Category: Local News

• Distraction Thefts On The Rise – Niagara Regional Police are warning that there has been a rise in distraction thefts since late February across Niagara as 10 incidents have been reported. One scam will see the criminal approach a car and inform the victim that there is a problem with their car, such as a flat tire. The victim will then exit the car to look at the issue with the suspect while a second suspect steals the purse or wallet from the car. (Niagara Regional Police)
• LTC Homes Getting New Diagnostic Equipment – Nineteen long term care homes in the Niagara Region will receive their share of $294,513 in provincial funding. The funds will be used to purchase diagnostic equipment to improve the care and quality of life of the residents who live in the homes. (InNiagara Region)
• Thorold Community Theatre Loses Venue – Thorold Community Theatre is losing their venue as the group has been asked to vacate Trinity United Church, the place where they have held rehearsals and performances for the past 30 years, as the future of the church on Pine St. S has become uncertain. All upcoming shows have been cancelled but the theater group is looking for a new venue and is hoping to stay in Thorold. (Thorold News)
• TikTok Ban Grows – The municipalities of Niagara Region, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Thorold, Port Colborne, Lincoln and Grimsby, along with Niagara Regional Police have now all banned TikTok from corporate devices. As well, some cities are blocking the app from their WiFi networks at arenas, city hall and other places. The Chinese government has a stake in TikTok but the company has maintained it does not share data with China’s government. (St. Catharines Standard)
• Quarry Expansion A Contentious Issue – Residents living near the Port Colborne Quarry have expressed their concern to Niagara Regional Council regarding the expansion of the quarry. This week officials representing Rankin Construction, who own the quarry, spoke to Regional Council to address the concerns regarding increased truck traffic and damage to neighbouring homes. (The River)

• Vehicle Hits Guardrail In NOTL – Niagara police are investigating a single vehicle crash that happened yesterday afternoon at the diamond interchange at Glendale and York Road. It appears that a 72-year-old driver was in medical distress resulting in their vehicle hitting the guardrail. The driver is in critical condition in hospital. (The River)
• Rent Prices Continue To Climb – Rent prices continue to increase in St. Catharines as one bedroom units in February rented for an average of $1,631/month, a 21.3% increase compared to previous year. Rent for a two bedroom unit in St. Catharines averaged $1,940/month, an increase of 9.8% since Feb 2022. (InNiagara Region)
• Rally For Asylum Seekers – A rally to show support for asylum seekers who have been put up in Niagara Falls hotels by the federal government will be held outside Niagara Falls city hall Sunday at 2 p.m. It’s one of six rallies taking place across Canada this weekend to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. (St. Catharines Standard)
• Mild Winter Allows For Earlier Boating Season – Niagara City Cruises in Niagara Falls is opening for the 2023 season tomorrow, which is the earliest opening date in the boat tour’s recorded history. The earlier than normal opening date is possible due to only 1% of Lake Erie’s surface being covered with ice, allowing the ice boom to be removed sooner than expected. (CHCH)

• Refugees Continue To Come – Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said the number of asylum seekers coming to Niagara Falls has remained steady despite being told by the federal government a month ago that the number of refugees coming to Niagara Falls would subside. The federal government is housing the refugees in Niagara Falls hotels, which could negatively impact tourism if there are not enough hotel rooms available. (The River)
• City On Target For 15K Housing Units – St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe delivered his State of the City address and said the city is on target to build 15,000 housing units over the next 10 years. Siscoe also said tax cuts in St. Catharines, even after the uploading of transit costs to the Region, were not possible without cuts in services. (InNiagara Region)
• Emergency Response Team Needs Volunteers – The Niagara Region is searching for volunteers to join the Community Emergency Response Team, which is a group of trained, certified volunteers who help their community in a time of disaster or crisis. Common ways members can provide support include first aid and rescue, helping with disaster relief efforts, distribution of emergency supplies and assisting with annual emergency exercises. Applications are open until Mar. 24. (Niagara Region)
• Three Concerts Announced – The Doobie Brothers are coming to the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines on October 19. Country star Darius Rucker will perform at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino on August 3 and the Counting Crows will take to the OLG Stage on June 28. Tickets for all three events go on sale Friday. (Giant FM)
• Shaw Festival Announces Record Operating Revenue – The Shaw Festival announced that the theatre company posted a record operating revenue of $35.7 million for 2022 but had an operating surplus of only $7,000.  The low operating surplus was attributed to a number of factors, including COVID-19 restrictions, border crossing issues and increases in sick time and related staff coverage. Last year Shaw Festival had a surplus of about $990,000. (Niagara-on-the-Lake Local)
• Brock Wins Volleyball Championship – In front of a sold-out crowd at Brock University, the No. 3 nationally ranked Brock Badgers women’s volleyball team claimed their second consecutive OUA Quigley Cup Championship defeating the No. 6 Queen’s Gaels in five-sets. Brock now advances to the U SPORTS National Championship scheduled for March 17-19 in Vancouver. (Brock Badgers)

• Bridge Twinning Top Ontario Project – The twinning of the Garden City Skyway was the top project on the province’s March 2023 Infrastructure Ontario Market Update. Beginning in 2024, a twin bridge will be built beside the Garden City Skyway and once the new highway is completed, all QEW traffic will temporarily be diverted onto it while crews repair the existing Skyway. Once the entire project is completed, the new bridge will carry all Toronto bound traffic. (InNiagara Region)
• Future Of Old Thorold Arena Discussed – The City of Thorold is discussing the future of the James Whyte Arena after closing the arena last March because of the upkeep costs of the refrigeration system. Currently, the arena is being used for heavy machinery but will soon revert back to public use. Thorold Minor Baseball and lacrosse have both expressed interest in using the facility but the arena has no heating or air conditioning. (Thorold Today)
• Condo Developer Facing Lawsuit – Evertrust Development, the company building the partially collapsed condo in Welland, is facing a $10-million lawsuit for alleged deficiencies at a completed condo project in Niagara Falls. The lawyer for Upper Vista Niagara Falls residents said the lawsuit is a result of “a lot of internal failures in systems” and added the residents have experienced flooding and contamination of the heating and cooling system. (St. Catharines Standard)

• Paid Parking At Beaches To Continue – St. Catharines Council voted 8-5 to adopt the 2023 beach strategy that will see paid parking continue at Lakeside Park and Sunset beaches as they believe it will encourage turnover of spaces and more transit usage. Parking rates will be set at $3/hour but St. Catharines residents will also have the option of purchasing a $15 seasonal parking pass. (St. Catharines Standard)
• St. Catharines Installing Sign Language Signage – New signage depicting the American Sign Language alphabet and common language and phrases is being installed at the entrances of select St. Catharines recreational facilities and parks to improve communication between deaf and hearing residents in public spaces. Avril Hertneky, a hearing-impaired resident, first approached City staff with her ideas and worked closely with City staff to find solutions. (City of St. Catharines)
• Train To Play At Casino – The band Train will play at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino on August 22. The band has sold more than 10 million albums and 30 million tracks worldwide, with multiple platinum/gold citations, including three Grammy Awards and two Billboard Music Awards. Tickets go on sale Friday, Mar 10 at 10 a.m. (CKTB)
• St. Catharines Home Prices Decrease By 30% – According to a new report from Desjardins, St. Catharines has seen home prices decrease by almost 30% since Feb 2022. However, St. Catharines home prices are still 47% above pre-pandemic levels. While Toronto remains the most unaffordable city in the province, it’s followed closely by St. Catharines, Hamilton and Kitchener. (Toronto Star)