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| Mayor Walter Sendzik with Justin Nicholls |
Young leader recognized for heritage initiatives
Mayor Walter Sendzik and City Council recognized Justin Nicholls, an Ontario Heritage Trust (OHT) award recipient, at Monday's City Council meeting.
Nicholls recently received the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement, and a $2,000 scholarship.
Nicholls is an active volunteer and community advocate for heritage issues in St. Catharines. He spearheaded a community initiative to commemorate the city's final Cold War air raid siren and is involved with various educational programs as a volunteer at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre.
Mayor Sendzik and City Council also recognized Maurice Gaumme and Campbell Lewis for their contributions to local heritage. Gaumme conducted extensive research to create an inventory of City street names from the 1800s while Lewis helped restore the beloved tradition of planting a geranium at the Ollie Fountain at the corner of King and James streets.
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City funding available for community gardens
Are you part of an incorporated charity or not-for profit group looking to start up or expand a community garden? The City of St. Catharines offers a matching fund program to cover capital costs for community gardens in St. Catharines.
Applications are due Friday, April 7 at 4 p.m. Approved projects must be completed by Oct. 31, however preference may be given to projects that can be completed earlier.
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Take our survey
Your feedback will help us enhance the Leisure Guide and improve program registration for all residents.
The survey should take less than 90 seconds to complete.
Everyone who completes a survey is entered to win
a REC (Recreation Exploration Combo) Pack!
- Skating passes
- Swimming passes
- Golf passes
- Carousel rides!
The survey closes April 14.
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Help clean up the Garden City
Help us pick up litter from our parks and public spaces during our annual Pitch-In Day spring community clean-up Saturday, April 22.
Join volunteers from across the City from 10 a.m. to noon to help pick up litter at designated sites or get a group together and tidy up your own neighbourhood of favourite park. The City provides garbage bags and gloves. Call 905.688.5600 to register.
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The mayor's poetry challenge is back!
The Mayor's Poetry Challenge is returning this April with a theme to celebrate Canada's 150
th
birthday.
Mayor Sendzik invites St. Catharines residents to submit an original poem about Canada's 150
th
birthday for the Mayor's Poetry Challenge. All types of poetry will be accepted - from Shakespearean sonnets to fantastical Dr. Seuss-inspired pieces.
Poems should be sent to
poetry@stcatharines.ca by April 10 to be considered. The winning poet will be invited to recite their poem at the April 24 City Council meeting and may be included at upcoming Canada 150 events hosted by the City of St. Catharines.
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Learn about water safety on April Pools Day
The Lifesaving Society and the City of St. Catharines will promote water safety and swimming as a life skill with fun activities at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre as part of April Pools Day Saturday, April 1 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
April Pools Day features a leisure swim, water safety trivia, CPR, drowning prevention and other self-help demonstrations, PFD/life jacket fittings and more fun. Admission is by a minimum donation of $1. Proceeds from the event go to the Lifesaving Society's drowning prevention campaign.
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Youth Leisure swims on sale
Get 10 youth leisure swims for only $20. That's 10 swims for the price of seven.
Promotion Packs are available for purchase at St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre until April 8.
Regular admission standards apply.
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Collect winter wreaths from City cemeteries
by April 1
The winter wreath program at Victoria Lawn Cemetery and St. Andrew's Cemetery comes to a close April 1.
All wreaths and artificial flowers must be removed from the cemeteries before April 1 to allow staff to proceed with regular spring maintenance.
Wreaths and glass encased flowers remaining on the graves after April 1 will be removed by cemetery staff and disposed of.
For more information contact the Victoria Lawn Cemetery at 905.688.5600.
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An easier way to pay City bills
Have property tax bill payments paid automatically from your bank account and never miss a payment again.
Pre-authorized payments are the fastest and easiest way to pay property taxes and offer the convenience of automatic withdrawals from your bank account. Complete this form to enroll and enjoy the flexibility of making property tax bill payments in four instalments or 10 instalments and have peace of mind knowing payments will be paid on time.
New for 2017, property tax instalment due dates have changed to the last business day of installment months.
Remaining 2017 instalment dates:
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Coming up at the PAC
Friday, March 31 | 7:30 p.m.
One of Canada's leading contemporary dance companies, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre fuses Indigenous and contemporary dance with compelling choreographic vision. The Honouring celebrates unique First Nations experiences during the War of 1812.
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play!
Saturday, April 1 | 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
A stylish, hilarious introduction to theatre for our youngest audience members. For ages four and up.
Jabber
Wednesday, April 5 | 7 p.m.
Don't miss Jabber! This smart and humorous play by Geordie Productions helps demystify the Hijab and growing up as a Muslim in Canada. Recommended for youth 13 and over.
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A report from Walter Sendzik
More than 150 young people participated, sharing their ideas and vision for the city. The feedback and ideas generated will be shared with City Council and the community for future consideration. Email me any other ideas or thoughts you'd like to share.
Thanks to the planning committee for helping plan the youth forum. It was a fun and inspiring day.
On Thursday the Canada Games 2021 bid evaluation committee announced the Niagara Region as the host community for the games. We are all very excited about Niagara being selected for this national event.
Congratulations to the Niagara 2021 bid committee and everyone involved on a strong bid, and thanks to the community for showing your support.
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New water rates take effect
April 1
Water bills are going up by about two per cent for the average customer.
City Council approved the 2017 water and wastewater budget which includes an increase to the City's water and wastewater (sewer) rates, which puts water/wastewater bills up by about $15 for the average customer using 174 cubic meters of water a year.
The City's water system is fully-funded by the water and wastewater rates customers pay and doesn't rely on property taxes. Rates are a combination of fixed charges and consumption charges based on the amount of water used.
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City applying for more funding for Fallen Workers memorial
City Council directed staff to apply for up to $234,000 in funding from the 2017 Waterfront Investment Program (WIP) for the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial.
If successful, the City will use $234,000 in matching funds from its civic project fund.
Council delegated authority to execute any applications and funding agreements for the WIP to City staff. Council also directed the City to request assistance and support from MPs in Welland Canal communities in securing additional federal funding for the elements that are unfunded in the currently approved budget.
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Residential Infill recommendations
coming May 1
City Council will consider recommendations to the City's official plan and zoning by-law relating to residential infilling during a public meeting Monday, May 1.
Council approved in principle a design review committee made up of staff and knowledgeable individuals to provide advice on severance applications that create new infill lots for new development. Council directed staff to report back with a design review Committee framework based on best practices from other jurisdictions.
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Other news
Lakeside Park funding
The City is receiving $30,000 in funding to build an accessible beach sun shelter at Lakeside Park and to host an associated accessibility awareness event from the Rick Hansen Foundation Canada150 Access4All grant program.
City construction
City Council awarded the following contracts:
- $487,729 plus HST contract to AVERTEX Utility Solutions to fix a partially collapsed sanitary sewer pipe on Strada Boulevard.
- $267,380 plus HST contract to Peters Excavating to replace a watermain on Broadway from Runcorn Street to Wood's Park Road.
- $3.56 million plus HST contract to Demar Construction for sewer separation, watermain replacement, road reconstructions and other improvements on Queenston Street between Page Street and Eastchester Boulevard.
Swim team
City Council directed staff to enter into a two-year agreement with an option to renew for another two years with the Garden City Aquatic Club for competitive swim team programming.
Noise by-law
City Council granted a noise by-law exemption to the Niagara Region permitting night work on Glendale Avenue between Burleigh Hill Drive and Jacobson Avenue.
In the Soil
Part of James Street between St. Paul Street and King Street and a small part of Summer Street adjacent to James Street will close to traffic Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30 for the In the Soil Arts Festival.
New condos
City Council granted draft plan of condominium approval to allow construction of a three-storey, 45-unit apartment building at 212 Lakeport Rd.
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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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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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