THIS EDITION OF THE WARD 1 NEWSLETTER INCLUDES:
- H.A.A.A Park Renewal Plan information sessions
- Victoria Park Future Enhancements online information session
- Hamilton Placemaking Grant Pilot Program is now open for applications
- Hamilton's Urban Forestry Strategy online engagement starts now
- Hamilton Arts Council survey for artists, audiences and organizations
- Covid19- email/phishing SCAM ALERT
- Model City Hall 2021 executive team application for all high school and post-secondary students
- Events:
- The Colour of Health: Black Healthcare Justice; February 3, 2021; 7:30 PM [Online]
- Hamilton Winterfest Activities
H.A.A.A Park Renewal Plan
The Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association (HAAA) grounds is a seven-acre neighbourhood park located within the Kirkendall Neighborhood on the north side of Charlton Avenue West, just east of Locke St
The City of Hamilton is developing a park Renewal Plan for the HAAA Grounds as the current amenities within the site are nearing the end of their service life and will need to be replaced. The Renewal Plan will develop an overall conceptual plan of the park that will be implemented in a phased approach over the coming years
We want to hear from you!
As part of the Renewal Plan process, we are looking for input from the local community in hopes of finding out how the community uses the HAAA Grounds. We want to know what you like, what you don’t like, what’s that missing piece, what concerns you may have, and more about the park’s strengths and weaknesses. The more feedback we receive from park users like yourself, the better informed we are to ensure the park’s Renewal Plan meets the needs of the community.
The first opportunity to discuss the process will be at one of the two virtual online information sessions. City staff will provide an overview of the park’s current condition, outline the Renewal Plan process, identify key dates and start the conversation.
Further opportunities to engage on the project will take place over the next six to seven months including specifically focus groups. (e.g. youth)
Virtual Public Information Centre 1
- Session 1 - at capacity - Thursday February 4, 2021 @ 7:30pm or,
- Session 2 - space still available - Saturday February 6, 2021 @ 10:30am
Get started with your ideas and feedback now. Take the survey, pin specific locations and add photos of ideas. See EngageHamilton's H.A.A.A project page
Get the kids involved early. Use the map on the project page to pin favourite places in the park and explain why or have them add new ideas and pictures.
Victoria Park Future Enhancements Online Information Session
Please join Councillor Maureen Wilson and City staff to learn about upcoming improvement work at Victoria Park, and share your thoughts on how you want to see these improvements take shape.
Spray Pad Replacement:
The existing spray pad in the park is nearing the end of its life cycle and needs replacing.
Sun Shelter:
A new structure will also be included as part of this renewal work. The addition of a sun shelter forms part of the continued Victoria Park Master Plan implementation: a multi-year park renewal plan.
Play Structure:
As requested by residents, Parks staff will give an overview of possible accessibility enhancements to the 2016 Play structure, opportunities to engage in the selection of accessibility features and the timeline for construction.
Outdoor Pool Renewal:
The pool is scheduled for replacement in the next few years. Staff from facilities will outline the project and timeline for the replacement of this much-used park amenity.
The session takes place on February 18, 2021, at 07:30 PM via the free Zoom platform. Register here.
Hamilton Placemaking Grant Pilot Program is now open for applications
Made possible through a $100,000 donation from the Patrick J. McNally Charitable Foundation, the Program will fund community-led placemaking projects that animate public spaces across the City.
Applications will be accepted from groups of residents and non-profit organizations.
Information about the grant program, including the funding guidelines which outline the eligibility requirements, the application form and a placemaking toolkit are available on the City’s website at www.hamilton.ca/placemakinggrant
Hamilton's Urban Forestry Strategy Online Engagement starts now.
The Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy (UFS) will be a plan to ensure the long-term health of Hamilton’s urban forest. It will provide a community-developed vision and actions to guide us in maintaining and growing the urban forest.
Learn more about the Why is a strategy needed?
Trees are the single solution to many of our challenges, especially in a changing climate. Trees are often called “green infrastructure” because they provide many valuable ecosystem services. These services include improving air and water quality, controlling floods, beautifying neighbourhoods, reducing energy use, providing habitat for wildlife, and providing recreation opportunities.
However, pressures on trees are increasing, due to pests and diseases, drought and severe weather from climate change, development, and invasive species.
Trees live a long time and need to be carefully planned for and managed. That is why Hamilton needs a comprehensive plan for its urban forest.
For the past two years, the City of Hamilton’s Development Planning, Heritage and Design Section has been working with stakeholders, residents, and other City staff to prepare an Urban Forest Strategy for Hamilton.
In 2018, the City hired a consultant team to gather data on the urban forest and review by-laws, guidelines and policies. During this time, the City also received feedback, gathered during numerous engagement activities. Using this feedback and background data, a draft Urban Forest Strategy report has been prepared.
Two draft reports are now available for your review and comment: the Urban Forest Strategy and the Technical Report.
The City welcomes your comments on the draft reports. Please participate – the UFS will be better if more people provide input!
Join the Virtual Meeting on February 9, 2021, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Listen to a presentation on the urban forest strategy and provide comments. You can submit your questions beforehand. Register for this meeting
Contribute to the discussion further by participating in the survey, ask questions and read the reports via EngageHamilton's Urban Tree Strategy page https://engage.hamilton.ca/urban-forest-strategy
Hamilton Arts Council survey for artists, audiences and organizations.
Overwhelmed and lost in the shuffle? Hamilton Arts Council is spearheading an initiative to deliver an effective digital arts platform, to support artistic planning, promotional efficiency, and communications.
The survey is 100% anonymous and takes 5-10 minutes to complete. There are three types of surveys - for Arts Organizations, Individual Artists, and Arts Audiences. All the surveys are available at www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/surveys
ATTENTION - Covid19- email/phishing SCAM ALERT
The City of Hamilton's Public Health Unit is advising of reports of a new COVID-19 email/phishing scam targeting seniors in Hamilton, alerting them to click on a link in an email to book a date/time to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. THIS IS A SCAM. Please do not click on the link.
If you or a family member are unsure of the legitimacy of any email received about COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccines, please contact the Public Health hotline at 905-974-9848 or [email protected].
Vaccines are currently ONLY available to priority groups identified in the provincial plan (presently, long-term care homes and high-risk retirement homes). For those who are eligible for a vaccine, their employer, health care facility or Public Health will contact them to book an appointment. More information is available at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-vaccines-ontario
Model City Hall 2021 Executive Team application for all high school and post-secondary students
In 2021, Model City Hall will be hosting a unique and exciting virtual conference.
This may be the most engaging, interactive, and rewarding virtual event you have ever been involved with! Model City Hall is entirely volunteer-led and we are looking for talented, passionate, and impact-driven youth to help shape our conference and the future of our cities. Read more about the MCH annual conference here.
Thank you for expressing interest in applying to join the Model City Hall 2021 Executive Team! All high school and post-secondary students residing in the GTHA are encouraged to apply. Prior volunteer experience is an asset, but not required. We highly encourage applications from students with 2SLGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPoC) and other marginalized and/or equity-seeking groups.
The application deadline is: 11:59 pm EST on February 5th, 2021
Learn more about the roles & responsibilities for each position here.
Events:
-
The Colour of Health: Black Healthcare Justice; February 3, 2021; 5:30 PM [Online] - Free registration
Join The Hamilton Community Legal Clinic's Black Justice Initiative, as they launch of their first conversation in their "Together We Rise" series. Hear community members discuss health, justice and race in Canada. As we celebrate Black History Month, this series aims to explore anti-Black racism in the healthcare system. Speakers include Lyndon George, AJ Grant-Nicholson and Dr Madeliene Vehovsek.
Register
- Hamilton Winterfest Activities - various activities see hamiltonwinterfest.ca
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- Tel: 905-546-2416
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.