• Ward 1 Chronicles - Ainslie's Wood
• Housing Updates
• Churchill Park Construction Update
• Roads and Snow Clearing
• Provincial Recycling Changes
• Water Billing Changes
• Cycling Without Age Volunteers Needed
• Vacant Unit Tax Drop-In Clinics
• Hamilton Business Survey
• Seedy Saturday 2026
• Events

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Ward 1 Chronicles - Ainslie's Wood

This week, we are introducing "Ward 1 Chronicles", a periodic look at the history of Ward 1. The four neighbourhoods of Ward 1 have fascinating histories that we would love to share with you, offering a window into the past based on what we know to date. In future, editions of Ward 1 Chronicles will be at the end of our newsletters as an added bonus. Enjoy!

Today, we are looking at Ainslie's Wood, once a popular picnicking park just outside Hamilton's city limits.

In 1838, George Howlett Ainslie (the family name was alternatively spelt Ainsley and Ainslee in early records) purchased 24 hectares of land in Barton Township, extending from today's Main St W in the north to the Escarpment in the south, between Longwood Rd S and approximately where Dow Ave is today. There, Ainslie established a small farm and built a sturdy stone farmhouse (roughly at the foot of today's Bond St S), but left much of the picturesque property untouched. The Ainslie property was known for its gentle creek, stunning waterfalls, and views of what is now known as the Chedoke ravine.

Forty years later, George's son, Colonel Robert Ainslie, inherited the property and began transforming it into a peaceful rural retreat for weary urbanites. Colonel Robert added a pavilion for concerts and "boat swings", which we today would know as a "Viking ship" ride at an amusement park.

The popularity of Ainslie's Wood was helped by the opening of the Hamilton and Dundas Street Railway (HDSR) line in 1879. The HDSR train travelled from the corner of Main and James and made its way through the Durand and Kirkendall neighbourhoods before heading along Aberdeen Ave to the far southwest corner of the City of Hamilton. At the time, Longwood extended straight from Main St W to Aberdeen (roughly where the onramps to the 403 begin today), and this intersection was the end of the City of Hamilton and the beginning of the Township of Barton. The intersection also served as the HDSR stop for Ainslie's Wood, allowing Hamiltonians to quickly and inexpensively venture out "into the country" for a picnic on a warm summer's day or a casual stroll amidst the colours of fall.

The park was popular with Hamiltonians of all backgrounds for its picturesque scenery. But Colonel Robert's eccentric behaviour also brought the crowds. On one occasion, the Colonel found himself in a dispute with, as Mabel Burkholder once recounted, "a Scottish gentleman of good family." The two men decided the only way to settle their dispute was through a duel. The Scottish gentleman's wife learned of the upcoming duel and hatched a plan to prevent violence. When the two men met in Ainslie's Wood for the duel, a crowd of spectators had gathered to watch the events. After walking their paces and turning to face one another, both men aimed and, upon the signal, fired. Suddenly, both men found themselves covered in a dark, sticky substance that dripped down their faces and onto their fine clothes. The wife of the Scottish gentleman had conspired with the others to fill their weapons with blackcurrant jam! As Mabel Burkholder recalled, both men began laughing at the silly situation and resolved to be better friends in the future.

By 1881, over 25,000 people were visiting the park each year, and Ainslie marketed it as a "pleasure resort". In 1885, the HDSR bought Ainslie's Wood and expanded the park, building baseball diamonds, a cricket pitch, and a lacrosse field after municipal officials from Hamilton declined an offer to purchase the area and create a public park. Animals were exhibited, local bands played there on weekends, and stalls were set up to provide refreshment to those who did not bring their own picnics. The public was so enamoured with the park that a local poet, M.E. Campbell, was even inspired to compose an ode to Ainslie's Wood, entitled "Remember?" that included the lines:

"Remember? Well, every old-timer should, the chief attractions of Ainslie's Wood; the eagle's cage and baseball green, the old log bridge that crossed the ravine, the paths that lured us, the Army band, the luscious wares of the popcorn stand!"

After the expansion of industry in what was then the far western portion of Hamilton and the establishment of railroad yards between Chatham St and Aberdeen Ave around the turn of the century, the popularity of Ainslie's Wood began to decline.

