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Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Leave grandma at home': Critics slam Sam Lawrence Park redesign
One person will no longer bring his older parents to visit Sam Lawrence Park. Another tried to visit and was unable to find parking. They are among scores of Hamilton residents who have voiced concerns about the changes to the west side of the 18.6-acre park — a former quarry named after a former Hamilton mayor — situated at the top of the escarpment where the Jolley Cut meets Concession and Upper Wellington streets. The changes to the west side of the park, which to date have a $1.1-million price tag, have reduced parking from 22 spaces to eight — with plans to eliminate it entirely. The city says street parking along Concession Street will help offset the lost spaces. A City of Hamilton rendering shows the existing temporary parking solution in the western part of Sam Lawrence Park. The lot formerly had 22 parking spaces and has been reduced to eight. The traffic flow in the design has been changed to flow clockwise. After a story about concerns around the redesign , The Spectator put out a survey for feedback on the changes , which attracted more than 250 responses. The majority of respondents opposed the changes, citing accessibility concerns for older adults and people with mobility issues. Mark Dyment said his parents are older and have mobility issues, so he would drive them to the park to enjoy the view. 'Where you could park the car, you could see the city — and if you're parking over on Concession (Street), there's not much point,' he said, adding he would like to see the parking revert to the previous layout. He said the removal of parking has made accessing the park very difficult for any older people who use a wheelchair, walker or 'don't get around that quickly.' 'They want to park as close to the edge as possible,' he said. 'They're just not going to bother going.' Anthony Quinn, chief operating officer of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), said the removal of parking prevents many Hamiltonians — particularly those with mobility or breathing issues — from accessing 'this valued public space.' 'This policy is really saying, 'Leave grandma at home if you're visiting Sam Lawrence Park,'' he said. He said these types of decisions — made by council after recommendations from city staff — are 'oblivious to the needs of older adults and frankly they don't seem to care.' Quinn added while active transportation is often used in planning, it ignores a large segment of the population that is aging or disabled and is often not able to ride bicycles or public transit. 'Eliminating parking actually makes the park less accessible and it becomes the sole domain of the physically fit,' he said. The final proposed design of the parking lot in the western portion of Sam Lawrence Park would remove all parking spaces and create a fully pedestrianized observation area. Bill Dell, who is 77, said he recently tried to visit the park and was unable to find parking 'within a reasonable distance.' He said the changes make him less likely to visit in the future. Dell said he is fortunate to still be quite mobile at his age, but he knows many people younger than himself who have serious mobility issues. 'Now they've made it so you have to be able-bodied just to get there,' he said of the parking changes. 'They've forgotten several generations.' Dell, whose wife is a grandniece of Sam Lawrence, said he doubts Lawrence would approve what has been done to the park. 'To make the changes that they did, for the theme of making it accessible for pedestrians and bicycles, really eliminates a population who actually remembered who Sam Lawrence was.' Shirley Trimmer, who lives on the Mountain, said she regularly visits the park, including to watch storms. Trimmer, who is in her 70s, said she has friends who bring their parents, who are in their 90s, to the park. She said older people don't want to walk from the street into the park — and people who visit the park to watch storms don't want to stand out in the pouring rain. 'My biggest concern is people who drive there … like my friend with her 90-plus-year-old father,' she said. 'She drives him and he looks. He doesn't get out of the car.' Jean Ralph and her dog Junebug survey the redesign of the western portion of Sam Lawrence Park. The Concession Street resident said she has already witnessed the current parking layout be a hindrance to people with mobility challenges. Meanwhile, Jean Ralph — who lives nearby and regularly visits the park — said she has already seen the current parking layout be a hindrance to people with mobility challenges. She said she watched one woman unable to get a walker out of the trunk of the car for her mother, due to the parking. 'If somebody has a wheelchair or walker, how are they supposed to get it out of their trunk?' she said. 'Whoever approved that needs their head examined.' City of Hamilton landscape architecture supervisor Meghan Stewart said via email that the design aims to address 'public safety and accessibility concerns.' She said the proposed design was shaped by public feedback and expert research, and safety and accessibility were identified as key areas for improvement during the engagement process. In fact, Stewart said public feedback indicated the western portion of the park lacked accessible connections to the rest of the park and and that the park overall suffered from underuse and illicit nighttime activity. She said the plan includes relocating parking spaces from the western parking lot to Concession Street to allow for new barrier-free pathway connections, an improved pedestrian-focused space for viewing, gathering and events, improved lighting, additional seating and a connection between the east and west side of the park so pedestrians can safely access either side. In response to parking concerns, Stewart said the parking lot on the east side of the park is expected to be expanded in a future phase of the park project. She added the plans for the park will continue to be 'implemented in various stages.' 'This parking lot offers (the) opportunity for those who want to drive to the park to take in the views or connect to future barrier-free garden pathways or future entry plaza and bridge over the Jolley Cut.' For more information on plans for Sam Lawrence Park, visit .
