In this edition:
- 9-tower complex of 2,400 units approved for old St. Catharines hospital site
- Niagara’s affordability crisis causes surge in food insecurity
- Shape Lincoln 2051 — Official Plan review
- StopGap accessibility ramps arriving for Niagara-on-the-Lake businesses
- Jessica Ruddell appointed permanent CAO for the City of Welland
- Harbour Estate 2023 sparkling wine selected for Legislature
- Household net worth rises on equity market momentum
- GM Canada names Jack Uppal as new president and managing director
- Dollarama reports $321.7M Q3 profit with 19 new stores opening in Canada
- Grocery retailer Empire (Sobeys) reports $159M Q2 profit
- Focus on Finance & Economy
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Vive Development
9-tower complex of 2,400 units approved for old St. Catharines hospital site
A multi-tower development on the former St. Catharines General Hospital lands has been green-lit by city council after compromises were made for the developer.
Nine 24-storey towers will house more than 2,400 units on the 142 Queenston St. property that has been vacant since the hospital moved to Fourth Avenue in March 2013. Councillors approved amendments to the city’s official plan and zoning bylaw and a draft plan of subdivision this week in about 20 minutes.
Property owner Vive Development has been working on the 4.86-hectare site since it bought it in November 2024 after it fell into receivership. Its plan includes 2,442 rental units in the nine towers, with 10 per cent of the units affordable rentals priced at or below 30 per cent of the median household income for St. Catharines.
highwaystarz / Adobe Stock
Niagara’s affordability crisis causes surge in food insecurity
The living wage for the region is about $21.40 an hour, a figure that reflects what must be earned to cover monthly costs.
With record-breaking food bank visits across Niagara due to stagnating wages and increased housing and food costs, more people face an affordability crisis adding to sleepless nights.
Food banks and community meal programs have experienced a 20 per cent increase in uptake as people prioritize rent and mortgages over food to prevent themselves from falling into homelessness.
Town of Lincoln
Shape Lincoln 2051 — Official Plan review
The Town of Lincoln’s Committee of the Whole will be considering a staff recommendation report regarding the final draft Shape Lincoln 2051 — Official Plan on January 21, 2026.
Public engagement opportunities for the Official Plan have been provided at multiple stages throughout the process. All public comments received to date will be addressed within in the recommendation report and at the meeting on January 21, 2026.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting. However, those wishing to appear as a delegation must follow the steps outlined in the link below.
Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
StopGap accessibility ramps arriving for Niagara-on-the-Lake businesses
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is pleased to announce that accessibility ramps provided through the StopGap Foundation’s Community Ramp Project will be delivered to participating businesses on Friday, December 12. This initiative marks an important step toward creating a more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming community for residents and visitors alike.
The custom-built ramps, painted in a single heritage-approved colour that aligns with the Town’s heritage character, support individuals with mobility challenges by removing single-step barriers at storefront entrances.
City of Welland
Jessica Ruddell appointed permanent CAO for the City of Welland
Mayor Frank Campion has announced the appointment of Jessica Ruddell as the City’s permanent Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
Mayor Campion commented that this appointment supports leadership continuity and stability as the City continues to advance Council’s priorities and serve the community.
With more than two decades of municipal service in senior leadership roles, Ruddell joined the municipality in January 2024 and has served as Acting CAO since October 20, 2025. During her time with the City, she has developed a strong understanding of the organization and its strategic initiatives and has demonstrated a clear commitment to supporting Council and staff through key planning and budget discussions.
Harbour Estates Winery
Harbour Estate 2023 sparkling wine selected for Legislature
Selected as the official sparkling wine of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario at the Forty-sixth Annual Speaker’s Wine Tasting, Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, welcomed the arrival of the 2023 Sparkling Riesling, vintnered by Harbour Estates Winery in Jordan Station, at Queen’s Park this week.
Elected Members cast ballots for their favourite Ontario VQA wines October 28. Following a vote count and validation of results, the 2023 Sparkling Riesling, vintnered by Harbour Estates Winery, was selected as the official Sparkling Wine of the Legislative Assembly. Two other Niagara wines were chosen at the official tasting, including the 2021 Barrel 81, vintnered by Riverview Cellars, selected as the official red wine of the Legislative Assembly, and 2024 Vidal Icewine, vintnered by Between the Lines Family Estate Winery, selected as the official icewine.
kunakorn / Adobe Stock
Household net worth rises on equity market momentum
Canadian households accumulated financial wealth in the third quarter of 2025, as their net worth — the value of all assets minus all liabilities — increased by almost a half-trillion dollars (+$460.5 billion; +2.6 per cent) to reach $18,394.1 billion, the eighth consecutive quarterly increase and the largest increase since the first quarter of 2024.
Households further improved their financial position in the third quarter of 2025 as gross domestic product rebounded, interest rates eased, and global trade uncertainty persisted.
However, these gains were likely not evenly distributed among households as the wealthiest (top 20 per cent of the wealth distribution) hold nearly 70 per cent of all financial assets and are therefore best positioned to benefit from accruing investment incomes and gains from revaluation when markets perform well.
StockGPhoto / Adobe Stock
GM Canada names Jack Uppal as new president and managing director
General Motors announced the appointment of Jack Uppal to president and managing director, GM Canada, effective February 1, 2026.
Jack is currently president and managing director, GM Africa & Middle East, and will return home with international experience across China, India, Singapore and the Middle East. He will report to senior vice president and president, GM North America, Duncan Aldred, and work closely with Kristian Aquilina to reportedly ensure a smooth transition ahead of his start date.
JossK / Adobe Stock
Dollarama reports $321.7M Q3 profit with 19 new stores opening in Canada
Dollarama reported a fiscal 2026 third quarter profit of $321.7 million, up from $275.8 million in the same quarter last year, for a 16.6 per cent net earnings increase.
Sales totalled $1.91 billion, up from $1.56 billion in the same quarter last year. Comparable store sales in Canada increased 6.0 per cent. Dollarama says it expects Canadian same store sales growth of 4.2 to 4.7 per cent for its 2026 financial year, up from earlier guidance of between 3.0 and 4.0 per cent. EBITDA increased 20.1 per cent to $612 million.
JHVEPhoto / Adobe Stock
Grocery retailer Empire (Sobeys) reports $159M Q2 profit
Empire Co. Ltd. says it earned $159 million in its latest quarter, down from $173 million in the same quarter last year.
The company behind Sobeys says its profit amounted to 69 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Nov. 1 compared with a profit of 73 cents per diluted share a year earlier.
Sales for what was the company’s second quarter totalled $8.0 billion, up from $7.8 billion in the same quarter last year.
Focus on Finance & Economy
Amount Canadians owe relative to income continued to tick higher in third quarter
Sammy Kogan, The Canadian Press
Statistics Canada says the amount Canadians owe relative to their income climbed higher for the fourth consecutive quarter.
The agency says the ratio of household credit market debt as a proportion of household disposable income was 176.7 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis, up from 176.3 per cent in the second quarter as debt continued to grow faster than income.
In other words, Statistics Canada says there was $1.77 in credit market debt for every dollar of household disposable income in the third quarter.
Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.
