Thursday, July 30, 2026

The YMCA says it will resume summer day camp programming at Christie Lake Conservation Area this coming Tuesday, August 4. [Monday is a stat holiday.]

The YMCA was forced to cancel programming this week after an arson that occurred Wednesday morning that destroyed the two of Conservation Area’s pavilions – including the large beach one that housed washrooms and change rooms.

In a note to parents, the YMCA says a partitioned tent will be used as a beach changeroom, and porta potties plus portable hand-washing stations will now be used on site.

Incumbent Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson finally has a challenger.

Nathan Savelli is officially registered in Ward 1.

The number of candidates in Ward 10 continues to increase now that it is an open seat.

Newly registered are Cal DiFalco, and Akash Grewal.

Catholic School Board Trustee John Valvasori is running for re-election in the combined Wards 8 & 14 seat.

The City’s elections website was updated around 3:00 p.m. today (Thursday, July 30, 2026.)

The City of Hamilton says the pool at Valley Park Community Centre is “scheduled to reopen on August 17, 2026” following a temporary closure to complete “a pool waterslide replacement and changeroom refresh.”

The memo, issued today, states “open swim programs scheduled between
August 17-23, 2026, will be offered free to the community.”

Ontario’s Inspector General of Policing Ryan Teschner released two investigative reports into complaints filed against the Hamilton Police Service. In both investigations, Teschner concluded HPS complied with the requirements of the Community Safety and Policing Act.

Complaint Regarding Hamilton Police Service Patrols and 911 Response in Downtown Hamilton

The first complaint, INV-24-36, involves Hamilton Police Service patrols and responses in Downtown Hamilton.

The Inspectorate of Policing (IoP) assigned an inspector to review a complaint alleging HPS had reduced its patrol presence in the downtown core and increased its 911 response times.

The inspector found that “there was an increase in the average number of daily assigned foot patrol officers in 2024 (compared to previous years); there was a slight decrease in the overall number of HPS patrol officers; and the average number of officers available to respond to calls in the downtown core showed an upward trajectory.”

This, Inspector General of Policing Ryan Teschner concluded, meets the standards required by the Community Safety and Policing Act.

Teschner wrote, “Importantly, despite a higher overall 911 call volume, HPS nonetheless delivered improved average emergency response times in 2024.”

He added, “in the key functional areas that HPS is required to deliver, it has more than met the reasonableness standard based on the data that is available. This is borne out through low emergency response time averages, increased dedicated foot patrol presence in the downtown core, stable violent crime rates over a several-year period, and more focussed crime prevention strategies.”

Complaint Alleging HPS Failed to Act on Reported Assaults and Threats at a Shelter

The second complaint, report INV-24-18, was filed by an individual who alleged HPS failed to take enforcement action regarding reports of assaults and threats at Hamilton’s Downtown YMCA, which was damaged by a third-floor fire on July 22, 2024.

In reviewing the complaint, the Inspector General’s office determined HPS responded to five calls for service from the individual, made between June 28 and September 14, 2024 — one before the fire and four in its aftermath: “Two of these calls involved alleged theft of property, and three related to the complainant being denied access to his unit at the shelter. Notably, none of the five calls involved a complaint of remarks, taunts, insults, aggressive gestures, swearing or unwelcome behaviour.”

None of the claims were substantiated.

The Inspector General confirmed Hamilton Police responded to all five calls for service in accordance with the requirements of the Community Safety and Policing Act.

Hamilton Public Health issued a statement today notifying that “two batches of mosquitoes trapped this week in Hamilton tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV),” the first positive results for this year’s monitoring program.

This has prompted Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health “to move the WNV risk from low to moderate.”

The City of Hamilton is continuing to use larvicide treatments on city street catch basis, and surface waters on public land, to control mosquito populations.

The Public Health statement includes the following advice:

• Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
• Use a mosquito repellent (bug spray) containing DEET or Icaridin.
• Avoid areas where mosquitoes are known to be present or cover up by wearing light-coloured long sleeves and long pants when in mosquito areas such as wooded areas, on the golf course, or in the garden, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• Reduce mosquito breeding sites by removing standing water at least weekly from your property.