• Upcoming York and Queen Closure
• Update on 276 Aberdeen Avenue
• Open Air Burn Ban In Effect
• Hamilton's Climate Action Strategy
• Summer Infrastructure Updates
• Cybersecurity Update
• Lights Out for Bird Migration Season
• Opportunities to Participate with Engage Hamilton
• Ward 1 Farmers Markets
• Events

Upcoming York and Queen Closure

As work on York Blvd continues, there will be two upcoming closures to allow crews to complete concrete works.

• Queen St N
  • Stage 1: Thursday, August 14 to Monday, August 18 - Closed between York Blvd and Cannon St W. Northbound traffic on Queen St N will be diverted westbound onto York Blvd (Image 1 below)
  • Stage 2: Thursday, August 21 to the morning of Monday, August 25 - Closed at Cannon St W. Queen St N will be temporarily converted to two-way to allow for resident access only (Image 2 below)
• York Blvd
  • All eastbound lanes closed from Monday, August 18 to Friday, August 22 daily from 9:00 AM into the evening. Lanes will be opened at night once crews have completed their work for the day (Image 3 below)

These closures will allow the curb machine and concrete trucks to safely access the street and complete necessary work to ensure this important infrastructure project is completed in a timely manner.

Update on 276 Aberdeen

At the beginning of August, I distributed a letter notifying residents about a new abstinence-based Residential Treatment and Recovery (RTR) program operated by Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre (Urban Core).

The provincial Ministry of Health selected Urban Core to operate a Mental Health and Addictions Treatment (MHAT) Hub, also known as a Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub. MHAT Hubs replace supervised consumption and treatment services (CTS) sites, focusing on an abstinence-only approach. Most of Urban Core's programs operate from their central location at 430 Cannon St E. Urban Core's new abstinence-based RTR program has been identified as 276 Aberdeen Ave. 

I became aware of Urban Core's identification of 276 Aberdeen Ave as an RTR site in the spring via indirect sources. I sought more information, which initiated meetings with representatives from Urban Core, City staff, and Hamilton Centre's MPP, Dr. Robin Lennox ([email protected]). As Urban Core had yet to receive its instructions from the Ministry of Health, details relating to the operations of the HART Hub were not defined.  The only outcome from the meetings was the determination that the municipality has no oversight of the treatment centre. It is solely within the province’s jurisdiction.

The City of Hamilton, as a municipality, has no role in the approval, licensing, or operation of this facility, except to ensure that the building intended for use as the RTR site complies with the provincial building code, a responsibility of the City’s Chief Building Officer and not City Council.

In the absence of detailed information, the Ward 1 office was surprised to learn that Urban Core had begun outreach efforts regarding the RTR site. Urban Core had yet to receive its letter from the province, and therefore, many outstanding operational questions were still unanswerable.

To be fair to Urban Core, the province announced its swift movement away from CTS sites last August and called for applications for HART Hubs by December 2024, with expected delivery by Winter 2025. Urban Core was awarded the contract in January 2025, but had yet to receive the signed agreement as of July.

Unlike the Barton/Tiffany Outdoor Shelter program, which has full city oversight, the HART Hub is strictly under the Ministry of Health.

Good Shepherd operates the Barton/Tiffany site as a shelter; the city has worked with Good Shepherd since 1961 and has extensive experience with the provision of shelter services. Most importantly, the Barton/Tiffany site is a City-led initiative created through a mayoral directive. The final responsibility lies with the City, and as such, there is a need for oversight to address issues immediately.

In the Barton/Tiffany case, I met weekly with staff to discuss the site's potential impacts and how to mitigate them if necessary. Included in this is the proactive management of a 1 km zone around the site, which may include outreach, bylaw, waste management, parks, and police services if necessary and at the discretion of Hamilton Police Services itself.

This is in contrast to the more opaque nature of the provincial agreements surrounding MHAT/HART Hubs and outstanding questions surrounding accountability for the site.

This is not a NIMBY moment. And it is never okay to cast shame on residents who are seeking answers, nor cast aspersions upon those in support. A community that divides itself fails. Treatment centres are needed. How an institution operates in an area is important to all involved. No less is expected of any other entity. Many different forms of care operate in and around residential neighbourhoods. They operate and should operate with the care of their residents at the top of mind, and with respect to their neighbours. Transparency, outreach and oversight have helped these organisations become part of the community.

I, like other members of the community, am actively seeking additional information about Urban Core’s plans for operation at 276 Aberdeen Ave and the direct role of the Ministry of Health regarding operations. At this point, operational answers can only be provided by Urban Core and the provincial Ministry of Health. The provincial Ministry of Health - and, by extension, the members of the government currently representing Hamilton - should be able to explain the benefits of MHAT or HART Hubs and why the chosen operator is the best suited for this task. Urban Core’s board of directors and executives are answerable for site selection

To request information regarding this site and MHAT/HART Hubs, please contact:

• Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre - [email protected] 
• Urban Core Board of Directors - c/o [email protected]
• Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario - [email protected]/[email protected]    
• Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health - [email protected]
• Neil Lumsden, MPP Hamilton East-Stoney Creek - [email protected]
• Donna Skelly, MPP Flamborough-Glanbrook - [email protected]
• Monica Ciriello, MPP Hamilton Mountain - [email protected]

Open-Air Burn Ban In Effect

Given this summer's extremely dry weather conditions and the continued forecast of extreme temperatures, the Hamilton Fire Department has issued an immediate ban on all open-air burning in the City of Hamilton. All approved Open Air Burning Permits have been suspended. The ban includes:

• Recreational fires, including campfires and backyard firepits
• Burning of clean wood and brush
• Controlled grass burns
• Use of all outdoor wood-burning appliances, such as chimineas

Residents may continue to use barbeques and other gas-fired appliances. Residents who smoke as asked to fully extinguish their materials and discard them in non-combustible containers.

Residents are reminded that any person found to be conducting open-air burning, in contravention of the ban, is guilty of an offence and subject to charges being filed in Provincial Offences Court.

Hamilton's Climate Action Strategy

Hamilton City Council has approved recommendations to update and accelerate the community-wide Climate Action Strategy. This will help reduce carbon emissions and better protect Hamiltonians from extreme weather.

Central to this is the focus on a "Low Carbon Scenario" which will help Hamilton move factor on climate action. The Low Carbon Scenario will show the direct benefits of climate action, which includes investing now to save money and lives later. Some of the high-impact opportunities in this new, updated Climate Action Strategy include moving to electric vehicles faster and adding more places to charge them, building more trails and bike lanes to encourage active transportation, working with Hamilton's steel industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and working toward switching Hamilton to 100% clean, renewable electricity.

This is in addition to the work already achieved under the Climate Action Strategy, which includes planting over 55,000 trees, adding 13.6 kilometres of new bike lanes, increasing HSR ridership to 21.84 million riders in 2024, 102% increase, and completing studies on the use of "waste heat" from local industry to power and warm local businesses and residences.

The work done to advance the City of Hamilton's Climate Action Strategy will help address extreme weather, save money in long-term climate-related expenditures, and make our lives healthier and more enjoyable. The approval of a faster and bolder Climate Action Strategy builds on the work that began during the last council, when a Climate Emergency was declared.

As always, Ward 1 residents can learn about doing their part on the Greener Ward 1 website.

2025 Infrastructure Updates

Westdale South

• Sterling St, Whitton Rd, Oakwood Pl, and Cline Ave N (King W to Sterling) - All civil works under the contract have been completed: curbs, sidewalks, and paving.
• Sterling St and Forsyth Ave N – traffic signal infrastructure has been installed, including a traffic controller. This is a separate project requested by McMaster University and granted after an in-service road review. The new signals are expected to be activated in the next two weeks, following the completion of line painting.
• King W and Haddon Ave – the new IPS was activated last week and is now in operation. 
• Cline Ave and King St W - radii reductions complete
• Raised bus bay at Sterling St and Forsyth Ave N - complete 

To do:

• Bike lane barriers and bollards to be installed in the next two weeks by Transportation Operations.
• Raised intersection at Sterling Ave and Dalewood Cres - construction complete, but topography has made the impact negligible. The councillor is seeking an independent pedestrian signal for this critical intersection. 

