News

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,...

St. Catharines announces 2026 Arts Awards nominees

The City of St. Catharines looks forward to recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of the 2026 St. Catharines Arts Awards nominees as it proudly announces the short list of its 28 finalists today.

This year’s Arts Awards will be presented on Thursday, June 18 at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, proud venue sponsor of the 2026 Arts Awards. Admission is complimentary; however, seating for this distinguished celebration of arts and culture is limited and available on a first-come...

STC150 - Lincoln County Jail

In November 1862, Lincoln County Council voted to move the county seat from Niagara-on-the-Lake (formerly called Niagara) to St. Catharines. This led to a need to build a new county jail.

The new Lincoln County Jail was designed by Toronto architects Cumberland and Storm and built by local contractors. When it was completed in 1866, the result was a very large structure with room enough for 60 prisoners.

The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre is helping us celebrate our 150th...

More farmers, more vendors: St. Catharines Farmers Market set to celebrate biggest season yet

The St. Catharines Farmers Market is ready for the 2026 harvest season, with a record number of vendors lined up to serve the community this summer.

With more than 60 vendors offering a variety of easily accessible goods including farm to table produce, baking, cured meats, flowers, and a diverse selection of prepared foods, the Market will be expanding outside on Saturday, May 16.

The event kicks off with an opening welcome from Mayor Mat Siscoe live on the Market Stage at 9 a.m.
The Market...