Roadside memorials in Hamilton will now be taken down after 18 months
Published February 9, 2022 at 3:35 pm
Roadside memorials in Hamilton at the site of tragic events will be allowed to be in place for a maximum of 18 months, as long as they don’t pose a public safety hazard.
Hamilton City Council approved a new policy on Wednesday (Feb 9) that will also require residents to notify the city before creating the memorial. The display will also have to meet maximum size requirements and must not interfere with the maintenance and operation of infrastructure.
The city says it “recognizes that the placement of roadside memorials at or near an accident site to commemorate victims of tragic events occurs and that the creation of these memorials can aid grieving family and friends to respectfully honour a victim’s memory.”
“I am pleased to see the development and approval of the roadside memorial policy which will provide the public with a better, more transparent understanding of how the City will treat roadside memorials,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger. “This includes expectations around the duration a roadside memorial can stay up, what materials can be included, and how the city will remove or maintain them if required.”
When it’s time for the display to be removed, the city says it will contact and coordinate with the stewards of the memorial. When a public contact cannot be found, the memorial’s location will be physically marked with city contact information and the date of removal.
The City of Hamilton did not previously have a policy related to roadside memorials.
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