Niagara's Tap Water is Ranked #1 in Ontario

For years, locals and visitors alike have poured a glass of tap water in the Niagara Region without realizing they are sipping an award-winning beverage. While most people take municipal utilities for granted, the unique infrastructure behind our local water supply recently brought home a massive point of pride for our community.

Niagara's local tap water supply consistently ranks among the highest quality in the province.
Illustration by SCG NIAGARA

The Tastiest Tap Water in Ontario

To the delight and surprise of many residents, the Niagara Region officially claimed the title for Ontario's Tastiest Tap Water. The prestigious award was handed out at the Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA) conference, where the Niagara Falls Water Treatment Plant won a highly competitive blind taste test voted on by over 1,000 industry professionals. Proving it wasn't a fluke, the region's water team defended their crown the following year when the Rosehill Water Treatment Plant in Fort Erie brought home gold for a back-to-back victory.

The End of the QEW Ghost Ship Era

For decades, commuters on the QEW have looked for the familiar silhouette of the Jordan Harbour "Ghost Ship." Whether you saw it in the morning mist or the evening glow, its disappearance marks the end of a massive chapter in Niagara’s local landscape.

The iconic 42.67 m (140 ft) silhouette of La Grande Hermine before its 2024 removal.
Illustration by SCG NIAGARA

The Final Voyage of La Grande Hermine

The ship wasn't actually an old pirate vessel, but a 1914 steel ferry originally named Le Progrès. While it was built to look like Jacques Cartier's 1535 flagship, this specific hull was "dressed up" in its wooden replica shell in 1991. After serving as a restaurant and even a haunted house, it was brought to Niagara with dreams of becoming a casino in Chippawa—a dream that ended when the owner passed away.

SHAREABLE Tip #22 - The "Toonie Test" for Your Tires!

Forget fancy gauges! In Canada, we have the perfect tire tool right in our pockets. Whether you're driving a hybrid, a sedan, or a heavy-duty truck, this trick works for ANY vehicle on the road.

A Toonie and a little bit of tread—the classic Canadian safety check!
Illustration by SCG NIAGARA

The 10-Second Toonie Test

Take a Toonie and slip it into your tire’s tread groove with the polar bear's paws facing down. While some people look for the letters, checking the rings as shown in the image above is the only way to be 100% accurate every single time.

The Historical Curve of St. Paul Street

Modern-day St. Paul Street in downtown St. Catharines.
By Municipal Affairs and Housing - CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Driving through downtown St. Catharines offers a much different perspective than the straight, rigid grids found in most other Ontario cities. St. Paul Street remains a rare exception, following a winding path that has shaped the city's identity for generations.

VIDEO: Canadian shoppers ditching made-in-USA goods as tariff threat looms

With the looming threat of American tariffs on Canadian goods, some shoppers are swearing off U.S.-made products. CTV's Kimberley Johnson reports.