• Deputy Mayor May
• Closure of Dundurn and York Intersection on June 9 and Detours
• Open Streets 2025
• Reminder of Westdale Roadworks
• Sundays UNLocked Street Festival Returns 
• Ward 1 Farmers Markets
• Engage Hamilton
• Summer HSR Schedule Changes
• Turtle Nesting Season
• Hamilton Falconwatch Needs Your Help!
• The 2025 Monarch Awards and Garden Journey Host Gardens
• The Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association's Yard Sale Survey
• Events

Deputy Mayor May

During May, I served as Deputy Mayor for the City of Hamilton. In this role, I chaired meetings of City Council, served as acting mayor when Mayor Horwath was recovering, and attended many community events to celebrate the people of this incredible city. It is always an honour to share in celebrations of Hamilton's unique cultural communities, to recognise those who have contributed to city, and to participate in community-building activities.

Top row, right-to-left: Opening the Ukrainian Bookshelf at the Hamilton Public Library; Bike to Work Day, 2025

Second row, right-to-left: Newcomer Day; Newcomer Day Citizenship Ceremony; Celebrating Polish Heritage Month; speaking on the future of cross-border trade

Third row, right-to-left: The 20th Anniversary of the Hamilton Caribbean Women's Group; Celebrating Filipino Heritage Month; Inaugural Opening of the Yugal Kunj Radha Krishna Temple on Aberdeen

Fourth row, right-to-left: At the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Historical Gathering; The 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Holland; Celebrating Filipino Heritage Month

Closure of Dundurn and York Intersection on June 9 and Forthcoming York-Related Closures and Detours

DUNDURN STREET NORTH - JONES STREET TO YORK BOULEVARD

Starting June 9, 2025, for approximately six weeks, road construction will result in a full closure of the north block of Dundurn St N, from Jones St to York Blvd, with no access to or from York. East-West York Boulevard will remain open at its current reduced capacity.

This work is part of seasonal maintenance and road infrastructure upgrades. Local access will be maintained where possible. Emergency services and waste collection will not be affected during this period. Alternate routes to consider include Queen Street North and Locke Street North

This phase of the project involves a comprehensive reconstruction of the sidewalks, curbs, and roadways, including the removal of the slip lanes on Dundurn Street North. The full closure will allow these works to be completed safely and promptly.

This closure has been widely announced in advance. Detours are posted on the City's York Boulevard Story Map.

The detours are not ideal and will impact the Strathcona neighbourhood. The lack of alternative north/south roads west of Dundurn St N has brought Locke St N into play. Locke North is considered the northbound route to York, and Queen St N is considered the southbound route from York.  

Last year, multiple speed cushions were added to the residential streets adjacent to Dundurn St N. Additionally, raised crosswalks were installed on Strathcona Avenue North and Florence.  All of these items were put in place, knowing that York construction may impact side streets.

While the Ward 1 office has respectfully requested support from the Hamilton Police Services to watch for inappropriate driving behaviour, we recognise they must respond to emergencies and cannot be present 24/7. Please be vigilant when walking, cycling or driving in the area. The first week of a detour can be unpleasant. Please stay safe.

HSR York 8 Detour related to Dundurn N Closure.

Residents are encouraged to plan ahead, use alternate routes during this time, and expect delays and increased traffic on surrounding roads. Motorists are reminded to follow posted detour signs and take extra caution in construction zones. For more information, please visit the City of Hamilton's York and Cannon Improvements storyboard.

Open Streets 2025

Get ready for the 2025 edition of Open Streets Hamilton. Join your friends and neighbours on Sunday, June 22, 2025, along the iconic King Street route, from John Street to Gage Avenue, where you can walk, cycle, roll and play along King Street East. This year, the hours of Open Streets have been extended to 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, giving you even more time to enjoy the route and all the activities and entertainment.

Open Streets Hamilton promotes physical activity, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. By opening our streets to people of all ages and abilities, Open Streets creates opportunities for healthier lifestyles, stronger communities, and a more vibrant city for everyone to enjoy.

Reminder of Westdale Roadworks

This is a reminder about the roadworks occurring in Westdale this summer.

