Craig's Current - November 2025

Welcome to winter! Although it’s still autumn for three more weeks, we’ve already had two significant snowfalls. Please see the article in this issue about Snow-Clearing to refresh yourself on the City's standards and, refer to Plow Tracker for live updates that show where City plows have been in the last 2, 4, 12 and 24 hours. Through GPS, Plow Tracker records much more up-to-date information on plow deployments than my office can provide, so I encourage everyone to refer to this valuable tool in the first instance. (Adjust the time frame at the bottom right of the map). 

Sadly, in November, three lives were lost on Hamilton’s roads. In this issue, I share details of the Mayor’s motion about Road Safety. You will also find a brand new section in Craig’s Current called ‘Community Safety’ with reports from the Police and other safety-related topics. One other highlight from this month’s content is a huge milestone for the Francophone High School to be built in Ward 12. That’s the first article, so l’ll let you start reading.  

**But first, remember: Please click ‘Read Online’ above to enable navigation links within the newsletter 

COUNCIL NEWS 

Ward 12 French School Clears an Important Hurdle 

Mayor’s Road Safety Motion 

AROUND WARD 12 

Final Steps for Garner Road construction 

Community meeting: Development Proposal at 844 Glancaster Road 

Ancaster Village Christmas Tree Lighting 

Ancaster Community Services Holiday Campaign  

Craig’s List – Support Local 

Optimist Park Playground Replacement 

Waterfall Destinations Masterplan Public Consultation 

Upgrades to Village Green Path 

Ancaster Film Festival 

COMMUNITY SAFETY  

Distraction theft on the rise 

Hamilton Police Service Crime Map 

Hamilton Police Service Monthly Crime Report 

IN OTHER NEWS 

Conservation Authority Amalgamation 

Snow-Clearing Standards 

Yard waste pickup 

Toys for Tickets 

Tax Certificate Online Tool 

Healthy Youth Network 

Engage Hamilton Public Consultation  

HAPPENING AROUND HAMILTON 

Various events listed 

CLIMATE CORNER 

City-led Climate Projects Approved 

2024 Hamilton Carbon Emissions Uptick 

I’m very pleased to provide an update on the future Francophone high school at 700 Garner Road East that I previously wrote about in the September issue of Craig’s Current. Council has approved the Draft Plan of Subdivision that enables the project to move to the next step!  

Earlier in November, I visited Georges P. Vanier school in Ward 1 after many students had taken the time to write letters to me. Their teacher was gracious enough to allow me to visit and answer their questions about the process. They also did an excellent job leaving no doubt that their ageing school is beyond its useful life and far below the standard they deserve. Two of those students even made their way to City Hall the following week to speak eloquently and passionately on the topic at the Planning Committee meeting. 

Regarding the application process, the developer of the land encompassing the future school site and the City resolved several outstanding matters, including the fate of the Smith Road Meadow Marsh, located on the developer’s property (not where the school will be built). Both Hamilton and Provincial policy require the protection of natural areas such as wetlands; however, the Ontario Land Tribunal has demonstrated a tendency to ignore such policies.  

In this case, the developer insisted on relocation of the wetland, and that position would very likely be supported if appealed to the OLT. In more direct language, this means destruction of the existing wetland and construction of a new one. The new wetland will be at least twice the size of the existing one. Further, there are a number of conditions that ensure a wetland will remain on these lands. For example, the environmental impact assessment for the wetland will be peer-reviewed; the new wetland must be established prior to removing the current one; and there will be a 10-year monitoring program implemented for the recreated wetland.  

This process, often called wetland offsetting, is far from ideal, but it is an improvement from past decisions where there was no consideration for the loss of wetlands, and that has resulted in the loss of 74% of the wetlands in this sub-watershed (Tiffany Creek) as of 2008, and 96% loss in the neighbouring Ancaster Creek sub-watershed. The benefits of wetlands go well beyond what might be labelled environmental concerns, as they are essential to prevent flooding and the resulting damage and increase in insurance premiums for downstream residents. 

I cover this topic in more detail during my remarks at Planning Committee here. 

