Category: Local News

• Region Declares State Of Emergency – Regional Chair Jim Bradley proactively declared a State of Emergency for Niagara Region in order to make sure Niagara is prepared to accommodate visitors coming to see the solar eclipse on April 8. Declaring a State of Emergency strengthens the tools the Region has at its disposal to safeguard the health and safety of residents and visitors and protect critical infrastructure. (Niagara Region)
• NOTL To Hire Recruitment Firm – Niagara-on-the-Lake will invite five executive search firms to present their services to the town in order to help select a new CAO. The company that is awarded the contract will help establish the key character traits and competencies required for the CAO position. (Niagara this Week)
• Police Need More Officers – Niagara Regional Police are saying they need additional officers to investigate hate crimes. Currently the NRP only has two officers working full time in the equity, diversity and inclusion unit. (St. Catharines Standard)

• Suspicious Deaths – Police are investigating two suspicious deaths in a St. Catharines home on Elma Street. On March 25, Niagara Regional Police responded to an assist ambulance call where officers found two people deceased inside the house. (Niagara Regional Police)
• Solar Eclipse Road Closures – In anticipation of high visitation levels in Niagara Falls and Fort Erie for the upcoming total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, a road closure plan will be implemented to reduce challenges due to vehicular congestion and increase the safety of pedestrians. All road closures are at the discretion of police and could be adjusted as required. (Niagara Parks)
• St. Catharines Begins 40km/h Limit – The City of St. Catharines is installing 1300 “Maximum 40 Area Begins” and “Maximum 40 Area Ends” signs at or near the intersection of every residential street that meets either a collector or arterial road. In 2022, Council unanimously approved a recommendation to reduce the speed limit to 40 km/h on residential streets. (City of St. Catharines)
• More Go Trains For Eclipse – GO Transit will be offering more GO train service on its Lakeshore West line between Union Station and Niagara Falls on April 8 for those who want to see the solar eclipse in Niagara Falls. (Niagara this Week)
• Two More Whales Die At Marineland – An animal protection group is asking the Government of Ontario to take action against Marineland following the deaths of two beluga whales. The group is calling for Marineland to be shut down as 17 whales have died at Marineland since 2019. (CKTB)

• Regional Councillors Cost $1.8M – Niagara Region councillors cost taxpayers almost $1.8 million last year in pay, benefits and expenses. West Lincoln Coun. Albert Witteveen received the highest compensation (pay, benefits and expenses) at $64,156 while St. Catharines Coun. Tim Rigby received the lowest compensation at $45,135. (St. Catharines Standard)
• Accident Claims Life – An 80-year-old man has passed away following a two-vehicle collision in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Tuesday. The accident took place at Four Mile Creek and Line 4 Road. (Giant FM)
• Accolades For NOTL Water – Niagara-on-the-Lake’s drinking water has been given perfect grades by the province. The town had more than 1,500 metres of watermain replaced last year at a cost of almost $1.3 million.  (Niagara-on-the-Lake Local)

• Activists Target Bank – Palestinian rights activists handed out flyers outside the Scotiabank branch in downtown St. Catharines on Friday. The flyers urged bank customers to divest because of Scotiabank’s “investment in Israel’s Elbit Systems”. (Niagara-on-the-Lake Local)
• Librarian Criticized – The chief librarian of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library is being criticized over a column she wrote in support of an American-based organization that opponents say promotes “anti-LGBTQ+ pseudo-science.” The column was regarding censorship at libraries and stated “many librarians no longer encourage those with differing viewpoints to respectfully challenge each other.” (Niagara this Week)
• Niagara Exhibition Planned – Despite ongoing concerns, plans for this year’s Niagara Regional Exhibition are underway. Uncertainty surrounds the Niagara Regional Agricultural Society and its fairground property in Welland, with a potential sale of the property sparking chaos at a January meeting. (St. Catharines Standard)
• Program Registration – The City of St. Catharines spring program registration will open online to residents at 6 p.m. on Tuesday while the first day residents can register in-person is Wednesday at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre. Non-residents can register online starting Thursday and in-person on Friday. (City of St. Catharines)
• City Seeks Feedback – The City of St. Catharines is seeking input from a diverse range of stakeholders, including sports leagues, community groups and residents, regarding the revitalizing and investing in the city’s outdoor sports fields. Residents can submit their feedback at an open house, through a survey or by submitting written comments. (City of St. Catharines)

• Region Adopts Poverty Strategy – The Niagara Region’s 2024-2028 Poverty Reduction Strategy has been developed with the goal of working together to prevent and end poverty and increase well-being in Niagara. The strategy outlines eight areas of focus with each including a recommendation and a set of actions, supported by research and best practices. (Niagara Region)
• Historical Designation Deadline A Concern – St. Catharines city council is urging the province to extend the deadline for reviewing heritage properties, as a looming deadline threatens to remove demolition protection from 36,000 listed heritage sites in Ontario. There are concerns over the feasibility of assessing properties for designation by the December 31 deadline. (St. Catharines Standard)
• NOTL To Designate More Buildings – Niagara-on-the-Lake staff and members of the heritage committee will be consulting with the public to create a second list of historic buildings that should be designated by town council ahead of the December 2024 deadline to designate historical structures. (Niagara this Week)
• Hotels Charging Inflated Prices – Niagara Falls hotels are charging premium pricing for the April 9 solar eclipse with some rooms going for more that $1,000. One hotel room that costs $534 on April 9 is being listed at $1,844 for the eve of the total solar eclipse. (St. Catharines Standard)
• Friends Gather Outside Home – Friends and family of a St. Catharines man who was reported missing and then found deceased inside a home gathered outside the home Tuesday night to mourn and honour the man. (CKTB)