This work will involve the following improvements, now with estimated dates:  

• Resurfacing on Sterling Street, Whitton Road, Oakwood Place, and on Cline Avenue North from Sterling to King - to begin late July/early August, weather depending
• Replacing the existing painted bike lanes on Sterling Street with protected bike lanes  - following the Sterling Street repaving in late July/early August, weather depending
• Adding a raised intersection to Sterling Street and Dalewood Crescent to improve pedestrian safety at a high-crossing intersection - to be completed by mid-June
• Adding a raised HSR pad to the stop at Sterling Street and Forsyth Avenue North - work has begun and will be completed in conjunction with sidewalk repairs by late June
• Adding independent pedestrian signals to King Street West at Haddon Avenue North - mid to late August
• Tightening the radii on Cline Street South at King Street West to slow turning traffic and improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists - nearly complete, restoration still to be completed

The investments will improve the experience of all road users and make an important connection in our community safer for everyone. The City of Hamilton issued construction letters to adjacent residents, noting that an on-site inspector would be available throughout the project to address any construction-related questions. You can also watch the video from a public meeting on these investments in October 2023. 

Sundays UNLocked Street Festival Returns 

Come enjoy the sights, sounds, and shops of Locke Street South during this summer’s Sundays UNLocked Open Street. From 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on the third Sunday of the month, Locke Street South will be pedestrian-only as Locke’s merchants and community partners take over the street for a friendly and fun festival. 

This summer, Locke Street South will be closed to vehicular traffic on: 

• June 15, 2025 
• July 20, 2025 
• September 21, 2025 
• October 19, 2025 

Ward 1 Farmers Markets

Good things grow in Ontario! Ward 1's delicious and local farmers' markets have returned for the season. Stop by and pick up some local produce, chat with your neighbours, and meet the people behind your food. This year, Ward 1 has two weekly farmers' markets to choose from:

• The Locke Street Farmers Market - 260 Locke Street South (in the Locke Street Tire and Automotive Parking Lot) - every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• The Westdale Village Farmers Market - King Street West @ Marion Avenue - Every Tuesday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Opportunities to Participate with Engage Hamilton

The Engage Hamilton portal offers residents an opportunity to participate in shaping the future of our city. Residents can provide important 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:

• Vision Zero Action Plan 2026-2031
  • Feedback will be accepted until September 30, 2025. Visit Community Pop-ups at James Street North Art Crawls on June 13 and July 11, 2025, as well as at Open Streets on June 22, 2025 for an in-person opportunity to engage.
• Active Transportation Wayfinding Guidelines
  • Provide feedback on how Hamiltonians navigate the city until June 11, 2025.
• Solid Waste Management Master Plan
  • Provide comments on opportunities for improvement for waste management in Hamilton.
• Our Future Downtown: Hamilton's 10-Year Downtown Revitalisation Strategy
  • Share your thoughts about downtown revitalisation from now until June 30, 2025. Visit the Community Pop-up at Open Streets on June 22, 2025, to participate in person.

Summer HSR Schedule Changes

The HSR's summer service runs from June 22 to August 30, 2025. Schedules will be adjusted to meet summer demand, and seasonal routes will start to help Hamiltonians get to the attractions and amenities they love. This includes the 9 - Rock Gardens, the 56 - Centennial to Wild Waterworks, and the free 99 - Waterfront shuttle.

For a complete list of service changes, please see the HSR's website.

Turtle Nesting Season

Turtle Nesting season takes place from the end of May through July. Nesting season is a particularly vulnerable time for turtles, as female turtles migrate away from wetlands to lay their eggs.

Roadways and sidewalks can be potentially hazardous places for turtles. If you find one, it’s ok to move it or help it move in the direction it’s heading, provided you are safe and can help the turtle without endangering yourself. The Toronto Zoo has a helpful video for anyone needing to help Snapping Turtles cross the road.

The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is asking the public to be attentive to turtle activity during this time. Report nesting turtles on RBG land by calling 905-527-1158 or emailing [email protected]. If you find an injured turtle, please contact one of these organisations: 

• Hamilton Animal Services – 905-574-3433 
• Toronto Wildlife Centre – 416-631-0662 
• Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre – 705-741-5000 
• Dundas Turtle Watch Crisis Line – 289-775-1351 

Hamilton Falconwatch Needs Your Help!

