The LocalSKIM for Thursday, September 23
- The town of Lincoln has received a court-ordered injunction to stop work on a property on Frost Road as the work has led to an increase in truck traffic in the core of Beamsville. (610 CKTB)
- The District School Board of Niagara and the Niagara Catholic District School Board have a combined 26 active COVID-19 cases, which has resulted in 25 classrooms being closed as staff and students isolate. (610 CKTB)
- The city of St. Catharines is considering adding more sidewalks to its snow clearing operations but clearing all sidewalks in the city would cost $1.2 million per year. Currently, the city clears about 20% of city sidewalks at a cost of $227,000 per year. (St. Catharines Standard)
- Canada has paused any additional deliveries of COVID-19 vaccine to the country as Canada has a total of 18.7 million doses on hand, which is more than the provinces currently need. (CTV News)
Photo: Freerange StockNiagara Health COVID-19 vaccination clinic to permanently close
- After administering almost 260,000 doses, Niagara Health will permanently close their COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the St. Catharines hospital on Saturday, Sept. 25.
- Vaccination remains a priority and there will be a number of other options for Niagara residents to get vaccinated.
- Same-day and future appointments at other public health clinics can be booked through the provincial booking tool or by calling 1-833-943-3900.
- Dedicated pop-up clinics by Niagara Region Public Health will continue to take place and participating pharmacies and primary care providers will also continue to give COVID-19 vaccination shots.
Photo: Jack Moreh - Freerange StockPublic Health recommends workplaces implement vaccination policies
- Niagara Region Public Health is recommending local employers establish a workplace vaccination policy to protect their employees and clients from COVID-19.
- With the Delta variant currently driving a fourth wave in Niagara, there have been 11 workplace outbreaks so far in September.
- A COVID-19 vaccination policy is the most effective means to increase vaccination coverage in the workplace.
- As an immediate step, Public Health recommends businesses make provisions for workers to have paid time off to get vaccinated, support transportation for workers to get to a vaccine clinic and endorse vaccinations at the senior leadership level.
The LocalSKIM for Wednesday, September 22
- The First Ontario Performing Arts Centre is supporting a nationwide initiative called #LightUpLive. Hundreds of venues, including the PAC, will light their venues red in support of the thousands of people who are still out of work in the live event industry. (610 CKTB)
- Pathstone’s school on Merrittville Highway in Thorold has been named the Mountainview Centre for Innovative Learning after Mountainview Building Group made a $1M donation to Pathstone. (610 CKTB)
- The price tag for Port Colborne’s cruise ship dock was originally estimated at $2M – $3M but will now cost $5M as the project requires other development such as site clean up, site servicing, landscaping, and creating pathways. (Niagara this Week)
- Dr. Mustafa Hirji said although Ontario’s new vaccine certificate program is considered a temporary measure to control the spread of COVID-19, it will likely remain in place at least until next summer. (St. Catharines Standard)
- Although Niagara has done a good job of keeping the fourth wave of COVID-19 under control, case counts could increase as the cooler weather forces people indoors. The threat of school outbreaks and the Thanksgiving holiday could also bring new risks. (St. Catharines Standard)
The LocalSKIM for Tuesday, September 21
- All incumbents in Niagara were re-elected during last night’s federal election as Liberal candidates Vance Badawey (Niagara Centre) and Chris Bittle (St. Catharines) as well as Conservative candidates Tony Baldinelli (Niagara Falls) and Dean Allison (Niagara West) all held on to their seats. (Thorold News)
- The Niagara West riding had the best voter turn out for the federal election at 68.4%, followed by St. Catharines at 60.8%, Niagara Centre at 60.7% and Niagara Falls at 59.2%. (Niagara this Week).
- Niagara Parks has launched a speaker series at the Niagara Parks Power Station attraction that will explore the history of the Canadian Niagara Power Station. Tickets are $60 and will include all three speaker sessions, parking and admission to explore the station. (Niagara Parks)
- On Wednesday, Ontario’s new COVID-19 vaccination passport takes effect which requires individuals aged 12 and older to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to access non-essential businesses in Ontario. (CTV News)
Feedback sought for single public transit system
- Niagara Region and all 12 local area municipalities are considering moving to a single, consolidated public transit system.
- The proposed model would bring consistent operating hours and fares, new digital payment technology, and better connections for riders across Niagara.
- The Linking Niagara Transit Committee, as well as senior staff from Niagara’s municipalities, want to hear what you think of this model, and have launched a brief online survey to get your feedback.
- The survey, available at MovingTransitForward.ca, is open until Oct. 3, and should take about five minutes to complete.