Dear Neighbour,

This week’s issue includes: an article on the toxic drug crisis in Hamilton, updates from Council Committees, Public Health, and Grey Cup weekend.

If the seasonal end of Yard Waste has adversely impacted you because you do not have access to a vehicle, call (905) 546-2489 or email wastemangement@hamilton.ca.

A reminder that Winter Recreation Service registration opens December 15th at 8am. Please see here for details on how to register.

Our last e-newsletter for 2021 will be next Thursday, December 16th, 2021. We will resume updates on January 6th with a bi-weekly schedule. In case you missed any past e-newsletters, you can find them archived on my website here.

Yours in community,

Nrinder Nann

I’d like to start off by offering my deepest sympathies to anyone who has lost family members or friends to the ongoing opioid crisis in our city. On November 12th, Board of Health received an update on opioid-related deaths in Hamilton and the data is staggering. It is important to recognize that the following numbers are more than statistics, these are our neighbours and each number is a significant loss of human life. It is this reality as to why the whole of Council that make up the Board of Health are committed to supporting additional harm reduction and comprehensive consumption treatment services across the City.

Drug use is complex and multi-faceted and it will take a complex and multi-faceted approach to support the healing and overall health of those with substance use disorders in our community. Supervised consumption sites are a lifesaving, harm reduction-based service that provide many community benefits. CTS services provide a safe, clean space for people to bring their own drugs to use, in the presence of trained staff and healthcare professionals. This prevents accidental overdoses and reduces the spread of infectious diseases, such as HIV. They actively contribute to safe needle disposal so they don’t end up discarded in alleyways, vestibules and sidewalks. In a nutshell, CTS sites provide important healthcare and social services to residents who are facing truly challenging circumstances in life.

Please click here to read the full article.

Public Works Committee (PW)

The tragic disappearance of Holly Ellsworth-Clarke in January 2020 was responded to with compassion and care by hundreds of Hamiltonians engaging in the search efforts. In honour of Holly and the community impacted, the Ward 3 office supported the installation of a commemorative plaque and tree in Woodlands Park. A motion to allocate $1000 from the Ward 3 Capital Discretionary fund towards this was passed at PW Committee on Monday.

Additionally, I seconded Councillor Danko’s motion to have staff bring back recommendations for a preferred way to finance stormwater management in a more equitable and fair way, while also covering the increasing costs associated with being climate ready and resilient. A report with recommendations is due back in 2022.

Emergency & Community Services Committee (ECS)

This week’s meeting was my last as Chair of the ECS Committee, and it was a full agenda of many important measures to help address housing and homelessness in our city.

The emergency supports needed to address the growing number of unhoused residents (over 200 new households) in Hamilton during the pandemic has required the City to expand shelter beds. This has stretched our housing sector who continue to take on more while we also pivot to focus on more stable and permanent housing and health solutions.

As such, the Temporary Shelter at the former Cathedral Boy’s School will shift from an overflow facility for men to address the growing needs of unhoused women, non-binary and trans residents. This change will take place in January 2022. It was the hope of Housing Services to be able to decommission the site by the end of this year, however it always rested on the realities of the pandemic. Due to ongoing public health requirements for congregate living areas, the site is required to function as a temporary shelter. Good Shepherd will remain the operator. I do have to state, however, It has been truly disappointing to have some neighbours in the area complain about the increased presence of people living in tents in Stinson while also opposing this shelter. I can’t stress enough, there is no way we can get to the permanent solutions without these critical temporary ones. This temporary shelter enables housing service workers to support the transition of unhoused residents to permanent housing and health supports. That said, my office will continue to work with Housing Services to ensure local community input is responded to.

We also received an update on the Winter Services Plan for Unhoused Residents which includes additional respite centres across the city, low-barrier options enabling pets and 24-hour access, coordination of food, clothing, winter gear, and access to hygiene facilities. The City’s website will be updated with this information to help assist getting this information to the people who need them most. There will also be ongoing outreach to anyone living outdoors to ensure they are aware of their respite options.

Committee also approved the next steps to prepare Hamilton’s Anti-Renovictions Bylaw program which when in operation will help reduce the number of residents being displaced and hold property owners more accountable in ensuring safe, dignified and affordable housing. These efforts are the direct result of tenant organizing and sustained advocacy by ACORN Hamilton.

I also tabled a notice of motion for a Comprehensive, Human-rights Based, Health-focused Housing Solutions for Residents Living Encamped across Hamilton to be deliberated in January. The motion directs staff to host solution-focused planning session(s) made up of representatives from the health sector, housing service providers, organizations that provide frontline support to the unhoused, people with lived experiences of being unhoused and living in encampments, and other community stakeholders be convened to identify comprehensive, human-rights based, health-focused housing solutions to directly address the needs of those 80 to 140 unhoused residents living encamped in Hamilton. It is my hope these recommendations can be supported by Council and become the basis for advocacy to the provincial and federal government for health and housing investments.

General Issues Committee (GIC)

On Wednesday, General Issues Committee had a packed agenda, with many of the below items discussed:

Hamilton's Corporate-Wide Climate Change Update 2021
Multi-Purpose Community Hub for Diverse and Marginalized Communities
Hate Prevention, Mitigation and Community Initiatives Action Plan
And heard from many delegates and received many correspondences regarding police conduct during encampment enforcement at J.C. Beemer Park

Please see the full agenda here. GIC resumed today to complete the agenda.

#OskeeWeeWee, the 108th Grey Cup is this Sunday in #OurWard3! Here are some updates on services during the weekend’s festivities.

HSR Grey Cup Service & Shuttles

HSR is offering Grey Cup attendees free regularly scheduled service (DARTS & HSR) with a valid 108th Grey Cup game ticket plus 4 additional shuttles departing from West Harbour, Lime Ridge Mall, University Plaza & Eastgate Square (HSR). Please see full details here.

Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre

Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre is closed starting Thursday, December 9 to Monday, December 13 until 1:30 pm for Grey Cup associated events. All drop in programs and user group rentals are canceled during this time. Additionally, the Serafini Family Ice Pad is delayed in opening due to Grey Cup. Planned date for starting the ice pad is Monday, December 20, 2021.

Jimmy Thompson Memorial Pool will remain open for regularly scheduled programs.

HSR Route 3 - Cannon Street Closure

From start of service on Sunday, December 12th, 2021 toMonday, December 13th, 2021 at 7:00 AM, the Route 3 Cannon buses will detour as follows:

Route 3 Cannon Eastbound From Sherman Avenue and Cannon Street: Continue north on Sherman Avenue, Right on Barton Street, Right on Gage Avenue, Left on Cannon Street, and resume regular routing on Cannon Street east of Gage Avenue.
Route 3 Cannon Westbound From Cannon Street and Gage Avenue: Left on Gage Avenue, Right on King Street, Right on Sherman Avenue, Left on Cannon Street and resume regular routing on Cannon Street west of Sherman Avenue.

To date, 87.7 percent of Hamiltonians 12 years and older have chosen to be vaccinated, and 84.9 percent have received two doses. Hamilton healthcare partners have administered 902,999 doses of COVD-19 vaccine across the city. Ward 3 neighbours are still lower than the city average, up to 10% in some areas, even with the “last mile strategy” rolling out that is focused on offering more local clinics to get that rate up to the provincial target of 90%. Please check this here for the most up-to-date vaccine clinics.

There has been a change in data tracking as it relates to vaccination rates moving forward. Public Health is moving to a Census Track analysis and will discontinue using Forward Sortation Areas. Please see here for City-wide data on vaccine distribution.

Outbreaks occurring over the past month have been connected to elementary and secondary school activity. Average 5 new cases a day. As vaccination rates increase for 5-11-year-olds, we can anticipate lower case spread, however, it won’t be until full vaccination, receiving both doses. Likely to reach 65% first dose vaccination of the 5-11-year-old age group by January.

Winter brings added risk of transmission due to increased indoor activity. The best line of defence to avoid getting COVID-19 is vaccination, wearing a mask, keeping 6 feet apart from others and staying home when feeling unwell.

A Future Rooted in Harm Reduction, Committee & Public Health Updates & Grey Cup Weekend