Dear Neighbours,

Happy Fall!

You may have noticed we did not send out an e-newsletter earlier this month. And this one is arriving to you in a different format, as we are sending it to you via link format. We are working out some technical kinks and have pivoted to this format for now.

September was a busy month at Council and in the community. As such, this is a longer e-newsletter than usual and I encourage you to take some time to catch up on all the incredible work underway and upcoming.

Thank you to all our neighbours who joined the efforts for the CN Track Gang, St Clair Laneways, and Beautiful Alleys fall clean ups over the past two weekends. It was good to connect with many of you while actively improving our communities. I’m grateful, as always, to those who organize and coordinate everything to enable everyone to participate safely while also having fun. If you would like to join us next Spring, please reach out to my office and we can connect you to the crew nearest you!

As always, should you require any assistance with any municipal issues, my office team is here to help. You can email us at ward3@hamilton.ca.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Photo of Hamilton City Hall in summer with florals. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates".

REDUCING HOMELESSNESS & MANAGING ENCAMPMENTS UPDATE

I often say, the role of each level of government is to not only protect human rights, but to tend to the conditions that advance them.

However, when it comes to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in every town and city in Ontario, we are limited. We do not have the financial capacity to do it alone as cities.

As recognized by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in their recent report, “encampments are the latest expression of a homelessness crisis decades in the making. These encampments are a tragic result of cracks in the foundations of our housing, health, and social systems and are a public policy failure by successive provincial and federal governments. A lack of intergovernmental cooperation and lack of integration of effort, and insufficient supply of affordable housing have compounded matters.”

Municipalities are often caught balancing the important needs of unsheltered people living in encampments, who deserve to be treated with empathy and respect, with the responsibility to ensure our communities are safe and vibrant places for all residents.”

“In a province as prosperous as Ontario, homeless encampments cannot be the best we can do for our residents, communities, and businesses...”

It cannot be said enough, we need the provincial and federal government to work with municipalities on aligned strategies and funding to tend to the conditions we are facing in our city.

And yet we cannot sit by and do nothing. Council has acted to respond to the need for wrap around supports and accessible shelter options.

Council approved a plan to increase the existing shelter system by 192 beds, a 56% increase, and implement an 80-bed temporary outdoor shelter.

The temporary outdoor shelter (previously referred to as a sanctioned site) will be located at the Barton-Tiffany Lands in Ward 2. This outdoor shelter will be run by Good Shepherd in collaboration with the City, Greater Hamilton Health Network and other service providers. It will include wrap-around supports and services to help transition folks into housing.

The 192 bed increase will begin implementation this Fall while the outdoor shelter is anticipated to begin intake in December. While no municipality can require everyone currently living encamped in our parks to move into any of these shelter spaces, we know from direct outreach that many will choose to make use of these additional, low barrier, spaces.

Of the much needed 192 bed expansion to the shelter system, 138 beds will operate in Ward 3, of which 123 beds are within a four block area.

At Council, I raised concern about the concentration of these additional shelter beds with the existing encampments in adjacent parks. I requested staff to apply the same 1km radius that will be set around the Barton-Tiffany outdoor shelter to prevent over-concentration in Ward 3. Details on which parks, parkettes and greenspaces this will include will be reported back by staff at a General Issues Committee meeting in October.

Along with the Mayor, I have also directed staff to reach out to the appropriate federal and provincial ministries to access the recently announced federal funding to support communities in managing encampments and addressing homelessness to help cover the costs of the strategy outlined above.

An an effort to maintain our obligations as a City, while also balancing the responsibility to ensure our parks are safer for all, I collaborated with my Council colleagues on a motion to direct City staff to report back in Q1 2025 on enforcement of the Parks and Streets By-law, and changing or sunsetting the existing Encampment Protocol in a manner that is compliant with the Charter and current case law.

Staff are confident that the addition of these beds will make a tangible difference by providing better options than to live encamped in municipal parks.

The City does ask for patience over the coming months while folks living encamped who consent are transitioned successfully to these expanded shelter spaces.

