In this edition:
- Tourism spending rises in Q1 2024, now at 93% of pre-COVID levels
- Niagara Falls should form committee to take on downtown business tasks: councillor
- Ontario begins automatic licence plate renewals
- Fonthill Lumber celebrates four-fold expansion to new Welland location with grand opening
- Alectra Inc. recognized by Corporate Knights as one of Canada’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens for 2024
- St. Catharines continues support for arts and cultural groups
- DSBN approves $631M budget
- Engagement continues on Niagara Falls’ new Official Plan
- Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Tourism spending rises in Q1 2024, now at 93% of pre-COVID levels
Tourism spending in Canada grew 1.8% in the first quarter, following a 2.4% increase in the fourth quarter of 2023, Statistics Canada reported today. Overall, tourism spending rose to 93.3% of its level recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tourism is a major economic driver for Niagara, with $2.4 billion in annual local tourist spending supporting 40,000 local jobs.
No downtown Niagara Falls business group? City should form committee to take on tasks in meantime, says councillor
Mona Patel wants a city committee to handle downtown Niagara Falls matters until some form of business organization may be reformed.
She plans to introduce a motion on July 16 that city council form a downtown committee, comprising elected officials, merchants or other stakeholders who would “oversee the business expenditures, programming and beautification until such time as the desire for a (Business Improvement Area) is realized.”
Photo credit: Dillan Payne
Ontario begins automatic licence plate renewals
The Ontario government has become the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce automatic licence plate renewals. The change takes effect on July 1, 2024 and will save vehicle owners time, amounting to more than 900,000 hours every year.
Fonthill Lumber celebrates four-fold expansion to new Welland location with grand opening
Fonthill Lumber, a building concern since it was established in 1951, has also been a growing concern for much of the past three years.
Completion of that ambitious and massive growth, from a 2,320-square-metre (25,000-square-foot) facility on Highway 20 in Fonthill to a sprawling, four-building complex about four times larger on Woodlawn Road in Welland, will be celebrated with a grand opening and open house on Thursday.
Alectra Inc. recognized by Corporate Knights as one of Canada’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens for 2024
For the sixth consecutive year, Alectra has been named among the top companies in Corporate Knights’ annual sustainability ranking. This prestigious recognition, awarded annually, highlights Alectra’s commitment to corporate sustainability and leadership.
St. Catharines continues support for arts and cultural groups
St. Catharines City Council has approved more than $300,000 in funding through their Cultural Investment Program.
The cash includes funding for larger groups such as Carousel Players, Niagara Symphony Orchestra, and Niagara Artists Centre.
DSBN approves $631M budget
District School Board of Niagara’s (DSBN) Board of Trustees approved a balanced, student-focused 2024-2025 budget of $631,962,665 at the June 25 Regular Meeting of the Board. This marks an increase of over $47 million from the 2023-2024 budget.
Engagement continues on Niagara Falls’ new Official Plan
Earlier this year, the City of Niagara Falls engaged the local community to gather input on what residents would like to see in the future of Niagara Falls. Six topic-based discussion papers have been created to stimulate and focus conversations about future policies and are now available for viewing.
Did you know?
Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Why are we still talking about the business case for diversity?
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.