Next steps for the school now rest with the developer, who has many conditions to fulfil, one of which is to provide a road from Garner Rd to the school site. At the same time, the City and the school boards are already working on the Site Plan process, which, upon completion, will enable an application for a building permit and allow the school to be built. In summary, Council has removed the political barrier and made the necessary decisions to get this project moving. The work to make the school a reality now rests with the developer, City Staff, and the school boards themselves. I look forward to seeing the long-standing vision of a brand-new francophone high school become a reality! 

In just a few short days in November, three lives were needlessly lost on Hamilton roads. Each victim was on foot and struck by a vehicle. This is tragic and inexcusable. Unfortunately, our society has accepted that there will be deaths on our roads. I do not accept that perspective. 

In Canada in 2023, vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists) accounted for 29% of all 1,964 road deaths, or about 570 fatalities. A further 2,500–3,000 pedestrians and cyclists are seriously injured by motor‑vehicle collisions in Canada each year, out of about 9,000 serious traffic injuries overall. (Source: Transport Canada) 

Like many cities around the world, Hamilton has a Vision Zero goal (and a related action plan) where the (eventual) objective is to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads. Our City is actively working on those plans, but needs to do more! I know that many of you agree with me, but, daily, I witness many individuals whose actions on our roads tell me that they do not agree. Dangerous and aggressive driving is a regular occurrence.  

At the November 19 Council meeting, Mayor Horwath introduced a motion to increase the urgency for improving the safety of our roads. The reality is that, for generations, our roads have been designed and built in a manner that gives primacy to cars (moving lots of them quickly) with little regard for safety. Fixing that is an enormous task and will not happen quickly. The Mayor’s motion was supported unanimously and directs staff to step up the focus on the most dangerous areas in the city, including those that had – and were about to have – speed enforcement cameras before the Province banned municipalities from using them. 

Motor vehicles are an essential part of our society, but we do not need to accept that our world – especially our city streets – should be designed exclusively for their use at the expense of other modes of transportation, thriving local businesses, and community safety. Vulnerable road users (everyone outside of a vehicle) need to be prioritized, not simply accommodated. We know humans make mistakes, and mistakes should NOT lead to serious injury or death. 

I’m grateful to the Mayor for accommodating my feedback on this topic into her motion by including item (iii) below 

(a) That staff be directed to undertake an immediate citywide review of vulnerable road user safety hot spots… in order to identify potential immediate, short-term, and long-term interventions… with the review and recommendations being informed by: 

(i) Hamilton Police Service enforcement data; 

(ii) An analysis of the public-engagement data collected during the development of the 2026-2031 Vision Zero Action Plan; and 

(iii) Best practices used in jurisdictions that have achieved the fewest number of injuries and/or fatalities amongst road users.  

There are many examples of Vision Zero success around the world, and I cited many of them in my remarks about the motion. Examples include Sweden (where Vision Zero originated), Japan, and the UK. Hoboken, NJ, has gone seven years without a fatality, and Helsinki, Finland, has gone an entire year without one. Throughout these examples, redesigning high-risk roads and intersections, expanding pedestrian crossings and protected bike lanes, and deploying speed and red-light cameras were critical. 

In summary, the greatest successes have been found in jurisdictions that combine political commitment, infrastructure investment, and rigorous data-driven interventions. The Mayor’s motion is a step in that direction.  

Restoration of two-way traffic on Garner Road is imminent. 

As noted in my previous update, Earth Boring, the contractor for the sanitary sewer project on Garner Road, recently emerged from its financial difficulties under new ownership. In October, it resumed work on the project at full capacity with the intention to substantially complete it and restore two-way traffic in November. 

Since that update, they have completed underground work in some remaining sections, but have encountered underground flooding of their installation trench site on one specific section, west of Springbrook Avenue. The excess water caused the collapse of the sewer trench and required additional, unplanned steps to dewater the area. This delay has pushed the completion of this section into December. 

In order to help manage traffic flow and reduce detours, the City is requiring the contractor to restore two-way access on Garner Road by installing three temporary traffic signals at Garner Road and Springbrook Avenue, where the remaining underground work is occurring. The City's Construction Manager has been assured by the contractor, and is using their authority, to ensure that the traffic signals are installed as soon as humanly possible. This step is expected to be implemented within the next week to ten days. The temporary traffic signal system will remain in place until the work has been completed and the entire road has been restored.

Bus transit services (HSR) will resume regular routing on Garner Road at the earliest opportunity, once the contractor confirms that access is available, and conditions are safe for buses to travel on the roadway.  

I will update you again when the installation date is confirmed. History, context, updates and maps can be found at the City website here. 

Please join me on Monday, December 8, at 6pm for an in-person community information meeting to learn about the development proposal for 844 Glancaster Road, Ancaster. This session will provide information on the concept, and your feedback on the development vision for the site is needed. The proposal includes multiple development blocks for warehouse buildings, multiple blocks for stormwater management purposes, and the extension of the future Arterial 1N public road. The subject lands are located within the Airport Employment Growth District (AEGD). More information on my website here. 

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at 6pm on Thursday, December 4, at the Old Town Hall for the annual Tree Lighting ceremony and visit from Santa!

Demand for foodbank services has reached unprecedented levels, and your help is desperately needed to address the 43% increase this year alone in the number of people turning to ACS for help. Please help support the Ancaster community and donate non-perishable food, gift items, gift cards, or make a monetary donation towards the Holiday Hamper Program. 

All the ways to help are on ACS’s Holiday Assistance Campaign webpage. 

Have you heard about my video series, Craig’s List – Support Local?  

Supporting local businesses is always important, but it’s absolutely critical in the current context of tariffs, threats to Canadian sovereignty, and general economic uncertainty. In this series, I profile local businesses on my list so that you can add them to yours.   

Check out the most recent Craig’s List videos in the series: 

Josmar Acres 

Hamilton All-Star Jazz band 

Several residents have contacted the Ward 12 Office asking about the construction activity at Optimist Park in Ancaster. The old structure was well beyond its lifecycle and has been removed. New equipment installation should begin in the next few weeks and will include the replacement of the playground equipment and swings, including the wood fibre safety surfacing.  In the spring, an accessible asphalt pathway will be installed from the parking lot to the playground (something that was previously missing and limited accessibility for children and their family members who have mobility concerns). Opening is planned for early in the New Year. 

There are many playgrounds throughout Ward 12 in need of replacement, and staff prioritize and plan for replacements as the parks budget allows. At current budget levels, annual funding covers just two playground replacements across the entire city per year. The next Ward 12 replacement scheduled is Somerset Park on Lloyminn Avenue, with construction expected to take place in Spring 2026.  

If you have concerns about the playground in your neighbourhood, please report them by emailing [email protected] or calling 905-546-2489. Staff will then be assigned to assess the concerns and either make repairs or add the playground to the list for renewal. 

The City of Hamilton is developing a Waterfall Destination Masterplan. Hamilton’s waterfalls are tremendously popular with both residents and visitors, and this has created real challenges with over-tourism. This initiative is focused on finding solutions to reduce the impact visitors have on natural sites and surrounding neighbourhoods. We want to make sure they stay beautiful, safe, and accessible for everyone for generations to come. Your input will help shape how we care for and share these special places. 

Step 1: Please provide your feedback online through Engage Hamilton – Hamilton Waterfall Destination Masterplan.  

Step 2: Key Findings & Next Steps. 

Staff will return to share what they heard, present key inputs for the Master Plan, and show how feedback is shaping the plan’s direction. Your voice matters, and your feedback will help us protect and enjoy Hamilton’s waterfalls for years to come. 

This initiative is fully funded with tourism-specific sources, not tax levy sources. Half of the funding comes from the Federal Tourism Growth Program, which is a grant program aligned with the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy. The other half is from Hamilton’s Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT). The MAT is a tax paid by visitors on hotel stays in Hamilton, and the revenue is used exclusively for tourism marketing and development initiatives—such as the Waterfall Destination Master Plan. More details about the MAT are available on the City’s website: Municipal Accommodation Tax. 

