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.
Yours in community,
Councillor Nrinder Nann
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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.
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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.
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, 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!
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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.
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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.
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!
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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.