• Join us for a Ward 1 Town Hall
• Renumeration and Expenses
• Around the Bay Road Race 2026
• Falconwatch
• Ward 1 Chronicles - Sydney St
• Westdale Village BIA Events
• In Case You Missed It
• Updates from the Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association
• Events

Join us for a Ward 1 Town Hall

Join your Ward 1 neighbours for the Ward 1 Hybrid Town Hall with Councillor Wilson and guests. Councillor Wilson will provide a Ward 1 update and answer questions from attendees. Brian Hollingsworth, Director of Engineering Services, will share an overview of major infrastructure projects underway this year and next. The newest Hamilton Police Service Ward Crime Manager will also provide an update on ward activity.

The event takes place on April 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM and is open for residents to attend in-person at McMaster Innovation Park, 175 or online via Zoom. Registration is requested for in-person and online attendance.  

McMaster Innovation Park is accessible by walking, cycling, HSR, and by car. Parking is free. 

Renumeration and Expenses

Each March, municipalities across Ontario disclose councillor salaries, expenses, and any additional payments received for public service, including service on agencies, boards, and commissions (ABCs). Hamilton's 2025 Remuneration and Expenses (Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, s. 284) reports are available for review. 

In keeping with my commitment to transparency and my fiscal disclosure practice, here's a specific account of Ward 1 expenditures and those incurred city-wide.

Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference

For a second year in a row, I was appointed by Hamilton City Council to attend the ROMA (Rural Ontario Municipal Association) conference in Toronto. The amounts of $757.10 (2026 early-bird rate) and $824.90 (2025) cover the conference registration fee. I did not publicly expense my GO train travel, nor did I expense any meals.

Why would a councillor representing an urban ward attend a conference with a rural focus? While ROMA is the advocacy body for rural Ontario, the health of Hamilton's rural economy and lands affects all Hamiltonians. Over 70% of Hamilton's land is rural, and agriculture is a $1.3 billion industry in the City. Hamilton's rural economy includes 679 farms, which support more than 120 businesses and 9500 workers in the food and beverage sector. Working collaboratively with counterparts in rural communities means finding better ways to support rural Hamilton and the city as a whole.

Hamilton Conservation Authority

I sit as a board member of the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA). The HCA consists of 11 members. The City of Hamilton is granted 10 of the 11 Board of Directors positions - seven members of City Council and three members of the community. HCA board members receive payment for each meeting they attend and can account for mileage. HCA board members may choose to personally receive payment, transfer it directly to the Conservation Foundation (a charitable arm of the HCA), or decline payment. Since joining the Board in 2022, I have chosen to pass my payment along to the Conservation Foundation because their incredible volunteer work supports conservation goals. In 2026, this payment amounted to $1,050 and was directed to the Conservation Foundation.

Other details

1. I do not use the Ward 1 legislative budget to pay for advertisements, sponsorship or tickets. 
2. I do use the Ward 1 budget to fund the print and distribution of annual paper newsletters.
3. I have never charged meal or travel expenses to the Ward 1 account.
4. My annual salary is $112,176.83. 

Around the Bay Road Race 2026

The 132nd edition of the Around the Bay Road Race will happen on Sunday, April 12, 2026. As always, the runners will make their way through Ward 1 to the finish line, which is at Pier 8 this year. The Ward 1 portion of this year's course follows York Blvd, winds through the Dundurn Castle grounds onto Tecumseh St and Locke St N, before heading down Barton St W to Stuart St. Elsewhere in Hamilton, there will be road closures on Bay St N, Strachan St, James St N, Guise St, and Burlington St. A full list of road closures and restrictions is available on the Around the Bay website.

Please anticipate delays in the area from 5:00 AM to 4:00 PM on April 12, 2026. As always, spectators and well-wishers are welcome to watch from the sidelines as the runners approach the finish line. 

Falconwatch

Between March 23 and 29, 2026, volunteers with the Hamilton Community Peregrine Project (HCPP - an initiative of the Hamilton Naturalist's Club) observed one of the Sheraton Hotel's resident falcons, McKeever, lay four healthy eggs. The folks with HCPP anticipate each will hatch sometime in early May.

The HCPP runs "Falconwatch", the volunteer falcon monitoring program, to ensure that falcon chicks don't come to serious harm during an important stage in their development. The Falconwatch program involves volunteers operating in two-hour shifts, tracking the movements of the chicks as they make their first flights and are ready to summon help (by radio) for any chick that comes to ground without the strength to take off again. This is an important program that helps to protect these vulnerable chicks and ensure the long-term stability of Hamilton's official city bird.

