Ward 2 Hamilton

We’re officially Centre[4]Arts! 💜

Previously known as Centre[3], we are now officially Centre[4]Arts across our social media platforms and website.

Our work continues to connect Artists, Community, Education and Research, advancing contemporary art through accessible, inclusive and artist-centred practices.

Welcome to Centre[4]Arts — our new name, with our commitment to contemporary art, accessibility and inclusion continuing.

At Monday's Board of Health meeting I'll be tabling a motion calling on CN and the Federal government to electrify their Stuart Street Yard. Neighbours in the North End and Central, and across Wards 1, 2, and 3, continue to endure harmful impacts from CN's diesel pollution.

Over this past winter, due to the area's unique atmospheric conditions, diesel fumes caused residents to be nauseous, have headaches, and otherwise feel trapped inside their homes due to the high presence of odours and other contaminants. This isn't new, but it's getting worse.

And these atmospheric conditions will remain. If CN is determined to continue its shunting operations in this location, they're going to have to clean up their act. This part of Hamilton already faces impacts from soot, carbon black, and other toxins. This is impacting everyone's quality of life.

Thanks to the North End Neighbourhood Association (NENA), especially Jon Davey, for their leadership on this and for working with me, and the rest of the Neighbourhood Associations, on this motion. Sign NENA's petition at https://www.change.org/p/electrify-cn-rail-stuart-st-shunting-yard - this petition is supported by both the Beasley and Central Neighbourhood Associations.

Visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l-MwoOzujgw-Z-ljqFVCZbh-Vvc45oI4/view?usp=sharing for an accessible version of this motion.

Today at AMO I represented Hamilton at meetings with the Ministries of Environment and Infrastructure and participated in a panel on resiliency representing the Ontario Downtown Councillors and our downtown.

In our discussions with Ministers we raised concerns about the Province’s recycling program for small businesses, carbon black soot, and our aging water treatment facilities. We were received well and I’m hopeful about future discussions on these topics.

Great to meet up with some of the members of our Ontario Downtown Councillors coalition at AMO (and a great Ward 2 resident who joined us to chat). Looking forward to the panel tomorrow!

Honoured to join the Indigenous community, North Enders, and my colleagues on the Hamilton Public Library Board today on the waterfront to open a new public library branch in Ward 2. I'm particularly thankful to HPL and City Indigenous Relations staff for their meaningful and tireless work.

My involvement in the discussions about what to do with the Discovery Centre started when I first became active in Hamilton about a decade or so ago. I attended meetings about the future of the Discovery Centre with many of my neighbours who wanted to see good things for its future.

I, like many other Ward 2 residents, wanted to see it put to good use. Suggestions included a civic museum and, yes, a library. Years later, when there was an opportunity to take action, the previous Council clumsily decided to lease the rights to the Discovery Centre to the Pier 8 sales team.

And, sure, a future promise was made to investigate the potential of a new library branch once the condo sales centre was no longer needed, but that didn't sit right with many of us. Before I was elected, I promised to do everything I could to cancel the lease and put the library at the forefront.

In a fortunate twist of fate, before it looked like it might be too costly to back out of the lease, the Pier 8 developer cancelled the lease due to the downturn in the condo market. This finally meant we could get back to planning a library and HPL staff got on it right away.

At the West Harbour Development Sub-Committee, early in this term, after consulting with the City's Indigenous Relations staff, I put forward a motion asking for wide consultation with and meaningful involvement from the Indigenous community in the planning of the new library.

My motion ruffled a few feathers, but I ran on a commitment to helping to create space near the waterfront for Indigenous ceremony and thought it was important to keep my word. At that time, there hadn't been broad consultation and meaningful involvement. It mattered to me to get it right.

Today was a full circle moment. After nearly a decade of activism from North Enders, including the North End Neighbourhood Association, advocacy from the Indigenous community, and good work from HPL staff, we got here. I see good things for this space as long as we keep on the path we set today.

On a personal note, the meetings where the future of the Discovery Centre were passionately discussed were where I first got to know Shawn Selway, who isn't with us now, but who I think would be proud of where we're headed, with a justified dose of skepticism. Community finds a way.

I took some of Ward 2's finest treats, Grandad's Donuts, out to the picket line at National Steel Car today to show my support to striking USW 7135 workers. Thanks to Frank, Jeremy, and their coworkers for sharing their stories and talking to me about what they've been facing.

Striking workers are asking for fair wages and an incentive program that both makes sense and ensures they're paid when they participate. If you're able, go out and say hi to the striking workers, listen to their stories, and share what you can here and in your personal networks. Solidarity matters.

Wonderful to join parents and kids at the Hamilton Farmers' Market this morning for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra's Tiny Tots program. This program, which ran for 3 weeks, was made possible through a Ward 2 Community Grant, one of 100+ non profit organizations that benefited this term.

Kids learned classical music, had the opportunity to play a mini violin, and engaged in educational programming to explore movement, friendship, and play. Seeing the joy on the children's faces as they interacted with educators, musicians, and one another, was magical. It matters.

The Ward 2 Team and I were out this morning delivering postcards to invite small businesses on James Street South to our final community meeting of the term. This will be the 115th meeting or event we've held in this term with Ward 2 businesses and residents. The work continues!