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 to 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. 

What's Going on with Main St?

If you have travelled along Main Street West recently, you have likely noticed construction underway. This work is part of a watermain lining project—an important step in preparing the corridor for future road resurfacing.

Watermain lining extends the life of existing infrastructure, helps prevent winter breaks, and can improve water pressure for nearby homes. It is also less invasive, more cost-effective, and less disruptive than a full watermain replacement.

This work is part of Main Street's broader investment in the lower city. By completing the watermain lining now, the City can avoid a full road reconstruction later—saving time, reducing costs, and minimizing future disruption on this busy corridor.

Watermain work will continue over the coming months. Road resurfacing will follow at a later date, and will be faster and more efficient thanks to the work being done now.

Below is a quick reference on the difference between road resurfacing and road reconstruction.

Update on HAAA Renewal Work

HAAA Field House Announcement

Great news for the historic HAAA field house and the residents of Ward 1.

A project to renovate the HAAA Fieldhouse into much-needed community space—identified through extensive public HAAA Renewal engagement—has been underway for some time. The planned upgrades include four universal, barrier-free washrooms (two with interior access and two with exterior access), accessibility improvements aligned with AODA standards, and enhancements to support year-round community use, including a small kitchenette. The final piece needed to move the project forward was securing the funding.

The project is funded through area-rated funds, the City, and, most graciously, a generous $650,000 contribution from the Patrick J. McNally Foundation, without whom the project could not move forward. The McNally Foundation's mandate closely aligns with the project's goals of improving access to public washrooms, enhancing parks and outdoor spaces, and strengthening community infrastructure that fosters connection to and access to nature. Thank you, Patrick J. McNally Foundation!

The HAAA Fieldhouse is part of a broader strategy to revitalize community buildings across Ward 1. Following the completion of the Victoria Park Fieldhouse and the current redevelopment of the Ainslie Wood Community Hub and the Churchill Park Field House washrooms, this project represents the fourth major reinvestment in public building space. 

Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2027, helping ensure the long-term viability and accessibility of this historic site.

HAAA Grounds Update

Work has begun on the long-anticipated renewal of the HAAA (Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association) Grounds in Kirkendall. This generational project will address significant flooding issues, replace end-of-life equipment, provide new amenities for people of all ages, and offer space for quiet contemplation and connection. Check out our March 13, 2026, newsletter for more information on the anticipated impacts and expected outcomes.

Maintenance Work on the Chedoke Escarpment Stairs

Residents are advised that the Chedoke Escarpment Stairs connecting the Chedoke Civic Golf Course and Radial Trail with Cliffview Park at the end of Upper Paradise Rd will be closed from 9:00 AM, Monday, April 27, 2026, to 7:00 AM, Thursday, April 30, 2026.

This closure is to allow for the replacement of the stair treads. Due to the nature of the work, the stairs must remain closed until the replacement is complete. Users of the Chedoke Escarpment Stairs are encouraged to use the Dundurn Stairs (connecting Dundurn St S with Beckett Dr/Garth St) or the Chedoke Radial Trail, which reaches the top of the Niagara Escarpment at Olympic Park on Scenic Dr.

Westdale Road Resurfacing

This year, roads across Westdale will be resurfaced. Much of this work is possible thanks to funding from the Canada Community Building Fund, a permanent federal government program that provides municipal infrastructure funding and is administered by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. The project is presently in the "design" phase. Upon completion, the project will go out to tender, bids will be reviewed, and a contract will be awarded. Once this process is complete, residents will receive more specific information on when the work will begin on their street.

Nine streets and street sections have been identified for this work. They are:

• Cline Ave S (From Main St W to King St W)
• Newton Ave (From Main St W to King St W)
• Paisley Ave S (From Main St W to King St W))
• South Oval (From Newton Ave to King St W)
• Barclay St (From Cline Ave S to Marion Ave S)
• Arkell St (From Cline Ave S to Bond St S)
• Devon Pl (Parkside Dr to Longwood Rd N)
• Kipling Rd (Parkside Dr to Glen Rd)
• Paradise Rd N (Desjardin Crt to Norwood Rd)

Tenant Forum

Just a reminder that the Tenant Forum, hosted jointly by the councillors for Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4, will happen from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM on April 25, 2026, at the McMaster Continuing Education Centre (1 James St N). Register in advance to secure a spot!

Youth Townhall

The City of Hamilton, in partnership with Model City Hall, is excited to host the 2026 Hamilton Youth Townhall, a free, full-day civic engagement event for youth aged 14–29 from across the City of Hamilton. This year, the Youth Townhall will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at Hamilton City Hall (71 Main St W).

This interactive event gives participants a “youth-only access pass” to City Hall, where they can participate in specialised workshops on civic learning, engage in conversations with members of council, and gain insight into opportunities for civic engagement. This is a unique space for youth to ensure their voices are heard and valued in local government.