All the while, I remain committed to pulling every lever available to the City to maintain the affordable housing stock we already have, while also delivering more deeply affordable and supportive housing across Hamilton.

SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS ON ESCARPMENT STAIRS

In response to a motion I moved in 2023 to improve safer use of escarpment stairs, staff have provided an update on measures taken to date.

To improve resident safety while commuting and exercising, safety upgrades to all Escarpment Stairs in Hamilton have been made over the summer. These upgrades include hired security in the evening, lighting upgrades, cameras, and more.

If you have any feedback on how these measures are working, please contact the City’s main line at 905-546-2489.

REVIEW OF KEITH NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER STREETS PLAN

On September 10th, an 11 year old neighbour in the Keith neighbourhood was struck by a car while waiting for her school bus by a driver having a medical episode. She has endured life-altering injuries. While the child, her family and loved ones, peers and the local community focus on the long road to recovery and healing, at Public Works Committee, I moved a motion directing staff to review the incident to identify what further measures can be taken to improve street safety in the area.

The Ward 3 Complete Streets Study recommendations for the area will also be reviewed to identify what can be implemented as a priority, as well as a review of school bus stops with the school boards representatives who serve on the Hamilton Strategic Road Safety Committee.

No child should feel vulnerable while waiting at a designated school bus stop. And as a #VisionZero city we must prioritize the child pedestrian’s needs at the centre of our roadway design and interventions. As we continue to implement the Complete Streets Study recommendations, it is my hope #OurWard3 can be an area of best practice city-wide.

In addition to the work above, I have allocated Ward 3 discretionary funds from the Non-Property Tax Revenue Account to ensure the costs for closing the road for a Keith Neighbourhood community-led fundraiser to take place on Saturday October 5. More information about this fundraiser is listed below in our Community Events & Opportunities section.

TRUCK ROUTE VIOLATIONS ONLINE REPORTING TOOL

As Chair of Truck Route Sub Committee, and as a result of hearing feedback from the community around enforcement of the new Truck Route system, I championed and supported the implementation of new Truck Route Violation Reporting Tool.

In conjunction with the City and the Hamilton Police Service, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new Truck Route Violation Reporting Tool, which has been designed to empower Hamilton residents to play an active role in supporting a safer and more compliant use of Hamilton's transportation network.

This reporting tool allows residents to report any truck route violation they observe in their community. By submitting location-specific feedback, residents can help the City, and Hamilton Police Service, monitor efficiently allocate resources and address non-compliance issues.

User-Friendly Interface: The reporting tool is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, ensuring that residents can submit their observations and upload a picture of the violation;
Location-Specific Feedback: Reports can include precise locations, allowing for more accurate tracking and enforcement of truck routes; and,
Collaborative Effort: Feedback submitted through the tool, will be reviewed by both the City, and the Hamilton Police Service, to address truck route issues effectively.

The introduction of this reporting tool is a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to enhance road safety and maintain the integrity of designated truck routes. By empowering residents to report violations, we aim to prevent damage to infrastructure, and improve safety on our streets for all.

We need your direct participation!

The Truck Route Reporting Tool can be accessed on the City’s website at: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/getting-around/driving-traffic/truck-route-network

ERASE GRANT TO SUPPORT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT 575 WILSON ST

At GIC last week, we approved an Environmental Remediation and Site Enhancement (ERASE) Grant to Cielo Residential Inc, who is the residential developer at 575 Wilson St.

Neighbours may be familiar with this site. It is currently a vacant lot, that has been used as parking in the past, across from the east end of the Park Furniture building at Sanford and Wilson. Cielo Residential Inc intends to build townhomes on this land, but first needs to deal with the contamination.

This grant, regularly accessed in these types of scenarios across the city, will enable them to do so, and for the proposed development to proceed.

The planned redevelopment of the Site includes five duplexes (four fronting Wilson Street and one fronting Greenaway Avenue) totalling ten residential rental units consisting of five two-bedroom and five three-bedroom units. This will provide much-needed housing to the GALA Neighbourhood.

