2024 Budget, Cannon & Ottawa Intersection, Community Events & More!

Dear Neighbours,

This e-newsletter I want to spread some goodness across #OurWard3 with a gentle reminder that each of us is worthy of love. I encourage us all to share a smile and kindness with our neighbours. To do a little something selflessly that would be appreciated by others. Afterall, love is best experienced when it is in action.

Thank you to all the residents who participated in our first annual Ward 3 Townhall meeting in person and virtually.

We appreciate the over 120 residents who pre-registered, however it was a challenge on the day of to have so many no-shows from that list. Going forward we will always hold a dozen seats for those who did not register and show up on the event day to be filled on a first-come-first-served basis.In case you missed the Townhall, you can find a recording of it on my YouTube page here.

I will be releasing the 2024 Ward 3 Office community meetings and pop up calendar soon so you can save the dates and participate as early as this Spring.

As always, if my team and I can be of support to you on municipal issues, please email ward3@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-2107.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Photo of Hamilton City Hall in winter with the Hamilton sign lit up. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates".

CITY BUDGET 2024

On January 30th, myself and several other Council members tabled a number of motions in an effort to reduce the tax levy impact as it relates to municipal services. The projected net levy impact could be reduced by over 1.5% by Feb 15th when Council will be ratifying the final budget rate.

Again, I want to thank all the residents who emailed and called my office to raise your ideas for cost savings, as well as your support for expanded solutions to address the housing, mental health, and addictions crises facing our city. You have also shared how the current economic reality facing all of us is difficult and forcing many residents to turn to emergency food supports, resulting in people making tougher financial decisions in the day to day. I have read all of your concerns and I want you to know that they do inform my deliberations during this budget cycle.

A photo with a view of Ward 3 from the Mountain Brow. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

CANNON & OTTAWA INTERSECTION UPDATE

The Ward 3 Office has received several emails from residents regarding the traffic safety changes at the intersection of Cannon St. E & Ottawa St. N. Many of you appreciate the changes as it has made the roadway a safer experience for pedestrians. The main concern that emerged since the new safety enhancements were implemented has been the traffic delays going northbound and southbound along Ottawa St.

Staff have increased the green time at the traffic signal light by 10-seconds for north/south traffic on Ottawa earlier this week. This change will cause an impact of delays to east/west traffic on Cannon. Staff are continuing to monitor the intersection traffic flow and will continue to adjust the light time accordingly.

Regarding the northbound left turn prohibition, discussions were had about possibly extending the prohibition (ie: 7am-7pm) or prohibiting northbound left turns at any time similar to the southbound left turns. However there are concerns about traffic infiltration that would increase by doing this (roughly 170 cars during the busiest 8 hours of the day) and as a result staff have not proceeded with it at this time.

Please note the lowered level of traffic service for the intersection was a sacrifice needed to improve safety. With this in mind, the removal of right turn lanes were necessary to improve safety at this intersection.

The Ward 3 and Ward 4 Councillor Offices will be hosting a joint Crown Point neighbourhood meeting in April this spring to review the full Ottawa St design and traffic changes being proposed by City staff. We will promote the date and location once it is confirmed.

WARMING CENTRE OPERATIONS AT 380 MAIN ST. E

As previously reported, the temporary use of 380 Main St. E (the former Cathedral School) as an overnight warming centre to serve the needs of homeless residents during colder weather is scheduled to go until March 31st, 2024.

I advised staff that previous community input must inform the baseline agreement of operations to include security monitoring, waste management, and a community hotline to ensure neighbours can work with the facility for any emerging concerns.

My office is keeping track of all of the issues and feedback residents have raised as it relates to the operations of the warming centre. However, your specific questions will be responded to from the City’s Housing Services staff. Should you not receive a response from City staff on the matter, please reach out to the Ward 3 office and we can help follow up.

If you have ideas to enable a more successful operation of the warming centre, please connect directly with Good Shepherd Program Director, Mike Troskot at (905)528-5877 Ext. 2227 or mtroskot@gsch

WARD 3 2024 PARKS UPDATE

City parks play an essential role in the experience of a good quality of life in our neighbourhoods. For many, it is the only access to green space in their lives. Parks provide space for community, gathering, connection, play, recreation, and programming.

In 2024, my office will be working with City staff to kick off a round of community engagement opportunities for our local neighbours to have a say in park enhancements in #OurWard3.

