City of Hamilton to set 18-month limit for roadside memorials

Hamilton councillors have backed a policy that regulates memorials left on roadsides to honour the victims of traffic-related tragedies.

It stipulates displays must not pose safety hazards or interfere with the maintenance of infrastructure and will be allowed to stay put for up to 18 months.

Staff drafted the policy after looking at the regulations of 13 municipalities, including Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan and Burlington.

Many other municipalities have policies to aid in the management of roadway memorials and we do not," Mike Field, the city's acting director of transportation, operations and maintenance, told Monday's public works committee.

Cases in which the public or staff have raised concerns have been very rare," Field acknowledged, but there can be safety issues for passersby and those who stop to visit the roadside displays.

Under the policy, memorials can't be located on the travelled portion of roadways," cause a distraction to motorists" or be placed on public utility infrastructure, among other restrictions.

They can't be taller, wider or longer than a metre, can't use materials like glass that can shatter or be illuminated with candles or solar lights, for instance.

A key aspect" of the policy is an emphasis on communication between public works and the stewards" of memorials before staff alter or remove them, Field said.

That's important, said Coun. Tom Jackson, noting the city has garnered unfavourable media attention" in the past over dismantling memorials.

In December, loved ones of Mackenzie Mann, a 20-year-old McMaster University student who was killed at a Glanbrook intersection in June 2020, were upset when the city removed crosses, plaques and Christmas decorations from a roadside memorial.

At the time, Craig Murdoch, the city's acting general manager of public works, told The Spectator that staff were working with the family to find a way in which to honour the individual without compromising safety on the roadway."

Loved ones were able to retrieve items from the city and re-establish Mann's memorial, best friend Cassandra Kozun said Monday.

It's not going anywhere," said Kozun, noting at least" the city has a policy now.

Those regulations will apply to future memorials but existing ones are grandfathered."

That's fortunate for Mann's loved ones, Kozun said, but what about those who will be restricted by the 18-month cap?

I don't know why the city thinks that they can put a timeline on someone else's grief."

If staff can't track the stewards of memorials down, they'll leave a marker at the site with city contact information on it. The policy says the city will hold onto removed items for 60 days.

Coun. Arlene VanderBeek said the policy provides clear regulations for memorials, which is important.

Because they are very sensitive and it is an emotional issue for everyone."

Teviah Moro is a reporter at The Spectator. tmoro@thespec.com