Any interested community member can reach out to Falconwatch at [email protected] for more information on how to participate in the program. Orientation sessions are held in May for those who want to help.

Ward 1 Chronicles - Sydney St

In this edition, we take a look at one of Hamilton's "lost" roads: Sydney St. Once a hub of industrial activity, Sydney St was eventually closed to the public, sold, and now lies buried beneath the parking lot of a local shopping centre. Let's take a look at the history of this interesting thoroughfare from our city's past!

Sydney St, like so many in Hamilton, began life under a different name. In the mid-1800's, the road was called "West Street". This is because it was both just a few hundred metres from the City of Hamilton's western border at today's Paradise Rd and one block over from the city's westernmost major road, Garth St (renamed Dundurn St S in 1913). The block between what was then Garth St and West St was divided up and sold as residential property, while the western edge of the street was farmland belonging to George Sylvester Tiffany, a prominent lawyer and Hamilton's second mayor. Tiffany (for whom today's Tiffany St by the West Harbour GO Station is named) was a wealthy man who invested heavily in the Great Western Railway (GWR). Shortly before becoming mayor, Tiffany joined the board of the GWR, which was led by Sir Allan Napier MacNab. Despite their political differences (MacNab was a conservative "Tory" and Tiffany was a liberal "Reformer"), the two worked together to expand the GWR in Hamilton, paving the way for industrial development after the City of Hamilton's bankruptcy in 1862. Tiffany may have been an early investor in local railways, but it wasn't until decades after his passing and long after his GWR had been bought by the Grand Trunk Railway that a rail line was built through his property on the western edge of West St.

In the years after the railway came to "west" Hamilton, residential development around West St began to compete with growing industrial concerns, keen to have easy access to rail lines. As industry expanded in the area, business owners began eyeing the west-end farmland for their plants. But the city's growth also meant that it was time to better coordinate street names. In an effort to avoid confusion between West St and West Ave (in today's Stinson and Landsdale neighbourhoods), the City of Hamilton made the decision to rename West St to Sydney St in 1889.

The first large factory to be built was the T.H. Barnard's Acme Stamping and Tool Co. plant in 1909. Just two years later, hardware store owners Fred Hamilton and Norman Slater bought into Barnard's plant, merging it with a series of other companies. By 1920, Slater was in control of the whole company and renamed it the "N Slater Co.", focusing on manufacturing steel for consumer goods. The company rapidly expanded and began buying more land on both sides of Sydney St.

The Hamilton-born Norman Slater became known across his hometown as a civic booster and committed philanthropist. Slater was one of the founders of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, chaired local relief efforts during World War 1, was instrumental in creating Gage Park, served on the board of the Hamilton YMCA, and was among those who convinced McMaster University to move to Hamilton in 1930. After his sudden passing from a stroke in 1931, the city mourned him as a dedicated advocate and community builder.

Even without its founder at the helm, N Slater Co. continued to grow. After supplying the Canadian war effort during World War 2, the company expanded rapidly, buying up more land on Sydney St and employing even more Hamiltonians. The plant soon engulfed both sides of Sydney St, pushing out many of the modest residences and small businesses that filled the block between the plant and Dundurn St S. In 1960, N Slater Co. was bought by a Toronto-area businessman and renamed "Slater Steel". The company's different divisions changed names frequently over the next few decades. The company's Sherman Ave N plant, originally called Burlington Steel, was eventually renamed Hamilton Specialty Bar, and the Sydney St plant went from being the N. Slater Division to the Slater Products Division and, finally, to Slacan.

In the late 1950's, the Government of Ontario began planning what would become Highway 403. After construction began and the City of Hamilton was informed about the location of the on- and off-ramps for the highway, the City's Public Works Committee had long debates about what to do with Sydney St. While some committee members wanted to direct traffic onto Dundurn St S, others argued that Sydney St could be an alternate access route if traffic became busy on major roads. In the midst of this debate, Slater Steel requested permission from the City to buy Sydney St to simplify its plant organisation. The president of the company, Owen Jones, told the Hamilton Spectator, "It's not practical to run a plant with a street running through the centre [of it]." The Public Works Committee agreed and, on Halloween Day, 1961, the City Council passed a by-law that closed Sydney St and transferred the land to Slater Steel.

In the 1970's, Slater Steel was bought by British Steel, and the new owners began making significant changes amidst a changing global economy. In April of 1984, Slater Steel made the surprise announcement that they had sold their plant on what was once Sydney St. The following year, an Oakville developer announced they would build a shopping plaza on the site, and in 1986, Slater confirmed that they would move their Slacan operations to Brantford.