After World War I, improvements to local roads allowed for an expansion of bus service, putting strain on the HDSR, which had, in 1899, been purchased by the Dominion Power and Transmission Company - the same company that owned the HSR. A company from Detroit began negotiations to buy Ainslie's Wood for the establishment of an amusement park in 1920, but the deal fell through, and instead, the land was bought by Sir John Gibson, a local politician and businessman who was the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1908 to 1914. Gibson was also one of the founders of the Dominion Power and Transmission Company.

Due to changing transportation, the HDSR went out of business by 1923. By that time, Ainslie's Wood had fallen into disrepair and "hold-up artists" prowled the ravines looking to rob the brave few who still ventured into the park. In the late 1920's, much of the southern portion of Ainslie's Wood was sold to the City of Hamilton for the expansion of the Chedoke Golf Course, which it remains today.

After Sir John Gibson passed away in 1929, his widow divided the remaining land, giving the Ainslie farmhouse and much of the northern portion of Ainslie's Wood to Hillfield School (later Hillfield-Strathallan College) while the southern portion was gifted to the City of Hamilton. The donated lands were slowly sold to different interests. After Hillfield relocated to its current campus on Fennell Ave in the 1960's, it sold a portion of its land to developers, who built today's Camelot Towers, and the remaining portion to the Hamilton Board of Education, which built the Ainslie Wood Vocational School at what was the far northwest corner of Ainslie's Wood soon after. In 1994, that building was sold to Columbia International College, which still operates today.

In 1959, the City of Hamilton and the Province of Ontario approved the construction of the Chedoke Expressway, which cut through what remained of Ainslie's Wood. The highway was opened slowly between 1963 and 1969, with the Aberdeen interchange opening in 1965.

A plan to create a "Whitney Parkway" from Main St W to Dundurn St S, cutting through the neighbourhood of Ainslie Wood, was indefinitely shelved by City engineers in 1966. Part of the parkway was planned for the utility corridor that runs diagonally from Emerson St to Bowman St. In 1987, the City of Hamilton designated this stretch of land "Ainslie Wood Park" in honour of Ainslie's Wood, though the area is not an official park and not part of what was originally Ainslie's Wood. 

Today, in addition to that unofficial park, Ainslie Ave and the Ainslie Wood neighbourhood pay homage to one of the area's early settlers and the beautiful picnic park and summer resort that once offered Victorian-era Hamiltonians a bit of peace and quiet amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life.

Sources for this piece include the Hamilton Spectator archives, Library and Archives Canada, and Vanished Hamilton II by Margaret Houghton.

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Housing Updates

This week, Hamilton City Council received two important reports on the situation with homelessness in the city.

One of these reports was Housing Audits: Barton Tiffany Temporary Shelters Investigation and Lessons Learned. This report comes from the City of Hamilton's Office of the Auditor General, an independent body that conducts objective, fact-based audits to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the City of Hamilton’s risk management and governance processes. The report examined the financial and logistical issues associated with the Barton Tiffany Outdoor Shelter, which caused the associated costs to increase from $2.8 million to $7.8 million.

After Hamilton City Council voted unanimously to declare a state of emergency related to homelessness, addictions, and the mental health challenges we face in our community in April of 2023, attempts were made to work with other levels of government and community partners on lasting solutions to this crisis.

In the summer of 2024, Hamilton City Council began directing staff to develop new, local solutions to these issues. One of these directives instructed staff to produce a report on sanctioned sites and shelters.

Before staff could present this report, the mayor issued Mayoral Directive MDI 2024-02, which required staff to undertake research on the feasibility of identifying a site on which temporary shelters could be used to house some people experiencing homelessness. After the provincial government extended Strong Mayor powers to the City of Hamilton, the mayor was granted the power to issue mayoral directives, which require staff to perform tasks relating to specific policy goals. Mayoral Directive MDI 2024-02 led to the establishment of the Barton Tiffany Outdoor Shelter.

The Auditor General's report found that there was not enough time between the mayor’s directive and the presentation of findings to council to conduct the needed amount of research. The speed with which the project was assembled led to significant oversights that resulted in sourcing materials from inexperienced businesses that looked good on paper but were unable to provide the quality of products needed.

In addition, the Auditor General found that council was not kept up to date with the issues relating to the physical structures, that a company was selected based on a quoted price and the way the company presented itself to staff, and that payment was made without services being rendered.

