City has not decided if it will replace fired workers

By Cory Ruf, CBC News

Posted: Jan 30, 2013 1:02 PM ET

Last Updated: Jan 30, 2013 4:46 PM ET

 

The city has not decided if it will replace the 29 public works employees whose dismissals were announced this week, according to the senior director of the public works department.

'The speculation that's taking place is inappropriate.—Gerry Davis, City of Hamilton

At a city council general issues committee meeting Wednesday, Gerry Davis told councillors that the decision had not yet been made.

His testimony contradicts previous media reports claiming the city had chosen not to fill the vacancies.

"The speculation that's taking place is inappropriate," Davis said.

On Monday, city manager Chris Murray announced the dismissal of 29 road crew workers, and the suspension of two others, for "theft of time "and "breach of trust."

"We had a couple of examples of when they were busting a half an hour per day, which is blatantly unacceptable," councillor Lloyd Ferguson, who chairs council's public works committee, told CBC Hamilton on Monday.

"We've got to get value for the taxpayers' dollar and we're providing value, so they lost their jobs over it."

The discourse surrounding the firings inspired a tense exchange at the committee meeting, during which the city's public works department asked for a 6.2 per cent budget increase for 2013.

Without addressing Ferguson by name, Ward 9 councillor Brad Clark accused the public works committee chair of speaking too liberally about the dismissals while an investigation is still ongoing.

"It's a private issue and it's inappropriate to comment," said Clark, who added he thought councillors had agreed to remain tight-lipped until staff complete their investigation.

"We're a council, not a council of one."

Councillors Terry Whitehead and Scott Duvall echoed Clark's position, stating that commenting prematurely about the dismissals is insensitive and could damage the city's position should the issue go to labour arbitration.

"There may be workers who are not going," said Whitehead, who represents Ward 8. "That's a process that's still underway,"

Speaking with CBC Hamilton on Wednesday, Ferguson dismissed his colleagues' criticism, adding that some comments he's made to the media — particularly pertaining to the issue of whether the all the fired workers' jobs will be filled — have been taken out of context.

"That's democracy — we don't always agree," he said. "I'll always answer questions truthfully and I'll never apologize for trying to get the message out to employees that the value of honesty is critical to us."

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Shots fired into Hamilton art facility

CBC News

Posted: Jan 30, 2013 9:36 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 30, 2013 7:05 PM ET

Gary Santucci woke to the sounds of gunshots and shattering glass in his central Hamilton apartment Wednesday morning.

"It's unsettling, but we have to deal with it," said Santucci, who lives in the apartment with his wife, Barbara Milne. "I don't know what else I can say other than that."

Around 3 a.m., authorities received reports of gunfire at the Pearl Company at 16 Steven St.

Santucci and Milne, who run the facility and live above it, were in their bedroom when they heard the gunshot and saw the door's glass shatter. Neither were injured in the shooting.

Police say the shooting may have been targeted. (Adam Carter/CBC)

A bullet hole can be seen piercing the window of their bedroom door, which is attached to a fire escape on the top floor of the building. Police said the incident may have been targeted, which Santucci said was alarming.

"I don't know what they actually meant by that," he said. "It would be very concerning to anyone if it happened at their home."

Santucci did not wish to comment further as police are still investigating.

"It's in their hands now."

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Pedestrian killed by VIA train in Burlington

CBC News

Posted: Jan 30, 2013 6:47 PM ET

Last Updated: Jan 31, 2013 8:26 AM ET

A VIA train travelling from Toronto to Windsor fatally struck a pedestrian near the Burlington GO station shortly after 6 :30p.m. Wednesday evening.

Police say the victim was male, in his early 20s and from the Hamilton area, adding that he was seen approaching from the south side of the tracks.

Train 75 departed Toronto at 5:30 p.m. and was headed for Windsor, but stopped on the tracks at the 30.5 mile mark near the Burlington GO station after the fatal collision with a pedestrian, according to Mylène Bélanger, a spokesperson for VIA Rail. She said there were 185 passengers on board the train at the time.

The Halton Regional Police collision reconstruction team was called to the scene to investigate.

Bélanger stressed the importance of pedestrian rail safety. "Obviously this incident is a tragedy. All our thoughts go to the family," she said, adding better safety awareness could prevent the approximately 300 collisions with trains at highway crossings in Canada every year.

"It's important to remember that the train cannot stop instantly; it can take up to two kilometres to come to a complete stop. These tracks are dangerous."

The 7:05 p.m. VIA train departing from Toronto for Windsor was cancelled and passengers were being transported via coach buses, Bélanger said.

GO passengers travelling on the Lakeshore West line were shuttled by bus between Hamilton GO station and Appleby station in both directions.

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McMaster program gives high school students a taste of university

By Kaleigh Rogers, CBC News

Posted: Jan 31, 2013 7:14 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 31, 2013 8:54 AM ET

 

The idea is simple: give high school students a chance to experience university life and they might be more likely to attend university when they graduate.

And so far, the McMaster Reach Ahead program is working.

"We do know from our conversations with the students that a number of them were in the process of applying [for university]," Peter Joshua, superintendent of leadership and learning for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, told CBC Hamilton. "They had made that decision to apply, so now we'll see that happens."

The McMaster Reach Ahead program had its first pilot group this past fall. The Grade 12 students from the Catholic and public school boards spent a semester getting a feel for life as a McMaster University student.

'By setting a goal, the students are able to come up with plans for how to get there.' —Kate Elliot, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

They took a university course every morning, while continuing their high school studies in the afternoon. Complete with McMaster ID passes and access to the campus, they were given a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of post-secondary students.

The students were chosen because, though highly successful academically, they might not have considered attending university before having such an on-campus experience.

"It could be a financial barrier or maybe no one else in their family has gone to university," Joshua explained.

"There were those that had the potential but did not have the support at home."

Although the barriers these students face still remain, the program was intended to motivate them to overcome these obstacles, according to Kate Elliott, a leadership and learning consultant for the HWDSB.

"It's a little bit of 'if you build it, they will come,' " she said. "By setting a goal, the students are able to come up with plans for how to get there. That might mean applying for scholarships or bursaries or just maintaining their grade level."

Board mulling the program's future

The board is now consulting to decide if the program will continue next year, but from the feedback they've gotten from the students, the trial run was a success. Many of those who participated in the pilot program have decided to apply to university and are anxiously awaiting acceptance letters for the fall 2013 semester.

Sandra Preston, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work and director of experiential education at McMaster University, taught the students twice a week as part of their three-unit sociology class. She said she learned as much from the experience as the students.

"Besides meeting a bunch of smart, cool kids, I learned a lot about what students need to succeed in first year," she said. "They were much more open about the challenges they were facing than my first-year students."

Students discussed the transition between high school and university-level courses, pointing out how the change puts a heavy emphasis on critical thinking and independent learning.

There are similar programs at other school boards in the province and the HWDSB provides similar support for students interested in college or apprenticeships, Joshua said. He's hopeful this particular project will get the green light again next year based on the success of the pilot.

"The whole plan is to give students a sense of what the next steps are, no matter what they want to do after high school."

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Q live at 7 p.m. from Mohawk College on Thursday

Steeltown Jian Ghomeshi fans, your day has come.

A live version of Q, his award-winning arts and culture show, will be recorded right here in Hamilton. Ghomeshi will gabb with guests in front of an audience at Mohawk College's McIntyre Performing Arts Centre on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Appropriately, the lineup is Hamilton heavy. Ghomeshi will chat with blues singer Rita Chiarelli, playwright and provocateur Sky Gilbert, world-renowned geneticist and McMaster professor Hendrik Poinar and B-movie fixture John Migliore.

Hamilton-based rock outfit the Arkells will perform live during Thursday's show.

If that doesn't have you screaming "oskee wee wee," a live set from the hometrown heroes the Arkells might change your tune.

The show has been long-since sold out, but don't fret. You can stream the event live on this page. The show will also be rebroadcast on Friday's edition of Q with Jian Ghomeshi, which airs at 10 a.m ET on CBC Radio One.

Ealier in January, the CBC held a contest to give away tickets for the Hamilton show. We turned the tables on Ghomeshi, asking listeners to send in their questions to ask the Q host. The winners, whose queries he answered, won admission to Thursday's shindig.

Here are the winning queries, as well as Ghomeshi's ever-thoughtful responses:

Val Gravelle asked: How does Jian's experiences as a musician influence his approach to interviewing?

Here's what Jian has to say: "I feel not just being a musician, but a performer, and touring for many years has allowed me to have an empathy for artists that come in, and to understand what it's like to be an interviewee. In fact, a lot of my do's and don't's as an interviewer come from what I didn't like or thought was effective when I was being interviewed.

Also, I did a lot of improv in theatre and in Moxy Früvous. Being prepared in a live situation to spontaneously react and interact has been real helpful during this gig. I love live. Both in terms of understanding my interviewees and the performance aspect of hosting the show, I've benefitted from my years as an artist."

Brent vanStaalduinen asked: How do you balance making guests comfortable and/or excited to be on Q, with having to dig into at times uncomfortable subject matter?

Without gushing or acting in fan-like behaviour, I feel it's important to telegraph to a guest early on that the interview is going to be serious, in depth, and respectful. I also try to joke early on so the guest knows that's allowed. This ain't warheads in North Korea. This is just a couple people chatting.