The new plaza was opened in February of 1988 with a Super Carnaval grocery store as its anchor tenant. The chain, owned by Metro, ran into problems very quickly, finding it challenging to keep shelves stocked and prices affordable in a competitive market. The Ontario stores were sold to Loblaws the same year and were rebranded as Supercentres in the summer of 1988. The Dundurn St S location was rebranded as a Fortinos in early 1989, and it has remained so ever since.

Little remains of the old block between Dundurn St S and what was Sydney St. But, up until a few years ago, one tiny piece remained. In 1875, the Fuller family bought one of the parcels of land in that block facing Dundurn St S (then Garth St) after the family's patriarch returned to Hamilton following a stint in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The family built a modest home on the land, passing the title down through the generations as the city grew and changed around it. Even after Slacan expanded to consume most of the block, the family refused to sell (though they had long since moved to Brantford and rented the home to tenants). During the construction of the plaza, the Oakville developers offered the Fuller family $50,000 (about $125,000 today) for the home. Still, they refused, forcing the plaza's parking lot to be paved around the lone holdout. When the last member of the Fuller family died in 2006, the home was left to the City of Hamilton in the hopes that it would have some historical or cultural use. Unfortunately, given its location and condition, the City was unable to find an appropriate use for the building. Two years later, after 133 years, the home, which Loblaws had purchased to complete their property, was demolished, erasing the last pieces of the original block between Dundurn St S and Sydney St.

Today, Sydney St is buried beneath the parking lot of Fortinos Plaza at 50 Dundurn St S. The plaza's exit onto King St W, closest to the storefronts, is roughly where Sydney St once stood for its approximately 125-year history. The story of Sydney St represents the evolution of transportation, land use, and community in "west" Hamilton over the course of Hamilton's long history. Next time you're in the area, imagine what it would have looked like when the block was packed with homes, bordered by industry, and adjacent to busy rail lines.

Westdale Village BIA Events

There's always something happening in Westdale Village! This weekend, head on over for the Westdale Village Spring Vintage Market. From 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM on April 11, 2026, and 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM on April 12, 2026, check out what unique local vendors and Westdale Village staples have to offer during this weekend vintage experience. 

Join BIA members at 10:00 AM on April 13, 2026, for a ceremony marking the unveiling of new bench plaques in front of the Westdale Law Office (950 King St W), recognising the contribution of early BIA members.

In Case You Missed It

The Ward 1 newsletter comes out every two weeks. We include important information for residents about events, policies, and programs that may be of interest. Here are some pieces from the last few weeks that you might have missed:

• Vacant Unit Tax Reminder: Property owners must submit their Vacant Unit Tax declaration by April 15, 2026. Failure to submit a declaration by the deadline will result in the residential unit being deemed vacant, and the tax will be applied. Questions can be directed to City staff at [email protected].
• Hamilton's Proposed Harmonised Private Tree By-law: The City of Hamilton will be collecting public feedback on the proposed "Harmonized Private Tree By-law" until April 23, 2026. In addition to public surveys on the Engage Hamilton portal regarding private tree protection and the Urban and Regional Woodland Bylaw, there will be a public meeting in the Community Room 1 at the Valley Park Community Centre (970 Paramount Dr) on April 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
• Hamilton Utilities Billing "HUB": The City of Hamilton and Alectra Utilities are launching the "HUB" - Hamilton Utilities Billing portal on April 13, 2026. This tool is a new way to manage your utility bill and will not affect water service, water quality, or water rates.
• McMaster Community Partner Survey: As part of McMaster University's next strategic plan, the university is collecting the perspectives of our Hamilton-area community partners through a short survey.

Updates from the Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association 

First Annual Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association "KNA Connects" Event

• April 16, 2026, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
• Location: McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Rd S
• Attend and enjoy this free event to hear and meet keynote speakers Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson, local author Jason Allen, and Sergeant Allen Schultz of the Hamilton Police Service (with a special appearance by Hamilton Police Service Mascot "Coppy" in their cruiser!). This is also an opportunity to learn about upcoming KNA initiatives and to engage with attending community leaders, organisations, and businesses like Metrolinx, Lev Living Garden House Project, Meltem Koseleci Realtor, Desjardins Insurancep- James Clarkson, Blessings Church, and Jackson Canada Crew.  A Light hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Music Survey

The Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association (KNA) is embarking on a project in the Kirkendall neighbourhood to encourage and expand awareness, participation, and attendance in local live music initiatives. Their first step is to survey Kirkendall residents to identify music initiatives in the area, both ongoing and in the planning stages, scheduled to take place in the next 12 months. If you have a music initiative and would like the KNA to know about it, please fill out this short survey, the KNA Music Mapping Survey, by April 24. Know anyone in Kirkendall with a music initiative? Please send this link to them. The results of our survey will be compiled to inform the next phase of our music awareness project. For more information, contact the KNA at [email protected].