Ainslie Wood

• Purvis Dr, Blackwood Dr and Butty Place - resurfacing complete.
• Main St W (Dalewood Ave to Cootes Dr) - resurfacing complete

Strathcona

• York Boulevard - Construction continues into the fall, with some lane restrictions forthcoming (see above). Overall, the project is on target.
• Jones St and Dundurn St N north of Jones - resurfacing completed. 

Kirkendall

• Aberdeen Ave (Dundurn St S to Longwood Rd S) Resurfacing was completed within a week. Road open. Further work coming in 2027, including full reconstruction.
• HAAA - The HAAA has experienced numerous delays, most recently due to the need to address newer growth management requirements that the delivery team had not previously encountered. As such, some modification of the park design was required. Specifically, to enlarge the onsite stormwater storage tank and reduce the hardscape surfaces at ground level. The project currently sits with the contracts team; from there, it will go to procurement. We anticipate a 6-8 week process in this instance. Once the timelines are better defined, we will circle back to the community. Regardless of start time, the reimagined HAAA project is significant and will see the closure of the park through to Fall 2026. 

Cybersecurity Update

At the end of July, Hamilton City Council was given an update on the cybersecurity incident that began on February 25, 2024. In that update, councillors were informed about the specifics relating to the attack and the response. Thankfully, no resident data was breached and the privacy of Hamiltonians was not compromised in the attack. The attackers demanded $18.5 million as a ransom, which the City did not pay. Advice from third-party experts and law enforcement indicated it would not be in Hamilton's best interests to pay the ransom and, instead, work to secure and recover access to the City's network independently.

Unfortunately, councillors were also informed that the City's insurance claim would not be paid due to the failure by some City departments to properly implement two-factor authentication before the attack. While significant work has been done to strengthen the City's cybersecurity, it is clear there is more than needs to be done. 

Councillors will have an opportunity to ask further questions and seek answers regarding the cybersecurity attack over the coming months. I hope to get clarity on outstanding points as more information is made available. As always, I will be sure to keep Ward 1 residents informed as more information is provided.

Lights Out for Bird Migration Season

Bird migration season has begun! This important time for many birds occurs between August and November as birds make their way to their wintering grounds. 

You can help birds arrive safely by turning off non-essential lighting and/or closing blinds at night (11:00 PM to 6:00 AM) from now until mid-November. Many bird species migrate at night and rely on natural cues like the moon and stars for navigation. Artificial lights disorient them, luring them into urban areas where they collide with glass, or become exhausted from circling. By turning off or dimming unnecessary lights during migration, cities can help birds navigate safely and conserve their energy for their long journeys.

In addition to turning off non-essential lights at night, you can also help birds this fall by keeping your feline friends indoors and by making your windows bird safe.

The folks at Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington have tips and tricks as to how you can make your house and your community bird friendly, as well as other resources around bird conservation efforts.

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
  • The City of Hamilton is working on a new 2026-2031 Vision Zero Action Plan to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries, improve roadways for all users, and implement road safety initiatives to reduce the societal costs associated with traffic incidents. This 10-minute survey will collect data and public input before a report is provided to the council. Provide your feedback from now until September 30, 2025.