But then, I truly think — for most interviewees — they ultimately appreciate the more difficult, probing questions. It's suggesting to them they're worthy of this kind of question line and are going to be able to handle it. A lot of interviewees are sick of being on their own message and speaking in soundbites, and end up revelling in the opportunity to have to answer more challenging queries."

Russ Boychuk asked: How do we know it's not Shaun Majumder answering the questions dressed as Jian again?

You don't. This is Shaun Majumder. The only problem is I'm sitting at Jian's computer and it's hard for me to reach the keyboard because I'm so short. I'm at least 4 feet shorter than Jian. I'm really more like a child. And my little fingers have trouble with these big keys. I don't know how Jian does it, but I'm trying my best. Please watch "Majumder Manor". Signed, 'Jian.'"

Peter Jakubiak asked: Is Jian able to turn off his interviewer's mind when not on air? Is he always interviewing people even in his personal life?

Ha. Thoughtful question, Peter. It can be a liability. I have been in more than one social situation with another person where I have unwittingly slipped into interviewer mode. It is, as you might imagine, not the best way to foster intimacy. Although, to spin it in a more positive light, it does show interest and curiosity! I try my best to "turn off" the interviewer mode in my personal life, but I am generally interested in people. And given that the roots of a successful interview also come from an intuitive sense and a desire to discover, I cannot shut those qualities off like a tap. In short, if you dare to hang out with me you might be in for a line of questioning. But in a friendly-but-critical probing manner, of course.

Kathie Stonehouse asked: Have you ever interviewed a celebrity you thought you knew a lot about but been surprised by some of their answers? If so, who was it and what did they say that surprised or intrigued you?

Thanks for this question, Kathie. It's always a difficult line to walk in terms of managing expectations of guests that may come in for a feature interview. I want to be fair, balanced, and unaffected by someone's reputation or my own hopes. This gets more complicated when it is a person that I have admired or idolized.

I generally try to subdue any fandom when I'm doing feature interviews (I never ask for autographs or gush. I try to maintain an even disposition in order to shoot for journalistic objectivity), but it is impossible to divorce myself from pre-conceived ideas about famous folks that I may have seen on screen or in the limelight since I was a kid.

To wit, it can be daunting knowing that my dreams may be crushed if the person does not live up to hopes. This has happened on a few occasions. I remember a particularly horrible interview with a disinterested Harrison Ford that changed my opinion of him forever. No longer was Han Solo my favourite old Star Wars character after that. Similarly, it was so dispiriting to have one of my comic heroes, Chris Rock, be a less than compelling interview subject.

On the other hand, one can be surprised when mistakenly bringing low expectations to a subject as well. Jennifer Love Hewitt had been sold to me as a "lightweight" with little to say and ended up being very gratifyingly real and self-aware.

Of course, the best case scenario is when someone meets all of one's hopes, desires and expectations. Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Bjork, Gord Downie and Toni Morrison (to name a few) would fall into this category. Love them.

Jim Dunn asked: Have you interviewed someone who had beliefs or done things you find morally repugnant, and how did you handle it?

Thanks for the question, Jim. Good one.

While Q is a curatorial show and we generally program people/stories that we believe in and want to bring exposure to (we've rarely if ever, say, booked a musical act if we are not enthusiastic about), we sometimes book major personalities or thinkers who are not necessarily in line with my beliefs. For example, FOX anchor Bill O'Reilly has a tremendous following, an interesting story, and a best-selling troika of books to go along with his big ratings. He is an interesting person for us to have on Q and one that many in our audience were eager to hear go up against me in an interview.

This is an interesting example because I think Bill and I may have little in common when it comes to politics and ideology but that doesn't mean I'd shy away from speaking to him. Quite the contrary. I see myself as a representative of the audience that has questions about him. I also want to conduct a critical (thinking) interview. I believe I can move beyond my own beliefs in an interview like that and try to understand the person and challenge him/her like I would any other.

On the other hand, when you say "morally repugnant", I have not yet interviewed, say, a serial killer, and I'm not sure how I would handle it. But I generally believe the audience is smart and does not need a lot of hand-holding to understand the dynamics of an interview. The media often fails to give the audience enough credit.

Robyn Knickle asked: If you could give one piece of advice to a kid bummed about growing up in the 'burbs, what would it be?

Assuming YOU are that kid, Robyn? You are not alone. The 'burbs can be soul-destroying in their homogeneity but that kind of setting is a good place to figure out what makes you different and to celebrate it. The most important part is to fight the notion that you have to conform or be complacent to fit in (in the immortal words of RUSH: "conform or be cast out!").

You will make it out. You will be alive. You will even have a tender fondness for some of the experiences the 'burbs offered you. Enjoy it while you can. But feel free to blast The Clash to undermine some of the creepy quietness from time to time. Cheers.

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City used video surveillance, GPS records to investigate Hamilton workers

Surveillance took place on random days this past November

By Flannery Dean, CBC News

Posted: Jan 28, 2013 9:41 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 29, 2013 7:04 PM ET

 

The City of Hamilton used video surveillance and GPS records of city vehicles to investigate 31 employees for "neglect of duties, time theft and/or breach of trust," according to officials.

"We randomly selected crews and video surveillance was used on them," explained Darrell Smith, manager of roads and maintenance for the city of Hamilton. "We looked at GPS records of the vehicles."

Smith said the surveillance took place on select days in November 2012.

He added that suspicion was raised about the behaviour of some crews after the initiation of a new program in 2010 that involved the use of an asphalt recycling machine. "Because it was a new program, we paid attention to how it was being used."

Smith said that while the department was monitoring the program some irregularities stood out in the paperwork.

"Things started to look not right and it prompted us to look closer at the situation."

According to city manager Chris Murray, the investigation began in October 2012. He said the city then hired a private investigator to record the activities of the crews in question.

Though still ongoing, the investigation has resulted in the firing of 29 public works employees. Another two have been served 30-day unpaid suspensions.

Staff members who admitted wrongdoing were suspended

According to Smith, once the surveillance had been collected, staff sat down with the employees and their supervisors.

"We had some staff members admit their wrongdoing," explained Smith. "They were suspended. The other crew members who denied it were fired."

Smith said that the fired employees represent about "one per cent" of all Public Works employees and "10 per cent" of the department under investigation.

'We're in the process of reviewing their supervisors. We're not done.'—Chris Murray, Hamilton city manager

Murray said the investigation looked at, "what crews were doing with their time. What we found was there was little work going on. Crews were taking long breaks. Some days doing little work at all."

Murray said in a press release Monday that, "building trust and confidence in our services is critical to our collective work and we must be diligent in doing our work in an ethical and responsible way. This is an expectation that the community has of us. I believe what has transpired is serious and therefore requires immediate and significant action.

"I want to stress this is not a reflection on our entire work force. The vast majority of employees of the city are dedicated public servants, providing essential services to our community."

'We're not done'

Murray told CBC Hamilton on Monday that the city is talking to police about possible charges, and added that the investigation is continuing. "We're in the process of reviewing their supervisors. We're not done."

'The inappropriate behaviour of this group of employees is very disappointing, but it is not reflective of all Public Works staff.'—Gerry Davis, general manager of Public Works

Gerry Davis, General Manager of Public Works, said in a release that, "We are taking this situation very seriously. The inappropriate behaviour of this group of employees is very disappointing, but it is not reflective of all Public Works staff. Overall, Public Works is comprised of dedicated and faithful employees who take pride in the work they do to provide the services our community relies on."

Councillor Lloyd Ferguson is the chair of the city's public works committee. He said, "We had a couple of examples of when they were busting a half an hour per day, which is blatantly unacceptable. We've got to get value for the taxpayers' dollar and we're providing value, so they lost their jobs over it."

Ferguson added that the investigation is entering "Phase 2." That means the city will be looking into the conduct of the dismissed employees' supervisors and will investigate the potential theft of asphalt from the public works department.

Ferguson would not comment on how much of the product is thought to be missing, but said that even asphalt that has reached its expiry dates could sell for $50 to 60 per tonne.

Ferguson stressed that the group of fired employees represents a small number of public works staff. "Most of our employees are hard-working and love what they do," he said.

The union that represents the city's public works staff sent out a news release about the dismissals on Monday afternoon.

"As a union, we do not condone wrongdoings of any kind and we have a duty as a union, under the [Labour Relations Act], to represent our members, in work-related matters in all circumstances," Derron Vernon, president of CUPE 5167, said in a statement.

"We will represent the investigated workers to ensure due process is followed, and as such, will not be commenting on details of the case."

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Hamilton LGBT activist welcomes leadership of Kathleen Wynne

Ontario's premier-designate has fans in Hamilton

By Flannery Dean, CBC News

Posted: Jan 30, 2013 7:00 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 30, 2013 9:18 AM ET

 

A Hamilton LGBT community activist says she is heartened by the recent election of Kathleen Wynne, Ontario's first female Premier and also Canada's first openly gay official.

That makes her a much needed role model, said Deirdre Pike, a senior social planner for the Hamilton Social Planning Research Council and a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

"I think there's a definite responsibility for people in high level positions to be out and be role models for the rest of people who are more marginalized because of their sexual orientation," said Pike.

'I'm not a Liberal, but I'm sure happy for who the Liberals picked as our next premier. I don't know that it's going to be remarkable for our economy and all that, but I do think it will be remarkable for LGBT youth in communities across Ontario.'—Deirdre Pike, Hamilton Social Planning Research Council

For Pike, the fact that Wynne is the country's first openly gay official means a great deal to both young people and adults who are struggling with their sexuality privately.

