NEW: Save The Date
We're open... to all! We’re building an inclusive village where everyone belongs. That’s why we’re proud to unveil our Pride Crosswalk Intersection as part of our commitment to the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The crosswalk will be installed sometime this month. It's been a long time coming, and we want to celebrate it with you!
Save the Date: June 1st, 2023 at 5:30PM at Theatre Aquarius/corner of King William St. and Ferguson Ave, North
More event details to come!
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NEW: Main Street Conversion Study
On May 11th, 2022, Hamilton City Council approved a motion focused on the development of safety enhancements on downtown major arterial roads, including the conversion of Main Street from a one-way to a two-way road. Following this approval, City staff have moved forward in developing an implementation plan for the two-way conversion of Main Street between King Street E (the “Delta” intersection) and Longwood Road S.
The implementation plan will integrate a Complete Streets redesign that will enable safe use for all road users including public transit passengers, pedestrians, motorists and cyclists and will also incorporate a climate change lens by considering additions such as urban trees and permeable surfaces in the planning process.
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Review the conceptual designs for the conversion of Main Street and provided feedback by clicking the button below. A public engagement session will also be held at City Hall in Council Chambers for Wards 1 and 2, Thursday, May 25th at 7PM.
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NEW: Open Streets Hamilton — June 18th,10AM-2PM
A Message From The City of Hamilton
Open Streets Hamilton is coming to King Street! As a business on King Street, we invite you to join us by moving a part of your business from your storefront to the street on Sunday, June 18th 2023 as part of Open Streets Hamilton.
From 10AM-2PM, a portion of King Street, from John Street to Gage Avenue, will be transformed into a linear urban park, providing the public an opportunity to experience King Street in a unique way, car free!
While some additional programming will be planned, this event is not organized as a festival. Additionally, no outside vendors will be permitted. This will help to showcase the fantastic local businesses that already exist on the street. All purchases made by Open Streets Hamilton participants will be made at established businesses along the route.
How can your business participate:
- Host a sidewalk sale
- Have an Open Streets “Special” or “Sale”
- Create a small temporary patio on the street with your furniture for people to enjoy what they’ve purchased from your establishment.
- Play music and invite people to enjoy & dance
- Plan and promote a timed demonstration related to your business, a performance or physical activity class like dance, zumba, barre, yoga or cardio
What is not permitted:
- All food preparation and assembly must still be done inside your kitchen and none of the following will be permitted outdoors: distribution of food samples, chafing dishes or hot plates etc.
- Tattooing or personal grooming are not permitted outside of your establishment.
- If your establishment sells alcohol you are required to obtain a liquor license extension to sell alcohol on your temporary patio unless you are part of the Temporary Outdoor Patio Program.
Register your activation/business:
- If you are planning a small temporary patio, please complete the appropriate permit and email it to Juby.Lee@Hamilton.ca before May 18th. There will be no fees related to businesses setting up small patios outside of their existing establishments granted your food certification is up to date.
- All other programming for Open Streets must be registered through our online form.
If you have any questions please email Laura Buckley at openstreets@environmenthamilton.org or call 289-923-2335 or email Juby Lee at Juby.Lee@hamilton.ca.
This event is brought to you by the City of Hamilton in partnership with Environment Hamilton. Proudly supported by TD.
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NEW: Hamilton Fringe Festival — July 19th-30th
A Message From The Hamilton Fringe Festival
Come one, come all! Hamilton Fringe Festival returns to the International Village BIA this July 19th-30th, bringing the action-packed Fringe Club back to the neighbourhood. Located just outside Theatre Aquarius, the Fringe Club outdoor activation features free programming and the Collective Arts beer tent. It’s the beating heart of the multi-venue, 12-day, city-wide theatre festival––an electric community hub where artists, audiences, and local residents connect.
This year, we’re inviting BIA members to be part of our first-ever “Fringe Benefits” Button campaign! We’re projecting more than 5,000 fringe-goers will get a Fringe Button through our key donor campaign. In return, button-wearers can take advantage of special deals and discounts offered by partnered BIA businesses like yours. Maybe it’s a 10% discount! Or a 2-for-1 deal! Or a special price on a Fringe-themed cocktail! It’s up to you how creative you’d like to get.
Opting-in as a “Fringe Benefits” partner gets you a FREE listing on our Visitor web page. There will also be a limited number of affordable enhanced listing options.
Interested in partnering with us this summer? Contact Festival Director Christopher Stanton at christopher@hftco.ca with the subject line “Fringe Benefits,” or call us at 289-698-2234 to sign up!
