Photo: Jack Moreh - FreerangeSt. Catharines planning virtual Family Day events
- Due to COVID-19, the City has moved online with the 2021 Family Day celebrations.
- The museum will run several virtual activities on Family Day live on its Facebook page.
- St. Catharines Aquatics will present a series of water-themed, at home experiments.
- On Friday the City will launch the first of its StayActiveSTC Challenge series, utilizing the GooseChase App with games to challenge the whole family.
- At noon on Feb. 15 the St. Catharines Culture Facebook page will host an Indigenous Story-telling and Artistic Response event.
- For a full list of events visit stcatharines.ca/FamilyDay.
Photo: Mark Sylvester - FreerangeCouncil approves governance model for single Niagara transit system.
- St. Catharines is supporting, in principle, a possible governance model for a single regionally governed transit system for Niagara.
- However, creation of such a system will require the majority approval from Regional Council and the majority of Niagara municipalities representing the majority of eligible voters in Niagara.
- Council also approved the formation of a Municipal Transit Transition Group that will include senior staff members from Niagara Falls, Welland, St. Catharines, as well as transit staff.
- The group will responsible for planning for the proposed new transit system.
Universal paid sick days endorsed by Council
- St. Catharines City Council endorsed a motion to press the Province for universal paid sick leave.
- St. Catharines joins the Ontario Medical Association, Ontario Nurses Association and 11 Greater-Toronto-Hamilton-Area Mayors who are all supporting universal sick leave.
- The move comes as workers not covered by Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit face loss of wages in choosing whether to take sick days during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo: Kaboompics - Freerange Museum seeking modern postcards for new exhibit
- The St. Catharines Museum will open a new exhibit in spring 2021, that will feature historic postcards.
- With travel limited due to COVID-19, the hope is to feature resident-submitted postcards from trips anywhere in the globe as a virtual glimpse of travel.
- Whether the postcard was received in the mail or collected as a souvenir, the museum invites the submission.
- To submit a postcard to the exhibition, contact Adrian Petry at museum@stcatharines.ca.
Niagara COVID-19 numbers for Feb 4
Niagara sees 38 new cases of COVID-19
Niagara’s COVID-19 active case count falls
However COVID-19 related deaths continue
St. Catharines waives 2021 licence fees for hardest hit businesses
- St. Catharines City Council has approved the waiving of business licence fees for 2021 to assist a number of businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Business licence fees will be waived for amusement arcades, auctioneers, hawker/peddlers (e.g. food trucks), public halls, refreshment stands, restaurants and theatres.
- Waiving 2021 business licence fees will have an estimated cost of $92,000 on the city’s budget.
Photo: Freerange PhotosSt. Catharines considering three options for pools and splash pads
- St. Catharines is considering 3 options for the city’s pools and splash pads.
- One option would cost $25 – $31 million and involve building a new indoor pool and 3 new splash pads, redeveloping Lion Dunc Schooley Outdoor Pool and closing 2 outdoor pools.
- Option two would see the city build a new indoor pool, close all three of its outdoor pools and build three splash pads at a cost of $19 – $22 million.
- Under option 3, all pools and splash pads would remain, no new facilities would be built but all three outdoor pools would be redeveloped at a cost of $11 – $16 million.
- For more information, go to engagestc.ca/AquaticsStrategy.