"I didn't come out until I was 37," shared Pike. "I could totally use different role models that it's OK to be out."

Pike only quibbles with Wynne's preference for using the term 'gay' over 'lesbian'.

"I identify as a lesbian or a member of the queer community. I don't think she uses that kind of language."

Pike would like to see politicians overall adopt more current language in discussing LGBT issues going forward.

"Gay is not a workable umbrella term anymore. It's too narrow."

That said, she believes Wynne can only bring greater attention to the community.

"I'm not a Liberal, but I'm sure happy for who the Liberals picked as our next Premier. I don't know that it's going to be remarkable for our economy and all that, but I do think it will be remarkable for LGBT youth in communities across Ontario."

Pike also sees Wynne as yet more evidence of a growing and impressive spread of political power among women in Canada.

"We have six female Premiers in Canada right now governing over 80 per cent of the population of Canada. She is joining, hopefully, a collaboration of really influential women in this country."

While she said that there are plenty of examples of female leaders who "fall into the big boys bad club," a collective of female leaders working together may make a positive difference.

She cites the opinion of one economist who argued that the current economic crisis could have been avoided if more women held positions of power. "We would not even be in this economic crisis if we did have more women in power."

Do women make better leaders?

Henry Jacek, professor of political science at McMaster, doesn't believe that Wynne's sex or her sexual orientation played a significant role in her election.

"I don't think it was a factor in her election. I know the media makes a big deal about it, but I think the delegates at the election couldn't care less."

Jacek is more excited by the kind of politician Wynne may be once she is sworn in as Premier.

"I think Wynne will be a lot more innovative."

Jacek points out that her transition team includes a number of extremely bright, well educated people, including former cabinet minister Monique Smith and former Environment Minister John Wilkinson.

She has surrounded herself with very bright people, he said.

"These are people who are very creative, and we need creative solutions right now to get out of the dead end that the McGuinty government found itself in in the past year."

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Hamilton woman starts online fundraiser for family of slain 9-year-old

By Flannery Dean, CBC News

Posted: Jan 30, 2013 7:28 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 30, 2013 9:28 AM ET

 

A Hamilton woman has started an online campaign to raise money for the family of Kesean Williams, the nine-year-old boy who was shot and killed while watching TV at his Brampton home on January 23.

"This campaign will help the Williams family with funeral costs and hopefully start an education fund for Kajan [sic]," wrote Sharon Grant on the indiegogo page where she's placed her campaign.

The goal is to raise $2,000. So far, the tally is at $470.

Viewings are planned for Keasean Williams in Hamilton on Thursday and Friday between 2 p.m and 4 p.m. as well as between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Bay Gardens Funeral Home.

Williams spent most of his life in Hamilton until last summer. He was a student at Dr. J. Edgar Davey Elementary School.

Grant started the page on indiegogo immediately after she heard about what happened to Kesean. An acquaintance of Kesean's mother's (they have mutual friends) she wants to help the family pay for the funeral. It's her intention that the money also go towards setting up an education fund for Kesean's brother.

Williams had met Kesean. She says "he was very loving and vibrant. Energetic. A little angel."

She is attending the funeral which will be held in Hamilton on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Peoples Church at 510 Mohawk Rd. West.

The goal is to raise "$2,000 minimum", though she's hoping to raise more. People can donate on the indiegogo/keseanwilliams site or they can also send a money transfer to keseanwilliams9@gmail.com

Williams said there is also a fund set up at TD Bank.

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Warm days smash Hamilton temperature records

CBC News

Posted: Jan 30, 2013 9:40 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 30, 2013 9:29 AM ET

 

The warm spell Hamilton experienced on Tuesday and Wednesday is expected to end before the week is out, according to Dave Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada.

Hamilton experienced record-breaking temperatures for a second straight day on Wednesday.

Even before sunrise, the mercury climbed to around 13 degrees C, smashing the old high for Jan. 30 — 10 degrees C in 1969.

Another 44-year-old weather record fell earlier this week. Late on Tuesday, temperatures rose to 10.5 degrees C. The old record for Jan. 29 was 8.9 degrees C, recorded in 1969 and again in 1975.

"This is Gulf of Mexico air," said Dave Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada. "The southerly winds are bringing in the very warm air."

He said the balmy temperatures "would make for a comfortable night in July or a warm day in April or early May."

The winter heat wave won't last beyond Wednesday, Phillips warned.

The warm system will veer east, he told CBC Hamilton, leaving the "cold Canadian air will fill in like a vacuum…and not a melting temperature in sight."

Then, he imparted news that may cause winter sports lovers to rejoice.

"There could be snow or snow flurries almost every day for the next week."

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Two Mississauga men arrested for summer arson in Hamilton

CBC News

Posted: Jan 30, 2013 10:27 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 30, 2013 10:26 AM ET

Hamilton Police arrested two men in connection with a summer arson at an east end convenience store that claimed a young life.

The body of 21-year-old Samir Anbari was found in a burned-out shell of a 7-Eleven store at Main and Ashford streets on Aug. 4, 2012.

The two men, a 21-year-old and a 24-year-old, were arrested Tuesday evening in Mississauga. Both men are charged with second-degree murder and arson disregard for human life.

Another 30-year-old man from Mississauga was arrested in late August and remains in custody, according to Hamilton Police. He is also facing second-degree murder and arson disregard for human life charges.

Police had been called to the convenience store for a fire and possible explosion around 4 a.m. on Aug. 4. At the time of the fire, the store was under renovations.

Anbari was a construction worker in the space by himself working on the renovations. Autopsy results showed he died of smoke inhalation.

The two men are expected to appear in Hamilton court Wednesday morning.

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Police: bone fragments in Stoney Creek field are animal not human

new

Search continues for remains of Shirley Treadwell

By Flannery Dean, CBC News

Posted: Jan 29, 2013 7:09 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 29, 2013 7:07 AM ET

The search for the remains of a Stoney Creek woman will continue now that bone fragments discovered in a Stoney Creek field last September have been determined to be animal and not human, say Hamilton Police.

Three mounted units began searching the field with U of T forensic expert Tracy Rogers on Nov. 22, 2012, hoping to find the remains of Shirley Treadwell, 62.

Treadwell, a Stoney Creek woman who had a mental disability, is believed to have died in 2009. Police were alerted to her death in July 2012.

Treadwell's niece and caregiver, Melinda Evans, was charged in September of last year with committing an indignity to a human body and fraud. Evans allegedly disposed of her aunt's body and collected disability cheques.

More than 450 bones were collected from a field near Winona, Ont., during the search last November. A handful of those bones which could not be immediately ruled out as being human were sent for further testing. They have now been determined to be bones from an animal, confirmed Detective.-Sgt. Matt Kavanaugh.

The search for Treadwell's remains will continue said Kavanaugh.

"We need some more information from the public or family members or the accused," he added.

University of Toronto forensic expert Dr. Tracy Rogers helped Hamilton Police with the Nov. 22, 2012 search for the remains of Shirley Treadwell. (Adam Carter/CBC) With files from CBC News

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Child shooting victim to be buried in Hamilton

CBC News

Posted: Jan 29, 2013 7:14 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 29, 2013 7:12 AM ET

A nine-year-old Brampton boy who was fatally shot in the head while watching TV last week will be buried in Hamilton on Friday.

Kesean Williams, a Grade 4 student, was shot last Wednesday night and died hours later in hospital of his injuries. Williams spent his childhood in Hamilton up until September 2012, when his family moved to Brampton. He attended Grade 4 at J. Edgar Davey Elementary School.

Visitation will be held Thursday from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Bay Gardens Funeral Home, at 947 Rymal Rd. E.

Williams' funeral is at 10 a.m. on Friday at the same funeral home.

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Tiny red dot on a map could be key to solving Hamilton cold case

The map in Robert Garrow's orange Volkswagen had 27 dots on it.

Inspector Henry McCabe found the document in Garrow's abandoned car. It was 1973 and summer had come to the Adirondacks. McCabe, a detective with the New York State Police, was part of the 200-person manhunt combing the scenic mountains for Garrow, who had just savagely murdered a rope-bound camper.

Garrow would become the state's most infamous serial killer, charged with the death of four people and suspected of many more murders and rapes.

'Garrow was a cordial, polite guy, he never swore, not once. But he was a sadistic killer. Like Jekyll and Hyde.'—John Wood, Garrow case investigator

McCabe held onto the map along with other evidence from the car. The map would become a tantalizing clue that McCabe and other investigators on the case believe points to where dozens of Garrow's victims met their end.

Almost all the dots on the map were clustered in New York State. But Garrow had placed one dot four hours away by car — in Hamilton, Ont.

Adele Komorowski

On May 15, 1973 — two months before McCabe discovered that map — the body of 26-year-old McMaster student Adele Komorowski was found in the woods behind Brandon Hall, a Mac residence.

She had been strangled, her body arched back from the tension on a length of half-inch jute rope expertly tied from her wrists and deeply embedded into her neck. Investigators think the killer had used the rope as a handle to drag Komorowski off the wooded path.

When McMaster security guards found her, she was naked from the waist up, her jeans pulled partially down, as though her killer had been interrupted in his crime. That killer was never found despite years of dogged investigation by Hamilton detectives.

Now Jim Tracy, a New York State author and an expert on the Garrow case, thinks Komorowski was one of the serial killer's victims.

Garrow connection

Jim Tracy, a New York State author and an expert on the Robert Garrow case, thinks Adele Komorowski was one of the serial killer's victims. Courtesy Jim Tracy

How Tracy connected Garrow to Komorowski and how I learned of his discovery is a long, circuitous tale.

In 2000, Tracy was working on a six-part series on Garrow for The Post-Star, a daily newspaper in upstate New York. In the course of his research he interviewed another Garrow case investigator, John Wood.

Wood worked under McCabe on a five-man team on the Garrow case. For months Wood visited Garrow in hospital as he recovered from a shotgun wound suffered when he was arrested in the woods shortly after the July 1973 Adirondack murders.

It was Wood's job to get what information he could from Garrow, playing the good cop to McCabe's tough guy.

"Garrow was a cordial, polite guy, he never swore, not once," says Wood. "But he was a sadistic killer. Like Jekyll and Hyde."

Wood is now retired and living in Saratoga Springs in upstate New York. But he remembers the interviews clearly.

"Garrow used to call me Johnny," he recalls. "He'd say, "Johnny, you sonny gun, you're always trying to get me to talk.'"

Garrow wouldn't admit to anything. But Wood believed the dots on the map spoke volumes.

"The murders we knew of matched some of the dots. We felt he was guilty of many, many more murders than he finally admitted to, and that the dots indicated locations of those crimes," Woods says.

"That was his way of life. That's what he did, travelling from place to place, murdering folks."

Connecting the dots

Writer Jim Tracy says that one of the names Wood tried to get Garrow to talk about decades ago was Adele Komorowski. But it was only a few months ago, while reviewing his 2000 notes for an upcoming book, that Tracy connected the name to another piece of information — the map McCabe found in Garrow's car.

'The Hamilton investigators were coming up on dead end after dead end, but it's clear to me now they may have been looking in entirely the wrong direction.'—Jim Tracy, author

According to Tracy, McCabe told him: "The thing that surprised me was that there was [a dot] in Hamilton Ontario."

Tracy says McCabe told him that the New York State Police got in touch with a local FBI agent who confirmed a young woman had been killed at a campus in Hamilton. "And there was a dot there" McCabe explained to the New York state author.

Henry McCabe died in 2002. But Tracy went online and found mention of a long feature I'd written about the Komorowski story for Hamilton Magazine back in November, 1981. The piece outlined the exhaustive investigation two Hamilton detectives, Clive Paul and Jim Willis, undertook looking for Komorowski's killer.

I emailed Tracy a copy.

"I read the story with a blank-slate mentality because I didn't want to jump to conclusions," Tracy wrote me. "But the more I read, it became chillingly evident it was Garrow. He was a rapist who if the victims cooperated he let them go. If they didn't he killed them.

"She was bound quickly and the investigators concluded it was someone with a farming background. Garrow grew up on a farm and became a skilled farmhand. He butchered animals sold for meat. He used rope on all his victims. He was quite adroit at it," Tracy explained. "The investigators concluded he must have been very strong. Many people who knew Garrow said he was the most physically powerful person they had ever encountered. His strength was notorious."

Tracy also pointed out that a Volkswagen was spotted on Mayfair Crescent, near the head of a trail that meanders behind McMaster University. Garrow drove an orange VW, which is where McCabe found the map in the summer of '73.

"The Hamilton investigators were coming up on dead end after dead end, but it's clear to me now they may have been looking in entirely the wrong direction," he says. "You can't blame them — when Adele was killed, Garrow wasn't known to anyone as a serial killer."

27 dots

Despite all the similarities between Adele Komorowski's killing and Garrow's known murders, it's the map and its 27 dots that intrigue Tracy the most — many of them, in his mind and in the minds of the New York State investigators, represent a brutal, unsolved crime.

'Is it more likely that one of the suspects Jim Wills and Clive Paul favoured is responsible? Probably. But the Garrow information is intriguing, absolutely."—Detective Sargent Dave Beech, Hamilton Police

When Garrow was given a life sentence he admitted to only four killings.

"It took New York state two years to get Garrow convicted on those four local murders down here, and I think the state was exhausted of both energy and resources to pursue any more, especially one in Ontario," says Tracy.

But, the author says, those remaining dots stuck with McCabe until his death.

"It always bothered him until the day he died," says Tracy. "He said, 'If I was one of the parents I would want to know what happened.'"

Tracy has been in touch with Detective Sargent Dave Beech of the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Police. Beech is intrigued by the possible Garrow connection. He plans to check the evidence from the Komorowski case to see if they missed anything in the communications that investigating detectives had with New York State authorities.

He's also going to see if any DNA testing was done on items found at the crime scene. If it has been, he'll check to see if any specimens from Garrow can be tested now.

"Is it more likely that one of the suspects Jim Wills and Clive Paul favoured is responsible? Probably," he says, "but the Garrow information is intriguing, absolutely."

Robert Garrow died in 1978, shot repeatedly during a foiled escape from the Fishkill prison in New York state.

And the map?

Wood says he's got some artefacts from the Garrow case, including the bracelet the serial killer wore in hospital, but he doesn't know what happened to the map.

Tracy says McCabe told him that when the New York State Police moved offices a few years back the map, and the stories marked on its surface, were lost.

Wayne MacPhail was the managing editor and a feature writer for Hamilton Magazine from 1977 to 1983. He currently runs his own emerging media consulting company, w8nc inc., based in Hamilton, and is an online journalism instructor at the University of Western Ontario.

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Mayor to deliver State of the City address on Tuesday

CBC News

Posted: Jan 29, 2013 10:04 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 29, 2013 10:03 AM ET

 

Mayor Bob Bratina is set to deliver his annual State of the City speech before the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

The address, which he'll give at the Grand Olympia banquet hall, comes amid several controversies going on at city hall.

On Monday, the city announced that it had fired 29 public works employees for "neglect of duties, time theft and/or breach of trust."

Another two staff members received 30-day unpaid suspensions.

City manager Chris Murray said on Monday that the city is talking to police about possible charges, and added that the investigation is continuing.

"We're in the process of reviewing their supervisors," he said. "We're not done."

Will the mayor address the situation in his speech?

"He might," said Peggy Chapman, the mayor's chief of staff.

He may also face questions regarding other issues dogging the city, including the continuing debate about prospect of a casino in Hamilton and the local uproar over the hiring of Ottawa firm Dialogue Partners to engage Hamiltonians on civic issues.

Mayor Bratina's speech is expected to begin at 12:20 p.m.

CBC Hamilton will be live-blogging the speech. Visit this page around noon to tune in.

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Ontario's Wynne looks to fix rift with teachers

updated

Incoming premier to meet with caucus

CBC News

Posted: Jan 29, 2013 6:42 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 29, 2013 10:20 AM ET

 

Premier-designate Kathleen Wynne and outgoing Premier Dalton McGuinty pose for media after a meeting at Queen's Park in Toronto on Monday. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)

Incoming Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne is expected to meet with teachers this week in a move aimed at fixing the rift between the Liberal government and the province's public school teachers.

Wynne, who was elected at last weekend's leadership convention in Toronto, faces a number of tough political files, including the province's $12-billion deficit and public anger over cancelled gas plants.

Wynne is expected to meet with the leaders of teachers' unions as soon as today to discuss the issues that have come between education workers and the government.

The Liberal government recently imposed contacts on teachers, using controversial legislation that also allowed it to quash future strikes.

The legislation was subsequently repealed, but that gesture did little to placate teachers and their supporters.

Caucus meeting today

Wynne told CBC Radio's Metro Morning she will do what she can to repair the fractured relationship with teachers.

"We've got to work this out and I am going to be a willing partner in getting us back on track," she said during an interview on Monday.

However, Wynne also told Metro Morning she will not re-open the imposed contracts, saying the province can't afford to spend more.

Wynne is also expected to meet with her Liberal caucus on Tuesday.

Outgoing Premier Dalton McGuinty, who plans to stay on as an MPP until the next election, is expected to sit out the meeting.

It may be an awkward gathering, since only 10 caucus members endorsed Wynne during the three-month leadership campaign.

A total of 25 MPPs backed runner-up Sandra Pupatello, who was leading the race after two ballots but lost on the third when two other candidates threw their support to Wynne.

The Ontario legislature was prorogued when McGuinty announced in Oct. 2012 he was stepping down as leader of the Liberals. Wynne has said she plans to recall the house on Feb. 19.

Now that Wynne has won the leadership, she will become the first female premier in the province's history, as well as the first openly gay premier in Canada.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Award-winning journalist Robert Fisk coming to Hamilton

Meet the man who interviewed Osama Bin Laden three times

By Kaleigh Rogers, CBC News

Posted: Jan 28, 2013 8:10 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 28, 2013 8:08 AM ET

 

He interviewed Osama Bin Laden three times, covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a bestselling author. Now, multiple award-winning journalist Robert Fisk will be visiting Hamilton Monday.

As the foreign correspondent for the British newspaper The Independent for over 30 years, Fisk has become an expert on Middle Eastern affairs. Fisk is also the author of several books and has won the British Press Awards' International Journalist of the Year seven times.

Monday night, he'll address the Hamilton audience with a talk entitled "Arab Awakening, but are we hearing the truth?" He'll also stop by CBC Hamilton for an exclusive interview on Canada's role in the Middle East and changing roles of foreign correspondents. We'll have the full interview available on the site.

Fisk will speak at First Unitarian Church, 170 Dundurn St. S. at 7pm.

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Hamilton: a haven for bedbugs?

Reports of bedbug infestations in Hamilton have "grown exponentially" since 2006, according to the city's public health department.

"I know from our numbers we do have a bad situation even compared to seven years ago," said Matt Lawson, manager of health hazards for Hamilton Public Health.

In fact, calls to the city about the bloodsucking pests doubled each year from 2006 until 2011, when the number peaked at 660. In 2012, public health received 605 bedbug complaints.

"At least we're not accelerating," Lawson said.

Roger Burley, owner of Aanteater Pest Control and Wildlife Services, has been killing pests in Hamilton for almost 14 years. Burley told CBC Hamilton he has seen bedbug levels in the city virtually double each year, too.

"Hamilton is very badly infested," Burley said. "It's much worse than surrounding areas."

Aside from Hamilton, Aanteater also offers pest control services to Burlington, Oakville, Toronto, Mississauga, and Brampton. Out of all those places, Hamilton has the worst bedbug problem, he says.

Now, the infestation in the city is reaching a point of saturation, he says, meaning that almost everyone that is going to get bedbugs has them. In other words — they've peaked, but not in a good way.

Moving into the core

The figures Lawson receives at Hamilton Public Health don't give an exact number of cases in the city — in all likelihood, they're actually much higher. The only time his department gets involved with bedbugs is when a landlord or tenant calls to complain about the situation in their residence. Many times, it's dealt with privately.

But the numbers Lawson sees can be used as a guide that showcases an upward trend, he says. And when it comes to a specific area, Burley says 90 per cent of the cases he's called in to treat are in the downtown core.

This crowd-sourced map shows some of the hotspots for bedbug infestation in Hamilton. (Bedbugregistry.com)

A crowd-sourced map from Bedbugregistry.com shows a similar trend: almost all of the reported cases come from the downtown core. Bedbugregistry.com lets people upload their experiences with bedbugs at a specific address and post them on a map.

Tanya Ritchie has been renting out properties in downtown Hamilton for 10 years, and she says the bedbug problem has "absolutely" gotten worse in the last five years or so.

"It's certainly become more common," she said. Ritchie is also one of the owner/operators of the Hamilton Guesthouse, and says she "mercifully" hasn't had to ever deal with bedbugs there.

But her tenants have in other places. "It's so horrible," Ritchie said. "It's expensive, and I hate to think of what it's like for people with these things in their bed."

A problem of density

According to Lawson, Hamilton's problem is density. With around 14,000 not-for-profit housing units in the downtown core, the pests can be notoriously hard to eradicate, he says.

But Lawson was also quick to point out that people in a lower income bracket are not more prone to bedbug infestation than anyone else.

"Anyone can get bedbugs," he said. "It doesn't discriminate."

But density sure does help them out. With lots of apartments tightly packed into small spaces, the bugs have lots of places to hide. Often when one unit in an apartment is treated, the bedbugs scurry into surrounding units, Lawson says. So if one apartment has them, the apartments surrounding it need to be treated as well, he says.

"It needs to be a systemic process," Lawson said.

Not your average bookworm

The problem has gotten so bad that the Hamilton Public Library has had to drastically step up its commitment to bedbug prevention and control.

Last week, the library announced it's allotting $200,000 from its budget to stomping out bedbugs at its branches in 2013.

Hamilton libraries to spend $200K fighting bedbugs in 2013

"We've opted to be as proactive as we can be," said Paul Takala, Hamilton Public Library CEO. "We've never had an infestation at any of our branches."

But they have found traces of bedbugs, like shell casings and eggs. "That's really symptomatic of the presence in the community," Takala said.

It's a problem they've had to adjust to quickly. In 2011, the library system spent just over $500 on bedbug prevention and treatment. That number skyrocketed to over $145,000 last year. This year, it will take an additional $55,000 to keep Hamilton's libraries pest-free, Takala says.

Because Hamilton's libraries received around 3.8 million visits last year, it's an inescapable problem, he added. "If even a small percentage of those people had bedbugs, they could get into the library," he said.

Lawson's hope is because the number of calls to the city in 2012 dropped slightly, Hamilton will see even fewer bedbug related issues in 2013. But there's really no way to be sure.

"From what we've seen in the past, they certainly haven't shown they're predictable."

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Autopsy of torso found in Kitchener set for Monday in Hamilton

The Canadian Press

Posted: Jan 28, 2013 9:55 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 28, 2013 9:22 AM ET

A human torso that was found in a Kitchener garbage bin is scheduled to undergo an autopsy in Hamilton on Monday.

Police say the remains were discovered around 11 a.m. on Saturday behind an apartment building in the Kitchener's north end.

Investigators say the torso is that of a white woman of unknown age and identity.

Police say the woman wore a black T-shirt with the words "Forget princess I want to be a vampire" on the front.

Insp. Kevin Thaler says police want to hear from anyone who may have spotted any suspicious activity in the area.

"There are people out there that will know what happened here, and why it happened here," Thaler told a news conference.

"We`ll appeal to anybody with information to come forward and … give peace of mind to a family at least and identify who this person is."

Police have not recovered any other body parts.

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Public schools closed, Catholic open in Hamilton

updated

CBC News

Posted: Jan 28, 2013 7:13 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 28, 2013 9:44 AM ET

 

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board has closed all schools and board administrative facilities due to freezing rain conditions.

The school board announced that all exams scheduled for Monday will be held Tuesday.

HWDSB Corporate Communications Manager, Jackie Penman said that it is the board's policy to close all schools and cancel all school buses when driving conditions become dangerous.

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board has cancelled buses Monday. However, schools remain open.

Classes at both McMaster University and Mohawk College are on as scheduled.

Below is a complete list of school and school bus service closures for the Hamilton and the GTA, which was hit by snow and freezing rain on Monday morning.

• Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic No buses but schools are open Hamilton-Wentworth public Classes cancelled and no bus service.
• Toronto District and Toronto Catholic school boards: no cancellations to classes or school bus service.
• Dufferin-Peel Catholic and Peel public: school buses cancelled across entire region.
• York Public and York Catholic school buses and student taxis cancelled across the region.
• Durham Public and Durham Catholic Buses cancelled north of Highway 7/Winchester Road; schools are open.
• Halton student transportation cancelled in all public, Catholic and French language schools.
• Waterloo public and Catholic: school buses, taxis cancelled.

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29 Hamilton city workers fired: City Manager says 'We're not done'

live blog

City talking to Hamilton police about possible charges

CBC News

Posted: Jan 28, 2013 9:41 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 28, 2013 10:38 AM ET

 

The City of Hamilton has fired 29 employees for "neglect of duties, time theft and/or breach of trust." Another two employees received 30-day unpaid suspensions.

City Manager Chris Murray told CBC Hamilton the investigation began in October of last year after concerns about the performance of some workers doing asphalt repair for the city were raised.

Murray said the investigation looked at "what crews were doing with their time. What we found was there was little work going on. Crews were taking long breaks. Some days doing little work at all."

Murray said, in a press release, "building trust and confidence in our services is critical to our collective work and we must be diligent in doing our work in an ethical and responsible way. This is an expectation that the community has of us. I believe what has transpired is serious and therefore requires immediate and significant action. I want to stress this is not a reflection on our entire work force. The vast majority of employees of the City are dedicated public servants, providing essential services to our community."

'We're not done'

Murray said the city is talking to police about possible charges and added that the investigation is continuing. "We're in the process of reviewing their supervisors. We're not done."

Gerry Davis, General Manager of Public Works said in a release "we are taking this situation very seriously. The inappropriate behaviour of this group of employees is very disappointing, but it is not reflective of all Public Works staff. Overall, Public Works is comprised of dedicated and faithful employees who take pride in the work they do to provide the services our community relies on."

The city's general issues committee will get a report on Monday regarding the public works staff. The workers were on leave with pay pending the outcome of an investigation.

CBC Hamilton's Cory Ruf will report live from the city's general issues committee hearing Monday morning.

More to come.

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Stefan Chaput scores shootout winner for Hamilton in 2-1 victory

The Canadian Press

Posted: Jan 27, 2013 9:46 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 27, 2013 9:41 AM ET

 

Stefan Chaput scored the decisive shootout goal as the league-worst Hamilton Bulldogs edged the Lake Erie Monsters 2-1 in American Hockey League play Saturday.

Chaput's goal came in the ninth round of a shootout that had only featured two prior goals.

Gabriel Dumont's short-handed goal gave the Bulldogs (14-21-6) the lead at 17:10 in the second period.

But Bill Thomas tied the game for Lake Erie (23-16-4) on the power play at 6:47 in the third.

Hamilton goaltender Cedrick Desjardins made 22 saves, while at the other end Sami Aittokallio stopped 33 shots.

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Water main break soaks Hamilton City Centre

CBC News

Posted: Jan 26, 2013 6:38 PM ET

Last Updated: Jan 27, 2013 12:16 AM ET

 

Firefighters were soaked by a water main break at the Hamilton City Centre Saturday evening.

Crews were called to the shopping centre around 5:30 p.m. Water was pouring from the ceiling at the York Street entrance and pooling at the feet of firefighters trying to contain the leak.

Police say the water had been shut off by 5:45 p.m., and city crews had begun cleaning up the mess. No one was reported injured.

Around the same time, Upper Gage Avenue was blocked both ways between Seventh Avenue and Fennell Avenue East for a water main break, police say.

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It's a Wynne-win for Ontario Liberals

Kathleen Wynne will be Ontario's first female premier after dramatic movements on the convention floor earned her the endorsement of two former rivals and propelled her to a third-ballot victory on Saturday.

Those endorsements, from Mississauga South MPP Charles Sousa and former Toronto MP and MPP Gerard Kennedy, came after the second ballot and pushed Wynne past longtime Liberal Sandra Pupatello, who up to that point held a slight lead between the two clear frontrunners.

"That was a critical moment when [Sousa] moved across the floor to us," Wynne told CBC's Susana Mas. Sousa and Kennedy were critical, she said, and would determine the winner. When she saw Sousa, Wynne didn't know at first where he was going.

"But when he started to move to us we thought, 'OK, this is fantastic momentum. We really are on our way,'" she said.

Wynne's victory on the third and final ballot came by a vote of 1,150 to 866 over Pupatello. The pair appeared together on stage and joined hands after the final results were announced.

Wynne said the province is ready to accept an openly gay woman as premier.

"The province has changed, our party has changed. I do not believe that the people of Ontario ... hold that prejudice in their hearts," said Wynne, who is married to Jane Rounthwaite.

In a show of party unity, Wynne then asked all the candidates and all the Liberal caucus members to join her on stage.

"This is a dream team of candidates, this is a very deep bench," said Wynne after thanking all the candidates, her family and the campaign team.

She said with the "easy part" now over, her party must be ready for an election that could come as soon as this year.

"It's about taking the momentum and getting back to the legislature, getting to work and showing the people of Ontario that we can govern in a minority parliament," she said.

Five of the six candidates, including Wynne, represent Toronto, but Wynne said she would be "premier for the whole province."

Pupatello, Hudak, Harper offer congratulations

Pupatello congratulated Wynne and praised the Liberal team.

"Tonight we made history," said Pupatello. "Our final ballot had two strong women on the ballot."

Wynne said Tim Hudak, Progressive Conservative leader, was the first politician to call and congratulate her.

"It was great, great of him to reach out," she said.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement Saturday congratulating Wynne and saying he looks forward to working with her "on addressing issues that matter to Ontarians, and in particular the creation of jobs and economic growth."

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford also issued a congratulatory message to Wynne.

Wynne takes over a party with plenty of political baggage, including a $12-billion deficit and a soured relationship with the province's teachers, once a traditional base of Liberal support.

How Wynne won

Wynne, MPP for Don Valley West, finished second on the second ballot with 750 votes while Pupatello appeared to be in good position with 817.

Kennedy had 285 second-round votes to Sousa's 203.

Kennedy was expected to back Wynne but Sousa's endorsement came as a surprise.

In explaining his decision, Sousa told reporters he felt Wynne "has what it takes" to help the province return to fiscal balance while maintaining social programs.

"What's important is that we ensure that we renew our economy so we can afford social programs, health care, education and that we ensure that we balance our fiscal matters for the long term and I believe Kathleen has what it takes," Sousa said.

St. Paul's MPP Eric Hoskins threw his support to Wynne after finishing last among the six candidates in the opening round. Harinder Takhar dropped out to back Pupatello shortly afterward.

Some speculated that Pupatello's lack of a seat in Queen's Park and her desire to call a byelection before bringing back the legislature may have turned the tide in Wynne's favour.

Jackie Blackett, speaking from Toronto's gay village, said Wynne represents a refreshing change in Ontario politics.

"I think it's great," Blackett told CBC News. "It should be an equal opportunity for everyone. It just shows that society has really progressed. Personally I don't think anyone's sexual orientation should be a factor."

With files from The Canadian Press

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Ancaster fire causes 700K in damages

CBC News

Posted: Jan 27, 2013 9:24 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 27, 2013 9:23 AM ET

 

Intense flames gutted a home in Ancaster early Sunday morning.

Fire crews were called to 302 Lloyminn Avenue, by Lover's Lane and Sulphur Springs Road, at around 4:30 a.m.

They found a home that was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters searched the property, and confirmed the homeowners were not home.

Due to the severity of the fire, additional crews were brought in to douse the flames, and a crew from public works was dispatched to spread salt on the roads, which were freezing due to the water being pumped.

The Office of the Fire Marshal has been contacted to help find a cause for the fire. Due to the heavy damage to the home, the cost is estimated at $700,000, officials say. The homeowners have reported they are insured.

No one was injured.

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Hamilton teachers join thousands protesting Liberal leadership convention

Party will select new leader, premier in Saturday's voting

CBC News

Posted: Jan 26, 2013 11:42 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 27, 2013 9:42 AM ET

 

Hundreds of Hamilton teachers and support staff were among a crowd of thousands protesting outside the Ontario Liberal leadership convention venue on Saturday in downtown Toronto.

"People are really pumped," said Chantal Mancini, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) district 21 teachers bargaining unit.

Mancini says the crowd was even bigger than she expected, with lots of members driving in with their families to the Mattamy Athletic Centre, located inside the former Maple Leaf Gardens.

Tim Page and his family were among hundreds of teachers protesting outside the Liberal leadership convention in Toronto Saturday. (Courtesy Antonietta Sanders)

"I've seen tons of our members — there's so many," Mancini said.

Protesters began gathering Saturday morning at Allan Gardens, a park that is just a short walk from the site of the leadership convention.

At its peak, the mass of protesters was estimated to be 10,000 to 15,000, the CBC's Steven D'Souza reported.

The groups taking part in the protest included members of the Ontario Federation of Labour, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, the Canadian Auto Workers, as well as major public-sector teachers' unions.

While many of these larger groups were in Toronto to protest the government's anti-strike legislation used to impose contracts on teachers, D'Souza said there were other smaller groups present Saturday for separate issues involving the government.

Some protesters were present outside the leadership convention from the early morning, while a much larger mass of protesters participated in a march that began in nearby Allan Gardens and circled past the convention.

Toronto police commended protest organizers for keeping things peaceful and without incident on Saturday, D'Souza said.

New premier to be named

The Liberals are in the midst of a leadership renewal process that was prompted by the resignation of Premier Dalton McGuinty, who announced that he was stepping down in October but agreed to stay on until the party selects a new leader.

The Liberals enraged many educators in the public school system by imposing contracts on teachers through the use of controversial legislation that also gave the government the power to quash strikes.

While the government has since repealed Bill 115, also known as the Putting Students First Act, the rift between the teachers and the Liberals has not been healed. That's the same legislation that many unions have opposed, including those involved in the protest on Saturday.

Public elementary teachers launched a series of rotating, one-day strikes in December to protest the bill.

Mancini says no matter who ends up winning the Liberal leadership race, she hopes the winning candidate will be "sympathetic to bargaining rights" and sit down with teachers to have some "much needed dialogue."

"We just want to have a conversation about respecting education workers," she said.

With files from CBC's Steven D'Souza and the Canadian Press

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Parent rally in support of teachers a warmup for Saturday protest

By Kaleigh Rogers, CBC News

Posted: Jan 25, 2013 7:22 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 25, 2013 4:43 PM ET

 

A group of Hamilton parents and community members gathered outside City Hall on Friday in support of teachers, calling it "a warm up" for a larger rally planned for Saturday outside the Liberal leadership convention in Toronto.

"We came out here today to show support for the teachers and to the other education workers who have been so negatively impacted by [Bill 115]," said Lee Gowers, president of the Ontario Federation of Home and School Associations, who came out to the rally.

'Teachers are constantly receiving that negative message from the media: parents are mad at you. Well, I guess we figured out parents are mad, but today tells us who they're really mad at.'—Tania Kerr, Hamilton Wentworth elementary teachers local

Saturday's gathering has attracted interest from thousands of teachers, union workers, students, parents and retirees, according to the Ontario Federation of Labour, who are helping organize the event. Both a protest outside the convention at Maple Leaf Gardens and a march are planned.

The province's teachers were in contract negotiations much of last year and many are still balking at the imposed contract under Bill 115, which they say stripped them of their rights to negotiate. Most teachers are still refraining from participating in extra-curricular activities such as music groups and sports teams as a result.

Kathleen Quinn attended Friday's gathering and plans to march in Toronto Saturday. As a school volunteer and the daughter of a teacher, she said she's seen first-hand the struggles facing education workers.

"I think it's sad that this is happening, not only to our educators but we've seen it happen to Air Canada and our postal workers. We're attacking our workers and our unions, so we really need to stand up for what's right," she said.

Susan Pretula holds a sign at a small gathering of parents in support of teachers outside Hamilton City Hall on Friday. (Kaleigh Rogers/CBC)

"The labour movement isn't dead."

Tania Kerr, vice president of Hamilton Wentworth elementary teachers local, came to the City Hall protest to thank everyone for their support.

"Teachers are constantly receiving that negative message from the media: parents are mad at you. Well, I guess we figured out parents are mad, but today tells us who they're really mad at," Kerr said.

Many Hamilton teachers and education workers have already said they plan to attend Saturday's rally and supporters have organized shuttle buses to get Hamiltonians into downtown Toronto.

While chilly winter weather kept Friday's gathering down to only a couple dozen supporters, Quinn said she will be in Toronto Saturday, snow or shine.

