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This edition of the Ward 1 newsletter includes:

• COVID-19 Vaccinations
• Hamilton Paramedic Services Request
• Dundurn Park Path Access
• Alexander Skate Park 
• Councillor Q&A
• Beulah Park ReOpens
• Call for Artists: Locke Street Marker Public Art Project
• Events - Winter Windows Walks Continue

Hamilton healthcare partners scaling up local COVID-19 vaccine capacity to respond to anticipated Omicron surge

The high-transmissible Omicron variant and rising case numbers are causing Hamilton healthcare partners to scale up local capacity to administer more COVID-19 doses, including boosters. While health data is still incoming on the severity of the Omicron variant of concern, there is scientific evidence that a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine can boost waning immunity and provide an important layer of protection against infections brought on by this variant.

Expanding eligibility for a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to those 18 years of age and older starting December 20, if at least three months (84 days) have passed since their last dose, means there are 320,000 community members to vaccinate in Hamilton. Hamilton healthcare partners are exploring all options to expand capacity to earlier levels seen in the spring and summer of 2021; however, this is a challenging undertaking with limited health care human resources across the local healthcare system. As a result, vaccinating community members will take a more extended period to complete.

Hamilton's Vaccine Program's scale-up will increase capacity increase to up to 8,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses per day if the required health care human resources can be secured. This compares to the 2,500 doses administered on average per day last week and over 4,700 doses administered in Hamilton yesterday.

Hamilton Public Health Services appreciates that it is frustrating to wait for appointments while at the same time hearing the call to get boosters in arms. We ask that community members remain patient and be assured that Public Health Services is working to increase capacity. New appointments are added daily, and community members should continue to check back for appointments. Additionally, residents are also encouraged to check with local pharmacies that are offering third doses.

Specifically, the urgent increase to local COVID-19 vaccine capacity in Hamilton is being supported in the following ways:

• Opening a temporary COVID-19 vaccine clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton West 5th Campus on Friday, December 17, with capacity anticipated to be over 4,000 doses the five days the clinic is in operation;
• Expanding capacity at existing Hamilton Public Health Services' vaccine clinics at the Centre on Barton and the Mountain Vaccine Clinic at CF Lime Ridge Mall, Hamilton Health Sciences West End Clinic - Healthcare Worker Vaccine Clinic and primary care-led Winterberry Family Medicine;
• Maintaining capacity of the primary care-led vaccine clinic at David Braley Health Sciences Centre (DBHSC), Hamilton Public Health Services' mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics, and homebound vaccinations being completed by Hamilton Paramedic Service;
• Continuing to partner with community organisations, such as Refuge and DAHC, to offer COVID-19 clinics to racialised and Indigenous individuals, and the Shelter Health Network to provide COVID-19 vaccines to shelter populations and Residential Care Facilities;
• Encouraging community members to tap into the capacity of local pharmacies offering COVID-19 vaccines and upcoming Provincial GO-VAXX bus mobile holiday stops. Over the last several days, local pharmacies have administered 2,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses per day;
• The City of Hamilton will temporarily and urgently redeploy approximately 100 city employees to assist with the operations of vaccine clinics.

Hamilton healthcare partners will continue to focus on administering first and second doses to all eligible individuals ages 5+ as well as third booster doses of vaccine to those most at risk, including those 50 years of age and older, immunosuppressed, and/or in congregate settings.

Booking a vaccination appointment. Children ages five to 11 years of age and individuals who are eligible for third or booster doses are required to book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, residents are also encouraged to check with local pharmacies that are offering third doses. Learn about available locations, hours of operation and how to book at www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.

The online vaccine booking system, accessed by visiting www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine, can accept bookings for eligible residents with an Ontario health card (green photo health card OR red and white) and an email address or cell phone number. Individuals without an Ontario health card or an email address or cell phone number can call the Public Health Services COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline: 905-974-9848, option 7. Translation services are available by phone.

Hamilton Paramedic Service urging residents to make the right call in non-emergency situations

Hamilton Paramedic Services (HPS) launched a public awareness campaign to encourage residents to call an ambulance only in an emergency and to seek other health services for less urgent needs.

Heading into the busy holiday season, HPS is here to help. Timing is critical in a medical emergency, and calling 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies will ensure paramedics will be available when you need them most.

If you experience a life-threatening emergency such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or signs of a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. Residents are also reminded to call an ambulance for other medical emergencies such as:

• Chest pain or chest tightness
• Sudden numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg
• Difficulty breathing
• Serious accidents or trauma
• Extreme pain
• Large burns
• Severe bleeding
• Unconsciousness

Many health care options are available if your health situation is not an emergency. Before calling for an ambulance for minor injuries, residents are asked to consider their medical needs and their options for quicker, more appropriate care such as:

• Consulting your primary care provider
• Go to a walk-in/urgent care clinic
• Speak with a pharmacist for questions about general health or use of medications
• Call Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-737-000

Quick Facts

• HPS is responding to an average of 266 dispatch calls a day.
• Less than 10 per cent of calls dispatched as a life-threatening emergency response are transported to a hospital as a life-threatening emergency.
• HPS response times are getting longer due to increased call volumes and pressures on the hospital system.

Additional Resources

• Communications Update: Ambulance Offload Delays – November 4, 2021
• Communications Update: Paramedic Service Pressures and Media Briefing – December 17, 2021
• Telehealth Ontario: www.ontario.ca/page/get-medical-advice-telehealth-ontario
• Hamilton Family Health Team – Find a provider:
  www.hamiltonfht.ca/en/managing-my-health/Find-a-Health-Care-Provider.aspx
• Hamilton Urgent Care Centres:
  • Urgent Care Centres - Hamilton Health Sciences
  • Urgent Care Centre, King Campus - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (stjoes.ca)

Dundurn Park Pathway Access 

Recently the Parks department erected "No Winter Maintenance" signs adjacent to gravel paths in Dundurn Park. In reality, nothing is changing. City staff will continue to plough gravel pathways. 

The signs emphasise that gravel pathways do not receive the same level of service as asphalt and concrete paths.  The latter pathways are ploughed to the bare surface; gravel pathways cannot receive the same treatment as asphalt without significant damage. There is a risk associated with using the gravel pathways in the winter months.

The pathways are open but use caution.

Alexander Skateboard Park - Design concepts presentation, January 13, 2022, at 7:00 PM. Registration required

Alexander Skate Park is a proposed +/-1,000m2 (10,764 sq. ft.) wheeled sport facility located within Alexander Park. The concrete facility will be integrated with the park's existing amenities and will cater to a variety of wheeled sports such as skateboarding, rollerblading, scooters and BMX bikes. In July 2021, a Rider Focused Working Group (RWG) came together to advise on the design of the future skate park. From those collaborative meetings, the consultant brought two design concepts. City staff will present the two concepts at the virtual Public Information Centre (PIC). 

Following the January 13th online meeting, the City will host an online vote to choose the successful concept. The consultants will then develop the preferred concept into a detailed design and construction drawing set. 

Visit the Alexander Park Skate Park website to view the initial kick-off meeting and read the subsequent working group documents.

New Year Q&A with Councillor Wilson, January 20, 2022, at 7:00 PM. Registration required

New year - new questions or maybe old questions you have yet to ask.

Ward 1 residents, please join Maureen on January 20, 2022, to talk about issues or ideas relevant to our neighbourhoods and City. Ask your question in real-time or submit one in advance for Maureen to address during the session.

Beulah Park Reopens

Beulah Park reopened on December 14th. Apparently, fanfare wasn't needed. As soon as the fence came down, the kids came out. Both young and young at heart.

This project was designed in collaboration with residents through the Play Your Way (PYW) engagement tool. In fact, Beulah Park was the first City project to use the method.

Victoria Park was the second PYW project. The forthcoming 2022 spray pad and the additional accessibility play feature will reflect the Strathcona neighbours preferences.

Play Your Way will be utilized as a part of the HAAA play structure and spray pad, also coming in 2022. Look for the announcement of surveys in the new year.

Call for Artists: Locke Street Marker Public Art Project

The City of Hamilton is seeking professional Artists or Artist-Led Teams to create a permanent Public Art work(s) to be sited on Locke Street at the SW Corner of Jackson Street in Hamilton.

A citizen Jury will select artists through a two-stage process involving a concept and design proposal, followed by public consultation on up to 6 selected Artists detailed proposals.

Award: $70,000

Short-listed Artists completing a Stage 2 submission will receive a $700 honorarium.

Submission Deadline: January 13, 2022, at 3:00 PM (Hamilton time)

Visit the Locke Street Marker Public Art Project Webpage to view the Call for Artists and the Focus Group Report.

Events

Winter Walks and Wonderful Windows

Three neighbourhoods, multiple locations, and the magic of imagination

• Kirkendall Winter Windows, December 1-31, 2021, new location each day
  • Main page - Found in Facebook Kirkendall Hub
  • For non-Facebook users
• Strathcona Living Advent Calendar, December 1-24, 2021, new location each day
  • Main page - Found in Facebook Strathcona Hub
  • For non-Facebook users
• Westdale Living Advent Calendar, December 1-24, 2021, new location each day
  • Main page - Facebook event
  • For non-Facebook users

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• Email: [email protected]
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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 peoples 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.