Your First Days in Hamilton Application: A Digital Tool to Help Newcomers Find Relevant Local Services

“Challenge:
How can immigrant and refugee newcomers to Hamilton find information about relevant services, resources, and programs in a timely manner?”

Hamilton view from the mountain

Student Names:
Bohan Gou, Julian A Fernandez M, Sebastian Rojas, Abdullah Mousavi

Staff Member:
Sarah Wayland, Senior Project Manager, Immigration Partnership, Healthy and Safe Communities Department

Community Partner:
Lily Martin-Lumsden, Senior Regional Manager, YMCA

Community Partner:
Lily Martin-Lumsden, Senior Regional Manager, YMCA

Instructor:
Joe Varrasso, Esteve Hassan

Course and Department:
Software Engineering Project (Comp CO867), CSAIT

Mock up of the your first days in Hamilton app

Newcomers to Hamilton require access to services to help them ease their transition. Many new immigrants and refugees experience difficulties finding and accessing the many services available to them. While there is a wealth of information available, it can be difficult to access in an easily organized and central way, particularly for those who are new to the city.

Students of the Software Engineering program at Mohawk College - Bohan, Julian, Sebastian, and Abdullah created an application to help newcomers find these resources, by creating a graphical user interface, and a newly designed home page for their application.

Next they will consult with the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council to further develop their design and content and explore further collaboration. 

Mohawk College Community Project in Partnership with City Housing Hamilton

“Challenge:
How might we provide excellent student learning opportunities while providing cost-effective renovations to CityHousing units to meet the
community need?”

Mohawk student cutting trim to size

Student Names:
All second year students in the Building Renovation Technician Program

Staff Members:
Matt Bowen (Manager, Tenant Engagement & Support Services) & Brian Kinaschuk (Manager of Operations, CityHousing)

Instructor:
Mark Lucking, John Deelstra, Brad MacDonald

Course and Department:
Construction Engineering Technician - Building Renovation – 462

Mohawk instructor teaching a student on-site

While there is high demand for subsidized housing in Hamilton, CityHousing Hamilton has units that are not lived in because they need costly renovations and updates.

Students in their second year of the Building Technician Renovation Program at Mohawk College are continuing their collaboration with CityHousing Hamilton to renovate CityHousing units that are unsuitable for use until renovations are complete. At this point schedules have been made and students are regularly working on job sites. Demolition and cleaning have been completed where necessary. Construction is well under way with the flooring having been replaced, and doors and trim being installed.

Next, the students will install kitchens within both units including countertops and appliances. They will also renovate the bathrooms and install tiling, toilets, and general functionality while ensuring the space is a livable environment for families in need. 

Mohawk students installing a doorframe.

Green Wave: Improving Travel Times Using Signal Timing Optimization

“Challenge:
The challenge (and goal) is to identify and recommend signal timing improvements to improve vehicular corridor progression and reduce average delays”

Students taking measurements

Students:
Ivan Balaban, Eric Bentzen-Bilkvist, Krystian Biernat, Sebastian Biernat, Nathaniel Booth, Andrew Brown, Elizabeth Di Tella, Ivan Drewnitski, Trina Fernandes, Dhaval Harpal, Jonathan Holmes, Shajin Jahan, Khang (Brian) Le, Rabin Maskey, Derek Napoli, Smit Vinodbhai Patel, Anil Kumar Pau, Padma Priya Prabha Haridas, Thair Shaqour, Christopher Toews, Brad Van Bendegem, Joshua Van Ravens, Dinesh Wagle, Mateusz Zalewski

Staff:
Jeff Cornwell, Project Manager, Traffic Signals, Roads & Traffic Division, Public Works

Instructor:
Sean Nix

Course and Department:
TRAN 10000 (Traffic Engineering 4), School of Engineering Technology (Building and Construction Sciences)

Student taking notes in the field

Sections of Mohawk Road and Upper Paradise Road are currently under review to determine if improved efficiencies can be implemented with respect to signal times.

Students from the Mohawk College's School of Engineering Technology used the traffic modelling software (Sychro 10) provided by the City of Hamilton which assembles and distributes the turning movement counts (TMCs) and signal timing plans in order to study area intersections and analyze and implement traffic modelling. They also conducted field visits to validate TMCs, signal timing plans and (using a probe vehicle) travel time and delay through the two corridors and calibrated a traffic capacity analysis and vehicular progression model to existing conditions

Next the engineering students will prepare a “recommended scenario” traffic model containing signal timing parameters that will be recommended to improve vehicular corridor progression and reduce average delays as well as preparing a technical memorandum summarizing study process, findings and recommendations which will be presented to City staff. 

Google Street View at Mohawk and Upper Paradise Road