"I've got my warm clothes. If it means standing up for democracy, a little weather isn't going to stop me."

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Policing costs crippling Festival of Friends, organizer says

By Adam Carter, CBC News

Posted: Jan 25, 2013 9:57 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 25, 2013 5:31 PM ET

 

The cost of hiring police officers is crippling the Festival of Friends, says the event's general manager.

"A $40,000 increase in policing is about 10 per cent of our cash operations," Loren Lieberman told CBC Hamilton.

And that increase is what his organization is facing after the 2012 season, he says.

'It just doesn't make sense. It's a 700 per cent increase in the contracted position from the cops.'—Loren Lieberman Festival of Friends

To that end, Lieberman is asking the police bill to be transferred to the city so the festival can remain viable. The police contract would then be "assigned to the appropriate department within the city of Hamilton."

"It just doesn't make sense," Lieberman said. "It's a 700 per cent increase in the contracted position from the cops." [See a graph outlining the festival's police expenditures from the last nine months as provided by Lieberman here.]

"Now, we have no issues with the police beyond the financial liability," Lieberman said. "It's just too small an organization, and we don't have any fat to cut."

Washed out

The Festival of Friends has had to deal with some deep-seated financial stresses in 2012. According to an independent auditor's report of its finances, the festival was almost $81,000 in the hole last year.

Torrential rains also put a damper on the festivities at the Ancaster fairgrounds this summer, keeping much of the crowd away.

"Overall, it was among the worst years we've ever had," Lieberman said. "We've never had such constant, reoccurring rain."

But there are few places left for the free festival to trim the fat, he says. "I can't pay less in rent when we've closed the office, and I can't pay less in salaries when there's nobody getting paid.

"So if we have anywhere to cut cash from, it's the performer budget," he said. "And if we cut the performer budget, what do I need more police for?"

Lieberman is also frustrated that there's no mechanism in place by which his organization can work things out with the police, he says.

"They said to deal with the city," Lieberman said. "So here I am."

Police spokesperson Catherine Martin told CBC Hamilton Friday afternoon that she couldn't yet speak on the issue, as it hadn't yet been brought to the police's attention as a formal request.

"I suspect we will receive information from council at a later date," Martin said.

A widespread problem?

Some Hamilton councillors are worried the problems brought to council Friday don't begin and end with the Festival of Friends. Both Coun. Lloyd Ferguson and Coun. Judi Partridge voiced concerns from other organizations they'd heard from in regards to the price of police at events.

"I do see some trends here," Ferguson told CBC Hamilton. "We need to follow up on this and hear from the police as to what's going on."

To that end, Ferguson tabled a motion to council that groups continue interm payments with policing costs for now, but for the issue to be moved to the grants committee so a "citywide resolution" can be found.

Partridge seconded the motion. "Policing costs are crippling these agencies."

Invariably, the idea of charging an admission fee for the festival reared its head - but Lieberman summarily shot it down.

"The clearest covenant we have with the city of Hamilton is … you, the city, give us money to entertain Hamiltonians for free," he said.

"We could make more money — but then we wouldn't be the Festival of Friends."

The Gage Park move

The festival's move from Gage park to the Ancaster Fairgrounds has long been a sore spot for many Hamiltonians — but Lieberman says it actually makes things better, from a policing perspective.

"We're a much more contained, easier to police event than we ever were in Gage Park," he said, adding that police did have some concerns in years past that audiences couldn't be contained after Gage Park shows.

"Now they're not stomping on Mrs. Johnson's lilies anymore - they're taking the bus or walking through fields," he said.

Lieberman did offer one tongue in cheek solution to bringing out crowds to the festival no matter the weather. "Mean, dirty rock and roll fans" would be more inclined to party in the rain and tough out the mud, he says.

"But I can't just book mud music."

Festival of Friends Budget 2013 (PDF)
Festival of Friends Budget 2013 (Text)

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Hamilton boy killed in Brampton shooting an 'active, energetic kid'

A nine-year-old Brampton boy who was fatally shot in the head while watching TV was from Hamilton, having moved from the city about five months ago.

Kesean Williams, a Grade 4 student, was shot Wednesday night and died hours later in hospital of his injuries. No arrests have been made yet.

'It's totally unfathomable to think that, as I say, a young child sitting in his home, in the comfort of his own home, that something as tragic as this could happen.'—George Koekkoek, Peel Regional Police

Kesean, his 15-year-old brother and his mother moved into the Brampton house last week. His brother and mother are "obviously devastated," said Peel Regional Police Acting Supt. George Koekkoek.

Kesean spent his childhood in Hamilton up until September 2012, when his family moved to Brampton.

He attended Grade 4 at J. Edgar Davey Elementary School and played in the Central City Soccer League. According to a Facebook post on his memorial page, Kesean's team won the championship in 2011.

The youngster also spent many of his after-school hours playing in nearby Beasley Park, where he shot hoops with friends and learned how to skateboard.

Kesean Williams learned how to skateboard in Hamilton's Beasley Park. (Cory Ruf/CBC)

"He was pretty fearless and quite the little athlete ... a really active, energetic kid," said 35-year-old Pete Hanson, a member of the Hamilton Skateboard Assembly, a group that refurbishes old boards to give to children and teaches them how to ride.

"The average kid hounds me to death to get them stuff, and when I do get them a board it's not good enough," he said, but Kesean "stood out."

"I got him a board and I never heard him complain about anything," Hanson said.

"Same with his skateboarding. He didn't complain about anything. He just skated."

"He was like a little big man."

Shareen Foldowan is a resident of Meridian Cooperative Homes at 185 Ferguson Ave. North in Hamilton, the building where Kesean grew up. "I'm in shock," she told CBC Hamilton.

"Poor little guy, I remember holding him when he was born."

Foldowan called Kesean and his older brother "Great, great kids." She said Kesean's brother often helped her in her garden behind the complex.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said her daughter went to high school with Tanya Garvey, Kesean's mother.

The notice posted to a cork board by the elevator at Meridian Co-operative Homes, where Kesean Williams and his family lived until September 2012. (Cory Ruf/CBC)

"First off, I just didn't believe it," the former neighbour said, describing her initial reaction to news of the tragedy. "Then I was like, 'Why did she ever move away?'"

She recalled Kesean and his older brother were very polite. "[They] always said 'Yes, ma'am.'

"Adorable kids," she sighed. "It's a shame."

The woman said she didn't know why the family had moved away, adding that Garvey was "a little more private."

"She's a lovely girl. She must be in pieces."

Johanna Crites, a property manager for the building, posted a note about Kesean's death on a ground-floor message board.

"Everybody's shocked and very saddened by the news," she told CBC Hamilton.

"Even though [Tanya] no longer lives at this property, this is a community. Co-ops are a little bit different from townhouse complexes or apartment buildings, normal rentals.

"You're a little bit more involved."

Police appeal

"It's totally unfathomable to think that, as I say, a young child sitting in his home, in the comfort of his own home, that something as tragic as this could happen," said Peel Police's Koekkoek.

Police don't know who the target may have been, but they are also looking at the previous tenants of the Brampton house, Koekkoek said.

"Our information to date and what we've learned thus far leads us to believe that it was the house that was targeted," he said.

Kesean Williams grew up in Hamilton at Meridian Cooperative Homes, at 185 Ferguson Ave. North. (Cory Ruf/CBC)

"That said, it's early on in the investigation and we're trying to confirm that, so we're open to other things as well, but that's what we believe."

Police seized a taxi at the site of the shooting in Brampton and three people are being interviewed as witnesses.

Police are canvassing the neighbourhood, interviewing hundreds of residents, and have descriptions of people who were seen running from the area.

Peel Regional Police Chief Jennifer Evans urged those people to assist with the investigation in any way they can.

"We rely on our community to join in these efforts and provide any information possible that's going to lead to identification of the person or persons responsible for this horrible crime," she said.

At the time of his death, the boy was a student at Sir Winston Churchill Public School in Brampton. Members of the Peel District School Board's critical incident response team have been sent to the school to provide support to students and staff.

A letter has also been sent home to parents with tips on how to help their children deal with the tragedy.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Decline in Hamilton's smoking rates may have hit a wall

By Kaleigh Rogers, CBC News

Posted: Jan 26, 2013 9:05 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 26, 2013 9:03 AM ET

 

National Non-Smoking Week draws to a close Saturday, but in Hamilton and across the province, efforts to reduce the number of smokers is an issue tackled 365 days of the year.

In 2006, the provincial government passed the Smoke Free Ontario Act which, along with outlawing smoking in restaurants and bars, set out several guidelines to help reach a goal of having the lowest smoking rates in the country — and maybe even North America.

In Hamilton, the multipronged efforts have seen a steady decline in the number of smokers, according to Kevin McDonald, manager at Hamilton Public Health Services. Through prevention, protection and cessation efforts, Hamilton has seen smoking rates among adults over the age of 15 drop from 27 per cent to 19.5 per cent in 10 years.

"We're seeing fairly significant declines, so we're encouraged," McDonald said. But he added that the decline seems to have hit a wall in recent years.

"The last few years, we've kind of seen a flatline. We're getting to a really crucial point where there is a hardening group of long-time smokers who are harder to reach."

Reaching stubborn smokers

Hamilton's smoking rate has stayed steady since 2009, and though 19.5 per cent puts Hamilton at the 10th lowest rate out of 36 public health units in the province, it's a long way from Ontario's goal of a single-digit smoking rate.

