Daily Archives: February 6, 2010

By Doug Draper

If there is any doubt that Niagara’s southern tier holds a golden key to the region’s future, there was sure no hint of it at the annual Mayors of South Niagara luncheon this Feb. 4.

Port Colborne Mayor Vance Badawey addresses annual south Niagara mayors' summit as Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin and Wainfleet Mayor Barbara Henderson listen on. Photo by Doug Draper

More than 200 makers and shakers from across the region, including many of Niagara’s top political and business leaders, packed a banquet room at the Sparrow Lakes Golf Club in Welland to hear five of the region’s mayors – Dave Augustyn of Pelham, Vance Badawey of Port Colborne, Damian Goulbourne of Welland, Barbara Henderson of Wainfleet and Doug Martin of Fort Erie – focus on the achievements and challenges facing a part of the region poised to possibly experience an unprecedented amount of business and residential growth over the next few decades.

The mayors too turns focused on five pillars for building a healthier, more prosperous future for Niagara’s southern region, including revitalizing downtowns, agriculture, transportation, stimulus funding for building roads, recreational and education facilities and other infrastructure, and building an economic gateway to people and markets across the Canada-U.S. border and around the world.

But fo a handful of women from Port Colborne and Fort Erie who attended the luncheon sporting the attire of the Yellow Shirt Brigade – a citizens group struggling to save hospitals services in Niagara’s southern tier, the 800-pound gorilla in the banquet hall was hospital services because they were never discussed. So the women in the yellow shirts walked out at the end of the luncheon, wondering how the mayors could spend an hour outlining their collective efforts for growth in south Niagara without ever once mentioning health care services.

“How can all of the grandiose plans for the future of the southern portion of Niagara be achieved without accessible health care, and hospitals to care for the sick and dying,” said Joy Russell, a Fort Erie resident and one of the Yellow Shirt Brigade members who attended the Feb. 4 event. “If they widen roads, improve water and sewers, and entice more people (to live and establish businesses in the southern tier), what is going to happen to them if they have an accident or need a hospital bed nearby?” Continue reading →

By Becky Day

The St. Catharines-Thorold Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual State of the Cities address titled “The Tale of Two Cities” on February 5. Thorold Mayor Henry D’Angela and St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan both shared the achievements of their cities with the business community.

The Chamber brought the two cities together for the event, not only because they represent them, but because it believe people from St. Catharines and Thorold should care about what is happening in both cities.

Chamber President Rob DePetris emphasized the idea of municipalities coming together for the common good in a motivating speech to a room full of Niagara business people and dignitaries.

“The public sector and politicians must modify the way in which they do business,” he said. “Governments in Niagara can send a powerful signal to the private sector that this region is ready for investment by showcasing that municipal boundaries are simply lines on a map and not barriers to progress. By throwing away parochialism and embracing cooperation for the greater goal of economic prosperity.” Continue reading →