Better decorum in the Canadian House of Commons would allow for more co-operation across the aisle We must hold newly elected representatives accountable to work together Based on the author’s interpretations and judgments of facts Re: Every party lost something in this election — but there was one true and clear winner They both provide a farewell to yesterday and the birth of new hope Canadians have spoken and have elected the government we deserve we must hold these newly elected representatives to account to work together intelligent and unifying solutions to the problems facing our great country and its citizens Now that the Great Sloganeer is no longer present perhaps decorum in our House of Commons will allow for more co-operation across the aisle Together we are better and the well-being of our country is in their hands it may be time for you to fall on your sword please remember to close the door quietly and don’t let it hit you on the way out Re: Poilievre vows ‘to be there to fight’ after becoming third straight Conservative leader to fail to topple Liberals While it was a relief to be spared the outcome of having Pierre Poilievre elected prime minister our antiquated first-past-the-post system also ensured the NDP Greens and others will have almost no voice in Parliament Mark Carney indicated it was time for electoral reform but so did Justin Trudeau in a previous campaign Liberal promises dissipate into the ether after they are elected Re: Building houses Opinions frequently highlight the burden Niagara residents face due to duplication of government services The recurring claim is we have too many politicians and amalgamation is the only solution Some are frustrated by Premier Doug Ford’s inaction on municipal restructuring I urge: take a closer look at Hamilton’s failed amalgamation an ill-conceived initiative imposed by the Mike Harris Conservative government It not only embarrassingly failed to deliver promised efficiencies but also cost taxpayers millions in additional expenses A recent letter to the editor suggested cutting administrative layers would accelerate homebuilding who wants to live in a house built on improperly zoned land where worker safety regulations and building codes are overlooked If residents are truly concerned about rising cost of local governance and salaries of elected officials I encourage them to voice their concerns at local council meetings and advocate for meaningful change Simply calling for amalgamation — an approach already shown to be ineffective — is an exercise in futility We welcome letters from our readers. Send them to letters@niagaradailies.com address and phone number for verification purposes Opinion articles are based on the author’s interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Maintenance work carried out by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will close off some lanes on the Burlington Skyway next week which could lead to slowdowns through the area for two days The bridge that carries the QEW over Hamilton Harbour will see two Niagara-bound lanes closed overnight Two lanes of traffic will be open on the QEW Niagara-bound at all times Work is weather-dependent and may be cancelled or delayed by the MTO All ramps from the Eastport Drive Collector to the Skyway Bridge and at Northshore Boulevard Interchange will remain open Eastport Drive Collector Lanes and Eastport Drive can be used as a detour/alternate route The work on the bridge comes two years after extensive work that was carried out on the Skyway which led to numerous lane closures on and off for several months Those closures in 2023 left drivers frustrated as many complained that they occurred during high-volume traffic periods Niagara Region politicians also complained that frequent lane closures then were interfering with the tourist industry during peak holiday times Premier Doug Ford stepped in and ordered a rescheduling of the times when lanes would be closed The MTO says this time the closures will be less dramatic Subscribe to INsauga – Ontario Headline News’ daily email newsletter for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Toronto Eaton Centre OR Sherway Gardens A Lincoln and Welland Regiment soldier with happy residents of Bergen op Zoom on Oct the day the town was liberated by the Canadians Members of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment take cover from German sniper fire in northwest Europe in 1945 Unknown members of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment in the Netherlands sometime between 1944 and 1945 “Press On” upon its arrival at the Lake Street Armoury in March 1945 The officer standing next to the tank is Major Edward J master warrant officer and regimental historian with Lincoln and Welland Regiment in front of “Press On” at the Lake Street Armoury Jack Sinke was a six-year-old boy in the Netherlands when the Germans invaded in May 1940 Engelbert Marinus points to the house he and his family lived in when the Netherlands were liberated by Canadians on May 5 May 5 marks the 80th anniversary of the surrender by the German army’s in the Netherlands It has been 80 years since Canadian forces accepted the surrender of the German army in the Netherlands on May 5 Members of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment were part of the First Canadian Army which played a pivotal role in that country’s liberation from the Nazis in the Second World War The Lincoln and Welland troops were battle hardened by the time they arrived at the Dutch-Belgian border They were part of the fierce fighting at the Falaise Gap in late August 1944 when the Allies encircled retreating German troops and closed the gap they had been moving through they would have been pushing west through Belgium and eventually into the Netherlands which would have been in the fall of 1944,” said Drew Neufeld a master warrant officer and regimental historian with Lincoln and Welland Regiment the Niagara regiment played a significant role in the Battle of the Scheldt a crucial campaign to open the Scheldt estuary a river that borders Belgium and the Netherlands with its mouth at the North Sea “It was very important that they opened the Scheldt estuary to be able to supply the soldiers efficiently,” Neufeld said During the Battle of the Scheldt, the Lincoln and Welland group helped liberate Bergen op Zoom “A lot of the company commanders will say it was the worst experience,” Neufeld said was kind of an anomaly where the commander of the German army at the time made a deal with the mayor (of the town) ‘If you don’t give away our position and help the Allies we will move to the north which would be the canal and we’ll keep the fighting to the outskirts of the (town) and not really destroy the main part.’” Neufeld noted In his book “Because We Are Canadians: A Battlefield Memoir,” Sgt Charles Kipp with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment recalls planning of the siege of Bergen op Zoom took place in the basement of a home near the town that was owned by a Mr an English professor who acted as an interpreter for the Canadians Their conversation inspired the title of Kipp’s book Kipp says a toast was raised to the success of the coming battle and their host asked why they appeared so steady and not nervous about what was to come “Because we are Canadians,” Kipp and his colleagues replied This year marks the 80th anniversary of the freeing of Bergen Op Zoom by the Lincoln and Welland Kipp writes the Lincoln and Welland soldiers made their way into the town during the night on Oct swimming across the zoom and making their way to the top of a dyke and along a rail line that ran across it “I could see and hear men going down all around me The Canadians escaped down the side of the dyke “The sky over our heads was one big sheet of flames from the German guns,” Kipp writes The surviving soldiers eventually made their way to an eight-foot-high wall outside a gin factory “Out of our entire company of about 30 strong The Canadians fought room to room and in the hallways “We were just running all over and shooting everything we could see,” Kipp writes The only light came from the muzzle flashes of the guns.” Of the 13 Lincoln and Welland soldiers who had made it to the gin factory Kipp said only eight were left when the fighting was over Bergen op Zoom was liberated by the Canadians Neufeld said the Lincoln and Welland Regiment fought so fiercely in its push through the Netherlands it gained a reputation for toughness among the enemy “One of my favourite quotes during that time was from a German prisoner who said ‘The Lincoln and Welland Regiment has no sentiment no discipline and no mercy’ because they were so tenacious and determined to meet their objectives,” Neufeld said “They effectively pushed their way through the Netherlands along with the rest of the Canadian Army and Allied forces The push through the Netherlands was a slow and bloody slog “I can only imagine the hardships and struggles they would have went through,” Neufeld said “(They saw) the best and worst of humanity.” By the time the Netherlands was liberated on May 5 more than 7,600 Canadians had died in the eight months of fighting it took to get there “The Dutch people cheered Canadian troops as one town after another was liberated,” states a Canadian government website detailing Canada’s involvement in the liberation of the Netherlands “This was a memorable time for the people of the Netherlands.” Jack Sinke was a six-year-old boy when the Germans invaded the Netherlands in May 1940 “It was kind of exciting at first,” said the 91-year-old Vineland resident whose family lived on a farm near the Belgian border but later on we heard about concentration camps and stuff like that Sinke recalled the Germans taking most of the locals’ food and raiding store shelves and sending all the clothing and other materials back to Germany but was only allowed to keep two for his own family,” the letter says “All the others he had to sell to the Germans for a cheap price.” Sinke’s letter recalls the time his father was confronted by two German soldiers who came to the house demanding he hand over his two remaining pigs we will take your children,’” the letter says Sinke says he got scared and hid behind his mother’s skirt and he looked to see the German soldiers leaving without the pigs Sinke said he was 10 years old in the fall of 1944 when residents in his area got word the Canadian Army was pushing into the Netherlands from Belgium “The Canadians were going to free us,” said Sinke who recalls hearing the Allied gunfire in the distance and squadrons of Allied bombers flying over their house “The glass in the windows rattled,” he said He noted the nearby airport was a frequent target of attack because it was wanted by both the Germans and the Allies “Most of my early life was dangerous and scary,” Marinus recalled The former Grimsby resident who now lives in Stoney Creek said the family later moved to Ootmarsom Marinus recalled the Canadians and other Allies appearing in the forests around the city American and Australian camps meeting there,” said Marinus who recalled visiting each of the camps and getting to try their food Marinus noted May 5 remains a special day for Dutch people A reminder of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment’s service in the Second World War sits in front of the Lake Street Armoury in St The M5A1 Stuart VI recce tank came into the regiment’s possession in late February 1945 (the day after its arrival at the armoury after being transported to St Catharines on the back of a flat rail car) noted the tank had been with one of the armoured units of the British Columbia Tank Regiment but was disabled after it ran over a mine on the edge of the Hochwald Forest near the Dutch-German border then commander of the Lincs,” the article says The article says members of the regiment’s pioneer platoon started swarming over the tank and the limbering battlewagon came out of its death throes as a trim speedy reconnaissance carrier,” the article states On the front of the tank was “Press On” — one of the favourite expressions of Lt-Gen Guy Simond to encourage his troops in battle — painted in large white letters The article noted when Press On arrived in St “There are the flags of the countries touched by the tank: Canada Catharines and other points in the Niagara district painted their names on the tank for posterity,” the article says May 5 remains a special day on the calendar in the Netherlands where the liberations is celebrated as a national holiday and the sacrifices of Allied soldiers Welland Mayor Frank Campion and Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said a collaborative approach is possible regardless of the party affiliation of their riding’s MP and MPP Catharines) and Conservatives Tony Baldinelli (Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake) Fred Davies (Niagara South) and Dean Allison (Niagara West) Despite six of eight federal and provincial ridings in Niagara being held by opposition representatives local leaders are confident collaborative approach is achievable but only two representative in federal and provincial governments Is that a concern for mayors who want to see their municipalities receive financial and other supports from upper levels of office Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati has long maintained having an MP or MPP as part of the governing party is better for the riding “Absolutely it does,” he said when asked if he believes having an elected official from the opposition party creates more work for local mayors I’m not concerned for Niagara Falls because I’ve got enough strong relations provincially and federally that I can pick up the phone and make some key calls I’m more concerned about newer mayors who haven’t established those relations yet — they’ve got more of an uphill battle I’ve been in this situation for a long time,” added Diodati but at the same time I appreciate that if it’s going to happen we’ve got to be able to march to Ottawa and march to Queen’s Park.” Niagara Falls is represented by Conservative MP Tony Baldinelli and NDP MPP Wayne Gates While neither is part of the federal Liberal or provincial Progressive Conservative governments both advocate for issues they believe are important to their constituents and hold their respective opponents to account when they believe they’re on the wrong track After publicly backing Doug Ford during provincial election Diodati endorsed Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford for a second consecutive provincial election this year Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe and Welland Mayor Frank Campion who all publicly backed the premier to continue leading Ontario None of the mayors of Niagara’s three most populous cities endorsed any leader for prime minister during the recent federal election all saying the dynamics of the federal election were far different “It’s been my experience (that) we always have government MPs and MPPs in the region and I’ll be honest I think they do yeoman’s duty making sure that all of Niagara is represented both provincially and federally,” said Siscoe Sam Oosterhoff is part of the provincial government as a Progressive Conservative MPP for Niagara West while Chris Bittle is part of the federal government as a Liberal MP for St “Chris and (recently defeated Niagara South Liberal MP) Vance (Badawey) I know spent a lot of time working on behalf of Niagara West and Niagara Falls ridings in the last couple of parliaments,” said Siscoe “Sam has always done a good job of getting to all parts of the region It seems like regardless of party affiliation all our MPs and MPPs get along pretty well with one another.” he said when funding announcements are made by the provincial government in St Oosterhoff is there representing the government but NDP MPP Jennie Stevens is invited because she’s the riding’s representative Siscoe said mayors also forge positive relationships with key federal and provincial officials “We make an effort as mayors to do that on our own and I think that’s part of the reason why we create those relationships because you never really know what the outcome of an election at the other levels is going to bring,” he said Campion said there’s “always an advantage” to having your riding’s MP or MPP in government but it’s “not the end of the world” if it doesn’t happen “I certainly appreciate all the help that we got from (Badawey) for the last several years,” he said “If you look at it from the provincial side we’ve been very successful with the provincial government even though we don’t have a sitting member you can work directly through your representative so it’s not as material I think as it might once have been.” Campion said he believes federal and provincial governments want what’s best for all municipalities but I think … the upper levels of government recognize that every municipality needs assistance particularly if they want to achieve their goals,” he said “If you’re looking at maybe you want to try to win (ridings) that you may have lost you still want to put some money into those municipalities.” Campion said he looks forward to working with new Niagara South Conservative MP Fred Davies Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here These are the scheduled closures set to affect York Region between Oct Highway 58A and Queen Elizabeth Way are affected Avoid gridlock before it happens — 20 closures are scheduled for roadwork on provincial highways in Niagara on May 5 Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between Seventh Street and Highway 406 Catharines: one right lane closed from April 30 at 12 p.m Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between Gilmore Road Niagara Falls: one alternating lane closed from April 29 at 12 a.m Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between Baker Road Fort Erie: one alternating lane closed from April 29 at 12 a.m Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between Sandplant Hill Niagara-On-The-Lake and Thorold Stone Road Niagara Falls: one left lane closed from May 6 at 9 p.m Highway 58 northbound between Thorold Stone Road / Davis Road and Pine Street Thorold: one right lane closed from May 9 at 12 a.m Thorold: one right lane closed from April 24 at 12 a.m Thorold: all lanes closed from May 6 at 10 p.m East Main Street Welland westbound between Welland Tunnel and Welland Tunnel Welland: one left lane closed from May 5 at 9 a.m Highway 405 eastbound between Stanley Avenue and Stanley Ave Niagara-On-The-Lake: one left lane closed from May 6 at 8 a.m Highway 406 northbound between East Main Street Catharines: one alternating lane closed from May 4 at 8 p.m Highway 58 northbound between Thorold Tunnel and Thorold Tunnel Thorold: all lanes closed from May 6 at 8:30 p.m Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between Mountain Road Niagara-On-The-Lake: one alternating lane closed from May 6 at 8 p.m Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie bound between Highway 420 and Lyons Creek Road Niagara Falls: one alternating lane closed from May 4 at 11 p.m Welland: one alternating lane closed from May 4 at 8 p.m Highway 58A eastbound between Townline Tunnel and Townline Tunnel Welland: one alternating lane closed from May 5 at 9 a.m Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between Lyons Creek Road and Highway 420 Niagara Falls: one alternating lane closed from May 4 at 8 p.m Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between Thorold Stone Road and Thorold Stone Road Niagara Falls: one left lane closed from May 7 at 12 a.m Queen Elizabeth Way Toronto bound between Martindale Road and Seventh Street Catharines: two right lanes closed from April 30 at 9 p.m Thorold: all lanes closed from May 5 at 8:30 p.m Catharines: one right lane closed from May 3 at 12 a.m Have further to travel? Find scheduled highway closures outside Niagara This story was automatically generated using open data from Ontario 511 The closures are scheduled by the Ministry of Transportation for short-term or emergency repairs and maintenance The disruptions may be intermittent or ongoing and can change due to weather The Torstar Open Data Team produces articles using data and automation beach water quality reports and election results The team is Lucas Timmons and Cody Gault with support from the Star and Metroland’s editorial and technical teams Kim Bender is the new medical director for REACH Niagara who will stay on as new medical director of substance use and addictions programming Karl Stobbe of REACH Niagara helps launch the organization’s new mobile health clinic in October 2021 Stobbe has stepped back from his role as medical director in hopes new leadership will generate new ideas Karl Stobbe voluntarily steps back and hopes change will generate new ideas to provide Niagara's vulnerable population with health care Karl Stobbe voluntarily steps back and hopes change will generate new ideas to provide Niagara’s vulnerable population with health care who will replace the leader who founded the organization in 2019 and led it through the growing region’s homelessness and opioid crises Kim Bender stepped into the position in January after Dr the organization’s founding medical director stepped back and cited a need for fresh eyes and change “We were talking about how we should organize leadership in the organization and in a lot of leadership roles people run out of ideas and it gets to be same old Term limits for positions such as medical director typically consist of about five years after which a new director is appointed Stobbe plans to continue his work with REACH Niagara as the medical director of the substance use and addictions program He started the organization in November 2019 as a response to the growing need for services for people experiencing homelessness and living with addictions REACH Niagara provides health-care services to people who do not have basic needs met, said the organization’s website This includes people who are experiencing homeless precariously housed and living below the low-income measure Bender joined the physician team in 2023 in a clinical setting after watching the success of the program Later Stobbe approached her about a more active role “He (Stobbe) had reached out saying they (REACH) were hoping to expand the leadership team as he was hoping to move into a different role and it really spoke to my heart,” she said “I see so much change happening in the community and a great need and I saw so much of what the team was doing — I didn’t think I could turn it down.” Bender has a background in family medicine She aims to improve the level of care by stabilizing people’s health giving access to traditional care and providing dignity Bender said taking over the role felt scary at first but support from the teams He’s (Stobbe) an amazing physician and person he’s built this up so beautifully and it’s hard to fill his shoes,” she said one person just can’t do it anymore.” he’s built this up so beautifully and it’s hard to fill his shoes.” — Dr The organization started with two clinics in 2019 and has grown to more than 20 clinics with 14 doctors and four nurse-practitioners since that time Bender plans to stabilize the organization through grants and community funding to support the rapid growth the organization has experienced while offering the same level of care so what I’m hoping to bring to the table is working with the ministry and along with our executive director Carolyn Dyer to bring a more sustainable model,” she said “Our goal is to try to provide these stable programs so people become more stable … in their own lives.” said it has been a “seamless” transition due to Bender’s familiarity within the organization “She had a good understanding of the population we serve individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and gender-based violence,” she said “We’ve been able to maintain the relationships and keep momentum going for new initiatives we’re hoping to implement.” Dyer said the organization is hoping to support women experiencing homelessness “because we do see that as an opportunity … as it’s a very different journey (she) has already come in and looked at our existing clinics within shelter and has been thinking And looking at what are the populations that we’re missing,” she said Stobbe said as Bender settles into her new role he is excited to see the changes she plans to implement Bender has some really good ideas for how to do that help them get to know each other outside of when they’re just working (at clinics),” he said Sign in Join now, it's FREE! The report showcases Niagara Transit’s achievements in the areas of service excellence Niagara Transit is finalizing it’s first Facilities This plan will recommend an optimal service strategy tailored to meet the specific needs of the Niagara community Niagara Transit will implement a new flat fare of $3.50 per trip across Niagara and introduce the Niagara Transit Benefit pass for individuals that are receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) To read the full report, please visit https://nrtransit.ca/about-niagara-transit/generalmanagers-2024-annual-report/ “The 2024 Annual Report is a reflection of the great work done by our staff in our second year of operation," said Carla Stout dedication and teamwork I see on a daily basis that is creating a truly interconnected Niagara and I am excited about the opportunities we have to improve even further 2025 I am confident we will continue to deliver an effective efficient service for Niagara residents.” Niagara Health Knowledge Institute Research Day returns Thursday where healthcare researchers from throughout Niagara Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area gather to share their work This year’s theme is Patient Engagement and Partnership in Community Hospital Research with a keynote address by Dr Mathias Gysler Research Chair in Patient and Family-Centred Care at Trillium Health Partners’ Institute for Better Health Other highlights include relevant workshops to help healthcare researchers develop their skills and programs and networking opportunities for attending researchers one staff research award and one physician research award will be presented to Niagara Health team members See the Research Day agenda and register now Mathias Gysler Research Chair in Patient and Family Centered Care at the Institute for Better Health at Trillium Health Partners Kerry Kuluski is also an associate professor at the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto she launched a new course on patient and caregiver engagement in research and co-created a seven-part virtual learning series on engagement and co-design with and for patients she was a scientist at Sinai Health System where she grew her program of research on patient and caregiver experience She completed her PhD in health services research at the University of Toronto and a master’s in social work at Lakehead University Her research focuses on care quality challenges in our healthcare system including care transitions using multi-methods She is also exploring new strategies to better collect families and care providers to co-design strategies that aim to improve health care experiences Kerry will talk about the value of engaging with patients caregivers and community partners in research and quality improvement She will share what it looks like to engage patients caregivers and community partners at each stage of the research life cycle She’ll review frameworks and case studies on what partnership looks like in practice how to address common challenges and set yourself up for success for the longer term Share your findings! Submit your poster presentation proposal by Friday Prospective poster presenters will be notified of a decision about their submission by Friday Top-rated poster presentation submissions will be invited to give a short oral presentation using an e-poster format during the event Learn more about poster presentations and submission guidelines Niagara Health is a leader in community hospital research and is involved in multi-centre studies and clinical trials in cardiology Research Day is organized by the Niagara Health Knowledge Institute Research Day Planning Committee which also includes our partners Brock University DeGroote School of Medicine – Niagara Regional Campus and the Niagara Health Foundation including an agenda for the day and registration link Research Day draws record crowd; NHKI releases annual report Healthcare researchers gather to share, celebrate knowledge at Niagara Health Research Day 2023 This year marked the fifth instalment of Research Day which saw more than 170 attendees from nine health and academic organizations across the Greater Toronto Area gather to focus on patient engagement and partnership in community hospital research Patient Engagement and Partnership in Community Hospital Research emphasizes the growing importance of involving patients caregivers and communities in every stage of the research process Medical student Prey Patel has had opportunities in the Niagara Health Knowledge Institute’s experiential learning research program that most of his peers won’t see until later in their careers And he plans to pay it forward at Niagara Health when he graduates See all posts Managed with Tymbrel “I am pleased to acknowledge with gratitude all the candidates who put their name forward to serve the mission of Catholic education at the provincial level as an OCSTA Regional Director The newly acclaimed and elected trustees accept the call to serve Catholic education and share a commitment to place Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church at the centre of students’ learning experiences I look forward to serving with them in the best interest of Catholic Education,” said OCSTA President Michael Bellmore OCSTA Regional Directors – Election Results: Regions 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13 are represented by Trustees who are appointed by their respective boards. View the complete list of the OCSTA Board of Directors here The Association was pleased to acknowledge outstanding Catholic education leadership and service through the annual OCSTA Awards Program This year’s awards recognized the following individuals: 2025 OCSTA Trustee Award of Merit Recipient: Trustee David Howard, Vice-Chair, Renfrew County CDSB (view profile) Most Reverend Fred Colli, Retired Bishop, Diocese of Thunder Bay (view profile) 2025 OCSTA Student Trustee Alumni Award Recipients Aaron Paul and Ajoy Paul, Former Student Trustees, Durham CDSB (view profile) The Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association is the provincial voice for publicly funded Catholic education OCSTA represents the interests of Catholic school boards that collectively educates approximately 600,000 students in Ontario gives customers more options.May 5 - Starting on May 17 GO service to the Niagara area is expanding with all existing Niagara trains on the Lakeshore West GO Line stopping at West Harbour GO Station West Harbour customers will have four more train trips to choose from on weekdays and six new trips on weekends trains can now travel directly through the station resulting in a smoother and more efficient journey all Niagara trains will stop at West Harbour GO seven days a week offering better access and convenience for riders This means new direct train service between Hamilton Niagara trips that previously stopped at West Harbour will see a time savings of up to eight minutes in each direction originally planned to be finished this fall bringing more service to the Hamilton-Niagara Region sooner than anticipated It’s recommended that GO Transit customers check their schedule in advance and plan their trip ahead of time For accredited journalists, you can contact our media team at mediarelations@metrolinx.com For customers, please visit Metrolinx – Contact Us to contact the Community Engagement team Personal information is collected under the authority of the Metrolinx Act Personal information you provide will be used add you to an e-mail list that may send promotional messages or otherwise provide you with a personalized experience Thanks for visiting Dragon Ritual Drummers and more will also perform across the region this June BY Megan LaPierrePublished May 5 Niagara Jazz Festival returns to locations around the Niagara Region this June for its 12th summer season organizers have announced the 95-percent-Canadian lineup of jazz world and soul acts set to perform this year Red Rot Ramble and surprise guests from New Orleans The following evening (June 21) will celebrate 40 years of the iconic brass and vocal band the Shuffle Demons with Sax in the City at the Exchange Cultural Hub and Market This year's edition of Niagara Jazz's ever-popular Jazz Picnic happens on June 22 where the Sonny Balcones will be the featured performers For the festival's final weekend, Soul Jazz in the Vineyard will host the Qunicy Bullen Band with vocalist Quisha Wint on June 27 at the Henry Pelham Family Estate Winery The action continues on June 28 with the inaugural Distill & Chill BBQ — featuring Joel Parisien and his band — at Grimsby's Forty Creek Distillery with the fest wrapping up on June 29 with the annual free Music in the Park event at the Battle of the Beaverdams Park in Thorold Tickets for each individual event are on sale now. Visit the Niagara Jazz Festival website for more details. Be the first to get our biggest stories delivered to your inbox. A speed enforcement camera on Main Street East in Grimsby Niagara Region is changing their locations across the region this month each end of the community safety zones in which they are operating will be marked with larger “Municipal Speed Camera In-Use” signs Motorists with a heavy foot will continue to pay the price, as Niagara Region’s automated speed enforcement cameras are to be moved to eight new community safety zones this month “It’s always been our process to rotate the cameras every 90 days,” said Scott Fraser associate director of transportation planning the cameras will begin moving from where they have been since January Fraser said the relocated cameras won’t likely begin snapping photos of speeders until late May as it will take two or three weeks to move the cameras test them and add other safety improvements such as road markings and flexible bollards in the middle of the road at each end of a community safety zone “Municipal Speed Camera Coming Soon” signs at each end of the zones will be replaced with larger “Municipal Speed Camera In-Use” signs to indicate cameras are active “What residents are going to see is transitions where the existing speed limit in most locations are going to be changed to flat speed limits that apply at all times of the day either 40 or 50 kilometres per hour,” Fraser said He said the units have a rate-of-speed buffer that vehicles must surpass before the cameras snap a photo nor will the region say what hours of the day the cameras will be working Fraser said community safety zones are determined by an area’s collision history frequency of speeding and proximity to schools and seniors centres The speed enforcement cameras are rotated though Niagara’s 27 community safety zones Fraser said about five or six units are vandalized each month usually with its pole being knocked over or cut down and each incident is reported to Niagara Regional Police “I don’t know that we see more or less vandalism than other municipalities have experienced around automated enforcement cameras,” said Fraser who added the camera vendor is responsible for replacing any damaged units He said cameras will continue snapping speeders’ photos at their current location until they are relocated Fraser said fines are determined by the rate of speed over the posted limit 48,456 speeders were issued tickets after being caught on camera Fraser said the cameras are reducing average speeds by nine km/h in the community safety zones and 86 per cent fewer drivers are speeding FACS Niagara's annual gala raised over $120,000 for children and youth in Niagara raised money to fund programs supporting youth preparing to make the transition into adulthood and independent living “The gala is always a special night,” said Anna Bozza “It’s made even more special by the contributions of our youth who showcase their talents “This was the most successful gala event in the Foundation’s history,” said Rhianon Burkholder “The funds raised will help improve the lives and wellbeing of children and youth served by FACS We are grateful to our sponsors and donors for their continued support of this important work.” The Dritsacos family made the evening’s single largest donation of $25,000 while Canadian Tire Welland donated $15,000 to support four youth for a year The gala event was held at John Michael’s Banquet and Events Centre in Thorold on Friday Led by members of the Community Oriented Response and Engagement Unit (CORE) collected more than 67,000 pounds of food and $42,000 in cash and gift card donations from generous members of the public and local businesses CORE officers are once again teaming up with 10 local food banks and 13 grocery stores to help address the growing need for food support across the Niagara region Unlike traditional food drives that focus on the holiday season Spring Forward was created to tackle year-round food insecurity affecting families and individuals in our community The NRPS encourages everyone in Niagara to participate and consider making a donation to support this important initiative  Day 3 -   Wednesday May 14 Larger corporate donations can be arranged by contacting:  Constable [email protected] While all donations are appreciated, persons making a donation may wish to review the needed items shopping lists from area food banks. CLICK HERE “It’s a pretty big decision for a college to suspend a program,” says Craig Youdale pictured at the school’s Benchmark Restaurant at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus Niagara College pauses three of its four hospitality programs as a result of the international student cap and work permit policy changes Niagara College’s hospitality and culinary programs were thriving — welcoming more than 900 students eager to train for careers in tourism that number will collectively drop to about 395 A wave of federal policy changes targeting international students has created widespread uncertainty as colleges across the country combat decreasing enrolment and ensuing financial difficulties the fallout has been especially severe in hospitality for which steep enrolment declines and restrictions on postgraduate work permits have forced the local college to temporarily suspend three of its four hospitality programs “It’s been a big challenge to make those decisions … and they’re not taken lightly,” said Craig Youdale “It’s a pretty big decision for a college to suspend a program but it can potentially affect staff and we’re doing our best to try to maintain our staff and support our team — that’s not the case everywhere.” Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced a cap on international students resulting in a drop in enrolment at Canadian universities and colleges The government later tightened restrictions on college postgraduate work permits with about half of Niagara College’s 120 programs excluded from the eligibility list That combination has been “really tough on the programs,” said Youdale Following the announcement of an international cap the college’s school of hospitality saw a decrease of about 20 per cent enrolment from 2023 to 2024 It then dropped about 50 to 60 per cent the following academic year enrolment in its hospitality programs was at 530 students Youdale said the projected number for the upcoming fall term is 170 the college has paused the first intake to three of its four hospitality programs — bachelor’s in business administration and hospitality and tourism management business development But even that two-year diploma program has seen a sharp drop in enrolment The labour shortage in Niagara will be “amplified over the coming years significantly,” says with current enrolment levels high enough to keep them running though other culinary programs have experienced a “significant” decline The culinary management diploma and culinary skills certificate programs welcomed 370 students in fall 2024 Youdale said the college projects about 225 for the upcoming fall term the chance to train and gain work experience in Canada is a major draw which Youdale called the “kiss of death for international student recruitment.” But as soon as you creep in the concept of uncertainty … any little doubt in that student’s mind and they will choose somewhere else,” he said Fewer students mean fewer graduates entering the workforce — and that is the broader concern as the ripple effect will be felt across Niagara’s hospitality and culinary industries but their work permits will run out and … there’s not enough domestic students to fill those jobs,” he said “It’s why immigration is important and so we are very worried for our industry partners and friends because we know that this is going to be a huge effect on them.” Leaders at Niagara College and other partners across the country are working to highlight the importance of these roles and ensure it can continue providing graduates to help run Niagara’s hospitality and tourism industry Youdale said the college is hopeful a collective voice will prompt action from provincial and federal governments the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce said tourism employed 40,000 workers in Niagara and generated $2.4 billion in total expenditure for 2,800 tourism establishments — including restaurants Chief executive officer Mishka Balsom said local businesses are voicing concerns about the growing pressures they face as many rely on Niagara College hospitality and tourism students and graduates to fill critical roles The impact will be felt not just by tourists but also by residents who are fortunate to have restaurants coffee shops and attractions at their doorstep — especially now as residents look to support local breweries wineries and more amid ongoing tensions with the U.S “Those businesses depend on the skill set that college graduates have to fill the workforce demands in the sector It’s something that we have advocated for — that this needs to be taken into consideration in light of the impact,” she said Advocacy from post-secondary institutions and businesses have worked to ensure some job categories such as child care support and health care were added to the work permit eligibility list The hope is government will continue listening to specific workforce demands for regions such as Niagara “We are all well served by being really data driven when it comes to that and as we’re making those decisions,” said Balsom Hospitality and tourism education have been hit especially hard by federal restrictions Niagara Falls Tourism was unable to provide comment to The Standard by publication about the potential impacts facing the hospitality and tourism sector the constant rule and policy changes over the past 18 months have been increasingly difficult who has more than 30 years of experience in the field said planning and forecasting — critical to any post-secondary institution — has “never been more difficult.” “Whether it’s protecting our enrolment or trying to figure out our budget the goalposts keep moving so it becomes a really huge challenge for us,” he said “It’s definitely difficult to make good decisions when the rules change so you can only use the tools you have in front of you.” while it continues to advocate for change — and hopes the province lifts the tuition freeze which has been in place since 2019 to alleviate some of the pressure — Youdale said the college has to “recruit our way out of this.” It has put its attention on boosting domestic enrolment in struggling programs with the hope that stronger numbers will put Niagara College in a better position to resume courses currently on pause “We have not cancelled any programs — we just use the word ‘suspend,’ but even that is a dramatic choice for us,” said Youdale and we feel confident that we can work our way out of it Looking for something to do in the community Here's what's going on in the Niagara area this weekend Here’s what’s going on in the Niagara area this weekend Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event For a full list of events please visit our Events This Weekend page This story was automatically generated using data from the CitySpark events platform We are not responsible or liable for errors and omissions in the event description please contact the event organizer for additional information Game Recap: Baseball | 5/4/2025 12:03:00 PM 10-14 MAAC) dropped the final game of the series against Merrimack 3-1 on Sunday at Bobo Field After four scoreless innings of baseball that saw Niagara starter Nate Bennett strike out seven Warriors batters Merrimack got on the board in the top of the fifth inning with a two run homer off the bat of Jack Andrews The Warriors added one more run to their lead in the seventh, while Niagara got on the board in the bottom half of the frame with their only run of the contest thanks to Ian Huang who hit a single to left center to score Jason Green from second Bennett got the start for the Purple and White, throwing 4.2 innings. Carter Fink came in for relief, allowing one run on one hit in 2.1 innings of work. Andrew Damiani came on to finish the game throwing two scoreless innings • Bennett recorded a season high seven strikeouts • Jacob Brooks extended his on base streak to 31 straight contests Niagara is back in action on May 6 to face Le Moyne in a midweek non-conference contest First pitch at Bobo Field is slated for 3 pm Thanks for visiting Communications905-356-7521 In celebration of National Public Works Week the City of Niagara Falls is hosting a Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm at the Gale Centre (5152 Thorold Stone Road The event allows residents to explore a range of vehicles The City's Municipal Works team will be on hand to provide demonstrations and answer questions about the vehicles and equipment that help them perform their duties in our community Project SHARE is hosting a charity barbeque at the event with proceeds benefiting essential support services in our community You will also have the opportunity to browse the Niagara Falls Public Library Bookmobile “We’re excited to once again welcome the community to visit with our Municipal Works team and to explore the equipment essential to keeping our City running smoothly,” said Erik Nickel municipalities across Canada have recognized National Public Works Week This special week in May is used to educate engage and inform the public about the essential role public works play in the community's quality of life the Municipal Works portfolio has three sections: Engineering The portfolio provides quality services that directly impact citizens and businesses across the city every day.  This year's National Public Works Week theme is "People Presence," which highlights three cornerstone ideals that motivate public works professionals to serve in their communities every day Meeting the needs of people is what gives public works its sense of purpose Public works professionals often will never meet those whose lives have been impacted because working in the background to advance quality of life for all the City of Niagara Falls will recognize National Public Works Week and the dedicated staff who go above and beyond to provide the community with front-line services that safeguard and enhance the quality of life in this growing city For additional information, events, and resources on National Public Works Week, visit https://www.apwa.org/events/national-public-works-week-npww/ The RCMP said three foreign nationals were apprehended in an April 13 incident at the International Railway Bridge that connects Fort Erie and Buffalo RCMP are camped out by the International Railway Bridge that spans the Niagara River between Fort Erie and Buffalo Housing of migrants at local hotels has stabilized but he hopes Prime Minister Mark Carney will raise mass deportation issue in talks with Donald Trump Trade is expected to be the primary discussion point when Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S But Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati hopes the two leaders also talk about how Trump’s promise of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants may impact Canada Particularly, a border region like Niagara, with four international road crossings and a train bridge in Fort Erie the RCMP has identified as a new spot unauthorized foreign nationals are using to enter Canada “I want to be prepared and proactive for our community we’re not going to have a repeat of what happened last time — we need to have a co-ordinated proactive approach with everyone having a seat at the table,” said Diodati Diodati is referring to a few years ago when tens of thousands of people entered Canada via Roxham Road Roxham Road was a well-travelled unofficial border crossing between Champlain used by asylum seekers hoping to enter Canada The Canadian government came up with a hotel accommodation arrangement in Niagara Falls and other cities in July 2022 to alleviate pressures on Quebec Canada and the United States reached an agreement to shut down the route The Niagara Falls arrangement caused some concern with local officials Diodati said it made an already difficult housing situation more challenging and stretched an already strained social support system “We had more asylum seekers per capita than any other city in Canada because of the amount of hotel rooms we had and it was putting extreme pressures on the community,” he said “It was just too much for one community to handle.” Diodati said the city heard from concerned residents although the federal government was dealing directly with hotels so we could be involved because we understand it’s a global problem and Canada has its role We wanted to make sure that everybody is doing their bit not just the over-the-top amount of effort for certain cities like Niagara Falls.” Diodati said the city has between 1,000 and 1,500 asylum seekers staying in various hotels — a significant decrease from the nearly 5,000 claimants transferred to Niagara Falls between Feb But Diodati is worried about how Trump’s promise to deport millions of undocumented migrants from the U.S may lead to an even bigger problem than Roxham Road “Now that we know who our prime minister is going to be as soon as we find out who the different ministers are going to be I’m going to be reaching out immediately to be proactively prepared for what might happen based on what President Trump has said,” he said and we are not even remotely equipped to handle that I want to make sure that when Carney meets with Trump that — I know they’ve got a lot of things to talk about — this must be one of the things they discuss and that’s why I want to make sure that we get that issue on the agenda Police recently thwarted yet another attempt by foreign nationals to illegally enter Canada at a cross-border train bridge in Fort Erie According to the Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP border integrity unit three people were spotted crossing the International Railway Bridge on April 13 where a car was waiting for them in Fort Erie The Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP border integrity unit supports four Canada Border Services Agency ports of entry and now maintains a “24-7 presence” at the railway bridge “The strategic deployment of (officers) between the Ontario ports of entry has proven to be a successful tactic in preventing illegal migration into Canada,” said RCMP Supt The unit has arrested several people attempting to illegally enter Canada since this new initiative began A Cuban national was arrested in mid-March after running across the bridge “It’s now all part and parcel of the heightened border security on both sides of the border,” said Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop “We anticipate there will be a large push for refugees in particular undocumented people in the U.S I know the local groups that are engaged in welcoming and supporting refugees (in Niagara) Redekop said Fort Erie doesn’t have the infrastructure to house a large number of asylum seekers “The regional government has been engaged in this — they’ve been getting some funding from upper levels of government but really that’s where funding needs to come from and that’s where the supports need to come from,” he said “We do have international obligations with respect to asylum seekers so we just need to make sure that the infrastructure is in place and the parties whose responsibility it is for that funding will work with the local agencies to make sure that the people can be accommodated when they come cross the border.” NY - The Niagara women's track and field team wrapped up the regular season as they completed the Big Red Invitational hosted by Cornell on Sunday Two more school records fell as Vanessa Wollery broke the 400m hurdles record with a time of 1:05.81. Clara Barr also broke her own record in the 100m hurdles with a 14.90 Sapphire John (12.34), Deborah Borysewicz (12.37), Soraya Ross (12.42) and Lauryn Speicher (12.57) took home 3rd-6th in the 100m Borysewicz (25.62) placed second in the 200m Ross (26.18) and Speicher (26.23) placed third Sara Mueller claimed fifth in the 1500 with a time of 4:55.73 while Hannah Adderley Julien placed third in the long jump with a 5.39 The Niagara track and field team head into the postseason at the MAAC Championships May 10-11 hosted by Rider Thanks for visiting Communications905-356-7521 The Niagara Falls Exchange is thrilled to announce a collaboration with Niagara Falls Comic Con to bring you 'Back to the 90's After Party' on May 31 following the conclusion of that day's Comic Con event. It's set to be a nostalgic throwback to the decade that defined a generation Comic Con attendees and the public are invited to join in for a night filled with non-stop 90's hits with DJ Marinko spinning iconic anthems and dance floor favourites. Guests can look forward to surprise appearances by celebrity guests joining throughout the evening This is an event you won’t want to miss! For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit niagarafalls.ca For more information, contact:Sylvia BebenCultural Development CoordinatorCity of Niagara Falls905-356-7521 ext. 5913[email protected] You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 202 of 202 polls are reporting as of 4:21 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 202 of 202 polls are reporting as of 4:21 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to be re-elected in Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake Baldinelli has 29,774 of 60,590 votes (49.14%) is in second place with 27,194 votes (44.88%) and Shannon Mitchell Baldinelli has represented the riding since 2019 Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake used to be named Niagara Falls The riding’s boundaries were updated for the 2025 federal election 23,799 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Niagara Region held a flag ceremony at regional headquarters Friday honouring the National Day of Missing and Murdered Women Community members gathered for the event, also known as Red Dress Day (May 5) The event featured local Indigenous drummers followed by a commemorative walk to raise awareness and remember those lost to gender-based violence There are currently no upcoming/recent events Thanks for visiting Ontario to table budget on May 15 amid impacts of U.S. tariffs ‘Sharp rise’ in Ontario measles cases with 223 new infections since last week Three foreign nationals arrested after crossing border in Fort Erie, Ont.: RCMP Ontario man arrested in Dominican Republic still stuck after charges dropped: family Hamilton police charge driver in fatal Ancaster collision Ontario government introduces new act to protect communities, victims the federal election polls will close at 9:30 p.m Here are the unofficial results for 20 key ridings across Hamilton Liberal candidate Aslam Rana has secured the vote in the Hamilton Centre riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Lisa Hepfner has secured the vote in the Hamilton Mountain riding PC candidate Ned Kuruc has secured the vote in the Hamilton East—Stoney Creek riding Liberal candidate John-Paul Danko has secured the vote for the Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas riding Incumbent PC candidate Dan Muys has secured the vote in the Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North riding Incumbent PC candidate Larry Brock has secured the vote in the Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations riding PC incumbent Leslyn Lewis has secured the vote in the Haldimand—Norfolk riding Incumbent PC candidate Dan Allison has secured the vote in the Niagara West riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Chris Bittle has secured the vote in the St Incumbent PC candidate Tony Baldinelli has secured the vote in the Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake riding PC candidate Fred Davies has secured the vote in the Niagara South riding beating out Liberal incumbent Vance Badawey Incumbent Liberal candidate Karina Gould has secured the vote in the Burlington riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Adam van Koeverden has secured the vote in the Burlington North—Milton West riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Sima Acan has secured the vote in the Oakville West riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Anita Anand has secured the vote in the Oakville East riding PC Incumbent candidate Parm Gill has secured the vote in the Milton East—Halton Hills South riding Incumbent PC candidate Michael Chong has secured the vote in the Wellington—Halton Hills North riding Incumbent PC candidate Connie Cody has secured the vote in the Cambridge riding Incumbent PC candidate Arpan Khanna has secured the vote in the Oxford riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Dominique O’Rourke has secured the vote in the Guelph riding Kids are doing pretty cool things to help save the plant business coach and host of the Rise Together: Empowering This Mother’s Day pamper mom with some extra TLC Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the women who have shaped Mainly cloudy with showers/thunderstorms today and a cooler high of 10°C CHCH-TV started broadcasting in 1954 and is proud to be the news leader for Hamilton and the surrounding Halton and Niagara regions Copyright © 2025 CHCH. All Rights Reserved. ZWD Niagara South 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 266 of 266 polls are reporting as of 4:21 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 266 of 266 polls are reporting as of 4:21 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election Davies has 36,702 of 76,762 votes (47.81%) is in second place with 33,708 votes (43.91%) and Chantal McCollum Badawey has represented the riding since 2015 Niagara South used to be named Niagara Centre 27,169 voters cast ballots at advance polls Fiddler's Pourhouse clinches title despite loss in final Fiddler’s Pourhouse clinches title despite loss in final The Fiddler’s Pourhouse Fighting Irish climbed into the driver’s seat on the first week of the third segment of the Niagara Five Pin Mixed Pro League season and never looked back They capped off the season by capturing first place to win the final segment despite dropping a 2-1 decision to the Phantoms in a match decided by three pins Kayla Ferguson paced the Phantoms with a solid 713 (289 255) while getting help from Allie Wendel who followed closely with 690 (228 Fiddler’s Pourhouse was led by Shawn Pellizari The Scorecard Harry’s Half Pints blanked the Accelerated Health & Wellness Aces 3-0 to leapfrog into second place Jordan Gravelle completed his incredible third set to the season by leading the winners with the best individual performance of the evening Josh Robins finished with a stellar 822 (264 Jessica Gingras rounded out the scoring with 629 (206 The Aces answered with Dave Pendlebury’s 743 (286 The DJB Bean Counters captured fourth place by whitewashing the Bugsy’s Seagulls 3-0 Ryan Kulikowski led the winners with a 771 771 (281 230) while getting support from Nathan Marr-Schoenfeldt who finished out his season rolling a super 800 (337 and Paul Asselin who chipped in with 663 (213 D Fisher’s Legacy jumped into sixth place with their 2-1 win over the Global Financial Wizards Rob Fisher led the way with a fantastic 808 (299 252) while Lindsay Richardson lent support with 658 (214 The Wizards replied with Brad Gaudreau who tossed 657 (299) BCAPMALL Productions took two of three from the Big Red’s Meatballs in a match decided by 74 pins Chris Gravelle had the hot hand for the winners firing a solid 751 (246 286) while getting help from Joe Thomas who was right behind with 733 (271 Headpin Headliners: Tyler Wendel captured his fifth men’s high average title 247.5; Shawn Pellizari took the high triple 402 … Vicky Robins won the women’s high average title for a third time 926; and Lindsay Richardson the high single Serving and Protecting the Regional Municipality of Niagara Designed by eSolutions Headquarters 5700 Valley Way Niagara Falls, ON L2E 1X8, T: (905) 688-4111 Top a National Day of Awareness for the thousands of Indigenous women and two-spirit people who have been subject to violence in Canada Niagara College will honour the day by hanging red dresses at both the Welland and Daniel J Red dresses will hang at both campuses until May 12th The Indigenous Education department welcomes the NC community to join them for a special film screening of Finding Dawn a documentary about the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada The screening will take place tomorrow from 1:30 to 3:30pm at the DJP Campus the Niagara College Student Administrative Council is hosting Coffee for a Cause in support of Niagara Chapter of Native Women 100% of sales from the purchase of coffee and teas will go towards NCNW Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati (right) meets with Niagara Falls Meals on Wheels volunteers as they set out on their deliveries April 29 volunteer Susie Bowles and volunteer Jenny Wright Niagara Falls agency organizes group dinners Though Meals on Wheels month is typically marked in March in Niagara Falls the agency received special recognition this week as volunteers gathered at the Niagara Falls hospital to pick up the meals they deliver He also joined them as they delivered hot and frozen meals to seniors the agency has an active volunteer base that last year delivered nearly 15,000 meals Publicity chair Chris Watling said apart from bringing dishes to people they also help create a sense of community they prepare group lunches for people living in seniors’ apartments they bring trays of food to serve to several people — usually in a common room — that volunteers serve up in a group setting “They’re not just receiving meals at their door to eat alone,” Watling said She said Meals on Wheels deliveries are about more than providing a source of nourishment — though it’s hard to overstate how valuable a service that is and how appreciated it is by families trying to make arrangements for their independent living parents the drivers are the only person the client sees in the day One of the most common comments Watling hears from clients is a wish that she could stay and sit with them for a cup of tea when she has 10 or 15 meals to deliver in a short time there is still an opportunity to make a connection She said she lost three clients — little friends as she refers to them — over the past three months Another 95-year-old man on her route was formerly in the military and taught her how to properly salute the drivers are the only people who see the client She said it’s not uncommon for a driver to detect something’s not quite right with one of their clients drivers have called 911 when they come across a client in medical distress Mike Zettel is a reporter for Niagara This Week (WKBW) — Community members have poured in their support for Justine Burger and Kenneth Johnson Jr.’s family Donations have paid their $2,300 fine from the City of Niagara Falls for running a garden in their front yard “It’s a huge weight lifted off our shoulders,” Burger said told me that they were buying seedlings and soil to plant their garden for the fifth consecutive year the Niagara Falls DPW suddenly ended their tradition Johnson Jr. and Burger told me the city removed their entire garden without warning, and that the city explained to them that the garden was a “hazard." Burger said somebody dropped off bricks to reline a new garden in their backyard as soon as possible The City of Niagara Falls has responded to this situation Mayor Robert Restaino sent a nine-page response defending the city DPW’s actions We want to hear what’s going on in your community Share your voice and hear from your neighbors Charles Daley Park serves up calmness and tranquility while the water rests Niagara This Week and Niagara Region promote residents' photography skills Niagara This Week and Niagara Region promote residents’ photography skills Niagara This Week and Niagara Region promote residents’ photography skills. Please visit niagararegion.ca for information about submissions Niagara West 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 236 of 237 polls are reporting as of 4:21 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 236 of 237 polls are reporting as of 4:21 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to be re-elected in Niagara West Allison has 36,251 of 69,688 votes (52.02%) is in second place with 29,899 votes (42.9%) and Justin Abando Allison has represented the riding since 2004 27,522 voters cast ballots at advance polls Niagara Regional Police have charged a Niagara Falls accountant with fraud after a company that hired her accounting firm became skeptical of her accounting practices and ordered a third-party review A business that hired the woman’s firm became skeptical of the accounting practices A 44-year-old woman who runs an accounting services firm in Niagara Falls has been charged with fraud after police allege a business that had hired the company became suspicious of accounting practices and ordered a third-party review a business reported the alleged fraud to Niagara Regional Police Detectives in the central fraud unit learned a business had hired a chartered professional accountant who is the sole director of Ontario Incorporated 2629884 and owner of Justin Jay Tax Accounting & Advisory Services to take care of all its accounting needs the business became skeptical of the accounting practices and ordered a third-party review the woman was arrested and charged with fraud over $5,000 possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000 fraudulently altering a document and breach of trust Anyone with information is asked by police to call 905-688-4111 Information can be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at CrimeStoppersNiagara.ca Dean Allison addresses Conservative Party of Canada supporters following his re-election in Niagara West on Monday night “I think we’ll try and work with them,” the longtime MP said of the governing Liberals Incumbent Dean Allison had a 209-vote lead after the first poll in Niagara West reported in and his lead grew from there with the results eventually propelling the Conservative MP to victory for an eighth straight election Allison told supporters at The Casablanca Hotel in Grimsby on Monday night a stronger Conservative Party of Canada will return to Ottawa to face a Liberal minority government “I’ve been talking about a Liberal minority for a couple of weeks this has been my prediction,” Allison said Allison was first elected MP for Niagara West—Glanbrook in 2004 Liberal Jennifer Korstanje was second with 29,899 votes (42.9 per cent) a more than 3,000-vote improvement in the redistributed riding from 2021 Justin Abando of the New Democratic Party was third with 2,241 votes (3.22 per cent) Allison attributed the stronger showing of the Liberals to the collapse of the NDP it always makes the race a lot tougher,” said Allison He said he plans to push cost-of-living issues in Parliament when the House of Commons gets recalled Allison said he doesn’t think the Conservatives will immediately try to defeat Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals “I think we’ll try and work with them,” he said Carney has made some promises about removing the carbon tax and we want to make sure that stays removed.” Korstanje was upbeat following her loss on election night noting the Liberals had made a strong showing in a Conservative stronghold “It’s showing that the riding is changing,” Korstanje said Korstanje — who will be returning to her duties as a Grimsby town councillor having taken an unpaid leave of absence to campaign — said she would like to run for the Liberals again in the next federal election These highway closures are scheduled for short-term or emergency repairs and maintenance Avoid traffic jams before they happen — 19 closures are scheduled for roadwork on provincial highways in Niagara on May 2 Thorold: all lanes closed from May 3 at 8:30 p.m Thorold: all lanes closed from April 25 at 8:30 p.m Welland: one alternating lane closed from April 28 at 9 a.m Catharines: one right lane closed from April 22 at 12 p.m Catharines: two right lanes closed from April 22 at 9 p.m East Main Street Welland eastbound between Welland Tunnel and Welland Tunnel A Niagara Regional Councillor will be Niagara South's MP which he has held since 2015 to local businessman a Niagara Regional Councillor in Port Colborne received 35,404 votes compared to Badawey's 31,771 Other Conservative MP's in Niagara retained their seats Conservative MP Dean Allison was re-elected for the 8th time Chris Bittle is the only Liberal elected in Niagara Conservative candidate Fred Davies has been elected as the new Niagara South MP The regional councillor from Port Colborne fought off five challengers including incumbent Liberal MP Vance Badawey and NDP’s Chantal McCollum "I'm feeling really good,” Davies told ThoroldToday at his election night party at San Marcos in Port Colborne It's been about a year and a half for me Davies received 47.8 per cent of the vote That means he collected 2994 more votes than runner-up Badawey who managed to get 43.9 per cent of the vote Third runner-up, McCollum, received 5.6 per cent of the vote Davies' election ends a three-term streak for Badawey and it marks the first time since the 1980s that a conservative has been elected in the riding The 2025 Federal election brought some changes to the Niagara South riding. The boundaries of the district formerly known as Niagara Centre were redrawn to include Fort Erie.  For a full breakdown of votes, click here A National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women A ceremonial walk during National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women A red dress hangs outside Niagara Region headquarters to mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Marie-Louise Bowering speaks about her experience on National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People Standing beneath the flagpoles outside Niagara Region headquarters the Strong Water Singers gathered as red dresses fluttered silently around them Their drumming broke the stillness as Sabrina Shawana’s voice rose and was joined by her sisters in unified song — with harmonies echoing through the air They sang to honour the missing and murdered Indigenous women girls and two-spirit people — victims often overlooked by communities and ignored by the justice system Their voices also carried resilience and served as a reminder the losses are not just part of history but are a present-day struggle for recognition “There’s two young women who are singing with us today who were recently saved from trafficking I need people to know that it’s very much alive the harm to women but specifically Indigenous women — alive and well,” said Shawana “Thank God they have a circle (of sisters) to surround them and protect them and encourage them and guide them back to being humans again because they definitely lost a big part of themselves “We’re thankful and grateful and feel honoured that we get to be the people to do that for them.” About a hundred people attended a flag ceremony outside regional headquarters to mark the National Day for Recognition for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Before a ceremonial walk along Sir Isaac Brock Way several speakers addressed the crowd and included Azim Kasmani Niagara’s public health medical officer and Chantelle Berry Berry said the red dresses symbolize the vibrancy and lifeblood of Indigenous people and serve as a reminder of the losses experienced by First Nations Red Dress Day — inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project installation in which she hung red dresses — originated in 2010 as a grassroots initiative to bring attention to the thousands of Indigenous women and girls who have been subject to disproportionate violence in Canada Canada launched the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls After conducting thousands of interviews with individuals and families impacted by these tragedies The report included 231 calls to justice including the need for police to respond faster to reports and conduct more thorough investigations the federal government officially recognized May 5 as the national day of recognition Marie-Louise Bowering shared her story of intergenerational trauma She traced her family’s experiences from Indian day schools and residential schools and institutional systemic racism to the lasting impacts on her own life who was a survivor of Indian day schools and lost her own mom to violence in Niagara Falls She lived with the trauma for years before finding support at the Niagara Regional Native Centre and landed in the arms of community leaders Those relationships pushed her on a path of understanding that education — once a tool of oppression — could be a path to healing “I am proud to say what helped me stand where I am today and how I find my voice was through our Indigenous community Through our sisters and through our brothers who stand with me,” said Bowering “I will continue to be a systems destructor; I will continue to be not only the voice of the First Nations people but all people because it’s in my teaching that we are all equal.” the Strong Water Singers are celebrating their 10th anniversary a decade dedicated to drumming and singing for wellness and community building Strong Water Sister’s elder Okie (Linda Hampton) said she feels the responsibility as an older person to share her lifetime of knowledge with the community of women and her “sister friends.” She expressed gratitude for waking up each day and getting another chance — and another choice for love and resistance “We have been bound by not speaking as Indigenous women We have bound to shut up and keep silent because the patriarchal world wants to rule,” she said “It was the women that were the protectors and made choices for the better of all … my choice is to walk that good road and be love.”