Parks for which my office will be hosting meetings in 2024 include:

Powell Park - full reconstruction
Woodlands Park - washroom facility rehabilitation and exploring enhancements for better community use
Bishop’s Park - a welcoming park for multi-generational use
North Central Park - expanded passive use green space

We will also be providing a thorough update on all other parks including the updated timeline for Brightside Park.

The list of meeting dates will be posted here in the e-newsletter and a subsequent social media post in March.

SHERMAN ACCESS MAINTENANCE - FEBRUARY 21, 2024

Transportation Staff will be conducting temporary lane closures to fulfill maintenance work to re-lamp traffic lane signals at the bottom of the Sherman Access on February 21st.

Please be mindful when using the Sherman Access on this date. We recommend you plan to access the mountain via another route to avoid delays.

GOOD NEIGHBOURS MEETING AT TIM HORTON’S FIELD - FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Neighbours that live adjacent to Tim Horton’s Field are invited to join us for the upcoming Good Neighbours Community Meeting with the Ward 3 Office & Facilities Staff.

The meeting will take place on Thursday February 29th from 6:30pm-8:30pm in the City Lounge Room at Tim Horton’s Field. Access via Melrose Ave.

This series of meetings has been a productive way to ensure responsiveness and open communication on the impacts and benefits of living near the stadium and field.

Residents in this area have shared a variety of concerns with my office that include light and noise pollution, parking, game day and large scale event impacts, as well garbage issues.

This meeting series has served as an important mechanism to make progress on the issues raised above. It remains an ongoing commitment from my office to ensure concerns are addressed and that we work proactively to maintain positive community uplift from this flagship City facility.

Please share your concerns and ideas with the #OurWard3 Team and Tim Horton’s Field Facilities Staff and join us in person or live online.

Pre-registration is encouraged and you can RSVP by contacting my office at ward3@hamilton.ca.

We look forward to seeing you!

Photo of a water tap with someone filling a glass of water. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Services Updates".

LEAD AWARENESS MAILOUT

Please be advised that Hamilton Water is beginning their annual direct outreach effort to residents who live in a home built before 1955 and where their records indicate that residents either have a ‘lead’ or ‘unknown’ water service line into their home. Before 1955, lead was used as the standard pipe type for private water service lines. Lead is a known toxic metal and exposure to even small amounts can be harmful to human health.

Hamilton Water will be contacting these properties with one of two letters depending on whether their records show that they have a ‘lead’ or ‘unknown’ water service line into their home.

In Ward 3, Hamilton Water will be sending 5843 letters in total. The letters will be sent beginning this week and continuing until April 29, 2024.

The letter to those with a confirmed ‘lead’ water service line into their home provides information on the dangers of lead in the home and encourages replacement of the lead service line with a link to learn more about Lead Water Service Replacement. In 2015, Council approved the use of orthophosphate, a phosphate-based inhibitor in the drinking water process to protect residents from the release of lead into the drinking water. Although the City has implemented a Corrosion Control program, removal of the lead source is the best way to protect against exposure.

The ‘unknown’ water service line letter informs of the dangers of lead in the home and invites property owners to participate in a Check, Size and Type inspection to confirm their pipe type. As the letter indicates, residents can choose from either option one: a virtual check size and type, by submitting photos to checkforlead@hamilton.ca, or option 2: an in-person appointment. In-person appointments can be booked by calling Hamilton Water at 905-546-2489 (CITY).

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In 2023, several Black-led organizations in Hamilton worked with the City of Hamilton to launch We Are Hamilton - Black History Remembered.

Through this initiative, images and biographies of 16 Black Hamiltonians were profiled, with one more individual added to the list of honourees in 2024.

This year’s honouree is Dora Anie. Dora Anie is the founder and president of Schools of Dreams, a Hamilton-based charity that builds safe and sustainable learning environments for children in Ghana.

Sam Opoku from the Ghana Association said, “They loved her whenever they saw her in the schools, knowing very well that she has put them in a very different state of affairs.”

Following Anie’s death in 2019, her daughters have kept her work alive taking on different roles at Schools of Dreams.

These boards are up and available for public viewing on the second floor at City Hall.

To see a full list of Black History Month events happening, please visit: https://www.hamilton.ca/things-do/festivals-events/black-history

SISTERS IN SPIRIT: HELEN’S LIGHT - FEBRUARY 14, 2024

Please join us as we remember and honour Helen and all Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Trans (MMIWG2ST) individuals by placing a red heart on the lamp post located at the King St. E & Emerald St. N alleyway.

