News

St. Catharines continues efforts to support local business during lockdown

With local businesses continuing to face adversity during another COVID-19 lockdown, the City of St. Catharines is moving forward on several initiatives to aid them including the return of free parking to City spaces and lots, and the extension of its temporary outdoor patio program.

Council approved both measures on Monday night, bolstering the extensive work of several City departments in supporting local businesses.

With the hopes of drawing more shoppers to the downtown and other commercial areas...

Update on City services during State of Emergency

The City of St. Catharines is pivoting its mode of service delivery due to the current State of Emergency to provide more to its residents via online and over the phone.

“The Province’s announcement on Tuesday means that our essential services for residents will continue, however, any services that can be offered virtually, must be,” said Chief Administrative Officer Shelley Chemnitz. “We are all in this together and it will take all of us to make the right decisions for the safety of our community.”

In...

Applications open for COVID-19 property tax payment plan

The City is providing property owners who have experienced financial hardship due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic some additional flexibility in how they pay their taxes in the year ahead.

Specifically, City Council has approved a Special Pre-authorized Property Taxes COVID-19 Payment Plan for 2021 which would allow all tax payers whose taxes were paid in full by Feb. 28, 2020 — and who have since experienced severe financial hardship due to the pandemic — to pay their outstanding 2020 and 2021 property...

Call to artists for Fallen Firefighters Memorial

On behalf of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Task Force, the City of St. Catharines is prequalifying artists and/or artist teams to develop and implement a design for a memorial honouring the men and women who have died in the line of duty as a result of their work as firefighters in the City of St. Catharines.

The City’s task force, which is made up of citizens, the St. Catharines Professional Firefighters Association, Fire Services leadership and council representatives, is chaired by St. Catharines...

Fires underscore importance of home fire safety

Two recent fires in the City serve as an important reminder to residents concerning the importance of safe practices when it comes to electrical appliances and the operation of barbecues and smokers.

Early last Friday morning, St. Catharines Fire Services responded to a home fire on Linlake Drive that caused $150,000 in damages and sent one resident to hospital. A subsequent investigation by the Office of the Fire Marshal of Ontario ascertained the source of the fire was a modified space heater in...