Final Design Update
The Woodlands Park Spray Pad project page has now been updated to include the much anticipated final design. The second Public Information Centre presentation includes survey results, final design renderings, construction timelines, and more. Please visit the updated project page here to learn more.

Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups – August Schedule
The Ward 3 Office is continuing to “pop up” all over #OurWard3 this month in our ongoing effort to reach residents where they are. Please save the dates below and join the Ward 3 Office Team to connect one-on-one, have your needs around municipal services addressed, and to discuss City issues.

Below are the confirmed dates, times, and locations for the Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups for August:

• Tuesday, August 9 – 6:30-8:30 pm - Lucy Day Park (33 Clinton St)
• Wednesday, August 17 – 1-3 pm - First Place (360 King St E), outside on mezzanine level
• Wednesday, August 24 – 1-3 pm - Myrtle Park (13 Delaware Ave)
• Wednesday, August 31 – 1-3 pm - Powell Park (53 Birch Ave)

Reminder to neighbours that many issues require consultation with City Staff, so we may not be able to bring everything to immediate resolution. Where that is the case, we will be sure to follow up and keep you in the loop as we work toward getting you the answers and support you need.

In order to assist you best during our pop-ups, please be prepared to to follow these Terms of Engagement:

• Please wear a mask, respect distancing and COVID safety
• To receive support, be prepared to provide your name, address and contact information
• Read and follow our Community Standards and Guidelines
• Each appointment with Councillor Nann and/or staff is limited to 15 minutes
• In order to maintain privacy with residents, we will ask folks waiting to sign up on the sign-in sheet to be called upon when it is your turn.

Please help spread the word about the schedule above. We look forward to connecting with you soon.

Major Arterial Roads Updates
I want to provide residents with a progress update on safety enhancements being implemented on Main and King Streets as a result of a motion Councillor Wilson and I brought forward.

You will have noticed some of those already implemented in early July included no right turn on red and painting crosswalk ladders. More is underway now, through to the end of summer. Here is the list of safety enhancements and locations they have been installed.

The approved conversion of Main Street from one-way to two-way operations requires the development of an implementation plan that will integrate a redesign that integrates guidelines from the Complete Streets Manual. It will ultimately enable safe use for all road users, and incorporate a climate change lens by considering additions such as urban trees and permeable surfaces in the planning process.

To keep up to date on these efforts, please visit the project website here.

JC Beemer Park – Wading Pool and Supie Program
The interest in programming at JC Beemer Park has been low this year. We want to help spread the word about the many things that this park offers, so more families can take advantage of it. These facilities are open from now until August 26.

• Wading Pool: Open Daily – 12 pm (noon) - 4 pm. It is a free, supervised, shallow pool for young children to splash around and enjoy. Please be advised that parent supervision is also required.

• Supie Program: Open Monday - Friday – 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
The Supie Program is free recreation programming that includes games and crafts for children. No registration is required for this. Please be advised that Supie staff do not replace parental supervision.

Help spread the word among neighbours. We really appreciate your assistance in helping to bring more families out to this great community asset and programming.

Operation Backpack 2022 – Fundraising for Back to School Supplies
With the rising costs for basic living expenses, too many families are being left behind across our neighbourhoods. Too many children will start school next year without the supplies they need to function well at school.

The Hamilton Steelworker’s Area Council is doing another backpack drive this year, where they purchase backpacks and fill them with supplies for children and families in need. This year, they are ordering 2000 packs and supplies. For many of the kids, these are the only new things they will have when they go back to school.

To donate, please visit here, or send an e-transfer to hamiltonsteel@live.com.

Depave Barton – Virtual Information & Engagement Session – August 10
Join Green Venture, the Barton Village BIA, and the GALA Community Planning Team on August 10th from 7 pm to 8:30 pm for a virtual information and engagement session.

This meeting will be a discussion about completed, in-progress and future projects, that will also give residents a chance to help identify spaces in the Barton Village community that would benefit from depaving, and share what you think would make for the most impactful Boulevards.

Register here to attend the webinar. And, to learn more about the Depave Paradise program, please visit here.

Art in the Park(ing) Lot – Every Tuesday in August
Each Tuesday in August, from 1 pm to 3 pm, the Crown Point Community Church hosts a craft afternoon for folks of all ages in the church parking lot (92 Ottawa Street North). All materials are provided, and all are welcome to craft!

For more information, please visit here.

Kitchen Garden Education Sessions – August 13
The Children’s Garden has partnered with Dundurn National Historic Site to facilitate a free one-hour education session on Saturday, August 13, beginning at 10 am. Registration is required, and space is limited. For more information, and to register, please visit here.

Movies in the Park – August 13
All neighbours are welcome to join another free Movies in the Park event on Saturday, August 13th. Big thanks to Barton Village BIA and Playhouse Cinemas who have partnered to bring community together and enjoy a family-friendly movie in Woodlands Park (501 Barton St. E). Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory will be the feature movie next Saturday, at 8 pm until 11 pm. For more information, and to find out what the next upcoming movie will be, please visit 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!

Nrinder Nann 2022-07-21 Nrinder Nann 2022-07-21

Fourth Dose Eligibility, Lead Pipe Replacement, Call for Local Talent, & Events in Ward 3

Dear Neighbours,

I hope you are making the most of these summer days and nights. There are so many incredible events being hosted across the ward this July. We’ve listed a few for you to consider attending!

I want to thank the dedicated team of volunteers, along with Green Venture and the Barton Village BIA that transformed the space beside Hello Baked as part of the latest #DepaveBarton project over the past two Saturdays. This project reclaims the soil, brings back a natural system of filtration for our stormwater, helps cool our urban environment, and does the beautiful thing of merging our climate actions with placemaking. Swing by next time you are on Barton Street.

The next Committee and Council meeting cycle is in August, so, in this newsletter we are focusing on updates from public health on fourth dose vaccine eligibility, City services, engagement opportunities, and events upcoming in Ward 3.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

LRT Sub Committee
During the LRT Sub Committee meeting this Monday, we reviewed the 2019 design and moved to ensure our Hamilton interests of complete streets, Vision Zero and Climate Action help inform the final iteration. Policy updates such as the revised Truck Route Network and the conversion of main to two-way will also be key to informing the final design. We will receive a further update on this in September.

The Sub-Committee also expanded our key community stakeholder group to include the Hamilton Community Benefits Network as a non-voting advisory member to the committee along with the Chamber of Commerce, BIAs, homebuilder associations and other institutional partners.

COVID-19 Status Update
COVID-19 transmission rates in Hamilton are high and continuing to increase in BA.2.12.1 and BA.5 sub-variants. Vaccination remains the most important way to protect against COVID-19 health impacts. It is critical to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination by receiving all eligible doses. Hamilton Public Health Services strongly recommends wearing a well-fitting mask indoors, especially when it’s crowded.

Vaccination Availability
As of July 14, 2022, fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are available for those aged 18 and over. Though appointments are recommended, many neighbours have been able to walk-in and get their fourth dose this past weekend.

It is strongly recommended that immunocompromised individuals 18+ and other previously eligible and high-risk individuals, receive their fourth dose of vaccine if they have not already. This includes:
• Individuals aged 60+;
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18+; and
• Residents of local long-term care homes, retirement homes, or an Elder Care Lodge and older adults living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services

Community members 18 to 59 years old with an underlying health condition(s), such as heart disease or cancer, are recommended to receive a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Most individuals aged 18 to 59 years old will continue to have strong protection against COVID-19 after more than six months after their first booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Newly eligible individuals should consider their personal circumstances and their individual risk profile when considering the timing of their fourth dose of vaccine.

It is recommended that those that are eligible and have not yet received their third dose of COVID-19 vaccine strongly consider getting their third dose.

You can book your vaccine appointment online if you:
• Have an Ontario health card (green photo health card OR red and white health card)
• Have an email address OR a cell phone that can receive SMS messages (texts)

If you do not have access to online booking, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment. Translation services are available by phone.

Vaccine Clinics
For a full list of clinics across the City, please see here: https://www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.

Additionally, residents are also encouraged to check with local pharmacies who are offering COVID-19 vaccinations.

Lead Service Replacement Program
The uptake for the Lead Service Replacement Program has been slow. We have more than 20,000 homes built before 1955 that may have a lead water service pipe connecting the homes to the city municipal water supply, and many of these homes are in Ward 3. Lead is toxic to humans, ongoing exposure to even small amounts of lead can be harmful to human health, especially for vulnerable communities. That’s why we wanted to bring this program to your attention so you can take advantage of it.

The Lead Service Replacement Program aims to tackle this health issue at the source by removing it. The program removes the lead water service pipe from the property line to the water main, while the water service pipe from inside the home to the property line is the responsibility of the homeowner to replace.

If you rent your home, call your landlord, superintendent or property management company to ask about the water pipes in your home or building. If you are still unsure of your water service type, call 905-546-2489 and request a free Check Size and Type Inspection of your water service line.

A $2,500 interest-bearing loan opportunity exists from the City of Hamilton for property owners who would like to replace their lead water line. Homeowners who have qualified for low-income energy customer support programs such as, LEAP (Low-Income Energy Assistance Program) or OESP (Ontario Electricity Support Program) are eligible for a zero interest loan to cover the cost of the replacement. The loan will remain interest-free unless the customer defaults on payments.

For more information, please visit here.

Childcare Agreement Update: Launch of Expression of Interest
The City has released an Expression of Interest (EOI) available to all licensed child care operators to participate in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement (CWELCC). After submitting interest in CWELCC, child care operators will proceed to the next step of the application to opt-in.

The Expression of Interest must be emailed to CWELCC@hamilton.ca by July 25, 2022. If you do not submit the Expression of Interest by July 25, 2022, the City of Hamilton will contact you to complete the formal opt-out process.

For more information and to view the Expression of Interest form, please visit here. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jessica Chase, Director Children's Services and Community Services Division at 905-546-2489 ext. 3590 or via email at jessica.chase@hamilton.ca.

Proper Disposal of Sharps – Waste Management Services
Sharp waste hidden in garbage and blue boxes pose serious health and safety risks for our waste collection workers, family members and pets. Safe and proper disposal of all waste, especially sharp objects, avoids injury for everyone.

Sharp household items like broken glass, dishes, knives, mirrors, razor blades and scissors must be sealed in a cardboard box clearly labeled “BROKEN GLASS” or “SHARP WASTE” and placed on top of or beside your garbage bag.

For more waste safety tips, please visit here.

Food Strategy in Hamilton – Survey Closes July 22
With the rising cost of food and concerns about sustainable production, food security is something that touches us all. I’d like to encourage you to share your input on the City’s Food Strategy to shape how we move forward to 2026.

The Food Strategy was adopted in 2016 and has provided a vision for Hamilton as a city with a sustainable food system where all people at all times have economic and physical access to enough safe, nutritious food to meet their needs. The roadmap of actions to achieve these goals was also based on input from the community. Now, at the halfway mark, it is time to re-assess the progress towards these goals. Take the survey here.

Park Winter Washroom Pilot Program – Provide Feedback Until July 29
In 2021, Council approved a two-year pilot program making select park washrooms available for use in the fall/winter season, October 1 to May 1, during daylight hours.

For fall/winter 2021/2022, the following locations in Ward 3, which required little or no facility alterations, were made available for year-round use:
• Woodlands Park
• Gage Park Washroom (by baseball diamond)
• Gage Park Washroom (by splash pad)

The following locations in Ward 3 are receiving facility upgrades or portable toilets to make them available for use year-round for year two of the pilot program, fall/winter 2022/2023:
• JC Beemer Park

Residents are encouraged to provide feedback on their experience using park washrooms in year one of the pilot program. You can do so by taking the Winter Washroom Survey, or joining the discussion, including suggesting new locations or providing other comments and ideas.

For more information, and to provide input, please visit here.

Calling Local Talent – Ottawa Street BIA
The Ottawa Street BIA is looking for local street performers to busk at their Annual Sidewalk Sale on September 24, 2022. Please email info@shopottawastreet.com with references of your performances. Please note they do not have access to any power or outlets.

Concrete Canvas Fest – July 18 - 24
Concrete Canvas is a multi-day visual arts festival where local and internationally acclaimed artists alike gather in Hamilton to paint murals live across the city in an effort to elevate the visual landscape of the city while simultaneously inspiring a new generation of artists. This is a one-of-a-kind self-guided event series that brings the Hamilton community together to celebrate art, music, culture, and diversity over one weekend.

This initiative is in full collaboration with the City of Hamilton. The Ward 3 office has been working directly with Concrete Canvas to expand the Woodlands Park wall, get some incredible murals up at Powell Park, and by supporting the training and education components for emerging artists.

Please join in celebrating the diverse community of artists from July 18th to the 24th. For more details, please visit concretecanvasfest.com.

Ward 3 Office Community Pop Ups – July 26 & 28th
The last two Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups in July will be on Tuesday, July 26th, and Thursday, July 28. We will be “popping up” at Bishop’s Park on the 26th between 1 pm and 3 pm, and on the 28th, at JC Beemer Park between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm.

These Pop-Ups are an opportunity to connect one-on-one with neighbours in #OurWard3. Our objective with this roaming casework initiative is to listen to the issues that matter most to you and identify the next steps to help address them.

Please note that many issues require consultation with City Staff, so we may not be able to bring everything to immediate resolution. Where that is the case, we will be sure to follow up and keep you in the loop as we work toward getting you the answers and support you need.

Please make sure to keep your mask on when you come by. And help get the word out to our neighbours without Internet access.

46th Annual Festival of Friends – July 29 - 31st
The Festival of Friends is back with the first full three-day event since 2019, and has announced the lineup for its free music festival. The long running event returns July 29, 30, and 31st of the Civic Holiday long weekend at Gage Park.

Serena Ryder will kick off the event on Friday night with her extensive rock catalogue, joined by opening act Ryland James. Saturday will feature Monster Truck, Hamilton-born hard-rock favourites, as well as, the Snotty Nose Rez Kids, an Indigenous hip-hop duo who have received international accolades as the newest stars in First Nations music. The festival will close on Sunday with a country music theme per tradition, with Albertan new-country star Gord Bamford closing out the night, joined by opener George Canyon.

In addition to 3 stages of music featuring 30+ musical acts, the festival includes craft & food vendors, a huge midway, pony rides, and an escape room. Admission is free and the festival runs rain or shine.

For the full schedule and details, please visit 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!

Nrinder Nann 2022-07-07 Nrinder Nann 2022-07-07

Safer Streets Update, Ward 3 Parks and Major Projects, July Office Pop-Up Schedule & more

Dear Neighbours,

This week is a concentrated committee and council schedule. Rather than meeting over two weeks this month, everything is condensed into one week. That is why we won’t be hosting a pop-up of office hours in the community this week. However we will have two next week! Please see below for more detail on those.

Thank you to all the #OurWard3 neighbours who participated in the two community meetings my office hosted last month and dropped in for direct support at the pop-ups. Here is the link for a good neighbours meeting about Tim Horton’s Field, and the Ward 3 Complete Streets Report review which you can submit comments until the end of the day today.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Safer Streets Update
This week’s Public Works Committee had a big focus on safer streets. We received the annual collision report, the Complete Streets Design Manual, report back on an in-service safety audit I requested, and motions to continue our ward-specific progress.

The collision report outlined that though the number of collisions has reduced, the number of deaths increased to sixteen people. In 2022, we have already had ten people killed in the first half of the year. As a city, we are facing a ten year high in the number of pedestrians harmed or killed due to being struck by drivers. And, more and more of those fatal collisions are happening in intersections, at crosswalks or on sidewalks.

There is a collision every 63 mins, there is a death every 26 days, a person is injured every 6 hours, a pedestrian hit every 1.5 days, and a cyclist struck every 2.5 days. This reality requires the City to redesign our roadways for safety and community living. That’s where the Complete Streets Design Manual approved at PW Committee yesterday comes in. It functions as a transformative design tool to set a new standard informing every reconstruction, every new repaving and new roadway construction across Hamilton. It gives residents an opportunity to have a say in shaping our communities along the way. At its core, it is about design, but also about what and who we value as we strive to achieve zero injuries and zero deaths on our roads.

The first wave of major roadways in Ward 3 that will see this design manual applied include Wilson, Sherman, Barton, Main and King. The principles were also applied to the Ward 3 Comprehensive Complete Streets Report which recommends over 128 safety enhancements to our neighbourhood roadways that you can review and still provide input on until the end of the day today.

Many of the short-term safety enhancement measures for Main and King Streets are outlined in this update in response to the motion Councillor Wilson and I brought forward in May. Council will have the opportunity to discuss these measures this Friday.

Also at this week’s meeting, I tabled a notice of motion to have Wentworth Street reviewed to identify and implement safety enhancements and reduce the speed limit to 30 km/hr after a young neighbour was struck by a truck. The accident left the youth with severe facial fractures, and occurred beside Cathy Wever Elementary School. I’m also working with staff to bring forward a motion to review parts of Sherman Avenue. This week a four year old was struck at Sherman and Clinton by a driver in a pickup truck.

We also received an update from the safety audit I called for of the intersection at Barton and Wellington where Mr. DeSouza was killed after being struck by a dump truck last year. Staff will be implementing immediate and long term safety enhancements to the intersection starting this year.

In the face of so many devastating injuries and deaths, I remain hopeful that we can get things right in Hamilton. The reports and discussion at this week’s Committee meeting along with the Ward 3 specific solutions we have implemented show the systemic response many residents have been waiting decades for to achieve safer streets and to create better, more liveable communities.

Semi-Autonomous Board of Health Structure
In an effort to deepen expertise and representation to ensure we meet population health targets, some residents, governance experts and councillors believe we need to evolve the Hamilton Board of Health make up. So, on Wednesday, the Board of Health approved direction to get more information from the Ministry of Health about what may be both possible and required in moving towards a semi-autonomous structure that would see a new make up of some Councillors and some selected community members. A decision towards enacting a change would be determined by a future term of council.

Transitioning From Emergency Supports Towards a Sustainable Response to Homelessness
In response to the increased need during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Hamilton has expanded its emergency shelter response in the family, women, and men’s emergency shelter systems, both with additional beds and support services. While hotel spaces have been a critical resource for the homeless-serving system throughout COVID-19, maintaining the current level of response is financially and operationally unsustainable.

According to the report being discussed today at Emergency & Community Services Committee, we can anticipate the maximizing of capacity at the Good Shepherd Cathedral temporary women’s shelter to 100 by September 30, 2022. I will be inquiring about the concerns raised about upkeep of the facility and projected closure of this temporary location today.

I encourage residents to read this report and pay attention to the next one coming in August to better understand how the City is responding to the complex needs of residents experiencing homelessness.

A new Community Garden at JC Beemer Park
The City will be partnering with the Roots For Justice program to establish boxes and a community access food garden at JC Beemer Park this summer. At ECS today, I will be supporting this program with an allocation of $5000 from the Ward 3 Bell Tower account which we have used this term to support smaller, resident-led initiatives across the ward.

Monkeypox
The City of Hamilton has confirmed its first case of monkeypox in a resident of Hamilton, who was most likely infected during a recent visit to the City of Toronto. The individual is currently isolating and Hamilton Public Health Services has notified all close contacts.

Based on the encouraging uptake from last week’s pop-up monkeypox vaccination clinic where over 60 at-risk community members received a monkeypox vaccine, Hamilton Public Health Services will be holding a second pop-up monkeypox vaccination clinic for at-risk community members at the East End Public Health Clinic (247 Centennial Pkwy N, Unit 8, Hamilton) on Thursday, July 7, 2022. The clinic is operating from 9 am to 11 am and 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm by appointment only. Hamilton Public Health Services continues to work collaboratively with community partners, such as The AIDS Network, to ensure at-risk community members are provided with information about the virus and the upcoming clinic.

While the risk to Hamiltonians from this infection remains very low, Hamilton Public Health Services is working closely with the Ontario Ministry of Health, Toronto Public Health and other Public Health Units in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to ensure there are proactive actions taken in response to the virus. For more information on vaccine eligibility, and for appointment-booking information, please visit here.

COVID-19 Status Update
COVID-19 transmission in Hamilton is beginning to increase. Most recently, there has been an increased frequency of the BA.2.12.1 and BA.5 sub-variants.

To stay updated, please visit here.

Vaccination remains the most important way to protect against COVID-19 and its health effects. It is critical to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination by receiving all eligible doses. Hamilton Public Health Services strongly recommends wearing a well-fitting mask indoors, especially when it’s crowded. As much as possible, people should limit their social contacts.

Vaccination Availability
Fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are available for those age 60 and older and First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over, 5 months (140 days) after their previous booster dose. Fourth doses are available by appointment only.

You can book your vaccine appointment online if you:
Have an Ontario health card (green photo health card OR red and white health card)
Have an email address OR a cell phone that can receive SMS messages (texts)

If you do not have access to online booking, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment. Translation services are available by phone.

Vaccine Clinics
For a full list of clinics across the City, please see here: hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.

Brightside Park Update
Transforming a brown field into a state of art city park is taking longer than anticipated at the Brightside Park site. I wanted to provide residents with an update as to why.

Last year, when the city tore down remaining structures on the property to discourage trespassing it unearthed two transformer vault rooms. An area of the site where “unexpectedly high levels of contamination” was discovered. Also, in February this year, consultants discovered that before development of the factory in the early 1900s, a “waterway ran through the property.” Although the site has been filled for over 100 years, the waterway could still be flowing underground. This discovery could explain high water levels on the land and could potentially act as a pathway for contaminants.

As such, the City must carry out our utmost diligence in this environmental assessment. This in turn pushes the project timeline forward beyond what was initially projected. The project webpage for Brightside Park has been updated including information on the revised timeline:

• 2021 to 2024 - Detailed design of park and field house, including environmental mitigation measures, Ministry approvals and permits
• 2024 - Possible start of park construction, pending Ministry and budget approvals

If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarah Eakins, Landscape Architect at sarah.eakins@hamilton.ca or by calling 905-546-2424 ext. 4667.

Woodlands Park Spray Pad Update
The new spray pad for Woodlands Park was initially projected for construction in the summer of 2022. This timing was identified by City staff in the December 2021 PIC. The community engagement survey results indicated a strong desire to include Indigenous Heritage in the theme of the spray pad. To ensure a good relations approach to celebrate and include aspects of Indigenous culture within the design, City Staff have been working with Niwasa and Indigenous representatives from Hamilton, Brantford, and surrounding areas. Staff have met and corresponded with this Indigenous stakeholder group over the past 6 months to finalize details of the design. This consultation has been very important and will lead to a meaningful inclusion of Indigenous languages into the final design. And so, in order to do things well, the original timeline has shifted.

Staff now anticipate construction to begin in the fall of 2022. Please keep in mind that there is potential that construction will carry over into spring of 2023, due to the nature of the work and potential weather impacts late in the year. The plan is to have the spray pad ready for the 2023 season.

We will share further information when the project page is updated.

DepaveParadise Project – Green Venture – July 9 & 16
Green Venture is holding two volunteer opportunities at 342 Barton Street East this coming Saturday, July 9, and the following Saturday, July 16. For more detail on each event, please visit here.

This #DepaveParadise project is a smaller part of the “depave Barton” ongoing initiatives. Green Venture, in partnership with the Barton Village BIA, Adele Pierre - Landscape Architect, and the City of Hamilton, are introducing more plants, more permeable paving, and more seating space to the Barton Village. This project was made possible through capital funds made available by the Ward 3 Office, and with support from the Green Communities Canada Depave Paradise program.

To register for these events, please visit here. Please note that registration is required, and space is limited.

4Twelve Barton Project – St. Matthew’s House
St. Matthew’s House has developed the 4Twelve Barton Project to act with a targeted response and model of how to address the need for safe affordable housing with supports for seniors who face multiple barriers. The property at 412 Barton, next door to St. Matthew’s House Children’s Centre, will be converted to 12 deeply affordable units. They are intended for seniors facing homelessness, with a special focus on Indigenous and Black older adults 55+, designating 50% of the units for women. The units will be deeply accessible and adaptable to physical challenges.

St. Matthew’s House understands that it takes more than just four walls to make a place feel like a home. They will have a team on site to connect tenants to supports which address their needs of mental health, mobility issues, food insecurity and other barriers for a more wholistic approach to community. Therefore, they are seeking funds through a Capital Campaign for The 4Twelve Barton Project. These funds will contribute to unit construction and furnishings, community food security centre, facilities and storage capacities for tenants.

For more information on the project, and to donate in support, please visit StMatthewsHouse.ca/4Twelve-Barton.

Food Strategy in Hamilton – Survey Closes July 22
Engage Hamilton is seeking community input on the Hamilton’s Food Strategy, about new food programs, and food education. The Food Strategy provides a vision for Hamilton as a city with a sustainable food system where all people at all times have economic and physical access to enough safe, nutritious food to meet their needs.

Hamilton’s Food Strategy outlines a roadmap of actions to achieve these goals based on input from the community and was adopted as a ten-year strategy in 2016. They are now halfway through this commitment and looking to assess the progress towards these goals. Residents can provide input through this survey here until July 22.

The results of this survey will be summarized in a report that will be submitted to Public Health. Your feedback will help the City determine how far this strategy has come, and where they need to focus their efforts between now and 2026.

For more information, please visit here.

Ward 3 Office Community Pop Ups – July Schedule
The Ward 3 office is “popping up” four times this month:

• Tuesday, July 12 – 1-3 pm
430 Cumberland Avenue

• Thursday, July 14 – 6:30-8:30 pm
JC Beemer (68 Victoria Avenue North)

• Tuesday, July 19 – 1-3 pm
The “Box” at St. Matthew’s House (414 Barton Street East)

• Tuesday, July 26 – 1-3 pm
Bishop’s Park (91 East Avenue South)

These Pop-Ups are an opportunity to connect one-on-one with neighbours in #OurWard3. Our objective with this roaming casework initiative is to listen to the issues that matter most to you and identify the next steps to help address them.

Please note that many issues require consultation with City Staff, so we may not be able to bring everything to immediate resolution. Where that is the case, we will be sure to follow up and keep you in the loop as we work toward getting you the answers and support you need.

Please make sure to keep your mask on when you come by. And help get the word out to our neighbours without Internet access.

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!

Nrinder Nann 2022-06-22 Nrinder Nann 2022-06-22

E-Newsletter Postponed Until July 7, 2022

Dear Neighbours,

Happy first day of summer! I hope you are all enjoying the summer weather and increased community events outdoors in our neighbourhoods. With hotter days on the horizon, I want to encourage neighbours to stay cool, and visit the City’s website at hamilton.ca/heat for information on cool places in Ward 3 and across the City that are open for residents to cool off in during heat warnings.

Due to some website issues, this week’s e-newsletter will not be coming out. The regular e-newsletter schedule will resume on Thursday, July 7th. Thank you for your understanding. I encourage neighbours to check out our social media channels listed below for regular updates.
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter

The Ward 3 Office remains proud and committed to serving all #OurWard3 communities. Should you need anything, please reach us by email at ward3@hamilton.ca or call (905) 546-2702.ets Report review which you can submit comments until the end of the day today.

Yours in community,

Councillor 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!

Nrinder Nann 2022-06-14 Nrinder Nann 2022-06-14

Vacant Homes Tax, Complete Streets Report, Ward 3 Pop-Ups, COVID-19 Update & more

Dear Neighbours,

We have a lot to celebrate and learn this month as June is National Indigenous History Month, Seniors Month, and Pride Month. Here are the links to get more details about each:

• National Indigenous History Month
• Seniors Month
• Pride Month

For Pride this year, I would like to encourage you to help foster belonging for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community by participating in Hamilton Porch Pride and decorating your porch, front yard, door or windows in support, solidarity and celebration of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I hope to see more and more visible solidarity on proud display across #OurWard3 this month. Encourage your neighbours to participate and cover your block in inclusive rainbows that include: black, brown, pink, light blue, white and more! For more information on Hamilton Porch Pride 2022, please visit the event on Facebook.

A big shout out to the Barton Village BIA for all your work in bringing back the street fest this year. It was so lovely to be back outside together again connecting with so many residents, vendors, artists and local businesses on Saturday.

Last Tuesday’s Coffee With Your Councillor, I was joined by Jessica Chase, Director of Children’s and Community Services, and Brenda Bax, Manager in Children’s and Community Services to discuss the Canada-wide Early Learning and Childcare Agreement. Thank you to everyone who engaged through the social media comments during the discussion. To learn more on how the $10 day childcare program will likely roll out, timeline updates, and hear the answers to neighbours’ questions, you can watch the video here, and visit here for more information.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Eliminating the $100 Fee for Integrity Commissioner Complaints
The Ontario Ombudsperson’s Office wrote to Council earlier this year stating that the $100 fee to file a complaint is a barrier. I advocated to eliminate the fee at that meeting, but the remainder of Council preferred to have the Governance Review Sub Committee review the issue. The committee agreed that the fee may penalize complainants from exercising their statutory rights, and may prevent legitimate complaints about a sitting City Councillor for violations of the Code of Conduct from being brought forward due to concerns about financial cost. And as such, at Council last week, the majority voted to eliminate it. It no longer will cost $100 to file a complaint with the Integrity Commissioner.

Vacant Homes Tax
I am proud to announce that Council has finally ratified the Vacant Homes Tax! After tabling it in the 2019 budget process, it took a few years to thoroughly educate Council and the public on this housing initiative and tax policy. Reminder, this is about getting vacant homes occupied and taxing those that remain vacant. It is a cost recovery model of implementation, meaning no tax levy dollars are required to get this program going. A final implementation plan will be reported to Council with annual reports thereafter.

For more details on the program, check out the staff report.

Condo Conversion – Protecting Rental Units Policy
At the last Planning Committee, Staff presented a report looking at how we may better protect rental units facing condo conversion. Council approved for Staff to consult with stakeholders and the public on the proposed Official Plan Amendment relating to policies about conversion of rental housing to condominium tenure and demolition of rental housing. As well as, how to better regulate the demolition and conversion of rental housing in the City of Hamilton.

Staff will report back to Planning Committee with final recommendations on the Official Plan Amendment and the Municipal Act By-law, with any modifications based on the results of the stakeholder and public consultation. We will share when the consultation process is underway.

Ward 3 Complete Streets Report – Investing in Implementation
In order to enable Staff to implement some of the recommendations to help reduce speed and make our neighbourhoood roads safer this year, I allocated $450,000 of Ward 3 discretionary capital funds. This was ratified at Council last week. To learn more about the proposed solutions, please join my office for a virtual community consultation on June 23rd at 6:30 pm and provide your input. Register by emailing ward3@hamilton.ca.

Community Meeting – With Staff from Tim Hortons Field – June 21
A community meeting has been booked for residents and representatives from Tim Hortons FIeld, as an opportunity to listen to local neighbours’ concerns in order to best address them. Neighbours are encouraged to join us virtually on June 21 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. Please email our office for the Zoom registration link, at ward3@hamilton.ca.

We have heard from neighbours of Tim Hortons Field that they have some concerns about the stadium, including light and noise pollution, parking and security during events, and garbage issues. We have raised them with Staff, but also want to give residents an opportunity to voice their concerns.

Please reach out to our office if you have any questions, or are unable to attend the meeting but would like your concerns to be heard, and if you are able to help drop some flyers to ensure word gets to our residents who are not on social media. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the community meeting will be available afterward.

Ward 3 Complete Streets Review – Community Consultation – June 23
Please save the date to join us on Thursday, June 23 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm for a virtual community meeting to review the Ward 3 Complete Streets Report. The staff presentation will include recommendations from community-informed areas of concern and traffic studies.

Residents will have an opportunity to provide input on potential design interventions to enhance safety and reduce speed. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

For more information and to register in advance, please email our office at ward3@hamilton.ca.

Ward 3 Office Community Pop Ups – June & July Schedule
The Ward 3 office is holding Office Pop-Ups throughout June and July. These Pop-Ups are an opportunity to connect one-on-one with neighbours in #OurWard3. Our objective with this roaming casework initiative is to listen to the issues that matter most to you and identify the next steps to help address them.

Please see below for the confirmed dates, times, and locations of each Pop Up.
• Friday, June 17 – 1-3 pm
30 Sanford Avenue South (Gazebo outside)

• Thursday, June 30 – 1-3 pm
St. Matthew’s House “Box” (414 Barton Street East)

• Tuesday, July 12 – 1-3 pm
430 Cumberland Avenue

• Thursday, July 14 – 6:30-8:30 pm
JC Beemer (68 Victoria Avenue North)

• Tuesday, July 19 – 1-3 pm
St. Matthew’s House “Box” (414 Barton Street East)

• Tuesday, July 26 – 1-3 pm
Bishop’s Park (91 East Avenue South)

Please note that many issues require consultation with City Staff, so we may not be able to bring everything to immediate resolution. Where that is the case, we will be sure to follow up and keep you in the loop as we work toward getting you the answers and support you need.

Please make sure to keep your mask on when you come by. And help get the word out to our neighbours without Internet access.

50% Discounted HSR Summer Youth Fares – June 1 to August 31
This summer, youth between the ages of 13 and 19 using PRESTO will ride for half the price, beginning June 1 and ending August 31, 2022. This means youth can travel as much as they’d like for only $8.40 per week! The 50% discount will automatically apply to single rides and monthly passes when using a PRESTO card set for a youth concession. School or government-issued ID will be required. The summer youth fare is a great opportunity for youth who are working a summer job, taking summer school or getting back out into the city for summer events and activities.

As well, residents using a PRESTO card will earn free fare faster with HSR’s enhanced loyalty program. Enjoy free fare after eight rides per week until December 31, 2022. HSR is conscious of the pinch that young families in our community are feeling, so children ages 6-12 using a PRESTO card ride free until April 30, 2023. Visit any HPL branch and show your child’s library card to get a free child’s PRESTO card while quantities last.

Please visit hamilton.ca/ReadyToRide and hpl.ca/bus-card for more information.

Norman Pinky Lewis Pool – Reopened June 9
The pool at Norman Pinky Lewis Recreation Centre has reopened as of Thursday June 9, for all regular scheduled drop in and registered swim programs. The pool closed on May 25, due to flashing falling from the ceiling onto the deck of both pools. All drop in and registered pool programming were cancelled while the repairs were being made. This work has now been completed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to recreation@hamilton.ca.

Volunteer at Hamilton Recreation Centres
The City of Hamilton Recreation division is now accepting applications for various volunteer positions in recreation facilities across the City. Hamilton’s Recreation division offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals who would like hands-on experience supporting swimming lessons, dryland registered programs, camps, and program logistics to work towards future employment. To learn more, register for an information session on June 16 at www.hamilton.ca/recjobs.

New Truck Route Comment Period – Ends June 17
I want to remind neighbours that the new truck route network map and Report are available for public review and input now until June 17. Residents can provide written comments to Omar Shams, Project Manager, Transportation Planning, at transportation@hamilton.ca. If you would like to review the documents and comment in person, please see here for the list of locations.

For further details, and to learn more about the objectives of the Truck Route Master Plan Review, please visit here.

Open Streets: Temporary Linear Urban Park – Survey Open Until June 23
The City of Hamilton is seeking public input on an Open Streets pilot project through a survey, open to take until June 23. This project would turn King Street into a Temporary Urban Linear Park from Gage Park to Gore Park.

On one weekend day this fall, four kilometres of linear roadway space would be transformed into additional public space that could be used for cycling, physical activity stations and small urban activations. This project is being conducted as a pilot, and if determined a success, could move forward with additional dates in 2023.

Your input will help the City of Hamilton understand the interest in this project from local residents, and to help guide the final design of the project. City staff expect to bring a draft recommendation to City Council in August with more project specifics based on consultation. To take the survey, please see here. For more information on the project, please see here.

At Board of Health on Monday, Staff presented the most recent gathered COVID-19 data. The data stated that COVID-19 transmission in Hamilton is decreasing. As well, the number of reported cases, individuals tested, percent positivity, active outbreaks and wastewater signal, all continue to decrease. Case activity is now lower than what was seen between the most recent two waves (February 2022). In terms of severity indicators, hospitalizations are decreasing overall, and ICU admissions and fatalities remain stable and low. These numbers, however, are not lower than pre-Omicron levels. Hamilton’s COVID-19 forecast predicts a 7th wave in Fall 2022 due to waning immunity and the potential for increased transmission.

Hamilton Public Health Services strongly recommends wearing a well-fitting mask indoors, especially when it’s crowded. Vaccination remains the most important way to protect against COVID-19 and its health effects. It is important to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination by receiving all eligible doses.

Vaccination Availability
Fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are available for those age 60 and older and First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over, 5 months (140 days) after their previous booster dose. Fourth doses are available by appointment only.

You can book your vaccine appointment online if you:
Have an Ontario health card (green photo health card OR red and white health card)
Have an email address OR a cell phone that can receive SMS messages (texts)

If you do not have access to online booking, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment. Translation services are available by phone.
Individuals age 30 and over will be offered the Moderna vaccine when arriving at a vaccine clinic; however individuals can request to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer vaccine will continue to be offered to those under the age of 30.

Vaccine Clinics
For a full list of clinics across the City, please see here: https://www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.

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!

Nrinder Nann 2022-05-27 Nrinder Nann 2022-05-27

Depave Barton Project, Inclusionary Zoning, Vaccine Clinics, Barton Village Festival, & more

Dear Neighbours,

It was great to see so many of you virtually this past Tuesday during Coffee With Your Councillor for a live Q & A with Mike Field, Director (Acting), Transportation Operations & Maintenance. We gathered questions sent in by neighbours by email, on social media, and in the comments section during the live forum – thank you to all who engaged. Director Field shared his knowledge on the City’s road maintenance and operations, safer streets, and by-law regulations.

If you missed it, please watch the video here and check out the Transportation Operations & Maintenance webpage for more information.

I want to remind neighbours that my office is launching neighbourhood based Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups starting today, Friday, May 27th at 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. We will be set up at the “box” outside St. Matthew’s House on 414 Barton St E. When you come by please remember to keep your mask on.

This newsletter includes updates from Council and Committee regarding Inclusionary Zoning and a continuation of the Depave Barton initiative. As well as, vaccine clinic opportunities across Ward 3, City service updates, engagement opportunities and some exciting events coming in June.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Inclusionary Zoning & OPA
Inclusionary zoning is a municipal planning tool granted by the province that enables cities to require private developers to include affordable housing in their builds.

The call for Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) has been championed locally by the Just Recovery Coalition and many more for years, prior to the pandemic. Certainly, IZ alone is not enough, however it is one tool towards addressing the housing crisis we face in Hamilton.

We discussed it at the LRT Sub Committee last week and ratified it at Council this week to include the stations stops along the LRT and Go stations into the Municipal Comprehensive Review.

I remain committed to working together with Council and the community for a policy that indicates a bold percentage of affordable units per build, clear incentives to support those builds, and ensures the city is using every tool available to us to deliver affordable and mixed housing communities that give all a place to belong.

Depave Barton Projects Continue
I’m proud to support the third Depave Barton project in #OurWard3. At GIC Committee Meeting on May 18, 2022 I moved to allocate funds towards the third Depave Barton initiative.

Green Venture is a registered not-for-profit charity focused on empowering Hamiltonians to implement greener practices in their homes and community to make our City a climate champion. They have been leading the depave Barton initiative in partnership with the Barton Village BIA for the past three years. Together, they have worked to depave city boulevards, plant trees and gardens, and install seating areas in order to reduce stormwater runoff, mitigate climate change, and beautify the Barton Village area.

The continuation of the depave initiatives is very well celebrated, and is a source of pride for residents and adjacent businesses that have agreed to take on these projects on Barton. It is also well celebrated through the Barton Village Festival. This project not only brings together volunteers, but also gives residents an educational opportunity to better understand how landscaping can have a direct impact on quality of life. Most importantly, depaving initiatives contribute to placemaking, where parts of the lower city have seen areas paved over and benches removed historically. This is bringing life and community back, and is very much in line with some of our principles around Complete Streets as well.

My motion to provide financial support in the amount of $50,000 for a new Depave Barton project was approved at Council this past Wednesday, May 25.

Bike Month – “Bike Thru” – May 30
Hamilton’s Annual Bike Day will return in person on Monday, May 30 at City Hall Forecourt (71 Main St. West) between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Residents are welcome to join the hundreds of cyclists who will converge onto City Hall from across the city on May 30, for a “Bike Thru”. Refreshments will be available while supplies last. To register, please see here.

It’s also the kick-off event to celebrate the annual Bike Month, which runs from throughout June. To view the event calendar and details, please visit here.

All are encouraged to register online, and pledge to cycle on Bike Day or during Bike Month, to win 1 of 3 prize packs which includes a $100 VISA gift card. Please visit hamilton.ca/BikeMonth for details.

Barton Village Festival – June 11
The Barton Village Festival is returning to the streets on June 11, 2022! It has been over two years since the Barton Village BIA has been able to have the festival, and they are eager to bring back everything that made this event so special in the past. In six years, the festival has grown from a small gathering in Woodlands Park, to 20,000+ people enjoying a car-free Barton Street. Each year brings exciting new opportunities for all to enjoy.

Please join in saving the date, and look forward to lots of great food, vendors, entertainment, art, children’s activities, and much more.

For more information, please visit the Barton Village website, and festival page.

Recreation Facilities to Resume Regular Access – June 6
In alignment with provincial changes, all City of Hamilton recreation facilities will resume regular access and admission processes for services starting June 6, 2022. Reservations will no longer be an option for drop-in programming.

Residents can access drop-in programs upon arrival at all recreation centre customer service counters across the city. Should emergency measures be reinstated for capacities, gatherings, or contact tracing, reservation requirements for drop-in programs will resume.

The return to pre-pandemic admission procedures will reduce barriers to access programs for those challenged with technology or internet access. This will also allow for improved customer service when arriving at a recreation facility, assist the City in returning Free programs and swims, and to resume regular capacities for programs.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Recreation General Information by email at recreation@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-2424 ext. 3747.

Service Line Warranty Program
Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC) is a private company that provides optional water and/or wastewater warranty plans to homeowners. The City of Hamilton has moved forward to work with SLWC to offer optional warranty plans to residents.

The warranty program makes optional affordable protection available to residents for unexpected costs of repairing or replacing non-functioning water and service lines, as well as, broken interior plumbing and drainage systems. It also functions to educate residential property owners about their responsibilities for the maintenance, repair and replacement of water and sewer service lines (from their homes to the property line).

To learn more about the program, optional plans available, and the City’s participation/relationship with SLWC, please visit here.

Community Benefits Charges Strategy – Share Input Before June 2022
The City of Hamilton has begun work to establish a new Community Benefits Charge (CBC) Strategy and By-law under the Planning Act. A CBC is a financial contribution that is paid to the municipality when land is being developed. This charge will be used to fund a service or facility that will benefit the community, the new development and the incoming population.

To set a community benefits charge, the City of Hamilton must develop a community benefits charge strategy that identifies the facilities, services, and matters that will be funded with CBCs and comply with prescribed requirements, as well as, pass a by-law. The By-law draft document is available now for public review and feedback.

The proposed Community Benefits Charge Strategy and By-law will be presented in June 2022 for consideration and must be passed by City Council prior to the end of the statutory transition period on September 18, 2022. For more information, please visit here.

New Truck Routes Comment Period – Ends June 17
I remain proud to have delivered this massive win for our communities to take heavy trucks out of our neighbourhoods. The updated Truck Route Network and Truck Route Master Plan Study Report was ratified by Council on April 13, 2022.

The network map and Report are available for public review and input now until June 17. Residents can provide written comments to Omar Shams, Project Manager, Transportation Planning, at transportation@hamilton.ca. If you would like to review the documents and comment in person, please see here for the list of locations.

The study is exploring opportunities to advance the safe and efficient passage of trucks in Hamilton, to support economic activities and the movement of goods while balancing the needs of residents and communities. The master plan will recommend an updated truck route network and will outline supporting policies and strategies.

For further details, and to learn more about the objectives of the Truck Route Master Plan Review, please visit here.

Ward 3 Complete Streets Review – Community Consultation – June 23
Please save the date to join us on Thursday, June 23 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm for a virtual community meeting to review the Ward 3 Complete Streets Report. The staff presentation will include recommendations from community-informed areas of concern and traffic studies.

Residents will have an opportunity to provide input on potential design interventions to enhance safety and reduce speed. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

For more information and to register in advance, please email our office at ward3@hamilton.ca.

Vaccination Availability
As of April 7, 2022, fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are available for those age 60 and older and First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over, 5 months (140 days) after their previous booster dose. Fourth doses are available by appointment only.

You can book your vaccine appointment online if you:
Have an Ontario health card (green photo health card OR red and white health card)
Have an email address OR a cell phone that can receive SMS messages (texts)

If you do not have access to online booking, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment. Translation services are available by phone.

Appointments can be booked up to 14 days in advance. Additional appointments are added daily.

Individuals age 30 and over will be offered the Moderna vaccine when arriving at a vaccine clinic; however individuals can request to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer vaccine will continue to be offered to those under the age of 30.

Vaccine Clinics in Ward 3
Please see below for clinic opportunities across Ward 3. For a full list of clinics across the City, please see here: hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.

WALK-IN CLINICS (No Appointment Required)

Hamilton Public Library, Barton Branch - 571 Barton St. E.
(operated by Refuge Newcomer Health, DJNO, HCCI + partners).
Saturday, May 28 - 12 pm to 3 pm
No appt or health card required, interpretation, transportation + more supports available - email covidvaccine@newcomerhealth.ca or call 905-526-0000 (Ages 5+)

St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church – 440 King St E, Hamilton, ON L8N 1C6
Friday, May 27 – 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
(Outdoor clinic, dress for the weather) (Ages 5+)

Mission Services - 196 Wentworth St. N.
(use Good Food Centre/Community Services entrance)
Every Wednesday - 10 am to 12 pm
No appt or ID required, wheelchair accessible, support available in Spanish + booster shots to those eligible.
(Ages 12+)

APPOINTMENT ONLY CLINIC

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre - 678 Main St E
Fridays (check DAHC website for all clinic dates and times)
For those age 12+, book appointment online at aboriginalhealthcentre.com/covid19info
For those age 5-11, book an appointment by emailing covid19vaccine@dahac.ca or calling 905-544-4320 Ext. 399.

PHARMACY CLINICS

There are a number of Ward 3 pharmacies participating in the vaccine clinics. Please see here: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations and enter your postal code to find the pharmacy closest to 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!

Nrinder Nann 2022-05-12 Nrinder Nann 2022-05-12

Safer Streets Now, Landmarks and Monuments, Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups & Community Calls for Support

Dear Neighbours,

I hope you have had the chance to let the sun hit your face and take in all the blooming magnolias and flowers across Ward 3 the past two weeks. What a full two weeks it has been since the last newsletter!

First off, while COVID-19 remains a serious concern requiring ongoing efforts and vigilance, the City has terminated its State of Emergency. Click here for details on what this means.

Secondly, my office is launching neighbourhood based Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups starting Friday, May 27 at the “box” outside St. Matthew’s House on 414 Barton St E. See our social media channels for further details.

I wanted to remind residents that you have until May 13th to submit your comments on the design for the second phase of the Victoria Ave Cycle Track. You can view the virtual community consultation with staff on our YouTube channel and then submit your comments by email to ward3@hamilton.ca.

We’ve also been getting reports of some stinky air the past few days and wanted to take a moment to remind neighbours that you can report odour pollution to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). Please see here for a breakdown on how to contact the MECP. For additional support, please send this information to our Ward 3 Climate Action Coordinator, Kerry Le Clair at kerry.leclair@hamilton.ca. Kerry can work with you to determine how your report is handled.

This newsletter includes updates from Council regarding street safety, better options for travel, and landmarks across the City. As well as, City service updates, community calls for support, and upcoming events in Ward 3. Our office remains proud to serve all #OurWard3 communities. If you have any questions, reach us by email at ward3@hamilton.ca or call (905) 546-2702.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Safer Streets Now - Our roadways must be built for safety, not speed.
This Wednesday, Council approved the motion Councillor Wilson and I tabled calling for immediate interventions to improve safety for all users along Main Street and King Street such as: expanded and enhanced pedestrian space, temporary lane reductions, reduced parking restrictions, reduced speed limit, synchronized traffic light options, no right turn on red restrictions at intersections, and leading pedestrian intervals at crosswalks. The goal is to have these interventions in place as quickly as possible.

The motion also directed staff to create an implementation plan to convert Main Street from one-way to two-way, integrating a Complete Streets redesign. Converting Main to two-way will require working with Metrolinx and the Ministry of Transportation, as well as, consultation with the public which, when done well, takes time, meaning we are likely to see the conversion in place later.

Staff will also reassess all remaining one-way streets in the city utilizing the street conversion framework identified in the Transportation Master Plan and report back to Council.

Better Options for Travel Are Possible
At GIC last week, the Bay Area Climate Change Council presented recommendations from their Options for Travel - Giving Residents a Real Choice Report, which calls for low carbon transit options that are safe, reliable, and convenient for all residents. “If there are significant barriers to walking, cycling or taking public transit, we can’t reasonably expect residents to choose those forms of transportation”. I encourage residents to read it. Council directed staff to review the recommendations and report back.

Gage to Gore Open Street Pilot
At GIC last week, we heard about Staff’s recommendations to open up King Street to community life and use. Open streets have had a surge in cities across North America during the pandemic, giving residents more access to use the public realm safely. Open streets have also been deployed across cities to promote community life and support small businesses.

King Street would be closed to vehicular traffic from Gore to Gage during a pilot phase sometime this summer. I asked staff to ensure the adjacent neighbours are well informed of the project prior to implementing it. My office will share a further update when the plan is finalized.

Landmarks and Monuments Update
Last summer, Council approved next steps for the Landmarks and Monuments Review, so that Hamilton can better honour and acknowledge Indigenous contributions and context across the City. This process started with hearing first and foremost from the Indigenous community about landmarks and areas of historical significance. Further work is needed, and further consultation as well.

At Emergency Community Services Committee, next steps, which centre the work of building long term relationships with Indigenous communities and agreeing on a framework on how to do that moving forward were presented. Staff also recommended contextual signage to be placed at specific locations across the city to provide deeper understanding. Council ratified these actions along with allocating more resources to this work.

Overall, these steps reinforce the importance of “how” a municipality creates and names monuments while also creating the pathway to allow next generations to shape the world around them in a way that honours humanity.

Increasing Access to Tim Horton’s Field for Bernie Custis Students
The students of Bernie Custis Secondary School deserve the same opportunities that students in other areas have had access to for years. With Trustee Miller, I will continue finding solutions to meet the needs of students.

Earlier this Spring, I hosted a meeting with HWDSB Ward 3 Trustee Maria Felix Miller and City staff to find solutions to increasing access to the stadium field and brainstorm solutions to increase access to appropriate green space for sports and student activities.

At the joint HWDSB and City committee this week, staff presented the following solution: increased hours for the school to use the field between two slots every weekday: 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and 3:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. Approximately 270 hours is booked for the Bernie Custis School; the previous high was 54 hours. We are also exploring into the leveling of the berms between the highschool and Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre.
More updates to come.

Gage Park Walkway Reconstruction – May 9 - 20, May 23 - June 8
Final preparations are underway for the Gage Park Walkway reconstruction! This project consists of the park’s asphalt and walkway repavement, installation of accessible seating and waste receptacles, and repairment of lawn areas.

Paving is scheduled to begin during the week of May 9th, and be completed by May 20th. Please note this work is weather dependent. Between May 23rd and June 8th, benches and waste receptacles will be installed, and lawn areas will be repaired.

For more information, please visit hamilton.ca/gagepark. For further questions or concerns, please reach out to Ken Wheaton, Landscape Architect, Environmental Services by email at ken.wheaton@hamilton.ca, or call (905) 546-2424 Ext.2289

Housing Stability Benefit and Rent Ready Program
The Housing Stability Benefit (HSB) helps Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW) recipients and people with low income maintain their housing.

The Rent Ready Program (RRP) is a short-term benefit to support renters impacted by COVID-19. It can be accessed by those who have exhausted their Housing Stability Benefit (HSB) but require additional support to acquire or maintain housing. This COVID-19 support program will be operated until exhausted on a first come first serve basis.

Those eligible for the HSB must have exhausted this support prior to receiving RRP funding. Eligible income thresholds are the same for the Rent Ready program as the HSB program.

Please visit the City of Hamilton website for application details and more information. If you have any additional questions about the Rent Ready program, please contact HSB@hamilton.ca.

Please note, the Rent Ready program will also include a voluntary demographic questionnaire. Opting out of the questionnaire will have no impact on client eligibility; it is strictly to evaluate the program through an equity lens.

Aerial Spray Program to Reduce LDD Moth Populations – May 15 - June 15
From May 15th until June 15th, the City will begin its aerial spray program to address the areas where significant LDD Moth populations are located in Hamilton. (Exact dates and time are weather dependent.) The purpose of the aerial spray program is to help reduce populations of LLD Moth in Hamilton – it will not entirely eradicate the pest.

An organic biological insecticide will be applied to wooded properties and residential streets in East and West Hamilton, to help manage the infestation on city-owned properties. Each treatment area will be sprayed twice, with the second application occurring seven to 10 days after the first application. It targets LDD moths and other caterpillars, and will not have an effect on humans, pets, other animals, or bees. As well, it will not have any health impacts to residents, pets or animals in the spray area.

Stay tuned to the City’s channels for more information: website and Twitter. Residents can also request 48-hour advance notice by contacting the Customer Contact Centre 905-546-CITY (2489) or 1-877-446-2424 toll free.

Upcoming Closure – Jimmy Thompson Pool – June 2 to June 22
Please be advised that Jimmy Thompson Pool will be closed from Thursday, June 2 until Wednesday, June 22, 2022, due to facility maintenance. The pool basin has some tile repair and grouting work that needs to be addressed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to recreation@hamilton.ca.

It is inspiring to see so many neighbours rolling up their sleeves and leaning into cultivating belonging across our communities through #OurWard3. With warmer days upon us, more residents are getting outdoors to enjoy our neighbourhood greenspaces and community resources. Please see below for a list of volunteer opportunities across Ward 3 that enable you to be outside and meet more neighbours.

The Children’s Garden – Gage Park
Please contact Hazel Cho directly at childrensgarden.hamilton@gmail.com or (416) 268-1433 if you can help out during the two dates below.

Friday May 13th, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Garden Beds Install Day with Turkstra Team - TCG (Adult ONLY)
Volunteers are needed to help with physical labour (such as helping to lift heavy planters and shovel soil into beds).

Saturday May 14th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Garden Planting Day with TCG Team, Little Planters and TCG families.
Help the team plant seedlings in the new garden. Make sure to bring a water bottle, sun protection (such as a hat and sunscreen), a hand shovel, garden gloves, and a smile.

Children’s Garden Maintenance Team - Volunteer Callout
Training schedules will be sent out soon. Please contact Juby Lee at childrensgarden.hamilton@gmail.com or (286) 925-8612 if you and your family are interested to sign up for the training sessions, and can help tend to the Garden.

Birch Avenue Greenspace Gardening
The Birch Avenue Greenspace is looking for volunteers to assist with clearing weeds and making room for flowers. Spring season flowers are blooming, and the valiant little pollinators planted last summer are looking for room to grow as well.

This greenspace is located on Birch Avenue below Barton to Princess, on the number 2 bus route. There are five gardens, and plenty of room for all neighbours looking to help out. Gardening tools will be available.

If you are interested, please email galaparksandgardens@gmail.com, or reach out to Brenda Duke via calling (289) 933-4810.

Crown Point Community Cleanup
Neighbours in Ward 3 have taken initiative in organizing a community cleanup event in Crown Point, this Saturday, May 14 beginning at 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.

Supplies will be available for pick up and drop off at 16 Morris Avenue (1 block north of Glendale and Dunsmure). Plastic gloves will be available, but if possible, neighbours are asked to bring garden gloves to avoid making more garbage. Filled garbage bags are to be dropped off at 16 Morris Avenue, so that the City can come and pick them up.

For more information, and to get involved, please reach out to Karin Negrea at karin.negrea@gmail.com or (647) 992-9319.

Construction – Cannon St. Kids Little Free Library
The Cannon St. Little Free Library has been in the neighbourhood for almost 4 years and offers a variety of things from books, to seeds and plants, a community garden, and even water and sticks for the neighbourhood’s dogs. They are planning to expand their offerings a bit more, and reaching out for assistance in bringing that dream to life.

They would like to open a kid’s library next to the existing library, that’s dedicated to children’s books, and pitched at kid height. The library itself is ready to be put in place, but assistance is needed with putting the new little library on a stick. Ideally, via a triangle structure that would offer more support and stability, and securing the stick in a half barrel or similar to ensure it stays standing.

If you are, or know someone who is experienced in carpentry or DIY, and are able to help bring this little free library to the kiddos, please contact cannonstlittlefreelibrary@yahoo.com. For more information on the Cannon St. Little Free Library, please visit their Facebook.

Ward 3 Office Community Pop Ups - Friday, May 27th - 1pm to 3pm
The Ward 3 office has been cleared to host our Community Pop-Up Office Hours across different neighbourhoods in #OurWard3.

Though on our work plan for Spring 2020, the pandemic required us to pivot to virtual platforms. Through the pandemic, we have been conscious of the digital divide and recognize not all our neighbours have been able to connect with us for support on city service questions, concerns or ideas.

Our objective with this roaming casework initiative is to connect one-on-one with neighbours in #OurWard3 to listen to the issues that matter most to you and identify the next steps to help address them.

We will be set up in the shipping container outside of St. Matthew’s House (414 Barton Street East) beginning at 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. When you come by please remember to keep your mask on. And help get the word out to our neighbours without Internet access.

“Comfort/Discomfort”, Exploring Gender Based Violence – May 10 - 15
The Zonta Club of Hamilton 1 showcasing “Comfort/Discomfort”, a display of Art Quilts and Books exploring Gender Based Violence, by Jenny Iserman. They have partnered with YWCA Hamilton and Ottawa Street BIA for this project.

The exhibit is on display at Putman Family YWCA (52 Ottawa Street North) in the Community Room, and is on now until Sunday, May 15th. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be an Artist Talk and Reception on Friday, May 13 at 2 p.m. The exhibit will also be open during Sew Hungry Food Truck Festival on Saturday, May 14.

For more information, please visit their website. For questions, please contact Debbie Field, Vice President, Zonta Club of Hamilton 1 at contactus@zontahamilton1.ca.

Sew Hungry 2022 – Saturday, May 14
The Ottawa Street BIA is hosting Sew Hungry 2022 on May 14 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Food Trucks will be stationed along Ottawa Street North from Barton St to Main St. There will be food to try, live music to watch, local shops open, and an activity zone to explore. Over 20 trucks will be participating, as well as restaurants. Local stores will also be open. For more details, please visit sewhungry.com or follow their Facebook.

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!