Much to do this weekend
Take a spin on the carousel. Play a round of golf. Enjoy a historical guided tour of the Victoria Lawn Cemetery. The City has your Civic Holiday weekend covered with loads of activities.
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What's closed on Monday, Aug. 7
City Hall and some other City of St. Catharines facilities will be closed for Civic Holiday, Monday, Aug. 7. City offices return to regular business hours Tuesday, Aug 8.
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Have a fire-safe backyard cookout
St. Catharines residents are free to celebrate the holiday weekend with a backyard barbecue. But, Acting Fire Chief Jeff McCormick cautions revelers to be safe and follow the City's by-law for backyard cookouts.
Residents can enjoy backyard cooking fires as long as their cooking fires meet certain safety requirements, such as being contained in small pits covered with a grill and located at least three metres away from buildings, trees, fences and other structures.
Residents must always have a way to put out the cooking fire within reach, such as a bucket of water or fire extinguisher, and fires must be extinguished immediately after use. Cooking fires must never be left unattended.
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Carlisle Street / Garden Park Parking Garage
closed on August weekends
The Carlisle Street/Garden Park Parking Garage will temporarily close on weekends in August for regular maintenance.
The City is replacing the waterproof membrane, a thin rubberized coating on the concrete, that's been worn away due to regular traffic. The parking garage will close on the following dates:
- 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8
- 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11 to 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14
- 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 to 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 21
- 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25 to 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 28
Because of the nature of the repairs, all vehicles must be out of the parking garage at 6 p.m. on Fridays in August. The maintenance will produce dust and debris and any vehicle left in the garage is done so at the owner's risk.
Vehicles that must be left in the garage for weekends in August should be moved to the top floor by 6 p.m. on Fridays.
Between the Ontario Street Parking Garage, the Market Square parking lot and other nearby City parking lots and on-street spots there are still hundreds of parking spots available within a five-minute walk to most of the downtown. Parking is free from 6 p.m. on Friday nights to 9 a.m. Monday mornings.
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Fresh produce, food at the Farmers Market
There's a bumper crop of fresh foods ripe for the picking at the
St. Catharines Farmers Market.
Local growers and other food vendors set up at Market Square in Downtown St. Catharines every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The farmers market also features baked goods, fresh cut flowers, VQA wine, works from local artisans and crafters. On Saturday mornings in August, Farmers Market visitors can enjoy live music and special programs, such as the Market Discovery Table.
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Summer Concerts in the Park
The Ferns is set to perform a free outdoor concert at Montebello Park Wednesday, Aug. 16.
Aaron Berger and Mark Steiger will open the concert at 6 p.m. with Limestone Chorus taking the stage at 7 p.m. The Ferns perform at 8 p.m.
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 blanket for seating. There are washrooms on site and free parking is available after 6 p.m.
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Pools closed at St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre
Pools at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre will remain closed throughout July and August and potentially into the fall while crews repair the ceiling and lighting fixtures in the pool area.
An exact date for when the pools will re-open will be provided as soon as possible.
Pools have been closed at the facility since July 4 when lighting fixtures and ceiling panels fell onto the pool deck. Since then, material from the ceiling and lighting fixtures have been removed and an inspection of the affected area has been completed.
Repair options are currently being reviewed by City staff. Re-opening the pools is a priority for the City.
Staff will continue to proactively contact individuals who have booked aquatic programming at the facility to inform them of the closure and discuss options for credits or refunds on their accounts. Residents can also call 905.688.5600 or email
[email protected] if they have questions about aquatic programming.
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Take part in our Transportation Master Plan
It's been a while since the City created a transportation plan (1965, to be exact),
which is why City staff are hard at work creating a new Transportation Master Plan to shape the future of walking, driving, cycling and commuting in St. Catharines.
The public can give input on the transportation needs of the city by taking part in MetroQuest, an interactive, online activity that guides residents through questions and scenarios related to cars, transit and cycling.
Additional public feedback opportunities will be available in the fall, including a series of open houses and an online survey.
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Try Active at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre
Niagara residents are invited to TRY ACTIVE fitness workshops in the Mann Raceway Plaza (directly behind the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre) every Tuesday in August at noon.
These free lunch hour workouts presented in partnership with the City of St. Catharines' Wellness Committee will be inclusive to all ages and fitness levels and will be led by Be Active Live Better owner and PRO trainer Michelle Latocha.
Workouts include Bootcamps, Strength Training, Core and Stretch, Tabata cardio training and Baby and Me classes.
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Acting fire chief appointed
St. Catharines City Council appointed Jeff McCormick as acting fire chief for a term of six months. Fire Chief Dave Wood has been off since the end of June on a medical leave of absence.
Dave Upper, a platoon chief with St. Catharines Fire, has been temporarily reassigned to the role of acting deputy fire chief for a term of six months.
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More homes coming to Cecil Street area
A plan to build more new homes on a small road off of Cecil Street is moving ahead.
City Council approved an application to build a 24-unit townhouse development at 19 Olde School Court.
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Warehouse development planned for vacant brownfield
A plan to reuse an old industrial site on Bunting Road is moving ahead.
City Council authorized staff to execute a Brownfield Tax Increment Finance Grant agreement with the owners of a vacant lot at 200 Bunting Rd. The owners want to build a new warehouse and other commercial units on the vacant lot, known as a brownfield site because of its past use as an industrial site.
Council previously approved the brownfield grant, which provides the property owner with an 80 per cent tax rebate over 10 years, through the City's Community Improvement Plan.
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Condo extension granted
City Council approved a request from the owners of 345 Geneva St. to extend a draft plan of condominium for the property so they can continue their work converting the apartment building's rental units to condominium tenure.
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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
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| Oakdale Avenue from Westchester
Crescent to Lincoln Avenue will be under construction from summer 2017 to spring 2018.
Construction continues on
Queenston Street until the end of the year. Rolling road blocks will be in place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. between Page Street and Eastchester Avenue. One lane of traffic will be open on evenings and weekends.
St. Paul Street between Carlisle and James streets and part of Carlisle from St. Paul to Race streets will be closed for
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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