Local News Briefs

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  • Fourth Suspect in Wainfleet Shooting Arrested – The lone remaining suspect in a shooting and kidnapping in Wainfleet on Tuesday has been arrested. All four suspects believed to be involved in Tuesday’s incident have now been arrested. Police believe this was a targeted act. (Niagara Regional Police)
  • Partial Demolition Of Collapsed Condo Building – The City of Welland has received an application from the builder of the Upper Vista condominiums for a partial demolition permit.  The luxury condo building, which is under construction, collapsed twice in a span of just over a week and the demolition will eliminate overhead safety hazards as specified in the Safe Working Procedure. (CKTB)
  • St. Catharines May Restrict Graphic Flyers – Councillor Kevin Townsend wants the city to prohibit graphic mail from being delivered to homes without warning after getting complaints about gruesome anti-abortion flyers. Townsend said many of the complaints were from parents who were upset about their children seeing the flyers and he would like to see a bylaw in St. Catharines similar to the one in London where flyers containing certain images must be delivered in an envelope with a warning label. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Free March Break Skating – The City of Thorold will be offering four free public skates at the Frank Doherty Arena over March Break with free hot chocolate and popcorn being served. The free sessions will take place March 13 from 10:30 a.m. – noon, March 14 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and March 15 and 16 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (City of Thorold)
  • Patios Approved In NOTL – Niagara-on-the-Lake has extended its patio program and will be allowing patios for bars and restaurants until Feb 28, 2024. Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa said he hopes the program will fiscally support patio operators this upcoming spring and summer season. (105 The River)

Local News Briefs

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  • Gates Asks Council To Save Greenbelt – Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates and local environmental activist Owen Bjorgan is asking Niagara Falls City Council to do their part to save the Greenbelt from the province’s More Homes Built Faster Act. Although Councillor Mike Strange said statistics indicate Ontario needs 1.5 million homes, Gates said 2 million homes can be built without touching the Greenbelt. (105 The River)
  • St. Catharines Endorses Housing Plan – St. Catharines City Council endorsed a plan and steps for how the city will accelerate housing construction to meet the province’s goal of 11,000 housing units by 2031 in St. Catharines. However, the city said they can only facilitate and support housing construction as the city’s involvement is limited to the approval process. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Councillor Wants Code Of Conduct Investigation – Thorold councillor Jim Handley is asking the City to hire external legal counsel to investigate whether the city’s code of conduct needs to be changed. The request is in response to Handley’s pay being suspended for 230 days in 2021 after the integrity commissioner found his behaviour to be in violation of the city’s code of conduct. (Thorold Today)
  • Man Dies After Being Hit By Truck – A man in his 30’s has died after being hit by a truck on Highway 20 in Thorold around 10:30 p.m. last night. The incident is under investigation and no charges have been laid. (CKTB)
  • LTC Homes Continue With Staffing Issues – Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates says the provincial government has not done enough to fix the staff crisis at not-for-profit, long-term care homes in Ontario. Many LTC homes are understaffed and workers have suffered severe burnout. Gates said staffing agencies are charging homes as much as $150 an hour for a registered nurse and homes are struggling to absorb the additional costs. (Niagara this Week)

Local News Briefs

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  • Wainfleet Shooting – Two 16-year-old males and a 20-year-old man are facing charges after a male youth was taken against his will by four suspects followed by an alleged attempt to take a second male which resulted in at least one shot being fired. Wainfleet residents were asked to shelter in place yesterday evening while police searched for a fourth suspect, who they were unable to locate. (Niagara Regional Police)
  • Walrus Leaves Marineland – Former Marineland employee Phil Demers says Smooshi the walrus and her calf Koyuk have been transferred from Marineland to SeaWorld in Abu Dhabi. Demers said he is happy the walruses will be living in a new and improved facility and that there are now no longer any captive walruses in Canada. (CKTB)
  • New Seats For Welland Stadium – The Welland Jackfish have donated 1,600 stadium seats to the city of Welland that will be installed in the Welland Stadium to replace most of the current aluminum bench seats. The city will pay $65,000 upfront to install the seats with the Jackfish paying back $45,000 to the city over 10 years. (Welland Tribune)