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

HEALTH CENTRE & COMMUNITY KITCHEN OFFICIALLY OPEN AT EVA ROTHWELL CENTRE

I had the honour of joining a truly inspiring collaboration of people and organizations Wednesday, September 25th in cutting the ribbon and celebrating the official opening of the Health Centre and Community Kitchen at Eva Rothwell Centre.

I want to thank Dr. Brian McKenna for his incredible leadership and commitment to addressing health inequities in our city and honing in on the need to bring health services to neighbourhoods without access to primary care. The clinic will be run by Hamilton Family Health Team in partnership with the Greater Hamilton Health Network.

The clinic has already seen over 170 patients and aims to have 1000 in its roster, and offers a new clinical space where local families and neighbours can access primary care. There is access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner, mental health counselors, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, registered dietitians, and more. Plans are already underway for a phase two expansion to deliver a range of mental health services in a purpose designed space.

The Turkstra Family Kitchen has been already pumping out daily food programming and offers nutritional education for all ages. I had the pleasure of running a workshop teaching children about the digestive system and how to make smoothies! Can’t wait for the next Cooking With Your Councillor session.

This type of collaborative and innovative healthcare service delivery model makes the greatest difference in the lives of patients and the wellbeing of communities.

Honestly, I was holding back tears throughout the event. It was just so moving, in these divisive and challenging times, to share in a community-centred win. To see equity put in action, changing the old way of doing things, and literally addressing systemic injustices.

The Eva Rothwell Centre is already such a critical hub for the Keith community and now it shines even bright with services steeped in love, care and respect for our neighbours.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

CANADIAN TIRE DEVELOPMENT

The Canadian Tire Real Estate Investment Trust held a Community Meeting on Tuesday September 24th to discuss their plans to replace the retail store and gas bar at Victoria Ave and Main St E with a multi-residential development.

They are proposing two 25-storey towers linked by a pedestal offering 576 residential units. These breakdown into 20 Bachelor, 343 One-Bedroom, 180 Two-Bedroom, and 33 Three-Bedroom units proposed. The ground-level units will be configured similar to townhouses that are scoped as live-work spaces.

When I met with the development team, I emphasized how important the retail store is to the area and encouraged them to consider integrating a new retail store within their final development. They have proceeded with a residential-only focused development plan for community input.

It is important to recognize that there are no immediate plans to close the Canadian Tire store at this location. The planning application process is expected to take several years, during which the store will remain open. And a representative from Canadian Tire responded to questions from residents stating they are open to looking at potential relocation of a retail store near the downtown, however, made no commitments.

No final decisions have been made about the redevelopment of the property and Canadian Tire is committed to engaging with stakeholders throughout the planning application process, with further opportunities to engage at future stakeholder consultation events. An amendment to the secondary plan will also be required for height limit facilitation, which will also lead to a public consultation process.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or have feedback to provide, you may contact Mike Crough MCIP RPP Principal – Planner directly via email at mike.crough@arcadis.com or by phone at 905-546-1010 x 63114 for more information.

WARD 3 POP-UP AT NORTH CENTRAL COMMUNITY PARK, OCTOBER 8

My team and I will be hosting a Ward 3 Pop-Up at North Central Community Park on Tuesday October 8 from 5pm-7pm.

Our pop-ups are a way for me and my team to connect with residents one-on-one about municipal issues and to work with you directly. The format will be first come, first served, and you can expect to be greeted as well as be asked to provide contact information so we can follow up with you as needed.

These mini appointments will be 5-10 mins long and we will aim to address your issue on the spot. If your issue requires a follow up, we will aim to be in touch with you within a week.

Many residents have shared how much they appreciate connecting in this way, as not everyone has access to internet or email to reach us in those ways.

We welcome some face to face opportunities to connect with neighbours and are looking forward to seeing you there!

