News

City recognized with creative award for its STC Framework for Recovery strategy

The City of St. Catharines has been honoured with an award for creative excellence for its STC Framework for Recovery: Our Path Forward.

To adapt to the challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, last June the City developed a strategic plan to ensure that the safety of residents, businesses and employees are kept a priority, while services, programs and operations return to full capacity. Known as the STC Framework for Recovery, this plan introduces ways in which the City will adjust all...

SCCIP funding supports arts and culture sector with post-pandemic programming and activities

The City of St. Catharines continues to offer ongoing supports to help strengthen the arts and culture sector, as it prepares for COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

At its June 14 meeting, St. Catharines City Council approved $289,715 in St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP) funding, with $10,715 going towards 16 applicants for the Culture Days Activity Program, and $279,000 being allocated to eight organizations through the Sustaining – Core and Midsized Program funding. This is just the first...

City waiving 2022 business licensing fees, sidewalk patio fees, for hard-hit sectors

Businesses hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to forgo the payment of licensing and sidewalk patio fees in 2022.

In an effort to support business recovery City Council has approved the waiving of business licensing and sidewalk patio fees in 2022 for businesses in certain sectors most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The move continues efforts that saw fees waived in 2020 and 2021.

Business licensing fees will be waived for:

• Amusement arcades
• Auctioneers
• Hawkers / peddlers such as food...

Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm reopens Monday, June 14

After a year’s hiatus the bleat of sheep, the crow of roosters and the other familiar sounds of animals have returned to Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm.

Animals returned to the popular Read Road attraction today, breathing life into the facility that was shuttered in 2020 in response to COVID-19. Going forward the farm will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

Guests are reminded to maintain physical distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Happy Rolph’s holds such a special place in the...

City enforcing capacity limits at beaches to address overcrowding

In response to concerns with overcrowding, and related problem behaviours, the City is moving to institute temporary capacity limits at its beaches.

As weather has warmed City beaches have become a popular destination for residents and visitors from across Niagara and beyond. Large numbers of visitors at beaches has led to overcrowding, resulting in concerns related to COVID-19 restrictions and the possible spread of the disease. Overcrowding has in turn exaggerated issues of drinking and problem...