Social Media

City of Hamilton staff monitor accounts during weekday business hours, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. For City service emergencies after hours involving roads, water mains, sewers and more, please call 905-546-2489, open 24/7.

Our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts are an engagement tool to be used between the citizens and the organization of the City of Hamilton. The intent of these channels is to update the public on services, events and programs, and respond to inquiries.

The City of Hamilton aims to respond to feedback and questions in a timely manner, however because we cannot participate in all discussions, we use our judgement to determine which messages we will respond to.

In providing a harassment-free work environment for our staff, trolling comments are not tolerated. Feedback left on our accounts should be productive, perceptive or constructive. Comments that do not fit these criteria may result in limited/blocked access on the platform.

The City of Hamilton will not engage with users providing content of the following nature:

• Content that is not directly related to our programs or services
• Offensive content against an individual or the organization, aggressive, sexual, profane, rude, insulting, threatening, slanderous or defamatory
• Comments that perpetuate or promote discrimination of any nature (sexual orientation, socio-economic status, marital status, gender, race, age, creed, ethnic or national origin, physical or mental disability)
• Content identifying personal information or invading the privacy of others (including City of Hamilton staff and elected officials)
• Accounts and messages that misrepresent or impersonate someone else
• Comments that include information that jeopardize the safety of the public, staff, programs or operations
• Content that contains spam
• Comments that promote criminal activity
• Messages that include false or misleading statements, unintelligible or unrelated comments, and ones that we feel to not add to a meaningful conversation or debate

Who we follow

The City of Hamilton will follow official City of Hamilton accounts, as well as official accounts from both the provincial and federal ministries. City accounts may also choose to follow politicians from all levels of government (with the exception of during an election period). On occasion, City accounts may also follow accounts of community leaders, residents, media, other municipalities and beyond as a way to listen and participate in discussion when warranted.

The City of Hamilton is not responsible for comments or content posted by other users. We reserve the right to change or modify this disclaimer at any time.

This disclaimer is used in conjunction with our Social Media Policy (2018), Zero Tolerance Policy (2005), Employee Code of Conduct (2016), Harassment and Discrimination Prevention Policy (2017), Personal (Workplace) Harassment Prevention Policy (2017) and Violence in the Workplace Prevention Policy (2017).

Important! Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully. By consenting to The City Of Hamilton’s Use of Your Photo/Video, you confirm that you have Read, Understood, Accept and Agree To Be Bound by these Terms and Conditions, Without Limitation Or Qualification.

User Generated Content

From time to time, the City of Hamilton’s social media staff may request permission to use photos or videos posted on public social media accounts (“Content”) on City of Hamilton (the “City”)  social media channels.  City staff will use the comment function within a post on social media, requesting permission to use the Content and prompting the user to agree to such use by responding within the comment.

By agreeing to allow the City to share your Content, you acknowledge and agree to the following Terms and Conditions. You agree that:

• you are 18 years of age or older;
• you hereby grant the City a revocable, non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, sub-licensable, transferrable license to possess, save, review, post, use, publish, alter, edit, reproduce, create derivative works from, and display the Content, or any portion thereof, in any form, in connection with the business operations of the City (the “License”);
• you have personally created the Content or you have the right or consent to post the Content and grant the License from the owner(s) of the Content;
• you will not post links that contain any spyware, virus or malware;
• you will not transmit or upload any material in breach of any intellectual property laws, rights of privacy or any other Applicable Laws and Regulations (“Applicable Laws”);
• the City’s use of your Content is in no way an endorsement by the City of any individual or business;
• The City will provide photo or video credit in respect of the Content in the caption area of a post to social media accounts; and
• You may withdraw your consent to the City’s use of your Content and terminate the License granted herein at any time by contacting City staff on official City of Hamilton social media accounts. 

This Waiver of Claims and Indemnity Agreement Affects Your Legal Rights. Please Read Carefully.

You hereby waive and discharge any and all claims against the city, its elected officials, officers, directors, employees, agents and third party content providers (the “representatives”) pertaining to the city’s use of the content.  You acknowledge that you shall not be entitled to any compensation arising from or related to the city’s use of the content, or any portion thereof. You expressly waive any moral rights in the content.

You hereby agree to release, indemnity, defend and hold harmless the city and its representatives from and against any claim, damage, loss, obligation, liability or expense arising from, relating to, asserted against or incurred by the city and its representatives in connection with the content, their use of the content, or any breach of any representation or warranty respecting the content made by you.

Amendment

The City reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, alter or otherwise update these Terms and Conditions at any time and for any reason. Modifications to these Terms and Conditions shall be effective immediately upon posting. Unless you withdraw your consent for the City to use your Content, you agree to be bound by the modified Terms and Conditions.

Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada.  You irrevocably attorn to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the City of Hamilton in the Province of Ontario and all courts competent to hear appeals therefrom with respect to all matters and disputes relating to or in connection with these Terms and Conditions.

Severability

If any portion of these Terms and Conditions are deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.