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NEW: HSR (re)Designed Network Survey
In 2019, the City of Hamilton’s Transit Division launched the (Re)envision the HSR project to modernize our network and transform the customer experience. The feedback we received from nearly 13,000 interactions with customers, residents, and stakeholders helped shape the design of the concept network. Review the conceptual routes and provide feedback below.
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NEW: Growing Hamilton - Planning for New Communities
In November 2022, the Province issued a decision on the Municipal Comprehensive Review, which made multiple changes to the City’s Official Plan. Modifications included an expansion to the Urban Boundary to include additional lands for future urban development. Six areas were added, with a total area of approximately 2,200 hectares. These areas were identified by the Province as "Urban Expansion Areas".
Council has directed that the City should lead Secondary Planning for Urban Expansion Areas. Doing so provides an opportunity to pursue new and innovative ways to plan these areas in a way that is equitable, climate resilient, and is focused on creating great communities for people to live, work and play.
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NEW: June is Bike Month in Hamilton
Join the City of Hamilton to celebrate the joy of cycling and the advancements that have been made to improve cycling in the city. On June 1st at 7:30AM they will kick the month off with the annual Bike Day celebration at City Hall. To learn more, click here. |
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NEW: Celebrate Hamilton Newcomer Day on May 26th!
Newcomer Day is an annual event held in May that welcomes newcomers to Hamilton, helps them understand and access a wide range of services, and celebrates their contributions to Hamilton.
This year the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC) is excited to feature a wide range of offerings including:
- Canadian Citizenship ceremony
- Information and services fair
- Live entertainment from up-and-coming newcomer artists
- Food trucks and local vendors
- Family-friendly activities and offerings!
All Hamiltonians are invited to join in welcoming newcomers in Hamilton on Friday, May 26th, 2023 from 2:00-7:00PM at Hamilton City Hall.
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NEW: Prepare Your Workplace to Meet OHSA and Bill 88 Requirements
Access Free Training and Naloxone Kits Under the Ontario Workplace Naloxone Program
Registration for the Ontario Workplace Naloxone Program is now open, and your organization can access free training for up to two employees per workplace and/or one free nasal naloxone kit per workplace. Through this program access to free training and kits is available to workplaces of any size from now until November 30, 2023.
IMPORTANT: The new naloxone requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) will be effective from June 1, 2023.
Learn more about how employers can determine if they need to provide naloxone in the workplace.
The free online training Workplace Naloxone Program – First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies is designed for Ontario workplaces to meet all requirements under the OHSA. Learners will gain skills and knowledge to prevent, recognize and respond to an opioid poisoning emergency, including how to administer nasal naloxone. Register for free training on the Ontario Workplace Naloxone Program. |
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NEW: Employment Standards Self-Service Tool Updated
The Employment Standards Self-Service Tool was updated to include additional standards and combine pre-existing stand-alone tools into a single tool. This tool is designed to help employees and employers in Ontario understand some of their rights and obligations under the Employment Standards Act (ESA). It also includes calculations to help determine whether the amount paid to an employee meets certain minimum standards of the ESA. To learn more, click here. |
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NEW: Grow Your Small Business on Instagram
Date/Time: June 1st | 2pm
This intermediate-level webinar is for those that have already dipped their toes into the world of Instagram and are looking to grow on the platform. We’ll explore different ways small businesses are strategically building a following on Instagram and generating sales from their efforts. You’ll walk away from this webinar with a long list of ideas you can use right away. Register for this Digital Main Street Training Session Here. |
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NEW: Digital Tools, Software & Apps to Efficiently Manage Your Small Biz
Date/Time: June 7th | 10am
From accounting to scheduling, file sharing to project management, there are digital tools to help with every aspect of running a small business. Knowing which ones are right for you can be a challenge though. This beginner-level workshop will help you learn what’s out there to help you manage with efficiency and ease. Register for this Digital Main Street Training Session Here. |
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NEW: Temporary Outdoor Patio Program — Applications Open Until June 1st, 2023
On February 23, 2022, Council approved to permanently adopt the Temporary Outdoor Patio Program, which combined the On-Street Patio Program and the Outdoor Dining Districts Program, and to establish applicable annual user fees.
This program allows eligible local businesses to establish temporary seasonal patios and seating areas on municipal or private property (if current zoning is compliant).