Importantly, the Auditor General "found that the imperative of urgency overrode the importance of due diligence and good governance." Staff were not provided with enough time to effectively research the project, and the mayoral directive placed considerable pressure on departments that had not previously done this kind of work.

The report also identifies breakdowns in communication, including a four-month delay in reporting cost overruns to City Council. Ultimately, the cost overrun was significant, amounting to $5 million.

The Auditor General provided 11 recommendations for Council’s consideration to ensure similar oversights and cost overruns do not occur in the future.

When projects of this magnitude are proposed, the best possible project management methods must be employed to maintain the public’s faith in the ability of their government to pursue innovative and important solutions to the many challenges facing cities. Residents may be understandably frustrated by these failures, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report. It is clear that more work must be done to ensure proper procedures are followed, that Council is kept apprised of issues with procurement, and that the limited resources the municipality has are allocated responsibly. When issues arise, they overshadow any good work done to address the problems we face in our community. As Hamiltonians face a cost-of-living crisis, it is imperative that the municipality act in a fiscally responsible way. The Auditor General's report is clear that it did not occur in this instance. It is now the job of Council and the municipality to restore the trust and confidence of community members in their local institutions.

Due to the snow event on Thursday, January 15, Council voted to hold a special General Issues Committee meeting on February 10, where this report will be discussed in detail. Information on all upcoming council and committee meetings is available on the City of Hamilton’s website.

In contrast to the Auditor General's report, Council also received a report outlining the successes that have come from the outdoor shelter. The 2025 Temporary Barton Tiffany Shelter Program Evaluation Report provides an update on the shelter's first year in operation and some additional information about homelessness in Hamilton. Today, the Barton Tiffany Shelter features 80 beds and wrap-around services, including access to healthcare, social service assistance, and addictions counselling, provided by the Good Shepherd and other community partners.

The report contained some positive news, as did additional updates from the City of Hamilton's Housing Services Director. To date, 21 residents who stayed at the Barton Tiffany Shelter have left for permanent supportive housing. The Barton Tiffany Shelter's occupancy averaged 91 per cent in 2025, providing shelter to those who may have difficulty accessing other shelter spaces, like couples who wish to remain together and those living with pets, or those for whom living in a congregant shelter is not within their current capacity. Surveys of residents found that 80 percent feel safe at the Barton Tiffany Shelter; 73 percent had their needs met, and 70 percent had positive interactions with staff.

Projects like the Barton Tiffany Shelter have the potential to inform models for new and better ways of helping those in the most need.

The Barton Tiffany Outdoor Shelter reveals the importance of having professional and experienced shelter staff on site, with coordinated access to human and health support. The rate of Barton Tiffany shelter residents transitioning to supportive housing exceeds outcomes from all other shelters operating in Hamilton. Good Shepperd’s Chief Operating Officer reported to Council that “a closed door and individual space is the best resiliency factor in affecting outcomes”. It was confirmed that the outdoor shelter will be temporary with an exit plan of three years. City staff will report before year end on the exit plan, how it will be transitioned, and how the operating lessons of Barton Tiffany will inform other shelters across Hamilton.

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Churchill Park Construction Update

Phase 3 of the construction at Churchill Park is still underway. In late November, the footings for the staircase at Parkside Drive and Kipling Road were poured incorrectly. As a result, the Contractor removed the existing footings and will re-pour the correct footings at their own cost. The work began the week of January 12th. 

Once the footings are corrected, the Contractor will proceed with the remaining works, including the foundation and stair installation, followed by railing installation and final road restorations. The Contractor is prepared to continue construction through the winter and will take the necessary measures to do so. The updated completion timeline has been extended to the first week in March.

A reminder that some sections of the park will experience temporary closures as construction proceeds in other areas. Please refer to the map Churchill Park revitalisation site for more information.

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Roads and Snow Clearing

Transportation crews are still out in full force, clearing all roads, sidewalks, bus stops, crosswalks and designated bike lanes after the significant snow event on Thursday, January 15. All resources were activated and deployed to address the storm conditions.

The City of Hamilton ensures that "Priority 1 Roads", meaning main streets, escarpment crossings, and parkways, as well as areas around schools, overpasses, and BIAs, are cleared first. Following this, residential areas are cleared. The City's Plow Tracker App will allow anyone to see where municipal maintenance vehicles have been in the last 2, 4, 12 and 24 hours. Residents are asked to consider removing parked cars from residential streets so road crews can clear them as quickly and safely as possible. Cars parked along streets make it difficult for plows and road crews with any size equipment to clear snow.

