- Season's Greetings from the Ward 1 Team
- Councillor-Sponsored Free Skate
- Upcoming Work on the Scenic Reservoir
- What's Open and What's Closed at the City this Holiday
- HSR Fare Assist Program
- Water Billing Changes
- Stormwater Fee Deferral
- Hamilton's 2026 Tax Budget
- Jamesville Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) Approved
- Protect yourself against respiratory viruses this season
- Nominations are open for the City of Hamilton's 50th Arts Awards
- Opportunities to Participate with Engage Hamilton
- Events
Seasons Greetings from the Ward 1 Team
From our office to your home, the staff of the Ward 1 office and I wish you a peaceful holiday season.
May you find a moment to catch your breath, connect with family and friends, and create indelible memories that last a lifetime.
Free Holiday Skate
Join in the fun at a free holiday skate in Ward 1’s Coronation Arena (81 Macklin St N).
Lace up some skates and enjoy quality time with family, friends, and neighbours. Sponsored by the Ward 1 community.
- Saturday, December 27, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
- Sunday, December 28, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM
And, there's more. See other free open skates at various locations across the city.
Outdoor Ice
Community volunteers have also begun building skating rinks in City of Hamilton parks. These rinks, operated by dedicated community members, will be open until 11:00 PM daily, weather permitting, for free skates. You can find a rink and check its status on the City's outdoor ice page.
Upcoming Work at the Scenic Reservoir
Starting in January, Hamilton Water will begin work on the Scenic Reservoir, located along the Radial Trail.
This work is part of Hamilton Water’s ongoing maintenance and asset management program and is being completed to ensure the continued reliability of water service. Work will occur from January to May 2026 at times of low water demand to ensure no disruption to municipal water services. Work may resume again in late 2026 if all necessary construction is not complete by summer.
There will be no impact on the quality of Hamilton's drinking water from this work. The Radial Trail parking lot at 1180 Scenic Dr will be closed for the duration of the work, and access to the reservoir will be restricted. There may be temporary access restrictions on the Radial Trail during construction. At times, trail users may need to share the space with construction vehicles.
What's Open and What's Closed at the City this Holiday
This is a friendly reminder that all City of Hamilton administrative offices will be closed from December 25, 2025 to January 1, 2026 and will reopen on January 2, 2026. For any emergencies involving roads, water mains, sewers, animals or health and safety issues (including spills, outbreaks, rabies exposure or water hazards), call 905-546-CITY (2489).
While there's a full list of holiday hours and closures on the City's What’s Open, What’s Closed web page, here are some important closures to note:
Hamilton Public Library branches
- All branches closed December 21, 25, 26, 28 and January 1
- Holiday service hours are in effect from December 24 to 31
- After-hours study Halls are on pause from December 19 to January 4
Waste collection
- No waste collection (garbage, blue box, green bin, yard waste or bulk garbage) on December 25 or January 1
- Collection will be delayed by one day for the affected routes. Check your personal waste collection calendar for more information.
- Bulk garbage phone bookings closed December 21 to January 1, resume January 2 at 8:30 AM.
- Download the Recycle Coach App for reminders of pick-up dates.
Natural Christmas Tree Options
- Natural Christmas tree collection: first two full weeks of January on your regular collection day (remove decorations, stands and bags; limit of five trees)
- Donate your tree to the Royal Botanical Gardens. This year RBG needs a maximum of 3,000 trees to strategically place them in critical zones. Community members are asked to pre-register their donation(s) before dropping them off to ensure we receive the desired amount for the project at hand.
Hamilton Farmer's Market
- December 22 to 24 and 27: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM: Open
- December 25, 26, 28, 29, 30 and January 1: Closed
Hamilton Street Railway
- December 25: Buses will operate on a special holiday service, with the last trips leaving downtown at approximately 9:00 PM
- December 26: Buses will run on either a Saturday or Sunday schedule. Check the HSR Schedules and Detours page before heading out.
- December 31: Regular weekday schedule, free after 6:00 PM
- January 1: Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule
- HSR Customer Service counter at the Hamilton GO Centre: Closed on December 25, 26 and January 1.
The HSR Fare Assist Program
In 2024, the City of Hamilton launched a pilot HSR Fare Assist Program intended to support Hamilton’s goals of creating safe and thriving neighbourhoods by making it easier for residents to move around the city and access the resources they need. The program, funded through the Provincial Gas Tax Reserve, provides a 50 per cent discount on transit fares for residents at or below the Low-Income Measure (LIM).
Since launching in 2024, the program has been extended to 14,000 Hamiltonians who have taken nearly 1,000,000 transit trips. Surveys of users find nearly 90 per cent of participants have a positive view of the program.
Based on the success of the pilot program, City Council voted to make the HSR Fair Assist Program permanent as of January 1, 2026. The program will continue to be funded through the Provincial Gas Tax Reserve and will allow those Hamiltonians at or below the LIM to access the HSR for all their transportation needs.
Applications to participate in the HSR Fare Assist Program can be made on the City of Hamilton's website or in person through Ontario Works or the HSR Customer Service Office at the Hamilton GO Centre (36 Hunter St E).
Water Billing Changes
The City of Hamilton, through its Utilities Billing team, is transitioning water billing services from Alectra Utilities, effective March 30, 2026. As part of this transition, residents who were previously enrolled in Alectra’s pre-authorised payment (PAP) program received a letter requesting updated banking information. This step is required so the City can securely set up PAP accounts under the new in-house billing system. Mailouts informing residents enrolled in the PAP program were completed the week of December 4, 2025.
Some residents have noticed that the return pre-paid envelope, included in their mailout, is addressed to a Toronto PO Box. This is legitimate. The City uses a secure, centralised mail-processing centre located in Toronto to handle high-volume and sensitive financial documents. This approach ensures timely processing, increased security, and consistent handling of forms during the transition period.
If residents have questions or need assistance completing the form, they can contact the City’s Hamilton Utilities Billing (HUB) team at 905-546-8630 or [email protected].
Stormwater Fee Deferral
In May of 2025, City Council passed By-law 25-100, which established a new stormwater fee for the City of Hamilton. This fee was intended to fund Hamilton's long-term stormwater management system. Hamilton’s stormwater system protects homes, businesses, and the environment by managing rainwater and melting snow. Stormwater runs off all surfaces, flowing into drains, ditches, and ponds, eventually reaching creeks, rivers and Hamilton Harbour. With more extreme weather events and ageing infrastructure, it is more important than ever to ensure a consistent and reliable funding stream for Hamilton's essential assets. Without the proper management, stormwater can lead to flooding, erosion and pollution.
Right now, Hamilton’s stormwater services are funded mostly through wastewater bills, which means costs are not tied directly to how much runoff a property generates. While water consumption rates hold steady thanks to increasingly energy efficient appliances, the costs associated with an aging infrastructure system are increasing. Stormwater infrastructure remains underfunded as there are few guidelines relating to infrastructure quality.The stormwater fee, which would have added approximately $61 to the average water bill, was set to take effect on July 1, 2026.
At the City Council on December 10, an amendment was put forward on which a majority of the council supported a deferral of the implementation of the stormwater fee to January 1, 2027. This motion means that there will be no additional stormwater fees applied to water bills in 2026. However, it does mean the annual water rate increases to 7.3% in 2026, instead of the originally forecast 5.82% increase.
With or without a stormwater fee, the impacts and deficit will continue to challenge our aging stormwater infrastructure. The present system does not capture current impacts, meaning a reliable funding stream for this infrastructure will be crucial in the future.
Hamilton's Staff Proposed 2026 DRAFT Tax Budget
The City of Hamilton has released a draft version of the staff-proposed 2026 Tax Budget. This budget reflects Mayor Horwath's October 7 budget directive, which asked staff to keep the tax increase within 4.25 per cent. The budget attempts to balance many complex needs in Hamilton, including ensuring the delivery of essential municipal services, maintaining our shared infrastructure, keeping programs and essential supports affordable and accessible, and recognising the impact of inflation on service delivery costs. This is combined with the slowing pace of development amidst global economic uncertainty and a reorientation of provincial priorities away from collaboration with municipal partners.
Based on the challenges the City of Hamilton faces, staff have proposed a budget that aligns with this directive, focusing on efficient service delivery to keep cost increases as low as possible.
External agencies like the Hamilton Police Service, Conservation Authorities, and Public Health each have their own budget. Combined, these groups add another 1.25 per cent to the proposed tax increase.
Taken together, this represents a residential tax increase of 5.5 per cent, or an additional $293 for the average assessed property.
The release of the staff-proposed budget is just one step toward passing the City's 2026 Tax Budget. The next steps will occur over the first three months of 2026. These steps are:
- Release of the Mayor’s Report and Tax-Supported Budget on or after January 14, 2026. The Mayor is required to propose her own version of the budget based on public feedback and staff recommendations. Following the release of the Mayor's budget, council will have 30 days to review it, propose amendments, and deliberate.
- Public Delegations on the proposed budget on January 19, 2026. This is an opportunity for all Hamilton residents to have their say on the budget. Interested residents will have to register to delegate to council.
- Staff Overview of Mayor’s Proposed Tax Budget at General Issues Committee on January 23, 2026.
- Staff Departmental Budget Presentations at the General Issues Committee from January 27 to 30, 2026.
- The Final Tax Budget Adoption vote at Council in February or March, 2026.
Jamesville Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) Approved
Last year, the Mayor requested that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issue a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) regarding the stalled Jamesville redevelopment in the North End neighbourhood. The redevelopment of the former CityHousing townhouse complex on the northwest corner of James St N and Strachan St W was suspended on September 14, 2024, when CN Rail, a private rail company, appealed the council-approved redevelopment plans to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). CN Rail's appeal was based on concerns about the impacts of odour, vibration, and noise on residents from nearby shunting yards along the waterfront. The case remained with the OLT, with no constructive movement, prompting the Mayor to request that an MZO be issued to terminate CN's appeal at the OLT and allow redevelopment to proceed.
On December 10, 2025, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued the Jamesville MZO, recognising the overwhelming support from residents in public comments.
With the MZO in place, the Jamesville redevelopment will move on to the next planning steps. This means working constructively with CityHousing Hamilton tenants, the North End community, Indigenous partners, local organisations, and the City of Hamilton to ensure that the project supports social inclusion and neighbourhood wellbeing.
The Jamesville redevelopment is a collaborative effort between CityHousing Hamilton, Indwell, and the Jamesville Redevelopment Limited Partnership. Plans for the site include 132 for-profit stacked townhomes, a high-rise apartment building with 300 for-profit units, and two high-rise apartments with between 46 and 210 affordable units (depending on funding availability).
More information on upcoming community engagement, timelines, and design milestones will be shared in early 2026.
Protect Yourself Against Respiratory Viruses This Season
The winter respiratory virus season has begun. Hamilton Public Health Services expects respiratory illness activity to increase in the coming weeks. Among the viruses of concern for Public Health are Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), COVID-19, and the H3N2 variant of Influenza A (the "flu").
Public Health strongly encourages all eligible Hamiltonians to get vaccinated to protect their health and the health of those around them. Check your vaccine eligibility and learn more about RSV to stay safe this winter cold-and-flu season.
Nominations are open for the City of Hamilton's 50th Arts Awards
Nominations are now open for the 50th City of Hamilton Arts Awards. The Arts Awards honour those members of our community who have been diligent archivists, sharp narrators, and bold visionaries of our city.
Members of the public can now nominate artists for a Lifetime Achievement award, a Creator award, or an Arts Champion award. Independent panels of arts professionals will select notable artists and arts community leaders to be recognised for their excellence and contributions to Hamilton.
Nomination packages are now available. Information on eligibility criteria, submission requirements and how nominations are scored and selected through the peer adjudication process is available with each nomination. Packages can be submitted online or in person at the Hamilton Arts Council, 115 Main St E, 3rd Floor.
Nominations are open until Friday, January 16, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
Opportunities to Participate with Engage Hamilton
The Engage Hamilton portal offers residents the opportunity to help shape the future of our city. Residents can provide critical feedback, offer their unique insights, and help inform the direction Hamilton takes.
There are currently some opportunities to participate that may be of interest to Ward 1 residents:
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The Revitalising Hamilton's Commercial Districts Community Improvement Plan (CIP)
- The City of Hamilton's Economic Development Division is undertaking a review of the existing Revitalising Hamilton's Commercial Districts CIP. This CIP supports the revitalisation of strategic urban commercial districts by minimising financial barriers and stimulating new private-sector investment in the development of under-utilised properties and/or improving the appearance, functionality, marketability, usability, and/or safety of existing buildings. To inform the review, staff is seeking your feedback on existing CIP programs and your ideas and suggestions for improving the proposed programs to further support and maintain the momentum of the investment that has taken place Downtown and along our strategic commercial districts. This survey will remain open until February 5, 2026.
Events - Ward 1
Victorian Christmas at Dundurn
- Monday, November 24, 2025, to Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Location: Hamilton Municipal Cemetery Gates, 777 York Blvd
- Step into a world of festive charm and history this holiday season at Dundurn Castle! Experience the magic of a Victorian Christmas on a guided tour of the grand home of Sir Allan MacNab and his family, beautifully decorated with cedar boughs, ribbons, and dried flowers by The Garden Club of Hamilton. Discover how Christmas was celebrated in the 19th century, from Victorian traditions to Canadian holiday customs. Bring your loved ones and share in this beloved Hamilton tradition as you enjoy the sights, sounds, and spirit of a Victorian family Christmas.
Events - Explore Your City
A Christmas for the Ages at Whitehern
- Saturday, November 29, 2025, to Sunday, January 4, 2026
- Location: Whitehern Historic House and Garden, 41 Jackson St W
- Enjoy Christmas for the Ages as we explore how different generations of the McQuesten family celebrated Christmas. The historic home is fully decorated, including three Christmas trees, complete with period toys and beloved artefacts nestled beneath them. The dining room table is beautifully set with the family's original china for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Come to Whitehern and experience the holidays as they were celebrated in the 1850s, 1870s, and 1930s.
Christmas Model Train Show
- Saturday, December 20, 2025 and Sunday, December 21, 2025, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Location: Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology, 900 Woodward Ave
- Join the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers at the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology for a Christmas Model Train Show in the Woodshed of the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology. Volunteers will be running scale model steam and electric trains decorated for the holidays. Visitors of all ages are invited to see various miniature train layouts and speak with club members. This year, the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers are celebrating their 50th season! Celebrate with us by contributing to a special train-themed community art project during your visit.
The Grand Re-opening of the Hamilton Children's Museum
- Monday, January 10, 2026, 10:00 AM to 3:45 PM
- Location: Hamilton Children’s Museum, 1072 Main St E
- The Hamilton Children’s Museum invites families, children and visitors to attend their re-opening day celebration! The Hamilton Children’s Museum has been a beloved part of the community for more than four decades. Home to interactive, hands-on galleries, the museum encourages learning through self-directed play and family-friendly learning opportunities. Enjoy an expanded visitor space, extended operating hours, improved accessibility, new exhibits, and a new classroom space.
Greener Ward 1
Let's do our part in Ward 1 to create healthy, biodiverse neighbourhoods for all living things! Check out Greener Ward 1!
Ward 1 Infrastructure Updates
For up-to-date information on all the infrastructure projects happening in Ward 1, check out our Ward 1 Infrastructure Projects webpage.
Ward 1 Development Information
Here you can find general information on developments and their status in the planning process.
Follow along for timely Ward 1 Updates via:
- Email: [email protected]
- Tel: 905-546-2416
- On social media:
The City of Hamilton is situated upon the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas. This land is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which was an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We further acknowledge that this land is covered by the Between the Lakes Purchase, 1792, between the Crown and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
Today, the City of Hamilton is home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island (North America), and we recognise that we must do more to learn about the rich history of this land so that we can better understand our roles as residents, neighbours, partners and caretakers.
Learn more about the City of Hamilton's Land Acknowledgement here.
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