Enjoy free events and activities on Canada Day
A flag raising, free swimming, live entertainment, an old-fashioned picnic - the City of St. Catharines has a lot going on to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary on Saturday, July 1.
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Lakeside Park Carousel opening July 1
The summer tradition is back! The Lakeside Park Carousel opens for the season this Saturday at 11 a.m., with free rides all day courtesy of the Friends of the Carousel.
The carousel will be open daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. from July 1 to Sept. 4. After Sept. 4 the carousel will be open on weekends until Thanksgiving.
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Some City facilities closed July 3
City Hall, the Parks, Recreation and Culture Services administration office and some other City facilities will be closed Monday, July 3 to observe the Canada Day holiday.
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City pools open this Saturday
The City's outdoor pools open for the season on July 1, and the
St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre will reopen the same day.
In celebration of Canada Day, residents can enjoy free leisure swims at any City pool on July 1.
The City's splash pads at Lester B. Pearson Park and Catherine Street Park are already open for the season. Splash pads are open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is always free.
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Your donation will honour the fallen
A long-awaited memorial to honour 137 workers who lost their lives building the fourth Welland Canal through Niagara is seeking your support.
A Community Fundraising Campaign has now begun to raise $50,000 for the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial, which will be installed beside Lock 3 at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre.
For more information on the memorial or to make a donation, visit www.stcatharines.ca/donate or call 1.800.305.5134 (between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.)
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Nominate a local green thumb
Nominations for the 2017 City of St. Catharines Trillium Awards are open.
The Trillium Awards honour the green thumbs who liven up streets and neighbourhoods across the city.
You can nominate your property or other properties that have caught your eye. Entry is free. Nominations are due by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 21.
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Artists celebrate the souvenir
In celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary, nine local artists explored the art of the tacky souvenir. What they've come up with is now on the walls of City Hall. The City of St. Catharines presents Kitsch 4 Canada, a new juried exhibition, on display in City Hall until Nov. 4.
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Summer Concerts in the Park hit
the stage July 12
The City of St. Catharines' free Summer Concert in the Parks series kicks off Wednesday, July 12 when the American Rogues take the stage with its energetic Celtic rock. Opening act the PubJugs start things off at 6 p.m. with their East Coast flavoured sound.
Summer Concert in the Park continues on select Wednesday nights in July and August.
The season wraps up Wednesday, Aug. 30 with Amanda Marshall, Michelle Treacy and Mélanie Brulée performing a free concert as part of the ONtour concert series.
Summer Concerts in the Park take place rain or shine but may be cancelled due to severe weather.
Food and drink will be available for purchase. Bring your own lawn chair or blankets for seating. There are washrooms on site and free parking is available after 6 p.m.
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An easier way to pay property tax bills
Have property tax bill payments paid automatically from your bank account and never miss a payment again.
Pre-authorized payments are easy to set up and offer the convenience of automatic withdrawals from your bank account. The City's 10-month preauthorized payment plan is particularly helpful for those who prefer to budget monthly payments.
Next property tax payment due June 30
The City mailed final residential and commercial property tax bills Friday, June 9. All payments must be received in the office by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 30.
Payments received after 4:30 p.m. on the instalment due dates will be subject to a 1.25 per cent late payment charge on the first day of default and the first day of each calendar month until paid.
Property tax payments made through banks, financial institutions and online banking are not immediately received by the City and can take several days to be processed. Property owners making their property tax payments through banks, financial institutions or online banking should do so several days ahead of June 30 to allow payments to be forwarded to the City by the due date.
Property tax payments can be made in person at City Hall, 50 Church St., Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Payments can be made with cash, cheque or debit card. Cheques can also be deposited in the City Hall deposit box at the James Street entrance. Do not deposit cash.
Mail cheques for property tax payments to: City of St. Catharines; Citizens First, CSS Department; PO Box 3012 Stn. Main; St. Catharines, ON, L2R 7C2. Do not mail cash.
The final property tax payment of the year is due by Friday, Sept. 29. Failure to receive a tax notice does not excuse the responsibility for payment of taxes and penalties. Call Citizens First at 905.688.5600 if you haven't received your final tax bill.
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Let us know where you see graffiti
Have you seen graffiti anywhere in the city? Use Pingstreet, our free smart phone and tablet app, to report it.
The City of St. Catharines is committed to keeping neighbourhoods clean by reducing and eliminating graffiti as soon as possible. Residents can use Pingstreet, the City's free smart phone and tablet app, to send pictures and locations of graffiti straight to the City. Search "Pingstreet" in your device's app store to download.
You can also report graffiti on public property by calling 905.688.5600 or emailing [email protected].
If you catch someone in the act of graffiti call 9-1-1.
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Canada Day weekend fun at
the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
The
Film House at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre has screenings all weekend long, including Bon Cop, Bad Cop 2, the sequel to the 2006 box office smash, on July 1 at 9 p.m. General admission is $9; Film House members get in for $7.
