St. Catharines News Briefs

  • Falls Illumination To Celebrate Black History Month – The Niagara Falls Illumination Board will illuminate both the American Falls and Canadian Horseshoe Falls in red, green and black on February 1 from 10:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. in observance of Black History Month. (Niagara Parks)
  • Niagara Has Romantic Restaurants – The Niagara Region had 10 restaurants listed in the “Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in Canada” rankings by Open Table. Niagara-on-the-Lake and Lincoln had three restaurants on the list while Niagara Falls and St. Catharines both had two. (InNiagara Region)
  • Family Day Events At The PAC – On Feb. 20, the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre will be presenting a number of family-friendly events, such as an interactive screening of the film “Back to the Future,” and Cirque Kalabanté’s “Afrique En Cirque.” As well, the PAC will be hosting five free activities with most of them running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Niagara This Week)
  • Shooting Hoax – Niagara Regional Police are investigating after a shooting reported in St. Catharines turned out to be a hoax. The caller reported an individual had been shot multiple times but when police, crisis negotiators and paramedics arrived on the scene, it was determined that no shooting had occurred. (St. Catharines Standard)

St. Catharines News Briefs

  • Hospitals Getting Upgraded Mattresses – Niagara Health is swapping hundreds of foam mattresses for gel versions in the coming weeks in a benchmark effort to prevent pressure injuries and improve patient care. The massive upgrade, which started at the Fort Erie Site in December, will see 451 foam mattresses and 350 foam stretcher surfaces replaced with gel across all five sites. (Niagara Health)
  • Thorold Budget Talks Begin – The City of Thorold held their first budget meeting this week to discuss the proposed 2023 budget, which currently would see a decrease of $8 to the city portion of the average residential tax bill. The budget, which will be discussed again on Wednesday, includes several new hires at City Hall. (Thorold News)
  • Thorold Tunnel Reopens – After being closed for the past two days, all lanes of the Thorold Tunnel have reopened. The tunnel was closed down unexpectedly for emergency roadwork. (CKTB)
  • City Prepares For Provincial Analyses – St. Catharines city council is planning to relaunch a governance review group in preparation for the provincial facilitator process. In November, the province announced they will appoint provincial facilitators to six regions, including Niagara, to determine the best way to extend strong mayor powers in two-tier municipalities. (St. Catharines Standard)

St. Catharines News Briefs

  • Financial Issues Stall Downtown Cleanup – The cleanup of the lands where the Welland House formerly stood in downtown St. Catharines has been paused because the company in charge of the demolition say the property owners owe them about $350,000. However, the company who owns the site says they are having problems securing financing due to rising interest rates. (Niagara this Week)
  • Running Track Restricts Hours – The indoor running track at the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre is only open to the public from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week, which has upset some residents who want to use the track after work. ASM Global, who runs the facility, said that for safely reasons only permitted users, such as running clubs, have access to the track Monday to Thursday after 4 p.m. (Thorold Today)
  • Thorold Tunnel Remains Closed – The St. Catharines bound lanes of the Thorold Tunnel remain closed today and will likely remain closed for the day. The Northbound Highway 58 lanes were closed yesterday for emergency roadwork. (CKTB)
  • Black History Month Celebration – The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre is celebrating Black History Month with several Freedom Seeker-focused tours and a brand-new exhibit opening. For more information about the St. Catharines Museum and its Black History Month activities, visit stcatharinesmuseum.ca. (City of St. Catharines)
  • St. Catharines Hospital Archway On The Move – A plan to move the archway that sits on the old St. Catharines General Hospital site to the new St. Catharines hospital has been delayed due to transportation issues because to the archways size. However, in the spring the archway will be disassembled and transported to the new hospital site, where it will be reassembled. (Niagara this Week)

St. Catharines News Briefs

  • Thorold Tunnel Closed – Highway 58 Northbound heading towards St. Catharines is closed at the Thorold tunnel, due to emergency roadwork. The tunnel is expected to re-open tomorrow around 5 a.m. (105 The River)
  • Driver Stopped For Texting On Skyway – Niagara OPP stopped a driver who was allegedly double-handed texting while driving over the Garden City Skyway. A first distracted driving offence in Ontario now carries a fine of $615 to $1,000, three demerit points, and a license suspension of three days. (InNiagara Region)
  • Splashpad Approved For Merritton – St. Catharines City Council has approved a splash pad, a seasonal washroom and sun shelter to be built in a section of the park off Woodrow Street next to Applewood Public School. The new facility is scheduled to open in the spring of 2024 and will be the city’s fifth splash pad. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Pelham Family Day – On Feb. 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. residents can participate in free family events at the Meridian Community Centre in Pelham. From family skates to face painting, the Family Day events will keep families entertained along with the return of the GooseChase scavenger hunt available all weekend. (Pelham Today)

St. Catharines News Briefs

  • One-Day Wedding Event Planned For Niagara Falls – The City of Niagara Falls is inviting residents and visitors to “Take The Plunge” with their significant other on Tuesday, February 14 at City Hall or the Niagara Falls History Museum. The ceremony will include Valentine’s Day-themed flowers and décor, sparkling beverages and a photographer to capture your ceremony. (City of Niagara Falls)
  • Canada Games Sets Attendance Record – The Canada Summer Games that was held in Niagara this past August set a new Canada Summer Games record for attendance with more than 300,000 spectators attending events, including 130,000 at sporting events and 170,000 at cultural events. The Games had an economic impact of more than $350 million, exceeded expectations for both ticket revenue and sponsorship revenue and finished with a budget surplus. (BP Sports Niagara)
  • MPP Holding Healthcare Townhall – Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates will be holding an emergency healthcare townhall meeting on Thursday, February 9th from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls. The meeting will feature a panel of health care experts & front-line workers to discuss the crisis and residents are encouraged to share their healthcare stories and concerns. (CKTB)
  • Police Search Home For Gun – Niagara Regional Police blocked off Ann Street in NOTL on Sunday after they were called to a home where they believed a gun may have been involved in an incident. A search of the home was conducted but nothing of a criminal nature was found. (105 The River)
  • Public Input Sought For Future Of GM Property – The City of St. Catharines will be commencing a land use study to develop a vision for the former General Motors property on Ontario street. As part of the study, residents can participate in a public open house on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at Holiday Inn and Suites Conference Centre on Ontario Street. Doors will open at 6:30pm with the presentation set for 7pm. (St. Catharines Standard)

Police Make Arrests in Fort Erie School Threats

  • Two 15-year-old males from Fort Erie have been arrested in connection with the telephone threats to three Fort Erie elementary schools that occurred this week.
  • The investigation determined that the same suspects were involved in the incidents at Stevensville Public School (January 24th), Garrison Road Public School (January 24th) and John Brant Public School (January 26th).
  • The two teens have each been charged with uttering threats, false messages and public mischief.
  • The two males are being held in custody for video bail hearings that will occur on January 28.

St. Catharines News Briefs

  • Proposal Could Reduce Police Budget – The Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association is pushing for civilian groups to be used for some welfare and mental health checks instead of police. The association believes that their proposal should reduce the operating budget for the Niagara Regional Police by shifting funding to a civilian service for non-urgent calls. (105 The River)
  • Zellers Diner On Wheels Coming – In response to demand for the new Zellers stores within existing Hudson Bay locations to include in-store diners, the Hudson Bay Company will be bringing in a fleet of food trucks at its first Zellers locations. The “Zellers Diner on Wheels” will serve popular dishes from the Zellers Family Restaurant. (InSauga)
  • Police Budget Approved – Niagara Regional Council approved a $177.9 million dollar police budget in principle, which represents an increase of 5.7% over last year’s budget. The increased budget was needed to hire more officers, cover wage increases to current officers and pay for the cost of fuel. (CKTB)
  • Marineland Officially For Sale – Marineland has confirmed that they are actively seeking a buyer to transition the park into the future and possibly make it a year-round attraction. Current ownership said they are looking for an individual or group who will take Marineland and evolve, develop and grow it. (St. Catharines Standard)

Threats Directed At Fort Erie Schools

  • On January 24, a male suspect called Garrison Road Public School in Fort Erie and threatened that gun violence was going to occur at the school. 
  • The school immediately initiated safety protocols and police arrived at the school within three minutes.
  • Parts of the initial investigation led officers to have a concern about Stevensville Public School and the school also went into safety procedures. 
  • Officers also requested Peace Bridge Public School go into safety protocols due to its proximity to Garrison Road School.
  • Detectives are also actively investigating a bomb threat to John Brant Public School in Fort Erie that occurred on January 26.

St. Catharines News Briefs

  • Niagara Health Roadmap – Niagara Health has published its 2023-2028 strategic plan which includes ensuring patients have a positive experience with a focus on the aging community and specific patient populations as well as delivering consistent, high-quality care across all sites. The plan also states that Niagara Health will fully transition to a regional model with two acute care sites, including the opening of the new hospital site, and one ambulatory care site. (Niagara Health
  • Local Schools Tops In Research – Niagara College has earned the number two spot in Canada as a top research college by attracting more than $18.1 million in funding last year. Meanwhile Brock was among the top five universities in Canada for research income originating from the federal government’s three major research granting agencies. (InNiagara Region and 105 The River)
  • Fire In Welland – Welland fire crews are on the scene of a blaze at Bosch Car Service at the corner of Southworth Street and Lewis Street in Welland this morning. There is no word on the cause of the fire. (CKTB)

St. Catharines News Briefs

  • Fundraiser Exceeds $10K Target – A fundraiser for Ryan Konkin, who was killed in the Port Weller industrial blaze, has surpassed its goal.  Over $11,000 has been pledged through a GoFundMe campaign, which will be used to help Ryan’s fiancée operate a food truck business. (Global News)
  • Snowfall To Intensify In Afternoon – Niagara is under a snowfall warning with total amounts of 10 to 15 cm possible. However, snowfall will intensify this afternoon with snow falling at a rate of up to 5 cm an hour with strong winds. (CKTB)
  • Worker Seriously Injured – Yesterday morning a man in his 50’s suffered serious injuries at the GM plant on Glendale Avenue. The man was airlifted to an out of region hospital and the Ministry of Labour has started an investigation. (105 The River)
  • School Receives Threatening Call – A large police presence was at Garrison Road Public School in Fort Erie Tuesday after the school received a threatening call. Students were required to go to the gymnasium while police also attended nearby Stevensville Public School and Peace Bridge Public School out of an abundance of caution. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Hydro System Getting Upgrades – Alectra Utilities is spending another $3.1 million on infrastructure in a bid to boost its hydro power grid. The infrastructure upgrades is expected to stabilize the existing system and reduce outage impacts in the community. (InNiagara Region)