Dear Neighbours,

As we get closer to the holidays, we are also being asked to take action to stay safe and reduce the Omicron variant spread. The best defence is to be vaccinated, wear well-fitting masks, maintain your physical distance and limit your contact with others. I know it is hard to find ourselves back here, however, our vigilance will help keep each other safer this holiday season.

As you get your holiday shopping done in Ward 3, enjoy free 2-hour on-street parking at Barton Village BIA, Ottawa Street BIA, and the International Village BIA until December 24th. For more places around the City to park and support local, please see here.

I also want to encourage you to get outside for a stroll and take in the creativity of our neighbours participating in the community art project, Ward 3 Advent Windows! You can enjoy the displays each night until January 31st. Snap pictures and join the growing social media community sharing this experience together.

This is our last e-newsletter for the year, with public health updates on vaccine clinics, boosters, and the Omicron variant, Ward 3 Office updates, community events, and more.

On behalf of myself and the Ward 3 Office team, we wish you a healthy and joyous holiday season.

Yours in community,

Nrinder Nann

Ward 3 Office Updates

This year brought a lot of changes to the Ward 3 office team.

We are thrilled to welcome Alexandra Weinberger as our new Resident Liaison & Administrative Assistant. Alex lives in Ward 3 and loves her community. You will often find her walking through and enjoying Barton Village, Ottawa St, and James St. N. Alex believes that municipalities can play a key role in addressing the housing and climate crises, public health, and in creating a just society where everyone’s needs can be met. She looks forward to putting her communication and community-building skills to work in service of Ward 3 residents and all Hamiltonians. She started on December 6th and has hit the ground running responding to your calls and emails.

Ja’miil Millar joined the Ward 3 office team in early October to bring her communication skills and talents to the Ward 3 team. She has over three years of experience in communications strategy and civic and community engagement. When she’s not working with the office, she teaches pilates style movement, and spends time enjoying nature while reading or listening to an audiobook.

In January, keep an eye out for my annual Ward 3 Community Impact Report in your mailbox. I look forward to sharing the 2021 impact we have made together in #OurWard3 this past year.

Please be advised that the Ward 3 office will be closed from Friday, December 24, 2021 through to Monday, January 3, 2022. We will continue working remotely until advised otherwise by the City’s Emergency Operations Centre. You can find ways to connect with the whole Ward 3 squad here.

With rising case numbers and the increasing presence of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant in Ontario, Hamilton healthcare partners are scaling up local capacity to administer more first, second, and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

While we await data on the severity of the Omicron variant of concern, there is scientific evidence a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will boost waning immunity following a second dose and provide an important layer of protection against breakthrough infections brought on by this variant. So, while transmission of the new variant is still affecting vaccinated individuals, vaccination seems to be effective against severity of illness, which is a critical factor in saving lives and protecting our health care system capacity.

It is imperative that we follow the proven public health measures and guidance of our healthcare leaders. Measures such as: properly wearing well-fitting masks, hand hygiene, staying home when ill, limiting one’s contacts, and taking careful consideration of one’s personal health risk and that of their family when attending gatherings for holidays, recommending that smaller gatherings are better.

Booster eligibility requires at least 3 months having passed since their second dose and starting Monday, individuals ages 18 years or older are able to receive their booster. Appointments are required for booster doses and can be made here.

Vaccine Clinics in Ward 3

The following locations are vaccine clinics in Ward 3.

Please check the http://www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine for the most up-to-date listing of vaccine clinics across the City.

Booked Appointment Clinics - Ages 5 to 11:

Norman Pinky Lewis Recreation Centre - 192 Wentworth St N.

Tuesday, December 21st

9:30 am to 11:30 am and 1 to 3:30 pm

Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre - 876 Cannon St. E.

Friday, December 17th, 9:30 am to 11:30 am & 1 to 3:30 pm

Friday, December 24th, 1 to 3:30 pm

Tuesday, December 28th, 9:30 am to 11:30 am & 1 to 3:30 pm

Walk-in & Booked Appointments - various age groups:

Hamilton Public Library, Barton Branch - 571 Barton St. E.

Thursday, December 16 (operated by City of Hamilton)

9:30 am to 11:30 am and 1 to 3:30 pm (Age 12+ only)

Saturday, December 18 (Ages 5+)

12:00 pm to 3:00 pm (operated by Refuge Newcomer Health, HCCI + partners)

No appt or health card required, interpretation, transportation + more supports available - email covidvaccine@newcomerhealth.ca or call 905-526-0000

Mission Services - 196 Wentworth St. N.

(use Good Food Centre/Community Services entrance)

Wednesday, December 15, 11 am to 3 pm (Age 12+ only)

Wednesday, December 22, 11 am to 2 pm (Age 12+ only)

St. Patrick’s Church - 440 King St. E.

(in the vestibule)

December 17, 12 to 2 pm (Age 12+ only)

Norman Pinky Lewis Recreation Centre - 192 Wentworth St N.

December 21, 9:30 to 11:30 am

Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre - 876 Cannon St. E.

Friday, December 17, 1 to 3 pm

Friday, December 3, 9:30 am to 11:30 am & 1 to 3:30 pm

Enhancing COVID-19 Safety Measures at Local Schools

Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS) is recommending the following enhanced health and safety measures for local school communities and child care operators to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant leading up to the holiday season and following when students return to in-person learning:

Re-implement in-school validation of daily screening if it can be operationally implemented;
Postpone or cancel any in-person staff meetings, social gatherings, holiday events for the duration of this week;
All elementary aged students to stay within their respective cohort at recess for the duration of this week;

On reopening in January 2022, HPHS recommends that school boards should plan for the following:

A continuation of daily screening validation beyond the first two weeks of school as already outlined by the Ontario Ministry of Education;
Participation in high-contact extracurriculars to be limited to fully vaccinated students only.

Hamilton Public Health Services continues to closely monitor the local situation as it relates to COVID-19 and Omicron variant. They continue to collaborate with our school board partners to consider the need to introduce any additional local measures to protect the community and will reassess these measures in January and communicate any necessary changes then.

Rapid Test Availability

Although limited and inaccessible to some individuals in our community, there are a few ways to get rapid antigen testing kits free of charge. With the get-togethers for the holiday season approaching, consider rapid testing if you are able. Please see below for some options:

Pop-up locations across Ontario where individuals can get Rapid Antigen Testing kits free of charge.
Take-home rapid tests will also be offered for free at some LCBO stores, beginning with the 100 busiest stores this week, with more locations to be added.
For businesses, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is providing a program for Hamilton businesses and organizations to receive COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing Kits. You can schedule a pick up time and find more information on eligibility requirements on their website.

More information on pop-up rapid antigen screening sites can be found by visiting Ontario.ca/holidaytesting.

COVID-19 Response & Facilities Closure - Jimmy Thompson Pool

Due to the spread of the Omicron variant, the City is focusing on enhancing accessibility and administration of COVID-19 vaccinations. With this in mind, the City will be deploying approximately 100 employees and making necessary closures, and suspending programming at some facilities, including the temporary closure of Jimmy Thompson Pool. The pool and facilities closure will be between December 18, 2021 and January 10, 2022.

For a full update on the City’s response to the spreading variant, including closures across the city, please see here.

Air Quality Monitoring in Hamilton

The City of Hamilton is working with Environment Hamilton and University of Toronto to better understand neighbourhood air pollution across the City. The study uses innovative low-cost passive air sensors to measure harmful air pollutants. This information will be used to inform action plans around air quality in the City of Hamilton.

The project plan is to conduct a one-year study of air quality in Hamilton. The study will also conduct more monitoring in census tracts with lower incomes, higher levels of immigration, more racialized Canadians and higher population density. Emphasizing the need for an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens on all aspects of City services operations, including Public Health, and environmental studies has been a major focus in our office’s climate action advocacy led by Ward 3 Coordinator, Kerry LeClair. It is great to see that commitment being made in this project as well.

My office will continue to share updates, and opportunities regarding this much needed project as it progresses.

Curbside Yard Waste Collection - Windstorm Temporary Pickup

To help facilitate cleanup as a result of the wind storm this past weekend, the City resumed curbside yard waste collection beginning Monday, December 13 until Friday, December 24, 2021.

Please place yard waste at the curbside on your regular waste collection day and it will be collected by the end of the week. Yard waste can also be dropped off at a Community Recycling Centre for free. Please see here for more information.

HSR Winter Service Schedule

Starting December 26, HSR will be operating on the 2021-2022 winter schedule until Saturday, April 30, 2022.

Please see here for a summary of service changes, including holiday service.

Woodland’s Park Spray Pad PIC

Thank you to all who attended the Tuesday, December 7th Public Information Meeting for the Woodlands Park Spray Pad. For those who missed it, check out the Engage Hamilton website here to watch and view the community design presentation. Then be sure to provide your feedback on the design options by filling out the survey.

Cathedral Shelter Update

Thank you to all who attended the December 6th, Housing Services hosted community meeting on the Temporary Shelter transition to serving women, non-binary and trans residents. Another community meeting will be held in early February to provide further updates. For questions regarding this shelter, please email: housing@hamilton.ca

Ward 3 Complete Streets - Map Your Comments & Concerns by December 31st

Reminder that phase one of the Ward 3 Complete Streets project is still underway. Please be sure to map your concerns, challenges, and locations for where traffic safety improvements are needed in Ward 3. You can share your input here until Friday, December 31st.

For more information on the entire project, including a timeline of key dates, and staff contact information, please see here.

Inclusion Coffeehouse

A new café is coming to Ward 3 in the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre. The Inclusion Coffeehouse is a café run by people with and without disabilities. They are hosting a soft opening to the public on Tuesday, December 21st from 10 am to 1 pm.

Peer Support Mental Health Space for BIPOC Youth

YouThrive hosts a weekly peer support group every Tuesday in the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre youth room from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. There are community counselors on site to support and provide resources. This space is open to all Black, Indigenous and/or racialized youth ages 13-25. For more information you can direct message @reachouthamont on Instagram.

Holiday Greetings, Public Health & Omicron, City Services Updates & more