Police issue public advisory to travel in groups and stay vigilant. Photo credit: Hamilton Police Service    Hamilton Police issued a public advisory on Friday, warning festival-goers of a “concerning uptick in youth-related robberies and swarming incidents” at community festivals and fairs. So far, police have identified multiple incidents at four different festivals throughout August […]

Thousands of Canadians showed up to protests across the country. The protest at the Hamilton public school board office comes after the board released a new “gender identity and gender expression procedure” in the lead-up to the 2023-24 school year. Photo credit: Getty Images   Thousands of Canadians showed up to protests across the country […]

But Council leaves open the possibility of taking a side. Photo credit: Modern Farmer   Hamilton City Council recently decided to remain neutral regarding a court challenge between environmental groups and the province over the expansion of Hamilton’s urban boundary. However, the motion that Council passed regarding their position indicates that they are still leaving […]

Similar 2018 event ended with mob of people vandalizing Locke Street businesses (pictured) in infamous riot. Photo credit: Tourism Hamilton   A controversial event that was probed by police in 2018 is returning to Hamilton on Saturday, September 30. Officially dubbed the “Hamilton Anarchist Bookfair,” the event made headlines for being linked with the now […]

Municipal law enforcement officers to enforce noise complaints alone and only during certain hours.    Hamilton Police Service (HPS) announced earlier this year that they are discontinuing their Noise Enforcement Team partnership with Municipal Law Enforcement (MLE) due to “ongoing staffing challenges.” HPS says that they need to redeploy officers to deal with an “increased […]

Council supports increased funding and scope for city-wide security patrols.    At a recent Public Works Committee meeting, Hamilton city councillors received a report from staff that provided an update on the city’s two-year Parks Security Patrol Pilot Program. The program started in April 2021 through the contracted services of the city’s security guard vendor […]

Two-bedroom unit in the city costs an average of $2,294 per month. Photo credit: Rentals.ca   The average one-bedroom unit rent in Hamilton was $1,901 per month in August, according to Rentals.ca’s monthly market update. That number is up 2.5 per cent from last month and up 12.2 per cent year over year. Similarly, a […]

From 2014 to 2021 there has been a 72 per cent increase in auto theft across the province. Locally, police recently warned that car thieves have been heavily targeting Waterdown. Photo credit: Facebook/Hamilton Police Service   The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) board recently decided to move forward in applying for a new provincial grant introduced […]

The city tied for second amongst its peers. No area scored in the A range. Photo credit: Facebook/HSR   The Toronto Region Board of Trade released a new report grading area transit service. The report analyzes 11 cities/regions including the City of Hamilton. Of the grades awarded, Hamilton was tied with Waterloo as the second-highest-ranked […]

New drug contains a mix of fentanyl and sedatives. Opioid-related deaths in Hamilton are 45 per cent greater than the Ontario average. Photo credit: Realtor.ca    Hamilton Public Health has now released two warnings in 2023 that an extremely potent fentanyl called “Yellow Down” is circulating in the community. The “Yellow Down” drug contains fentanyl […]

Three of city’s five ridings up for grabs. Current projections show that the Tories have a near-80 per cent chance of flipping Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, presently held by Liberal MP Chad Collins (pictured right). Photo credit: Facebook/Chad Collins   Recent federal polls show Liberal Party support across the country is imploding as Pierre Poilievre and […]

Kayla Lemieux teaches woodshop. Seen here in the classroom at Oakville Trafalgar High School.    Controversial teacher Kayla Lemieux appears to have been hired by Hamilton’s public school board (HWDSB) for the upcoming school year. An email obtained by The Hamilton Independent written to parents from HWDSB Superintendent of Student Achievement Adnan Shahbaz and Nora […]

Plan comes after Council directed staff in February 2023 to engage with community partners and come up with a harm reduction strategy.   At a recent Hamilton Public Health Committee meeting the city’s Public Health Services staff presented a report recommending the approval of a new plan to combat opioid-related emergencies. The plan, which was […]

A full rundown of the latest. Photo credit: University of Toronto-Scarborough   Last week, Hamilton City Council voted 10-6 in favour of its Encampment Protocol which includes the launch of a 25-cabin tiny shelter program. As such, encampments will be allowed on public property, including in municipal parks with certain restrictions. Sanctioned encampments, which would […]

Councillor Ted McMeekin (pictured) introduced the motion. Photo credit: City of Hamilton   At a recent Hamilton City Council meeting, municipal councillors voted unanimously 16-0 in support of a universal basic income.  The motion was introduced by Councillor Ted McMeekin (Ward 15 – Flamborough East-Waterdown). McMeekin served as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) under […]

Potential to be ‘the biggest and best collection of events in the history of the Grey Cup.’ Pictured is an artist rendering of James Street, which will serve as the heart of the festival. Photo credit: Grey Cup Festival   Organizers of the upcoming Grey Cup in Hamilton had already announced that Tim Horton’s Field […]

Procedure will allow students to compete on the sports team that corresponds with their “lived gender identity”.    Hamilton’s public school board (HWDSB) released a new detailed version of its “gender identity and gender expression procedure.” The new procedure, which consists of a 22-page document for students and a 12-page document for employees, includes the […]

Move comes as cities around the country struggle with housing availability and affordability. Staff is expected to report back to councillors early next year.    At a recent City of Hamilton Planning Committee meeting, Councillor Maureen Wilson (Ward 1 – Westdale-Chedoke-Cootes) brought forward a motion for city staff to write a report exploring the feasibility […]

And why it’s already sparked outrage from activists. Photo credit: Getty Images/Encyclopedia Britannica   A study exploring the possibility of creating a city-wide citizen registry has not yet been presented to Hamilton Council but has already sparked outrage amongst some progressive-leaning councillors and activist groups. The motion to have staff study the possibility of a […]

Local councillor says changes will greatly help business community. Photo credit: HSR   Starting Sunday, September 3, 2023, Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) bus service will be extending eastward to Winona for the very first time. The Route 55 bus that runs along Highway 8 currently ends its route at the Stoney Creek Municipal Service Centre […]

Amid conversations about increased crime, high office vacancies another sign the downtown may be dwindling. Photo credit: My Main Street   Following high-profile conversations in the media and by Council regarding the state of crime in Hamilton’s downtown, new economic data that was presented to Hamilton Council appears to show that the area is having […]

Fero converts shipping containers into pressurized mobile units that can be used as mobile ICUs, mobile surgical units, triage centres, and even labs. On-hand in Hamilton last Thursday for the announcement were Minister Vic Fedeli (centre) and local MPP Neil Lumsden (left), pictured alongside Fero CEO Sabrina Fiorellino. Photo credit: Twitter/Vic Fedeli   Ontario’s Minister […]

Of the total, $1.8 million is from 2022 alone, when Hamilton’s parking enforcement officers issued 125,801 tickets. The most ticketed area of the city is the Westdale neighbourhood, which is home to McMaster University and McMaster Hospital.    Recently released City of Hamilton statistics show that the municipality is owed over $5.8 million in unpaid […]

Current Hamilton public school board director of education posted tweet about equity firm’s work after original incident in 2021. Pictured is long-time educator Richard Bilkszto. Photo credit: TVO   Toronto principal Richard Bilkszto took his own life earlier this month. Bilkszto was an educator for over two decades. He was 60 years old. Bilkszto’s death […]

The Queen Victoria statue in Gore Park is one of five locations deemed “potentially problematic” by the city. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Rick Cordeiro   The City of Hamilton has installed new warning signs at the sites of five different monuments, stating that the city recognizes the sites as “potentially problematic.” The five locations are the […]

