WARD 2 UPDATE

Dayna, North End Resident and Reader

“I look forward to the always-prompt delivery of the next edition to my mailbox, and to receiving the email alerting me to its availability! I so appreciate that there remains a local community paper at a time when so many others have ceased publication. It’s been a great introduction to the North End!”

Kristina Santone

“Being a part of the North End Breezes board for the past two years has been a privilege. The team does amazing work within the community and serves as a resource hub for all. They are committed, and most importantly, passionate about preserving the North End’s legacy, while also continuing to foster its growth. Whether you are new to the area, or a longtime resident, I encourage you to volunteer with the Breezes in some capacity if you’re able. This team is small but mighty and they are always looking for more support. I’m grateful for the relationships and community I’ve been able to build while serving on the board.

I’ll be joining Welcome Inn as the Executive Director and look forward to taking on a new role in the North End Community while staying connected to The Breezes. “

Submitted by Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch

This time of year is full of events, gatherings, and celebrations. I know many of you are finding ways to connect with your neighbours while the weather is good, and I’ll be doing the same, including knocking on doors during the warmer months to hear from you directly.

As North Enders know, many popular events will take place in the neighbourhood over the summer. I continue to hear a lot of positive feedback about these events, but there have been a few that were excessively noisy and disrupted some neighbours’ ability to enjoy this time of year.

A couple of months ago, the City increased services through the bylaw division to address excess noise. These services are now available on weekends and evenings. This is a huge improvement and long overdue. Hopefully it comes as good news to neighbours I’ve been working with to address this issue, especially those affected by events in Pier 4 Park. Thank you to everyone who raised concerns and worked with me on last year’s pilot. Your input helped move things forward.

If you have an issue with excessive noise from an event this year, call (905) 546-CITY (2489), and bylaw officers will respond as soon as they can.

The City is also planning to take further action to help address concerns about events at Pier 4 Park. That work can’t move forward until the Hamilton Waterfront Trust is officially dissolved and its assets, including Pier 8, are transferred to the City. As Chair of the Trust, I’m happy to say that process is now underway and should be complete before events take place next year.

Over the next couple of months, the City will complete a safety review of Bay Street, focusing on pedestrian and road safety in the Durand, Central, and North End neighbourhoods. I’ve asked staff to take a close look at the entire stretch of Bay Street North and to consider a raised and signalled intersection at Bay and Strachan. I’ll update the community once the review is complete and share the City’s recommendations.

Work on the Strachan Linear Park is progressing. This spring, staff installed benches, picnic tables, and garbage cans to support people using the multi-use trail, including when out with their dogs. Seniors in the North End have specifically asked for more benches, and I hope this helps address that need.

The City is also reviewing fencing along Strachan Street. Once approved, I’ll be connecting again with North Enders to talk about programming the entire park space. Last year’s survey offered helpful ideas and feedback, and I look forward to continuing those conversations.

For those who’ve reached out about garbage cans along this stretch, I’ve asked the City to replace the current steel-drum-style bins, which are being misused for dumping household garbage. If you see this happening, please call (905) 546-CITY (2489) to report it.

If you’d like to get in touch, it’s usually fastest to contact the Ward 2 Team at ward2@hamilton.ca or by phone at (905) 546-2197. If you leave a message, Liesl, Joey, or Phoenix will get back to you. You can also reach me directly at cameron.kroetsch@hamilton.ca. I hope to see you around the neighbourhood this summer.