Monday will be a day off for most Ontarians as the province marks Family Day, the second long weekend of 2024.

The annual holiday, established in 2007, is meant to celebrate the importance of families.

Being a regional holiday, some federal services will still be open, like Canada Post.

However, many provincial and municipal operations will be closed or have reduced hours.

All public and Catholic schools will also be closed as will post-secondary institutions like McMaster and Brock universities as well as Niagara and Mohawk colleges.

Here’s a list of what’s open and what’s closed in Hamilton, Burlington and Niagara Region on Feb. 19.

Administrative offices: Offices are closed Monday. Normal hours resume Feb. 20.

ATS DARTS: DARTS will be operating holiday service hours on Feb. 19 All subscription trips, with the exception of dialysis trips, are cancelled for Family Day. For more information check out the Hamilton.ca website.

Animal services: Closed on Family Day.

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope: Open on Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse: Open on Feb. 19.

GO Transit: Family Day service will operate on Saturday schedules.

Green bin, garbage and recycling: No collection Monday. Pickup will be one day later if it falls on or after the holiday. The city says all materials must be at the curb by 7 a.m.​ Community recycling centres and transfer stations will be closed Feb. 1.

Hamilton civic museums: Dundurn National Historic Site, the Hamilton Military Museum and the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology will be open on Family Day.

Hamilton Farmer’s Market: Closed Feb. 19.

Hamilton Public Library: Closed Feb. 19. For information on what services are operating, visit the library’s website at hpl.ca.

HSR Bus: Buses will operate on a regular Sunday service schedule on Feb. 19. See the city’s website for specifics.

Licensing and Bylaw Services: The licensing and bylaw phone queue line is closed and reopens Feb. 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Ontario Works: The program, including Special Supports, will reopen Feb. 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Parking and Enforcement: Officers are not on duty starting Feb. 18 at 5:45 a.m. through until Feb. 19 at 10 p.m.

Recreation centres: Bennetto, Bernie Morelli, Dundas Lions, Stoney Creek, Valley Park, Westmount and Sackville Hill Seniors are open. All others are closed on Feb. 19. Many arenas will be open for a Family Day Public Skate from 1 to 3 pm, Details can be found at Hamilton.ca/skating

Tourism Hamilton visitor information centre: Closed on Feb. 19. Reopening at 10 a.m. Feb. 20.

Burlington

Government offices: Government locations such as city hall, municipal offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, reopening on Tuesday, Feb. 20

Administrative services: Services including parks, roads and forestry closed Feb. 19, reopening on Tuesday.

Animal Shelter and Control: Closed Feb. 19. Emergencies can be called in to 905-335-3030.

Recreation centres: Indoor drop-in activities such as swimming and gym times will vary Feb. 19. Schedules can be seen at burlington.ca

Halton Provincial Offences Court: Closed Feb. 19.

Free parking: Available Monday in the downtown core in municipal lots, on-street and in the parking garage. However, the waterfront parking lots (east and west) do not provide free parking on statutory holidays.

Burlington Transit: Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule for Feb. 19.

Government offices: City halls, the Enterprise Centre and administration offices are all closed Feb. 19.

Arenas: Bill Burgoyne Arena and Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre in St. Catharines will be closed Feb. 19.

St. Catharines Farmers Market: The market will reopen on Saturday, Feb. 19, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre: The aquatics centre will be closed Monday.

St. Catharines Museum, Welland Canals Centre: Both facilities open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.

Community Centres: Russell Avenue Community Centre will be closed on Monday. Port Weller Community Centre will be closed Monday.

Niagara Regional Transit: Both St. Catharines and Niagara Falls buses will operate on a holiday schedule for Family Day. Regional, Fort Erie and Welland service will not be running Monday.

Shopping

Canada Post: is collecting and delivering mail on Monday. Most post offices operated by the private sector will be open during business hours.

Grocery stores: Major grocery stores like Fortinos, Metro, FreshCo and No Frills will be closed Feb. 19.

Shoppers Drug Mart: Some locations in the city will be open on Feb. 19, but not all. Family Day hours can be seen on the Shoppers store locator map.

Rexall: Some outlets are open on a holiday schedule, but not all. Visit the Rexall website for store hours.

Malls: All major shopping centres in Hamilton, Burlington, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls will be closed Family Day. Exceptions include:

In Toronto, retailers in designated tourist areas such as Yorkville, downtown Yonge, Queen’s Quay West and the Distillery District can stay open Family Day, according to City of Toronto bylaws.

