News

Coming up at City Council: September 8, 2025 meeting

St. Catharines City Council meets next on Monday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m., at City Hall in the Council Chambers (third floor). Residents can watch in person, or online via the City’s YouTube page.

On the Consent Agenda

There are several items on the consent agenda, a procedural tool that allows multiple agenda items to be passed with a single motion if Council is in agreement. City Councillors can also request an item be moved to the discussion agenda. Items listed on consent for Sept. 8, include:

Sunset Beach closing Sept. 2 for $6.9-million upgrade

Work to bring the Sunset Beach Community Vision to fruition is set to begin next week.

The Sunset Beach property will close to the public on Sept. 2, 2025, as it becomes an active construction site for the $6.9-million Sunset Beach Renovation Project. Guided by the 2019 vision study, conducted with extensive community engagement, and supported by a $4.4-million provincial grant, the project will modernize the park’s aging facilities – while preserving its unique character and natural assets,...

Special event parking in effect this weekend in Downtown St. Catharines

The City of St. Catharines will implement special event parking rates this weekend to manage increased demand during the Somekinda Festival and other downtown activities.

Special event parking will cost $20 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30 and Sunday, Aug. 31 at the following City-operated lots and garages:

• Ontario Street Parking Garage
• Garden Park / Carlisle Street Garage
• Garden Park Lot
• Race Street Lot
• Head Street Lot
• David S. Howes Way Lot
• Market Square Lot (City Hall)
• St. Paul Street /...

City lifts open-air burning ban

The City of St. Catharines is lifting its ban on open-air burning in effect since August 11, 2025.

Burn permits for agricultural fires, fireworks and other types of non-agricultural fires, such as for destroying infested trees, community cookouts and specific festivals, may resume with open-air burning that meets the regulations and requirements set out by St. Catharines Fire and Emergency Services. 

The City’s fire ban was in place for two weeks because of an increased risk for fire to spread due...