In this edition:
- Thorold receives federal investment for fire hall – museum conversion
- Centennial Homes and subtrades commit to build four homes for Habitat Niagara
- Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts among 2024 recipients of Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
- Renewed Brock, Niagara Parks partnership to be unveiled
- Ontario Street plan put on hold but group says work ongoing at former St. Catharines GM site
- ‘Shovel-ready’ Niagara-on-the-Lake museum expansion seeks community support
- Automotive mfg. faces a renaissance, but job protection remains a concern: Canadian Manufacturing
- Loblaw ‘optimistic’ a grocery code of conduct can be finalized
- Pausing to remember: Marking the National Day of Mourning
- Focus on Technology
Thorold receives federal investment for fire hall – museum conversion
Thorold’s historical artifacts are about to get an upgraded, modernized home thanks to a joint investment of more than $7.8 million from the federal and municipal governments.
Announced by Parliamentary Secretary Vance Badawey and Mayor Terry Ugulini, this project will convert the retired Fire Station 1 into an energy efficient, climate-controlled cultural hub that will protect and preserve the history of Thorold.
Centennial Homes and subtrades commit to build four homes for Habitat Niagara
With the support of their strong network of suppliers and subtrades, Centennial Homes has committed to build four townhomes in Thorold this year, and site preparation is already underway.
During a groundbreaking ceremony, Mark Carl, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Niagara said they never dreamed that a generous gift of this size would be given to the non-profit.
Centennial Homes was awarded Company of the Year in 2023 by the Niagara Home Builders’ Association, and Founder and President Domenic DiLalla, connected with Mark to discuss the opportunity to give back to the community by embarking on this endeavour.
Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts among 2024 recipients of Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
The Ontario government is investing more than $8 million over the next three years to support cultural tourism in communities across the province. $2.4 million of this funding will be provided this year through the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF) to help 40 arts, heritage and cultural organizations develop, promote and present high-quality, high-profile events that strengthen local economies and create good-paying jobs.
Among those receiving funding is Niagara-on-the-Lake performance festival Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts.
Renewed Brock, Niagara Parks partnership to be unveiled
Brock University and the Niagara Parks Commission are strengthening their partnership to support environmental stewardship, cultural heritage and experiential learning in the community, the university says.
An event planned for Monday will see the two organizations formally renew their partnership with an enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Ontario Street plan put on hold but group says work ongoing at former St. Catharines GM site
A study to determine the future of the former General Motors property and its stretch of Ontario Street has been put on hold indefinitely, with the site’s ownership group citing financial reasons.
The land use study was being done in a cost-sharing agreement between the group and the City of St. Catharines.
‘Shovel-ready’ Niagara-on-the-Lake museum expansion seeks community support
The folks at Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum are ready to grow — and they’ve been ready for more than four years.
In the fall of 2019, the museum initially launched its capital campaign for its ambitious, $10-million expansion project.
As with many plans, the campaign fell victim to the pandemic. COVID-19 slowed things down, said museum managing director Sarah Kaufman, explaining that instead of fundraising for growth, the museum’s focus was on surviving and finding ways it could still meet the needs of its members and the community.
Automotive mfg. faces a renaissance, but job protection remains a concern: Canadian Manufacturing
Canada’s auto industry is experiencing a renaissance as it transitions from building gas-powered vehicles to ones that run on batteries, but some are raising the alarm over the protection of local jobs.
As the federal and provincial governments subsidize that growing industry, union leaders, federal Conservatives and the NDP are demanding assurances from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he will make sure jobs are going to Canadians.
Earlier this month, Canada’s Building Trades Union called on Trudeau to intervene at the NextStar battery plant in Windsor, Ont., which is owned by Stellantis and LG Energy Solution.
Loblaw ‘optimistic’ a grocery code of conduct can be finalized
Work on the grocery code of conduct continues despite some pushback from Loblaw and Walmart, but those leading the charge are still hopeful it will reach the finish line.
“I don’t think it’s dead in the water; I think there is some really strong desire to try to find a solution,” said Michael Graydon, CEO of the Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada association and leader of the group that’s been developing the code.
Pausing to remember: Marking the National Day of Mourning
On April 28, workplaces will come together to commemorate the National Day of Mourning, a day dedicated to honoring workers who have lost their lives, have been injured, or suffered an illness due to their work.
Every year, thousands of workers in Canada are injured or killed on the job. According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), in 2022, there were 993 workplace fatalities recorded in Canada, 33 of which were young workers aged 15-24.
Did you know?
The first flight in Canada occurred in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, on February 23, 1909.
Focus on Technology
While many employers have made a push to bring workers back to the office, many workers say they can still be part of the company culture without seeing their colleagues often, according to a report.
Nearly six in 10 (59 per cent) Canadians believe that you don’t need to see coworkers in person every day to form strong relationships, consistent across different age groups, found IWG.
And taking that option away from workers and demanding that they commute to the office five days a week can be very costly for employers: Nearly all (95 per cent) of Gen Z employees and 84 per cent of Millennials would anticipate some form of salary increase if they are forced back to the office; 71 per cent of Gen X and 61 per cent of Baby Boomers have the same claim.
Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.