Median household income in Hamilton is $88,109 a year. Photo credit: The Globe and Mail   A recent report from the National Bank of Canada on housing affordability states that a household would need to earn $219,514 a year to afford the typical Hamilton home. The study lists the median Hamilton home price at $933,437, […]

Here’s what Hamiltonians can expect next. Pictured is an artist rendering of the renovated FirstOntario Centre. Photo credit: City of Hamilton   In the latest developments regarding the massive multimillion dollar FirstOntario Centre renovations, the City of Hamilton has released further details in an 84-page document, Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group (HUPEG) President PJ Mercanti […]

On hand for the funding announcement last Thursday were Premier Doug Ford, Minister Monte McNaughton, and local MPPs Neil Lumsden and Donna Skelly. Photo credit: Twitter/Neil Lumsden   Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Labour Minister Monte McNaughton were in Hamilton on Thursday, July 13 to announce that the Ontario government is investing over $3.7 million […]

New facility will increase air ambulance availability for outlying rural and remote areas. Photo credit: Orgne   Ornge, the non-profit organization that coordinates Ontario’s air ambulance system, will be opening a new, permanent Critical Care Land Ambulance (CCLA) Base in Hamilton this fall. Ornge also manages Ontario’s critical care land transport program which transfers patients […]

New record for fastest climb to $1 billion. Pictured is an artist rendering of the Muse development at 461 Green Road in Stoney Creek. Photo credit: DeSantis Homes   The City of Hamilton recently announced that, as of June 14, the municipality had surpassed $1 billion worth of construction permits on the year.  June 14 […]

It’s not the first time the Ontario NDP MPP has stirred controversy with her associations. Pictured is a Twitter post from Jama at the June 25 event. Ontario’s Solicitor General said Jama’s attendance at the march is an example of the Ontario NDP showing their “true colours.” Photo credit: Twitter/Sarah Jama   Hamilton Centre MPP […]

The initiative stems from requests and complaints from downtown businesses. Photo credit: Facebook/Hamilton Police Service    The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) recently announced that they have reintroduced “park and walks” and a new “Core Patrol” program in response to ongoing issues in the downtown core. The move comes after requests for more patrols from multiple […]

Over 60,000 Italian-Canadians call Hamilton home, representing almost 12 per cent of the city’s population. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette   Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath is currently in Italy on a cultural and economic mission, according to a statement released by her office last week. The mayor left Canada on Monday, July 3 and […]

The report concludes that ‘Hamilton’s lack of attainable housing for families leaves the city in the uncomfortable situation of being unable to house the workers it needs.’ Photo credit: Getty Images   A new housing report entitled “Who Will Swing The Hammer?” suggests that the unaffordability of Hamilton’s housing market is starting to have a […]

The program, particularly the balancing of the positive aspects of drone usage with privacy concerns, remains an ongoing area of interest for privacy experts and citizens alike. Photo credit: Hamilton Police Service   A new Hamilton Police Service (HPS) report written by Sgt. Fab Giuliani for the city’s Police Services Board recommends expansion of the […]

Starting in the fall, faculty at McMaster University will be able to use AI tools like ChatGPT in their courses. Photo credit: Pexels/Matheus Bertelli   Hamilton’s McMaster University has announced that their professors will be allowed to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) tools into their courses starting in the fall 2023 semester. The university also released […]

Councillors on both sides of the issue expressed concerns with the draft protocol, with some saying there were too many rules and others saying that the restrictions were too lenient. Council will revisit protocol and sanctioned encampments in August. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck   Hamilton city councillors recently rejected a proposal from city […]

City set to host the CFL’s 2023 championship game in November. Various additions will increase stadium capacity from approximately 24,000 to about 31,000. Pictured is an artist rendering of the South Plaza. Photo credit: Hamilton Tiger-Cats   While the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ performance on the field this season has been disappointing so far (0-3), the release […]

The iconic American company has had a presence in the city for nearly a century. Photo credit: The Coca-Cola Company   Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited is investing $8 million towards refurbishment of its distribution centre located in Hamilton. The facility, located at 1575 Barton Street East near Parkdale Avenue North, currently employs approximately 150 people. […]

Council declared three states of emergency regarding homelessness, mental health, and opioid overdoses and poisoning back in April. The declarations are largely meant to send a message and get the attention of other levels of government. Photo credit: University of Toronto-Scarborough   Back at the beginning of April, Hamilton City Council voted to declare three […]

Mayor Andrea Horwath (pictured) does not reveal if she will use the new abilities. Photo credit: Twitter/Andrea Horwath   Last Friday, the Government of Ontario announced that Hamilton, as well as 25 other municipalities in the province, will receive strong mayor powers starting July 1, 2023. Strong mayor powers were previously given to Toronto and […]

Pictured are Steve Stipsits, his mother and father Judy and Al, and sisters Andrea Peckart and Heidi. Photo credit: Mohawk College   Last month, Branthaven Homes CEO Steve Stipsits and his wife Elizabeth Stipsits announced a $1 million donation to Mohawk College to help create new education and employment opportunities in residential construction for people […]

The Haudenosaunee Development Institute has agreed not to interfere with dredging work at Chedoke Creek and will receive $50,000 for project monitoring and an additional $7,000 to review previous project studies. Photo credit: Google Maps   On May 24, Hamilton City Council approved a settlement agreement of $50,000 with the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI), an […]

Survey indicates Hamiltonians less satisfied with life in the city than previous years. Photo credit: Getty Images/Encyclopedia Britannica    The City of Hamilton released the results of their 2022 city-wide survey on May 3, 2023. When respondents were asked how well they believe the City of Hamilton is working towards its slogan of being “the […]

Contest launched to name the pair. Photo credit: Royal Botanical Gardens/Garrine Tsang   Hamilton-Burlington’s Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) announced on June 1 that Cootes Paradise is home to two newly born baby bald eagles. In celebration of the eaglets hatching, the RBG launched a baby naming contest on their website. The goal is to name […]

Hamilton has had image capture technology in place at certain intersections for over two decades. The addition of 10 new cameras brings the city’s total up to 52. Photo credit: CBC/Dan Taekema   Red Light Cameras  After ticketing 59,000 motorists since 2020, Hamilton’s red light camera program will be expanding with 10 new camera locations […]

Hamilton college already recognized as national leader in the field. Photo credit: Mohawk College   Announced on May 8, Hamilton’s Mohawk College has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with Transport Canada’s Innovation Centre to collaborate on research projects involving remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS, commonly known as drones). Mohawk College already has a well-established […]

Business continues to boom across the city, with a flurry of new developments and expansions opened or announced in recent months. Pictured are representatives from UPS Canada, Mayor Andrea Horwath (second from right), and MPP Donna Skelly (right), May 2, 2023. Photo credit: Twitter/Donna Skelly   Two companies, UPS Canada and Fusion Pharmaceuticals, are set […]

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark (pictured at podium), local MPPs Neil Lumsden and Donna Skelly, and community partners were all on hand in Hamilton for the announcement last Friday. Photo credit: Twitter/Steve Clark   Ontario’s Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark was in Hamilton last Friday, announcing nearly $7 million of government funding […]

 A 2022 study estimated that ‘Steelport’ could create up to 23,000 new jobs and inject $3.8 billion into the Ontario economy over the next decade. Photo credit: Slate Asset Management    A group called Slate Asset Management has released its initial plans for an 800-acre redevelopment of former Stelco lands into a massive waterfront industrial […]

