We're turning 150! Read on to learn more | |
Council moves to designate 7 Thomas St.
as Heritage Property
Council approved the heritage designation of 7 Thomas St., a residential property built circa 1911 within the Thomas Adams Estate Plan (1875). The dwelling is a well-preserved Edwardian structure with Classical Revival details and high integrity of materials and design.
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Park Avenue townhouse development approved
Council approved amendments to the City of St. Catharines Official Plan (Garden City Plan) for the lands known municipally as 1 Park Ave. The development of the area will include nine, two-storey townhouse units. Four units will face directly onto Park Avenue while five units will access Park Avenue from a private driveway. Each unit will have its own driveway and garage for vehicle parking.
The list of changes for 1 Park Ave. is available on the website.
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School Zone Traffic Calming Program
Council voted to fund the short-term operational measures of implementation, operation, and maintenance through the City’s share of the Region’s Vision Zero initiative from the Vision Zero funds received. Council will also endorse the inclusion of the identified capital construction measures in the design and construction of school zones as they come up for renewal based on the City’s Asset Management and Infrastructure Improvement programs. The staff report details about 39 different schools and proposed calming efforts which could include speed reductions, markings, pedestrian crossovers, speed humps, and more.
The full report is available online.
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The Minto Cup
Paul Coates, president of
St. Catharines Athletics Lacrosse Club, presented a framed Minto Cup Banner to City Council with thanks and gratitude. Some 100,000 viewers watched online with thousands of visitors watching live downtown at the Meridian Centre.
Downtown Stabilization project
Councillors approved strategic initiatives that can be implemented by the City and its partners to support the downtown core.
- Goal is to enhance the core through investments / initiatives relating to safety, cleanliness, supporting downtown workers and residents.,
- Approval included $500,000 towards implementation of the plan, with the funding source to be determined.
- Proposed short-term actions (up to six months) include:
- Enhanced daily downtown cleaning in priority areas
- Temporary redeployment of staff to address spikes in litter, debris, graffiti etc.
- Tree planting
- Foot patrol with contracted City security services
- Prioritized by-law enforcement to address by-law issues including vacant properties
- Signage to support key safety contacts such as Welcoming Streets, NRPS, etc.
- Public updates on efforts / initiatives, public awareness and review downtown short term, high impact pilot parking program to increase visitor trips
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St. Catharines turns 150
Mayor Siscoe gave a presentation regarding the logo designed for the STC150 celebrations, which represents the parcels of land that formed the city at incorporation while also representing the communities within the community that made St Catharines what it is today.
Selected overview of planned events:
- May 2: STC Birthday in Montebello Park.
- July 1: Enhanced Canada Day Celebrations in Montebello Park with fireworks and a drone show for STC150 and Port Dalhousie 200th anniversary.
- Appointment of Poet Laureate.
- Weekly social media posts highlighting local history.
- 150th Anniversary Tree Planting legacy project.
- Public Art Initiatives.
- STC150 Pop-up events.
Lincoln & Welland Regiment Memorial Crosswalk
Council requested staff to work with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment Association and the 10th Field Artillery Battery, RCA, to install a commemorative crosswalk at the intersection of Lake Street and Welland Avenue, adjacent to the Lake Street Armoury, pending approval of the Niagara Region, and to meet all City and Regional standards.
Downtown Association Budget
Council approved the 2026 Budget for the St. Catharines Downtown Association. Business Improvement Area (BIA) members pay for the levy along with their property taxes.
Carlos Garcia Park
Council waived the Naming Policy – Parks, Trails and Recreation Facilities to name the parcel of land abutting the northeast corner of the first lock of the second Welland Canal as “Carlos Garcia Park”.
Garcia was an active city councillor from 2014 until his passing on Dec. 9, 2024.
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Call To Artists: Traffic Signal Cabinet Wraps
As part of the City’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2026, the City of
St. Catharines is seeking local artists of all backgrounds and experience levels to create original artwork for traffic cabinet wraps throughout the city. Twelve artworks will be commissioned, two per ward, for installation this spring.
The project is intended to celebrate St. Catharines’ 150th anniversary through local stories and themes while highlighting the unique people, places, and features of each ward. Designs should explore connections between the city’s natural and built environments and cultural identity, reflect creativity, positivity, and diversity, and be suitable for all audiences.
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Help the City of St. Catharines celebrate arts in the community by nominating a local artist or arts champion.
Local artists, residents, businesses, and organizations are eligible to be nominated for the annual awards in the following categories: the Arts in Education Award, the Emerging Artist Award, the Established Artist Award, the Making a Difference Award, and the Patron of the Arts Award.
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The City of St. Catharines is marking a major milestone in 2026.
St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe officially launched the City’s 150th anniversary celebrations with a ceremonial flag raising at City Hall on Jan. 5, marking the beginning of the milestone year under the theme “Our Common Ground”. While its roots trace back much earlier, St. Catharines was officially incorporated as a City on May 1, 1876.
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City opens fourth intake for Neighbourhood Micro Grants
Following a successful third intake last summer, the City of St. Catharines began accepting applications Jan. 1 for the fourth round of its Neighbourhood Micro Grants program.
The Neighbourhood Micro Grants program offers funding for resident-led projects and events that bring neighbours together, promote social connections, and enhance the vibrancy of St. Catharines’ communities.
Residents can apply for up to $1,500 in funding to support neighbourhood projects and events during this intake period, which runs from Jan. 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026. This round will fund approved projects and events taking place between June 1, 2026, and Nov. 30, 2026.
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Museum, Mayholme Foundation to host family history workshop
Family historians will learn the tools, resources, and skills to advance their research and preserve their family histories at a two-day workshop in January presented by the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre, in partnership with the Mayholme Foundation.
The Family History Workshop takes place over two weekends: Saturday,
Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 31 at the museum, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Brad Boland Live!
Don't miss Brad Boland on Jan. 30! Grab your tickets for dinner and entertainment at Dunlop Drive Older Adult Centre, or online at www.stcatharines.ca/BradBoland
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Tech Savvy at Any Age
Be Tech Savvy - Join us on Friday, Jan. 16 at Dunlop Drive Older Adult Centre for a free presentation! Coffee and Tea provided.
Register for free: www.stcatharines.ca/TechSavvy
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Art in Action: Climate
FRIDAY, JAN. 30 — SUNDAY, FEB. 8
artinactionniagara.ca
Art in Action: Climate is a 10-day, Niagara arts experience that reflects on our changing planet and the true cost of progress. Through immersive media, cinema, live performance, symposia, youth participation, culinary and wine experiences, and partner events across the region, the festival invites audiences to engage deeply and take meaningful action. Anchored by In the Wake of Progress, an immersive multimedia work by St. Catharines-born Edward Burtynsky, the program also features SKéN:NEN: Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Avanti Singers, gallery exhibitions, a climate-themed film festival, educational programming, and a one-day climate symposium.
| | Property Tax Due Dates for 2026 | |
Interim Billing
Friday, Feb. 27
Thursday, April 30
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Final Billing
Tuesday, June 30
Tuesday, Sept. 29
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