FALL SPEED CUSHION INSTALLATIONS

My office received an update from the Traffic Operations Team that they have completed their review of speed cushions as directed by my office. These flagged locations were back-checked against the Ward 3 complete streets study and everything is cleared through that. The speed cushions are being added to the Ward 3 complete street study’s recommendations based on our review since they fit into the objectives and criteria of the study. As such they will appear in the final version.

Since they are being incorporated into the Ward 3 complete streets study, they are warranted/justified, and therefore a motion is not required. They are being added to the fall 2024 installation list.

For your information, speed cushions will be installed on the following streets:

Garfield Avenue South between Dunsmure Rd and Main St E
Fairholt Road South between King St E and Vineland Ave
Fairholt Road South between Dunsmure Rd and Main St E
Barnesdale Avenue South between King St E and Vineland Ave
Spadina Avenue between King St E and Vineland Ave
Connaught Avenue South between Dunsmure Rd and Main St E
Connaught Avenue South between King St E and Dunsmure Rd

Further Complete Streets Plan items will be outline during the upcoming meeting on Oct 29th. There are more details for this meeting lower down in this e-newsletter.

BARTON ST FUNCTIONAL STUDY COMMUNITY MEETING, OCTOBER 17

Please join the Ward 3 Team and City Staff on Thursday October 17 from 6:30pm-8:30pm for an important meeting on the Barton Street Functional Design.

This is a long-awaited roadway infrastructure project for many in the area.

The City is now at the stage of reviewing road configuration options for the Barton Street corridor from the Red Hill Valley Parkway to Locke Street North. The goal and intended outcome of the study is to identify a preferred design plan that provides:

Enhanced safety
Efficient movement for all users
Enhanced active and sustainable transportation
Improved pedestrian space and a vibrant streetscape

The study is applying a Complete Streets approach which considers the needs of all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and motorists, to create a safe, accessible, and vibrant street for everyone. The project also includes renewing and upgrading municipal services and utility relocations.

This approach is aligned with the City of Hamilton 2022-2026 Council Priorities, specifically Priority 2 which seeks to ensure that neighbourhoods are cared for and vibrant, and that people can move around safely and effectively no matter how they travel.

Please join us to learn more about the scope of work and to provide some direct input towards the options under review.

Pre-Registration is encouraged so we may be ready to accomodate your fullest participation. We will off a hybrid option for those unable to attend as well.

🚌🚴🏽‍♂️🚶‍♀️👨🏾‍🦽‍➡️👩‍🦼‍👩🏿‍🦼‍➡️🚗

WARD 3 COMPLETE STREETS PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING, OCTOBER 29

Join the Ward 3 Team and City Staff for a hybrid Community Meeting on Tuesday October 29 from 6pm-8pm with the in-person portion taking place at the Morelli Recreation Centre.

The Ward 3 Complete Streets Study was undertaken to review the traffic conditions in all the neighbourhoods in Ward 3 to create a plan to improve safety on the local and collector neighbourhood streets; not arterial roads. The project focused on traffic speeds, stop-sign compliance, accessibility issues and cut-through traffic to recommend specific improvements within Ward 3 Neighbourhoods.

The study takes a holistic approach that integrates community feedback with technical analysis and develops a plan to respond. Over the course of the project more than 1200 unique data points were generated through community feedback. Results of the study were an iterative process of evaluating solutions to develop recommendations. Final recommendations are to implemented over time in a phased approach.

Across the last couple of years, a number of short-term items identified have already been completed within Ward 3 as a direct response to concerns raised by local residents. Starting back in Fall 2022, 52 speed cushion locations in total have been implemented to-date as traffic calming across neighbourhoods with more planned for implementation in Fall 2024/Spring 2025.

As staff work to finalize the 200+ recommendations, plus coordinate these recommendations with both the Main Street Two-Way Conversion and LRT projects, a community meeting has now been scheduled to highlight the short, medium, and long-term measures identified within the report after extensive assessment.

Staff will break down the implementation items by neighbourhoods in the ward to ensure investment lands equitably to address the deepest safety concerns as priority.

