On Sunday we conducted a special canvass in the Eastmount Park Neighbourhood to talk specifically about the future of Eastmount Park School.  We included a letter along with a postcard that specifically talked about the future of the school and the surrounding lands.

The City has put in an offer to purchase the school and lands from the school board.  Once the offer closes and the election is over I want to hold a community meeting to bring neighbours up to date on what has happened with the school and land and then hear from residents what they would like to see done.

For those that may have missed it, or if we missed your home we’ve included it below.  You can also download the original PDF here.

Dear Friend,

My team and I have been canvassing the Hamilton Mountain since January.  We’ve been speaking with your friends, families and neighbours.  We always ask the same question: what issues are going on in your neighbourhood that you’d like the next Councillor to look after.

In the area around Eastmount Park School the concerns are loud and clear.  What is happening with Eastmount?  Well I can tell you that the City has put in an offer to purchase the building and lands around the school, the question is: What do we do once we have it?

In my previous role at City Hall I worked with Councillor Terry Whitehead on a lot of these files.  The way we worked through these questions was through community engagement.  I am pledging to hold a community meeting shortly after being elected in order to discuss options with the neighborhood.  This school belongs to the community, and you should have input on what happens next.

What do you want to see in this spot?  An improved park, a larger community centre, a splash pad, new baseball diamonds or soccer pitches?  I do not want to leave the future of this neighbourhood up to the bureaucrats.  I want the community to take ownership and lead the way.

While canvassing your neighbourhood and others across the mountain people have told me time and again:

• Mountain residents want a Councillor that will be Experienced, Accountable and Accessible.
• Mountain residents want a Councillor that will understand the work involved in representing the largest ward in Hamilton.
• Mountain residents want a Councillor that can hit the ground running on day one and help make up for lost time.

I look forward to speaking with you about this and any other issue going forward.

Sincerely Yours

Howard Rabb