Unless residents live along a City sidewalk clearing route, property owners and/or occupants are responsible for moving snow and ice from sidewalks and street corners adjacent to their property line within the 24-hour period after a snowfall. The declaration of the Significant Weather Event means there is a pause on the requirement for property owners to clear their property within the 24-hour period after a snowfall. In the latest instance, the snow event was declared over at 8:00 PM Thursday, January 15th. Residents and the City have until 8:00 PM Friday, January 16th, to clear the sidewalks. Complaints for unclearead sidewalks will be accepted by staff after that time.  Help keep the sidewalk clear and safe for pedestrians.

• Keep the sidewalk clear and safe for pedestrians.
• Park off the street where possible, e.g. nearby parking lots.
• Give City of Hamilton road crews plenty of room to operate.
• Clear fire hydrants.
• Drive safely according to conditions.
• Call 905-546-2489 for City-service emergencies.

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Provincial Recycling Changes

A reminder to residents of provincially-mandated changes to Ontario's household recycling program. In 2016, the provincial government passed the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act. Prior to this legislation, municipalities and companies that produce products and packaging shared the costs of recycling 50/50. Now, producers of products and packaging are 100% responsible for operating and funding the recycling program. In Hamilton, the Blue Box transition occurred between April 1 and December 31, 2025. As of January 1, 2026, all recycling in the City of Hamilton is managed by Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit founded by corporations like Loblaws, Metro, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Procter & Gamble.

Also, starting January 1, 2026, Circular Materials can make changes to what is accepted and how materials are collected under the new program. They will be responsible for informing residents of any changes.

Keep up to date with the Circular Materials-managed recycling program by consulting their online resources for the City of Hamilton. These resources include a recycling calendar, information on what can be recycled, and what to do if you receive an "oops" sticker.

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Water Billing Changes

The City of Hamilton, through its Utilities Billing team, is transitioning water billing services from Alectra Utilities, effective March 30, 2026. As part of this transition, residents who were previously enrolled in Alectra’s pre-authorised payment (PAP) program received a letter requesting updated banking information. This step is required so the City can securely set up PAP accounts under the new in-house billing system. Mailouts informing residents enrolled in the PAP program were completed the week of December 4, 2025.

Some residents have noticed that the prepaid return envelope included in their mailout is addressed to a Toronto PO Box. This is legitimate. The City uses a secure, centralised mail-processing centre in Toronto to handle high-volume, sensitive financial documents. This approach ensures timely processing, increased security, and consistent handling of forms during the transition period.

If residents have questions or need assistance completing the form, they can contact the City’s Hamilton Utilities Billing (HUB) team at 905-546-8630 or [email protected].

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Cycling Without Age Volunteers Needed

Volunteer as a Pilot in the 2026 season?

Cycling Without Age (CWA) is a worldwide initiative that provides people with mobility issues (whether 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 CWA Hamilton & Burlington gives you the opportunity to give back to the community and, at the same time, share in the joy your time commitment brings to the participants. Rides and training take place during the workweek. Most of our pilots are active retirees.

You will be trained to pilot a Danish-inspired and Dutch-built three-wheeled trishaw. The e-assist trishaw has eight gears and three power levels. Each pilot is accompanied by a separate volunteer cyclist for support and traffic safety. For more information, see the CWA website. Email CWA at [email protected] to sign up to be a pilot.

Would you like to be a passenger?

CWA Hamilton/Burlington offers rides to community members who are unable to cycle independently. The rides are free, and a caregiver or family member may also ride at the same time. Rides are typically 1 hour or less, and the route depends on the pickup location. The CWA website features videos that offer a participant's perspective for those interested in learning more. Weekday rides are held at:

1. Williams Fresh Café, 47 Discovery Drive. Rides along the beautiful Bayfront Trail on Mondays and Wednesdays
2. Dundas on Wednesdays & Thursdays
3. Spencer Smith Park, 1400 Lakeshore Road. Rides on a Burlington multi-use path on Tuesdays or Thursdays at midday

Rides can be arranged at other starting points and on other days in the summer, depending on pilot availability. If you would like to be a passenger, email CWA at [email protected].

