St. Catharines has declared a significant weather event, following significant rainfall resulting in widespread flooding across the City. Our crews are responding as quickly and safely as possible, while our customer service team is experiencing an extremely high volume of calls.

If your property has flooded:

  • Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to begin your claim.
  • Remove water safely using pumps, a shop vacuum or other available equipment.
  • Please be patient with standing water. As conditions improve, stormwater systems will continue to drain and recover.

Visit stcatharines.ca/basementflooding for more information.

City facilities are open during normal business hours for residents who need to access washrooms. The showers at Kiwanis Aquatics Centre are also available for use, if required, however the pools at the centre are closed on July 28.

The pools at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre and the Garden City Golf Course (walking only) will reopen as usual on Wednesday, July 29.

If your roadside ditch remains full, please wait at least 24 hours after the storm has ended before reporting it, as drainage systems need time to catch up after heavy rainfall. Please do not report full or flooding ditches unless there is an immediate risk to public safety. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding as crews continue to respond across the city. Please watch our social media pages for updates throughout the day.

Departments

The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines is made up of multiple primary departments, each with different divisions and responsibilities. All staff, members of Council and volunteers work toward the City's shared mission and vision.

Mission

Together, with our community and guided by our strategic goals, we will provide quality municipal services that enhance our social fabric, environmental sustainability and cultural vitality; contributing to economic prosperity in our community.

Vision

For St. Catharines to be the most dynamic, innovative, sustainable and livable city in North America.

Departments

For general contact information for City facilities and select departments, please visit the Contact Us page.

The City's departments include:

The Office of the Mayor provides administrative support for the Mayor of St. Catharines, including:

  • Planning the Mayor's agenda
  • Responding to requests for information
  • Meeting with staff and the public on behalf of the Mayor
  • Organizing flag raising ceremonies
  • Performing other administrative duties as required

Role of the Mayor

  • Act as the municipality's chief executive officer and represent the municipality at official functions
  • Preside over Council meetings and provide Council with leadership
  • Carry out the duties as head of Council under the Municipal Act
  • Uphold and promote the purposes of the municipality
  • Promote public involvement in the municipality's activities
  • Participate in and foster activities that enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of the municipality and its residents

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) provides strategic direction for City departments and implements policies as determined by City Council and works closely with the Deputy CAO on City projects and initiatives.

The CAO:

  • Advises Council on policy matters and acts as a liaison between the administrative staff and elected officials
  • Is responsible to the Mayor and City Council for the coordination and administration of all City departments and operations
  • Leads the development of the strategic direction of the organization
  • Communicates and works with staff on important issues relating to the organization and the community
  • Assists in the preparation of the City budget
  • Oversees the teams in Internal Service Delivery - Legal and Clerks Services, Economic Development, Government Relations and Tourism Services, Corporate Support Services (Information Technology, Human Resources, Accessibility) and Financial Management Services.

Deputy CAO

The Deputy CAO is responsible for providing advice to Council and the CAO, and leadership to senior staff.

The Deputy CAO:

  • Acts as an advisor to the CAO on matters relating to operations, economic development, corporate services and community engagement
  • Contributes to strategic corporate decision-making that supports the achievement of the goals, objectives and strategic priorities of the City
  • Develops a constructive partnership with Council, the CAO and senior leadership by providing guidance, advice and support on the delivery of corporate and operational initiatives
  • Provides positive leadership to staff and develops and maintains a work environment that is inclusive, respectful and motivating
  • Promotes employee engagement and supports staff development
  • Identifies and implements continuous improvement and innovative practices to position the City as the leading edge in municipal service delivery and quality customer service
  • Oversees the teams in Public Facing Service Delivery - Engineering, Facilities and Environmental Services; Municipal Works; Community, Recreation and Culture Services; Planning and Building Services; and Fire Services.

Corporate Communications

Our Corporate Communications division is part of the Office of the CAO and is responsible for:

  • Fostering two-way communication with the public through print and online media
  • Coordinating the City's social media channels and maintaining the City website
  • Developing and implementing media relations policies and strategies
  • Designing promotional material for City staff
  • Ensuring brand standards are met
  • Providing graphic design, communications and marketing counsel to staff

Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion division is part of the Office of the CAO.

The Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

  • Focuses on the City’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that foster a diverse and inclusive workplace culture
  • Serves as staff liaison to three advisory committees to Council: the Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Anti-Racism Advisory Committee and LGBTQ2+ Advisory Committee
  • Develops corporate policies to reinforce diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace
  • Develops and/or acquires training and development to aid diversity and retention initiatives

Corporate/Council Liaison and Strategic Initiatives

Our Corporate/Council Liaison and Strategic Initiatives division is part of the Office of the CAO.

The Corporate Liaison Officer:

  • Serves as a vital link between City Council, colleagues across the Corporation and the citizens and communities we serve
  • Supports members of Council as they work proactively to address the needs of our citizens and communities
  • Supports strategic initiatives, interdepartmental coordination, and policy framework
  • Provides staff and council with communication on initiatives and updates

Community and Emergency Management Coordination

Our Community and Emergency Management Coordination is part of the Office of the CAO.

The Community and Emergency Management Coordinator:

  • Ensures the City’s residents and staff are prepared for any potential emergencies within the community, including hazardous material incidents, pandemics or epidemics, tornadoes, transportation emergencies, ice storms, flooding and more
  • Coordinates emergency management through its Emergency Management Program and Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The EOC is a designated and appropriately equipped facility where City staff and supporting agencies assemble to manage the response to an emergency or disaster
  • Develops and implements community outreach programs, business continuity plans, emergency plans, training programs, emergency exercises, drills, hazard identification and risk assessments

Our Corporate Support Services provide strategic operations for the City, including employee retention and management, accessibility, information technology and customer service.

Our director of Corporate Support Services is responsible for:

  • Providing guidance for human resource development
  • Acting as the lead negotiator in collective bargaining
  • Advocating for functional and technical advancements through the City's Information Technology division

Accessibility

Our Accessibility division:

  • Coordinates and ensures corporate recognition and compliance with Ontario's accessibility legislation
  • Acts as a liaison between the City's statutory Accessibility Advisory Committee, our departments and Council
  • Develops and supports the implementation of the corporate Accessibility Plan
  • Receives and responds to feedback from the public on accessibility concerns
  • Leads awareness and advocacy for preventing and removing municipal barriers

Citizens First (customer service)

Our Citizens First (customer service) division:

  • Provides answers to questions from the public posed in-person, over the phone and via email
  • Streamlines the delivery of non-emergency City services and information
  • Connects residents, businesses and visitors to City programs and services
  • Collaborates with City departments to find ways to improve customer service and communication with residents, businesses and visitors

Human Resources

Our Human Resources division:

  • Coordinates City employment and recruitment activities
  • Oversees organizational structure and development
  • Addresses employee issues and activities with bargaining units
  • Administers human resource policies and practices
  • Manages employee compensation and benefits
  • Implements and enforces health and safety policies

Information Technology

Our Information Technology division:

  • Maintains corporate software, hardware, telecommunications, and data network
  • Implements technology standards protocols
  • Plans, installs, maintains and upgrades technological services
  • Offers technical support and problem solving for City staff
  • Ensures data security and integrity
  • Provides business continuity planning

Our Community, Recreation and Culture Services department provides recreation and leisure programs, cultural services and parks and facility services for residents.

The director of Community, Recreation and Culture Services is responsible for:

  • Developing plans and policies to improve recreation and culture opportunities
  • Overseeing recreational programming and the facilities that offer programming

Administrative Services

Our Community, Recreation and Culture - Administrative Services division:

  • Manages the department's finances
  • Provides payroll support
  • Oversees contract management
  • Is responsible for accomplishment tracking
  • Facilitaties customer service for by-law compliance

Enterprise Services

Our Community, Recreation and Culture - Enterprise Services division:

  • Is responsible for marketing City programs and facilities to residents
  • Generates revenue through programming and sponsorship activities
  • Manages customer service operations at City facilities
  • Oversees recreation program registration and manages facility bookings

Parks and Facilities

Our Community, Recreation and Culture - Parks and Facilities division is responsible for:

  • The administration of the Victoria Lawn Cemetery
  • Park planning and development
  • Programming and customer service for the City's golf course, arenas, community centres and other recreation facilities

Programs and Cultural Services

Our Community, Recreation and Culture - Programs and Cultural Services division:

Our Economic Development and Tourism Services department:

Our Engineering, Facilities and Environmental Services department provides municipal infrastructure planning and engineering services for the City of St. Catharines.

The Engineering, Facilities and Environmental Services Department is responsible for:

  • Planning, design and construction of infrastructure to support municipal services such as roads, water, sewers and facilities.
  • Maintaining all environmental programs in accordance with current and proposed legislation, policies and regulations.
  • Liaising with municipalities and other levels of government to coordinate projects and studies.

Engineering

Our Engineering division:

  • Provides design and construction services for municipal assets including roads, water, sewers and drainage projects and studies.
  • Operating in accordance with the Engineering Standards Manual and City Standard Drawings.
  • Manage existing municipal assets according to the City's Asset Management Plan.

Environmental Services

Our Environmental Services division provides:

  • Drinking water Quality Monitoring
  • Environmental Monitoring and Compliance
  • Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability
  • Basement flooding protection

Operations

Our Operations division maintains:

  • City parking lots, garages, on-street parking, traffic signals and street lighting
  • Water and parking meters
  • City recreational, administrative and community facilities

Geomatics

Our Geomatics division:

  • Provides aerial photography and mapping for the City
  • Creates engineering plans and documents
  • Boundary surveys of City owned land and highways

Our Financial Management Services department provides financial guidance for the City and is responsible for the distribution and processing of water bills, taxes and parking payments.

The director of Financial Management Services/city treasurer is responsible for:

  • Preparing annual budget estimates
  • Overseeing the collecting, disbursing and management of City funds
  • Coordinating the acquisition and sale of land and buildings required for municipal purposes
  • Procuring supplies and services for City departments
  • Providing financial advice to other departments and boards, and assist in union negotiations, as required

Administration

The Financial Management Services - Administration division:

  • Oversees grant application forms
  • Is responsible for the safekeeping of tender deposit cheques and their disbursement
  • Prepares income tax receipts for donations received

Accounting and Payroll

The Financial Management Services - Accounting and Payroll division:

  • Establishes, develops and maintains accounting systems and procedures
  • Provides support for the operating and capital budgets
  • Prepares the City's annual financial reports and ensures City transactions are in compliance with all legislation
  • Manages the procurement of supplies and services, and disposal of assets

Revenue

The Financial Management Services - Revenue division:

  • Handles property and commercial tax inquiries and residential and commercial water inquiries
  • Processes vacancy appeals
  • Enforces parking violations
  • Is responsible for water and tax payments
  • Manages tax sales and inquiries
  • Arranges arrears payments
  • Enforces water disconnections

Property Management

The Financial Management Services - Property Management division:

  • Manages City-owned property and leases
  • Oversees the acquisition and disposal of City-owned property

Our Fire Services department delivers fire safety programs, including public education, fire inspection for complaints, business licences and post-fire investigations. Members also deliver fire suppression activities, including firefighting and rope rescue, auto extraction, as well as ice and swift water rescue and medical response. Our Fire Services provide emergency fire dispatch to many Niagara Region municipalities.

Our chief of Fire Services is responsible for:

  • Creating and implementing the City's Fire Services policy
  • Enforcing City policies, by-laws and other legislation
  • Advising and recommending all major equipment purchases, including long-range planning for equipment, buildings and property
  • Commanding all phases of Fire Services' operations at major fires or other emergencies
  • Liaising with other Fire Services and the business and industrial communities to promote fire prevention and safety

Communications

Our Fire Services - Communications division:

  • Provides emergency services to the City of St. Catharines and 12 other municipalities
  • Dispatches equipment and manpower
  • Completes property mapping for fire routes
  • Maintains fire department radio systems

Prevention

Our Fire Services - Prevention division:

Suppression

Our Fire Services - Suppression division:

  • Provides fire protection
  • Assists with emergency medical assistance calls and hazardous material incidents
  • Provides automobile extraction
  • Completes technical rescues, including high angle, water, ice and industrial rescues
  • Enforces the home smoke alarm inspection program

Training

Our Fire Services - Training division:

  • Coordinates the delivery of training programs
  • Participates in promotional, reclassification examinations
  • Researches and evaluates equipment purchases
  • Is responsible for the recruitment, hiring and training processes

Our Legal and Clerk Services department provides legal services to the Corporation and City Council. Staff oversee the official records of the municipality, administer municipal and school board elections, issue licences for marriages and lotteries, and maintain official records, by-laws and contracts.

The director of Legal and Clerk Services is responsible for:

  • Overseeing the Legal Services department and Office of the City Clerk
  • Advising and representing City Council in matters of law
  • Advising all departments with matters of legislation, regulation and procedural requirements

Legal Services

Our Legal Services division:

  • Provides legal advice to City Council, the CAO and other City officials
  • Prepares all by-laws, agreements and contracts for the Corporation
  • Represents the City in legal proceedings and real estate transactions
  • Receives and processes insurance claims and written noise complaints

Office of the City Clerk

The Office of the City Clerk:

  • Is responsible for all official records of the municipality, including by-laws, agreements and contracts
  • Coordinates Municipal Freedom of Information requests
  • Conducts municipal and school board elections
  • Provides administrative support for City Council
  • Is responsible for death registrations and licences for marriages and lotteries
  • Oversees canine control

Our Municipal Works department maintains and operates City facilities, parks and infrastructure, such as roads and water systems. The director of Municipal Works reports directly to the CAO and provides oversight on our Operations division.

Operations

Our Municipal Works - Operations division:

  • Maintains roads, sidewalks, culverts, roadside ditches, water courses and passive parks
  • Maintains the City fleet
  • Operates, maintains and repairs sewers and watermains
  • Provides winter control services, including salting, sanding and plowing
  • Maintains the City's sports fields, parks and green spaces
  • Maintains and operates the City's golf course and other recreation facilities

Our Planning and Building Services department provides information and recommendations for meeting the community's long-term building, development and sustainability needs.

The director of Planning and Building Services is responsible for:

  • Representing the City's urban planning interests on local and regional committees and special projects
  • Developing and maintaining comprehensive plans and programs for the orderly development and building of the city
  • Providing information and assistance to the public and agencies respecting City policies and plans

Building and Development

The Building and Development division:

  • Approves and issues building permits
  • Enforces the Ontario Building Code Act and Building Code
  • Reviews development proposals and enforces development agreements
  • Administers construction services for new developments
  • Monitors and releases securities associated with various development agreements
  • Reviews and comments on draft zoning by-law amendments and applications for minor variance and severance
  • Enforces by-laws, including zoning, signs, building, property standards, waste, graffiti and keeping of animals

Planning Services

The Planning Services division:

Corporate governance

The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines is a municipal corporation created by provincial statute. The City of St. Catharines is a lower-tier government, working in co-operation with three upper-levels of government: Niagara Region, the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada. Each level of government possesses their own set of responsibilities, however some responsibilities are shared.

The Municipal Act and other legislation establish the extent of powers and duties of the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines.

Where do I ask my question?

Have a question? Not sure which level of government takes care of it? Let’s get you to the right place:

Contact Us

50 Church St.
PO Box 3012
St. Catharines ON L2R 7C2

Email: CitizensFirst@stcatharines.ca
Tel: 905.688.5600
TTY: Type 711 for the operator

Looking for something else? Find more contact information here

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