Walmart: All Walmarts in the GTHA will be closed Family Day except the Niagara Falls Supercentre on Oakwood Drive, which is open between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Alcohol

The Beer Store: All stores will be closed Family Day.

LCBO: All stores will be closed Family Day.

Tourist destinations

Niagara Falls: Some Niagara Falls attractions are closed during the winter months, including the Whirlpool Aero Car, Wildplay Whirlpool Adventure Course, Niagara City Cruises and the White Water Walk.

Some, like the Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara Falls History Museum and The Exchange and the Niagara Power Station, will be open Feb 19. Hours of operation can be seen on the Niagara parks website.

The Butterfly Conservatory will be open on Family Day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Toronto: Most Toronto attractions are either closed or have adjusted hours on Family Day.

Aging courthouses in Halton are having an impact on the justice system. In one particular case, a sexual assault allegation was in jeopardy of being heard.

As many transitioned to primarily online meetings during the pandemic, some were left behind and are still having trouble catching up.

The Ontario Court of Justice at 2051 Plains Rd. E. in Burlington has been dealing with technical issues including video conferencing and CCTV glitches for months.

“While the questioning of the complainant proceeded without issue, the trial itself was delayed for over an hour due to technical failures relating to the equipment,” Justice Scott Nicholas Latimer said in a court document. “In R. v. Mungal, 2023 ONCJ 310, I referred to the “endemic” CCTV problems at the Burlington courthouse. Over the past six months, new computer equipment has been installed in both the Burlington and Milton courthouses.”

Latimer added that despite the new equipment, problems have persisted.

Latimer was not speaking as part of a trial, but on his reasons for allowing CCTV testimony during a trial in January 2024. He said that including CCTV testimony of a witness older than 18-years-old is not out of the ordinary in Halton.

“As I said at the outset, this application is one of a growing body of CCTV applications being brought by the local Crown Attorney’s Office,” Latimer said. “These applications share many similar features and, regrettably, certain judicial concerns. Given how common these applications have become, it feels prudent to address two of these concerns now.”

Latimer added another of a trial being delayed due to technology problems, on January 15 during a sexual assault proceeding, there was an issue with audio, though specific issues were not mentioned.

“Given our stacked trial dockets, a lost hour can have a meaningfully negative impact on the administration of justice, resulting in cases not being reached and being put at risk of being stayed for delay,” he said.

This is not the first time Latimer has shared his thoughts on shoddy tech at the Burlington court house. A court document from July 2023 – from the aforementioned sexual assault case – shares similar sentiments about the CCTV endemic.

“Your Honour, I know in the last number of weeks the issue we’re having is we’re able to connect to the CCTV room but if defence or Crown want to play anything, that second TV in the CCTV room is supposed to be enabled to play a video or audio or essentially show evidence, and that TV has not been working at least as far as I know for the last number of months,” Kimberly Watt of the Victim/Wtiness Assistance Program said in the transcript.

The court responded that it is important for these things to be preserved on record because it is endemic in this jurisdiction, adding it was unfair to the defendant, and other complainants that it continues to happen.

Latimer finished by saying the aging courthouses in Halton will only cause more problems going forward.

“This sexual assault allegation almost avoided a trial on the merits because of systemic problems with the Burlington courthouse that impacted two separate attempts to conduct a simple, one-day trial,” Latimer said. Continued use of the aged courthouses in Halton Region will no doubt present future problems, which in turn may imperil other prosecutions via trial delay.”

Burlington, Ont.— Feb. 26, 2024— As temperatures rise, the annual migration of a local endangered species across King Road begins. The City will close a section of King Road to allow for Jefferson salamanders’ breeding migration. Starting on Tuesday, March 5, King Road, from North Service Road to Mountain Brow Road, will be closed so the salamanders can cross the road safely and find a mate. Local traffic for all properties between North Service Road and the escarpment will be maintained. King Road will reopen for through traffic on Tuesday, April 2, once the salamanders are expected to finish their annual crossing.

Since 2012, the City of Burlington has closed this section of road so the salamanders can cross safely. They are a nationally and provincially protected endangered species.

About the Jefferson salamander

In Canada, the Jefferson salamander is found in Southern Ontario in select areas of deciduous forest, mostly along the Niagara Escarpment.