The Foster Festival is the very first theatre festival in Canada celebrating the work of a living Canadian playwright. Norm Foster comedies have been staged around the world for over two decades. Foster's play Screwball Comedy hits the stage this weekend on June 30 at 8 p.m. and July 2 at 2 p.m. Visit
www.fosterfestival.com for more information.
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St. Catharines Museum celebrating 50 years
Join the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre as it celebrates its 50th anniversary Tuesday, July 4.
Festivities include carnival games, the opening of the new One-Five-Oh! exhibit and more museum-fun for the whole family. Drop by anytime between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The museum will serve birthday cake at 6 p.m.
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A report from Walter Sendzik
On July 1st we will gather with Canadians across the country to celebrate the 150th anniversary of confederation and Canada's birthday.
Canada Day is always a fun day to celebrate and there are lots of activities taking place in #OurHomeSTC. The city's celebrations begin with a special flag raising at Centennial Gardens, a party at Rennie Park in Port Dalhousie and the traditional Dominion Day picnic at the St. Catharines Museum.
For many of us, Canada's birthday is also an opportunity to learn about our heritage and build a legacy for the future. Many locals have contributed to the celebration by donating to the "Canada One-Five-Oh!" exhibit at the museum, and nine talented local artists have created pieces for the new "Kitsch for Canada" public art display at City Hall. These special exhibits highlight what Canada150 is really about - celebrating the people who make our city a great place to live, work, and invest.
As we gather together to celebrate this Canada Day,
let's continue to work together to build a more caring and compassionate city which includes everyone - this year, and every year.
Happy Canada Day
St. Catharines!
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City asks for funds for flood damage
City Council requested the provincial and federal government contribute flood relief funding to help the City cover costs for flood cleanup, shoreline protection and other required services due to the damage caused by the unprecedented high water levels in Lake Ontario.
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No nuclear waste in Great Lakes
City Council urged the federal and provincial government to reject and seek alternatives to Ontario Power Generation's proposal to bury radioactive nuclear waste in the Great Lakes Basin.
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Council calls for feds to protect auto sector
City Council joined with municipal councils from across the province in calling on the federal government to make protecting Canada's automotive industry a key priority in the upcoming North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
Council also directed the mayor to send a letter to the prime minister stating the City's concerns and urged local MPs to join the parliamentary auto caucus to advocate for the well-being of the automotive sector in Canada.
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City working on new urban design guidelines
City Council directed staff to prepare urban design guidelines for mid and highrise housing (apartment buildings more than three stories tall). Council also approved terms of reference for a design review panel for a one year trial.
The panel will be made up of representatives from the development industry and two City residents, who will guide and advise the City on dwelling and site design for new housing and new lots proposed through the severance process.
City Council referred urban design guidelines for low-rise infill housing back to staff for more information.
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Other business
Pleasant Avenue development
A new 37-unit residential subdivision planned for 10 Pleasant Ave. is moving ahead after City Council approved changes to the City's official plan and zoning by-law to allow the development. The project includes 10 single-family homes, eight semi units, 13 townhouses and six apartments units. The plan also features rear-lane garages with the potential for apartment dwellings on the second floor.
Sunday parking
City Council will allow parking on Sundays in a loading zone on a small section of Head Street.
Heritage designation
City Council wants the interior and exterior of the home known as "Hollydean," located at 333 Main St. in Port Dalhousie, designated as a heritage property. The home, which was built around 1914, is of cultural heritage value under the Ontario Heritage Act. Council authorized the City Clerk to send the required notices under the Ontario Heritage Act that it intends to pass a bylaw to designate the property.
Lake Ontario hovercraft
City Council supported in principle the concept of using a hovercraft to ferry passengers across
Lake Ontario from
St. Catharines to downtown Toronto.
Shoreline repairs
City Council authorized emergency shoreline repairs on City-owned land near the back of the property at 14 Shore Blvd. to address safety concerns and reduce the risk of public and private property loss.
Pathstone Foundation
City Council supported Pathstone Foundation's application to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation to recognize its new mental health centre as a charitable organization in order to be eligible for certain property tax exemptions and rebates and to allow Niagara Region to waive development fees.
Lincoln Theatre
The old Lincoln Theatre on St. Paul Street is getting a makeover.
City Council approved
a request for an encroachment onto
St. Paul Street that will allow the property owner to move forward with proposed building facade and canopy improvements.
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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.
City Council meeting agendas and minutes are available online.
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City Council
6:30 p.m., City Hall
July 31
City Council
5 p.m., City Hall
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St. Paul Street between Carlisle and James streets and part of Carlisle from St. Paul to Race St. will be closed during
road work from now until the fall.
Businesses will be open and pedestrian access will be maintained.
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Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.
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