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Leave grandma at home': Critics say Sam Lawrence Park redesign doesn't consider accessibility
One person will no longer bring his older parents to visit Sam Lawrence Park. Another tried to visit and was unable to find parking. They are among scores of Hamilton residents who have voiced concerns about the changes to the west side of the 18.6-acre park — a former quarry named after a former Hamilton mayor — situated at the top of the escarpment where the Jolley Cut meets Concession and Upper Wellington streets. The changes to the west side of the park, which to date have a $1.1-million price tag, have reduced parking from 22 spaces to eight — with plans to eliminate it entirely. The city says street parking along Concession Street will help offset the lost spaces. A City of Hamilton rendering shows the existing temporary parking solution in the western part of Sam Lawrence Park. The lot formerly had 22 parking spaces and has been reduced to eight. The traffic flow in the design has been changed to flow clockwise. After a story about concerns around the redesign , The Spectator put out a survey for feedback on the changes , which attracted more than 250 responses. The majority of respondents opposed the changes, citing accessibility concerns for older adults and people with mobility issues. Mark Dyment said his parents are older and have mobility issues, so he would drive them to the park to enjoy the view. 'Where you could park the car, you could see the city — and if you're parking over on Concession (Street), there's not much point,' he said, adding he would like to see the parking revert to the previous layout. He said the removal of parking has made accessing the park very difficult for any older people who use a wheelchair, walker or 'don't get around that quickly.' 'They want to park as close to the edge as possible,' he said. 'They're just not going to bother going.' Anthony Quinn, chief operating officer of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), said the removal of parking prevents many Hamiltonians — particularly those with mobility or breathing issues — from accessing 'this valued public space.' 'This policy is really saying, 'Leave grandma at home if you're visiting Sam Lawrence Park,'' he said. He said these types of decisions — made by council after recommendations from city staff — are 'oblivious to the needs of older adults and frankly they don't seem to care.' Quinn added while active transportation is often used in planning, it ignores a large segment of the population that is aging or disabled and is often not able to ride bicycles or public transit. 'Eliminating parking actually makes the park less accessible and it becomes the sole domain of the physically fit,' he said. The final proposed design of the parking lot in the western portion of Sam Lawrence Park would remove all parking spaces and create a fully pedestrianized observation area. Bill Dell, who is 77, said he recently tried to visit the park and was unable to find parking 'within a reasonable distance.' He said the changes make him less likely to visit in the future. Dell said he is fortunate to still be quite mobile at his age, but he knows many people younger than himself who have serious mobility issues. 'Now they've made it so you have to be able-bodied just to get there,' he said of the parking changes. 'They've forgotten several generations.' Dell, whose wife is a grandniece of Sam Lawrence, said he doubts Lawrence would approve what has been done to the park. 'To make the changes that they did, for the theme of making it accessible for pedestrians and bicycles, really eliminates a population who actually remembered who Sam Lawrence was.' Shirley Trimmer, who lives on the Mountain, said she regularly visits the park, including to watch storms. Trimmer, who is in her 70s, said she has friends who bring their parents, who are in their 90s, to the park. She said older people don't want to walk from the street into the park — and people who visit the park to watch storms don't want to stand out in the pouring rain. 'My biggest concern is people who drive there … like my friend with her 90-plus-year-old father,' she said. 'She drives him and he looks. He doesn't get out of the car.' Jean Ralph and her dog Junebug survey the redesign of the western portion of Sam Lawrence Park. The Concession Street resident said she has already witnessed the current parking layout be a hindrance to people with mobility challenges. Meanwhile, Jean Ralph — who lives nearby and regularly visits the park — said she has already seen the current parking layout be a hindrance to people with mobility challenges. She said she watched one woman unable to get a walker out of the trunk of the car for her mother, due to the parking. 