board

Tuesday March 2, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday March 2, 2016 Winter storm Approaches A winter storm is expected to hit Hamilton later this afternoon and drop up to 30 cm snow overnight. Blowing snow, powered by wind gusts of up to 70 km/h/, will create treacherous driving conditions as visibility drops to zero at times. The snow is expected to begin during the Tuesday evening commute and intensify later tonight. Environment Canada suggests postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. The forecast suggests the storm will have moved out of the area by midday Wednesday. In anticipation of the worst storm of the winter so far, evening classes are cancelled at McMaster University, Mohawk College and the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board. McMaster University will close at 4:30 p.m. today. Mohawk will close at 4 p.m. today, with all evening classes at the Fennell, Stoney Creek and IAHS campuses cancelled. College officials say a decision will be made by 5:30 a.m. tomorrow about whether Mohawk will remain closed or reopen Wednesday. All Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board facilities will close at 6 p.m. tonight. All meetings, permits, continuing education courses, night school and ESL adult programs are cancelled. As part of that, the HWDSB senior elementary basketball championship scheduled for Nora Frances Henderson Secondary School for Tuesday evening has been postponed. Further information regarding the rescheduling of the event will be available on www.hwdsb.on.ca/athletics www.hwdsb.on.ca/athletics as well as Twitter when available. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6370366-winter-storm-mac-mohawk-and-hamilton-wentworth-school-classes-cancelled-tonight/ Hamilton, Ontario, Winter, snow, storm, blizzard, cancellation, snow day, weather, lion, board, education

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday March 2, 2016

Winter storm Approaches

A winter storm is expected to hit Hamilton later this afternoon and drop up to 30 cm snow overnight.

Thursday, February 5, 2015Blowing snow, powered by wind gusts of up to 70 km/h/, will create treacherous driving conditions as visibility drops to zero at times.

The snow is expected to begin during the Tuesday evening commute and intensify later tonight.

Environment Canada suggests postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.

The forecast suggests the storm will have moved out of the area by midday Wednesday.

In anticipation of the worst storm of the winter so far, evening classes are cancelled at McMaster University, Mohawk College and the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday March 11, 2008 McHattie is hot on snow removal If you've had it up to here with shovelling snow, Councillor Brian McHattie has an easy-on-the-back solution. The Ward 1 councillor is proposing hiring contractors to clear sidewalks outside people's homes next winter. If McHattie gets enough support from his west-end constituents, he'll ask city council to approve adding the snow removal cost toÊproperty owners' tax bills. After discussing it with city staff, McHattie estimates it will cost Ward 1 residents $28 to $31 per household for the first year of service. In the second year of a presumed five-year contract, the cost would fall to around $19 to $22 per year. It would be more expensive the first year because the private contractor would likely have to buy specialized plows. The work would be contracted out because the city apparently doesn't have the resources to take on the job itself. Right now, McHattie's proposal is focused only on his own ward. But he says there's nothing stopping other councillors looking at the same service for their area. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) Canada, sidewalk, snow, winter, shovelling, habits, bylaw, civility, shovel

Tuesday March 11, 2008

McMaster University will close at 4:30 p.m. today. Mohawk will close at 4 p.m. today, with all evening classes at the Fennell, Stoney Creek and IAHS campuses cancelled.

College officials say a decision will be made by 5:30 a.m. tomorrow about whether Mohawk will remain closed or reopen Wednesday.

All Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board facilities will close at 6 p.m. tonight. All meetings, permits, continuing education courses, night school and ESL adult programs are cancelled.

As part of that, the HWDSB senior elementary basketball championship scheduled for Nora Frances Henderson Secondary School for Tuesday evening has been postponed. Further information regarding the rescheduling of the event will be available on its website as well as Twitter when available. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Tuesday December 22, 2015