If there's a civic-minded young Hamiltonian in your life that you think would benefit from this opportunity to network with other young Hamiltonians and learn more about our municipal government, encourage them to sign up today!

Spring Garden Giveaways

The spring gardening season is fast approaching! To help residents prepare, the City of Hamilton is holding some free giveaways to make this planting season a little easier.

Free Tree Giveaway

The City of Hamilton's free Tree Giveaway Program is back this year with a new twist: residents can now get two native trees and/or shrubs for their property! 

Every year, the City of Hamilton gives away native shade trees and shrubs to residents to plant on their private property. Planting a native tree on your property helps improve air quality, fight climate change, and increase your property value. 

This year, property owners can get two trees and/or shrubs to plant! All you need to do is bring a valid Ontario Driver's Licence or your property tax bill along when you come to pick up your trees and/or shrubs. Homeowners are responsible for the planting, watering, and maintenance of their trees, so be sure to leaf through some information on tree care and consult OntarioOneCall.ca before you dig on your property.

Pre-registration is required, and pickup happens rain or shine. This year, pick up takes place at two locations on multiple dates.

Compost Giveaway

The City of Hamilton is also holding a Compost Giveaway. This is a chance for gardeners to pick up high-quality, nutrient-rich compost, processed from the Curbside Yard Waste Collection Program. Residents are invited to bring their own shovels and containers to fill up on locally produced compost for FREE!

This year, residents can collect free compost from three locations on multiple dates.

Vacant Unit Tax Deadline Extended

The City of Hamilton has extended the deadline to submit a Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) declaration to May 15, 2026.

The VUT was implemented to increase housing supply in Hamilton by encouraging residential property owners to keep their properties occupied rather than leave them vacant. The VUT is an additional tax equal to 1% of a property's current assessed value on any residential unit that was vacant for more than 183 days in the previous year.

All residential property owners are required to declare the occupancy status of their properties for the 2025 tax year. Failure to submit a declaration by the deadline will result in the residential unit being deemed vacant, and the VUT will be applied. To date, 92 percent of Hamilton's homeowners have submitted a declaration.

Declarations can be submitted online, by phone, by email, by mail, or in person at all City of Hamilton Municipal Service Centres. Residents who need assistance completing their declaration can contact the City via email at [email protected] or by calling 905-546-2573.

Home Solar Accelerator

The City of Hamilton's Climate Action Strategy is a plan to help residents prepare for the impacts of climate change. This strategy outlines how the City and community will reach net‑zero carbon emissions by 2050 in an equitable way.

There are many ways residents can improve their climate resilience, but one of the most effective is to consider a solar alternative for their homes. The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) - a GTHA-based regional climate agency jointly funded by the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada - has launched the Home Solar Accelerator (HSA) to help those interested in starting a rooftop solar journey. The HSA helps homeowners overcome key barriers to rooftop solar by providing trusted guidance, concierge support, and access to vetted installers – making it easier to act on home electrification and emissions reduction.

Whether you're in it for the savings, the climate impact, backup power, or are just tired of watching rates climb, the HSA will show you the numbers for free, provide personalized assessments, dedicated points of contact, and pre-screened installers. If rooftop solar is something you are considering, the HSA can help you understand the costs and commitments.

The HPS Bicycle Registry

With the warmer weather, cyclists around Hamilton are going to be out and about more and more. But that means bicycle thieves will be on the lookout too! Around 600 bicycles are stolen annually from locations across Hamilton. Sadly, only 4 percent are ever recovered. Only 20 of the bikes recovered by Hamilton Police are returned to their owners.

The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) wants to change that statistic through the HPS Bike Registry. Register your bike with its serial number, make, and model. If your bike is part of the HPS Bike Registry and is stolen, the HPS can quickly return it to you if it is recovered. The HPS also offers stickers as an additional deterrent. These can be picked up at local bike shops or any local police station. 

The HPS has some tips to deter bike theft, including:

• Using a good-quality locking device, such as a hardened steel "U" shaped lock, or a hardened steel chain and padlock, and doubling up on locks if possible
• Locking your bicycle and both wheels to an immovable object which cannot be easily cut or broken
• Checking for a manufacturer's serial number on your bike and recording it
• Engraving a unique number on the frame and possibly on the wheels and components if your bike does not have a serial number

For more tips on preventing bicycle theft, check out this video from the Global Cycling Network filled with handy tips and tricks to keep your bike safe.

And remember: if your bike is stolen, file a police report to mark it as stolen, whether or not you have signed up for the HPS Bike Registry. This helps inform data that will allow the HPS to identify patterns of theft.

Updates from the Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association

The KNA's Fill a Bus, Feed a Family Food Drive

It's time for the annual KNA food drive! Food Donation Bags are being delivered to Kirkendall households between Friday, April 24 and Wednesday, April 29. If you don't receive a bag or you would like an extra one, email [email protected]. Bags will be picked up on May 2, 2026. If you are away on the date, you can drop off your bag at any of the drop-off locations listed on the KNA website.