'If somebody has a wheelchair or walker, how are they supposed to get it out of their trunk?' she said. 'Whoever approved that needs their head examined.' City of Hamilton landscape architecture supervisor Meghan Stewart said via email that the design aims to address 'public safety and accessibility concerns.' She said the proposed design was shaped by public feedback and expert research, and safety and accessibility were identified as key areas for improvement during the engagement process. In fact, Stewart said public feedback indicated the western portion of the park lacked accessible connections to the rest of the park and and that the park overall suffered from underuse and illicit nighttime activity. She said the plan includes relocating parking spaces from the western parking lot to Concession Street to allow for new barrier-free pathway connections, an improved pedestrian-focused space for viewing, gathering and events, improved lighting, additional seating and a connection between the east and west side of the park so pedestrians can safely access either side. In response to parking concerns, Stewart said the parking lot on the east side of the park is expected to be expanded in a future phase of the park project. She added the plans for the park will continue to be 'implemented in various stages.' 'This parking lot offers (the) opportunity for those who want to drive to the park to take in the views or connect to future barrier-free garden pathways or future entry plaza and bridge over the Jolley Cut.' For more information on plans for Sam Lawrence Park, visit .
Cision Canada
22-05-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
Integracare Inc. is Proud to Announce its Partnership with CARP
TORONTO, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Retired Persons ("CARP"), a non-partisan, non-profit, advocacy association working on behalf of its 255,000 members and all Canadian seniors, and Integracare Inc., a market leader in private home healthcare services, are pleased to announce a partnership to provide CARP members with preferred access to high-quality home care in areas that Integracare currently serves. "While CARP is advocating for greater investments from policy makers to meet the growing home care needs of our aging population, Integracare is there, as a trusted partner to fill in those gaps, with family-funded homecare and support that allow residents to live active, purposeful lives and to age in place," said Anthony Quinn, COO, CARP. Integracare has over 30 years of experience delivering the highest quality home care services in Toronto and Mississauga. The company has built an award-winning reputation providing premium homecare focused on client dignity, independence and professionalism. Integracare's expert caregivers provide services ranging from Personal Support Services to General Nursing, Dementia and Palliative Care and ancillary services such as Physiotherapy and Wound Care. "Our mission and values align perfectly with those of CARP." said Lee Grunberg, CEO of Integracare. "By partnering with the Association, we're able to provide CARP Members with preferred access to our award-winning home care services. CARP Members will also be able to enjoy Integracare's 24/7 dedicated Nursing Care Management and innovative tools which enable Integracare to deliver the best possible care for our Clients." About CARP The Canadian Association of Retired Persons is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to a 'New Vision of Aging for Canada', promoting social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from discrimination for aging Canadians. The Association's mandate is to promote and protect the interests, rights and quality of life for Canadians as we age. About Integracare lntegracare provides a wide range of award-winning private nursing care and personal support services for individuals in their homes, hospitals, retirement residences and long-term care facilities. Its services, while encompassing all levels of nursing care, have always included a wide range of related services that address the needs of their Clients while promoting joyful living and helping Integracare Clients maintain their independence and dignity. For more information about lntegracare, contact us at 396 Moore Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M6C 3A8, 416.421.4243, or visit
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Integracare Inc. is Proud to Announce its Partnership with CARP
