Ward 1 Councillor Wilson's Newsletter - 2026-10-30

Posted by 10sc on October 30, 2026

It's October 30, 2026. The Ward 1 Newsletter returns to provide all the information you need to stay up-to-date with what's happening in your community. In this edition, find construction updates, a link to the HSR's annual customer survey, a Ward 1 Chronicles on the West Hamilton Cenotaph, and so much more. There's plenty to discover in The Ward 1 Newsletter!

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The Ward 1 Newsletter Returns

Hello, Ward 1 residents and newsletter subscribers!

This is the first edition of the Ward 1 Newsletter since August 28, 2026. Members of council are subject to Policy EO-02-21 - The "Use of City Resources During an Election" Policy. This policy prohibits members of council from issuing newsletters after August 31 in an election year. The policy helps to ensure members of council cannot use their position to campaign or otherwise influence voters with resources unavailable to other candidates.

There was discussion with the Clerk and the Integrity Commissioner about whether Ward offices could continue sending  electronic newsletters with pertinent City information without any branding related to a sitting councillor; however, the Integrity Commissioner indicated he did not feel this was permissible either.

Now that the election is over, the Ward 1 Office will continue to provide timely, relevant, and important information to the community. If you have events or issues you would like to see in the Ward 1 Newsletter, please contact [email protected].

A Note of Thanks from Councillor Maureen Wilson

I want to thank Ward 1 residents for entrusting me with a third consecutive election. It has been the honour of a lifetime to serve the residents of Ainslie Wood, Kirkendall, Strathcona, and Westdale, and I am so grateful to have been given that immense privilege again for the next four years.
Thank you to the other Ward 1 candidates, Nathan Savelli and Mark Powell, who stepped up and ran in this election. Their perspectives and deep passion for this community were evident, and their participation strengthened our democracy.
Congratulations to Mayor-elect Keanin Loomis. I look forward to working closely with the new mayor to move this city forward. And congratulations to all the new members of city council, whom I am eager to meet and start working with. To all of my council colleagues who were unsuccessful in their re-election efforts: thank you for your service and dedication to this city that we all love. It was a pleasure to serve with all of you, and I wish you all the best for whatever comes next.
This was a hard-fought race. It was clear from the conversations I had at the doors during this campaign that Ward 1 residents had many concerns about the challenges facing our city and some of the directions taken. I hear those concerns. A councillor must collect information from residents and make decisions rooted in truth and what they believe will make their ward safer and their city stronger within the legislative boundaries set out in the Municipal Act. I will continue to do this, serving in an accountable and transparent way, communicating clearly with residents.
Hamilton is not broken; it is in transition.
I love this city. We have faced heavy challenges before and have done so with the grit and determination that have come to define this city. Hamilton's greatest strength is its people. We can weather any storm. But we can only do so if we remember that investments in our shared spaces, our infrastructure, and our local economy are not burdens, but build a strong foundation for current and future generations of Hamiltonians. With Mayor-Elect Keanin Loomis, I am confident we can break through the ice and forge a path forward, together.
I got my annual COVID-19 and flu shots the other morning. To me, public health and public participation in the democratic process have a similar goal. Our civic immunity is strengthened when we realise that there is strength in community and when we care for one another. Over the next four years, I will work to keep Hamilton and Ward 1 as healthy and strong as possible. This community deserves our best efforts. I'll keep giving it my all.
Thank you,
Maureen

Ward 1 Construction Updates

Road works

Kirkendall North

Road resurfacing is underway on the following streets:

  • Hunter Street West: Queen Street South to Richmond Street
  • Canada Street: Queen Street South to Locke Street South
  • Jackson Street West: Queen Street South to Locke Street South

Construction on Kirkendall North's narrow, one-way streets presents some additional challenges. To help residents understand what to expect, City staff have provided more information about the construction schedule and how the work will proceed.

Westdale

Road resurfacing includes the following streets:

  • Devon Place
  • Kipling Road
  • Paradise Road North (Norwood Road to Desjardins Court)
  • Westdale South neighbourhood:
  • Arkell Street
  • Barclay Street
  • South Oval
  • Cline Avenue South
  • Newton Avenue
  • Paisley Avenue South

Park Improvements

Churchill Park

Phase 3 of the Churchill Park Master Plan is nearly complete! Crews are awaiting the delivery and installation of railings, which will mark the completion of the outdoor improvements.

This phase has created new gathering spaces and improved connections throughout the park. If you have an opportunity, take a walk through the grounds and explore the new informal teaching area and gathering space near the fieldhouse.

Renovations to the Churchill Park Fieldhouse are expected to begin shortly after the outdoor work is complete. These improvements will include new accessible, universal washrooms.

A portable toilet will remain available nearby until the fieldhouse renovations are finished.

HAAA Park

With the underground stormwater management work complete, construction activity at HAAA Park is now focused on the above-ground improvements.

Over the past few weeks, crews have graded and laid sod on the sports field, paved sections of the pathways, and installed some of the rubber safety surfacing in the play areas.

Over the next two weeks, work is expected to include:

  • Grading playground areas and installing climbing walls
  • Installing additional rubber safety surfacing
  • Building retaining walls near the sun shelters
  • Preparing landscaped areas and planting trees

You can already see how much progress has been made! Take a walk along the pathway connecting Charlton Avenue West to the school for a closer look at the park's transformation.

HSR's Annual Customer Survey

The HSR's Annual Customer Survey is open for submissions. The survey asks HSR users to share their experiences with public transit in Hamilton - how you use transit, what you think about the changes the HSR has made so far, and what can be done to make your experience better. This will help the HSR track year-to-year changes and improve service for everyone in Hamilton. 

As an added bonus, if you complete the survey, you will be entered into a draw for a chance to win one of ten $100 PRESTO cards.

You can complete HSR's Annual Customer Survey now through November 15, 2026.

Ward 1 Chronicles - The West Hamilton Cenotaph

An image of Westdale in the 1940's with the overlaid text "Ward 1 Chronicles"

On Emerson St, between Royal Ave and Ward Ave, sits an unassuming monument. Nestled behind trees in the courtyard of St. George's Reformed Episcopal Church, the West Hamilton Cenotaph stands. Each Remembrance Day, community members gather to honour the fallen commemorated at the Cenotaph and all those who gave their lives defending the freedom we hold so dear today.

On the eve of the First World War, the "Village of West Hamilton" was still a new community. While settlers had lived in today's Ainslie Wood and Westdale neighbourhoods for a century, the village proper was not formed until 1908. It was in that year that the Bamberger Farms were purchased by the Burke Real Estate Company, which planned a modern "streetcar" suburb - so named because residents could hop on a streetcar and be whisked into downtown Hamilton for work. People took advantage of the Burke Company's competitive prices and flocked to West Hamilton. By 1914, the burgeoning village was home to around 800 people.

When war broke out, West Hamilton families did what they could to support the effort. Over 180 young men from the village signed up to serve - close to 25 per cent of West Hamilton's population. Fortunately, many of them came home. But a small number did not. After the war, the community formed a Memorial Committee of veterans, clergy, local social club members, and representatives from the local Women's Institute, all of whom chipped in to raise funds for a memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Great War.

The community raised the money and commissioned a granite monument, set in a peaceful sunken garden to give family and community members a space for quiet contemplation and remembrance. The simple commemorative stone features John McCrae's ode to the fallen, "In Flanders Fields", below a small cross.

The monument stood there as the village boomed in the 1920s. The community expanded far beyond its capacity to provide services and, seeing the benefits of working together, prominent residents petitioned to have the village annexed into Hamilton. On January 1, 1930, the village became part of the City of Hamilton and soon gained municipal water, sewer, and emergency services. Although West Hamilton became part of the larger City of Hamilton, the community still retained its distinct identity, with the Cenotaph standing as the people of West Hamilton's unique contribution to the war effort.

When the Second World War began, recruits from West Hamilton joined larger Hamilton regiments and helped defend democracy alongside troops from across Canada and the world. Many returned home, but some did not, and those who perished between 1939 and 1945 were commemorated alongside the other Hamiltonians who gave their lives in the fight against tyranny. After the Second World War, many of those who returned settled down, got married, and started families, helping to create the vibrant and bustling neighbourhood of Ainslie Wood. They never forgot their fallen comrades, though, and in 1988, during the "80th Birthday Reunion" for the former Village of West Hamilton, the names of those from the community who died in the Second World War were also added to the West Hamilton Cenotaph.

In honour of the 100th birthday of the Village of West Hamilton, the Ainslie Wood community helped to create a "Memory Garden", adding to the original intent around the Cenotaph to provide a place for quiet reflection and an oasis from urban life. Today's Cenotaph stands as a reminder of the sacrifice of so many communities across Canada - big and small - to defend freedom and democracy. The monument commemorates those who fought and died to protect this country and reminds us of the strength of community and the hope for peace around the world for all people.

REMEMBRANCE CEREMONIES, NOVEMBER 8-11, 2016

All events are held outdoors. Please check the weather and dress accordingly.