KNA Volunteering Opportunities 

The KNA is seeking volunteers for some upcoming events and for their active committees:

• KNA Fill a Bus, Feed a Family Food Drive - The KNA Food Drive is on Saturday, May 2, and there are lots of ways to help before and on event day, including prepping and delivering food collection bags, hanging posters, collecting food on May 2, and more.
• KNA Events Committee Member - help organise KNA events, including the annual food drive, lawn sale, and more. Choose the event(s) that work for you!

Email [email protected] to learn more about these opportunities.

• Fill a Bus, Feed a Family
  • May 2, 2026
  • Food Donation Bags will be delivered to Kirkendall households between Friday, April 24 and Wednesday, April 29. 

• The KNA's Annual Compost Sale
  • May 9, 2026, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Pre-order your compost today! The KNA would like to extend thanks to Monaghan Mushrooms, D'Orazio Infrastructure, and Blessings Christian Church for their support.

• The KNA's Annual Lawn Sale
  • May 30, 2026

These and more events can be found on the KNA website.

Events - Ward 1

Common Table: Mutual Aid in Action

• April 21, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• Location: Strathcona Market, 460 York Blvd
• Members of the community are invited to join the next Common Table community dialogue on Tuesday, April 21 (6–8 PM) at Strathcona Market. This session, co-hosted with Courage Co-Lab, will be an interactive gathering where we'll share skills, needs, and ideas to spark new connections around small acts of community care. Whether it's organizing a group walk, a neighbourhood clean-up, volunteering, or simply meeting people who care about community - this is a space to turn connection into action. Please register to save your space.

Menopause Workshop: Lifestyle Evidence During Menopause

• April 26, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
• Location: Melrose United Church, 86 Homewood Ave
• Hamilton Women! Let's Talk Menopause (The Right Way). If you're in your 40s-60s and wondering what's happening to your energy, muscle, sleep, or metabolism, you're not alone. On April 26, join Human Performance Solutions mobile for an empowering menopause presentation featuring Dr Stuart Phillips from McMaster University. Whether you're preparing for menopause or already navigating it, this Hamilton menopause presentation will give you practical tools you can start using immediately. Tickets are $10 or pay-what-you-can, with proceeds supporting Interval House of Hamilton, which helps women and families in our community. Spaces are limited, so get your tickets today!

Dundurn Historic Kitchen Garden Spring Opening

• May 16, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
• Location: Dundurn National Historic Site, 610 York Blvd
• Come celebrate the official spring opening of Dundurn Castle's Historic Kitchen Garden for the 2026 growing season! Explore the sights and smells of spring with free self-guided tours and sensory prompts. Drop by for family-friendly activities in Sophia’s Garden, Dundurn's child-focused and interactive garden featuring plants selected to inspire kids to engage with nature.

Stronger Together: Seniors' Safety and Connection Workshop Series

• April 30, May 14, June 11, June 18, and June 25, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
• Location: St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 320 Charlton Ave W
• Join St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church and the Martin Fund for the Stronger Together senior workshop series. Learn practical tips on fraud prevention, wellness, and personal safety, with helpful resources to take home and opportunities to connect with others in the community. On April 30, the Hamilton Police Service will join to discuss scams. On May 14, learn about aging well from Shalem Mental Health Network. On June 11, RBC will be on-hand to discuss fraud prevention, and on June 18, learn about how to go from victim to advocate after a scam. RSVP by emailing [email protected], by phone at 905-522-0602, or by filling out an online form at bit.ly/hamilton-seniors.

Events - Explore Your City

Doors Open 2026

• May 2 and May 3, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Location: Across Hamilton
• Explore Hamilton’s storied past through historical spaces during Doors Open 2026. For Hamilton’s Year of Music Celebration, the Doors Open theme is "Forged in Sound". Learn how rock stars make their music at Grant Avenue Studio and Main Stage Rehearsal Studio and visit stages where they perform like George R. Robinson Bandshell and The Westdale. 

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. 

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: