Back to school, tickets on sale for Guided Spirit Walks and more news in the Garden City Current

Sept. 4, 2018

Watch for crossing guards

It's time for back to school and that means more youngsters will be on City streets around the same time you may be heading to and from work.

The City is committed to keeping its streets safe for everyone, including children as they learn to follow the rules of the road. The City has more than 90 crossing guards helping children get to and from class safely at elementary schools across St. Catharines.

Crossing guards have the authority to stop traffic to help pedestrians cross the street. Pedestrians and motorists must respect directions from crossing guards. Also, pedestrians have the right-of-way when crossing the street legally.

Recent changes to Ontario law requires motorists to wait until pedestrians and crossing guards have cleared the crosswalk before proceeding. That means motorists can longer turn left, right or drive through the clear section of the road.

More tips

Parents, remind children to

- Walk on sidewalks.

- Cross roads with a crossing guard.

- Cross only at intersections when safe.

Drivers, you must

- Respect directions from crossing guards.

- Look for School Zone signage and slow down.

- Be aware: children don't always look for traffic.

Guided Spirit Walks return to Victoria Lawn Cemetery

Tickets on sale now for Guided Spirit Walks

Enjoy spirited walks through history at Victoria Lawn Cemetery Friday and Saturday nights in September.

The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre presents At War's End for its 2018 season of Guided Spirit Walks. Walks take place Sept. 7-8 and Sept. 14-15. Tickets are on sale: $11 (HST included) per person.

This year, Canadians will recognize the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Guided Spirit Walks features a cast of volunteer actors who bring stories of the impact four years of war had on St. Catharines and its residents.

Fall and Winter 2018 Program Registration now open

The City's new Fall and Winter Leisure Guide is out. Find it at City Hall, City recreation facilities an online and learn about the wide variety of inclusive programs:

- Sitting volleyball

- Pilates

- Soapstone carving

- Shinny hockey

- Pickleball

- Lifeguard training

- and more

Registration is now open.

Are you on the voter's list

With just over 100 days until the 2018 Municipal and School Board Election, voters are encouraged to visit www.voterlookup.ca to ensure they're on the voter's list and that their information appears correctly.

Those without Internet access are encouraged to phone the Office of the City Clerk at 905.688.5601 ext.1517.

Voter notification cards for the election will be mailed out in September.

Sunset Beach Community Vision. Have your say.

Help shape the future of Sunset Beach

The City of St. Catharines is calling out to the community for help shaping the future of Sunset Beach.

Tell us what you love about Sunset Beach and what you would like to see at the park with our online questionnaire . Submit you feedback by Sept. 28.

Save the date - Culture Days are one month away

Enjoy more than 40 free interactive arts and cultural activities in St. Catharines. Choose from painting, drawing and sculpture, collaborative murals, immersive poetry and theatre experiences and much more.

Family-friendly fun for all ages and ability. Try them all.

Lincoln Fabrics redevelopment gets the go-ahead

City Council approved planning applications allowing the redevelopment of the former Lincoln Fabrics property (61 and 63 Lakeport Rd.) as a residential / commercial building with 132 apartment units, 13 ground floor live / work dwelling units, and about 370 square metres of commercial space.

Council also directed City staff to work with the developer on a number of site, landscape and building design matters through the site plan approval process.

City Council supports election of Niagara Region chair

City Council formally supported a the idea of a chair of the Niagara Region that's directly elected by residents rather than appointed by Niagara Region councillors.

City Council directed the City to circulate notice to the province of its support and its request that any future governance changes be the result of input from residents it will affect.

Special noise designation for new Dorchester Boulevard townhouses

City Council approved a special noise designation for 45 Dorchester Blvd. in accordance with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change guidelines. The approval reduces the height of a wall required as a noise mitigation measure from 8.5 metres to 3.5 metres for a townhouse development proposed for the property.

Other business

Heritage permit approved

City Council approved a heritage permit application to demolish the existing dwelling at 82 Bayview Dr. Council also directed that designs for any new developments at the property be directed to the City's Heritage Permit Advisory Committee and the Design Review Panel.

Valley Road sewers

City Council approved the City's share of costs, about $910,000, for improvements to the sewers on Valley Road. The City is sharing project costs with the Niagara Region.

Gun violence

City Council referred a resolution from the City of Toronto regarding immediate steps to address gun violence, including calling on the Government of Canada to ban the sale of handguns in Toronto, staff to gather public input on the subject.

Playgrounds and sports courts

City Council authorized the following changes to the City's 2018 playground and court renewal plan:

- Continue with the planned reconstruction of the tennis courts at Pearson Park

- Exclude the reconstruction of the basketball court at Clifford's Creek Park due to site conditions

- Include reconstruction of the tennis courts at East Port Park

- Defer new playground installation at Douglas Park so City staff can re-evaluate design features and surfacing options relating to accessibility.

Council also directed staff to review and propose alternative recreation uses that are appropriate within Clifford's Creek Park in 2019.

More City 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.

Read past issues of the Garden City Current on the City's website.

Sept. 10

City Council

6:30 p.m., City Hall

Learn about other upcoming meetings on the City's website.

Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.

City of St. Catharines | communications@stcatharines.ca | http://www.stcatharines.ca
50 Church St
St. Catharines, L2R 7C2

The Garden City Current is produced by Corporate Communications at the City of St. Catharines.

Have questions or comments? Email us at communications@stcatharines.ca