Brad Clark Report

What Are the Monarch Awards?

The Monarch Awards recognize gardeners who want their yards to do more than look beautiful — to provide habitat, support pollinators, nourish birds, and build biodiversity right in our neighbourhoods. Four levels of achievement are recognized: Good Start, Caterpillar, Chrysalis, and Monarch, with every level celebrated through certificates, garden signs, or plaques.

Supporting Hamilton’s Environmental Goals

The Monarch Awards align directly with two of Hamilton’s most important environmental commitments. The City’s Biodiversity Action Plan is a multi-partner, five-year plan of actions to protect, enhance, explore and restore biodiversity in Hamilton and ecological front yard gardens are a tangible, resident-driven contribution to exactly that goal. As the BAP recognizes, biodiversity is interconnected, and even the smallest spaces in a city can provide habitat and connections for local plants, insects and wildlife. At the same time, in 2019 the City of Hamilton declared a Climate Change Emergency and set a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Ecological gardens support that commitment too — native plantings sequester carbon, manage stormwater, filter air, and reduce the need for energy-intensive lawn maintenance. Every Monarch Awards garden is a small but meaningful piece of Hamilton’s climate resilience.

Ecological Gardening Is a Journey

One of the things we love most about this program is that gardens at every stage of the journey are welcome to participate. The award levels are designed to honour progress, not perfection. Gardeners who have previously received a Good Start, Caterpillar, or Chrysalis award are encouraged to apply again as their garden evolves and grows — working their way along until they achieve the Monarch Award.

Who Is Eligible?

To apply, gardeners must rent or own a home within the municipality of Hamilton and have a front yard garden that supports nature. Applications are open to residents across all Hamilton wards, and we hope to see participation from every corner of the city.

Applications open May 15, 2026, at haltonmastergardeners.com/events/monarch-awards. The online application takes about 20 minutes. The Monarch Awards Team will make garden visits between July 13 – August 23 — gardeners do not need to be present.

The closing date for award applications is June 26th.

Recipients will be announced in September 2026, with presentations made at a final celebration in October.

The tree giveaway program is now open!

The City of Hamilton annually gives native shade trees or shrubs to residents to plant on their private property. You need to be a resident of the City of Hamilton to qualify, and you must plant the tree on your private property located in the City of Hamilton, preferably at the side or back of your home. Trees are approximately 1 metre tall.

Planting a native tree on your property improves air quality, fights climate change, and increases property value. 

Giveaway Details

• Two (2) trees per property. Pre-registration required.
• Must present driver’s license or property tax bill.
• Native shade trees and shrubs are available.
• Pick up your tree. Rain or shine.
• Homeowner is responsible to plant, water and maintain the private tree.
• Call or click before you dig – OntarioOneCall.ca

Pick Up Location Details

Pre-register and pick-up your tree or shrub at one of the pick-up locations:

Location: Mohawk College – Fennell Campus, Parking Lot P7 (135 Fennell Avenue West, Hamilton)
Date(s): 

• Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 4 pm to 8 pm
• Friday, May 1, 2026 from 4 pm to 8 pm
• Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 8 am to 12 noon

Location: Bayfront Park – Main Parking Lot (325 Bay Street North, Hamilton)
Date(s): 

• Thursday,  May 7, 2026 from 4 pm to 8 pm
• Friday, May 8, 2026 from 4 pm to 8 pm
• Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 8 am to 12 noon

Click here for more information and how to register

This 50/50 draw will help the Hamilton Conservation Foundation provide funding through grants for land acquisition, ecological programming, and conservation education programing etc. for the Hamilton Conservation Authority.

Buy your tickets today! Draw happens on June 22, 2026. You can scan the QR code below or click on this link to buy your tickets. Thank you for your support. https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/hamilton-conservation-foundation

Valley Park Recreation Centre will reopen on Monday and resume activities, including EarlyON programming.

Valley Park Community Centre: Reopening Monday, April 12^th for regular site users.  The gymnasium opening will be delayed until Monday, April 20th to allow time for the new floor installation to cure. This curing process is important to ensure the floor is safe, durable, and ready for use. Registered program participants within impacted programs will be notified directly by phone. 

Valley Park Pool:  Closed March 23 to Summer 2026 to begin work on the pool basin, waterslide replacement and changerooms. More information on this closure: hamilton.ca/recprojects