News

STC150: Banking

In the early settlement period of the province, the availability of currency and access to credit was important in land and business growth and development. As early as 1831, William Hamilton Merritt was pushing forward a project to establish a bank in St. Catharines to support the growth of business in the area.

In 1835, a Farmer’s Bank was established. In 1850, the Province of Canada passed the Free Banking Act of 1850 with the intent of allowing smaller joint stock local banks to be...

City appoints new director of finance

The City of St. Catharines has appointed Adam Smith as Director of Financial Management Services, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. Smith, who previously served as the City’s Associate Director of Financial Management Services, stepped into his new role today (Monday, June 8).

“Adam brings a collaborative leadership style and a strong dedication to supporting teams across the organization,” said David Oakes, Chief Administrative Officer.

We look forward to working with him as we continue...

City pools open for summer June 26

Everybody in! The City of St. Catharines’ outdoor pools are ready for summer and open for the season Friday, June 26.

Everyone is welcome at the City’s three outdoor pool locations:

• Port Dalhousie Pool, large and small pool, 205 Main St.
• Lincoln Park Pool, small pool, 63 Chetwood St.
• Lion Dunc Schooley Pool, large and small pool, 32 Seymour Ave.

Starting June 26 Port Dalhousie Pool and Lion Dunc Schooley Pool will be moving to cashless payment. Accepted payment methods include debit, credit, and...

STC150: Libraries

Throughout the early history of St. Catharines, there was an interest in establishing a free, publicly-accessible library for borrowing books and reading newspapers and other periodicals.

In Ontario, the Free Libraries Act was passed in 1882 and allowed cities, towns and villages to establish free public libraries which were available to the local public without direct charge at entry. These libraries were funded by local tax revenue.

At the same time, all across Canada, including St. Catharines,...

Accessibility Matters Here Award recipients announced during National AccessAbility Week

The City of St. Catharines Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Accessibility Matters Here Award campaign, recognizing businesses and community organizations that have made meaningful strides in advancing accessibility and inclusion.

Delivered in partnership with the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee (JAAC) member municipalities of Grimsby, Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Port Colborne, Thorold and West Lincoln, the 2026 awards mark a...