As you gear up for the weekend, check out the latest edition of the Ward 2 Newsletter. I unpack some of the big Council decisions in October, recent development decisions downtown, engaging our next generation at City Hall, and some inside baseball. Happy reading! #HamOnt

Reminder to register at ward2hamilton.ca/townhall if you're planning on attending our City Budget Town Hall at Ringside on November 25. I'm really looking forward to hearing from you about your priorities and unpacking the budget process to make it accessible to Ward 2 residents. #HamOnt

Our streets continue to be unsafe for the people who need to use them, every day, to walk, cycle, and roll in our city. The death of a crossing guard, a City employee who is here to protect all of us on our roads, is devastating. #HamOnt

In between Committee meetings, I dropped off some responses I wrote to student letters after our Grade 5 field trip last week. Big takeaways - students valued the opportunity to participate in the horseshoe and to see what the City does up close. Next year is going to be a blast! #HamOnt

This week we're looking at the legacy of the Lee Brothers, the Pagoda Chop Suey House, a downtown Hamilton landmark. Victor, Allan, and their three brothers fed generations and lit up King Street East with their hip neon sign. #HamOnt

Thanks to my colleagues for supporting this motion to push back on the Province's Bill 60. If Bill 60 passes it will put tremendous pressure on tenants, pressure they can't afford. 80% of the people who live in Ward 2 are tenants, 50%+ in the lower city, and 34% citywide. It matters. #HamOnt

I'll be meeting with North Enders at the Discovery Centre on December 4 at 7pm to talk about Eastwood and Strachan Linear Parks. Check out the event postcard, which has been delivered across the North End, to see the agenda. Your feedback is important. Hope to see you there! #HamOnt

I've already shared my first impressions of the Mayor's Community Safety Summit, specifically a short video outlining what attendees said in the group report back, but I think there's much more to say. For me, it just didn't work, and I think it's important to unpack why. #HamOnt

My thoughts on today’s Community Safety Summit. #HamOnt

This week's Hamilton heritage post briefly examines the origin of the “The Mountain”, the beloved nickname for the Niagara Escarpment, which is a defining natural landmark stretching across southern Ontario. #HamOnt

Downtown won big last night at the Hamilton Urban Design and Architecture Awards. I was thrilled to represent the community at the ceremony. A huge shout out to CityHousing Hamilton who won 5 awards! We have our challenges downtown but we have a lot to celebrate, too. #HamOnt

With the Pier 8 development pausing indefinitely due to the collapse of the condo market, I moved a motion today to ask staff to look at other options and report back in public. Those options included affordable housing and purpose built rentals. It died on a tie. Transparency matters. #HamOnt

Lighting for the John Street underpass is the next phase of the City’s underpass program. We’ll be working our way east in 2026 to upgrade the underpasses on Catharine Street, Walnut Street, and Young Street. #HamOnt

Now on TPR The federal budget includes a funding commitment for a new 55,000 sq ft Downtown Hamilton YMCA. The YMCA is part of a massive proposal to redevelop an entire Downtown block with two 32-storey rental towers, ~700 units, and the development is personally led by Jennifer Keesmaat #HamOnt

Yesterday, I welcomed more than 200 Grade 5 students from Ward 2 elementary schools to City Hall. It was a great morning. Students debated, made decisions, and learned how their City works - an experience directly tied to the Grade 5 social studies curriculum. #HamOnt

Happy Heritage Halloween! Today we’re looking at a long vanished resting place, once at the head of Ferguson Avenue, the Hamilton Family Graveyard. It was nestled along the escarpment some 500 metres from the family's farmhouse, now the Jolleycut. Let's dig a grave into it. #HamOnt

The Ward 2 Team has been out in every downtown neighbourhood this week distributing speed cushion postcards on streets where we've received requests for traffic calming. If you get one of these, please respond before the end of November so we have your feedback. #HamOnt

Join me for a town hall on the City's 2026 budget on November 25. Topics include a budget history; overviews of water, tax, and board budgets; and a deep dive on the $5.2b infrastructure deficit. As always, there will be time for feedback and questions. Register at ward2hamilton.ca/townhall. #HamOnt

Hamilton Day, this Saturday, November 1, is almost here! This weekend, let’s all celebrate everything local in our downtown community, and across our city. If you can, take some time to visit shops, restaurants, and makers in neighbourhoods across Hamilton. Learn more at hamiltonday.ca. #HamOnt

Today's heritage post visits the Mark Preece House, built in 1876 as a malt house for William Osborne. Located on the Iroquois Plain near the historic Lands Inlet, the area thrived with skilled trades and manufacturing. Close access to railways and the lake made it a prime site for industry. #HamOnt

We’re finally getting a crossing at the West Harbour GO Station - funded from Ward 2 reserves and coming to the neighbourhood in the next year. Here’s a bit more about it. #HamOnt

If you’re downtown today check out the James Street North Block Party between Barton and Murray Streets. It’s on until late. Thanks to all the businesses who organized this to make our downtown vibrant and safe for everyone who wants to walk and roll. #HamOnt

This week's heritage post is about a popular subject I talk to residents about more often than you'd think - the long lost Gore Park washrooms. They were a fixture downtown from 1913 through to the 1980s, first mired in headlines of cost overruns and heated debates. Let's get into it. #HamOnt

I’ve spent some time with JP over the years. Glad to hear he’s finally found a home. When we talk about housing first, this is what it looks like. JP will now have a home from which to rebuild his life. Without it, he wouldn’t have the support he needs. Housing is the only solution. #HamOnt