Join us as the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Police Services honour Indigenous Veteran’s Day at the Eagles Among Us Monument. Guest Speaker is Terri Monture (Granddaughter of Edith Monture). 

Hamilton and area veterans, garrison units and cadet corps will leave the John Foote V.C. Armouries, 200 James Street North, at 10:15 am and will proceed south to Gore Park on King Street East. An outdoor service at Veterans’ Place at Gore Park will follow.      

REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES, NOVEMBER 11, 2026

Honour Hamilton's veterans and service members at the cenotaph at St. George's Church, 134 Emerson Street. Wreath layers gather at 10:30 a.m., and the ceremony begins at 10:45 AM. Coffee is served in the church hall from 11:15 AM for all who wish to attend.

Join Veterans and the community at the City's Remembrance Day Service in Downtown Hamilton on November 11, 2026, to honour Hamilton's veterans and service men and women.

Unable to join in person, the City will broadcast the service via its YouTube channel

Event Spotlight - Hamilton Day: Halloween Edition

This year, Hamilton Day gets spooky! From October 29 to November 1, 2026, join local small businesses as they celebrate a frightfully fun Hamilton Day! Hamilton Day is a chance to celebrate the city we love and support local small businesses, as well as explore what local BIAs have to offer, thrilling live entertainment, and exclusive deals across Hamilton.

For this spooky Hamilton Day, curious shoppers can take in ghost walks and tours, check out participating local businesses, shop small local vendors at the Women-Led Ferguson Station Pop-Up Market and the BLK Owned Hamilton Day Market at the Hamilton Farmer's Market, and take in free entertainment across the city.

Celebrate local business with all the ghosts and goblins this year with Hamilton Day's Halloween Edition!

Hamilton Day: Halloween Edition

  • October 29, 2026 to November 1, 2026
  • Location: Across Hamilton
  • Celebrate local businesses with this Halloween edition of Hamilton Day

Events - Ward 1

Green Venture's Fall Workshop Series: Rainscaping

  • November 16, 2026, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
  • Location: St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Charlton Ave W
  • Join Green Venture for a workshop on effective rainscaping. This workshop - Site Analysis for Effective Rainscaping: Observations, Obligations, and Opportunities - will help participants understand the unique way water moves through sites. The session will cover how to effectively observe sites and the obligation to keep homes and neighbourhoods safe from water damage, as well as the opportunity to create an ecologically resilient landscape that manages rainwater in artful and creative ways. This session is presented by Green Venture and delivered by Michael Albanese from AVESI Stormwater & Landscape Solutions. RSVP through Green Venture's website.

The KNA's Annual Holiday Crafting Party

  • November 21, 2026, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
  • Location: St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Charlton Ave W
  • Join the Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association for their annual Holiday Crafting Party. This free event is open to all ages and is great fun for the whole family. The KNA will provide the materials to make ornaments, wrapping paper and other holiday decorations, you supply the talent and creativity! There will also be cookies for decorating. Light refreshments will be served. A donation for the Locke St. Community Fridge is appreciated.

Events - Explore Your City

Punching In: The Work of Hamilton Music

  • Now 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

A meadow of wildflowers on a hillside with the overlaid text "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 Chronicles - The Back Stories

An image of Westdale in the 1940's with the overlaid text "Ward 1 Chronicles"

Ainslie's Wood The Dundurn Gardener's Cottage   (Strathcona North)
West End Weather   (Various locations) Sydney St   (Strathcona Central)
The Life and Architecture of Stanley Roscoe  (Various locations) Rolph Gate   (Strathcona North)
The Mountain Ave Maternity Hospital   (Kirkendall South) The Rifle Range   (Ainslie Wood)
The Sunken Gardens (McMaster University)  

Ward 1 Infrastructure Updates

A small truck moving a tiny boulder with the overlaid text "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

A skyline full of cranes over a half-finished residential construction project made of concrete with the overlaid text "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:   

               

The City of Hamilton is situated upon the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas. This land is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which was an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We further acknowledge that this land is covered by the Between the Lakes Purchase, 1792, between the Crown and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. 

Today, the City of Hamilton is home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island (North America), and we recognise that we must do more to learn about the rich history of this land so that we can better understand our roles as residents, neighbours, partners and caretakers. 

Learn more about the City of Hamilton's Land Acknowledgement here.

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Maureen Wilson, Ward 1 City Councillor
City Hall, 71 Main St W, 2nd Floor
Hamilton, On, L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2416
Email: [email protected]

      

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