News

City celebrates renaming of Richard Pierpoint Park

City staff and officials gathered alongside community stakeholders on Saturday to unveil new interpretive signage and officially celebrate the renaming of Richard Pierpoint Park on Saturday, June 11.

Originally constructed during Canada’s Centennial and named Centennial Gardens, the park was renamed in 2021 to Richard Pierpoint Park after a public consultation process. Pierpoint was a former black slave who fought as a British loyalist during the American Revolutionary War, and in return was granted...

New accessible playground opens at Montebello Park

With construction now complete, the playground at Montebello Park has been transformed into an inclusive and accessible play space for all children to enjoy.

Construction began in April to replace the old playground, originally built in 1998. Reflecting the City’s commitment to fostering active recreation for all residents, the new playground was designed and built with accessibility at the forefront following guidelines in the Recreation Facility and Programming Master Plan, Parks Renewal Plan...

Accommodation tax to drive tourism investment

The City is moving forward with the implementation of a new Municipal Accommodation Tax and creation of a related tourism entity to improve efforts to draw tourists.

On Monday, City Council approved a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) that will allow the City to capture revenues from visitors and reinvest that money in efforts to promote tourism and attract world-class events to the community. The program will see a four per cent MAT per room, per night implemented on hotel, motel, bed and breakfast...

City to undertake land use study of Ontario Street corridor

The City is launching a land use study of the Ontario Street corridor from the QEW in the north to Welland Avenue in the south, leading into the downtown core. 

The study will guide future decisions for land use in that area of the city. The corridor includes the long-standing industrial properties at 282 and 285 Ontario Street (often recognized as the former GM lands) which will be a central focus of the study and for future redevelopment opportunities.

As public engagement and feedback will...

Erin O’Hoski named new Deputy CAO

It will be a homecoming as Erin O’Hoski takes the reigns of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at the City of St. Catharines.

O’Hoski formerly served as corporate planning officer for the City from 2007 to 2013, as part of a 20 year career in municipal leadership. She brings with her a long-standing track record of political and community engagement, with a consensus-driven approach to developing and implementing policy to drive strategic priorities. Beyond her past role with the City, O’Hoski...