Spent the morning talking to small business owners in the International Village. A big theme was wanting to see more programming downtown, so here’s an update on how we’ve upgraded Ferguson Station to make it easier to use. #HamOnt

Thanks to Ward 2 Trustee @sabreinadahab.bsky.social and Ward 4 Trustee Abby Zaitley for organizing and hosting a Stop Bill 33 Town Hall last night. The Ford government is trying to get rid of school trustees and the community is starting to organize in opposition. #HamOnt

Preview of the traffic light coming to Robert Street and James Street North to support the hard working concrete crosswalk installed here years ago. Residents have been asking for this for a long time and I’m happy to be able to move it forward during this term of council. Safety matters. #HamOnt

Solidarity with striking CUPW members! Visited the @cupwsttp.bsky.social local 548 picket line this evening to drop off food and snacks on behalf of PSAC Hamilton. Stop by and show your support for CUPW and OPSEU members on strike if you can! ✊🏻 #HamOnt #canlab

This week's heritage post considers the City's Land Acknowledgement in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day, on September 30. Land acknowledgements reflect our obligations to rights and treaty holders across the city we now call Hamilton. #HamOnt

The final round of Ward 2 Community Grants for 2025 is open until November 1. Please visit ward2hamilton.ca/grants to apply. Grants are for not for profit organizations. The Ward 2 Team is here to make the application process simple and easy so please reach out if you need support. #HamOnt

Beautiful sunrise ceremony this morning with members of Hamilton’s Indigenous community to remember and honour those lives stolen by residential schools. Join me at All Our Relations starting at 1pm today to hear from survivors and elders on this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. #HamOnt

With Councillor Rob Cooper officially being sworn in today, here's a new version of my Who Does Want and How To Get in Touch graphic. You can find all the documents at drive.google.com/drive/folder.... #HamOnt

The City is recruiting, up to this Friday, October 3, for the CityHousing Hamilton Board (one); Downtown Sub-Committee (three Small Business representatives, at least two along James Street); and the Committee of Adjustment (one with rural experience). Apply at hamilton.ca/committees. #HamOnt

Had a great time at Open Streets in #HamOnt while tabling with @environmenthamont.bsky.social! Saw a lot of friends and we worked together to protect the "green belt" 😉🌱

I stand by what I said in public and by email. If the Mayor can't make it to the meetings, then stepping down is the right thing to do. It still doesn't make sense. She's in charge of her schedule. What's the big scheduling conflict? #HamOnt

Birding at Bayfront Park 🐦 Join Barry Coombs for a visit to Bayfront Park, where he will lead attendees along this beautiful, paved waterfront trail and point out the birds that make use of the park's greenery and sheltered waters. 📅 Wed Oct 8, 2025 | 5 - 7 PM 📍 200 Harbour Front Rd #HamOnt

Thanks to Barry from @birdsonghamilton.bsky.social for taking the Ward 2 Team birding this afternoon. We saw 29 species of birds at Bayfront Park (sorry, no telephoto lens). My favourite was definitely the Eastern Phoebe but there were lots of mockingbirds and yellow rumped warblers. #HamOnt

This resignation comes just ahead of discussions around the annual $245m budget. Apart from the fact the Mayor doesn’t have a good attendance record at the Board, I don’t get it. She sits on the fewest number of committees of any Council member. Scheduling conflicts are within her control. #HamOnt

This is what happens when you schedule meetings with almost no notice or planning. I hope the Mayor isn’t going to be making decisions about the budget for our downtown based on feedback from 7 people. And this was the scheduling conflict for yesterday’s police board meeting. 😐 #HamOnt

I’ve been hearing a lot of positive feedback about the Ward 2 and City sidewalk programs, but also some concerns about why some parts of our downtown are left behind and what I’m going to do about it. I hope this helps. Happy for questions about this if I can clarify anything. #HamOnt

Thanks to students at CityLAB for inviting me to talk about my role as a City Councillor and member of the Hamilton Police Service Board during these turbulent times we're living through. Their questions were brilliant and their insights refreshing. Can't wait to come back! #HamOnt

Great turnout and passionate speakers at Draw the Line in Gore Park today. Come by if you can, it’s on until 4pm. Find out more at drawtheline.world. #HamOnt #DrawTheLine

It’s a really busy morning at City Hall with hundreds of folks gathered, as they do every Saturday, for food and other necessities. I checked in with volunteers and folks in line and things are going well with the new space. Keeping you posted, as always. #HamOnt

This week, we are going to explore the tale of two iconic Hamilton buildings, the First-Pilgrim United Church, built in 1913, and First Place, a senior’s residence just on the other side of the street from Ward 2 which finished construction in 1976. The story, however, goes back to 1834. #HamOnt

Taking back the night! #HamOnt

Big fluffy downtown clouds. #HamOnt

The Ward 2 Newsletter is out with updates on the new Downtown Sub-Committee, security and speed cameras, and the addition and replacement of garbage cans. I've also added a new section called Inside Baseball to share what's happening behind the scenes at City Hall. #HamOnt

Preparations for construction at the Coppley Building are underway. Here’s a quick look at the sidewalk we worked with the developer to construct to ensure pedestrians can get around while the project is ongoing. #HamOnt

Earlier today, the first meeting of the Hamilton Police Service Board's Budget Committee met and, for the first time, part of the meeting was held in public. The Chief is currently projecting a 9.48% increase for this year's budget and an overall 2026 budget of $245 million. #HamOnt