Helen was an Indigenous woman who was murdered in 1995 and the case is still unsolved.

The Helen’s Light event will start at 1:30pm and ends with a sacred fire at the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre (HRIC) at 3:00pm. Hot beverages will be provided.

FROST BITES - FEBRUARY 13-18, 2024

Now in its 8th year, Frost Bites is a one-week community-embedded festival with a smorgasbord of FREE activities and events for all ages.

I am proud to support such a wonderful community building event taking place here in #OurWard3, with an allocation of $2500 from the Ward 3 Non-Property Tax account to help support this community initiative.

I encourage neighbours to join in on the fun at the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre (876 Cannon St E) from February 13-18, 2024 for participatory storytelling in French and English, music workshops, ice skating traditional hide tanning, Anishinaabemowin language games, and more!

Below is a list of events that will be taking place.

February 13-18 at 10am: Inclusion Coffee House
February 13-18 at 10am: Shadowland Lantern-Making Workshop
February 16 at 10am: Telling Tales presents EarlyON Snuggle Up and Read Storytime
February 17 at 10am: Traditional Hide Tanning
February 17 at 10am: Community Commons Ideas & Resources Marketplace
February 17-18 at 11am: Learn to Skate with Coach Aleef
February 17 at 11:30am: African Beats with Walter MacLean
February 17 at 1pm: Culture Mix Through Music
February 17 at 2pm & 3pm: Matrix Synchronized Skaters
February 18 at 10am: Taagewinan with Cheyanne
February 18 at 10am: Indigenous Marketplace
February 18 at 11:30am: Storytelling Krick!? (English)
February 18 at 1pm: Contes Krick!? (en français)
February 18 at 3:30pm: DJ Family Skate Party
February 18 at 6pm: Procession of Light

All Frost Bites events are FREE and offered on a drop-in basis, first-come first-served. Please not that space may be limited for some events.

For a full list of details about the festival, please visit: https://hftco.ca/frost-bites/

OTTAWA ST BIA NOSH CULINARY FESTIVAL- Month of February

This February join #OttawaStreetNorth restaurants as they participate in NOSH Month, led by Hamilton’s Economic Development Team @hamiltonecdev.

NOSH - Hamilton's Culinary Festival, starts February 1st and runs for a full month, highlighting four main weekly themes:

1. Appetizers
2. Cocktails
3. Entrees
4. Coffee & Desserts

Prepare your appetite, and meet us on Ottawa Street!

Make sure to follow @ottawastreetbia and @hamiltonecdev for updates!

HELPING HANDS STREET MISSION - COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR, FEB 24TH

Coldest Night of the Year is coming up in a month! Over 300 people will be walking Barton Street together on February 24, 2024 from 4pm-8pm in support of our neighbours dealing with poverty and homelessness. We are excited for the provision this will bring for the work of Helping Hands Street Mission, but also for the display of community and neighbourhood care this will offer. We are eager to have you be a part of this evening with us.

The event will be starting at the Sherman Playhouse with a short documentary viewing. This 15 minute video will highlight the work of community partnerships to support our vulnerable neighbours. You are encouraged to learn more about CNOY or join us by registering as a team or individually at https://cnoy.org/location/hamiltonbarton.

SHEMOVES: CELEBRATING WOMEN IN PUBLIC TRANSIT CAREERS, MARCH 8, 2024

Women are an underrepresented group in the transit industry at large and this holds true at HSR. We continue to encourage and inspire more women to pursue careers in transit and to build a workforce that reflects our city and customers.

SheMoves is a celebration of women in public transit careers, highlighting achievements and contributions of women in this dynamic industry. In a panel presentation format, we share stories from trailblazing women who have made their mark in the world of public transportation and give firsthand accounts of the experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the field.

Please join us on Friday March 8, 2024 from 11am-3pm at the Hamilton Public Library, Central Branch.

This event is open for anyone to attend, but will be focused on women’s experiences in the transit industry and the HSR. The event is also family friendly as the Hamilton Public Library will be offering a children’s storytime focused on public transit for children in attendance.

Registration is encouraged, and those who do register will receive complimentary transit fare for the event.

To register, please visit: https://www.hamilton.ca/things-do/festivals-events/events-calendar/shemoves-celebrating-women-public-transit-careers