Still, McDonald was optimistic the ongoing efforts and some new initiatives could help lend momentum to Hamilton's decline in smokers.

Education services for youth have helped curb new smokers, and cessation clinics that offer free access to nicotine replacement therapy have helped those who want to quit succeed. But the best way to tackle more stubborn smokers is through policy, Mcdonald said.

"There's good evidence to suggest that the more prohibitions you place on smoking, the more it stimulates people to decide to quit," he said.

Simply put, if you make it harder for people to smoke, you make it easier for them to quit.

Hamilton has passed by-laws to help spur this effect, such as one passed last May that prohibits smoking within city parks and recreation properties. More could be in the works, McDonald said, like restrictions on smoking in multi-unit dwellings like apartment buildings.

Poverty a factor

But Hamilton faces unique challenges in reducing smoking rates. A large number of residents living in poverty leads to higher rates of cheap, illegal contraband cigarettes — something public health has no control over.

Considering this issue, McDonald said curbing smoking rates as much as they have should be seen as a success.

"There's always room for improvement, but as a community dealing with fairly acute poverty, [the rates] are an achievement."

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Abandoned house burned beyond recognition, fire officials say

CBC News

Posted: Jan 26, 2013 10:36 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 26, 2013 10:35 AM ET

 

Hamilton fire crews spent hours on Friday night dousing an abandoned property so scorched by flames that firefighters can't even begin to figure out how it started, officials say.

"It's so heavily damaged that we're just boarding up the whole property," said Dave Christopher, fire safety officer with the Hamilton Fire Department.

Crews were called to Scenic Drive and Sanatorium Road by Chedoke Park just before midnight. The house that was burning has been an issue for firefighters in the past, Christopher says.

The house was not connected to power or gas, so it's possible the fire was suspicious, he added. "But because it's so heavily damaged it's almost impossible to determine a cause," Christopher said.

The Ontario Fire Marshal has not been called because there is so little of the property left to identify, Christopher says.

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White Star proposes eight-storey building for King and Sanford

By Denise Davy, Special to CBC News

Posted: Jan 25, 2013 7:22 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 25, 2013 6:57 AM ET

 

Owners of a block of land on the corner of King and Sanford streets that's listed for $2.5 million say they're hoping to cash in the growing number of people who want to live near the Hamilton core.

The property, bordered by King, Sanford and Arthur streets, is just over one acre. It consists of the old Rocque restaurant and Superior Signs building, both of which have closed, plus a vacant lot.

Marino Rakovac is founder of White Star Group, which has owned the property since 1978. He said the company originally listed the land as three separate properties, but two weeks ago decided to sell the whole block as one package.

They have a plan for the site that includes the construction of a 120-unit, eight-storey building. Rakovac said if no developer is secured, the company will consider either building it themselves or going in on a joint venture.

The King and Sanford property is currently zoned commercial /residential but only allows one-storey buildings. Rakovac said that the official plan allows for buildings up to eight-storeys and that city staff have "responded favourably" during preliminary consultations.

Everything currently on the site would be demolished, including eight apartments above the stores that were built about 20 years ago.

Need for rental housing

An architectural drawing of a building proposed for the lot bordered by King, Sanford and Arthur streets. (Courtesy Chase Realty Inc.)

Rakovac said more people are moving to Hamilton, but there aren't a lot of affordable rental options.

Listing broker Angie Ammendolia, with Chase Realty, said only two rental buildings have been built in Hamilton since 1975.

"The population is growing and people are moving here because it's more affordable, but you've got a limited stock of rentals," said Ammendolia.

"We felt the market was right. There's limited inventory along King Street and very few rentals," said Rakovac.

The upcoming expansion of GO train service, plus the fact the land is on the LRT route, means the location would be perfect for commuters, Rakovac added.

"A key factor for us is the GO station, because it will push up the demand. You hear of people wanting to move here from Toronto but they don't want to fight the traffic. When the GO station goes in, it will change all that," said Rakovac.

"It's near the core and it's going to mean more people living in the core area and it will help promote and intensify an infrastructure that's already there," said Rakovac.

White Star Group is behind the West Harbour Villa at Tiffany Square, a high-end condominium redevelopment on Bay and Stuart streets.

Street view

A Google Street View of the area White Star Group is proposing for redevelopment. The existing structures would be replaced with an eight-storey residential building.

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Parents to rally at City Hall in support of teachers

By Kaleigh Rogers, CBC News

Posted: Jan 25, 2013 7:22 AM ET

Last Updated: Jan 25, 2013 6:58 AM ET

 

Hamilton parents and community members upset with the province's dealings with teacher negotiations are planning to gather at City Hall in a show of support Friday afternoon.

"The teachers were planning on holding another strike, but they were denied that right, so we decided to strike in their place," Tanya Ritchie, organizer of the demonstration, said.

"We think what the teachers are fighting for is very important. The government's action is not fair and will be long-reaching in its effect."

Ritchie, who has a daughter in school, emphasized that even the government's decision to repeal Bill 115 wasn't enough.

"That repeal is not worth the paper it's printed on," she said.

The province's teachers were in contract negotiations much of last year and many are still balking at the imposed contract under Bill 115, which they say have stripped them of their rights to negotiations. Most teachers are still refraining from participating in extra-curricular activities such as music groups and sports teams.

Parents have had mixed reactions to the ongoing tension between the province and the teachers, but about 100 Hamiltonians have signed up to attend the demonstration Friday in support of teachers.

"A lot of teachers have sent me messages saying it's extremely important to them to see this support," Ritchie said.

"The teachers I've talked to at my daughter's school said they really appreciate it."

The demonstration will take place at 1 p.m. outside Hamilton City Hall.

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Five surprising reasons to warm up to the cold weather

Hamiltonians chorused a collective "Brrrrrr…" this week as temperatures fell as low as -15 C in the city. Intense cold, like any extreme weather, comes with a host of negative consequences — frostbite, dry skin, high heating bills, perpetually runny noses.

But the deep freeze has come with at least a few silver linings for the Hamilton area — tangible things, not just added excuses to drink hot chocolate in profuse qualities.

Skeptical? After reading this list, maybe you'll warm to the cold.

1. Local ice wine

The cold snap has been a major boon to southern Ontario vineyards, which make about 75 per cent of Canada's ice wine. Winemakers need to pick and press their grapes when the mercury falls below -8 degrees Celsius for the resulting elixir to legally qualify as ice wine.

Richie Roberts, winemaker at Fielding Estates winery, says this year has been particularly good weather because the temperatures have dropped during the day as well as at night, giving them more time to pick. Still, the cold is a double-edged sword.

"We're excited, but we do feel the cold too," he says. "It's bittersweet."

Bruce Nicholson, winemaker at Inniskillin, says the current conditions are ideal for creating the tasty tipple.

"You want a bit of an extended cold spell, just like we've had," he says. "I get better concentration and better flavours."

2. Fresher air

Hamilton in the winter may not smell like a bed of roses, but the cold, in general, improves air quality in the city.

When cooled, air loses its moisture and, in turn, has less capacity to carry particulate matter — meaning smells from your neighbour's Green Bin or Fido's front yard business are less likely to make their way to your nostrils. There's something to be said for the fresh, winter air.

There are many negatives to the icy temperature for people with respiratory problems, though, according to Gerald Cox, a respirologist with Hamilton's Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health.

"Cold air is irritating to the respiratory tract," Cox says, adding he encourages people with asthma to breathe slowly through the nose when the weather gets chilly.

3. Boom time for travel industry

A drawn-out visit from Jack Frost spells jackpot, at least for the city's travel agents.

"I have noticed more people are looking for last minute deal because of this weather," says Dolly Aurora, a consultant with Steel City Travel.

She estimates the cold weather has resulted in a 15 to 20 per cent jump in sales, with many of her clients looking to book a jaunt to balmy locales such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

"Obviously, when the cold hits, people are thinking about the tropical weather, the beach and the sun."

Pam Harwood is a branch manager at Senior Tours Canada, a downtown travel agency that caters to adults over 50. She put the phenomenon this way: "When it's really cold, a lot of people are going to be walking in. When it's a nice day, it's not going to be so busy."

4. Better conditions for recreation

One no-brainer benefit to the cold is stronger, longer-lasting ice rinks. Backyard rinks will be given a boost, but many communities have also created volunteer ice rinks this year, according to Kelly Anderson of the city's public works department.

A more surprising benefit: the cold can actually create better conditions for local baseball fields, which will pay off when the warm weather returns, Anderson said.

"The cold temperatures have allowed frost into the ground, which allows us to top-up baseball diamonds with stone dust," she said, meaning the fields will be in better shape come springtime.

5. Surprising health benefits

While wearing layers is important to avoid the negative health effects of the cold — as in frost bite and hypothermia — the chilly temperatures can bring some health benefits, as well.

One study last year found that colder temperatures can help the body burn more calories, as our metabolisms speed up to generate more body heat.

And when the temperatures drop, certain disease-carrying bugs — like West Nile infectious mosquitos — can't stand the temperatures and start to drop too.

Cold temperatures even help to reduce inflammation in tissues and joints, and the pain that goes with it. Some spas offer cold therapy as a special treatment for sports injuries. Why shell out for a spa when we've got cold therapy for free in Hamilton?

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