At its most recent meeting, Community Housing Hamilton approved the establishment of a non-profit corporation that would operate as part of the social housing provider. Reached by the Bay Observer, Adam Sweedland CHH’s CEO, said the move would make it easier for the organization to entertain proposals like the one last year by Vrancor group who offered to make a donation of an apartment tower as part of a larger development that would see a mix of at-market and public housing.

Sweedland wrote, “If approved, and subject to the CRA approved charitable objectives, it may make a proposal, such as that made by Vrancor previously, a possibility. However, any such proposal would still need to be approved based on its merits and suitability for CHH.”

“Moreover,” he added, “a non-profit corporation would be able to apply for grants and funding for tenant programs and services not currently available to CHH as a corporation incorporated under the Business Corporations Act. The ability to issue charitable receipts is expected to help attract corporate grants and sponsorships and support future fundraising efforts for which tax receipts are usually expected.”

Seeking charitable status from the Canada Revenue Agency will likely take 12-15 months. The proposed change would then have to go to the City of Hamilton as the sole-shareholder of CHH for its ratification of the Board’s decision

Vranich’s proposal, submitted in January 2024,  was to construct two apartment towers on a block of property he owns at King Street East and Sanford; one would contain 15 stories of market-rate apartments, the other would be 12 stories in height and consist of 131 affordable housing units. The affordable housing tower would be handed over to the city after 20 years.

As part of his estate planning, Darko Vranich proposed establishing a charitable foundation which would subsidize the rent of the affordable units in order to keep the monthly rent at $1,100 per month. In a proposal presented to a City Housing Board meeting in November Vrancor representatives asked that CHH agree to operate and manage the affordable units. Appearing before the Board, Vrancor VP Mario Frankovich told the board that there was a possibility that the King Street proposal could be the first of several such initiatives.

A federal court has dealt a blow to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe's Fairness for Ottawa campaign, dismissing the city's argument that it's getting shortchanged on payments for servicing tax-exempt government buildings.

Hamilton Centre has voted NDP in every election since the riding was created in 2005.  This time voters will get to decide if they'll stay orange, support the incumbent candidate, who is now an Independent, or go with a different party altogether.

Dylon Dowman, 35, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Daniella Mallia, who he shot and killed in a Toronto garage in 2022. Shortly before, Mallia had told Toronto police that Dowman was threatening her, but her concerns were dismissed.

Niagara Police arrested a 24-year-old man today after a woman was bilked out of $2,000 in a fake job scam. Police say a victim applied for a job online and was quickly offered the position after a brief one-minute interview with the suspect. Following the offer, the victim was instructed by the company representative to purchase computer equipment using funds that were to be provided by the company. The victim bought the equipment and received a digital image of a cheque via the online banking app and was directed to deposit the cheque into her account.

However, the cheque was fraudulent, and was written for $2,000 more than had been paid for the computer, and the victim was asked to return $2,000 by e-transfer. Trusting the process, the victim completed the e-transfer, only to later learn from their bank that the cheque was fraudulent and she was out $2,000 plus the money she paid for the computer, plus the job that was non-existent

As a result of the investigation, detectives were able to track down the male suspect.

Sunday KEHINDE (24 years old) of St. Catharines was arrested and charged with Fraud Under $5,000 and Laundering Proceeds of Crime

KEHINDE was held in custody pending a bail hearing that is expected to take place on February 21, 2025, in St. Catharines.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext.1022200.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.

The gloves are off in the Hamilton Mountain provincial race as NDP candidate Kojo Damptey and Liberal Candidate Dawn Danko exchanged barbs via news releases.

It started with a news release by Damptey on Tuesday wherein he tried to link Liberal Danko to the Ford Conservative’s Greenbelt scandal. The release read in part, “Dawn Danko, the Ontario Liberal candidate for Hamilton Mountain, isn’t on your side.”

“In 2022, only two people donated to her campaign for school board trustee – Greenbelt developer Sergio Manchia and his wife Angela. Manchia is a well-connected Hamilton developer who has hosted fundraisers for Doug Ford at his mansion and was central to the Greenbelt scandal.”

“Not only did Manchia discuss the removal of his lands from the Greenbelt with the Premier at his private fundraiser in 2021, he also bought tickets to the infamous Ford stag and doe party and even continued to advocate for removing lands from the Greenbelt after Ford got caught and backtracked. How can Hamilton Mountain voters trust the Ontario Liberals when their candidate is in the pocket of the same Greenbelt developers as Doug Ford?”

The Mancias donated $250 each to the Danko campaign that spent more than $4.500.

Danko fired back, citing Damptey’s anti police history, writing,

“Unfortunately, NDP candidate Kojo Damptey is funded by individuals associated with extreme activist organizations who put their own ideological interests like abolishing the police and supporting encampments above the concerns of mountain residents.”

“Despite attempts to hide his actions from voters by deleting his extensive social media activity, NDP candidate Kojo Damptey has been an anti-police and pro-homeless encampment activist

Said Danko, “Voters know who I am and what I stand for. I am proud to have raised my family and worked on the Hamilton Mountain for over 22 years, serving our community as our public school trustee. Community safety, encampments and crime are important concerns for mountain voters. Kojo Damptey’s extreme pro-homeless encampment and anti-police views do not align with the needs and values of mountain voters.” 

Provincial police say they are searching for two inmates with "violent criminal history" after they escaped from a prison in the Muskoka Region on Wednesday.

Someone has been modifying the results of hockey games in the Outaouais so players can avoid serving suspensions, according to the regional hockey league for youth aged 8 to 21.

An Algonquin First Nation in Quebec is declaring victory after a federal judge upheld part of its court challenge to a proposed radioactive waste dump to be built about a kilometre away from the Ottawa River.

Taking questions from reporters for the first time in more than a week, the PC Leader said he would remove unnecessary red tape to bolster the province’s economy if re-elected. Ontario’s other major parties have also committed to improving interprovincial trade by removing barriers.

With one week to go before voting day, a white Ontario NDP candidate has apologized for comments she made at a conference last year in which she expresses a secret desire "to be a Black woman."

The aging Alexandra Bridge is reopening to drivers at the end of February for the first time in about 18 months.

York police have arrested 20 people for a series of break-and-enters that happened in the region and throughout the Greater Toronto Area. 

Residents along the Canada-U.S. border are noticing police cruisers and helicopters swooping over their homes as security tightens following tariff threats from President Donald Trump.

Waggott, Florence (nee Hickmott)

Passed away February 16, 2025 at the age of 89.
Beloved wife of the late Richard (Dick) Waggott.

Caring mother of John Waggott (Irene) of Kingsville, and Donna Girard (late David) of Windsor.

Proud and loving grandmother of Erin Salvati (Joe) of Amherstburg and David Girard (Nicole) of LaSalle, and great grandmother of Jaxen, Brynlee, Brayten, Grant, and Gage.
Loving sister of the late Jean DeBlock (Ham), Donna Searles (late Tom), and Linda Donovan (Terry).

If so desired, donations in memory of Florence may be made to a charity of your choice.

As per Florence’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private family burial will take place at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Kendrick Funeral Home – Kingsville. Online condolences and cherished memories may be shared at www.kendrickfuneralhome.com

No funeral details available.

The post Florence Waggott (October 13, 1935 – February 17, 2025) appeared first on Kingsville Times.

The NSL, Canada’s first professional women's soccer league, unveiled its schedule Thursday afternoon, with all 75 regular-season matches to air across CBC, Radio-Canada, TSN and RDS.

About 30,000 city workers in Toronto are one step closer to a strike or lockout as negotiations with the city continue to flounder.