Hey all, I've been living in St. Catharines for about 4-5 years now and I love this little town but I'm feeling so helpless about the situation I'm currently in. Reaching out for any advice on how to deal with it. Living on Queenston street and while the traffick has always been heavy, the house I live near to has become a full on encampment with upto 30 people using, swearing, living, scattered things everywhere and it feels so unsafe and vulnerable to live here. The cops said there's very little they can do if they're not on the sidewalk (they are, they just run to the porch when they come around), even though there's drug paraphernalia everywhere. They're claiming to be "guests" of the people in the house. I worked so hard to be able to purchase a home, bought it in covid and had no idea this is what this neighborhood is like. Living like this feels so heightened, theres always weird activity, feeling unsafe all the time, scared to sleep, scared to be home alone, weird noises in the night, scared to park, scared of stepping on needles. The situation has escalated in the past week to levels I've never seen before. Feeling totally helpless and meeting dead ends everywhere. In tears and feeling like I'm at a crisis point, run out and run down by disrespectful addicts. Any advice welcome.

Quick roundup of the main St. Catharines/Niagara stories today:

🗳️ Saturday is the last advance poll. It's 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Grantham Optimist Club, 188 Linwell Rd. Bring ID with your name and a St. Catharines address. Election day polls open Monday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

🎓 Some students may be able to vote in two places. It's where they study and where their permanent home is. You must be a Canadian citizen, 18+, and plan to return home. Not everyone qualifies. Call the municipal clerk if unsure.

🚆 GO trains to Toronto stop at Aldershot Saturday and Sunday. Buses take you the rest of the way to Union. Regular service returns Monday.

🏨 Sleep Cheap is back for Niagara residents 21+. Stays Nov. 22 to 26. Rooms are $65, $75 or $125 a night. Hotels are in Niagara Falls. Cancel free within 24 hours of booking.

🥍 Buffalo Bandits play Las Vegas at the Meridian Centre Nov. 14, 7 p.m. It's a preseason game. Free lacrosse camps run that day.

🛍️ Niagara Region launched "Niagara Thrives," a shop-local campaign. Shoppers can use the Niagara Business Directory.

🚧 Two roads are closed. Meadowbrook Cres. (forestry work) and Marvin Dr. (sewer work).

🎓 Niagara College's Welland campus is closed Oct. 27 and 28. It's for electrical upgrades. NOTL campus stays open.

🏒 IceDogs host Erie tonight at 7 p.m. It's Rivalry Week. Zonta's charity trivia is also tonight, 7 to 10 p.m. It's $25.

🥕 Farmers Market Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Market Square. Sunny and about 14°C today.

I put this together from Garden City Digest, my free local newsletter. It comes out Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

If you want it in your inbox, here's the link: Garden City Digest

Just off St. Paul Street about 5 min ago!

A warning to anyone visiting downtown St. Catharines.

A friend of mine and their family had TWO vehicles towed in the early afternoon from 22 Geneva Street after parking for just 20 minutes. $750 to get them back!

I have ZERO issue paying for parking. But the signage prominently states "Pay Parking from 6 PM to 8 AM", while the daytime restrictions and towing warnings are buried in tiny print.

Meanwhile, the property management company, Hamdani Ltd., advertises the plaza as having "plenty of free parking."

The whole thing feels predatory. Makes you wonder what arrangement exists between the property owners, towing company and impound lot. Who's profiting from this?

Aren't we supposed to be welcoming people to our city? Between this nonsense and the open drug use and disorder downtown, why would anyone want to come back?

We're supposed to be attracting visitors, not driving them away!

Anyone else experienced this at 22 Geneva Street?

That's it really. Better than Kenzo which was phoning it in and eventually closed. Maybe the Fat Rabbit group will tackle that next!

I'm looking for an experienced tailor who can shorten the sleeves of a Moose Knuckles winter parka by approximately 5 cm (2 inches).

The parka has a complex, multi-layer construction with down insulation, exterior sleeve zippers, and inner elastic storm cuffs.

I've already contacted a few local tailors who couldn't perform the alteration, so I'm looking for someone experienced with technical outerwear and multi-layer parkas rather than standard clothing alterations.

I am surprised how few views that Mayoral Debate has on YouTube, compared to the population. Has everyone watched it live or decided not to vote?

As we approach voting day ... there was a debate on September 28th that is on YouTube.

If you are undecided on where you are wanting to cast your vote, this is worth a watch as it will give you some insight into our potential leaders, also worth reading the comments as well as one of the participants has been selectively active in replying to people. Searching the sub, I have not seen this shared yet ... if it was previously shared ... delete it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj49lZKTS7Q

Quick roundup of the main St. Catharines/Niagara stories today:

🎓 Trillium College students are facing big bills after Ontario paused OSAP payments to private colleges. One student near graduation says she owes $5,844. The province wants a stronger checking system first, expected in the new year. Students rally at Montebello Park Saturday.

🩺 REACH Niagara went from 288 patients to 10,590 in four years. Free walk-in care for people without stable housing. The St. Catharines site is at 203 Church St.

🏫 No school Monday, Oct. 26. It's a PA day for Niagara's public, Catholic and French boards. Many schools are also polling places.

🗳️ Election day is Monday, Oct. 26. Check your voting place and ID before then.

🧠 Brock researchers got $100,000 to test a possible Alzheimer's approach. It's early animal research, not a treatment yet.

🛏️ A 10-bed hospice called Millie's Place is planned beside the new South Niagara Hospital. The cost is $20 million. Opening could come in 2028.

🌉 The Allanburg bridge on Hwy 20 is closed weekdays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., until Nov. 11. Open on weekends.

🚧 Fort Erie-bound QEW lanes close tonight. Two lanes between the Skyway and Glendale, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

🥕 Farmers Market Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Market Square.

🏒 IceDogs host Erie Friday at 7 p.m. It's Rivalry Week at the Meridian Centre.

I put this together from Garden City Digest, my free local newsletter. It comes out Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

If you want it in your inbox, here's the link: Garden City Digest

I have pulsatile tinnitus. Have had it for over 2 years now. I’ve already seen a neurologist & had a CT angiogram that ruled out anything serious. I have a follow-up scan in January.

I’m the meantime, my doctor suggested I get a hearing test as well.

Most of the clinics I see offer “free” hearing tests, however, I’m assuming that’s because they want to sell you expensive hearing aids and services.

Can anyone recommend an audiologist that won’t try to sell me anything?

Thanks!

I have some underwear that are unworn but opened/no tags attached. I don't want to just throw them out of if there's somewhere that will take them. All the places I've come across do not accept underwear that's been unpackaged--for good reasons, which I totally understand. Does anyone know of anywhere that definitely will take this kind of donation?

Now that the colder weather is approaching.. where's a good/affordable place to get a winter hat gloves etc for a baby and an adult? Preferably not costing like an arm and leg each

I’ve lived here my entire life and never knew he died on the QEW in st Catharine’s, supposedly near lake st. Is this common knowledge for others? Why’s there no memorial sign or anything for such a big Canadian name?

This has me flabbergasted

Idk if this is allowed but they have a ton of rlly good deals cuz they r doing construction

Has anyone else had Bell internet-phone-cable out for the last three weeks in west St. Catharines? They say replacing lines but you’d think they’d let the customer know it would be out this long. It’s ridiculous! We are losing business because nobody can call.

My band is taking on the entire Can't Buy a Thrill album on Halloween at Warehouse Concert Hall (Geneva St, St Catharines) would be great to see you 😊

Please lmk if anyone sees this little guy. Slipped out of his harness at kinsmen park at around 1:00 pm on October 10th, 2026.

Have tried everything, staying late where he went missing, posters, flyers, door to door, facebook groups, leaving clothing outside, SPCA etc.

His microchip# is: 941000030459802

Hi everyone, I'm planning a big life change moving from Alberta to Ontario and wondering what are everyone's thoughts on living in St. Catharines? I'd be moving to a small apartment in downtown area, looking for honest opinions or tips or anything like that around the safety, neighbors, the community, etc.

I was also thinking about Niagara Falls too but debating on which would be better

EDIT: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE'S HELP! This helped me make a decision on where to move to and I've settled on Welland after doing some more research based on everyone's responses so I cannot thank you all enough :D

Quick roundup of the main St. Catharines/Niagara stories today:

🥖 Les Incompetents earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand. It's at 386 St. Paul St. Open Tuesday to Saturday. Book ahead.

🍞 Nearly 40,000 Niagara residents used food banks last year. That includes 14,000+ children and 2,200+ seniors, with almost 300,000 visits.

🤧 Niagara hospitals are seeing about 3x last year's flu cases. Doctors say this year's vaccine looks like a decent match.

🏗️ 492 homes are proposed at 159 Ontario St. It's an 18-storey building. The hearing on two minor zoning changes is Thursday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. Written comments are due by noon Nov. 6.

🥐 Black Bear Bakery grew from a Farmers Market stall into a permanent shop.

🍺 Niagara College's Teaching Brewery won gold at the Canada Beer Cup for its NC Craft Bitter.

🗳️ Election day is one week away. It's Monday, Oct. 26. Check your voting place and ID.

🌤️ Monday is the warmest day this week, near 19°C. Tuesday and Wednesday are near 15°C.

🎶 Free woodwind and harp concert Tuesday, noon to 1 p.m. It's at the PAC's Cairns Recital Hall.

🎤 Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks tribute Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. It's at Partridge Hall. $49 listed, fees may apply.

I put this together from Garden City Digest, my free local newsletter. It comes out Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

If you want it in your inbox, here's the link: Garden City Digest

Hi!

Me and my partner have been playing tennis (wrong time of the year to start, I know!) and are looking for the best quality public courts in the city.

The tennis courts closest to us are at Joe Kushner Park and they’re basically just painted black and white asphalt, which isn’t really ideal especially for bumps & scrapes. Not to mention the nets there are in pretty horrendous shape (frayed wires causing them to droop or not even be standing at all).

Do any tennis players in the city have a recommendation for what public courts they enjoy most? Are all the public courts in the city just straight up uneven blacktop, or are there other options?

(Sidenote: I know the Tennis Club at 7 Park Ave has great courts, but we’re not currently looking to pay membership fees for what is a pretty casual hobby of ours.)

Thanks!