Short-term measures are relatively quick to implement and have already begun with the speed cushion installations. Medium-term (projected timing 1-3 years) and long-term (projected timing 5+ years), include more complicated design items such as intersection bumpouts, curb radii reduction, raised intersections, raised crosswalks and cross-section modifications which require design, capital budget funding approvals and construction.

This meeting will review the project, as well as address the works completed to date, and discuss timelines for the remainder of the work to be completed moving forward.

Please be sure to RSVP with the Ward 3 team by emailing ward3@hamilton.ca. We look forward to seeing you there!

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NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH & RECONCILIATION

To commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the City of Hamilton’s Indigenous Relations team will host a sunrise ceremony and afternoon event at West Harbour – James Street Plaza on September 30, 2024.

The events allow the community to come together to commemorate and honour residential school survivors, their families, and communities. The sunrise ceremony will be held around a sacred fire with an Elder/Firekeeper at 7:00am.

The afternoon event will commence at 1:00pm, and will be filled with Indigenous knowledge sharing, a Mohawk Institute Survivor Speaker, education, and reflection.

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day was established by Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor who told her story of how her shiny new orange shirt was taken from her when she attended her first day of school at the St. Joseph Mission residential school. In 2021, the Federal government declared that the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation would also be observed annually on September 30 to honour First Nations, Inuit and Metis survivors and their families to ensure that public commemoration of their history and the legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

The City remains committed to advancing truth and reconciliation through the ongoing implementation of its locally-focused Urban Indigenous Strategy.

LANDMARKS & MONUMENTS REVIEW: HONOURING OUR INDIGENOUS ROOTS

The first phase of the City’s Landmarks and Monuments Review is focused on gathering community opinions and qualitative data. This feedback will guide future decisions about how to represent Indigenous stories and history at the Queen Victoria, Augustus Jones and United Empire Loyalists monument sites.

The goal of this project is to provide a more equitable, balanced, and inclusive representation of Indigenous histories and contributions, supporting reconciliation and education about colonial history in Canada.

From September to October 2024, community members will be able to attend in-person sessions across Hamilton. During these sessions, they will watch an Indigenous Perspectives Educational Video, which offers insights into monument sites from some Indigenous Perspectives. After the video, participants will be invited to provide feedback in a survey.

The in-person sessions will take place from 5:30pm-7:30pm on the following dates and locations:

Tuesday October 1: Aboriginal Health Centre
Wednesday October 2: Six Nations Community Hall
Thursday October 3: Wards 1 & 2 - City Hall
Wednesday October 9: Ward 13 - Dundas Town Hall

To ensure broad participation, the video and second survey will also be available online via www.engage.hamilton.ca/landmarksreview from September 9 to October 31.

FALL GARDEN & MUM SHOW, OCTOBER 4-13

It’s that time of year! The #HamOnt Fall Mum Show is taking place October 4-13 at Gage Park and this year the theme is: Candy Land!

This year, over 100,000 blooms and 200 varieties of Chrysanthemums will transport attendees to a sweet-themed Candy Land, brought to life with stunning scenes and creative displays by the City’s Horticulture Section.

Visitors can explore vibrant candy-themed villages, including Cupcake Commons, Peppermint Forest, and Gingerbread Gardens.

There will be fun-filled activities at the Children’s Activation Center on the weekends hosted by the Children’s Garden Project in collaboration with the Dundurn Kitchen Garden and the Hamilton Children’s Museum.

Ward 3 welcomes everyone at the Gage Park Greenhouses from Oct 4th to 13th daily from 9am to 7pm!

Tickets are available at the door and online hamilton.ca/mumshow.

Photo of one of Green Venture’s depaves along Barton St.E. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Events & Opportunities”.

HAMILTON REGIONAL INDIAN CENTRE’S 3RD ANNUAL TRUTH & RECONCILIATION GATHERING - SEPTEMBER 27-28

Join HRIC for their 3rd Annual Truth & Reconciliation Gathering, E Yeti ya da nohs da:t Ogwak sa dah “Lifting Up Our Children” on Friday September 27 and Saturday September 28 at the Gage Park Bandshell.