Hamilton Falconwatch is very excited to have four Peregrine falcon chicks in the nest at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel. The chicks now have names, which the Hamilton Community Peregrine Project is excited to share with everyone. They are:

• Lawfield (male)
• Winona (female)
• Charlton (male)
• Simcoe (female)

All four chicks are healthy, vocal, and very feisty!

The two adults, Judson and McKeever are busy feeding their fast-growing chicks. With four juveniles soon taking flight, Falconwatch is still looking for volunteers for the month of June to help out with their "Feet on the Street" watch. This is to monitor the chicks' progress shortly after they start jumping up onto the raised outer ledge from the nest area, and until the chicks are flying well, near the end of June. 

Volunteers assist with important tasks like avoiding possibly dangerous “coming to ground” situations, crowd control, monitoring sibling interactions, and assisting with rescues, if necessary. This helps increase the number of chicks that survive and can improve this important population of Hamilton's Official City Bird. Volunteers also collect data for the Ministry of Natural Resources. 

Falconwatch runs in two-hour shifts from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week. The Hamilton Community Peregrine Project page provides more information on the program, how to sign up as a volunteer, and the live FalconCam at the Sheraton Hotel.

The 2025 Monarch Awards and Garden Journey Host Gardens

The Monarch Awards were launched in 2016 by the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and Royal Botanical Gardens. Now, nearly a decade later, the program takes flight again, led by Halton Region Master Gardeners, who are revitalising the initiative with a fresh, inclusive approach.

The Monarch Awards recognise local gardeners transforming their residential spaces into thriving habitats for pollinators, birds, and native plants. The revitalised Monarch Awards feature a simplified application and a supportive evaluation process designed to educate and empower gardeners of all levels. Applications open on June 1, 2025, to residential gardeners in the City of Hamilton who personally care for their properties using ecological practices, and remain open until June 30, 2025. The award's focus is front gardens that raise awareness of biodiversity, increase the amount and quality of habitat for native flora and fauna, promote sustainable landscapes, and emphasise ecological gardening practices.

For more information or to submit a nomination, please see the Halton Region Master Gardeners (HRMG).

Additionally, HRMG is seeking host gardens for their Garden Journeys tours.

Garden Journeys is a free and fun tour of inspiring gardens in the Hamilton area that help restore biodiversity and support local ecosystems. This year's tours take place on the weekends of August 8-10 and August 15-17, 2025. 

Ready to Share Your Garden? The HRMG application form will help the organisers learn more about your garden and your efforts to support biodiversity. The HRMG welcomes a wide range of gardens—whether you’re just starting to plant native species and remove invasives, or you’re further along on the journey to creating an ecologically sustainable garden. Every step matters, and perfection is never the goal. Apply now using the HRMG's online form to be considered as a Host Gardener for this event. 

The Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association's Yard Sale Survey

Many thanks to the residents of Kirkendall for participating in the KNA's first community yard sale on May 31st. The KNA recorded over 50 households taking part, and many people were travelling through the neighbourhood, visiting various locations. 

To make future yard sales even better, the KNA would appreciate it if you could take our short KNA Yard Sale Survey.

Events

Support & Education Townhall on Bladder Cancer 

• Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Doors open at 5:30 PM for registration 
• Location: Michael DeGroote Centre for Education and Learning (MDCL) – McMaster University – RM 1102
• Join Christina Dzieduszycki, a Registered Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist, Dr. Shayegan, Chief of Surgery at St. Joseph’s Healthcare, and Roxie Demers, a nurse specialising in wound, ostomy, and continence, as they discuss their areas of expertise. For more information, please visit the Bladder Cancer Canada website.

Common Table Community Dialogue: Everyday Acts in Extraordinary Times 

• Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• Location: Strathcona Market, 460 York Boulevard 
• Join the launch of a new community dialogue series, where we ditch the panels and presentations to make space for genuine conversations about how we live, cope, and take action in extraordinary times. No experts—just neighbours, sharing stories, ideas, and a little hope over good conversation. Open to all. Register on the Common Table website.

Explore Your City:

• Ancaster Heritage Days,  June 7, 2025, 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Location: Downtown Ancaster, along Wilson Street, Sulphur Springs Road, and Queen Street
• Concession Streetfest 2025, June 7, 2025, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Location: Along Concession Street
• Dundas Live and Local, June 7, 2025, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Location: Downtown Dundas

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: