Re-envision ATS, City Vaccine Policy, Victoria Ave Cycle Track & May Community Events
Dear Neighbour,
Today is Workers Day of Mourning - a day we acknowledge workers who have been made ill, injured or killed, as a result of work-related incidents.
It remains especially painful as we continue to mourn those who contracted COVID-19 at work and did not survive. Every worker deserves to be protected against exposure and illness, and to have access to seamless, employer-paid sick days.
Thank you to everyone who joined in the community clean ups across Ward 3 this past Earth Day weekend. Your efforts have made a real impact - our neighbourhoods are better and more enjoyable.
This past Tuesday, India Paul, Outreach Coordinator with City Waste Management joined me for a live Q&A during Coffee With Your Councillor. India shared information on the City’s waste system processes, by-laws, and provided hot tips residents can follow to ace their recycling game. If you missed it, please watch the video here and check out Hamilton Waste Management Services for more information.
This newsletter includes updates from Council and Committee, vaccination opportunities in Ward 3, as well as engagement opportunities, and events coming up in May.
Yours in Community,
Councillor Nrinder Nann
Continuation of the City’s Mandatory Vaccination Policy for Employees
In the opening of this e-newsletter, I acknowledge the right of workers to a safe workplace, to be protected from exposure and illness. It is this principle, and that of protecting public health, that I voted against suspending the mandatory vaccination policy for City workers at Council yesterday. It remains that all city employees must be double vaccinated by June 1st. For more information, see here.
Re-envisioning Accessible Transit Services
At Public Works Committee last week, we heard from delegates yet again how the current operations of DARTS is antiquated and places undue burden on riders, which often turns what would be a 15 minute drive into an hour or two long excursion around the city. The service as it functions today expects people with disabilities and seniors to expend more time as they wait for inefficient route planning to get them to and from their destinations. So, as Chair of the committee, I moved to have staff lead a user-centred input process to redesign the system and bring forward recommendations. Advisory committees, stakeholder organizations across Hamilton and residents will be consulted - it is my hope we will transform accessible transit together for good. This direction was unanimously ratified at Council.
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: https://www.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, Apr 30 - 12pm to 3pm
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, April 29 – 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.
Phase 2 Victoria Cycle Track Community Consultation
Reminder to neighbours, Phase 2 of the Victoria Cycle Track between Cannon and Stinson is slated for design and build this summer. Phase 2 is set for construction by early fall.
My office hosted a virtual community consultation with staff on April 19 to discuss design considerations, ask questions about the project and provide input. For those who were unable to join us during, the video is now available on our YouTube channel to view.
Phase 2 of the design project is open for input until May 13. If you would like to share your thoughts on the design and project, please reach out to our office at ward3@hamilton.ca.
New Bookmobile Stops
The Hamilton Public Library updated the Bookmobile stops, effective Monday, April 25. Please see the following for location and time details.
NEW* Tim Horton's Field
64 Melrose Avenue North
5:30pm to 6:30pm
Thursday - Stinson
200 Stinson Street
5:30pm to 6:30pm
Friday - Maplewood
71 Maplewood
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Saturday - Gage Park
1000 Main St. East
11:30am to 12:00pm
For more information, please visit hpl.ca. You can contact Hamilton Public Library by phone at 905-546-3200 or email AskHPL@hpl.ca.
Farm Labour Residences Policy Review
The City of Hamilton is seeking public and stakeholder input to update polices and zoning regulations relating to Farm Labour Residences. On March 22, 2022, the Planning Committee received a Staff Report, containing a discussion paper titled Farm Labour Residences Discussion Paper. The discussion paper outlined preliminary recommendations to explore housing options for farm labourers that could be considered for Hamilton.
For more information, and to share your input, please visit here.
Bayfront Industrial Area Strategy - 2 more days for input!
Residents have two more days to provide input on the Bayfront Industrial Area Strategy (BIAS). This is the City’s 45+ year vision and action plan that seeks to encourage efficient use of land, attract growth and investment, and improve the environmental conditions and image of the City’s largest and oldest employment area. This important piece of city planning impacts Ward 3 neighbourhoods, workplaces, greenspaces, access to the harbour, brownfield and industrial redevelopment and more.
A virtual Public Information Centre was held on April 14. To view a recording which includes an overview of the project, a review of the draft strategy and action plan document, as well as the draft design guidelines, please visit engage.hamilton.ca/bayfrontstrategy.
The draft documents are available until the end of April for public consumption and commenting. Your input and engagement is vital to this plan integrating what we want to see for future generations in this part of our community.
Please see here and here to learn more about the Bayfront Industrial Area and BIAS.
Hamilton Craft Studios – Open House – April 30
Hamilton Craft Studios (HCS) is a new community maker space opening at 121 Princess Street. It is a 14,000 square foot facility that hosts a fully equipped wood studio, textile studio and ceramic studio that aims to connect our community with the resources needed to create, providing an inclusive and inspiring space for emerging artists and hobbyists to practice their craft. Their team of professional makers has been working hard to prep the 7,000 square foot wood studio for the greater Hamilton community. HCS offers affordable memberships, intensive courses and workshops for all skill levels.
They are hosting an open house on April 30th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents are welcome to drop in any time during the designated Open House hours for a tour of the space and machinery. This tour is 18+. There will be an opportunity to meet the team of founders, instructors, and makers, to learn about the space, and how you can get involved. Masking is strongly encouraged.
Pre-registration is not required, but is appreciated. To pre-register in attendance, please see here.
May Day - International Workers Day
On May 1, 2022, join the province-wide day of action for a better Ontario here in Hamilton, hosted by Hamilton Labour. The event will take place at 12 p.m. in Gore Park (1 Hughson St S), and then at 1 p.m. at Gage Park (1000 Main St E).
May 1, or May Day, is the traditional workers’ holiday, a day that working people celebrate the gains they have won over the years and commit to fighting for a better future for everyone.
This year, workers are calling for: a $20 minimum wage, decent work, affordable housing, paid sick days, well-funded public services, livable income support for all, climate justice, status for all, and an end to racism and oppression.
For details, please see here.
Sew Hungry 2022 – 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.
Hamilton Black Film Festival – May 25-30
The Hamilton Black Film Festival will take place from May 25 until May 30. This year will be virtual, and in-person at the Westdale Cinema.
The Hamilton Black Film Festival is an annual film festival that showcases cultural and traditional films of African/Caribbean, Native, Asian, Middle Eastern filmmakers and other films of ethnic inclusion. The Hamilton Black Film Festival will give people from different parts of the world and ethnic backgrounds an accessible platform to showcase films that are made by and with visible ethnic minorities, demonstrating that Hamilton welcomes all people.
Its primary purpose is to explicitly welcome ethnic minorities, nurturing their creative aspirations, providing support and resources to them such as training and mentorship on producing, directing, writing, and other film related resources.
To learn more about Hamilton Black Film Festival, and see the 2022 lineup, please visit hbff.ca.