• Safe Apartments
  • A new city bylaw aims to improve apartment building conditions by requiring the annual registration of apartment buildings with two or more storeys and six or more units, conducting building evaluations, and establishing tenant service request processes to ensure that issues inside rental units are addressed. Provide input on your experience with building conditions from now until September 30, 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

Events - Ward 1

Hamilton Children's Museum Pop-Up at Dundurn

• August 16-17 & 23-24, 2025, 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM 
• Location: Dundurn Castle, 610 York Boulevard
• Hamilton Children’s Museum will be popping up at Dundurn National Historic Site in the Historic Kitchen Garden. Bring your young family and friends for free nature-based activities in “Sophia’s Garden”, a child-focused interactive space. This program is weather-dependent and will be cancelled if there is audible thunder, heavy rain, or if temperatures exceed 40°C. Join this free, interactive event, sure to be an excellent time for young families!

Halton Region Master Gardeners' Garden Journeys

• August 15 - 17, 2025 
• Location: Across Hamilton
• Come and be inspired by a wide range of gardens—some are just starting to plant native species and remove invasive species, while others are further along on the journey to creating an ecologically sustainable garden. Meet and chat with gardeners about their techniques, native plants, and tips and tricks for cultivating a sustainable garden filled with healthy native species. Garden Journeys is a free, city-wide event, so mark your calendars!

Tottering BiPed Theatre presents The Carnival of the Animals

• August 17 & 24, 2025, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 
• Location: Dundurn Castle, 610 York Boulevard
• The Carnival of Animals is a classical music composition by Camille Saint-Saëns, meant to introduce children to the world of classical music with movements devoted to elephants, chickens, and turtles. This production by the Tottering BiPed Theatre features one of Canada's top mimes, Trevor Copp. Watch his interpretations as he becomes a clucking, growling, and flapping parade of animals who bridge this wonderful music to the hearts of children and adults alike! This performance is weather dependent and is pay-what-you-can.

Sundays UnLocked

• September 21, 2025 & October 19, 2025 
• Location: Locke Street South, between Hunter Street and Herkimer Street
• 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.

Events - Explore Your City

50th Annual Dundas Cactus Festival

• August 15 - 17, 2025
• Location: Downtown Dundas at locations along and around King St W
• Head on down to the Valley Town for the 50th Annual Dundas Cactus Festival, featuring live music, exciting vendors, and plenty of great food. The Dundas Cactus Festival has something for everyone!

83rd Anniversary of the Raid on Dieppe

• August 19, 2025, 11:00 AM
• Location: Dieppe at Hamilton’s Dieppe Veterans Memorial Park, 1033 Beach Blvd, Hamilton
• Hosted by the Hamilton Veterans Committee and The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Regimental Association, the service will pay tribute to the more than 6,000 Allied forces, most of them Canadian, who took part in the largest raid of the Second World War. A total of 582 members of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) took part in the August 19, 1942, raid. In the end, 197 members from the RHLI died, marking the single greatest loss of life of Hamiltonians to date, and nearly 300 were wounded or taken prisoner. Over 1,000 Canadian soldiers, sailors and aircrew lost their lives during the raid.

Salsa at the Station

• August 21, 2025, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• Location: Ferguson Station, 244 King St W
• Summer of Salsa Beginner Latin dance lesson: 6:00-6:45 PM, Mini Latin dance social: 6:45-8:00 PM

Park Crawl

• September 13-14, 2025
• Location: John Rebecca Park & Gore Park
• Park Crawl will activate both Gore Park (5:00-11:00 PM) and John Rebecca Park (4:00-6:00 PM) simultaneously on select summer days, offering attendees a variety of free and exciting family-friendly entertainment. The event will take place in both parks on June 13, July 11, August 8 and September 13 + 14.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

• September 30, 2025, 7:00 AM (Sunrise ceremony), 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM (Afternoon gathering)
• Location: West Harbour (exact location TBA closer to the event)
• Join your neighbours at a day of remembrance, awareness, and education in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2025. Hear from a survivor of the Mohawk Institute Residential School, reflections and teachings from an Indigenous elder, a drumming and community voices ceremony, and opportunities to learn, reflect, and honour the truths of Residential School Survivors.

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: