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Enjoy the sounds of the season
Downtown visitors will have a little more jingle in their pockets thanks to free afternoon parking in December at select City spots and lots.
The City is offering up to three hours of free parking downtown between noon and 6 p.m. on weekdays from Monday, Dec. 11 to Friday, Dec. 29 at City-owned on-street metered spots and City-owned parking lots with pay machines.
Visitors taking advantage of free afternoon parking are still subject to the City's three-hour time limit for parking in the downtown.
Free afternoon parking does not apply to special event parking fees at the Head Street, Race Street, Garden Park and IceDogs Way parking lots during events at the Meridian Centre and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
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City collecting toy and gift donations
The City of St. Catharines continues to spread holiday joy across the community through its Tree of Little Angels toy and gift drive.
The City is accepting new, unwrapped gifts for children up to 16 years old until Friday, Dec. 8. Residents can support the campaign by purchasing a gift and returning it with the "Little Angel" to any of these City facilities:
- City Hall
- City community centres
- St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre
- City older adult centres
- St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre
- Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre
The City will also accept new toy and gift donations without "Little Angel" tags as well as gift card donations. Toy and gift donations support Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.
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Great Holiday Food Drive at City Hall Dec. 8
The Great Holiday Food Drive, supporting Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold, is set to take over the front lawn of City Hall
at 50 Church St. Friday, Dec. 8.
The community is invited to make donations from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to help families in need this holiday season. During the event you can also take part in the Reindeer Games, a holiday-themed scavenger hunt in Downtown St. Catharines.
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Enjoy the sounds of the season
The City presents the 27th Annual Civic Christmas Carol Concert Tuesday, Dec. 12 at St. Thomas' Church. The St. Catharines Civic Brass Ensemble will join with some of the best young singers in the city to perform classic Christmas carols. Concertgoers are encouraged to sing along with the performers.
Peter M. Partridge will conduct this year's choirs from Laura Secord Secondary School and Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School. City by-law enforcement officer Ross Stretton, who volunteers to organize the Civic Christmas Carol Concert, will be the organist. Elisabeth Zimmermann, executive director of YWCA Niagara Region, will offer her perspective on the meaning of Christmas as guest speaker.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Concert begins at noon. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted on behalf of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.
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Museum collecting warm woolly donations
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre is also continuing its woolly stand against the cold.
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he museum is collecting warm woolly mittens, hats, scarves, socks and other gently used winter clothing for adults and children in need until Jan. 7 through its annual Mitten Tree.
All winter clothing donations will go to local adults and children through Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold and Out of the Cold.
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Winter swimming and recreation program registration opens Dec. 12
Online registration for winter swimming lessons and recreation programs opens for St. Catharines residents on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.
Walk-in registration opens Wednesday, Dec. 13 and will be available during regular business hours at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre, Citizens First at City Hall and the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre.
Online and walk-in registration opens Thursday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. for anyone living outside of St. Catharines.
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Loonie Swim Dec. 7
Make a splash at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre for only $1 during the next Loonie Swim on Thursday, Dec. 7. from 4 p.m. to 5 p.
m.
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City offers help to clear snowy sidewalks
to those who need it
Applications for the City assistance program for older adults and residents with disabilities who are unable to shovel snow and ice from their sidewalks are due Nov. 30.
To be eligible for the program applicants must:
- provide a doctor's note stating they are not physically able to shovel their sidewalk themselves
- own and reside at the property they require assistance for
- have no one else living at their property who is able to shovel sidewalks.
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Coming up at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Here's what's coming up at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre:
Choir! Choir! Choir! - Dec. 1.
Choir! Choir! Choir! was first assembled in 2011 as a weekly drop-in event. Now, hundreds of videos, thousands of singers and millions of views later, the choir has become a well-oiled tour-de-force. The group has sung the likes of Leonard Cohen, Sloan, David Bowie, Prince, Neil Young, Nirvana, Cat Stevens, Justin Bieber and more.
The Men of the Deeps - Dec. 6
Join the legendary Men of the Deeps for a special holiday show filled with emotion and good will. The choir has been preserving in song the rich folklore of Cape Breton's coal mining communities since 1967 and their camaraderie carries over to their audiences wherever they perform.
Suitcase in Point Theatre's Holiday Cabaret - Dec. 7-9
St. Catharines award-winning Suitcase in Point is back with their hilarious made-for-Niagara sketch comedy tradition. An original sketch comedy show that can best be described as Saturday Night Live meets HBO.
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Sports Hall of Fame welcomes new members
Five champions of sport in St. Catharines are now hall of famers.
The St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame welcomed Henry "Hank" Ciesla (hockey); David Gorman (hockey); Diane Hilko (basketball and track and field); Mark Johnston (swimming) and Tim Twaddle (harness racing) during a public ceremony Nov. 23 at the Meridian Centre.
"We are excited to announce another amazing class of athletes to the St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame." says Peter Partridge, hall of fame chair. "We love to recognize the outstanding sporting achievements of our finest athletes and this group of inductees is no exception. We are extremely proud of what they have accomplished and we are delighted to permanently recognize them in the hall of fame."
With the latest inductees the St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame now includes 168 members.
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A report from Mayor Walter Sendzik
Monday night was a busy night at City Council as we made progress on key priorities: transit, road improvements and another bid to host a major sports tournament in #OurHomeSTC.
City Council unanimously approved the next step to improve transit service through a new memorandum of understanding with our partners in Niagara Falls, Welland and Niagara Region. By working together we are making progress to improve transit for all of Niagara. Improving transit is part of our strategic plan and our goal to be an affordable and sustainable city to live, work and invest. Stay tuned for more updates in the early new year.
Council also considered development applications and building projects at our meeting - a regular trend in our growing city. Residents in the downtown will also be pleased to know the reconstruction of Lowell Avenue was approved and will be coming in the early new year.
Council also provided unanimous support for a bid by a local host committee to host the 2020 Brier - the national men's curling championship - at the Meridian Centre. After the success of the Scotties last year, this is great opportunity to bring another world-class tournament, athletes and tourists to our city.
Council will continue meeting several times before the Christmas holidays to review the City budget and hold a public meeting for a new development on Lakeport Road.
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Curling Canada's Brier may rock
St. Catharines
A proposal for a local bid to bring the Canadian men's curling championship to the Garden City was on the button for St. Catharines City Council.
Council endorsed the
St. Catharines Golf and Country Club's bid application, prepared with a committee of local partners, to host the Brier Championships at the Meridian Centre in March 2020. Council also agreed to a request from the golf club to waive $202,660 in rental fees for the Meridian Centre and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre for the major curling competition and activities should the bid be successful.
Council referred a request for $225,000 in funding for marketing and promotion to the Budget Standing Committee and directed staff to report on the costs and other potential sources of funding to the Budget Standing Committee.
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Draft 2018 Budget on the table
Dec. 18
City Council will review and consider the City's proposed 2018 operating budget on Monday, Dec. 18 and, if needed, Tuesday, Dec. 19
at City Hall. The meetings start at 6:30 p.m.
Residents can attend in person, watch the meeting online or on YourTV Niagara.
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Free Tree Giveaways return in 2018
The City will give away more free trees next year.
City Council directed staff to set aside 10 per cent of the City's 2018 tree planting budget to continue the Free Tree Giveaways in 2018.
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Other news
Deputy CAO
Mayor Walter Sendzik, Coun. Bill Phillips and Coun. Sandie Bellows will sit on a hiring committee to appoint a deputy chief administrative officer.
Council appointments
City Council made the following appointments for 2018:
- Deputy mayor: Coun. Matt Harris
- Niagara Wine Festival Board of Directors: Coun. Sandie Bellows
- St. Catharines Downtown Association: Coun. Mat Siscoe
- Port Dalhousie Business Association: Coun. Carlos Garcia
Voting equipment
City Council supported staff entering into a lease agreement with Dominion Voting Inc. for vote scanning and tabulating equipment.
However, should the province offer a better price to lease voting equipment, Council support staff in transferring the agreement to the province.
Townhouse project
City Council approved an application for draft plan of standard condominium allowing a six-unit townhouse development project for 17 East St. to move ahead.
Consolidated Transit Model
City Council directed the City to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Welland, Niagara Falls and Niagara Region for a Consolidated Transit Model in Niagara.
Port Dalhousie secondary plan
City Council requested staff to submit the secondary plan and heritage guidelines for Port Dalhousie for consideration by Jan. 15.
Council also requested a report summarizing the secondary plan process and draft plans from consultants so it can prepare to consider the final draft.
Women in local government
City Council endorsed the goals of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to increase women's participation in municipal government to 30 per cent by 2026.
Council also made the FCM's goal its own and directed the City to work with local groups to remove barriers to having more women participate in local government.
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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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Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.
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