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday December 22, 2015 De CaireÕs resignation for Mac job surprises police board In a move that shocked many, Hamilton police Chief Glenn De Caire announced he is leaving policing and taking on a new role as director of security and parking at McMaster University. De Caire gave his bosses at the Hamilton Police Services Board just 15 minutes' notice before he released the news via a two-page letter at 1 p.m. Friday. "All the essential parts are in place," De Caire wrote after several paragraphs describing the accomplishments of the service during his tenure. The news came mere weeks after De Caire pursued and accepted a two-year extension to his controversial term as chief. At a hastily called news conference Friday afternoon, police board chair and city councillor Lloyd Ferguson said he received the chief's resignation "with great surprise and some regret." "The chief and I have worked very well together during my two years as chair," Ferguson said as he praised the changes in budgeting and policing that have taken place during De Caire's tenure. "The singular most impressive program put in place by Chief De Caire is the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team," Ferguson said, referring to a joint police/St. Joseph's hospital initiative that pairs a mental-health worker and constable on daily patrols. Board member Terry Whitehead said Friday afternoon that "we had no idea" the chief was retiring. "The chief maintained that he wanted another four years and wanted to keep the job," he said. "There was no sign that was not sincere." At Friday's news conference, De Caire explained that he had applied for the McMaster job before his board had committed on Nov. 19 to extending his term as chief. "I had no conflict (of interest)." (Source: Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6200770-de-caire-s-resignation-for-mac-job-surprises-police-board/ Hamilton, police, services, board, circus, cl

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 22, 2015

De Caire’s resignation for Mac job surprises police board

In a move that shocked many, Hamilton police Chief Glenn De Caire announced he is leaving policing and taking on a new role as director of security and parking at McMaster University.

Saturday, September 6, 2014De Caire gave his bosses at the Hamilton Police Services Board just 15 minutes’ notice before he released the news via a two-page letter at 1 p.m. Friday.

“All the essential parts are in place,” De Caire wrote after several paragraphs describing the accomplishments of the service during his tenure.

The news came mere weeks after De Caire pursued and accepted a two-year extension to his controversial term as chief.

Wednesday April 17, 2013At a hastily called news conference Friday afternoon, police board chair and city councillor Lloyd Ferguson said he received the chief’s resignation “with great surprise and some regret.”

“The chief and I have worked very well together during my two years as chair,” Ferguson said as he praised the changes in budgeting and policing that have taken place during De Caire’s tenure.

“The singular most impressive program put in place by Chief De Caire is the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team,” Ferguson said, referring to a joint police/St. Joseph’s hospital initiative that pairs a mental-health worker and constable on daily patrols.

Thursday June 12, 2014Board member Terry Whitehead said Friday afternoon that “we had no idea” the chief was retiring.

“The chief maintained that he wanted another four years and wanted to keep the job,” he said. “There was no sign that was not sincere.”

At Friday’s news conference, De Caire explained that he had applied for the McMaster job before his board had committed on Nov. 19 to extending his term as chief. “I had no conflict (of interest).” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Thursday December 13, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday December 13, 2012

Toronto sets a good tone on police budget

A confidential report says Congratulations to Toronto’s police board, which had the gumption to nix a 2 per cent budget increase, voting instead to freeze its budget for 2013. Let’s hope that puts some pressure on the Hamilton Police Services Board to rein in the budget here.

There needs to be more than a little wiggle room in Chief Glenn De Caire’s requested 5.25 per cent increase, which is substantially higher than the 3.5 per cent hike the city expected. Meanwhile, all other departments and agencies have been told to build budgets based on no increased spending.

Members of our police board must stiffen their spines — they represent taxpayers as well as the police. While a 0 per cent increase probably isn’t in the cards, police management should at least hit the 3.5 per cent target. Taxpayers’ pockets are not bottomless. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Saturday February 11, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Saturday February 11, 2012

Board trustees want to hear Hamilton’s Education Centre plan

The public school board hasn’t closed the door on keeping its headquarters downtown.

Several trustees said Thursday they are open to hearing a plan that would allow its Education Centre to remain in the core. But it’s still too soon to know if the city can bring a feasible — and financially realistic — option to the table.

“We’re still waiting to hear from the city with regard to the motion that was brought forward by Jason Farr last night, so we have no idea what the intent is or how they would help us out,” said board chair Tim Simmons. “It’s really too early to go there.”

City council backed a motion Wednesday night to officially petition the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board to locate its new headquarters in a second tower to the south of City Hall.

Farr, the downtown councillor behind the motion, acknowledged the pitch is coming late in the game, with the board having already decided on the former Crestwood school grounds on the Mountain as the preferred site for its new home.

Nonetheless, “now is better than never.”

“Things do happen last minute and better deals do come along. This very well might be one,” he said. “I still think there’s an opportunity.”

Farr is hopeful city staff can come up with a plan that would allow the board to build the new tower within its $31-million budget. The partnership would also include an “extremely cheap” long-term land lease.

In order to boost the downtown economy and keep the board’s 400 workers in the core, “we’re willing to make adjustments and concessions,” Farr said. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)