• Volunteers needed for 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, like prepping and delivering food collection bags, hanging posters, helping to collect food on May 2nd, and more. Email [email protected] if you can assist.

Last Call to Complete the KNA 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 24th. 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].

Event Spotlight: Doors Open and Jane's Walks, 2026

The first weekend in May offers Hamiltonians a chance to get out and explore their community in fun, unique, and interactive ways. This year, residents can take in some of Hamilton's most iconic buildings through Doors Open or participate in guided Jane's Walk tours of historic communities.

Doors Open 2026

Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

The theme of this year's edition of Doors Open is "Forged in Sound", highlighting how music has shaped and been shaped by this incredible city. There are six Doors Open locations in Ward 1 this year:

• Dundurn Castle (610 York Blvd)
• The Hamilton Military Museum (610 York Blvd)
• The Hamilton Cemetery (777 York Blvd) *This is combined with the Cemetery Chronicles Tour about Hamilton's Community Builders
• The Hamilton Cemetery Gatehouse (777 York Blvd)
• The Player's Guild of Hamilton (80 Queen St S)
• The Westdale Theatre (1014 King St W)

There are 43 wonderful Doors Open sites across Hamilton, so be sure to plan ahead and bring your curiosity as you explore all Hamilton has to offer!

Jane's Walks 2026

Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, 2026

Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free, citizen-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs, the author and urban advocate who encouraged urban dwellers to get out, get involved, and get their eyes on the street. This year, 13 interesting, informative, and free Jane's Walks are happening across Hamilton. There are six Jane's Walks happening right here in Ward 1:

• Cemetery Chronicles Tour: Hamilton's Community Builders
  • Time: Saturday, May 2, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM
  • Meeting location: Hamilton Cemetery Gatehouse, 777 York Blvd
  • Step into Hamilton's storied past with Cemetery Chronicles, a captivating series of historic walking tours presented in partnership with Hamilton Civic Museums. These immersive tours blend historical accuracy with compelling storytelling, bringing to life the tales of the people and events that shaped our city.
• Westdale Village Historic Walking Tour
  • Time: Saturday, May 2, 2026, AND Sunday, May 3, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM
  • Meeting location: Paisley Coffeehouse, 1020 King St W
  • Walk through Westdale Village's business district on King Street West to learn more about its unique and rich history, its significance, and a bit about modern happenings.
• Locke Street Historic Walking Tour
  • Time: Saturday, May 2, 2026, AND Sunday, May 3, 2026, starting at 12:00 PM
  • Meeting location: West Town patio, 214 Locke St S
  • Walk along Locke Street South's business district to learn more about its unique and rich history, its significance, and a bit of modern happenings.
• Chedoke Golf Course - Past, Present, and Future
  • Time: Sunday, May 3, 2026, starting at 1:00 PM
  • Meeting location: Chedoke Golf Course Parking Lot, Beddoe Dr
  • The Chedoke Golf Course lands have a storied history in Hamilton's urban landscape and have been owned and operated by the City for over 100 years. These lands are regarded by many in the community as a cherished piece of open space within the urban area. As attitudes change, cities across Canada (including Hamilton) are rethinking how public golf courses can better serve everyone in the community.

Events - Ward 1

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 how to age 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. 

Thinking Beyond the Market Movie Screening and Discussion

• May 10, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
• Location: The First Unitarian Church of Hamilton, 170 Dundurn St S
• Join ACORN Hamilton, The First Unitarian Church of Hamilton, and the Hamilton Community Benefits Network for a screening of Dr Brian Doucette's film "Thinking Beyond the Market". Dr Doucette's film explores innovative housing projects that challenge the current thinking on how we live. From using public land to build non-market housing in Kitchener and Whistler, and inspiring Indigenous-led projects in Vancouver, to strong tenant protections and rent control in British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, the examples featured in this film demonstrate how many important solutions are making a difference in communities big and small! Reserve a spot and enjoy this unique new film!

KNA Compost Sale

• May 9, 2026, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
• Pre-order your compost today at [email protected]. The KNA would like to extend thanks to Monaghan Mushrooms, D'Orazio Infrastructure, and Blessings Christian Church for their support.

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.

KNA Yard Sale

• May 30, 2026
• Register your location today. Sign up here for the KNA Yard Sale!

Events - Explore Your City

Mental Health Week 2026 Community Kick-Off Celebration

• May 5, 2026, starting at 11:30 AM
• Location: City Hall Forecourt, 71 Main St W
• Each year, during the first full week of May, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) branches across the nation celebrate Mental Health Week.  This year’s theme is Better Connection = Better Mental Health! This year's Community Kick-Off is an outdoor BBQ and information fair inclusive of all members of the community. Hamilton Community Service Agencies provide information booths and activities to promote awareness of the local services available for people with mental health and substance use concerns.

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: