This edition of the Ward 1 newsletter includes:
- Ward 1 Town Hall
- Councillor Wilson's Opening Statement as the 2025 Budget Chair
- Renoviction Bylaw in Effect
- School Crossing Guards Needed!
- Ward 1 Resident Sounds Alarm Over Loss of Biodiversity
- 2024 Order of Hamilton
- Ward 1 Resident Raising Funds for FAB
- Free Family Day Skate at Coronation Area
- Events
Join us for a Ward 1 Town Hall [EDIT - new date]
You are invited to a Ward 1 Town Hall with Councillor Maureen Wilson on April 1, 2025, at 7:00 PM.
To facilitate conversation and provide a chance for all Ward 1 residents to participate, this will be a hybrid in-person/online event. You can join us:
- In-person at McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) - 175 Longwood Road South. Parking is available on-site. MIP is accessible by transit on the 1 - King, 5 - Delaware, 6 - Aberdeen, 10 - B-Line, and 51 - University. There is a SoBi bike share station in front of 175 Longwood Road South.
- Online via Zoom and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@Ward1Wilson).
Pre-registration is appreciated. Sign up at this link: 2025 Ward 1 Town Hall
We look forward to seeing you there!
Councillor Wilson's Opening Statements as the 2025 Budget Chair
Councillor Wilson is serving as the Budget Chair for this year's round of deliberations. With the "strong mayor" legislation implemented by the provincial government, budget deliberations will look a little different this year.
To help frame the budget discussions, Councillor Wilson provided some opening remarks that speak to the need for collaboration and thoughtful dialogue. You can read those comments or watch the video of the presentation at the following link: Councillor Maureen Wilson's Opening Remarks: Getting Back On Track.
Renoviction Bylaw in effect
Hamilton’s Renovation Licence and Relocation By-law, the first of its kind in the province, came into effect January 1, 2025. The By-law aims addresses bad faith evictions and protects tenants through new requirements for landlords who want to complete renovations where vacant possession of a unit is required. The By-law applies to all rental housing units anywhere in Hamilton.
Starting January 1, 2025, all landlords must apply for a renovation licence within seven days of serving an N13 notice to tenants to vacate their rental unit for extensive repairs or renovation.
Learn more about your rights and responsibilities at this link.
School Crossing Guards needed!
School Crossing Guards play an important role in keeping our streets safe. There are intersections on school routes in Ward 1 currently in need of crossing guards. The City is looking for candidates interested in serving their community while earning extra income. Learn more about the role and how to apply at this link.
Ward 1 resident sounds alarm over loss of Biodiversity
Ward 1 resident Paul O’Hara is sounding the alarm over the loss of Biodiversity in Hamilton in his recent study of 11 urban natural areas on behalf of the Hamilton Naturalist’s Club as part of the 2024-2026 Hamilton Natural Areas Inventory. His findings and calls to action were recently featured on CBC and CHCH.
We know Ward 1 residents value our natural areas and want to do their part to protect them. The scale of the loss can’t be overstated, but there are some things we can do that Paul highlights in his report such as:
- protect, enhance, and expand our urban natural areas through restoration plantings
- control invasive species and deer incursions, and educate on the harmful practices of plant poaching and yard waste and compost dumping
- encourage citizens to plant native trees and plants
- look for opportunities to create large scale naturalization projects in underused parks and public spaces such as golf courses, to enhance ecosystem function, and create a city-wide Natural Heritage System
We’ve long valued Paul’s knowledge and expertise. As part of our longstanding commitment to encouraging the planting of native trees and plants, we were proud to work with Paul on developing the Greener Ward 1 website. As Ward 1 residents, we have a particular responsibility to protect against biodiversity loss due to our proximity to the escarpment and Cootes Paradise. Greener Ward 1 is a wonderful resource for learning about our local biodiversity and how to protect it, including landscape designs and planting lists by Paul to demystify transitioning to native plant gardening. We hope you will find it hopeful as well as useful.
2024 Order of Hamilton
Congratulations to Ward 1 resident Khursheed Ahmed, one of the recipients of the 2024 Order of Hamilton, announced at the Mayor’s New Year’s Levee on January 18.
The Order of Hamilton is presented to individuals whose voluntary contributions have significantly enhanced the well-being of our community and enriched the city of Hamilton. Mr. Ahmed has dedicated decades to fostering peace, inclusion, and community building in Hamilton. He has been a driving force behind numerous citizen-led initiatives such as the Gandhi Peace Festival, the South Asian Heritage Association of Hamilton & Region, the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Memorial Planning Committee, Physicians for Global Survival, and Project Ploughshares. Mr. Ahmed’s commitment to Hamilton’s diverse communities is also evident through his work with the Immigrant and Refugee Advisory Committee and the Hate Crime Case Review Team of the Hamilton Police Service. We are grateful for his tireless efforts to inspire collaboration, promote peace, and enrich our community.
