For the past 16 years, Emick Drive has been an accessible street in Ancaster, Ontario, allowing residents to park freely and comfortably outside their homes. However, a proposed annual parking restriction (from December 1 to March 31) threatens to disrupt this harmony by banning all parking along one side of the street each year.  The Parking Authority is strongly considering this due to a complaint from snow removal staff.  Currently these signs above are covered with black plastic garbage bags as they make their decision.

This proposed change is deeply concerning for those of us who call this place home. Not only does it pose significant inconvenience for residents, but it also threatens to increase safety risks instead of mitigating them.  As it stands, parents dropping off their children at the nearby school already create congestion and potential hazards. Restricting residential parking will only exacerbate this issue, turning Emick Drive into an even more chaotic drop-off zone.  It will not make the street safer, but worsen it!

Furthermore, this proposal ignores the needs of the community it impacts the most. After 16 years without such restrictions, it’s perplexing that authorities see this as a necessary change now, without any substantial data to support their decision. What is the evidence that this will improve safety or solve any existing problems? If anything, it only adds to the challenges faced by residents every day.  

Numerous community members, myself included, rely on on-street parking for visitors, service providers, and our own families. Limiting parking space is not just inconvenient—it directly impacts our quality of life. Residents were not adequately consulted during the decision-making process, leaving us to bear the brunt of a decision that feels removed from our day-to-day realities.

What we need is a balanced approach that genuinely addresses snow removal, traffic flow and safety without thoughtlessly sacrificing resident’s access to their homes. Real solutions could involve dedicated school drop-off zones that don’t impede residents, better traffic management during peak school hours, dedicated parking areas, dedicated snow removal times when parking on street is least present, and more thorough community engagement to understand and integrate our needs.

We implore the local parking authority to reconsider this proposal. We urge them to collaborate with the local community to create a plan that works for everyone involved. Sign this petition to protect our neighborhood’s accessibility and to stand against arbitrary restrictions that do not benefit our community. Together, we can make our voices heard and demand a fair approach that respects the needs of all Emick Drive residents.

You can contact the following people to voice your opinions as well;
Ward 12 Councillor - Craig Cassar - craig.cassar@hamilton.ca  and  905-546-2704
Ward 12 administration - Sherri Brown - sherri.brown@hamilton.ca  and / or  Ward12@hamilton.ca
Hamilton Parking Authority - Joanne Starr - joanne.starr@hamilton.ca   905 546-2424  Ext 5441