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Hamilton Spectator
02-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Vaccination report card: How many Hamilton-area students had their vaccinations by year-end?
Higher rates of Hamilton-area students are opting out of routine vaccinations amid a rise in measles cases across Ontario. The once-eradicated disease is one of nine public school students must be protected against, however, students may apply for an exemption based on medical or philosophical reasons. In March, about 5.7 per cent of all elementary and high school students in the City of Brantford and the County of Brant and about four per cent in Haldimand and Norfolk County had vaccine exemptions, according to Grand Erie Public Health. Its region has had the second-highest number of cases (287) in Ontario's measles outbreak. But by the end of the school year, the number of exemptions had inched up 0.2 per cent for Brantford-Brant students. In Haldimand-Norfolk, it rose to 6.4 per cent. The once-eradicated measles disease has been spreading in Ontario. In Hamilton, about 4.7 per cent of students had exemptions as of June 16, up from less than 2.5 per cent about a year ago and nearly three per cent in 2018-19, chief medical officer of health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson said in an email. It's also up slightly from 4.5 per cent in late March, before the most recent round of enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act. It's a 'really worrisome' trend, immunologist Dawn Bowdish previously said. This suggests the rate of students trying to avoid vaccinations has increased with enforcement efforts, which ramped up in 2024-25 after being paused for several years during the pandemic. Hundreds of Hamilton-area students missing vaccination records or a valid exemption were suspended this year under the provincial legislation, which has been historically successful in ensuring high vaccination rates at schools. Enforcement will continue with additional cohorts next year, Richardson said. Exemption rates are particularly concerning when it comes to stopping measles outbreaks, a task that requires 95 per cent of the population to be vaccinated. Often certain schools or regions have greater concentrations of students abstaining from vaccines, potentially creating 'pockets of infections,' Bowdish, a professor in the department of medicine at McMaster University, said in March. Eight schools — including five private religious schools — in the GEPH region have grappled with measles exposures since January. For the health unit, it meant managing more than 30 staff and 592 student exclusions (folks who were unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or had unknown vaccination status) to protect them from catching the highly contagious virus, according to a report the board of health saw earlier this month. In Hamilton, the current rate is lower among elementary-aged students at 4.6 per cent, and higher among secondary-aged students at five per cent, a gap that has narrowed since March. A measles sign at the entrance to the Brantford General Hospital emergency department. Overall, 4,385 students — 3,012 elementary-aged and 1,374 high school-aged — of 92,618 students had exemptions as of mid-June. Students with exemptions may have received some or all routine childhood vaccines, and getting an exemption takes work, Bowdish pointed out. Applicants require either a statement from a doctor for a medical exemption or a form signed by a notary, justice of the peace or other certifier for religious or philosophical reasons. They're also required to participate in an education session about immunization and vaccine safety. No major religion explicitly prohibits vaccinations, she noted. Of the 2008, 2013, 2016 and 2017 cohorts who had submitted exemptions with GEPH, an average of less than one per cent were for medical reasons, according to public health data. Celeste Percy-Beauregard's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report on stories about Brant County. Reach her at cpercybeauregard@ . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
30-04-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Mangia! Hamilton is a hotbed for Italian eateries
In a recent discussion with Scott Radley (writer and podcast host for the new Hamilton Spectator podcast, Placeline Hamilton) and Diane Galambos (fellow food writer @kitchenblissca), we were speaking about what food is synonymous with Hamilton and this discussion led to a chat about Hamilton-area Italian joints. Any Hamiltonian can agree that we are spoiled for choice when it comes to delicious Italian food in the city — from classy high-end spots to casual pizza eateries and everything in between. Of course, there's no way I could feature all of my favourites within the city — I have a lot! — but I tried to gather a roundup of spots from a wide spectrum. Martello's Sugo Sundays Pepperoni Pizza Martello Restaurant is one of the newer, trendier Italian spots on James Street North, and actually is one of the restaurants I tend to mention when people ask me, 'What are your favourite spots in Hamilton?' Though you can't go wrong with their regular menu, and brunch menu — hello brunch pizza! — I especially love their Sugo Sundays. Their Sugo Sundays feature special dishes that are an ode to the classic Italian tomato sauce, with a variety of dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, cup and char pepperoni pizza and chicken parm. They also have a great backyard patio for the warmer days. Martello's Sugo Sundays interior. Their Sugo Sundays feature special dishes that are an ode to the classic Italian tomato sauce. When I first tried Famiglia Ristorante back in 2023, I wanted to love it, but I was not totally won over by their food. I'm happy to say — especially considering that I live so close by — that I recently tried them again and it really did blow me away. The service in this neighbourhood spot in Ancaster is warm and lovely, and the food is divine from the pasta, to the wood-fired pizzas. I highly recommend their namesake Famiglia pizza topped with figs, prosciutto, Asiago, mascarpone, honey truffle oil and crushed pistachio. I'll be back again soon to try their breaded veal panini to go! Ciao Bella is one of the newest spots in Hamilton, one that would be great for a business lunch or perhaps to impress a date. The atmosphere and decor of this place is absolutely spectacular, from their cloud-esque colour-changing ceiling to the faux greenery and trees throughout the seating area. While there, be sure to try their Bella meatballs with San Marzano tomato sauce and perhaps an interesting cocktail — or two! Some items from Martello's brunch menu. They also have a great backyard patio for the warmer days. Roma Bakery was, of course, one of the spots mentioned in the discussion on the Placeline Hamilton podcast. I suggested that Roma Pizza was one of the most famous foods of Hamilton; a party isn't a party without a Roma pizza after all, am I right? Since 1952, Roma has been serving the Hamilton community with their famous bread slab pizza, topped with a seasoned tomato sauce, and no cheese and often no toppings. For those who visit the bakery/deli, they actually have a wide range that extends beyond their famous pizza with baked goods, sausages, pastas and more. The real question I pose to readers is: Do you eat their pizza hot or cold? Valentino's Restaurant has been serving the Westdale community since its inception in 1978, and in recent years expanded to a popular East Mountain location. Whether you find yourself down in the Westdale Village, or up on the Stoney Creek mountain, you can expect that the delicious eats of Valentino's are right around the corner. Valentino's has been serving the Westdale community since its inception in 1978, and in recent years expanded to a popular East Mountain location. First known for their panzerottis, Valentino's serves up a variety of Italian classics like soups, salads, pastas and pizzas with made-in-house sauces. I have never had a bad dish here, so you can not go wrong with anything on their menu. If craft beer is your thing, be sure to try theirs! They are also a craft brewery and have been brewing their own since 2012. CIMA Enoteca's interior. The high-end modern and bright space pairs well with the trendy Locke Street neighbourhood. CIMA Enoteca is another great date spot, celebration spot, or perhaps business lunch spot. The high-end modern and bright space pairs well with the trendy Locke Street neighbourhood. For food, they have everything from wood-fired pizza (you will see their fancy pizza oven in their open concept kitchen), pastas, charcuterie, salads, sandwiches and more. The team at CIMA also tends to get creative with Italian dishes — I believe this was the first place I tried a squid ink pasta years ago! Stay tuned to their specials to find out what creative offerings they are whipping up next. I have yet to check out their second location, but they have also expanded to Burlington. Cheese Ravioli with Meatballs at Bronzie's Place. Truly a neighbourhood spot, if you are not already in the know about Bronzie's Place, it's possible to overlook it. This spot on James Street South is partially in a basement unit, and might not look like much from the outside, but inside you will find warm service and hearty portions of traditional Italian dishes like pizzas, pastas and chicken/veal parmesans. The prices are already inexpensive, but visit their website for all the details on daily specials and deals! They do tend to be busy and are a small spot, so be sure to call ahead to confirm your space before you visit them for a meal. I wish I could include more in this roundup, but just adding a short shout-out to San Remo Ristorante , Red Door Cucina , Cavallo Nero , and Alfredo's Pizza . I am sure there are many more I missed in Hamilton, we truly are the spot to go for delicious Italian eats.
CBC
26-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
These Hamilton ridings are ones to watch, political experts say in final days of campaign
Social Sharing With many Hamilton-area federal ridings held by Liberal members of Parliament going into this election, the bump the party has seen in the polls this month means the local electoral map may not change drastically, say local political scientists. On election day this Monday, political experts say they'll be watching for the results especially in two local ridings held by other parties to see just how much pull the Liberal message has in this election. Stefan Dolgert, an associate professor of political science at Brock University, sees the rise of Liberal support and the shrinking of support for the New Democratic Party as two sides of the same coin. Dolgert, who lives in Hamilton, notes Conservative support nationally is still relatively strong, at about 38 per cent, which in normal times would be enough to form government. Those numbers are according to both the CBC poll tracker and the 338Canada project, an election projection model based on opinion polls, electoral history and demographic data. But these days, existential fears related to tense relations with the United States have reduced NDP voters' feelings of "basic security" and have likely driven many to the more middle-of-the-road Liberals, he says. Watching Hamilton Centre That makes Liberal victories more likely in the Hamilton ridings the party already holds — Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, Hamilton Mountain and Hamilton East-Stoney Creek — but may also have candidates such as Hamilton-Centre NDP MP Matthew Green looking over his shoulder, Dolgert says. "I've been surprised to see how much support there is for the Liberal candidate [in Hamilton Centre]," said Dolgert, noting Green has been in the MP job since 2019 and was a city councillor before that. "I would still be surprised if [the NDP loses] Hamilton Centre but it does seem possible" in a way that was unfathomable even a few months ago, he told CBC Hamilton on Thursday. WATCH | What the CBC Poll Tracker tells us in final days of campaign: Where do parties stand in the final days of the campaign? 17 hours ago Duration 6:51 As the federal election campaign enters its final days, the CBC Poll Tracker has the Liberals in a narrow lead over the Conservatives, with the NDP trailing at 8.6%. Poll watcher Éric Grenier of stops by Power & Politics to look at each party's position in the eleventh hour of the election. Chris Erl, a politics researcher at Toronto Metropolitan University, says the Liberal support in Hamilton Centre is notable given that the party is running a candidate who lives in Mississauga and works in Toronto, engineer Aslam Rana. "For the first time in decades, they are competitive in Hamilton Centre," says Erl, who also lives in Hamilton. "A lot of people who [would consider voting Liberal] are struggling with voting for someone who doesn't have a strong connection to the community." He says many expected the Liberals to run a star local candidate, noting he heard residents musing about whether it might be former mayoral candidate Keanin Loomis or recent provincial Liberal candidate Deirdre Pike. "This time, the Liberals might be kicking themselves over their choice," he said. Will Conservatives hang onto Flamborough-Glanbrook? The other local riding without a Liberal incumbent is Flamborough-Glanbrook, currently held by Conservative Dan Muys, who is running again. The riding has gone Conservative since it was created in 2015, but if there were an election where the Liberals could be a factor there, it's this one, says Erl. Given the rural population, "it should be a deep-blue Tory seat," but the riding also encompasses several increasingly populous towns, such as Waterdown and Binbrook. "Muys is working hard" to keep his seat, says Erl, but "a lot of folks in the more suburban areas of the riding may look to the Liberals." Greens inactive in several local ridings When looking back at the provincial election, Erl says it's also notable how little traction the Green Party appears to have this time around. While that may also be a function of the anxiety driving more people to the Liberals, it comes after a period of dysfunction in the federal party, where infighting over opinions related to Israel and the Palestinian territories led to a public rift. After the start of this campaign, the Greens withdrew numerous candidates it had previously announced. It is not running a candidate in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, a riding in which Green candidate Pascale Marchand increased the provincial party's vote share in the recent Ontario election, notes Erl. "For the party federally to not be able to put a candidate there, it shows a disconnect," he says. The Greens are also not running a candidate on the Hamilton Mountain. Meanwhile, when explaining her absence at the Cable 14 candidates debate earlier this week for the Flamborough-Glanbrook riding, Green candidate Anita Payne said she was not actively campaigning. "Some of our candidates run small campaigns, giving voters the opportunity to vote for the Greens, but have no media communication strategy. Anita Payne is one of them," wrote party representative Fabrice Lachance in an email. New normal or a 'bump in the road' Dolgert says he's heard pundits question whether the events of the current election mean Canada is headed toward becoming a two-party system, more like that of the United States. But he cautions that it takes more than one election to show a trend.
CBC
14-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Hamilton MPP becomes 1st female Speaker of Ontario Legislature
Donna Skelly, MPP for the Hamilton-area riding of Flamborough-Glanbrook, has been chosen by members of the Ontario legislature as the province's first female Speaker. CBC's Lorenda Reddekopp has the story.
CBC
04-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Medical experts urge vaccination after more than 100 measles cases confirmed in Ontario this year
Social Sharing Two Hamilton-area medical experts are reminding Canadians that being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people. Dr. Sarah Khan, infectious diseases physician at McMaster Children's Hospital, and Dawn Bowdish, a professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, spoke with CBC as measles cases in Ontario continue soar. In 2025 so far, the number of cases has already surpassed the number from all of last year. The new cases bring this year's total to 119 that were confirmed in a lab and 23 that are probable, according to Public Health Ontario data as of Feb. 26. The Grand Erie region has more than half of Ontario's cases — that includes the City of Brantford as well as Haldimand-Norfolk and and Brant counties. Of the total cases in Ontario, 18 children were hospitalized, none of whom were immunized. Highlighting the importance of vaccination, Khan said measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to humans. "If you were in the same room as someone even for a very short period of time, there's like a 90 per cent chance you will get this infection if you don't have immunity," Khan said on CBC Radio's Fresh Air. "This is the important part around how do we get our population immune? Because of how infectious measles is, we need a herd immunity of more than 95 per cent to prevent outbreaks like these. "Unfortunately we've fallen below that number and this is why we're seeing a more rapid spread and these larger outbreaks occurring," Khan added. The infectious diseases physician said herd immunity occurs when the majority of the population have received two doses of vaccine or have had measles previously, which may have happened in young childhood for the older members of the population. "The important point is for people to know their immunity status, find out if they are vaccinated or not, and if they are not, they need to go and get their booster or get their two doses in," Khan said. "[In 1998] we were able to eradicate this virus in … Canada. Unfortunately, we are seeing a resurgence simply because of decreased vaccine uptake. We had this under control and we risk getting out of control if we cannot bring that vaccine status or getting that herd immunity back up." Access to vaccines part of the challenge in Canada: expert Like Khan, Bowdish said given the "highly contagious" nature of measles, more than 95 per cent of the population has to be vaccinated in order to maintain the status of not having measles endemic in Canada. "What we're seeing, especially in the province of Ontario, is that there's pockets of people who have very, very low immunization rates, and that means it can spread like wildfire in those communities," Bowdish said on The Current. But the low vaccination rate may be partly because of access, not necessarily vaccine hesitancy, Bowdish said. "Even if people have concerns over COVID vaccines or influenza vaccines, Canadians generally do trust childhood vaccines," she said. "It's availability, it's the family doctor crisis, it's the not being able to get vaccines at a time that works with their work schedule... The Canadian situation is one in which outright refusal is actually comparatively rare. It's access and availability and convenience that tend to be the drivers of this fallen vaccination rates." Bowdish said measles has "a really long" asymptomatic period of approximately five to 21 days, and that means "a person can be walking around breathing out the virus and somebody could pick it up before they even know they're sick." Cases of measles have also been reported this year in B.C., Manitoba and Quebec.