Vacant Unit Tax Drop-In Clinics

From January 14 to 23, 2026, the City of Hamilton will offer in-person, drop-in clinics in Senior Centres across Hamilton, where staff will provide personal assistance to help residential property owners complete their annual Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) declaration accurately and on time.

No reservations are required. Residential property owners just need to bring their Notice to Declare Letter or most recent property tax bill, which contains the roll number and access code needed to complete their declaration. Clinics will be hosted at the following locations, dates and times - see the side panel of the VUT page for details.

All residential property owners are required to declare the occupancy status of their properties for the 2025 tax year by April 15, 2026. Failure to submit a declaration by the deadline will result in the residential unit being deemed vacant, and the VUT will be applied. Questions can be directed to City staff at [email protected].

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Hamilton Business Survey

Employers in Hamilton are invited to take part in the Hamilton Business Survey. In partnership, Workforce Planning Hamilton and the City of Hamilton's Economic Development Division have organised this survey to create an updated and more complete picture of our community's business and employer needs. This short, confidential survey is designed to capture real-world insights from businesses, non-profits, and registered charities across the city.

In just 10 minutes, participants can share feedback on recruitment and retention, hard-to-fill roles, and business expectations for 2026. The results will be published in a community report using aggregated data to protect confidentiality and help guide local workforce planning efforts.

Fill out the survey today and help create Hamilton-specific data that will help the City of Hamilton plan for our community's business and employer needs.

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Seedy Saturday 2026

Head on down to the Central Library (55 York Blvd) on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM for Seedy Saturday 2026!

Seedy Saturday is a great way to shake off the winter snow and get ready for the spring planting season! Hosted by Green Venture and the Hamilton Public Library, Seedy Saturday is a chance to swap seeds, meet local gardeners, explore 33 unique vendors, and participate in workshops and demonstrations that can help you in your garden.

This year, there will be workshops on Indigenous seed-keeping practices and traditional healing plants, canning and dehydrating, and soil health. There will also be a live panel discussion from Ward 1's own Jason Allen, the Environmental Urbanist. 

For information about volunteering, sponsorships, and Seedy Saturday's schedule, contact Green Venture at [email protected].

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Events - Ward 1

ACORN Movie Night

• January 28, 2026, 5:45 PM
• Location: Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St N
• Join ACORN Hamilton for a screening of The Organiser Documentary. The Organiser - an independent film about the growth of ACORN in the USA from the early 1970s to its demise in 2009. ACORN, at its height, had 100 offices and was the largest community-based organisation in the country. Despite this, back in the US, ACORN has now grown internationally to a federation of national organisations spread around the globe. This film is about people who make things happen. Get your ticket in advance or register and pay at the door.

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Events - Explore Your City

The Junos in Hamilton

• March 26, 2026, to March 29, 2026
• Location: Across Hamilton
• The Junos are coming to Hamilton! Canada's premiere celebration of music and culture will be held right here in Hamilton on March 29, 2026. For three days beforehand, Hamilton will host multiple events, concerts, and shows honouring Canada's incredible musical talent. And, on March 26, 2026, from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Music Hall (24 Main St W), the City of Hamilton is hosting a Juno Kickoff Concert with a mix of performances from some of Canada’s top-charting and rising stars. Join in the celebration of Canadian culture happening right here in Hamilton.

Punching In: The Work of Hamilton Music

• January 27, 2026, to Friday, December 31, 2026
• Location: Tourism Hamilton Visitor Experience Centre, 28 James St N
• Celebrate Hamilton’s thriving music scene and the journey of music-making with "Punching In", an exhibit curated by Hamilton Civic Museums in collaboration with the Hamilton music community! Learn about the contributions of promoters, venue owners, songwriters, photographers and sound engineers to your favourite Hamilton songs, and revel in the nostalgia of iconic Hamilton concerts and music venues, past and present. The exhibit will highlight local musicians, including Jackie Washington, Boris Brott, Terra Lightfoot, and the Arkells, as well as the industry that helps to create and share this music. 

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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!

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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.

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Ward 1 Development Information

Here you can find general information on developments and their status in the planning process.

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Follow along for timely Ward 1 Updates via:   

• Email: [email protected]
• Tel: 905-546-2416
• On social media: