explore the UNIQUE HISTORY of Downtown St. Catharines

Downtown Heritage Walking Tour

     Take a stroll through Downtown St. Catharines, home to some of the most historical buildings in the region. Let our tour guides transport you back to when it was all just beginning, before two way traffic construction, before paved roads, when St. Catharines was not much more then a tavern, a hotel and some small shops. Learn about the building where in a dark corner, the concept for the Welland Canal was born, a concept that would forever change the landscape and economy of our city. Find out about how pigs aided in the discovery of natural salt springs running through our downtown, making it a world class health destination for jet setters from all over North America.

     On the 5^th of April - September at 7pm, join us on a Heritage Walk of the Downtown Core where these stories, and many more, which detail how our city became what it is today, are told in a 90 minute, easy paced walk through the downtown core. 

      Tickets are $8.00 per person and group bookings and private tours are available.

      Tours are limited to 20 people and fill up quickly so be sure to book your reservation soon.

      Advance tickets and can be arranged by calling (905) 685-8424 or e-mail elizabeth@stcathdowntown.com.

Join us on an eerie walk about Downtown, listen to stories of hauntings, apparitions, spirits at various buildings along with the history behind them.

We have 2 walks available again this year!

Tour A (original) - James St. to Yates Street areas 
Includes The Merrit House, Queen St. Axe Murder, Jenny Pincock stories and more...

Tour B (new) - James St to Court Street area
Includes the Haunted Vet, Diana Sweets, The Pole Walking Ghost stories and more...

Please specify if you are interested in a specific tour when booking - as both tours may not be available each night!

Tours run nightly starting at 7pm sharp, admission is $8.00 pp

Advance tickets are required, groups are limited to 20 ppl and the walks sell out quickly

Please call for more information or to inquire about private/group bookings, or to make reservations....

Mon - Fri (9a - 4p)  # 905-685-8424 or email  ghost(at)stcathdowntown(dot)com

Please note that private/group tours can be made at any time throughout the year.

The walks cover around 20 blocks, and take about 75 minutes. The guides walk at an easy pace, stopping outside of the locations. The walks do not enter any buildings. There are 2 walks and they cover different sections of downtown.  Route A (the original walk) covers the west end of downtown; Route B (the newer walk) covers the east end of downtown. Both routes are not available each night; availability depends on our guides schedules and is subject to change. If you would like a specific route please indicate that with your reservation and we will do our best to accommodate it. The stories on the walk are documented accounts and can be disturbing to younger children. We suggest that attendees be over 10 yrs of age, or please request to book one of our Little Spooks walks.  

Walks are limited to about 20 people per guide, this keeps an intimate feeling as well as the group being about to hear the guide and stay together during the walk. During October many nights we schedule multiple walks – although we advertise the walks start at 7pm, they may actually start later than that.

“Home Sweet Home”

Building Hope with Gingerbread

Supporting the Homeless Women’s Shelters of the YWCA Niagara Region

WHO:              The St Catharines Downtown Association and The St Catharines YWCA are hosting St Catharines’ first gingerbread house contest with proceeds benefiting the YWCA Niagara Region Emergency Shelters and programs.

WHAT:            The ‘Home Sweet Home’ contest is a fun spirited competition where professionals and members of the community can enter their own gingerbread house creation to compete against other teams. Several categories will be available to enter such as: professional, adult, teen, youth and child. Individuals or teams can enter each of the categories and will be judged by a panel of local dignitaries and celebrities.

WHEN:           Saturday December 3, 2011

                         Intake of houses                                         8:00am – 10:00am

                         Public viewing and judging                     10:00am – 3:00pm

                         Awards Ceremony                                     3:00pm – 4:00pm                                               

* To be eligible for the competition, a signed and completed entry form, description and entry fee NOW EXTENDED to Fri., Nov. 25, 2011.

WHER         80 King Street Building (Old Corbloc), 80 King St., St. Catharines, ON  L2R 7G1

AD              A nominal entry fee of $30 is applicable to those who wish to enter the contest.

This event is FREE to the public; however the gingerbread houses will be raffled off following the judging ceremony, with all proceeds going towards the YWCA.

Each entry is considered a ‘donation’ to the YWCA fundraiser. The entry fees will cover trophies/prizes and facility expenses for the kick off event.

Competition Rules here     

Competition Entry Form here

For more information visit http://www.12daysdowntown.ca/

Event Contact – Elizabeth Fritshaw

Tel: 905-685-8424

Email: elizabeth@stcathdowntown.com

Watch interview on Cogeco TV's Keep In Touch with Don Pierson and Elizabeth Fritshaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTFvxMx4aOg

Sunday November 27, 2011

Join us at the annual Santa Parade as it winds it's way through Downtown (William St to St. Paul Street to James Street to Market Square). Parade starts at 2:30pm and finishes up with the arrival of Santa at Market Square for a huge family party! Reindeer rides, crafts, live entertainment and hot chocolate will all be at the Market Square for everyone to enjoy!

For more information visit City of St. Catharines website

For a full listing of merchants, restaurants and businesses participating, calendar of activites please visit: www.12daysdowntown.ca

Downtown Pewter Ornaments

For sale at these fine retailers…

• Honey’s … 1 St. Paul Street … # 905-685-6116

• George Coppel Jewellers … 261 St. Paul Street … # 905-685-0122

• Ryson’s Music Studios … 5 Court Street … #905-682-6832

• Thre3 Interiors … 9 Queen Street … # 905-984-6988

• Walters Jewellers … 469 St. Paul Street … # 905-682-7160

• Williams Jewellers … 38 James Street … #905-682-3621

Ornaments are $15.00 + HST … all past years still available:

• 2011 St. Catharines Club 
• 2010 Montebello Park
• 2009 Silver Spire United Church
• 2008 The Merritt House
• 2007 St. Catharines City Hall
• 2006 St. Thomas Anglican Church
• 2005 The Mansion House
• 2004 The Old Courthouse (very limited quantities remain!)

Downtown D'Lish!

January 20 - 29, 2012

The St. Catharines Downtown Association is once again holding one of downtown’s most popular food events; Downtown D'Lish. Back with a fresh new name, this mouth-watering event takes place from January 20 - 29, 2012, and allows visitors to experience various downtown restaurant menus at a fixed price. Guests can enjoy a three course lunch starting at $10, or a three course dinner ranging from $15 to $35. There is no better time to visit your favourite downtown restaurant, or discover a new one.

Reservations should be made directly with the restaurants, and you must quote “Downtown D'lish” when making your reservation.  

Take advantage of the FREE parking in the newly opened Carlisle Street parking garage, The City is offering free parking till Jan. 31, 2012 

For complete details including full list of restaurants, menu's and pricing please visit - www.downtowndlish.ca

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The St. Catharines Downtown Association’s 39th Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, 2011, at The St. Catharines Club in the Dining Room. Registration begins at 5:00pm and the meeting will commence at 5:45pm. This year we will have a presentation from the Executive Director for the new Arts Centre: Steve Solski, along with our presentation of the year in review. 

We encourage all Downtown stakeholders to attend. You do not have to be a voting member to attend, the meeting is open to the public. Find out what is planned for the New Year...get involved in your Downtown Association!

The Association’s financial statements for 2011 and the budget for 2012 will be presented for approval by the membership. To obtain a Voter Eligibility / Proxy Form (property owners and commercial tenants of downtown only) please contact the Association office. We ask to have any proxy forms returned to the Association offices as soon as possible and to facilitate registration members planning to attend the AGM are asked to notify Elizabeth at the Association office by February 24th at 905-685-8424.

Here you have it – the 6^th Downtown Chili Cook Off  new date  Friday March 2, 2012

Community Care will be taking the lead on this event for 2012!

To enter a team or to join us  as a sponsor - please contact Nancy McIntosh at the Community Care for more information:

nmcintosh@communitycarestca.ca

Elizabeth at the Downtown Association will also gladly answer questions etc...

# 905-685-8424  or elizabeth@stcathdowntown.com 

Here's the basics though:

$50.00 per team to enter + 5 gallons of your best chili!

2012 forms are here for you to download:

 information .. entry form .. what to bring

Limited number of spaces available (20) so sign up early.

View CogecoTV - The Source segment with William Kelly at the 2011 Chili Cook Off at:

 View CogecoTV - segment Keep In Touch with Deborah Glover for the 2010 Chili Cook Off at:

http://www.tvcogeco.com/niagara/gallerie/keep-in-touch/1991-week-of-feb-14th-2010/14209-stc-chili-cook-off

We wish to thank our 2011 Sponsors for their generousity:

 Turn Off Your Lights for earth hour

& take a spooky stroll with a…

Downtown St. Catharines Ghost Walk

   Did you know that lurking spirits cause the shivers one experiences when hearing ghost stories? Don’t believe it?

Reserve your spot on one of the Downtown Ghost Walking Tours and explore the history and haunted tales of Downtown St. Catharines.

 These guided tours will delve into the haunted tales of the past and the present day while also sharing historical commentary about the unique buildings and happenings in Downtown St. Catharines. Earth Hour Walks are approximately 50 minutes in length and cover about a 20 block span at an easy comfortable pace. Now in our 10^th year, we have partnered with the City of St. Catharines to bring you a special Earth Hour Ghost Walk promotion!

Special Earth Hour Walks on Sat. March 31 starting @ 8:00pm

In partnership with the City of St. Catharines & the St. Catharines Downtown Association

Tickets are regularly $8.00 ea – Earth Hour special price $2.00 pp

Reservations by phone # (905) 685-8424 or by e-mail to ghost@stcathdowntown.com.

Limited tickets available for each walk – book early to avoid disappointment!

April 27 - May 1, 2012

In the Soil Arts Festival brings Niagara artists from a range of disciplines together to provide unique audience experiences. The festival nurtures the creation of new work, showcases talent, encourages innovation, offers learning opportunities for youth and provides intimate and uncommon platforms for audiences to experience work by contemporary performing and literary artists, musicans and media artists. In the Soil is Niagara's homegrown arts festival and is working to make a Niagara that is self-determining and culturally distinct.

The St. Catharines Downtown Association is proud to be a sponsor of this festival.

For more information please visit their website at:

http://www.inthesoil.on.ca/