This edition of the Ward 1 newsletter includes:

• Ward 1 Town Hall, April 1, 2025
• Phase 2 of the York Boulevard Construction
• Vacant Unit Tax Update
• Property Tax Statement Information
• CityHousing Update
• End of the Significant Weather Event
• Waterfront Trail Closure
• Measles Update
• City of Hamilton's 2025 Budget Adopted
• Events

Ward 1 Town Hall

A reminder that our Ward 1 Town Hall will be happening on April 1, 2025.

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. A SoBi bike share station at MIP.
• 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!

Phase 2 of the York Boulevard Construction

The second construction phase on York Boulevard will begin at the end of March/ early April. This will address the lanes south of the centre median. 

Unlike Phase 1, the second phase does not include a watermain replacement. This will make for a shorter project with different detour options.  

For a full overview of what to expect, review the project storyboard. 

Vacant Unit Tax Update

The City of Hamilton has implemented a Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) to address its affordable housing crisis. This tax is an additional 1% of a property’s assessed value if a residential unit was vacant for more than 183 days in the previous year. The VUT encourages property owners to keep their properties occupied instead of vacant. The revenue generated from this program will be invested in affordable housing initiatives across Hamilton. 

Property owners must submit a declaration from February 10 to April 30, 2025. A residential unit will be considered vacant if a declaration is not received by April 30. 

We understand Canada Post has been delayed, preventing residents from receiving information about the VUT. As a result, the City Council has approved waiving penalties for any declarations received after April 30, 2025. 

If any Ward 1 residents need assistance accessing the VUT declaration, have questions about the process, or require information on alternative declaration methods, please contact [email protected] or call 905-546-2416. 

You can find more information and a link to submit your declaration online at the City of Hamilton’s Vacant Unit Tax website. You can access a PDF copy of the declaration here if needed. If you would like a physical copy dropped off at your residence, please contact the Ward 1 office.

Property Tax Statement Information

The City of Hamilton has begun sending out property tax statements to homeowners citywide. However, due to delays with Canada Post, some property owners may not have received their bills. As a result, the city’s General Manager of Finance and Corporate Services will be waiving penalty charges for a 30-day period. The payment deadline has now been extended to March 31, 2025. The second instalment of your property tax payment will still be due on April 30, 2025. 

If you have been affected by the Canada Post delay, please contact the Ward 1 office at [email protected], and we will connect you with someone who can help. You can also register for property tax e-billing, allowing you to receive your tax bill electronically. You can learn more at the City of Hamilton’s Property Tax site. 

CityHousing Update

On February 18, CityHousing Hamilton – our local public housing provider – announced significant strides toward addressing the housing crisis in our community. Over the past 18 months, CityHousing has cleared a backlog of 500 units and has reduced its vacancy rate from 9% or 649 units in 2023 to an all-time low of 2.2% or 161 units. 

To accomplish this, CityHousing has implemented new tracking and monitoring processes, centralized oversight of vacancy renovations, revised its budgeting approach, and created a new reserve fund that will be used to offset unplanned costs over the coming years. 

CityHousing is mainly funded through resident rents, with the remainder from commercial rents and government subsidies. The team at CityHousing has worked diligently to get more units back online, reduce the waiting list backlog, and invest in high-quality materials that will last longer and provide better value for residents and the City. 

While much more work must be done to address the housing crisis in Hamilton, this is a big accomplishment and an important step toward affordability. 

For more information, please see the City’s news release here. 

End of the Significant Weather Event

From Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Noon to Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 9:00 AM, the City of Hamilton declared a “Significant Weather Event”. This was due to a forecast that called for a significant accumulation of snow in a 24-hour period and high winds. The Ontario Municipal Act, Reg. 239/02, allows declaring a Significant Weather Event. 

As it has been more than 24 hours since the Significant Weather Event concluded, property owners should have completely cleared snow and ice from sidewalks and drains. By-law officers will now enforce the requirement to keep sidewalks free of snow and ice. 

If you have any concerns or complaints about properties with uncleaned sidewalks, please contact Municipal Law Enforcement at [email protected] or register an online complaint using this link. 

Waterfront Trail Closure

An emergency trail closure is in place due to snow impacting the connections between the Waterfront Trail and the Desjardins Recreation Trail. The floating walkway along the Desjardins Canal that connects the two trails has also been closed due to ice buildup. City staff worked diligently to clear the ice buildup, which had dislodged the metal access plates to the floating walkway. Unfortunately, due to the low water levels in the Desjardins Canal, the access plates are still inaccessible. 

The trail section between Princess Point and Bayfront Park is currently closed. City staff are working hard to fix the issue and reopen this important link between popular trails in our community. We will provide further updates as information becomes available. 

Measles Update

Hamilton Public Health Services reported a lab-confirmed case of measles in 2025. Unfortunately, there has been increased measles activity across Southwestern Ontario, particularly among unimmunized and under-immunized children and teens, though Hamilton is not currently considered an area experiencing an outbreak. 

Please ensure you and your loved ones are up-to-date on their measles vaccines and that you make yourself aware of what measles symptoms look like in case of exposure. Please check out the City of Hamilton’s Medical Advisory on Measles at this link for more information.

2025 Budget Adopted

Hamilton City Council adopted the 2025 Tax Budget on February 12th. Mayor Horwath has indicated that she will not exercise her mayoral veto, which means the budget has been adopted. The 2025 budget resulted from the hard work of City staff and councillors who needed to balance the provision of essential services, address an infrastructure deficit, and respond to an increasingly challenging economic and political situation. 

Please see the City’s press release and fact sheet for more information. 

Events:

Hamilton Bike Share’s 10th Birthday Party 

• Date/Time: March 20, 2025, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM 
• Location: The Cotton Factory, 270 Sherman Ave. North
• Info: Hamilton Bike Share is hosting a 10th birthday party, and you’re invited! Join us for a free, family-friendly celebration. Meet there or join a group ride departing from McMaster (Forsyth at Sterling Hub) at 5:30 PM or Beasley Park (Beasley Park Hub) at 6:15 PM. There will be birthday treats from Pinch Bakery available as well. 
  

  Visit https://www.everyonerides.org/birthday for event updates, and contact [email protected] with any questions.  

The Evolution of and History at Burlington Heights

• Date/Time: Friday, March 28, 2025, 7:30 PM
• Location: The Coach House at Dundurn Castle, 610 York Blvd. 
• Info: All are welcome at the Head of the Lake Historical Society Join the group for a talk by Daryl MacTavish of Hamilton's Historic House Museums entitled “And Now the Field of Battle Was My Home”, a discussion about the events that led up to the June 6th, 1813 Battle of Stoney Creek.

  The doors open at 7:00 p.m., and the presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. Members are free, and guests are $5. Light refreshments will be available, and an accessible elevator is on site. 

Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association Food Drive

• Date/Time: Saturday, May 3, 2025
• Location: Throughout Kirkendall
• Info: The KNA Food Drive is coming, and they need your help. 

  If you don't have a KNA Food Drive sign 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 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: