Author: Councillor Brad Clark

Saturday, January 23rd, 2021 from approximately 10:00 PM until Sunday, January 24th, 2021 at 8:00 AM.

WHAT:	Hamilton Public Library offers all card holders a pick-up service during the province-wide shutdown Dec 26-Jan 23. Library materials and print jobs can be picked up at preferred branches during open hours. No appointment necessary. Makerspace projects can only be picked up at Central Library.
WHO:	HPL card holders can pick up their holds, print jobs and Makerspace projects. eCard holders can also pick up physical items. Need a card? Register at a branch or online at hpl.ca/online-registration.
WHEN:	These service changes take effect Dec 26-Jan 23.
WHERE:	Branch hours – with five exceptions* – are now Monday-Thursday 10am-6pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday Closed. *Carlise, Freelton, Greensville, Lynden and Mount Hope are closed Mondays. Our virtual branch at hpl.ca is always open 24/7 with collections and online programs. Questions? Call 905.546.3200, email AskHPL@hpl.ca or chat with staff at hpl.ca.

About Hamilton Public Library

Hamilton Public Library is a vibrant hub for information and culture, providing our diverse community the Freedom to Discover. As one of the largest library systems in Canada, Hamiltonians will discover something new at our 22 locations, two Bookmobiles, or through our extensive digital collections. Visit us online at hpl.ca. Follow us on Twitter @hamiltonlibrary. Like us on Facebook at HamiltonPublicLibrary.

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I recently overheard my grandchildren wondering if Santa Claus is real and if COVID-19 will keep away this year. I reassured them that Santa Claus is real and that he will not only visit their home, but he will do his best to visit every home, so all good children will experience the wonder of receiving unconditional gifts of love from the North Pole. This moment of a child’s anxiety about Santa Claus reminded me of the letter, “Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus.”

In late 1897, a little girl named Virginia O’Hanlon (1889–1971) wrote a letter to the editor of the The Sun asking them to verify the existance of Santa Claus, Apparently, her little friends were teasing her about believing.

An editorial writers for The Sun, Mr. Francis P. Church gave it some thought and wrote an answer to Virginia. It was printed in the paper next morning, September 21, 1897.

Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O’Hanlon 115 West Ninety Fifth Street

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, VIRGINIA, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance, to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not; but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, VIRGINIA, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. [From The Sun, September 21, 1897]

To all the residents of Ward 9, I wish you the happiest of holidays and a very Merry Christmas.

God bless you.

Brad

Hamilton – December 16, 2020: The Healthy and Safe Communities Department (Housing Services, Recreation, Public Health) has revised Hamilton’s Extreme COLD Weather Protocol in response to COVID-19 and in accordance with the COVID-19 provincial framework and restrictions.

The Medical Officer of Health for the City issues a Cold Alert when: the temperature drops or is expected to drop below -15°C (5°F); or when the temperature feels like -20°C (-4°F) with wind chill. A Cold Alert triggers a coordinated Community Cold Response approach that includes the City and various community agencies focused on outreach response for vulnerable populations and those experiencing homelessness; and a community response focused on individuals living in vulnerable conditions and/or with limited heat. Staff have conducted contingency planning to ensure a plan is in place for the 2020/2021 winter season that is responsive to the provincial COVID-19 Response Framework “Red” Restrict category that Hamilton currently is under, and ensuring plans are in place should the City be moved to the “grey” Lockdown category. 

City of Hamilton Recreation Centres active during cold response

The following recreation centers were selected as warming centers to serve the broader community need and because the necessary public health measures such as capacities, screening, physical distancing could be easily implemented:

• Ancaster Aquatic Centre, 47 Meadowbrook Avenue, Ancaster
• Bennetto Community Centre, 450 Hughson Street N., Hamilton
• Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre, 876 Cannon Street E., Hamilton
• Dundas Lions Memorial Community Centre, 10 Market Street S., Dundas
• Hill Park Recreation Centre, 305 South Bend Road E., Hamilton
• Huntington Park Recreation Centre, 87 Brentwood Drive, Hamilton
• Norman Pinky Lewis Recreation Centre, 192 Wentworth Street N., Hamilton
• Sir Allan MacNab Recreation Centre, 145 Magnolia Drive, Hamilton
• Stoney Creek Recreation Centre  45 King Street E., Stoney Creek
• Winona Recreation Centre 255 Winona Road, Winona

These facilities will be available in the event of a Cold Alert during their regular business hours with capacity limits and COVID-19 precautions in place.

To protect residents, COVID-19 precautions remain in place for all City sites:

• A maximum of 10 patrons may be in a facility, regardless of size, at one time.
• Locations are staffed at the front doors; staff will actively screen and register anyone who attends.

• Active screening will be done daily upon entering for all staff, volunteers and clients. Individuals will also be asked to self-monitor.
• Clients must wear masks/face coverings at these locations.
• Community Warming Centres are designed to support physical distancing; individuals will be instructed to physically distance around others. Signage reminding individuals about the importance of physical distancing will also be posted in these locations.
• Locations are stocked with proper hand hygiene supplies (i.e. pump soap, warm running water and paper towels or hot air dryers).
• In addition to routine cleaning, surfaces that have frequent contact with hands will be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
• Staff are trained on the safe use, care, disposal and limitations of PPE.
• Staff will contact Public Health for specific advice and control measures regarding anyone who displays systems or is suspected to have COVID-19.

Community Warming Centres

In addition to the identified recreation centres, select community agencies are also participating in this years Cold Alert response offering warming locations and drop in programs. Capacity restrictions will apply and COVID-19 precautions will be in place at these locations. The City continues to work with a number of community groups to secure some additional locations. This information will continue to be updated on the City website as agencies agree to participate.

Outreach Response

Cold Alert Response for vulnerable residents include increasing our emergency shelter capacity by using hotel spaces, increasing options for couples, and increased work with our Intensive Case Management programs to concentrate on housing placements/outcomes

Since March 2020 in response to the pandemic, Hamilton has expanded shelter space and has made investments in emergency shelters in order to ensure they are set up with COVID appropriate distancing and protocols in place.  The City continues to ensure adequate shelter space and drop-ins are available during the winter months.

During a cold alert the Street Outreach Team acts as the first contact and helps to:

• Ensure they monitor/visit known locations where homeless individuals reside
• Coordinate access to available shelter beds
• Refer to community supports

The Salvation Army

• Triages calls from the public about people on the street who may need shelter and monitor shelter space and availability. 

For more information and tips to stay warm, please visit www.hamilton.ca/cold