St. Catharines News Briefs

Friday May 6, 2022
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  • $3 Transit Family Pass. Beginning Saturday, a St. Catharines Transit all-day family pass will cost $3 on weekends throughout the summer. The family pass includes up to two adults, accompanied by up to three children. The pass will be available on Saturdays and Sundays from May 7 to Sept. 4, 2022 exclusively through the Transit app prior to boarding. (City of St. Catharines)
  • Jobless Rate Falls. Niagara’s unemployment rate fell to 5.2% for April with 6,300 new jobs created. The National unemployment rate for April was at a record low of 5.2% as well. (610 CKTB) 
  • Developer Files Appeal. A developer has filed an appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal to seek permission to build a 40 unit, six-storey apartment building on Ormond St S in downtown Thorold. A citizens group in Thorold has been against the proposal and the Thorold Committee of Adjustment had previously deferred a decision on the project while it obtained more information. (Thorold News)
  • Another Large Hospital Donation. Spencer Fox, the president of Niagara Falls business E.S. Fox, has donated $5 million to build the new South Niagara Hospital. The donation comes a day after Mark Basciano of Mountainview Building Group donated $3 million towards the new hospital. (Insauga)

St. Catharines News Briefs

Thursday May 5, 2022
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  • COVID Masking Policies. Dr. Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health for the Niagara Region, has joined the medical officers of health of Peterborough Public Health and Windsor-Essex County Health Unit in writing an open letter to the Chief Medical Officer of Health to broaden his new section 22 order on masking. Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in Niagara for the past three weeks have been close to the peaks of the second and third waves. (Niagara Region)
  • National Day Of Awareness. The city of St. Catharines flags are at half mast today for the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. (City of St. Catharines)
  • Canada Games Park Arena Named. The 1200 seat arena at Canada Games Park has been named the Algoma Central Arena. The naming sponsorship also includes the hosting and media box on the second floor overlooking the arena, which will be known as the Algoma Central Hosting and Media Box. Algoma Central Corporation is headquartered in St. Catharines and operates the largest fleet of dry and liquid bulk carriers operating on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway. (Niagara Region)
  • $3M Hospital Donation. Mark Basciano of Mountainview Building Group has made a $3,000,000 donation to the south Niagara hospital build. In recognition of the donation, the main entrance courtyard at the hospital will be named the Mountainview Building Group Main Entrance Courtyard. (610 CKTB)
  • GM Named For Canada Games Park. Lara Verdone, the Assistant General Manager of the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, has been named the General Manager of the new Canada Games Park in Thorold. Both the Meridian Centre and Canada Games Park are managed by ASM Global. (105.1 The River)

St. Catharines News Briefs

Wednesday May 4, 2022
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  • All Niagara Incumbents Seek Re-election. All three of Niagara’s NDP MPPs will run again in the upcoming Provincial election. Jennie Stevens (St. Catharines), Jeff Burch (Niagara Centre) and Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls) are all seeking re-election. Sam Oosterhoff, the PC incumbent from Niagara West, is also seeking re-election. (610 CKTB)
  • Body Found In Water. St. Catharines Hydro employees found a dead body in the water at Port Dalhousie this morning. Temporary road closures were put into effect as Niagara Regional Police launched an investigation. (Niagara this Week)
  • New Garden City Skyway Bridge. Construction on the twinning of the Garden City Skyway bridge is expected to begin in early 2025 according to the Ministry of Transportation. The new 2.2 km bridge will take about four years to complete after which work on the existing bridge will commence and will include a full deck replacement. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Thorold Council Meeting Turns Ugly. A request by Coun. Carmen DeRose at a Thorold council meeting for a staff report on allowing volunteers to turn off lights at public parks and around the pool to save on the city’s power bill turned ugly when Coun. John Kenny objected to the idea. Order was eventually restored when Mayor Terry Ugulini slammed his gavel. (Thorold Today)
  • Ukraine Rally On Monday. A rally to show support for Ukraine is being planned for Monday. The Bridge to Peace Initiative will take place on QEW overpasses throughout the region at 6 p.m. with flags and signs that show support for Ukrainians. (St. Catharines Standard)

St. Catharines News Briefs

Tuesday May 3, 2022
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  • Bees Found Dead. The Niagara Beeway, a group dedicated to protecting bees, is reporting that million and million of bees have been found dead in Niagara. A combination of factors has led to the deaths, including urban sprawl and plants purchased from large stores that carrying insecticides. (610 CKTB)
  • Sendzik Clarifies Quote. A quote by Mayor Walter Sendzik that Sal Sorrento is one of the hardest-working city councillors is being used by Sorrento for marketing purposes. However, Sendzik said the compliment is not an endorsement of Sorrento, who is the PC candidate for the June 2 provincial election. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Thorold Food Drive. Thorold Neighbourhood Hubs and One Thorold announced on Tuesday that the annual Community-Wide Food Drive is scheduled for Sunday, June 5. The event will see collection points go up at private residences and business locations throughout Thorold. (Thorold Today)
  • Cruise Ship Docks at Port. The first cruise ship of the season docked for the day in Port Colborne on Sunday with many of the 378 passengers disembarking for an excursion to Niagara Falls. Port Colborne is expecting 66 cruise ships to dock in the city this year. (Niagara Independent)

St. Catharines News Briefs

Monday May 2, 2022
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  • Branch Collection. Spring branch collection starts today and continues until May 27. Curbside branch collection is available across Niagara Region to all residents living in single family homes and apartments with six units or less. (Niagara Region)
  • Covid Deaths. Niagara Health is reporting that five Niagara residents have died of COVID-19 over the weekend. Currently there are 33 people being treated for COVID in Niagara hospitals with six patients in the ICU. (610 CKTB)
  • Red Dress Day. Red dresses have been hung on light posts along St. Paul St. in downtown St. Catharines in support of Red Dress Day. Red Dress Day is held annually on May 5 to honour the lives of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited individuals who are missing or murdered. (Insauga)
  • Ukrainian Fundraiser. Club Belvedere in Thorold will be hosting a pasta night on Thursday, May 26 to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. The evening will feature three seatings between 4 p.m – 8 p.m, and will include pasta, two meatballs and a bun. (Thorold Today)
  • NRP Lawsuit. A $2-million lawsuit against Niagara Regional Police by an ex-U.S. military technician has been dismissed. The judge said that while he does not dismiss the idea that the plaintiff has legitimate grievances, he thought the plaintiff’s account seemed improbable. (St. Catharines Standard)

St. Catharines News Briefs

Friday April 29, 2022
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  • Call for Municipal Election Candidates. The nomination period for the 2022 municipal and school board election opens on May 2. Beginning Monday, prospective candidates for the positions of Mayor, City Councillor, Regional Councillor, or School Board Trustee can attend City Hall to file their nomination paperwork with the City Clerk. (City of Catharines)
  • Goodbye Garden City Arena Event. With the Garden City Arena complex set to be decommissioned, the city will be hosting a Goodbye Garden City Arena event on May 14. Public skating will be available from 9 a.m. to noon (registration required) and CYO Minor Hockey, the Winter Club of St. Catharines and the St. Catharines Falcons will have displays highlighting their history with the complex. (City of St. Catharines)
  • Jack Gatecliff Arena Seat Sale. With St. Catharines preparing to decommission the Garden City Arena, including the Jack Gatecliff Arena, interested individuals are being offered the opportunity to purchase a seat from the facility. A price has not yet been set as costs will be based on total number of requests. Seats will be removed from the Jack Gatecliff seating only. Participants can register to purchase a seat between April 29 and May 21. (City of St. Catharines)
  • Garden City Comedy Festival. After a three year hiatus, the Garden City Comedy Festival returns, running from June 1 to 4 at various locations across St. Catharines. The festival wraps up with its gala night at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on June 4. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • New Life for Power Stations. The Niagara Parks Commission is looking to redevelop two additional decommissioned hydroelectric power stations in Niagara Falls. Last year, Niagara Parks redeveloped the Canadian Niagara Power Generating Station into a major tourist attraction. (Niagara Independent)
  • City Considers Indigenous Relations Adviser. Mayor Walter Sendzik made a motion Monday asking for a staff report on the possibility of adding an Indigenous relations adviser position at the city. The motion also asked for the creation of a job description developed in collaboration with the Niagara Regional Native Centre and a potential work plan. (St. Catharines Standard)

St. Catharines News Briefs

Thursday April 28, 2022
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  • Garden City Skyway could be twined. The Progressive Conservative’s budget was announced today and includes twinning the Garden City Skyway Bridge to carry Toronto-bound traffic while the existing Garden City Skyway will be rehabilitated and carry Niagara-bound traffic only. (610 CKTB)
  • $3 transit passes. St. Catharines Transit has approved a plan to offer a $3 family pass on weekends for travel within the city. The passes will include up to two adults and three kids for unlimited same day travel on Saturdays or Sundays. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Frost Advisory. A frost advisory has been issued for Niagara for a third straight night. Residents are advised to cover up plants. (610 CKTB)
  • Coyote sightings. The town of NOTL hosted an information session yesterday after receiving more than 100 reports of coyote sightings in three weeks. Residents were told that exercising best safety practices and cutting off the coyote’s food supply is the preferred approach going forward. (Niagara This Week)
  • COVID-19 deaths. Niagara Health announced that four Niagara residents have passed away after contacting COVID-19 on Tuesday. (Thorold News)
  • Free Compost. Niagara Region is providing compost for a cash or non-perishable food donation at Regional landfills and at the Region’s Recycling Centre during the week of May 2. While quantities last, Niagara resident may pick up 20 litre bags (limit of one to three bags) of compost. (Niagara Region) 
  • New Deputy CAO. Erin O’Hoski has been named Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the city of St. Catharines. O’Hoski formerly served as corporate planning officer for St. Catharines from 2007 to 2013, as part of a 20 year career in municipal leadership. (City of St. Catharines)

St. Catharines giving away free trees

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St. Catharines update with Mayor Sendzik

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Carousel closing after this weekend

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