City breaks ground on improvements
at Lakeside Park and West Park
With wintry air blowing in and temperatures dipping below freezing, Mayor Walter Sendzik, Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, and Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, had fun in the sun on their minds, as they kicked off construction projects enhancing two of the community's favourite parks.
MP Bittle and MP Badawey joined Mayor Sendzik and Niagara Regional Chair Alan Caslin, to break ground on over $3.5 million in improvements at Lakeside Park and West Park. The federal government is contributing up to $650,000 for improvements at the two City parks through its Canada 150 Infrastructure Program (CIP 150).
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Happy Holidays
The City of St. Catharines wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday. Because we know you will be busy celebrating the season with friends and family we've made all of the important City of St. Catharines holiday information easy to find online.
Click here for information about free skating, festive events, facility closures, a list of emergency contacts and more.
City hall, and some other City facilities will be closed Boxing Day (Monday, Dec. 26) and Tuesday, Dec. 27 and Monday, Jan. 2.
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Holiday fun at the museum
Lego, butter making, crafts, finger painting and more. The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre has a full line-up of holiday fun children and families will enjoy from Dec. 27-30 and Jan 2-6.
Admission for museum holiday programs is by donation (pay what you can).
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Firefighters spread cheer at hospital
St. Catharines firefighters were spreading holiday cheer at Niagara Health's St. Catharines site.
Members of St. Catharines Fire's Combat Challenge Team, part of Local 485, raised funds to bring gifts to children at the hospital's pediatric ward.
Fire Chief Dave Wood and St. Catharines firefighters wish everyone happy holidays and remind all to be safe while celebrating with family and friends and offer these tips.
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Thank you for supporting Tree of Little Angels
The holiday spirit is strong in St. Catharines as the community has come together once again with toy and gift donations to support the Tree of Little Angels.
The City of St. Catharines proudly contributed toys and gifts, cash and gift card donations to Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold on behalf of residents who supported the annual Tree of Little Angles campaign. Barrels and barrels of toys and more than $1,000 in gift cards and cash were collected.
Community Care anticipates assisting more than 3,000 families this Christmas with dinner and presents for under the tree in addition to its regular support services. For more information about Community Care and its services, visit www.communitycarestca.ca.
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Free swim and skate on New Year's Eve
Skate or swim into the new year at our free New Year's Eve Family Celebrations Saturday, Dec. 31.
The
free family skate takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre. The free family swim runs noon to 2 p.m. at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre.
Both venues will also feature music by live DJs, crafts and other activities.
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Toast the New Year Jan. 1
Toast the New Year Sunday, Jan. 1 with Mayor Walter Sendzik, city councillors and members of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment and the 10th Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery. All our welcome to attend
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lake Street Armoury (81 Lake St.).
The New Year's toast takes place at 11:45 a.m. The firing of the cannon follows at noon.
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Stop circling and start
shopping
Enjoy free afternoon parking on weekdays until Friday, Dec. 30. Free parking begins at noon.
Free parking will be available at all City parking meters and hourly machined lots for up to three hours starting at noon. Parking meters and hourly machined lots are for short visits and have a three-hour limit.
Need more time to finish your shopping? Long-term parking is available at the Ontario Street and Carlisle Street/Garden Park parking garages.
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We want your feedback for St. Paul Street
traffic study
In 2017, the area of St. Paul Street and Carlisle Street will be reconstructed to be made more pedestrian friendly.
In November, the City used an arrangement of pylons in the area of St. Paul Street and Carlisle Street to simulate the future road layout and study how it will affect traffic.
Do you have feedback you want to share based on the traffic flow study?
Email your thoughts about the future road layout.
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Give the gift of curling
Give the Gift of Curling - 2017 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2017 Scotties Tournament of Hearts could be the perfect stocking-stuffer for loved ones who want to enjoy action and experience another event at the Meridian Centre.
Save $5 each for selected single-draw tickets to attend the 2017 Canadian Women's Curling Championship, Feb. 18-26 at the Meridian Centre. The sale will offer Opening-Day tickets (Draws 1 and 2) for $25, all-day Sunday (Draws 3 to 5) and Monday to Thursday evening draws for $20, and Monday to Thursday morning and afternoon draws for $15.
The remaining single-draw tickets, including playoffs, will go on sale on Jan. 5. Full-event passes ($369) and various mini packs, including for the closing championship weekend ($169) and the opening weekend ($79) are still available. Find the full schedule here:
www.curling.ca/2017scotties.
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Arts Awards Monday, June 5
Save the date: the 2017 St. Catharines Arts Awards are set for Monday, June 5 at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
Help us honour St. Catharines artists, residents and businesses by nominating them for an Arts Award in the following categories:
- Arts in Education Award
- Emerging Artist Award (2 recipients are chosen)
- Established Artist Award
- Making A Difference Award
- Patron of the Arts Award
Submit your nomination by midnight on Sunday Feb. 5.
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A Report from
Mayor Walter Sendzik
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Happy Holidays to everyone celebrating this season - Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Joyous Kwanzaa.
I hope you take time to enjoy the spirit of the season with your loved ones. Please join us for the annual New Year's Day Levee, Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. at the St. Catharines Armoury as we kick off Canada's 150th birthday celebrations this year.
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Niagara in the running for Canada Summer Games
Niagara is among the final four Ontario municipalities being considered to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games.
City council waived rental and permit fees associated with hosting some of the events and activities at City facilities, such as the Meridian Centre, West Park and Geroge Taylor Field. City Council also allocated $1.28 million over four years to cover the costs of certain facility improvements and new equipment to accommodate the events, should the bid be successful.
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Council supportive of GM's green energy plan
A renewable energy project at General Motors' Glendale Avenue plant is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 5,000 tonnes per year.
City Council showed its support for GM's renewable biogas cogeneration project and requested the company's application to the provincial government be rushed forward.
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Harris named deputy mayor
Coun. Matt Harris will serve as deputy mayor in 2017.
Every year, City Council selects members to sit on outside boards and associations and one member to serve as deputy mayor.
Next year, Coun. Sandie Bellows will represent City Council on the Niagara Wine Festival; Coun. Carlos Garcia will sit on the Port Dalhousie Business Associations and Coun. Mat Siscoe will serve on the St. Catharines Downtown Association.
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Other news
Planing matters
City Council amended the zoning by-law to allow a bed-and-breakfast to operate out of a barn at 368 Martindale Rd.
City Council will allow a dwelling and garage at 29 Power Glen that's been designated as a heritage building to be demolished. The home and garage were damaged by fire.
Facer Street
City Council referred a request to use $60,000 from the Civic Project Fund towards seeking public input and developing a vision for Facer Street revitalization to the budget standing committee
Council also directed staff to explore other funding opportunities from the federal, provincial and regional governments.
Older adults
Council is supporting the ever-growing senior's population in Niagara by lobbying the Provincial government to provide more funding for staff in the homes for the aged.
Noise by-law
City Council granted a noise by-law exemption that will allow St. Lawrence Seaway to work on the Carlton Street bridge over the Welland Canal overnight at times in January and February.
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More council online
Council Highlights offers informal summaries of some of the recent decisions and business discussed during St. Catharines City Council meetings. The Office of the City Clerk provides a full recap of decisions and motions in its official minutes, available on the Friday after every St. Catharines City Council meeting.
Click here for City of St. Catharines council meeting agendas and minutes.
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Digital versions of the Garden City Current are available. Click here to read past issues.
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Jan. 16
City Council
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Click here to learn about other upcoming meetings.
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Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.
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