Local News Briefs

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  • St. Catharines Approves Water Rates – Council has approved new rates for water-wastewater services which represents an $84.58 increase over the year for the average ratepayer. The increase comes as Niagara Region continues to increase its water and wastewater rates annually to ensure program sustainability. The Region controls about 45% of water expenditures and 72% of wastewater expenditures, resulting in increased costs charged to the City for both the purchase of water and treatment of wastewater. (City of St. Catharines)
  • Partially Collapsed Building Will Be Completed – The builder of the Upper Vista Welland Condominiums project, which has suffered two partial collapses, said they are confident the project will be completed. The Ministry of Labour is investigating the cause of the collapses and no work on the building can take place until the investigation is complete. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Santana Playing At Casino – Santana and the 1001 Rainbows Tour will be playing at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino on June 24. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 3 at 10 a.m. (GiantFM)
  • Fire On Docked Ship – A fire broke out on a docked carrier ship yesterday morning shortly after 9 a.m. The fire started in an engine room on the Algoma Discovery, which had been docked in Port Colborne since January. There were no reports of injuries. (CHCH)
  • New Parking Lots For Nickel Beach – Port Colborne is looking to build new parking lots at Nickel Beach after the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks has decided to ban on beach parking due to Fowler’s Toad, which is an endangered species. The new lots, which will cost $1.3 million, is expected to be ready for the summer. (CKTB)

Local News Briefs

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  • Niagara NDP MPPs Push For Public Healthcare – Jeff Burch, Wayne Gates and Jennie Stevens are asking Premier Doug Ford to stop any movement towards privatized health-care and to maintain hospital services in the region. The request comes in response to the Welland Hospital no longer being available for after-hours emergency surgeries and the Ford’s government funding of for profit health-care services. (InNiagara Region)
  • Niagara Declares State Of Emergency – Niagara Region council has passed a motion to declare a state of emergency for homelessness, mental health and opioid addiction. The motion will also ask the provincial government to address the opioid crisis, correct the funding allocation model used for homelessness services and fund gaps in mental health services. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Condos Suffer Second Collapse – The Upper Vista Condos in Welland, which partially collapsed last weekend, has suffered another collapse on Sunday. The structure, which is under construction, collapsed on the south side which is the same side where the original collapse took place. There were no reports of injury. (CKTB)
  • Food Trucks And Vendors To Set Up Shop – Starting on March 1, applications are being accepted for food truck and mobile vending cart operators to set up shop at parks and facilities in St. Catharines. Launched last year, food trucks and mobile vendors can now operate on City property in order to allow residents to explore new tastes and activities throughout the city. (City of St. Catharines)
  • NOTL Approves Tourism Committee – Niagara-on-the-Lake council has approved the formation of a tourism strategy committee which will consist of councillors, residents, local tourism business operators, and a representative from Tourism NOTL. The committee, along with a master plan and action plan, will look at how the town can attract visitors and keep tourism sustainable and beneficial for NOTL. (Niagara-on-the-Lake Local)