Please find the list of scheduled events below:

BEAUTIFUL ALLEYS FALL CLEAN UP - POWELL PARK, SEPTEMBER 28

Join the Beautiful Alleys team on Saturday September 28 from 9am-1pm in Powell Park to help clean up the park and neighbouring areas. Lunch and refreshments will follow after the clean up starting at 1pm.

OTTAWA ST BIA ANNUAL SIDEWALK SALE & CRAFT CRAWL, SEPTEMBER 28

Saturday September 28th from 10am-4pm join the Ottawa St. BIA on Ottawa Street North for a day full of shopping, free activities, music and more. 🎉

The Vaudevillian will fill Ottawa Street with the sounds of their 1930's Jug Band Ragtime Blues and a FREE musical washboard workshop! (Location: East Kiwanis Parkette, at Ottawa St N at Edinburgh Ave.)

12:30pm-1:00pm Musical Performance
1:30pm-2:15pm FREE Washboard Workshop (all supplies included)
2:30pm-3:00pm Music Performance

Come lounge in a hammock set up on Edinburgh or Britannia, participate in a street wide scavenger hunt, join us for free crafts, play a round of corn hole with your friends, grab something to eat, and shop all the amazing sales, experiences and markets Ottawa Street has to offer.

ENVIRONMENT HAMILTON & MCMASTER UNIVERSITY - WHAT’S THE GRIME STUDY

Environment Hamilton (EH) has partnered with Dr. Sarah Styler of McMaster's PARTICLES research group on a new project that will sample dust fall aka soot (or grime as it is referred to by many) across the lower city.

EH is currently mapping out potential volunteer locations and will be reporting to the community their findings, as well as recommendations on how to safely deal with this widespread problem. We would love to see affected households in Ward 3 take part in the study! To learn more and to register to participate please email whatsthegrime@environmenthamilton.org.

KEITH NEIGHBOURHOOD FUNDRAISER - OCTOBER 5

The Keith Neighbourhood will be hosting a community fundraiser on Saturday October 5, 2024 in honour of a young neighbour who experienced life altering injuries after an accident on September 10, 2024.

The event will be held on Keith St between Emerald St and Douglas Ave and include a BBQ, live music, raffle prizes, a 50/50 draw, and donation jars to raise funds for the family to help with anything they need during this difficult time.

For more information, please contact Diana at 289-442-2780 or by visiting the Keith Neighbourhood Facebook page.

FIRST ANNUAL GREATER GOLDEN HORSESHOE DIVERSITY AWARDS

The First Annual Greater Golden Horseshoe Diversity Awards will take place on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.

This inaugural event brought to you by EMpower Strategy Group will bring together hundreds of attendees from across the region, including organizational leaders from various sectors. The awards will recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace and beyond.

“Through these awards, we aim to shine the spotlight on the trailblazers showing extraordinary dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, honour their achievements, and spark inspiration for others to follow their lead in creating environments where everyone can thrive,” said Evelyn Myrie, Founder and CEO of EMpower Strategy Group.

Nominations are now open in the categories of Organizational Diversity and Inclusion Leadership, Senior Leader Diversity Champion, Community Diversity Champion and Youth Diversity Champion (16-24 years). Awards criteria along with an online nomination form can all be found at https://www.empowerstrategygroup.com/diversity-awards

EMpower Strategy Group provides support to organizations to help them move from ideas to action. We help our partners create an actionable approach that embeds EDI within the DNA of your organization. Already have training in place, but worried about getting it right? Do you have policies that reflect your diversity goals? Not sure if you’re doing enough? Sustainable progress will not be achieved if DEI is driven in a silo. EDI must be embedded within the DNA of an organization, identified as fundamental to its success and naturally woven into the fabric of its business, customer and workforce strategies.

Reducing Homelessness & Managing Encampments Update, Safety Enhancements on Escarpment Stairs, Review of Keith Neighbourhood Safer Streets Plan & More