Jefferson salamanders spend most of their lives underground. As the weather warms up and the spring rain starts, the salamanders surface and begin their voyage to breed in temporary ponds formed by run-off. They lay their eggs in clumps attached to underwater vegetation. Adults leave the ponds after breeding. By late summer, the larvae lose their gills, become air-breathing juveniles and leave the pond to head into nearby forests.

Adult salamanders migrate to their breeding ponds during wet rainy nights. They are drawn to the pond where they hatched and can be very determined to reach it, sometimes crossing busy roads to get back to their birthplace.

Burlington is a city where people, nature and businesses thrive. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at burlington.ca/subscribe and follow @CityBurlington on social media.

Quick Facts

Quotes

Burlington Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith“With this mild weather, it’s important to close the road a bit earlier this year to protect our ‘Jeffies’. I appreciate the support for this closure, not only from the residents of Ward 1, but also the entire community. Thank you to everyone who does their part every year to help protect Jefferson salamander populations in our city. The road closure plays a vital role in protecting their species and allowing them to breed.”

Lesley Matich, Manager, Science and Monitoring, Conservation Halton “For over a decade, Conservation Halton has partnered with the City of Burlington to ensure that the Jefferson Salamander can safely make the trek across King Road, towards their spring breeding ponds. These efforts have a direct impact on this endangered species’ capacity for survival and long-term recovery. We are proud to partner with the City of Burlington again this year to support the salamanders’ spring journey and protect biodiversity in our watershed.”

Links and Resources

Learn more about the Jefferson salamander

Learn more about Conservation Halton

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Communications contact: City of Burlington Corporate Communicationscommunications@burlington.ca

Conservation HaltonTamanna Kohi, Communications Specialisttkohi@hrca.on.ca905-691-2078

Infrastructure

All levels of government must work in unison to solve the dire housing crisis as cities like Hamilton, Burlington and Grimsby are seeing an exodus of talent and skilled trades, the very people needed to build the homes, warns Mike Collins-Williams, CEO of the West End Home Builders’ Association (WEHBA).

“It requires all hands on deck,” he says. “We need the industry to be at the table and we need the federal government, the provincial government and the municipal governments to treat this like the crisis it is and work together to increase the supply of housing.

“Part of that is regulatory in terms of the planning approvals system, part of that is taxation and part of that is a focus on educating the next generation of skilled trades as well as having immigration policies to attract those with skills around the world right here into Ontario to build the homes that we need.”

A report produced recently by the Smart Prosperity Institute (SPI) with support from the WEHBA and Hamilton Chamber of Commerce concludes failing to address the housing shortage will cause living in Metro Hamilton to become less affordable and strain the social and economic viability of the community.

The report, called Who Will Swing the Hammer, also notes Hamilton, Burlington and Grimsby find themselves at the centre of a troubling paradox. The shortage has caused home prices and rents to rise higher than other communities, which risks pricing out the skilled trades who build them.

“There’s a lot of young people and very talented people with skills that are giving up on Ontario altogether and they’re moving to places like Edmonton, Halifax, Calgary, or they’re leaving Canada,” says Collins-Williams.

“We’re potentially entering into a bit of a vicious negative feedback loop of, ‘Who’s going to build the homes, the infrastructure, the roads, the schools, the hospitals, if the tradespeople can’t afford to live here?’”

Metro Hamilton lost almost 1,800 people to other provinces between 2020 and 2022. The figure is higher than other comparable metro areas in Ontario and nearly double the loss of metro London.

According to the report, Hamilton and Burlington will need to double homebuilding over the next decade to meet the provincial target of building 47,000 and 29,000 units, respectively, over the next decade. There is already a pre-existing housing shortage of roughly 14,500 units in Hamilton alone.

Those numbers will be a monumental challenge that will require substantially more skilled trades, the report states.

The scale of change needed to reach that target is also significant, as only in a handful of years out of more than three decades has new housing construction for the area reached half of the provincial target.

“Failure to construct enough housing, mainly attainable family-friendly housing, will make it challenging for Hamilton employers to attract and retain talent, whether in the private or public sectors,” the report states. “Hamilton already lacks affordability for families; the region cannot allow the problem to worsen.”

Collins-Williams says it appears there is a bit of a “musical chairs effect” whereby people leave Toronto to buy a home in Hamilton and people in Hamilton who may have less resources are being displaced and head down the QEW to St. Catharines or along Highway 403 to Brantford and Woodstock.

While there is no silver bullet to remedy the problem, he says it is critical all three levels of government are on the same page.