Local News Briefs

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  • Region Passes Budget – After many hours of deliberation and debate, Regional Council has passed the 2023 budget. Residents will see a 7.58% increase on the regional portion of their property taxes this year.  The increase was higher than normal due to inflation, pandemic recovery and the added cost of the amalgamated transit which transferred costs from the cities and towns to the region. (Niagara Region, St. Catharines Standard)
  • EMS Asked To Respond To Mental Health Calls – The Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association (NRARA) is asking the Niagara Regional to support their request for Niagara EMS’ Mental Health and Addictions Response Team to respond to potential mental health calls instead of the police. The NRARA believe that Black, Indigenous and people of colour fare more poorly than the white community in confrontations with the police but also added their proposal could possibly save the region money. (InNiagara Region)
  • Niagara Police Board Appoints Citizen To Board – The Niagara Police Services Board has appointed Nyarayi Kapisavanhu to sit on the board as a public representative. Kapisavanhu is the founder of the Advocating for Black Excellence Awards of Niagara and the Executive Director of TOES. The Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association is glad Council met their demands by selected someone who has not been a police officer and is a Black woman. (CKTB)
  • Falls Goes Blue And Yellow – Niagara Falls is marking the one year anniversary of the Ukraine-Russia war by lighting up the Falls in blue and yellow, which are the colours of Ukraine’s flag. The illumination will take place tonight from 8:00 p.m. until 10:15 p.m. (105 The River)

Local News Briefs

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  • Niagara Receiving $3.5 Million For Transit – Over 100 municipalities will benefit from a $379 million investment in transit by the province through the gas tax program. In Niagara, Fort Erie ($216,989), Niagara Falls ($1,154,169), St. Catharines ($1,996,616), and Thorold ($215,997) will receive funds that will be used to purchase vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility and upgrade infrastructure. (105 The River)
  • Candlelight Vigil For Ukraine – A candlelight vigil will be held at the Table Rock Centre in Niagara Falls on Friday at 7 p.m. to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia-Ukraine War. The Niagara branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is hoping residents of all ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds come out to the outdoor vigil. (Niagara This Week)
  • Nurses Picket In St. Catharines – Nurses in Niagara are picketing at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Martindale Road in St. Catharines until 2 p.m. today. The Ontario Nurses’ Association is holding pickets across the province to advocate for better staffing, wages and care. (CKTB)
  • Home Bridge Closure Extended – The Homer Bridge will be closed for two weeks longer than expected and is now not expected to open until March 15. Work is being done to install a new deck on the bridge and the bridge will need to remain closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic until mid-March. (Giant FM)
  • Queenston St. Development Meeting Postponed – Due to school closures, tonight’s open house for the proposed development at the former St. Catharines General Hospital site at St. Catharines Collegiate school has been cancelled. The meeting will be rescheduled and the new date will be posted on the city’s website and social media channels. (St. Catharines Standard)

Local News Briefs

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  • Contract Awarded For New Hospital – EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare has been awarded a fixed-price contract of approximately $3.6 billion to design, build, finance and maintain the new South Niagara Hospital. Construction will begin this summer with occupancy planned for 2028. The 1.3-million-square-foot hospital will be located in Niagara Falls just off the QEW on the corner of Montrose and Biggar roads. (Niagara Health)
  • Freezing Rain Warning – The Niagara Region is under a freezing rain warning. Light snow mix with ice pellets will begin late this afternoon and change over to freezing rain this evening. Freezing rain will continue tonight before tapering off early Thursday morning to patchy freezing drizzle. Extensive utility outages and tree damage are likely due to the combination of ice accretion and strong winds. (Weather Network)
  • NHL Alumni Play In Niagara Falls – NHL legends, including Jeremy Roenick, Mike Krushelnyski, John LeClair, Wayne Primeau, Wendel Clark, Shayne Corson, Al Iafrate, Rick Vaive, Brad May, Andre Roy, Dave McLlwain, Craig Muni and Darryl Shannon will be playing in the Seventh Annual Celebrity Ice Cup, which is a fundraiser for the Hotel Dieu Shaver Foundation. The NHL legends will play against a team of selected amateur hockey players on Feb 24th at noon at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls. (InNiagara Region)
  • Migrants Numbers Should Level Off – Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati has been told that the number of asylum seekers coming to Niagara Falls should level off this week. The migrants are being redirected from Quebec to Niagara Falls by the federal government and are being housed in local hotels. With 1,700 hotel rooms already booked for migrants, there was concern that the lack of hotel room availability could negatively impact tourist season. (105 The River)

Local News Briefs

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  • Major Investment In GM Plant – The St. Catharines General Motors plant will become the first Detroit Three facility in Canada to produce electric vehicle propulsion systems. The investment is expected to support around 500 jobs at the St. Catharines facility and enable the production of more than 400,000 EV drive units a year. (Unifor, GM Canada)
  • Niagara Falls To Host Major Curling Event – Niagara Falls will be hosting the world’s top men’s and women’s curling teams Oct. 17-22 at the Gale Centre. The Hearing Life Tour Challenge is the largest event of the 2023-24 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Season and will feature 64 teams in a two-tier challenge broadcasted by Sportsnet. (Niagara Falls Review)
  • Freezing Rain Warning – Niagara in under a Winter Storm Watch as prolonged period of freezing rain leading to significant ice build up in some areas is expected late Wednesday and into Thursday. Precipitation may begin as snow or ice pellets before changing to freezing rain late Wednesday. (Weather Network)
  • Library Ends Overdue Fees – Beginning today, the St. Catharines Public Library will no longer charge late fees to its members. The library decided to end late fees for all members after overdue fees were dropped for children and seniors in May 2021 but the majority of items were still returned on time. (InNiagara Region)
  • Steve Miller Band Comes To Niagara – The Steve Miller Band will be playing at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino on Friday July 8.  On August 19, Country star Kane Brown will also perform at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino. Tickets for both shows go on sale Friday, February 24 at 10 a.m. (Giant FM)
  • Welland Condos Collapse – The Ontario Ministry of Labour is investigating a partial collapse of the Upper Vista Welland Condominiums that are under construction in Welland. The incident took place Saturday evening and is described as a “pancake-style” collapse, with the concrete slabs falling straight down. There were no reports of injuries. (Welland Tribune)
  • IceDogs Play 1000th Game – On Sunday, the Niagara IceDogs played their 1000th game since moving to St. Catharines from Mississauga in 2007. The IceDogs defeated the Sudbury Wolves 6-2, earning just their 11th win of the season. On Monday, the IceDogs lost 10-7 to the Oshawa Generals in Oshawa. (BP Sports)

Local News Briefs

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  • Region Approves 7.29% Budget Hike – After looking line by line for savings, the Niagara Region Budget Committee has approved a 7.29% increase to the 2023 budget. The budget, which is expected to be approved on Thursday by Regional Council, came in higher than normal due to the inflation, pandemic recovery and the added cost of the amalgamated transit which transferred costs from the cities and towns to the region. (CKTB)
  • YMCA Partnership Being Discussed – A partnership proposal between the new owners of the St. Catharines YMCA building and the City of St. Catharines to operate the facility is being discussed. The proposal is expected to be a partnership model where the city can provide recreational programming in the pool, gym and other areas. Atria Development Corp. say they are eager to get the facility back in operation. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Migrants Relocating To Niagara Falls – The federal government has been relocating more migrants to hotel rooms in Niagara Falls and now there are around 3,000 migrants staying in the tourist district. Niagara Falls mayor Jim Diodati is calling on the federal government to come up with a plan and provide resources as the city is still recovering from the pandemic and needs to have available hotel rooms for tourists. (CTV News)
  • Fort Erie Approves Budget – The Town of Fort Erie has approved a 0.88% increase to their 2023 budget, resulting in an average increase of $12 to homeowners in property taxes this year. The budget includes $4.5 million for the Pt. Abino Road South Reinstatement of the Shoreline Protection and Road Reconstruction, $2.3 million to revitalize Douglas Park and $2.1 million for road resurfacing. (Giant FM)
  • No Heat Requirements For Hallways – The City of St. Catharines is removing the minimum heat requirement for shared hallways in rental units. Previously the city’s bylaw required common hallways to be kept at 20 degrees celsius but it was difficult to enforce the rule where there was an entrance with doors that opened and closed regularly. However, some councilors worried the removal of the heating requirement will lead to cold hallways for tenants. (St. Catharines Standard)