Category: Local News

• Region Takes Over Bridge – Niagara Regional Council has voted in favour of taking over ownership of the CNR bridge on St. Paul Street West once it is reconstructed. CNR is paying $7.6 million, half of the current bridge replacement cost, plus $1.5 million to help cover repair costs over the next 150 years. (St. Catharines Standard)
• NPCA Moving – The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority will be moving its headquarters from Welland to Merrittville Hwy across the street from the Canada Games facility. The new office is expected to be open by April. (Niagara this Week)
• Family History Workshop – The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre and St. Catharines Public Library will be hosting a workshop on Saturday, March 2 at the library’s central branch and on Saturday, March 16 at the museum where residents will learn how to trace their genealogy and organize their family stories. The workshop introduces participants to concepts related to gathering, organizing, recording, and preserving their family’s story. (City of St. Catharines)
• Ward Boundary Changes – The second public consultation session regarding Pelham’s ward boundary will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 27 at the Meridian Community Centre from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Residents can also fill out an online survey available on the Town’s website until March 10. (Pelham Today)
• Ice Cube Coming – Legendary rapper Ice Cube is coming to the Meridan Centre on May 2. Tickets will go on sale Friday March 1st at 10:00 a.m. and range from $69.50-$129.50. (CKTB)

• City’s Bylaw Challenged – An Ottawa-based pro-life organization is taking the City of St. Catharines to court over a bylaw that bans the delivery of photos of fetuses to homes without warning labels. The group is arguing that the bylaw is illegal, violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and should be declared invalid. (St. Catharines Standard)
• Fire Victim Dies – The man who was rescued by firefighters from a burning Port Colborne triplex died yesterday in hospital. The fire remains under investigation. (CKTB)
• NOTL Patio Program Extended – Niagara-on-the-Lake has extended its current temporary patio bylaw until 2025 while staff creates a permanent patio program. The tempoary program was introduced in 2020 as a result of the COVID pandemic. (Niagara-on-the-Lake Local)
• Museum Wants New Home – The Thorold Museum has applied for a $6.3 million grant to convert the retired Fire Station 1 on Towpath St. into a new home for the museum. The museum has taken over the lease of the Canadian Corps Museum on Carleton St. and will operate out of that location temporarily. (Thorold Today)
• Object Sighted In Sky – A shining object falling from the sky was reported by many people in West Niagara around 6:48pm last night. Some witnesses believe it may have been a meteor. (CKTB)

• Man Rescued From Burning House – Firefighters rescued a man from a burning house in Port Colborne Monday afternoon. The man was rescued from the second floor of the house and was transported to hospital in critical but stable condition. (CHCH)
• Thorold Begins Water Study – The City of Thorold has initiated a combined water and wastewater study of Thorold’s water distribution and wastewater collection system. Four Public Information Centres will be held to present details about the study and allow the public the opportunity to share comments and concerns. (City of Thorold)
• Police Cleared – The SIU has cleared the Niagara Regional Police regarding an incident where a man allegedly charged at police while holding a knife and was shot and killed by police. The SIU reported that the incident happened while police were responding to a domestic disturbance where the man attacked a family member with a knife. (Giant FM)
• CAO Recruitment Begins – Niagara-on-the-Lake has formed a committee involving the lord mayor and three councillors to interview and review candidates who apply for the position of chief administrative officer. The town currently has an interim CAO after former CAO Marnie Cluckie announced she was resigning late last year. (Niagara-on-the-Lake Local)
• Monster Trucks Coming – The Monster Trucks All Out Tour will be held at the Meridian Centre on May 11. The event will have lights, music and monster truck mayhem. Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster. (Niagara this Week)

• New Visitor Kiosk – The Niagara-on-the-Lake heritage committee is hoping to temporarily install a larger kiosk beside the courthouse on Queen Street. The kiosk will be present from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving and is needed to assist town visitors and answer their questions. (Niagara this Week)
• Councillor Undergoes Surgery – St. Catharines councillor Joe Kushner is recovering from a successful surgery to remove a brain tumour. Kushner has been a city councillor since 1976 and donates his council salary to a variety of causes. (CKTB)
• Winter Parking – Winter parking restrictions are in effect for the town of Pelham. No parking is permitted on any Town of Pelham roadways due to current and/or forecasted winter conditions. (Town of Pelham)
• Go Service Resumes – Regular GO Train service has resumed today at St. Catharines GO station after repairs to the Seaway bridge were completed earlier than expected. Originally, completion of the work was not scheduled to be finished until Feb 23. (CKTB)
• Birding Event – Niagara Parks’ Niagara Glen Nature Centre will be open on Monday, February 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a special Family Day Birding event. This free event will feature workshops and presentations as visitors will have the opportunity to participate in discussions with local birding experts as well as guided birding walks. (Niagara Parks)
• Basketball Breakfast – The Niagara River Lions will host “Breakfast with Dunkin and Friends” on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Central Community Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake and will include appearances from local mascots as well as family friendly activities. Tickets are $10 per person and $5 per person for season ticket holders. (Niagara River Lions)
• Niagara Home Prices Down – The average price for single-family home in Ontario was up 1.1% in January compared to January of 2023. However, in the Niagara Region, single-family house prices and townhouse prices were both down 0.6% while condos were down 2.3% compared to January of last year. (Thorold Today)

• SUV Hits Man – A man was left with critical injuries after police allege that the man was intentionally hit by an SUV in Fort Erie after he got into an argument with the driver of the SUV. Paramedics transported the man to a local hospital and then to an out of region hospital where he remains in serious but stable condition with life altering injuries. (Niagara Regional Police)
• Increase In Auto Thefts – Niagara Regional Police are seeing a recent increase in the number of auto thefts in West Niagara as there has been 14 incidents of stolen vehicles since late January. Some of the vehicles stolen appear to be crimes of opportunity with vehicles left unlocked or keys in the vehicle. However, other stolen vehicles may have been targeted by an organized criminal element. (Niagara Regional Police)
• Falls Prepares For Large Crowd – Niagara Falls is expecting as many as one million people coming to the city to watch the solar eclipse in April. This would mark the largest crowd ever in Niagara Falls for a single event as hotels are expected to be at capacity. The city will be closing roads, bringing in bathrooms and making other preparations to host such a large number of visitors. (St. Catharines Standard)
• Niagara Impact Awards – Nominations for the 2024 Niagara Impact Awards, which recognizes community members and organizations who have made significant efforts to help build a more resilient and welcoming region, are now open. Residents can visit the Niagara Region website to complete a nomination. (Niagara Region)
• Family Day Activities – The City of St. Catharines will be hosting a number of family day activities including free leisure swims, public skating, and events at both the St. Catharines Farmers Market and the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre. (City of St. Catharines)
• Yield To Flashing Green Light – Thorold Fire and Emergency services is reminding drivers to pull over and/or yield if they see a vehicle approaching with flashing green lights. The flashing green light indicates a volunteer firefighter is on their way to an emergency. (City of Thorold)