The Welland Ship Canal is part of the St. Lawrence Seaway that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean where ships, (carrying cargo or passengers), go through to by-pass Niagara Falls.
We’re used to seeing it in the summer time like this:
Showing posts with label ST. CATHARINES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ST. CATHARINES. Show all posts
The Welland Canal - Drained (10+ Photos)
We took a walk down by the Welland Canal one Sunday and discovered it was drained. I was like, “OMG! It’s empty!” (Well not quite), but it was the first time I’ve actually seen it drained. They do this every winter to perform any kind of maintenance work on the canal. (Check out some old 2012 photos we discovered from The Globe and Mail, in a slide gallery further down below.)
The Welland Ship Canal is part of the St. Lawrence Seaway that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean where ships, (carrying cargo or passengers), go through to by-pass Niagara Falls.
We’re used to seeing it in the summer time like this:
The Welland Ship Canal is part of the St. Lawrence Seaway that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean where ships, (carrying cargo or passengers), go through to by-pass Niagara Falls.
We’re used to seeing it in the summer time like this:
The Hawk Has Landed - in the BackYard
(I did not want to scare it away so the photos were taken through a glass door...)
OFF-LEASH Dog Parks of Niagara
There are many parks to walk your dog in the Niagara area yet there are hardly any actual Dog Parks – places where our four-legged friends can run free and play off-leash in a controlled environment, (under the supervision of their owners, of course). In fact, currently there are only two leash-free dog areas in St. Catharines: Burgoyne Woods and Carol Disher Leash Free Dog Park at Catherine Street Park (see more photos below), and one in Niagara Falls.
We can thank former city councillor Carol Disher, for this.
Disher passed away in August 2015 but she realized the need for off-leash parks in the region and fought passionately for them.
“Of all the areas that she participated in and volunteered, one of the greatest accomplishments was initiating leash-free dog parks in the city,” Port Dalhousie Coun. Carlos Garcia said.
As a result, a leash-free park at Burgoyne Woods was opened in December 2006 and more recently, in honour of Carol, The Carol Disher Leash Free Dog Park located at Catherine Street Park...
We can thank former city councillor Carol Disher, for this.
Disher passed away in August 2015 but she realized the need for off-leash parks in the region and fought passionately for them.
“Of all the areas that she participated in and volunteered, one of the greatest accomplishments was initiating leash-free dog parks in the city,” Port Dalhousie Coun. Carlos Garcia said.
As a result, a leash-free park at Burgoyne Woods was opened in December 2006 and more recently, in honour of Carol, The Carol Disher Leash Free Dog Park located at Catherine Street Park...
A Visit to LAKESIDE PARK, Port Dalhousie – ST. CATHARINES (30+ Photos)
A popular park with the locals and the likes is Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie, a 1,500 feet of sandy beach, picnic area, concession stands, a carousel, playground equipment, dressing rooms, washrooms and parking area, pavilion, Waterfront Trail and the Port Dalhousie Harbour Walkway.
It’s been awhile since we’ve visited the old Harbour and Park. The weather was fine, around 24 °C on a bright, sunny day.
SPOTTED: A REWACO Trike Around St. Catharines
We were taking photos over at Jaycee Park during a visit a few weeks ago when I spotted this interesting looking trike that I’ve never seen before. It’s from REWACO Trikes and this one is the RF-1 LT series, the luxury touring model.
Jaycee Park - Port Dalhousie, ST. CATHARINES (50+ Photos)
Jaycee park is one of St.Catharine’s largest parks located in Port Dalhousie, with about 8 hectares of landscapes consisting of many different flowers, trees and lush green grass.
It’s one of many parks in the St. Catharines region within the Niagara Area, which allows you to escape the city even though you’re still IN the city.
DeCew Falls/Morning Star Mill/The Miller’s House – ST. CATHARINES
 |
| Source: thecityofstcatharines |
On the Mill’s sign it reads partially: ‘flour and feed – always on hand’.
The Falls along with the sign were two of the main things that initially caught our attention.
Immediately, I started to picture what it must have been like back then.
Niagara’s First Snow Fall in Autumn with a Few Hungry Squirrels Enjoying Some French Fries
Yes, it’s still Autumn. Winter actually begins around December 21-22, so Autumn isn’t officially over yet. The leaves haven’t ALL fallen, but the first snow fall for the Niagara region has arrived and I have managed to capture some hungry squirrels snacking on some french fries.
SPOTTED: A ‘WALMART’ Vehicle?...
You have your Walmart People.. We have our Walmart Vehicles…
Check out this cool truck we spotted while shopping at Walmart the other day. On our way out, lo and behold, what did we see… this awesome truck we call – “The Vehicle from Hell”. Well almost.
Check out this cool truck we spotted while shopping at Walmart the other day. On our way out, lo and behold, what did we see… this awesome truck we call – “The Vehicle from Hell”. Well almost.
The St. Catharines KIWANIS AQUATICS CENTRE & LIBRARY (+ 30 Photos)
It’s been over 2 years since the opening of St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre, and its 7,000 square foot branch of the St.Catharines Public Library, the Dr. Huq Family Library Branch...
A Few Years Earlier...
HAPPY ROLPH’S BIRD SANCTUARY, (Early Spring) – ST. CATHARINES
There were no animals to be found other than those noisy yet beautiful waterfowls swimming around in that famous pond – one of the many wonderful things this park is known for. The ducks and geese were hollering at the top of their birdie lungs when visitors would toss them some bread.
There were also kois discovered in the pond. They weren’t moving, (probably still in a state of hibernation since the visible ice floating on parts of the pond meant the water was still very cold), but they were there – alive and well! There were many ancient trees throughout the park one of which we took a photo of that was over 160 years old!
Shortly after visiting the pond, something really blue down yonder caught our eyes. It was Lake Ontario! Probably the bluest you’ll ever see it, this time of the year.Some facts…
- Happy Rolph’s Bird Sanctuary is a 15.06-acre municipal park on the shores of Lake Ontario which boasts one of Canadas most exotic collections of flowering rhododendrons.
- Harold “Happy” Rolph was a fruit farmer who founded a bird sanctuary on his property — now the public nature park on Lake Ontario. He needed water to irrigate the orchards and around 1950 built several natural looking ponds in a valley on the property. Several pairs of mallard ducks were purchased to attract other birds to the area. He and wife Jean built feeding stations for the birds over the next two decades, spending $1,500 a year on bird feed.
- In October 1974, the property was named the Happy Rolph Bird Sanctuary in Rolph’s honour. Later, a children’s petting zoo was added to the attraction.
- The petting farm, when it is open in season, includes chickens, pigs, horses, rabbits, sheep, goats, llamas, as well as a donkey named ‘Hoti’ — ‘Don Quixote’. The pond’s inlet, sheltered by evergreens and bordered by grassy banks and willow trees, offers food and shelter for the resident waterfowl and migratory birds.
- There are pathways to the lake, bird feeders, and a barn. It is an ideal location for families or school groups to spend a day picnicking and visiting the animals.
- There are washrooms, a snack bar and a pavilion with plenty of picnic tables. Happy Rolph's is also available for annual festivals and weddings.
The “Living Memorials” and The 9/11 Memorial Walkway
Another interesting thing we discovered throughout the park were the many “living memorials” plaques tied to trees. They are from the Hulse & English Memorial Forest Fund which is a non-profit tree planting charity. It provides private individuals the opportunity to contribute towards the greening of St. Catharines in the memory of loved ones. A tree symbolizes strength, durability, shelter and beauty.
We weren’t able to visit the entire park on this day but we later learnt, there was a trail that ran throughout the park which led to a peaceful waterfront memorial dedicated to Canadian victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The 9/11 MEMORIAL WALKWAY recognizes 27 Canadians who passed away at the World Trade Centre in 2001. Those that died are memorialized by twenty seven varieties of deciduous trees that line the trail. The wheelchair accessible walkway has benches with beautiful vistas on the shores of Lake Ontario. Another visit soon is definitely in order!
Gallery 1:
Gallery 2:
Happy Rolphing!...
CAR WASHES: Self-serve vs Hand-wash vs Tunnel vs Touchless (+ Poll)
Basically, there are 4 main types of car washes:
- Self-serve car wash. You know the ones. We’ve all been to them at least ONCE in our lifetime – especially when broke. This type of car wash is a simple one which is basically coin-operated. The newer self-service car washes offer the ability to pay with credit cards. Either way, you come out wetter than you entered. You park your car inside a large covered bay that is equipped with a trigger gun, a wand (a high-pressure sprayer) and a scrub foam-brush, (usually one out of the 3 is not working right or at all). After inserting your money, you can choose options such as soap, tire cleaner, wax or clear water rinse, all dispensed from the sprayer, or scrub the vehicle with the foam-brush. After inserting your coin(s), you start washing like a bat-out-of-hell, before the time runs out. (Can you tell this is my least favourite type of car wash yet?) Half the time, after the car has dried, I’ve noticed spots I’ve missed all over.
- Hand car wash. No, I don’t mean the ones where you wash your car in your driveway with your own hands – I mean the ones where you get others’ hands to do it for you. If you want to feel rich, or you ARE rich, this is the place for you. At these car washes, employees come out from nowhere to detail your car in every area. The one I went to a few years back had a few guys on the outside washing down the car, then a guy wiping down the interior of the car, another one vacuuming the inside, and one wiping the tire and rims… all in succession as if my car was going through a production line. The results were great but I couldn’t afford to do thison a regular basis.
- Tunnel car wash. Does anyone still use these? I know they are few around in St. Catharines, I just haven’t been to any in the past few years. The last time I went to one, the experience was not good, so I’m obviously being biased here. These types of car washes uses a conveyor system. You know, the ones where you have to line your wheel up on some track, put the vehicle into neutral, release all brakes, and refrain from steering – otherwise you will not only look like a retard but you can cause an accident on the conveyor. Then these big brushes start slapping the hell out of your car. After going through this particular car wash that day, I noticed the top half of the car looked great! The bottom half – well, that’s a whole other ball of wax. I have passed on these types of car washes since then. Maybe they have improved. I wouldn’t know. (See the video of a tunnel car wash we went through on Bunting Rd., St. Catharines, at the end of post.)
- Touchless car wash. Now we’re talking. Other than the fact that going through a touchless car wash means no brushes touching your car hence no paint damage, the other reason I love these types of car washes is that there is no having to line up the wheel, there’s no having to get out of the car, it’s not as expensive as the hand washes and the end result is a clean and shiny car ALL OVER! Especially if you get the ‘deluxe’ package. A touchless car wash uses a high water pressure system to clean vehicles and with the combination of this pressure plus water quality, water temperature, chemistry and timing the result is a clean looking vehicle from top to bottom that you don’t have to fuss with.
 |
| Video snapshot. Tunnel carwash |
Then there’s your bikini car wash – but that’s a whole other post altogether.
The type of car wash you use depends on many factors such as what you can afford, what’s easiest for you to use, what results are you looking for, (maybe you just want to wash the salt off), or even what’s the closest to your home. In the end, it’s your choice – your money.
Poll
Video
Benjamin the Hedgehog (St. Catharines) | NIAGARA'S PETS
I’ve never seen a hedgehog up close and at one point, I was more interested in just watching him instead of taking pictures of him. He never really stood still long enough for me to get some really good shots but somehow I managed to capture a few…
Owner, 17-year-old, Courtney has had him for almost a year and said he is very shy. Shy indeed. He was always tucking himself in whenever I got close with my camera. Eventually, I realized the best way to truly capture the habit of this little fella was by video taping him!
Thanks for sharing your hedgehog with us Courtney! Check out Benjamin in action in the second video!...
Molly the Ragdoll Cat (St. Catharines) | NIAGARA'S PETS
Molly is a blue-pointed RAGDOLL** breed. These types of Ragdoll breeds have color darkening at the extremities such as their nose, ears, tail, and paws as can be seen with Molly.
Developed by American breeder Ann Baker, these breeds are also best known for their docile and affectionate nature. “But not this one”, said Tracy with a quirky smile. “She will take your hand off if you’re not careful!” Well, maybe so, but on this day she was picture perfect for me!
**The name Ragdoll is derived from the tendency of individuals from the original breeding stock to go limp and relaxed when picked up.
NEW POLICE CAR DESIGN – Love it, Hate it…? (PHOTOS + Poll)
In keeping up with modern times, logo rebranding is just one of the ways the Niagara Regional Police will be updating their cruisers. They are going black and white.
The old, familiar blue and white cruisers have been around for over 40 years according the Niagara Falls Review, so we guess that means it’s time for an ‘upgrade’!
The old, familiar blue and white cruisers have been around for over 40 years according the Niagara Falls Review, so we guess that means it’s time for an ‘upgrade’!
VIDEO: DISCOVERING St. Catharines – Musician RONN METCALFE | PEOPLE of NIAGARA
People of Niagara
Ronn Metcalfe (July 20, 1930 – May 18, 1969) was a Canadian big band leader from St. Catharines and music industry leader.
He released an LP named after the title track "Twistin' at the Woodchopper's Ball" which garnered him a gold record. He used this success to start a rock and roll band scene in Niagara, Canada. He created Image Artist Representatives booking/managing agency, and opened The Castle in St. Catharines, the premiere club for bands between Buffalo and Toronto.
Another hit from Metcalfe (which he wrote) was a song called "Back to T.O." (T.O. is vernacular for Toronto)
This Niagara scene spawned many musicians such as Neil Peart from Rush, Glen Gratto from Lee Aaron, Bullrush, and The Mad Cats, Gary Storin from The Stampeders, The Hunt's Paul Dickinson, and Brian Gagnon and other music industry "behind the scene" types such as Jimmy Johnson from Rush and Styx.
Some of Metcalfe's band include:
- Drummer Chico Fernandez who went on to work with Motown and Vegas acts
- Alto sax Fred Lipsius who went on to create Blood, Sweat & Tears
- Bass trombonist Tony Salvatore who later joined Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show Band
- Sam Falzone who later joined up with Don Ellis.
In 1976, the building that housed The Castle was demolished for a parking lot.
Winter Series | Recently Fallen Snow, ST. CATHARINES (11 Photos)
Winter Photos taken around the northern parts of St. Catharines during the months of November and December 2013.
This collection consists of recently fallen snow captured on trees…
COLOURFUL FRUIT DISPLAY at NO FRILLS Supermarket
Colours, colours everywhere! Took some photos of the colourful fruits and veggies displayed over at NO FRILLS supermarket on Welland Ave., St. Catharines...
SPOTTED: IT'S A BIKE, IT'S A QUAD... Around St. Catharines
Back in April, we were heading to the Canadian Tire store when we came upon something… some sort of bike we’ve never seen before and we just had to take a pic. We’re not sure exactly what it is called. Do you know?
All we knew was it was unique looking...
All we knew was it was unique looking...
ST. CATHARINES: FIRST Vertical CONDO In 2 Decades Gets DAMAGED by FIRE
began on the first vertical condominium in St. Catharines in over 20 years.
In November of 2012, construction was started and well underway when a fire broke out in May of 2013 at the Walkers Creek Condominium on Scott St across from the Grantham Plaza.
Start of Construction...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)