Hamilton mayor talks Canada soccer team win, reopening, vaccines for children
Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger joined us with an update on what’s happening in the city as places can reopen again.
Yesterday, Canada continued its way to the World Cup in Qatar with a win over the United States.
Four games remain in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Team Canada is unbeaten so far. A trip to the World Cup would mark the first time since 1986 that a Canada men’s soccer team has qualified and only the second time ever.
Eisenberger says the game was a great example that Hamilton can host large sporting events.
“We know we can do this, we’ve had our PanAm experience when our stadium was predominantly a soccer facility,” said Eisenberger. “We are and have been very capable of having these great national and international events happen right here in Hamilton.”
The next sporting event coming to Hamilton is the NHL Heritage Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres in March.
Businesses across Ontario that were forced to close to in-person service earlier this month can now reopen their doors starting today.
Eisenberger says there is a lag in child vaccines in Hamilton, the province and the whole country.
“Parents are somewhat reluctant to do that for their children,” said Eisenberger. “I would encourage them to talk to their pediatricians…we have many clinics set up ready to do the vaccinations and in-school locations as well.”
The vents were boarded up at the back of Hamilton city hall. Eisenberger says the original design, which was wooden, was not fire safe. He says homeless individuals have been using city hall as a location to sleep.
“Our city hall is accessible to city residents and city staff and we’re all entering that building through that location,” said Eisenberger. “Unfortunately, some in our community decided that was a location where they would sleep, administer their drugs and defecate and unfortunately be aggressive and abusive to folks coming into city hall.”
Eisenberger says the city has reached out to all the individuals staying outside city hall to try and find them appropriate housing.