Thanks to Hamilton Parks Crew who did a fantastic job paving the path leading from the Radial Trail to the Village Green beside the tennis courts! The former topsy-turvy stairs have also been straightened, and I’m pleased to confirm that winter maintenance on the path will now resume, and the No Winter Maintenance signs will be removed.  

• Monday, December 8, Blue Moon at 2:00 pm and Balitomrons at 7:15pm  

• Thursday, December 18, A 90s Christmas at 7:00pm 

Screenings at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre. Tickets here. 

Hamilton Police are investigating a series of distraction thefts that have occurred across the city, with at least two in Ancaster.  The public is warned to be vigilant when approached by strangers offering gifts or engaging in unsolicited conversations such as asking for directions. One of the methods used involves the suspect making physical contact with the victim and stealing bracelets and necklaces from them while presenting fake items as a distraction. Read more from Hamilton Police Services here. 

The online crime map makes it easy for you to see where and when certain crimes have happened in Hamilton over the past 60 days. New reports are added daily, with just a one-day delay. The map shows information about crimes such as Homicide, Break and Enter (Burglary), Robbery, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Theft from Vehicle (Burglary from Motor Vehicle). 

Because these reports are based on ongoing investigations, some details—like the type of offence or exact location—may change over time. The map is meant to give a general picture of crime trends in the community, not a precise record of every incident, and for privacy reasons, crime locations are shown at the block level instead of exact addresses. 

You can also sign up for Crime Alerts to get email or mobile notifications about incidents in areas you choose. 

If you have information about a crime, there’s a direct link to Crime Stoppers on the map. You can submit a tip there—completely anonymously and without it being traced. 

The tool also includes simple features like hot spot maps and charts that show when crimes are most likely to happen—by time of day or day of the week—so you can stay better informed about what’s happening in your neighbourhood. Find the map here 

Did you know Hamilton Police Services publishes monthly crime reports by Ward? The goal of Ward Reports is to provide measurement, education, and context to Police performance at Hamilton Police. These reports have been available to the community and constituents since Q2 2023, as part of an Open Data Strategy where certain elements of Police Activity Data are available to the public.  

• See the most recent Ward 12 report (October) at my website here 

• See all the City-wide Ward reports at the HPS website here 

The Ford Government continues to weaken Conservation Authorities (CAs), this time by forcing an amalgamation that no one asked for and without substantiating the reasons for their decision. I am a Board member for the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA), and this topic was the focus of a recent board meeting. 

Over the past few years, Ford has given the Minister power to decide permit appeals and issue permits directly; constrained CAs’ abilities to participate in planning appeals; prevented CAs from having input on natural heritage, land conservation and pollution related to development permits; and imposed non-value-added administrative burdens. 

In this case, the Province is citing CAs’ supposed lack of ability to provide flood risk management using evidence-based decision-making. They have provided zero examples of where this is the case. They claim that there is a lack of accountability and transparency among CAs. Again, there are no examples provided or acceptable standards set out. They also claim that CAs offer unpredictable and inconsistent turnaround times for the approval of development permits. And, you guessed it, they provide no evidence for this bold statement. Nor do they provide any guidance on what acceptable levels are and how CAs might achieve them. Instead, they have taken extreme action without ANY consultation with conservation authorities. I spoke to these points at the November 25th HCA Board meeting.  

But this particular claim does expose what it seems this is really about. As the Ford government has stripped CAs of their responsibilities and deprioritized conservation, they are taking steps to make it as easy as possible to develop land in environmentally sensitive areas and previously protected flood-prone natural areas. Here’s a short clip of Provincial Environment Minister Todd McCarthy confirming development, not conservation, is his priority. Anyone who understands city building knows that we have an abundance of under-utilized land inside the urban boundary, and that developing outside urban boundaries or in environmentally sensitive areas only serves to weaken our cities and increase the cost of living at a time when affordability is a growing pressure. 

The Ford government has set a precedent of pushing through legislative changes even before the public consultation period ends, but at the time of writing, the ERO (Environmental Registry of Ontario) posting is still open, so public commenting is still possible. 

Please comment on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) posting until December 22 here 

Watch and read the news items here: 

CHCH – “Faster permitting of development proposals... to get shovels in the ground sooner (Ontario Minister for Environment, Conservation and Parks ) 

The Pointer – A Death Knell for Watersheds 

The Spectator – Local conservation officials worry Doug Ford’s plan means fast-tracked mansions in park land. 

The Narwhal - ‘Whiplash’ and ‘scar tissue’: conservation authorities grapple with Ontario’s most dramatic overhaul yet 

CBC – Here are Ontario’s proposed new conservation authorities 

We have already experienced one significant snowfall this year, and it was the earliest significant snowfall since 1964! Everything you need to know about snow clearing is here! 

Here’s a summary of the City’s service standards for snow clearing on our roads: 

• Roads are cleared based on winter class priority, with the focus being on the Linc, Redhill, mountain access routes and major arterial roads.  

• Primary collector and secondary collector roads are cleared as a second priority with rural roads and residential (neighbourhood) roads as the last priority to be cleared. 

• These roads are expected to be cleared within 24 hours after the end of a snow event. You can see live updates on Plowing via Hamilton’s Plow Tracker.  

• To determine the classification of your road, check the City's snow clearing webpage.  

• Roads that are not cleared within the standard timelines can be reported by calling 905-546-2489 or emailing [email protected]. 

• Note that it is our responsibility as homeowners to clear the windrow (the area at the end of our driveway) after the plow has come down the street. Council had previously asked staff about the possibility of a windrow-clearing program, and it is simply too expensive to include this service at this time.

The last day for curbside pickup of yard waste is the week of December 1^st to 5^th. Yard waste can be taken to a Community Recycling Centre year-round. There is no cost to drop off for residents. There is a cost if the yard waste comes from a business. More information can be found at hamilton.ca/YardWaste 

If you are the recipient of a parking ticket, you can turn that frown into a smile through Toys for Tickets! The City of Hamilton is excited to announce that Toys for Tickets is returning this year, running from December 1 to 5, 2024. This initiative gives residents the opportunity to pay for their parking tickets by donating new, unwrapped toys equal to or greater in value than their ticket fines. All donations will support local families through United Way Halton and Hamilton, helping to make the holiday season brighter for children in need.  If you receive a parking ticket from the City of Hamilton that is valid and payable between December 1 and 5, 2024, you can resolve your fine during this time by donating a toy of equal or greater value than your ticket amount.  Learn more at Hamilton.ca - toys for tickets 

The City of Hamilton has transitioned to the Tax Certificate Online Tool (TCOL). This new system will streamline the process for obtaining tax certificates, improving both efficiency and accessibility. A tax certificate is a legal document that provides detailed City property tax roll information and is typically purchased by lawyers handling property sales or when a mortgage is being approved for a property. 

This real-time system replaces the interim manual process implemented following the February 2024 cybersecurity incident and marks a significant step forward in enhancing and modernizing our tax certificate service. There are currently seven other Ontario municipalities using the TCOL tool. Learn more here. 

The vision… Communities where all young people flourish. 
The mission… To build healthy communities by training and equipping young people to lead change.  Activating all sectors to work together towards an asset-building culture. 

Hamilton Youth Network is a non-profit that brings together expertise in education, mental health and business to provide youth and parents the information, resources, tools and support they need to make informed decisions and grow up healthy. 

The goal... To work together to create a community that empowers youth so they can drive change, solve problems, and train other youth themselves. Learn more at their website here. 

Topics posted for public input this month include

• Hamilton Street Railway (Bus) and Recreation User Fees

• Revitalizing Hamilton’s Commercial Districts

• Waterfall Masterplan, and much more here. 

Sinfonia Ancaster Home for the Holidays, Dec 6, 2pm and 7:30pm 

Whitehern Museum Candlelit Christmas Evening Tour, Dec 5, 6pm-9pm 

Ancaster Film Festival The Blue Moon and Baltimorons, Dec 8, 2pm and 7:15pm, proceeds to local charities 

Ancaster Horticultural Society Forest Fruits Mushrooms, January at the Old Town Hall  

Ancaster Township Historical Society The Evelyn Dick Case, Jan 30, 7:30pm at the Old Town Hall.

 Royal Botanical Gardens, Winter Wonders, now till Jan 4 

Gore Park Christmas Tree Lighting, Dec 5, 5 till 8pm, 1 Hughson St S, free carousel rides! 

Christmas Model Train Show, Dec 20-21, Museum of Steam and Technology 

Fieldcote Museum Winter Wonders, Dec 23-31 (not 25, 26), 12pm - 4pm 

Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre Theatre,  Concerts, Film, Classes  all through the month    

Various events by Hamilton Civic Museums 

Various events at the Hamilton Public Library – Ancaster Branch, and Lynden Branch 

Various events at the Ancaster Seniors Achievement Centre 

Councillor Sponsored Free Skate – Jan 2, 2:30pm to 4:30pm, Morgan Firestone Arena  

On Wednesday, November 19, by a vote of 13-3, Council approved Office of Climate Change Initiatives recommendations to support City-led projects to reduce carbon emissions in Hamilton. Funding from these projects comes from the Climate Change Reserve. This decision follows on the heels of a brand-new report from The Atmospheric Fund revealing that Carbon emissions have risen by 1% in the GTHA and 0.8% in Hamilton (see next article). The City of Hamilton’s Climate Change Reserve was established in 2018 to fund initiatives that advance the City’s approved climate change goals and to support the piloting of new and innovative climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Funding requests from various City departments go through a robust review and scoring process before the final projects are chosen. This year, some exciting and innovative initiatives were chosen, resulting in funding towards: 

• An Electric Fire Truck Portable Charging Unit (Hamilton Fire Department) 

• Eco-Literacy Electric Book mobile (Hamilton Public Library) 

• Battery-operated Hand Tools (Transportation and Public Works Divisions) 

• Solar-Powered Park and Playground Lighting (Parks and Public Works) 

• Backyard Tree-Planting Program (Forestry & Horticulture, Public Works) 

• City-owned affordable housing conversion to heat pumps and solar panels (CityHousing Hamilton) 

Read the Staff reports, see the presentation and the video at item 8.2 here 

A brand-new report from The Atmospheric Fund reveals that carbon emissions have risen by 1% in the GTHA and 0.8% in Hamilton. Note that to achieve our 2030 emissions reductions goal, the GTHA would need a reduction of 11% per year.   

In 2024, the Hamilton region emitted 9.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Broken down by sector, they are: 

• Industrial 45% 

• Buildings (heating, cooling, powering) 33% 

• Transportation 19% 

• Waste 2% 

• Agriculture 1% 

Cities and towns are ground zero in emissions reduction efforts, and I will continue to support recommendations by the Office of Climate Change Initiatives to reduce Hamilton's emissions as quickly as possible.  

Some good news on emissions reductions from Hamilton: 

Natural Resources Canada invested $10M through the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program, targeting 60% energy reductions in CityHousing Hamilton's affordable housing buildings. Upgrades include high-efficiency envelopes, rooftop solar, and electric heat pumps. 

Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) invested $37M of industry contributions to support sustainable manufacturing and production of clean technology across Ontario and Canada. Investment in Hamilton focuses on upcycling industrial byproducts for energy storage materials. 

CityHousing Hamilton (CHH) has built 82 new affordable housing units across two developments. Funded in part by the Rapid Housing Initiative, these projects embrace passive house design and mass timber prefabricated construction. 

Hamilton Street Railway will receive over $62.1M of federal funding over the next 10 years, helping to modernize public infrastructure and support transit-oriented communities. 

The report is engaging, short, easy to read, and you can zero in on the Hamilton statistics by clicking on the map. Read it here.  Read the Hamilton Spectator article here. 

Thanks as always to everyone who reaches out to engage with our office. I hope you enjoyed reading this month’s newsletter. Please share it with Ward 12 neighbours and friends. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] and subscribe to the Ward 12 newsletter at CraigCassar.ca. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.