Local News Briefs

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  • Dead Body Found – A civilian-led search party for a missing man forced their way into a Raymond Street house and discovered a dead body. Police did not identify the deceased but the searchers say the body was that of the missing man. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Apartment Complex Proposed – A 10-unit apartment complex is being proposed for Front Street in Thorold. The developer is promising that the complex will not alter the look of the downtown. (Thorold Today)
  • Bridge Closure – The Carlton Street bridge over the canal will be closed March 11 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. for maintenance. (St. Catharines Standard)

Local News Briefs

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  • Clocks Spring Forward – Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday March 10. Remember to set your clocks forward one hour.
  • Multiple Tickets To Be Issued – The new red light camera program will see tickets issued for more than just running red lights. Vehicles that stop past the white painted line or inch forward as the opposing light turns yellow to red or turn on a red light without first stopping behind the big white line will all be ticketed. (The River)
  • Marineland Guilty – Marineland has been found guilty under Ontario’s animal cruelty laws after a court ruled that they failed to comply with orders issued by the province’s Animal Welfare Services related to the living conditions of three young black bears. (CKTB)
  • Roundabout Petition – Niagara-on-the-Lake council endorsed a petition with an estimated 1,400 signatures asking the Niagara Region to not build a roundabout at the intersection of York and Four Mile Creek roads in St. Davids. There are concerns that the roundabout will be unsafe for pedestrians and will have a detrimental impact on local businesses. (Niagara this Week)
  • Ridley College Renovations – Ridley College’s refurbished Griffith Gym, new fitness centre, and squash courts, part of a three-phase project, opened in February with further renovations scheduled for completion in September. The state-of-the-art facilities aim to foster greater community involvement, including partnerships with youth groups and hosting events. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • NOTL Councillors Reject Big Raise – Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors rejected a motion that would have seen their salaries increase by nearly 5% starting in 2024 and instead agreed to a 2.5% increase in their salaries in this year’s budget. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Federal Funding For Niagara – The federal government is investing $15 million in clean fuel projects in Niagara. Almost $10 million will go to two projects in the Thorold Multimodal Hub with another $5 million going to a company in Port Colborne. (Thorold Today)

Local News Briefs

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  • More Red Light Cameras – The Niagara Region will be operating 10 red light cameras in Niagara in the coming weeks. Three cameras are already operating while the remaining seven cameras have been installed and are being tested. (Niagara-on-the-Lake Local)
  • New Playground – Thorold is planning to replace the playground and splash pad at Sullivan park as the current facilities do not meet park standards. (Thorold Today)
  • Huge Development for Beamsville – A $400 million development is being proposed for land near the QEW in Beamsville that will include a six-storey standalone hotel, a two-storey, event centre, a three-storey commercial building, and three nine-storey mixed-used buildings that will include 403 condominium units. (Niagara this Week)
  • Road Volunteers Needed – Niagara Region’s Adopt-a-Road program is looking for volunteer groups and organizations to help beautify their community and pick up litter along Regional Road rights-of-way. For more information or to apply for the program visit to the Region’s Adopt-a-Road webpage. (Niagara Region)
  • Eclipse Event At Brock – The Niagara community is invited to join Brock University experts and special guests in celebrating a rare celestial spectacle on April 8. The event at Brock University will feature a variety of educational exhibits beginning at noon and then a community viewing of the total solar eclipse, expected to take place from 3:18 p.m. to 3:21 p.m. (Brock University)
  • March Break Activities – Niagara Parks’ family-friendly sites and attractions invite visitors to explore the vast array of experiences this March Break, from the enchanting new Orchid Show to Niagara Parks’ year-round experiences such as the Butterfly Conservatory, Journey Behind the Falls and the Niagara Parks Power Station + Tunnel. (Niagara Parks)

Local News Briefs

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  • Port Pedestrian Mall – St. Catharines city council is urging Niagara Region to abandon a long-planned pedestrian mall in Port Dalhousie due to concerns about safety, traffic congestion, and the loss of parking spaces. Councillors argued that the current proposal, which would close Lock Street to vehicles, is flawed and called for a new reconstruction plan. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Police Cleared – The SIU has cleared a Niagara Regional Police officer of any wrong doing after a man suffered a torn right knee tendon after being brought to the ground and handcuffed during an arrest in November. (GiantFM)
  • No New NOTL Patios – While Niagara-on-the-Lake council had previously agreed to extend its temporary patio program for another year, council has now decided that no new patios will be allowed this year until a more-detailed patio program is created and approved by council. (Niagara-on-the-Lake Local)
  • Transit Consultant Hired – The Niagara Transit Commission has announced that it has hired a consultant to complete a comprehensive study aimed at revolutionizing public transit service in Niagara. The master plan is expected to take 18 months to complete and will focus on improving accessibility, efficiency, and affordability. (Pelham Today)
  • Bus Driver Charged – A 30-year old man has been charged with impaired driving after the school bus he was driving collided with a garbage truck in Niagara Falls. There were no students on board the bus. (The River)
  • NOTL Reduces Tax Increase – Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors have made changes to the budget to reduce the tax increase from 9.4% to 6.75%. Council voted to use reserve accounts and delay the hiring of several new permanent staff in order to decrease the tax hike. (Niagara-this-Week)
  • New Deputy Chiefs – The Niagara Police Services Board has announced the appointment of Superintendent Todd Waselovich and Superintendent Luigi Greco as the new Deputy Chiefs of Police for the Niagara Regional Police. (Niagara Regional Police)
  • Volunteer Nominations Open – Nominations are now open for the City of St. Catharines’ Volunteer Recognition Awards. These awards aim to honour outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to our community through their volunteer efforts. For more details on the Volunteer Recognition Awards or to submit a nomination, visit stcatharines.ca/VolunteerAwards. (City of St. Catharines)
  • March Break Activities – The City of St. Catharines has scheduled a number of activities for March break including swimming, skating, recreational and educational programming, and museum activities. For more information visit stcatharines.ca/ActiveSTC. (City of St. Catharines)

Local News Briefs

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  • NOTL Complaint Dismissed – Niagara-on-the-Lake’s integrity commissioner dismissed a conflict of interest complaint against Coun. Marie Mavridis, stating that there was no evidence she improperly participated in a meeting regarding temporary patios. The complaint against Mavridis, who is an events manager at Corks Restaurant and Wine Bar, alleged that she should have declared a conflict of interest and influenced other councillors. (Niagara this Week)
  • Measles Vaccinations – With the number of measles cases increasing globally and travel expected during March break, Niagara Region Public Health is encouraging all residents to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles. For more information about measles, the vaccination schedule, and where to get vaccinated, visit www.niagararegion.ca/health. (Niagara Region)
  • Water Plant Tour – To celebrate World Water Day, the Niagara Region is offering a free guided tour of its Grimsby Water Treatment Plant on Friday March 22 at 11 a.m. Registration is required by Friday, March 15 by emailing amanda.deschenes@niagararegion.ca. (Niagara Region)
  • Niagara Health Award – Niagara Health has been recognized for its exceptional workplace diversity, equity and inclusion programming by being named as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the second consecutive year. (Niagara Health)

Local News Briefs

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  • Red Light Cameras – Niagara Region’s red light cameras will begin enforcing red light running offences starting March 6 at three locations across the region. The remaining seven cameras will be coming online and actively enforcing in the following weeks. (Niagara Region)
  • Committee Members Wanted – The Niagara Region is seeking applicants for the new Transportation Steering Committee and the Landfill Advisory Committees. Interested applicants can learn more about the committees and the qualifications needed to apply by visiting the Regional Council webpage on the Region’s website. (Niagara Region)
  • Awards for Pelham – The Town of Pelham has, for the second year, received two Festivals and Events Ontario Top 100 awards recognizing the annual four-day Pelham Summerfest Festival and the Pelham Summer Chill Series, which combines live music, the farmers’ market and the supper market. (Town of Pelham)
  • Pharmacy Robbed – Niagara Regional Police are investigating a robbery at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Pelham where two masked men armed with a hammer entered the store early Friday morning and injured one of the cleaning crew workers. (GiantFM) 
  • Record Breaking Temperatures – The Region could see record breaking temperatures today and tomorrow as the high is expected to reach around 18C. The previous record for today was 14C set back in 1974. (CKTB)

Local News Briefs

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  • License Plate Thefts – Police are warning residents that license plate thefts are on the rise in West Niagara. Police say the thieves will sometimes replace the stolen plate with a paper or 3D printed plate and then use the real plate to commit crimes. (Giant FM) 
  • No Fire Dispatch Merger – Niagara Falls councillors have voted unanimously against merging the Niagara Falls Fire dispatch service with St. Catharines despite the fact it would save Niagara Falls $240,000. The Niagara Falls Professional Firefighters Association said they were concerned with the service quality if the merger was to take place. (The River)
  • Complex Too High – Thorold councillors are concerned about the size of a proposed 275-unit apartment complex at 75 Ormond Street South. The complex will be 15 storeys high but the current zoning by-law only allows for seven storey buildings. (Thorold Today)
  • NOTL Rejects Appointment – Niagara-on-the-Lake council voted 5-4 against appointing regional Coun. Andrea Kaiser to Niagara Region’s transportation strategy steering committee. Coun. Sandra O’Connor said she couldn’t support Kaiser because she supported the St. Davids roundabout despite town council being opposed to it. (Niagara this Week)
  • Garden Funding Available – St. Catharines 2024 community garden funding applications have opened up to help groups establish communal gardens in the city. Incorporated charities and not-for-profit groups looking to establish new gardens or improve existing ones can apply to receive matching funds from the City for up to half of eligible start-up costs, including lumber, soil, seeds, rain barrels and other materials and equipment. (City of St. Catharines)
  • Food Truck Applications – Applications are now being accepted by the City of St. Catharines for food truck and mobile vending cart operators to set up shop at city parks and facilities for the season. Interested businesses can fill out an application anytime between March 1 and March 29 at stcatharines.ca/VendorPermit. (City of St. Catharines)

Local News Briefs

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  • Fire At Mall – A roof fire on Tuesday at the Outlet Collection mall in Niagara-on-the-Lake prompted a temporary evacuation. The cause remains under investigation and two stores, The Children’s Place and Puma, remained closed on Wednesday. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Award For Downtown – The St. Catharines Downtown Association has announced that its Holi Festival of Color has been named one of the Top 100 Events in Ontario. Festivals and Events Ontario made the announcement and presented the award on Wednesday during the FEO Awards Gala. (My Downtown)
  • Harassment In Politics – Regional Councillor Haley Bateman is hoping provincial legislation dealing with harassment in politics, particularly toward women, will be passed in June. Bill 5 would allow an offending politician to be removed from office as current harassment legislation does not apply to municipal politics. (The River)
  • Thorold Considers EV Charging – Thorold city councillors have voted to explore options for adding electric vehicle (EV) charging stations as part of the city’s strategic plan development. However, some councillors raised concerns about the cost to taxpayers, questioned the usage by a limited number of residents, and cited financial challenges faced by some EV charging companies. (St. Catharines Standard)

Local News Briefs

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  • Baseball For Thorold – A former director with the Toronto Blue Jays wants to bring a summer collegiate baseball team to McMillan Park in Thorold. Summer collegiate baseball leagues give college players a place to play in the summer. Thorold staff will help prepare a detailed proposal with financials although required upgrades to McMillan Park will likely cost between $1M and $2M. (Thorold News)
  • Free Grocery Giveaway –  An unnamed businessperson is sponsoring another grocery giveaway event in Thorold on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. Individuals will be able to pick up a free bag of groceries from the parking lot of Holy Rosary Hall. The businessperson has been responsible for a number of other grocery giveaways held throughout Niagara. (Niagara this Week)
  • Record Breaking Temperatures – Today was a record-breaking day as the temperature rose to 17 C at 11 a.m., beating a 41-year heat high for this day. However, temperatures are expected to drop to below zero this evening. (CKTB)
  • Active Living Fair – The City of St. Catharines will host a 50 plus Active Living Fair at the Dunlop Drive Older Adult Centre on Tuesday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair is free to attend and will feature over 35 vendors, showcasing important information for those 50 and older who live in St. Catharines. (City of St. Catharines)

Local News Briefs

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  • Climate Survey – The City of St. Catharines has launched it’s first Community Climate Action survey. The survey will collect information on what residents are doing to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be more resilient to a changing climate. For more information and to complete the survey, visit  engagestc.ca/climateaction. (City of St. Catharines)
  • Eclipse Concert – A free concert will be held at Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls on April 8, which will include The Glorious Sons, JJ Wilde, New Friends, The Boneheads and the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. The show, which will take place on the same day as the eclipse, will start at 2:30pm and will run until 10:00pm. (Giant FM)
  • Boom Removal – The process of removing the ice boom on the Niagara River may begin today, which would be the earliest the boom has ever been removed. The boom prevents ice flow into the river which has the potential to damage the shoreline and reduce water flow for the hydro-electric station. (The River)