TORONTO, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Retired Persons ("CARP"), a non-partisan, non-profit, advocacy association working on behalf of its 255,000 members and all Canadian seniors, and Integracare Inc., a market leader in private home healthcare services, are pleased to announce a partnership to provide CARP members with preferred access to high-quality home care in areas that Integracare currently serves. "While CARP is advocating for greater investments from policy makers to meet the growing home care needs of our aging population, Integracare is there, as a trusted partner to fill in those gaps, with family-funded homecare and support that allow residents to live active, purposeful lives and to age in place," said Anthony Quinn, COO, CARP. Integracare has over 30 years of experience delivering the highest quality home care services in Toronto and Mississauga. The company has built an award-winning reputation providing premium homecare focused on client dignity, independence and professionalism. Integracare's expert caregivers provide services ranging from Personal Support Services to General Nursing, Dementia and Palliative Care and ancillary services such as Physiotherapy and Wound Care. "Our mission and values align perfectly with those of CARP." said Lee Grunberg, CEO of Integracare. "By partnering with the Association, we're able to provide CARP Members with preferred access to our award-winning home care services. CARP Members will also be able to enjoy Integracare's 24/7 dedicated Nursing Care Management and innovative tools which enable Integracare to deliver the best possible care for our Clients." About CARPThe Canadian Association of Retired Persons is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to a 'New Vision of Aging for Canada', promoting social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from discrimination for aging Canadians. The Association's mandate is to promote and protect the interests, rights and quality of life for Canadians as we age. About Integracare lntegracare provides a wide range of award-winning private nursing care and personal support services for individuals in their homes, hospitals, retirement residences and long-term care facilities. Its services, while encompassing all levels of nursing care, have always included a wide range of related services that address the needs of their Clients while promoting joyful living and helping Integracare Clients maintain their independence and dignity. For more information about lntegracare, contact us at 396 Moore Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M6C 3A8, 416.421.4243, or visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Integracare Inc View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBC
20-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Free shingles vaccines for N.S. seniors begin next week
Social Sharing Bill VanGorder says he and many people he knows didn't need convincing to get the shingles vaccine. "Because we were just so worried about getting it," he said. "We've seen our friends and our relatives get shingles. So people who were fortunate enough to be able to pay for [the vaccine] did, but there's still a lot of people who are hesitating." VanGorder, a member of the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, was on hand Tuesday as Premier Tim Houston made good on an election promise that should remove any hesitation among seniors related to cost. "The vaccine is often just out of reach financially for too many people," Houston said during a news conference in Clayton Park. "We really want to make sure that we remove the barriers to maintain opportunities for people to be vaccinated and to be healthy and thriving." Nova Scotians 65 and older can now book an appointment for a free shingles vaccine, with appointments beginning May 28. The vaccine, which comes in two doses, costs about $400. Appointments can be booked through a family doctor or the health authority's online vaccine booking service. The cost to the province of picking up the tab for seniors is estimated to be about $26 million this fiscal year. There are some provinces that cover the cost of the vaccine beginning at a younger age. Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer of health, said the risk of a severe complication from shingles begins to increase at age 50, but it's age 65 where the rate of hospitalization as a result of those complications begins to increase. "It's really a balance of where do we get the greatest benefit from the vaccine, knowing there's lots and lots of other priorities in the health-care system," he told reporters. Removing barriers to accessing the vaccine helps prevent issues that can create added strain on the health-care system, said Strang. One in five seniors who get shingles also get post-traumatic neuralgia, a painful condition that targets nerves. It can lead to a loss of function and increased frailty. "The direct and indirect impacts of shingles can be quite significant in seniors," said Strang. VanGorder said seniors are feeling "all kinds of financial pressures" and Tuesday's announcement eases a burden while allowing them to address a health concern.