Ward 1 resident raising funds for FAB
Ward 1 resident Shane Van Barneveld, is set to run the Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica from February 9 to 14 to raise funds for the Fit Active Beautiful (FAB) Foundation and increase awareness about mental health issues. This initiative highlights the importance of mental health in our community and FAB’s desire to end the poverty cycle among youth girls.
The Coastal Challenge is one of the world’s most inspiring and grueling multi-stage races. With every kilometer run, Shane is hoping to inspire others to join in the fight against mental health stigmas and support the FAB Foundation's program that directly assists young girls in Hamilton's low-income communities. Shane is hoping to raise $24,260 for FAB; $100 for every kilometer he runs. He has set up a gofundme for those who wish to support.
Cycling Without Age volunteer opportunities
Cycling Without Age is a global initiative that provides people with mobility issues (young or not-so-young) an opportunity to once again get out into nature. These passengers may be previous cycling enthusiasts or simply have a desire to get outdoors. Volunteering with Cycling Without Age (CWA) Hamilton & Burlington gives you an opportunity to give back to the community and, at the same time, share in the joy that your time commitment provides for the participants. You will be trained to pilot a Dutch-inspired and Dutch-built three-wheeled e-assist trishaw. Each pilot is accompanied by a separate volunteer cyclist for support and traffic safety.
For more information, see the CWA website. Volunteer openings in Burlington and Hamilton are for weekdays in the spring, summer and fall. Info sessions on Zoom will start in February.
Free Family Day Skating
Join your neighbours at one of many free Family Day skate sessions across Hamilton.
Locally, enjoy a friendly afternoon at Ward 1's Coronation Arena (81 Macklin St N, Hamilton). Sponsored by the residents of Ward 1.
- Coronation: Monday, February 17, 2025, 1:00-3:00 PM
Events:
Seedy Saturday
- Location: HPL Central Library, 55 York Blvd (Central Neighbourhood)
- Time: Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 10 AM to 3 PM
-
Info: Join the Hamilton community for this fantastic FREE event by Green Venture that brings together garden-minded vendors, environmental groups, local organizations and local experts. It's the 'go-to' gardening event that hosts a free seed swap. Pick out what you want to grow this year, and take home local heirloom seeds! There's much to discover at Seedy Saturday, from a silent auction, an ask-the-experts panel, a workshop series, and a children's activity zone. There will also be a showing of "In My Backyard," an inspiring film, which will loop throughout the day.
This year is particularly exciting as it will serve as the official launch for applications to the Rain Ready Rebate program. Funded by the City, this initiative supports residents in making sustainable water management improvements. Learn more about the program at this link or join us on Saturday!
Hamilton Winterfest
- Location: Across Hamilton
- Time: February 1 to 17, 2025
-
Info: From February 1-17, 2025 Hamilton Winterfest brings you free and affordable concerts and crafts, dancing, theatre, fashion, art installations, and recreational activities.
Some of this year’s features are Winterfest POP - A 12,000 square foot outer space exploration designed by a team of local artists featuring LEGO, PacMan, real props from Star Trek & Star Wars, and more, and Winterfest Hub with large-scale art installations, video interactives, Art Crawl, and Valentines Day and Family Day celebrations.
Check out hamiltonwinterfest.ca for events, dates, and locations.
The Evolution of and History at Burlington Heights
- Location: The Coach House at Dundurn Castle, 610 York Blvd. (Strathcona)
- Time: Friday, February 21, 2025, 7:30 PM
-
Info: All are welcome at the Head of the Lake Historical Society meeting, Friday, February 21, 2025, where the speaker will be Dr. David Galbraith, Head of Science at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
The topic will be The Evolution of and History at Burlington Heights.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m., presentation at 7:30 p.m. Members free, guests $5.
Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association Food Drive
- Location: Throughout Kirkendall
- Time: Saturday, May 3, 2025
-
Info: The KNA Food Drive is coming up on Saturday May 3 and we're looking for your help.
If you don't currently have a KNA Food Drive sign placed on your lawn and would like one, email the KNA. We're looking for locations throughout Kirkendall, especially north of Aberdeen. If you live in an apartment or condo and currently do not receive a KNA Food Drive donation bag, email the KNA to arrange delivery.
Contact the KNA at [email protected]
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!
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 recognize 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.
Showing 1 reaction