The federal and provincial governments deserve top marks for focusing on the skilled trades shortage in the last couple of years, says Collins-Williams, and appear to be heading in the right direction.

“But you don’t snap your fingers and the problem’s solved. This needs relentless attention over the next decade to sort of deal with the retirements and have that next generation of skilled trades. The government is on the right track, we just need to continue that relentless approach.”

Collins-Williams says there are no easy solutions and he is quite concerned about the future.

“The situation is so severe that the solutions are, in some cases, not politically popular and it requires perseverance and toughness, frankly, from politicians that don’t always have a strong track record of making those tough decisions.”

Failure to construct enough housing, is going to make living in Hamilton and other nearby communities less affordable and strain the social and economic viability of the community, says Collins-Williams.

“It’s not just about housing,” he points out. “It’s about our workforce and our people and how we are going to attract and retain talent, not just to build the next generation of housing but (to have) nurses, teachers, police officers, firefighters. We’re pricing the very fabric of our community out of the market.”

Mike Moffatt, senior director of the SPI, says Hamilton’s housing costs relative to other cities like Brantford or London is a primary driver of young families leaving the area.

“The high cost of housing is like a payroll tax for Hamilton area employers. If they wish to retain their workforce, there will be significant upward pressure on wages.”

"Together we must change the world."

That's the message anthropologist Jane Goodall left Halton-area school children with following a talk at Burlington, Ont.'s Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) Wednesday morning.

About 400 children from 15 schools came to hear the world-renowned scientist who is famous for her research into apes. The Burlington stop included an evening event with the broader community and was one of many speaking events around the world that Goodall does annually. She was also speaking Thursday evening at Meridian Hall in Toronto.

At the RBG, Goodall spoke about ways in which young people can make a difference in the fight against climate change such as eating less meat, walking and taking transit. "You get to choose," she said, and it should be something you're passionate about.

She also answered questions submitted ahead of time by the schools in attendance. One group asked what brings her joy. Goodall said it was seeing kids work to protect the environment, and "being with a dog." She said that while many people assume chimpanzees are her favourite animal, that honour goes to dogs.

One anecdote Goodall shared, that seemed to resonate with students, was about a boy in Burundi who asked her if picking up a piece of litter each day would make a difference. Goodall said it would and suggested he try for 10 pieces. He told her he would try to persuade his friends to join him, and she told him to think about what would be possible if each of them recruited their friends in turn.

"His eyes got bigger and bigger and he said, 'What a big difference we would make,'" Goodall recounted.

"That's really the way that we have to think of the little things we do each day. They may seem small, but when you think there are millions of people doing those same things, then it makes a huge, huge difference."

7 months ago

Duration 1:40

Anthropologist Jane Goodall spoke to about 400 Halton-area school children at Burlington, Ont.'s Royal Botanical Gardens on Oct. 11, 2023.

After the talk, Goodall met with students from Alton Village Public School in Burlington. One student, Grade 5 Arham Taufiq, told CBC Hamilton he wants to try and get a group of friends together to clean up trash. "I'll try to convince them one day."

He added that another way he thinks people should make change is by using less electricity at home.

Alton Village fifth grader Andrew Wehebe said he enjoyed Goodall's talk despite originally thinking it would be outdoors and involve seeing live chimpanzees.

He and his classmates learned about Goodall before the presentation and he said the story about the boy in Burundi also inspired him. "I could do that too."

"[Goodall] doesn't just care about animals. She cares about people, animals, the environment, Earth – everything. .. It makes me think of Superman," student Callan Jones said.

Grade 5 Somya Gadagabi said she was struck by how many years Goodall studied apes. "She worked really hard to get close to the chimpanzees."

She added she could see herself working with animals one day. "They're just really cute and mostly friendly."

Before Goodall spoke, two people who've been involved with the Jane Goodall Institute's Roots & Shoots Program told the audience about ways young people can organize against climate change.

"Young people like you can make all the difference," said Shannon Santos, who got involved with the program at McMaster University around 2005. She said to keep students' excitement and engagement alive, adults need to set an example.

"Make sure we're showing them every day in our communities that we're turning off the lights, conserving water, doing those things," Santos said. "I think if we show them those values and that we are making a difference for the planet ourselves, they will follow."

That's the hope of hosting Goodall's world tour, said Kimberly Viney, chief operating officer at the RBG.

"What we're trying to do is create 400 ambassadors out of today," she said. "Those kids can go back to their schools and hopefully influence their classmates … and families. Hopefully that turns into some action and active conservation efforts."