Losani Homes purchased the property at 140 Glen Echo Drive from the Hamilton public school board in March. The area directly surrounding the proposed development is solely made up of single-family homes, with some residents already voicing their opposition. Pictured is an artist rendering of the proposed site. Photo credit: Losani Homes/Chamberlain Architects   Losani […]

Four new weekday peak express trips in each direction along the Lakeshore West line added. The Premier and Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney announced the expanded service last week in Niagara. Photo credit: Metrolinx   Premier Doug Ford was in St. Catharines last Friday where he announced a number of additions to GO train schedules […]

Hamilton’s D-range grade ranking put it amongst the worst municipalities in Canada. Photo credit: City of Hamilton   Canadian research think tank C.D. Howe Institute has given the City of Hamilton a D-plus grade for multiple problems with transparency, reliability, and timeliness of its 2022 budget process. The grade appears in a study called “Show […]

Mayor Andrea Horwath (pictured, centre) made motion to pause the policy earlier this month. Move comes as municipality struggles with 10 per cent staffing shortage across the corporation. Photo credit: Facebook/Andrea Horwath   In a dramatic reversal of previous debates on the issue, Hamilton’s city councillors have voted to pause the vaccine requirement for newly […]

Businesses along the near 4-kilometre route will be able to move their storefronts onto the street. Those that register will be able to have sidewalk sales, small temporary patios on the street, music, and outdoor demonstrations. Photo credit: International Village BIA   It was an idea that had been floated around Hamilton City Council for […]

Ontario’s environment minister David Piccini (left) and tourism minister Neil Lumsden (right) were on hand at Hamilton’s Collective Arts Brewing Thursday to announce the partnership. Also pictured are Mayor of Hamilton Andrea Horwath and brewery CEO Matt Johnston. Photo credit: Twitter/Neil Lumsden   Ontario Minister of Environment, Conservation, and Parks David Piccini was in Hamilton […]

Recent third-party report found that Hamilton has a ‘weakened competitive position as an employer compared to other municipalities.’ Photo credit: EXP   The City of Hamilton is taking significant steps to improve their labour shortages amid struggles with staff recruitment and retention. The city initially put out a release on April 18 detailing a new […]

Latest move in ongoing ‘Sewergate’ saga involving massive, years-long sewage leak into Chedoke Creek. Photo credit: Royal Botanical Gardens   In the latest development in a long saga involving the City of Hamilton, the Government of Ontario, and the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI), Hamilton is now seeking court intervention to force the province to get […]

It’s not the first time the courses have been subject to council review. Some argue that they are barely making any money, sometimes even posting deep losses, so it is better to get rid of at least some of them in favour of public park space. Pictured is the city’s Chedoke Golf Course. Photo credit: […]

Initiative made possible by provincial grant. Photo credit: Twitter/Hamilton Police   The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) has begun installing Automated Licence Plate Readers (ALPR) and in-car camera (ICC) systems on its vehicles. The roll out, which began on May 1, currently includes ten police cruisers.  When complete, 78 vehicles will have the technology. Full implementation […]

 It’s not the first time the newly elected MPP (pictured, centre) has stirred controversy and faced significant backlash from the public. Photo credit: Twitter/Fred Hahn   Newly elected Hamilton Centre Ontario NDP MPP Sarah Jama is under fire yet again, this time for a tweet made this past Tuesday, May 2 calling a convicted terrorist […]

The lot was designated in 2010 as having no maximum density or height regulations. Rendering of the near 1,000-unit development. Photo credit: Graziani + Corazza Architects/Hi-Rise Group   A new 949-unit development is planned for two new buildings beside Seasons Retirement Home on Shoreview Place in Stoney Creek. The building application is put forward by […]

Board will also review all current school names. There are currently four Hamilton secondary schools named after people and 31 elementary schools. Photo credit: The Globe and Mail/J.P. Moczulski   The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), Hamilton’s public school board, will no longer be naming new schools after people following a trustee vote on the […]

The re-enactment was first held in 1981 and had taken place every year since then at Battlefield House Museum and Park (pictured) until it was cancelled for 2020, 2021, and 2022. Photo credit: Hamilton Tourism   The infamous re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek is set to return on June 3 and 4, 2023 […]

The increase is tied to a recent uptick in service demand. Photo credit: Twitter/HPS Paramedics   Hamilton Paramedic Service is receiving an additional $6.7 million from the City of Hamilton as part of the 2023 operating budget. That translates to a 23 per cent increase compared to 2022. A city media release on April 17 […]

In an effort spearheaded by councillors Cameron Kroetsch (left) and Alex Wilson (right), supportive councillors want more tax dollars for their yearly office budgets to, in part, be able to engage with residents’ concerns faster and more frequently. Photo credit: City of Hamilton   In the past number of weeks of budget consultations and deliberations, […]

Skipperi launched in 2017. The start-up will bring three boats to Harbour West Marina starting in May. They are limiting the number of memberships in order to ensure that boats are available for users. Photo credit: Skipperi   Starting on May 1, Hamilton will be home to Skipperi, the world’s first boat-sharing app.  The company […]

And the issue is, at least partially, self-inflicted.   The City of Hamilton is sitting at a 10 per cent vacancy rate according to an August 2022 report. That translates to 664 empty positions of the 6,712 jobs at the city level. Similarly, Hamilton hospitals are also short on staff, with the number of job […]

  Debate delayed again until the summer.   In the latest update regarding the City of Hamilton’s vaccine mandate for new city staff, a select number of Councillors have once again derailed debate and insisted that the policy stay in place. The move comes as the City of Hamilton struggles with 10 per cent of […]

Photo credit: Facebook/HMCS Star   HMCS Star, Hamilton’s Naval Reserve Division and the second oldest naval reserve division in Canada, celebrated its 100th year of existence back in March. The unit was established as the Hamilton Half Company on March 15, 1923. It began with about 50 men who worked out of the old Imperial […]

Staff say that the pilot was successful in preventing “entrenched encampments”. The permanent program will cost $1.3 million a year to run. Photo credit: Global News   The homeless encampment debate has been one of the major issues discussed by recent City Councils, particularly with the pandemic and ongoing affordable housing crisis exacerbating the situation. […]

Officials say that many of the confiscations were a result of citizen tips. Photo credit: Facebook/Hamilton Police Service   The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) put out a press release last week detailing that crime gun confiscations in the city are up 77 per cent from this time last year. The release came after police seized […]

The City of Hamilton started its Fraud and Waste Hotline as a three-year pilot program in 2019.    A recently released City of Hamilton annual “Fraud and Waste Report” from the Office of the City Auditor revealed major conflicts of interest and waste involving the city. Among the major investigations detailed in the report is […]

Photo credit: Hamilton Honey Badgers   The FirstOntario Centre renovation plan will be delayed by a couple of weeks due to Grey Cup festivities. The arena was scheduled to close for renovations after the Canadian Country Music Awards in September.  But with Hamilton hosting the Grey Cup this year, the private consortium that is taking […]

The defending OHL champions were outclassed Thursday night, ending up on the losing end of a 2-10 walloping. The team will look to make quick amends Saturday night. Photo credit: Hamilton Bulldogs   The Hamilton Bulldogs opened up the 2023 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) playoffs on Thursday with a 2-10 loss on the road in […]

The changes are expected to reduce noise and improve air quality in the downtown area. The truck route changes are also meant to make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Photo credit: LinkedIn/Alipa Ari Patel   The City of Hamilton has started to install new truck route signage as part of its updated Truck Route […]

Under the new agreement with the October deadline, the City of Hamilton will be required to submit weekly progress reports to the province. Clean-up efforts have been delayed due to various interruptions from the Haudenosaunee Development Institute. Photo credit: CBC/Patrick Morreel   The City of Hamilton now has until October 31, 2023, to dredge sewage […]

Residents believe “questionable procedural issues took place during (a February) meeting” that green lit a safe injection site at 746 Barton Street East. Nann pictured centre. Photo credit: Facebook/Nrinder Nann via Bob Hatcher    A number of Hamiltonians, including former Hamilton mayor Bob Bratina and Council candidate and business owner Walter Furlan, have launched a […]

 In January, the effective price of fuel was set at about 32 cents per cubic metre for Hamilton. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons   As the cost-of-living crisis plagues more and more Canadians, home heating bills continue to skyrocket. Hamilton residents, along with those across Ontario, have reported natural gas bills that are double what they […]

Sarah Jama (pictured with microphone) won over half the Hamilton Centre vote last Thursday. Photo credit: Twitter/Sarah Jama   Sarah Jama, the controversial anti-police NDP candidate who was recently accused of anti-Semitism and endorsement of violent anti-Israel uprisings, won the Hamilton Centre by-election Thursday night. The March 16 contest was to fill the seat vacated […]

The Hamilton-based hockey team is relocating to Brantford while major renovations on the FirstOntario Centre take place over the next two to three years. Photo credit: Twitter/Hamilton Bulldogs   Last week, Brantford’s City Council approved a motion to have staff explore the possibility of building a new OHL-sized arena. A number of weeks ago it […]

Jama (pictured, centre-front) is running in the Hamilton Centre provincial by-election set to take place this Thursday, March 16. B’nai Brith Canada’s CEO Michael Mostyn implored ONDP Leader Marit Stiles to ‘do the principled thing’ and rescind Jama’s candidacy after her involvement with ‘radical’ anti-Israel groups was revealed. Stiles is standing by Jama. Photo credit: […]

Hamilton one of three communities where pilot will take place. Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones was on hand at McMaster Children’s Hospital Thursday to announce the new program. Photo credit: Twitter/Sylvia Jones   Last Thursday, the Ontario Government announced it will be investing $97 million over three years to launch and run […]

The average price for a one-bedroom unit in Steeltown rose nearly six points between January and February. Photo credit: The Chronicle/Yolanda James   The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Hamilton jumped 5.9 per cent between January 2023 and February 2023 according to the latest Rentals.ca rent report.  That means that Hamilton’s one-bedroom rental […]

The current board has 16 members, all of whom are elected members of Council. Photo credit: PlusVG Architects   Some Hamilton City Councillors are attempting to increase the number of members on the Hamilton Board of Health in order to include more “diverse voices.” In July 2022, the previous City Council requested information from the […]

Artist rendering of the completed church. The $20-million place of worship is on schedule to welcome parishioners by early summer. Photo credit: ATA Architects   A new Catholic Church is being built on Hamilton Mountain and, once complete, will be the first new Catholic Church built in the city in over four decades. The new […]

Transit agencies across Canada are struggling with persistently depressed usage, Hamilton’s HSR is no exception. Photo credit: Twitter/HSR   The future of public transit is at a crossroads, with ridership levels so far unable to recover since the COVID pandemic.  The COVID pandemic resulted in a cultural shift in the workplace. Many workers moved to […]

 The development will integrate and preserve much of the near-century old high school on Main Street. Photo credit: New Horizon Development Group   New Horizon Development Group and Losani Homes are currently working through the approval process for a 975-unit development at 1284 Main Street at the site of Delta Secondary School. The development would […]

Over the last 26 years, some 400 million litres of sewage drained into Lake Ontario via two leaks. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Nathan Dennette   After the City of Hamilton’s two recent sewage leaks, the Government of Ontario has issued the City a provincial order to undertake a series of inspections. In November 2022, the […]

The biggest changes would take place in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek and Flamborough-Glanbrook. Photo credit: Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario   In August 2022, the three-member Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario proposed a number of adjustments to the electoral map, including multiple changes for the Hamilton region. The boundaries across all Canadian ridings are […]

Increased system renewal investment, additional feeders, and accelerated feeder automation deployment will all help the company to restore power outages faster. Photo credit: Alectra Utilities   Alectra Utilities will be investing $18.6 million to upgrade Hamilton energy infrastructure.  The company spent $9.7 million in 2022 and plans another $8.9 million for 2023 to construct and […]

The accelerated timeline, however, will cost taxpayers an additional $616,000. Photo credit: Tourism Hamilton   At a January 20, 2023 budget committee meeting, Hamilton’s City Council voted unanimously to have staff look into and report on the costs of accelerating the city’s cycling master plan.  The 14-0 vote saw Councillors direct City of Hamilton Director […]

Though somewhat counter-intuitive, to facilitate its green transition the Hamilton steelmaker’s demand for natural gas will double. Photo credit: Twitter/ArcelorMittal Dofasco   Hamilton-based steelmaker ArcelorMittal Dofasco will require a 14-kilometre natural gas pipeline as a part of their transition to producing steel in a more environmentally friendly way. The $1.8-billion green steel project, which received […]

Seat vacated following now-Mayor of Hamilton Andrea Horwath’s re-entry into municipal politics. Veteran police sergeant Pete Wiesner (left), representing the Ontario PCs, takes on NDP candidate and well-known anti-police activist Sarah Jama (right). Photo credit: Ontario PC Party and Facebook/Sarah Jama   The Ontario Government has officially announced the date of the Hamilton Centre provincial […]

One per cent penalty to start in 2024. City staff estimate that 1,135 properties in Hamilton are currently vacant.    In a 10-5 vote on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, Hamilton City Council voted to have municipal staff prepare and implement a new vacant home tax. Starting in 2024, the bylaw will require vacant property owners […]

Hamilton International Airport sees considerable cargo traffic from shipping companies such as Amazon, Canada Post, Cargojet, DHL, Purolator, Prime Air, and UPS. Photo credit: Facebook/Hamilton International Airport   The latest data from Statistics Canada shows that John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) is outpacing the rest of the country in air cargo traffic. The […]

The OHL team will shift operations from Hamilton to Brantford for at least three years, with the possibility the move becomes permanent. Photo credit: Hamilton Bulldogs   The Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Hamilton Bulldogs are set to move to Brantford. Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre, the arena where the Bulldogs currently play, is undergoing major renovations starting […]

The protest started outside City Hall, before migrating inside. Participants demanded members vote down a proposed 6.7 per cent increase to the 2023 police budget. Photo credit: CBC/Samantha Beattie   Abolish the police protesters filled the Hamilton City Council chambers on Monday, February 6, disrupting delegations at a General Issues Committee (GIC) meeting that was […]

The new tool allows the service to easily see information on shootings, break-ins, deaths, victims, arrests, and charges, it also charts month-to-month and year-to-year trends at the click of a button. Photo credit: Facebook/Hamilton Police Service   The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) analytics team has used software to create a new in-house tool that helps […]

Similar rules and licencing requirements for short-term rentals have been in place in Toronto since 2019. Photo credit: Rentals.ca    Starting June 2023, the City of Hamilton will officially be placing restrictions and licensing requirements on any property within municipal limits that citizens wish to rent out short-term, such as on Airbnb. At a Wednesday, […]

Trustees passed a motion in early December last year instituting a universal masking “requirement”, however, the directive came with an easy to access opt-out clause. Photo credit: T. Lloyd Electric Ontario   Hamilton’s public school board (HWDSB) trustees have voted to cease mandating that students and staff wear masks. The mandate originally came into effect […]

Team looks to bolster roster ahead of hosting 2023 Grey Cup. Mitchell is a two-time Grey Cup champion. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Mark Blinch   The Hamilton Tiger-Cats made their first big move of the offseason last week, officially signing former Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell to a three-year deal. A press conference was […]

Marked by protests and funding promises, the governing Liberals’ Cabinet retreat in Steeltown this week was full of mentionable moments. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Nick Iwanyshyn   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s three-day Cabinet retreat came to a close on Wednesday, January 25 in what was a rather eventful visit. From Monday, January 23 to Wednesday, […]

The federal money will go toward a $47 million expansion and improvement project at the airport. Photo credit: Twitter/Filomena Tassi   John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) is set to receive $23.5 million for upgrades from the federal government. A funding announcement from Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra took place earlier this week on […]

The electric vehicle juggernaut is looking at a 60,000 square foot section on the east side of the mall which formerly housed The Bay and Home Outfitters. Photo credit: Cadillac Fairview   Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is planning on opening their largest retail and service centre in Canada at Hamilton’s CF Lime Ridge Mall. The […]

Municipalities have a little over a year before they are required to switch over to an upgraded 911 system. Photo credit: Twitter/HPS Paramedics   The City of Hamilton is in the process of allocating $31.7 million for upgrades to three buildings to accommodate upgrades to the city’s 911 dispatching system. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications […]

The retreat, according to the PM, will be an important opportunity to build on the Liberal government’s efforts to “make life more affordable” for Canadians – something local Conservative MP Dan Muys finds ironic, given how Trudeau’s policies have only helped contribute to the unaffordability issue. Pictured is Trudeau the last time he was in […]

A previous leak discovered in November on Burlington Street prompted an emergency inspection program, which is currently about halfway through its assessment of high-risk designated areas. The contaminated water from both Burlington Street and the more recently discovered Rutherford Avenue leak had been exiting the sewer system into Hamilton Harbour in an area closed to […]

Minister Vic Fedeli speaks with members of Innovation Factory on Friday, January 13. Photo credit: Innovation Factory   Capping off a busy week for the Ontario Government in Hamilton, Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade, visited Hamilton’s Innovation Factory this past Friday to celebrate the recent investment announcement of $2.4 […]

 New investment supported by $1.5 million in provincial funding. Photo credit: Twitter/Doug Ford   Bimbo Canada, formerly Canada Bread (a name change occurred in 2018 due to its purchase by the Mexican-based parent company Grupo Bimbo), is investing $15 million to build a new tortilla production line at one of its Hamilton bakeries. Bimbo Canada […]

In 2018, the last Council’s inauguration under former mayor Fred Eisenberger cost only $11K. New mayor Andrea Horwath (pictured) said the price hike was necessary to celebrate the “historic moment”. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Cole Burston    Hamilton’s newly elected City Council is being questioned over the necessity of spending $38,116 on their inauguration ceremony. […]

Flights from YHM to Europe begin this June for approximately $600 round trip. Photo credit: CNW Group/Play   Play Airlines, a low-cost airline based in Iceland, is launching flights from Hamilton to Europe this June. Its website is already open for booking, with the first flight service from John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) […]

City staff are currently reviewing the Barton Street site proposed in November. Photo credit: Facebook/Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS)   A project to build tiny shelters in Hamilton for those experiencing homelessness is once again being delayed as Council wants more time for staff to review a newly proposed location. An organization called the […]

Well-known community activist Sarah Jama (pictured, centre) will represent the Ontario NDP in former party leader Andrea Horwath’s previous riding. Photo credit: Twitter/Sarah Jama   With Andrea Horwath moving on from provincial politics, the riding of Hamilton Centre is currently without an MPP. Hamilton Centre runs east-west from Kenilworth Avenue to the 403 and north-south […]

The project was approved in 2017 and work commenced in 2020. Pictured is Queen Street looking north toward Main. Photo credit: Google Maps   The conversion of Queen Street from one-way southbound traffic to a two-way road between Aberdeen Avenue and King Street West was officially completed on November 22, 2022. The work included upgrades […]

The project’s developer, Fengate, is hoping to build 1,212 housing units on 3.4 hectares including two 24-storey and two 15-storey residential towers, 30 two-storey townhouses, and 64 four-storey townhouses. Photo credit: Urban Solutions    A plan for 1,212 residential units on the site of Winona’s LIUNA Gardens banquet centre at 526 Winona Road is headed […]

Over 100 CUPE 5167 members did not comply with the City of Hamilton’s previous vaccination policy.    The City of Hamilton is not allowed to terminate any employee represented by CUPE 5167 who object to the COVID vaccine. A labour arbitrator ruled that specific language in the CUPE 5167 collective bargaining agreement prohibits employee termination […]

Photo credit: Facebook/HSR   After a one-year review of the Waterdown on-demand bussing pilot, Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) reintroduced a fixed route to the area on November 7. But the on-demand service, called myRide, will still operate alongside a new fixed route called Route 18 – Waterdown Mountaineer. The new fixed route has connections with […]

Residential apartments going up beside Stoney Creek Value Village plaza. Pictured are members of the New Horizon team during an October 2021 sod-turning event at the 870 Queenston Rd. site. The team is holding an artist’s rendering of the development. Photo credit: New Horizon   New Horizon Development Ltd. is in the process of constructing […]

The festival will run from Boxing Day until Sunday, January 8. Photo credit: Facebook/Ancaster Fair   Food truck organization Street Eats is teaming up with a sustainable wooden structure company called GRIPBlock to bring a winter festival to Hamilton’s Ancaster Fairgrounds. The event, starting on Boxing Day, features a giant winter maze as its main […]

The development’s two main buildings would stand 18 and 20 storeys high. Photo credit: Camarro Group   A new high-rise planned for an empty lot at the corner of King Street and Centennial Parkway in Stoney Creek is undergoing the approval process. Directly across the street from the Battlefield House Museum and Park, the builder, […]

The units will rent for some of the most affordable rates in the entire country. Pictured is a concept rendering of the first-of-its-kind development. Photo credit: Montgomery Sisam   CityHousing Hamilton, Hamilton’s city-run social housing provider, is currently constructing a number of residential units that will rank among the most affordable in all of Canada. […]

Hamilton’s Chedoke Creek. Photo credit: City of Hamilton   The City of Hamilton’s Chedoke Creek remediation project remains delayed due to a dispute with a local Indigenous group. The city was ordered by the Ontario Government to dredge the creek, a process which involves vacuuming up 22,000 tonnes of polluted sediment from the waterway. The […]

Over the last few years, the U.S.-based convenience chain has pushed to get liquor licences for several of its stores around Ontario. Photo credit: 7-Eleven Canada   Hamilton’s 7-Eleven locations have been granted permission to sell alcohol in-store. There are two locations in Hamilton: a gas station and convenience store at 415 Melvin Avenue and […]

The decision was made in a marathon meeting last week. The HWDSB is now Ontario’s lone board to have an active masking mandate. Photo credit: Reading Eagle   Hamilton’s public school board (HWDSB) trustees have once again put in place a mask mandate for staff and students. The decision was made at a Monday, December […]

The leak caused an estimated 337 million litres of raw sewage to drain into Hamilton Harbour (pictured) from 1996 to now. Officials made the discovery during a review of past records last week. Photo credit: marianas.com    The City of Hamilton is at the centre of yet another major sewage leak news story after officials […]

The defending CEBL champions are moving to Brampton. Photo credit: Facebook/CEBL     The Hamilton Honey Badgers are permanently leaving Hamilton for Brampton according to the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).  The move comes after the team was informed that they would be temporarily forced out of the FirstOntario Centre (their home stadium) for the 2024 […]

The Hamilton-based steel manufacturer recently released its third quarter results. Photo credit: LinkedIn/Stelco   Stelco Holdings Inc. released its quarter three financials on November 15, reporting net third-quarter earnings down 74 per cent year-over-year with factors such as lower steel prices and inflation driving the decline. The financial results were for the quarter ending September […]

Professor Emeritus John Connolly (pictured) is leading the research. The hope is that quicker diagnoses will result in quicker and more accurate treatment plans for patients. Photo credit: McMaster Unversity/JD Howell    New brain health assessment technology is being developed at McMaster University and has recently gained new partnerships with Boston University and the Canadian […]

The majority of Council, including the mayor and nine of the 15 members, were not around the municipal table last term. Pictured is newly-elected mayor Andrea Horwath being sworn in at the Hamilton Convention Centre, Nov. 16, 2022. Photo credit: Twitter/City of Hamilton   The 2022-2026 Hamilton City Council was officially sworn-in during a public […]

Back for the first time since 2019, the Christmas-themed locomotive will travel through Steeltown on Tuesday, November 29. Photo credit: CP   The Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train has returned for 2022 after a brief two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Seeing the Holiday Train is a Christmas tradition for many Hamiltonians. The train will […]

Each of the teams that call Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre home – three in all – will be temporarily relocated over the next two years while the venue undergoes major renovations. The teams previously thought they would be able to continue playing out of the York Boulevard location during construction. Pictured is concept artwork of the […]

The lands will be used for new residential development as part of the government’s effort to get 1.5 million housing units built in Ontario over the next decade. The move comes in addition to a separate decision by the province to expand Hamilton’s urban boundary by 2,200 hectares. Photo credit: Greenbelt Foundation   On Friday, […]

The move, which reverses a recent decision by Hamilton City Council to restrict all development to the city’s current urban area, has drawn both support and criticism from local officials and stakeholders. Photo credit: Modern Farmer   On Friday, November 4, the Ontario government announced it will be expanding Hamilton’s urban boundary to allow for […]

The group of members-elect, along with a handful of trustees and unsuccessful candidates, accused the Hamilton Spectator of taking part in “a journalistic practice that has perpetuated anti-Black racism”. They’re refusing to speak to the publication moving forward unless their list of demands are met. Photo credit: PlusVG Architects   On Thursday, October 27, just […]

Local MP Dan Muys. Photo credit: Facebook/Dan Muys   Following the Hamilton municipal election on Monday, October 24, 2022, The Hamilton Independent spoke to Flamborough-Glanbrook Conservative Member of Parliament Dan Muys one-on-one about his thoughts regarding the results. Questions and answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity. THE HAMILTON INDEPENDENT (THI): What is […]

Maria Pearson, Jason Farr, and Arlene VanderBeek, all multi-term councillors, will not be returning to Hamilton City Hall next month after failing to regain their respective council seats Monday night. Photo credit: Twitter/City of Hamilton   Hamilton’s municipal election on Monday was full of drama. Even prior to October 24, it was clear the election […]

Incumbent councillor Brad Clark. Photo credit: City of Hamilton   The Ward 9 Cable 14 debate took place on September 20. A replay of the debate can be watched via YouTube. Incumbent Councillor Brad Clark is up against three challengers. Ward 9 consists of Upper Stoney Creek. The northern border is the Escarpment. The southern […]

Five-term incumbent Maria Pearson faces two familiar foes from 2018. Photo credit: CBC/Samantha Craggs   The Ward 10 Cable 14 debate took place on September 20. A replay of the discussion can be watched via YouTube. Incumbent Councillor Maria Pearson is facing the same two candidates as in 2018, only this time the absence of […]

Hamilton will see a number of new councillors come October 24, including in Wards 11, 12, 14 and 15. Ward 13 Councillor Arlene Vanderbeek (pictured) is the only incumbent seeking re-election in the city’s ‘rural’ wards. Photo credit: Arlene Vanderbeek   Ward 11 Ward 11, which comprises of the municipality of Glanbrook, including Mount Hope […]

The two-person race is one of the more compelling contests of the 2022 municipal election in Hamilton, with incumbent Esther Pauls (left) squaring off against experienced challenger in former councillor and MP Scott Duvall (right). Photo credit: Facebook/Esther Pauls and Scott Duvall   The Ward 7 Cable 14 debate took place on September 16. A […]

Few, if any councillors from the past term were as adamant as John-Paul Danko that city employees should lose their jobs for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. He faces four challengers to keep his Ward 8 seat this election. Photo credit: Twitter/Jean-Paul Danko   The Ward 8 Cable 14 debate took place on September […]

The long-time councillor won with over 80 per cent of the vote in 2018. Below is a review of the Ward 6 Cable 14 debate that took place last month. Photo credit: CBC/Samantha Craggs   The Ward 6 Cable 14 debate took place on September 15. A replay of the debate can be watched via […]

Considered one of the more politically radical members of Hamilton City Council, Nann faces a tough slate of challengers, including second place finisher from 2018 Laura Farr. Pictured is behind the scenes at the Ward 3 Cable 14 debate. Photo credit: Twitter/Cable 14   The Ward 3 Cable 14 debate took place on September 14. […]

Sam Merulla is not seeking re-election after 22 years of service as a city councillor. Host of 900 CHML Adam Oldfield (pictured) is considered one of the race’s frontrunners.    The Ward 4 Cable 14 debate took place on September 14. A replay of the debate can be watched via YouTube. Councillor Sam Merulla retired […]

 It remains to be seen how voters in Hamilton’s Ward 2 feel about incumbent Jason Farr leaving Council for a number of weeks in 2022 in order to run provincially for the Ontario Liberal Party, only to return to the council table after losing to Progressive Conservative Neil Lumsden. Photo credit: Facebook/Jason Farr   The […]

The incumbent candidate (pictured) faced a number of questions about her apparent desire to ‘defund the police’ when she squared off against challengers Ian MacPherson and John Vail at the Cable 14 debate two weeks ago. Photo credit: Facebook/Maureen Wilson   The Ward 1 Cable 14 debate took place on September 13. A replay of […]

A smaller plan was rejected by council at the end of last year. Development firm New Horizon is appealing council’s decision and putting forward an even more ambitious proposal. Photo credit: New Horizon Development Group   New Horizon Development Group’s plan for three large residential towers on Frances Avenue in Stoney Creek is now even […]

Many of the quick-fix measures meant to improve safety on the notoriously dangerous thoroughfare have generated a suite of new issues for commuters. Photo credit: Global News   As detailed in an article by The Hamilton Independent last week, the complete redesign of Main Street in Hamilton is already partly underway. Hamilton City Council passed […]

Following provincial guidelines, Hamilton’s public and Catholic school boards will not require students to be masked in the classroom this fall, as Minister of Education Stephen Lecce hopes to offer learners as normal a school experience as possible. Photo credit: CBC/Dan Taekema   Despite some post-secondary institutions across Ontario requiring masks and even mandating a […]

The suite of quick fixes represents a short-term solution to the roadway’s traffic issues. Plans to convert the notoriously dangerous one-way, five-lane thoroughfare to a two-way street are currently underway. Photo credit: CBC News/Dan Taekema   The complete redesign of Main Street in Hamilton is already partly underway. The five-lane artery through downtown Hamilton has […]

The 27-year-old former Stoney Creek Jr. Sabre scored a record 18 points on route to Canada’s gold medal effort at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Nurse will be featured alongside Anaheim Ducks rookie sensation Trevor Zegras. Photo credit: EA Sports   Electronic Arts (EA), a video game company primarily known for its sports games, announced on […]

The City of Hamilton was set to terminate around five per cent of its current workforce at the end of September because of the now-suspended mandate. Photo credit: City of Hamilton   In yet another reversal, Hamilton City Council voted on Friday, August 12 to “suspend” the City of Hamilton vaccine mandate that would have […]

The east Hamilton site was previously used as a satellite campus for Brock University’s Faculty of Education (pictured). The school sold the property to New Horizon Development in September 2020. Photo credit: Brock University   Located near the Kenilworth Access, the site of Brock University’s former Hamilton satellite campus will soon look completely different. The […]

The company is hoping to build a new fulfillment centre at the site. Strategically located near Hamilton International Airport, Hamilton Mountain has seen the opening of a large new Amazon facility and multi-million dollaDHL shipping facility in recent months. Pictured is the IKEA store in Etobicoke. Photo credit: IKEA   Swedish company IKEA, known as […]

 Approximately 264 people, or 5 per cent of the city’s workforce, are set to be terminated on October 1, 2022 for violating the municipality’s vaccination policy. Photo credit: Twitter/City of Hamilton   There were more spectators than normal in the Hamilton City Hall Council Chamber during the Thursday, August 4 General Issues Committee meeting, as […]

Located at 256 Parkdale Avenue, the McQuesten Lofts (pictured) officially opened in December 2020. The joint funding from the provincial and federal governments announced last week will help sustain the building’s 50 units into the foreseeable future. Photo credit: Invizij Architects   Last Friday, August 5, the Canadian and Ontario governments pledged $5.8 million to […]

Recent productions at the university follow a larger trend across Hamilton, with more and more companies coming to the city to film. Pictured is the July filming of The Horror of Dolores Roach. Photo credit: McMaster University/Daily News   McMaster University’s Mills Memorial Library is serving as the backdrop for a film production from Tuesday, […]

The over-$36-million-dollar contract is part of the Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, which was launched under the Harper government in 2010. Heddle Shipyards, the contract winner, has worked on numerous Canadian Coast Guard vessels in the past. Photo credit: Facebook/Heddle Shipyards    Hamilton-based Heddle Shipyards has been awarded a $36.14 million-dollar contract to refurbish […]

Outgoing mayor Fred Eisenberger threw his support behind the idea of a local history museum at the former Discovery Centre on Pier 8 (pictured) last week.    Hamilton’s west harbour, which is already slated for a 1,500-unit residential development, may soon also be home to a new Hamilton museum and public library. The Discovery Centre […]

Renovations of the FirstOntario Centre (pictured in concept image) were initially expected to cost around $50 million. Now with the involvement of Oak View Group, total investment in the facility will be an estimated $100 to $200 million. Photo credit: Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group   It appears that the scheduled revamp of the FirstOntario […]

Officials announced the contract winners and detailed the project on site at the bridge last week. Pictured third from left is Minister of Public Services and Procurement Filomena Tassi, who made the announcement. Photo credit: Twitter/Filomena Tassi   In yet another announcement involving the revival of the Burlington Canal area, Public Service and Procurement Canada […]

Part of the War of 1812, the Battle of Stoney Creek is largely seen by scholars as a turning point in the war between British forces in North America and the invading Americans, with the former pulling off a major strategic victory. A re-enactment of the pivotal battle was held annually since 1981 before the […]

Officials celebrate Lynx Air’s inaugural flight from Hamilton on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. Pictured left to right: Hamilton City Councillor Lloyd Ferguson, Vantage Airport Network Vice President and Head Cathie Puckering, Lynx Chief Commercial Officer Vijay Bathija, John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport Executive Managing Director Cole Horncastle, and Hamilton City Councillor Judi Partridge. Photo […]

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra (pictured at podium) announced the federal government was turning over management of the Burlington Canal Piers to HOPA earlier this week. Photo credit: Twitter/Transport Canada   As of July 2, 2022, the Burlington Canal Piers will be managed by the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA), a local group that helps manage […]

Photo credit: Mohawk College   Mohawk College Soccer has a brand-new home: Tim Horton’s Field. The Mohawk Mountaineers announced on June 16 that they are partnering with the City of Hamilton to have all of their 2022 soccer home games played at Tim Horton’s Field. The move includes both the men’s and women’s soccer teams.  […]

The renovation is part of a new half-century deal between the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group (HUPEG): a consortium made up of Carmen’s Group, Mercanti Family and Associates, LiUNA, Meridian Credit Union, and Paletta Group. The agreement will reportedly save taxpayers an estimated $155 million over 30 years. Photo credit: […]

 Eisenberger served as the city’s head of council from 2006 to 2010, and then again from 2014 to 2022. Photo credit: Facebook/Fred Eisenberger   Mayor Fred Eisenberger has settled on a decision that local political pundits and residents have speculated about for some time. Announced Monday, June 20 via a press release and multiple media […]

The city currently has two-way car-sharing services, wherein rented vehicles must be picked up and returned in the same location, but the new pilot project allows users to pick up and drop off at different locations within a designated area. Photo credit: Communauto    As of June 2022, the City of Hamilton is now home […]

The two-day event, headlined and hosted by the Arkells (pictured), takes place this Friday and Saturday, June 24 and 25, 2022. Photo credit: Arkells Music   Well-known Hamilton band the Arkells will be holding a special two-day event complete with a basketball game, bike ride, flea market, and huge outdoor concert this upcoming weekend. “The […]

Photo credit: Twitter/City of Hamilton   On Wednesday, May 25, Hamilton City Council voted to alter the municipal staff vaccination policy. Unvaccinated city staff (of which there are approximately 505 people, or 6 per cent of the city’s workforce) were set to be terminated from their jobs on June 1, 2022. However, in a last-minute […]

The two-day event takes place June 25 and 26 at Hamilton International Airport, where the museum (pictured) is located.     Hamilton’s Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary with the “Skyfest50” airshow on June 25 and 26.  The weekend event will feature the historic Fairey Firefly which has been grounded for […]

Conceptual rendering of proposed Lime Ridge Mall redevelopment. Photo credit: Cadillac Fairview    It seems redeveloping malls to include residential housing options is a popular trend, particularly in Hamilton.  With the owners of Eastgate Mall planning to add thirteen apartment towers to their property, the owners of Lime Ridge Mall, Cadillac Fairview, have proposed the […]

Bulldogs players celebrate after a goal during Game 7 of the OHL Finals against the Windsor Spitfire on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. Photo credit: The Hamilton Independent/Kevin Geenen   The Hamilton Bulldogs are OHL champions for the second time in the franchise’s history. Despite being a new OHL team that has only been in Hamilton […]

Proposal includes 13 apartment towers (pictured). Photo credit: Harrison Equity Partners   In March 2022, Harrison Equity Partners, the company that owns Eastgate Square, announced that they were planning to redevelop the mall to add residential buildings to the property. While Harrison Equity Partners announced their plan back in March, it did not include details […]

The PC Party managed to pick up a seat in urban Hamilton, as Neil Lumsden made history in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, becoming the riding’s first Conservative MPP-elect, but the New Democrats managed to hold onto three of the city’s five ridings. Though Andrea Horwath (pictured) handily won her riding of Hamilton Centre, the long-time head […]

MPP-elect Neil Lumsden addresses supporters after being the first PC Party candidate to win the Hamilton riding since its inception. Photo credit: The Hamilton Independent/Kevin Geenen   It’s a riding that has never gone Conservative in its history. But, on Thursday, June 2, 2022, it finally went blue. Hamilton East-Stoney Creek (HESC) has been an […]

 The final Hamilton area debate took place late last week. Only incumbent NDP candidate Monique Taylor (right) and Liberal challenger Chantale Lachance (left) were in attendance. Photo credit: Twitter/Cable 14   The Hamilton Mountain Cable 14 debate took place last Thursday, May 26. A replay of the 60-minute debate can be watched via YouTube. The […]

Candidates from across Hamilton, Niagara, and Halton region were in attendance. Typically seen as an NDP stronghold at the provincial level, polling shows PCs in position to win three of Hamilton’s five ridings. Photo credit: Twitter/Doug Ford   Ontario PC Party leader Doug Ford held a rally in Hamilton on Thursday, May 26 at the […]

On Wednesday, Independent incumbent Paul Miller (right) duked it out with NDP and Liberal challenges Zaigham Butt (left) and Jason Farr (centre). In office for 15 years, Miller was kicked out of the NDP just prior to the provincial election for an alleged “pattern of troubling behaviour”. Miller denies all allegations related to the claim. […]

Last Friday, NDP incumbent candidate Sandy Shaw (right) faced off against Liberal and Green Party challengers Shubha Sandill (centre) and Syam Chandra (left) in Cable 14’s second of five Hamilton-area 2022 provincial election debates. Notably absent was Ontario PC Party candidate Fred Bennink. Photo credit: Twitter/Cable 14   The Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas Cable 14 debate took […]

 Last Thursday, Ontario PC Party incumbent Donna Skelly (centre) squared off against NDP and Liberal challengers Allison Cillis (left) and Melisse Willems (right) in Cable 14’s first of five Hamilton-area 2022 provincial election debates. Photo credit: Twitter/Cable 14   The Flamborough-Glanbrook Cable 14 debate took place this week, co-costed by the Hamilton Spectator and moderated […]

Staff to deliver a feasibility report next year.   Hamilton’s Main Street, a five-lane one-way artery through downtown which takes traffic east, may soon undergo a number of design changes after a motion drafted by city councillors Nrinder Nann and Maureen Wilson passed 12-2 last week.  Among the key points in the motion is a […]

The veteran provincial politician was kicked out of the party at the end of March. Photo credit: CBC/Evan Mitsui    In the latest development of the Paul Miller saga, the MPP has filed a $1.3 million lawsuit against the Ontario NDP and its leader Andrea Horwath over his ouster from the provincial party. The lawsuit, […]

Based on current numbers, just over 500 municipal employees, including 40 transit workers, would lose their jobs. Photo credit: Twitter/Hamilton Street Railway   On Wednesday, April 27, Hamilton City Council held a key vote on the city’s vaccination policy. The vote was on whether to continue with the plan to terminate employees who remain unvaccinated […]

The addition will take approximately 18 months to build. Photo credit: Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School    Although Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School on the east mountain was only recently opened in 2012, it is already set to receive an expansion due to the school’s ballooning student population. The Government of Ontario announced last week […]

The veteran NDP MPP (pictured left) was removed from the party only weeks before writ drop on March 17. Photo credit: CBC/Samantha Craggs   The Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Ontario NDP have a nomination date: Tuesday, April 19. They also have at least one nomination candidate: Zaigham Butt. This new development is part of a weeks-long […]

Architectural rendering of the OmniaBio facility at Hamilton’s McMaster Innovation Park. Photo credit: Invest Ontario   A new state-of-the-art life sciences facility is going to be built in Hamilton. Announced on Thursday, March 31 by the Ontario government and OmniaBio Inc., the new building will be a cell and gene therapy manufacturing facility, using innovative […]

Participants line up to begin the iconic 30km road race on Sunday, Mar. 27, 2022. It was the first in-person running of the race since 2019. Photo credit: Twitter/BayRaceRun   Hamilton’s infamous Around the Bay Road Race returned to an in-person format for the first time since 2019 this past weekend. Postponed multiple times throughout […]

The facility will be located on surplus land beside St. Joseph Hospital’s West 5th Campus (pictured bottom right). The property currently hosts seven structures, including Century Manor. Photo credit: Google Maps   The Ontario government announced on Tuesday, March 22 that a new long-term care home will be built on the Hamilton Mountain beside St. […]

 In a recent one-on-one exchange with The Hamilton Independent, former Hamilton mayor Larry Di Ianni (pictured) talked about the current state of city council and the issues that will likely drive the next election. According to the former mayor, Hamilton’s current municipal government has “gone way left”. Photo credit: Cable14   The Hamilton Centre Conservative […]

Miller (centre-right, pictured at a 2017 demonstration) believes Horwath wants a more left-wing candidate. Photo credit: Facebook/Paul Miller   Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP announced on Thursday, March 17 that they have kicked 15-year veteran MPP Paul Miller out of the party and will not allow him to run under their banner in the […]

The “requirement” for staff and students to keep wearing masks past March 21 is now more akin to a recommendation. Photo credit: Pexels/Rodnae Productions   Hamilton-Wentworth Public School Board (HWDSB) trustees changed their original motion to require masks at public schools beyond the Monday, March 21 date set by the province at yet another special […]

The vote came only a day after the Ontario government announced it was lifting mask mandates across the province. Photo credit: Pexels/Rodnae Productions   The Ontario government recently announced that it will be lifting mask mandates province-wide in most settings, including schools, on Monday, March 21. However, at a special board meeting held last Thursday, […]

Photo credit: Eastgate Square   On Tuesday, March 8, Toronto-based firm Harrison Equity Partners, in collaboration with Retail Ventures CND Inc., announced a plan to turn Hamilton’s Eastgate Square Mall into a mixed-use hub that will include residential development in addition to retail.  The company said that Eastgate will be “reimagined and redesigned”, as well […]

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) office headquarters.    Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) trustees discussed potential boundary changes for the 2022 municipal election at a recent board meeting on Monday, February 28.  At the meeting, Officer of Trustee Services Heather Miller explained to members that the board must approve trustee boundaries prior to each municipal […]

Though no longer mandated by the province, a number of local institutions decided to keep their workplace vaccination policies in place for the time being. Photo credit: Facebook/Hamilton Police Service   With Ontario ending vaccination requirements for access to restaurants and other venues, the Hamilton Police Service (HPS) announced that it will be welcoming back […]

The project will see the important stretch of roadway around Hamilton International Airport expanded from two to four lanes. Photo credit: Government of Ontario/Google Maps   Last Thursday, the Ontario government announced that the next step toward its plan to widen Hamilton’s Highway 6 is underway. The province has procured the engineering firm AECOM to […]

The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) plans to start revamping the area below the Burlington Skyway later this year. Photo credit: Facebook/HOPA    Fisherman’s Pier – the area surrounding the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge north of the Skyway – will soon look a little bit different.  On Friday, January 28, it was announced that possession of […]