St. Catharines News Briefs – Local Skim St. Catharines

IceDogs Sold. The Niagara IceDogs have been sold to Darren DeDobbelaer, pending approval from the OHL board of directors. DeDobbelaer owns and operates the Brantford Bandits, a junior-B team in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, and the Brantford 99ers, a junior A team in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Since coming to St. Catharines in 2007, the team has been owned by Bill and Denise Burke. The team is not expected to be relocated. (Niagara this Week)
YMCA St. Catharines Official Closes. The YMCA in St. Catharines and all programs will officially close on May 31, 2022. The property was bought by Atria Development Corporation and while there was hope some of its programs could continue operating out of the location, that it not possible at this time. (610 CKTB)
City Councillor Reprimanded. Grantham Coun. Dawn Dodge has been reprimanded after it was determined that she was in violation of the code of conduct for representing residents against a zoning application. Dodge said that she respected the decision of the integrity commissioner and apologized for her actions. (St. Catharines Standard)
No Raise For City Councillors. St. Catharines city councillors voted 6-5 against a raise that would have seen councillors pay increased by approximately $7,000 after the municipal election in October. (610 CKTB)
Victoria Weekend Activities. The city of St. Catharines will be offering a number of activates this Victoria Day weekend including the opening of the Lakeside Park Carousel, Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm, Morningstar Mill and the city’s splash pads. (City of St. Catharines)
Niagara Biennial Design Awards. Nominations are now open for the 2022 Niagara Biennial Design Awards. Celebrating design excellence, these awards showcase Niagara’s unique communities and highlight the contributions from design professionals and artists towards the region’s economy. (Niagara Region)
Downtown Closing Streets For Pedestrians. The first weekend of June will mark the return of pedestrianized streets in downtown St. Catharines as well as the launch of the Downtown Promenade, which features 18 weeks of community based activities and events. Pedestrian zones will be located on James Street and St. Paul Street on Fridays 4 PM – 11 PM and Saturdays 10 AM – 11 PM although locations and times may vary depending on special events. (My Downtown)