Temporary Outdoor Patios will be permitted in:
- Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)
- Community Improvement Plan Areas (CIPAs)
- Private Property (zoning compliant)
Deadline: Applications for patios can be submitted starting March 1st, 2023 and must be received prior to June 1st, 2023.
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Digital Main Street: Digital Transformation Grant Program
Digital Main Street (DMS) is a program focused on assisting small businesses with their move to online marketing, sales, and back-office operations. The program is built around an online learning platform, structured video training series, grant opportunities, and a Digital Service Squad, a team of trained individuals who help main street businesses with their adoption of digital tools and technology.
The application portal for the Digital Main Street Digital Transformation Grant Program remains open until September 30th, 2023 (or until grant funds are fully exhausted).
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Hamilton Business Centre & Digital Main Street Programs for Small Businesses
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Complimentary Google 360 Photo Tours for Businesses
360 images and tours drive results! 360 images can not only improve your user experience, and make it easier for customers to find you but also let customers peek inside before they arrive while boosting your business’s visibility online. Request your business’s complimentary 360 photo session today through the Hamilton Business Centre and the Digital Main Street Service Squad. |
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25-Point Google Business Profile Audit
Your business’s Google Business Profile can transform how you acquire customers online. Here’s what some of the data says: 93% of local searches now feature Google Business Profiles, 68% of people contact a business directly from search results, 88% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. There are a lot of people using Google every day for local purposes. And now we know that virtually all of those searches feature Google Business Profiles. Request your business’s complimentary audit today to be sure your profile is optimized and being used to its fullest potential. |
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Canada Digital Adoption Program - Apply Now
As part of the Canada Digital Adoption Program, the Government of Canada has partnered with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to deliver the Grow Your Business Online grant supported by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.
Small business owners can receive a micro-grant worth up to $2,400 to help get their business online, give their e-commerce presence a boost, or digitalize business operations. Grant recipients must commit to maintaining their digital adoption strategy for at least six months.
To learn more about eligibility requirements or to apply now, click here. |
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Federal Government's Business Benefits Finder
The Government of Canada's online Business Benefits Finder helps businesses find the right programs and services that they need. The site generates a tailored list of resources based on a business's identified goals and the type of support needed. To learn more, click here. |
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Progress Pride Flag Door Decal Now Available for Businesses in the International Village BIA
Businesses in the International Village BIA can now pick up a Progress Pride Flag door decal for FREE at Atomica Tattoo & Art Studio (203 King St. East). Please display this on the door or window of your business.
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Ward 2 Councillor's Office - Contact Information and Staff
Members requiring assistance from the City of Hamilton are now able to report issues to the Ward 2 Councillor's office. When reaching out to the Ward 2 Councillor's office please use the following information and a ticket will be created to make sure any requests are answered.
- Cameron Kroetsch, Ward 2 Councillor ward2@hamilton.ca | 905-546-2197
- Hasnain Khan, Ward 2 Constituency Coordinator hasnain.khan@hamilton.ca | 905-546-2197
- Liesl Thomas, Ward 2 Constituency Coordinator liesl.thomas@hamilton.ca | 905-546-2197
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Reporting Crime in the BIA
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Call 9-1-1
If you see a crime in progress including, aggressive panhandling, assault, theft, and graffiti.
Call Non-Emergencies Line
To report a crime that has already happened such as mischief, damage to vehicle or property, shoplifting that has already occurred, counterfeit money or you see a suspicious person in the area call the Hamilton Police at 905-546-4925.
Report Graffiti
Call 9-1-1 if you witness graffiti in progress. If your building has been tagged or see graffiti in the area report it to the City of Hamilton at 905-546-2489. For hate or political tag, report it to the Hamilton Police at 905-546-4925.
Report Online
Report a non-urgent crime, such as damage or mischief under $5,000, theft under $5,000 or physical assault if it happened in Hamilton and you don’t know who it is. Report online here.
Crime Prevention Resources
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International Village BIA Crime Manager
Crime Managers play a crucial role within the Hamilton Police Service. They are the primary liaison between our communities, political leaders, and front-line patrol officers. The International Village BIA’s Crime Manager is able to assist members with non-emergency-related community complaints.
Members in the International Village BIA should direct any non-emergency-related complaints to our Crime Manager.
These complaints can include business theft, vehicle and property damage, suspicious person, aggressive behaviour, counterfeit money, and noise complaints. Members are also able to reach out to our Crime Manager to provide feedback or seek guidance pertaining to a specific issue.
Sgt. Cory Gurman
Central Crime Managers
(905) 540-6074
cgurman@hamiltonpolice.ca
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